Houston traded away ace Roy Oswalt yesterday to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for J.A. Happ and some prospects, including first baseman Brett Wallace and Jonathan Villar. For the first time in 3 seasons, it would appear owner Drayton McLane is admitting that the 2005 World Series season remains a distant memory, and moving into a rebuilding stage is the only salvation for Houston and its fans.
Getting Happ demonstrates the elite ability General Manager Ed Wade possesses, if given the opportunity to demonstrate it. Happ was the Phillies best player last year when he finished the season as the runner up for NL Rookie of the Year. He's spent most of 2010 on the injured list, only recently coming back to pitch, but in 2009 you're talking about a kid who went 12-4 in 23 starts, and over 35 games had an ERA of 2.93. Pretty fine numbers for a guy just 2 years into his career, and you might be looking at the newest Astro ace in the coming seasons.
The intriguing part of the trade is the acquisition of Barrett Wallace, a highly thought of first base prospect from the Toronto Blue Jay who many think will be a power hitter for years to come (think Ryan Howard minus 15 HRs a year). Of course, this leaves Astros fans wondering about the fate of current first baseman Lance Berkman, a Houston and Texas native whose spent the majority of his life in the Houston area playing for the Astros and Rice Owls. But getting a young, talented first baseman in a trade means the wheeling and dealing may not be done, and Berkman could be the next to go.
Houston has the chance now, before tomorrow's deadline, to deal another Astro legend in exchange for even more prospects. There are teams looking to add a power hitter, and bringing a switch hitter like Berkman into the lineup upgrades most teams around the league. Also on the table for numerous teams should be left fielder Carlos Lee, himself a colossal waste of Houston's money who can still provide power to an AL lineup in the DH spot.
I'd love to see Lance stay in Texas and Houston and the Rangers work something out, though the farm system in Arlington may not have the pieces Houston craves. Wade and McLane should do what they can to get another quality starter, some good young relievers, and perhaps a left fielder with some power to take over for the aging and embarrassing Lee.
Move Lee and Berkman, and begin the process of building towards 2013 and beyond. I think acquiring Wallace helped nudge Houston that direction. I can only hope the trend continues.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Ohio-no
Well, it's official. I am finally going to buy a Madden video game this season. Madden 2011 should feature, after a certain downloadable update, a team with enough WRs to make even the most jaded of fans (me), run to Wal-Mart on the opening night of sales: The Cincinnati Bengals.
Terrell Owens. Chad Ochocinco. Jordan Shipley. Awesomeness. Possibly my three favorite receivers of all time. One for the fact that he does pushups during interviews. One because he hunts and fishes and sings songs about Colt McCoy. One because he changed his name to Ochocinco.
Seriously, though, this move has the potential to take the defending AFC North Champion Bengals to the next level, if TO can keep his head on straight. History indicates the oft troubled future Hall of Famer will do just that. His first year on new teams have been nothing but raging successes, at least from a statistical perspective. His off field shenanigans seem to manifest after that first season be it in Philadelphia or Dallas, when his massive ego takes a hit from media and teammates for a legitimate failure to help deliver a title (or in some cases a playoff win.)
But for now, we can focus on what a wide receiver lineup featuring #81 and #85 may mean to the rest of the league. OchoCinco has averaged 76 catches, 7 TDs, and 1105 yards per season since joining Cinci 9 years ago. TO has pulled down 72 catches, 10 TDs, and 1067 yards per season over his 14 years in the league. If they simply put up their averages, and only account for those two players and no others, Bengals QB Carson Palmer is looking at 17TDs and over 2000 yards from his top two targets.
Of course, these aren't the same players as they were 4 years ago, when they clearly were the best receivers in the league. TO is on the downside of a career that will send him to Canton, while OchoCinco has spent most of his time in the league making highlight touchdown dances that rival....well, his new partner in crime, TO's.
There is a possibility that the combination could be one of the more feared in the NFL's history. Or we could be looking at nothing more than an expansion of VH1 reality TV, an attempt to create the league's first TD dance-off, or more ridiculouness out of the Cincinnati organization.
It appears Jordan Shipley, the Texas grad with an affinity for an acoustic guitar and some rather hokey country lyrics, is going to get a first hand introduction into the world of the professional prima dona WR. Excellent. The good news for Texas and Shipley fans: if he can line up in 3 WR sets as the slot receiver, a spot he excelled at in Texas, then a successful rookie campaign could be in the works. At least on my version of Madden 2011.
Either way, the folks in Ohio will have lots to talk about this season. While Ohioans may have lost Lebron and entire industries to the weak economy, at least they'll get some significant entertainment come this fall.
Either way, folks, get your popcorn ready.
Terrell Owens. Chad Ochocinco. Jordan Shipley. Awesomeness. Possibly my three favorite receivers of all time. One for the fact that he does pushups during interviews. One because he hunts and fishes and sings songs about Colt McCoy. One because he changed his name to Ochocinco.
Seriously, though, this move has the potential to take the defending AFC North Champion Bengals to the next level, if TO can keep his head on straight. History indicates the oft troubled future Hall of Famer will do just that. His first year on new teams have been nothing but raging successes, at least from a statistical perspective. His off field shenanigans seem to manifest after that first season be it in Philadelphia or Dallas, when his massive ego takes a hit from media and teammates for a legitimate failure to help deliver a title (or in some cases a playoff win.)
But for now, we can focus on what a wide receiver lineup featuring #81 and #85 may mean to the rest of the league. OchoCinco has averaged 76 catches, 7 TDs, and 1105 yards per season since joining Cinci 9 years ago. TO has pulled down 72 catches, 10 TDs, and 1067 yards per season over his 14 years in the league. If they simply put up their averages, and only account for those two players and no others, Bengals QB Carson Palmer is looking at 17TDs and over 2000 yards from his top two targets.
Of course, these aren't the same players as they were 4 years ago, when they clearly were the best receivers in the league. TO is on the downside of a career that will send him to Canton, while OchoCinco has spent most of his time in the league making highlight touchdown dances that rival....well, his new partner in crime, TO's.
There is a possibility that the combination could be one of the more feared in the NFL's history. Or we could be looking at nothing more than an expansion of VH1 reality TV, an attempt to create the league's first TD dance-off, or more ridiculouness out of the Cincinnati organization.
It appears Jordan Shipley, the Texas grad with an affinity for an acoustic guitar and some rather hokey country lyrics, is going to get a first hand introduction into the world of the professional prima dona WR. Excellent. The good news for Texas and Shipley fans: if he can line up in 3 WR sets as the slot receiver, a spot he excelled at in Texas, then a successful rookie campaign could be in the works. At least on my version of Madden 2011.
Either way, the folks in Ohio will have lots to talk about this season. While Ohioans may have lost Lebron and entire industries to the weak economy, at least they'll get some significant entertainment come this fall.
Either way, folks, get your popcorn ready.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Carry my shoulder pads....
So I have a new favorite Cowboy - Rookie WR Dez Bryant. The Oklahoma State grad told incumbent WR-bust Roy Williams to basically suck it when he refused the rookie tradition of carrying Williams' pads following the first day of Cowboys training camp. In essence, Bryant told the underachieving Williams "Hey, mofo, they drafted me because you suck. So why in the world would I carry your pads. Also - here's my jock if you want it."
I love it. And he's right. The fact that Williams deludes himself enough to think that he's Tony Romo's #1 receiver is bad enough, with Jason Witten and Austin Miles clearly jockeying for that spot, but the fact that Dallas drafter another WR who displayed some troubling behavior in college in the first round should have clued the former Longhorn into the fact that owner Jerry Jones admits trading for Williams was a mistake. A bust. An error. An embarrassment.
The dude claims he and Romo will be on the same page this year, finally. After 1 and 1/2 seasons together. He claims they just needed time to gel. What a crock. The fact is, Williams is soft, not as fast as once thought, and unable to separate from elite corners in the league. He's tall, but not the type of receiver Romo can throw jump balls to. In fact, I think current Texas safety Blake Gideon may have better hands than Roy.
Rookie hazing is part of the NFL culture. Normally, when some hotshot rookie refuses to participate, I'd call him out for being a prima dona. But I like this kid. Bryant made it clear he is here to take catches away from Williams, is here to take his spot opposite Miles in the starting line-up, and is here to provide some much needed attitude on an offense void of an edge since Michael Irvin left (I discount T.O. - his edge was softened when he cried about his "quarterback"). If Bryant can avoid the stupid mistakes he made in college off the field in Dallas, then we may be looking at the newest member of Romo's receiving corps by mid-September, and could well be looking at the dwindling career of the one of the biggest trade blunders in Cowboys history for Williams.
I love it. And he's right. The fact that Williams deludes himself enough to think that he's Tony Romo's #1 receiver is bad enough, with Jason Witten and Austin Miles clearly jockeying for that spot, but the fact that Dallas drafter another WR who displayed some troubling behavior in college in the first round should have clued the former Longhorn into the fact that owner Jerry Jones admits trading for Williams was a mistake. A bust. An error. An embarrassment.
The dude claims he and Romo will be on the same page this year, finally. After 1 and 1/2 seasons together. He claims they just needed time to gel. What a crock. The fact is, Williams is soft, not as fast as once thought, and unable to separate from elite corners in the league. He's tall, but not the type of receiver Romo can throw jump balls to. In fact, I think current Texas safety Blake Gideon may have better hands than Roy.
Rookie hazing is part of the NFL culture. Normally, when some hotshot rookie refuses to participate, I'd call him out for being a prima dona. But I like this kid. Bryant made it clear he is here to take catches away from Williams, is here to take his spot opposite Miles in the starting line-up, and is here to provide some much needed attitude on an offense void of an edge since Michael Irvin left (I discount T.O. - his edge was softened when he cried about his "quarterback"). If Bryant can avoid the stupid mistakes he made in college off the field in Dallas, then we may be looking at the newest member of Romo's receiving corps by mid-September, and could well be looking at the dwindling career of the one of the biggest trade blunders in Cowboys history for Williams.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Nick Saban Rants....
Alabama football coach and noted hard-ass Nick Saban went on a very interesting rant yesterday at SEC Media Days. With rumors swirling regarding the numerous NCAA violations surrounding some big time college programs (Alabama, Florida, Georgia) in the SEC, it seems SEC Commissioner Mike Slive may have tabbed Slick Nick to step up and be the mouthpiece for a conference that has dominated the college football world the past 4 years.
Saban tried mightily to shift the focus of blame to NFL players' agents, and away from the student atheletes, when it comes to college football players accepting cash and gifts from agents and representatives. Saban went so far as to call the agents nothing more than glorified "pimps".
Pot...meet kettle. Oh good, you're both black.
You're talking about a man (Saban) who works in a profession designed to abuse the bodies of young people who get compensated little while making buckets of money for the men in charge. Seems to me the ultimate pimp is the head football coach of a major college football program that pays bluechip athelets peanuts to play an increasingly dangerous game while making his university cash hand over fist. Pimp indeed, Saban.
Personally, I don't see anything wrong with agents attaching themselves to the star players of college football. Say you're in the university band, happily playing your tuba every home game at halftime. It's fun, you provide some sound while the fans grab another hot dog or Coke at halftime. You get good seats. Good for you. But on Friday night, you have a gig in downtown CollegeTown, USA, and some record label exec happens to show up that night and sign your band to a record contract on the spot, with a $5000 cash advance. Do you think the tuba player shouldn't take that money? Does that mean he doesn't get to march onto the field the next day?
Big time college football is an artform. Just like playing music, or being in theatre. The players take the risks, they should be allowed to reap the rewards on a scale far greater than a simple scholarship. Certainly the tuba-nerd in our example takes far less risk and makes far less benjamins for the school than the stud running back on the field.
Big time sports fund the rest of the athletic department. At Ohio State, the Buckeyes can afford to have 36 varsity sports precisely because of the financial success of the football program. Athletes get an education from OSU for free while competiting in gymnastics, fencing, cross country, swimming, baseball, basketball, or even synchronized swimming because Terrell Pryor beats the living crap out of Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Over 80% of all sports are non-revenue generating. Football isn't one of them.
So if the playing field for revenue isn't level, why should the rewards for the athletes be level?
I don't think players should be paid outrageous amounts of money, certainly not along the lines of NFL atheletes. But to have the NCAA limit the scholarships for the revenue generating sports seems ludicrous, considering how much money these programs bring to the schools, and how important this income is to the success of the entire Athletic program.
And for college football, let's not forget one thing. Coaches want to win. Boosters want to win. NFL agents want their potential clients to win (it means more money). So herein lies the clusterF that the NCAA has put themselves in - they can't manage who wins. They don't OWN the national championship for Division I college football, the BCS does. So what kind of punishment can you really cast down on players who receive the kind of benefits being tossed around at this point? I mean, if a Texas grad wants to give Vince Young a free Cadillac while he's running past USC for a national championship, what is the NCAA really going to do? The gift has been given, the game won, the money made.
Look at the USC scenario - who committed the crimes with Reggie Bush? He did. He's gone to the NFL. Pete Carroll did. He's gone to the NFL. USC, while taking the brunt of the punishment now, still has 2 years worth of media hype, 2 AP titles, and tv, apparel, and ticket revenue on the books that they will NEVER return. They lose scholarships for two years. So what? In a few more years, the opportunity to cheat will arise again, and the NCAA can do nothing but retroactively punish the teams that get caught. There aren't any REASONS to follow the rules. So why should boosters, coaches, or agents fall in line? Because Nick Saban called them pimps?
While it isn't likely that the NCAA comes up with a resonable solution to the issue (I mean, do they EVER??!?!), I still find it embarrassing for Alabama to have a coach stand in front of the media and call an entire profession a group of pimps, especially when you consider the "pimpish" atmosphere a guy pulling over $4 million per year off the backs of those making $0 supports.
Saban tried mightily to shift the focus of blame to NFL players' agents, and away from the student atheletes, when it comes to college football players accepting cash and gifts from agents and representatives. Saban went so far as to call the agents nothing more than glorified "pimps".
Pot...meet kettle. Oh good, you're both black.
You're talking about a man (Saban) who works in a profession designed to abuse the bodies of young people who get compensated little while making buckets of money for the men in charge. Seems to me the ultimate pimp is the head football coach of a major college football program that pays bluechip athelets peanuts to play an increasingly dangerous game while making his university cash hand over fist. Pimp indeed, Saban.
Personally, I don't see anything wrong with agents attaching themselves to the star players of college football. Say you're in the university band, happily playing your tuba every home game at halftime. It's fun, you provide some sound while the fans grab another hot dog or Coke at halftime. You get good seats. Good for you. But on Friday night, you have a gig in downtown CollegeTown, USA, and some record label exec happens to show up that night and sign your band to a record contract on the spot, with a $5000 cash advance. Do you think the tuba player shouldn't take that money? Does that mean he doesn't get to march onto the field the next day?
Big time college football is an artform. Just like playing music, or being in theatre. The players take the risks, they should be allowed to reap the rewards on a scale far greater than a simple scholarship. Certainly the tuba-nerd in our example takes far less risk and makes far less benjamins for the school than the stud running back on the field.
Big time sports fund the rest of the athletic department. At Ohio State, the Buckeyes can afford to have 36 varsity sports precisely because of the financial success of the football program. Athletes get an education from OSU for free while competiting in gymnastics, fencing, cross country, swimming, baseball, basketball, or even synchronized swimming because Terrell Pryor beats the living crap out of Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Over 80% of all sports are non-revenue generating. Football isn't one of them.
So if the playing field for revenue isn't level, why should the rewards for the athletes be level?
I don't think players should be paid outrageous amounts of money, certainly not along the lines of NFL atheletes. But to have the NCAA limit the scholarships for the revenue generating sports seems ludicrous, considering how much money these programs bring to the schools, and how important this income is to the success of the entire Athletic program.
And for college football, let's not forget one thing. Coaches want to win. Boosters want to win. NFL agents want their potential clients to win (it means more money). So herein lies the clusterF that the NCAA has put themselves in - they can't manage who wins. They don't OWN the national championship for Division I college football, the BCS does. So what kind of punishment can you really cast down on players who receive the kind of benefits being tossed around at this point? I mean, if a Texas grad wants to give Vince Young a free Cadillac while he's running past USC for a national championship, what is the NCAA really going to do? The gift has been given, the game won, the money made.
Look at the USC scenario - who committed the crimes with Reggie Bush? He did. He's gone to the NFL. Pete Carroll did. He's gone to the NFL. USC, while taking the brunt of the punishment now, still has 2 years worth of media hype, 2 AP titles, and tv, apparel, and ticket revenue on the books that they will NEVER return. They lose scholarships for two years. So what? In a few more years, the opportunity to cheat will arise again, and the NCAA can do nothing but retroactively punish the teams that get caught. There aren't any REASONS to follow the rules. So why should boosters, coaches, or agents fall in line? Because Nick Saban called them pimps?
While it isn't likely that the NCAA comes up with a resonable solution to the issue (I mean, do they EVER??!?!), I still find it embarrassing for Alabama to have a coach stand in front of the media and call an entire profession a group of pimps, especially when you consider the "pimpish" atmosphere a guy pulling over $4 million per year off the backs of those making $0 supports.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
A-Rod deserves respect
Alex Rodriguez is making the quietest history in the long and storied line of Major League Baseball. The Yankees 3rd baseman will take the field tonight with 598 career home runs, 2 short of becoming only the 7th player to ever hit 600. No one is covering the story, and folks seem more interested in the off-field shenanigans of the Florida football team or USC returning Reggie Bush's Heisman trophy than the unbelievable feat accomplished by A-Rod.
Of course, no one is covering the story because A-Rod is a cheat. A scam. He hit homers because he was on the juice, right? Well, duh. EVERYONE was on the juice. Pitchers were on the juice, hitters were on the juice, managers were probably on the juice. You think A-Rod ever hit a donger against a pitcher taking PEDs? Of course he did. The fact is, performance enhancers or not, hitting 600 HRs is something only 6 humans have done before. It's impressive, and the lack of fanfare is sad, even for a doper like A-Rod.
He cheated. So what? Keep him out of the Hall of Fame if you want. But everyone acknowledges that Pete Rose, also a cheater, is one of the elite players in the history of the sport. A-Rod will be too. The fact that his cheating action involved using PEDs in an era where the use of HGH and other anabolic steriods was as common as drinking water illustrates that A-Rod remains a singular talent, the likes of which we've seen only 6 times before.
The playing field was level - A-Rod cheated in a way that everyone else cheated, and he still outshines all of his fellow sluggers, and outdueled many of his cheating bretheren on the mound to crush his way into baseball history. He should be acknowledged and appreciated for the impressive feat.
Of course, no one is covering the story because A-Rod is a cheat. A scam. He hit homers because he was on the juice, right? Well, duh. EVERYONE was on the juice. Pitchers were on the juice, hitters were on the juice, managers were probably on the juice. You think A-Rod ever hit a donger against a pitcher taking PEDs? Of course he did. The fact is, performance enhancers or not, hitting 600 HRs is something only 6 humans have done before. It's impressive, and the lack of fanfare is sad, even for a doper like A-Rod.
He cheated. So what? Keep him out of the Hall of Fame if you want. But everyone acknowledges that Pete Rose, also a cheater, is one of the elite players in the history of the sport. A-Rod will be too. The fact that his cheating action involved using PEDs in an era where the use of HGH and other anabolic steriods was as common as drinking water illustrates that A-Rod remains a singular talent, the likes of which we've seen only 6 times before.
The playing field was level - A-Rod cheated in a way that everyone else cheated, and he still outshines all of his fellow sluggers, and outdueled many of his cheating bretheren on the mound to crush his way into baseball history. He should be acknowledged and appreciated for the impressive feat.
Friday, July 16, 2010
LAstros Trade Issues
The futility of the Houston Astros continues to amaze even the most jaded fans (me included at this point). Not only is Houston suffering through what will likely be one of the worst seasons in team history, the folks in the Bayou City must come to terms with the fact that the foreseeable future holds no relief from the absolutely embarassing brand of baseball being played at Minute Maid Park.
With one of the worst minor league systems in Major League Baseball, Astros fans have no light at the end of this dark tunnel. In December of 2009, Baseball American ranked the 'Stros farm system as the absolute worst in MLB. The minor league teams in Houston's farm system haven't produced a winning season since 2007. Their aren't top prospects available or home-grown. How accurate is Baseball America's rankings? Well, in the Spring of 2009 the Texas Rangers were atop the board, with prospects Neftali Feliz, Julio Bourbon, Derek Holland, Elvin Andrus all mentioned as top prospects. Each of these players are major contributors to the Ranger's surprising ascent to the top of the AL West. The other top prospect? Justin Smoak, who was recently traded for ace Cliff Lee.
Therein lies the problem for Houston. No one is interested in their farm system players, so getting top level major league ready talent is out of the question. The front office would like to build from within, but have shown a stunning inability to draft players worthy of the majors. The remaining solution involves trading popular veterans Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt. Berkman likely won't be dealt, as the homegrown first baseman is the only draw remaining with Houston fans. Oswalt, however, is a different story.
Earlier this year, Roy-O publicly stated he'd be open to a trade from the Astros to a contender. Rumors have flown since, with teams like the Mets, Braves, Twins, and Tigers all being considered prime candidates for Houston. The problem is Oswalt is looking for someone to pick up his option for 2012, and he's still owed $25 million for the rest of 2010 and 2011. Teams seem hesitant to pick up the large contract for a player with a sub .500 record over the last 3 years, even if pundits argue that if he had ANY run support, Oswalt would be a top pitcher in the game.
Houston has offered to take some of the financial hit of Oswalt's salary in an effort to get some life injected into the farm system. The issue, of course, is teams in the major leagues seem to have realized that building from within with homegrown and drafter prospects is a cheaper way to become succesful than buying talent ala the Yankees. Unless a big market club jumps in with a deal that blows Houston away (and don't hold your breath, as the Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees all have average farm systems at best), it appears Roy-O will be stuck in Houston with the mess built around him.
And thus, the fans of Houston can expect prolongd misery for the LAstros. But hey, at least Jeff Bagwell is back as the hitting coach....
With one of the worst minor league systems in Major League Baseball, Astros fans have no light at the end of this dark tunnel. In December of 2009, Baseball American ranked the 'Stros farm system as the absolute worst in MLB. The minor league teams in Houston's farm system haven't produced a winning season since 2007. Their aren't top prospects available or home-grown. How accurate is Baseball America's rankings? Well, in the Spring of 2009 the Texas Rangers were atop the board, with prospects Neftali Feliz, Julio Bourbon, Derek Holland, Elvin Andrus all mentioned as top prospects. Each of these players are major contributors to the Ranger's surprising ascent to the top of the AL West. The other top prospect? Justin Smoak, who was recently traded for ace Cliff Lee.
Therein lies the problem for Houston. No one is interested in their farm system players, so getting top level major league ready talent is out of the question. The front office would like to build from within, but have shown a stunning inability to draft players worthy of the majors. The remaining solution involves trading popular veterans Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt. Berkman likely won't be dealt, as the homegrown first baseman is the only draw remaining with Houston fans. Oswalt, however, is a different story.
Earlier this year, Roy-O publicly stated he'd be open to a trade from the Astros to a contender. Rumors have flown since, with teams like the Mets, Braves, Twins, and Tigers all being considered prime candidates for Houston. The problem is Oswalt is looking for someone to pick up his option for 2012, and he's still owed $25 million for the rest of 2010 and 2011. Teams seem hesitant to pick up the large contract for a player with a sub .500 record over the last 3 years, even if pundits argue that if he had ANY run support, Oswalt would be a top pitcher in the game.
Houston has offered to take some of the financial hit of Oswalt's salary in an effort to get some life injected into the farm system. The issue, of course, is teams in the major leagues seem to have realized that building from within with homegrown and drafter prospects is a cheaper way to become succesful than buying talent ala the Yankees. Unless a big market club jumps in with a deal that blows Houston away (and don't hold your breath, as the Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees all have average farm systems at best), it appears Roy-O will be stuck in Houston with the mess built around him.
And thus, the fans of Houston can expect prolongd misery for the LAstros. But hey, at least Jeff Bagwell is back as the hitting coach....
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Quietly Improving
In the midst of the hoopla surrounding LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh creating a mega-team in Miami, Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks are quietly putting together a solid team set to compete for a Western Conference title in 2010-2011.
With the recent trade dumping the salary of Erick Dampier (perhaps the worst signing in the history of the NBA) for Tyson Chandler, the Mavericks instantly upgraded their interior roster, as well as infusing more energy into an already deep bench. With center Brendon Heyward resigning to take Damp's starting spot, the Mavs can now bring Chandler off the bench to spot Heyward and provide a change of pace center to accommodate an already pesky 2nd unit.
JJ Barea, Jason Terry, and Chandler are three any team would love to have compliment Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, and Haywood. Those 8 players and the various line-ups available to head coach Rick Carlisle make for an impressive unit for the Mavs. Dampier's departure and replacement with Haywood and Chandler means the Mavs defense in the paint just improved 10-fold, with two legitimate shot blockers able to control the basket when the perimeter defense falters (as it tends to do with Terry and Kidd).
Whether or not the Mavs are able to snag another mid level free agent this summer (Richard Jefferson?), expect Dallas to compete for a top 4 seed. Assuming health can be maintained, the Mavs could potentially be a threat to the Lakers in the West with the new pieces built around Dirk.
With the recent trade dumping the salary of Erick Dampier (perhaps the worst signing in the history of the NBA) for Tyson Chandler, the Mavericks instantly upgraded their interior roster, as well as infusing more energy into an already deep bench. With center Brendon Heyward resigning to take Damp's starting spot, the Mavs can now bring Chandler off the bench to spot Heyward and provide a change of pace center to accommodate an already pesky 2nd unit.
JJ Barea, Jason Terry, and Chandler are three any team would love to have compliment Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, and Haywood. Those 8 players and the various line-ups available to head coach Rick Carlisle make for an impressive unit for the Mavs. Dampier's departure and replacement with Haywood and Chandler means the Mavs defense in the paint just improved 10-fold, with two legitimate shot blockers able to control the basket when the perimeter defense falters (as it tends to do with Terry and Kidd).
Whether or not the Mavs are able to snag another mid level free agent this summer (Richard Jefferson?), expect Dallas to compete for a top 4 seed. Assuming health can be maintained, the Mavs could potentially be a threat to the Lakers in the West with the new pieces built around Dirk.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Steinbrenner Passes
Legendary New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's passing has owned the sports headlines for the vast majority of the day. The Boss's passing brings to a close one of the most controversial, illustrious onwership reigns the sporting world has known. 37 years, 11 American league championships, 7 World Championships, and countless headlining big free agent signings.
Fans of the Yankees and fans of Steinbrenner can oftentimes be seen as one in the same. Which, of course, means Yankees haters don't find soft spots in their hearts for The Boss. While hating someone who could seemingly buy any player he wanted over the course of the last 2 decades isn't a ridiculous sentiment, to discount the historic changes Steinbrenner brought to Major League Baseball would be an injustice to the legacy of the man as well as the game.
Catfish Hunter was MLB's first huge major free agent signing. Of course, Steinbrenner was the one to make the deal (who else would it be). In 1980, he signed Dave Winfield to the largest contract in the history of the game, paving the way for the outlandish contracts today's players enjoy (many of whom are Yankees as well). Steinbrenner made it OK for teams to pay guys like Alex Rodriguez 25 million per year, forever changing the economics of the game.
He was also an innovator when it comes to television. The recent hub-bub for the Texas Longhorns sports network is a direct decendent of The Boss's YES network, which originally was slated to show only Yankees material, but has since expanded into other New York sports programming. Going further back, he was the first major sports owner to sell television rights, paving the way for huge increases in team income, as well as creating the current sports market we live in now, where nearly every major sporting team has each game played on the local market.
So while we often have chastised Steinbrenner for his dated grooming policy, his petty interference with the team (he had 11 GMs over his 37 year ownership, and over 20 managers), his Darth Vader dominance status, and his ability to buy whatever player he wanted, there are 2 things that are indisputable: his affect on the game and the entire professional sports landscape, and his desire to win at any cost (literally).
Fans of the Yankees and fans of Steinbrenner can oftentimes be seen as one in the same. Which, of course, means Yankees haters don't find soft spots in their hearts for The Boss. While hating someone who could seemingly buy any player he wanted over the course of the last 2 decades isn't a ridiculous sentiment, to discount the historic changes Steinbrenner brought to Major League Baseball would be an injustice to the legacy of the man as well as the game.
Catfish Hunter was MLB's first huge major free agent signing. Of course, Steinbrenner was the one to make the deal (who else would it be). In 1980, he signed Dave Winfield to the largest contract in the history of the game, paving the way for the outlandish contracts today's players enjoy (many of whom are Yankees as well). Steinbrenner made it OK for teams to pay guys like Alex Rodriguez 25 million per year, forever changing the economics of the game.
He was also an innovator when it comes to television. The recent hub-bub for the Texas Longhorns sports network is a direct decendent of The Boss's YES network, which originally was slated to show only Yankees material, but has since expanded into other New York sports programming. Going further back, he was the first major sports owner to sell television rights, paving the way for huge increases in team income, as well as creating the current sports market we live in now, where nearly every major sporting team has each game played on the local market.
So while we often have chastised Steinbrenner for his dated grooming policy, his petty interference with the team (he had 11 GMs over his 37 year ownership, and over 20 managers), his Darth Vader dominance status, and his ability to buy whatever player he wanted, there are 2 things that are indisputable: his affect on the game and the entire professional sports landscape, and his desire to win at any cost (literally).
Monday, July 12, 2010
Updates from the summer boredoms
1. The LeBron James decision to take his game to the Miami Heat has dominated the sports landscape since his ESPN special, aptly dubbed "The Decision", aired last Thursday to huge ratings. Simply put? It was frustrating to find a guy who seemed to have a good head on his shoulders and exhibit the kind of personality for fans to admire take the time to air a 1 hour special in which he detailed just about everything that fans hate about professional athletes: EGOMANIACS. For God's sake, he held a special regarding a decision that affects absolutely nothing in the large scheme of things, even for his sport, much less the freeworld. It's not like announcing his choice to play in South Beach gives any guarantee that the Miami Heat are going to be an NBA force for years to come. This is a guy who couldn't get out of the eastern conference playoffs for the past 2 years (even after finishing with the best record in the league) The one time he led his Cavs to the NBA Finals, he got drubbed in a 4 game laugher by the Spurs. I would have made the same decision (living anywhere in the dying midwestern part of America is a choice I can't understand), but engaging in some class by LeBron would have been a reasonable expectation.
2. The World Cup is over, and all we can talk about is how poorly officiated the final between Spain and The Netherlands was. Soccer will NEVER become a mainstream American sport until FIFA and the game itself figure out a way to focus less on the officiating and more on the play on the field. Using 1 ref and 2 side judges is a disgrace - head referees showed in the 2010 Cup that a one man show is no way to run a competition. The ref can't see everything, misses too much, and gets agitated and frustrated with players, who are agitated and frustrated with the inability of the referee to manage the game. Put 2 refs on the field to provide appropriate coverage, institute instant replay where needed, and you might be able to avoid games like the WC final where 14 yellow cards in one game bogs down the world's most popular event.
3. ESPN Gameday has moved to the 3 hours. Is this earth shattering? Not really, but I'm intrigued to see what role new co-host Erin Andrews will have on the show. 3 hours of Corso, Herbie, and Fowler would be great. Adding Andrews, and I assume Desmond Howard is returning, may turn the show into a bloated version of SportsCenter.
4. Cliff Lee to the Rangers. This is the biggest move of the MLB season. Ever since the Ryan Express left Arlington, Texas has been looking for a legit #1 to lead the team. The offense has been plugging along all season long, and the Rangers pitching has been more than adequate, both from the starters as well as the bullpen. If they can stay healthy, here's thinking that we see New York vs. Texas for the ALCS in October. Furhtermore, heres thinking that since we'll be in the middle of football season, no one in Texas will care.
5. College Football realignment - the summer that almost was came close to changing to the face of the greatest sport in America. Instead, we have an extended Pac 10(12), a shrunk Big 12(10), and a beefed up Big 10(12). With Nebraska and Colorado leaving the Big 12, fans across the country wondered what would happen to the Big 12. What we learned was that, despite what they want to believe in Lincoln, the Cornhuskers are not as relevant as they would like everyone to believe. 10 years ago, if Nebraska leaves the Big 12, the conference falls apart. While Nebraksa and its fans like to think they were the link that kept the Big 12 relevant across the country through a dominant football tradition, the reality is tv execs, sports fans, and national audiences aren't interested in triple option offenses, or teams who shout from the mountain that they are "back" after a 9-3 season and a near Big 12 Championship. The fact is, Texas controls the fate of the conference, and has since Vince Young scampered by the USC defense on January 4, 2006. There is no way Texas of 2000 can hold the weakened Big 12 together the same way as Texas of 2010 has done. The Longhorns are the modern era version of Notre Dame, except the Horns are relevant in nearly every NCAA sport they choose to compete in. With the ridiculous amount of success experienced in Austin, TV networks are willing to follow the Horns and their ever growing fan base wherever athletic director Deloss Dodds chooses to lead them. For now, that is the Big 12(10). With this being the last season of the Big 12 with Nebraska, heres hoping the Horns and Cornhuskers hook up twice - once on Oct 16 in Lincoln, and again for the Big 12 title in JerryWorld.
2. The World Cup is over, and all we can talk about is how poorly officiated the final between Spain and The Netherlands was. Soccer will NEVER become a mainstream American sport until FIFA and the game itself figure out a way to focus less on the officiating and more on the play on the field. Using 1 ref and 2 side judges is a disgrace - head referees showed in the 2010 Cup that a one man show is no way to run a competition. The ref can't see everything, misses too much, and gets agitated and frustrated with players, who are agitated and frustrated with the inability of the referee to manage the game. Put 2 refs on the field to provide appropriate coverage, institute instant replay where needed, and you might be able to avoid games like the WC final where 14 yellow cards in one game bogs down the world's most popular event.
3. ESPN Gameday has moved to the 3 hours. Is this earth shattering? Not really, but I'm intrigued to see what role new co-host Erin Andrews will have on the show. 3 hours of Corso, Herbie, and Fowler would be great. Adding Andrews, and I assume Desmond Howard is returning, may turn the show into a bloated version of SportsCenter.
4. Cliff Lee to the Rangers. This is the biggest move of the MLB season. Ever since the Ryan Express left Arlington, Texas has been looking for a legit #1 to lead the team. The offense has been plugging along all season long, and the Rangers pitching has been more than adequate, both from the starters as well as the bullpen. If they can stay healthy, here's thinking that we see New York vs. Texas for the ALCS in October. Furhtermore, heres thinking that since we'll be in the middle of football season, no one in Texas will care.
5. College Football realignment - the summer that almost was came close to changing to the face of the greatest sport in America. Instead, we have an extended Pac 10(12), a shrunk Big 12(10), and a beefed up Big 10(12). With Nebraska and Colorado leaving the Big 12, fans across the country wondered what would happen to the Big 12. What we learned was that, despite what they want to believe in Lincoln, the Cornhuskers are not as relevant as they would like everyone to believe. 10 years ago, if Nebraska leaves the Big 12, the conference falls apart. While Nebraksa and its fans like to think they were the link that kept the Big 12 relevant across the country through a dominant football tradition, the reality is tv execs, sports fans, and national audiences aren't interested in triple option offenses, or teams who shout from the mountain that they are "back" after a 9-3 season and a near Big 12 Championship. The fact is, Texas controls the fate of the conference, and has since Vince Young scampered by the USC defense on January 4, 2006. There is no way Texas of 2000 can hold the weakened Big 12 together the same way as Texas of 2010 has done. The Longhorns are the modern era version of Notre Dame, except the Horns are relevant in nearly every NCAA sport they choose to compete in. With the ridiculous amount of success experienced in Austin, TV networks are willing to follow the Horns and their ever growing fan base wherever athletic director Deloss Dodds chooses to lead them. For now, that is the Big 12(10). With this being the last season of the Big 12 with Nebraska, heres hoping the Horns and Cornhuskers hook up twice - once on Oct 16 in Lincoln, and again for the Big 12 title in JerryWorld.
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