Obama the Baller

As our country transitions to a more complex and politically charged atmosphere it is a refreshing change to see the supposed “spoiled” athletes take an active interest in politics. There are currently former professional athletes that are Mayors, Senators, Governors, and Congressmen, and this trend is on an upswing. George W. Bush was a former owner of the Texas Rangers, and numerous politicians own small parts of teams in all four major sports. America now has a politician that would be able to cross the political line and be an athlete. President Obama has an opportunity to become the first sitting politician that is also an active professional athlete. The Washington Wizards basketball team has the opportunity to make history and also help the economy all in one fell swoop. If they extend an invitation for President Obama to join the team, even in a few preseason games, that would help to boost interest in a struggling franchise and generate tremendous revenue. Sporting goods stores across the country and even the world would be selling out of Obama jerseys at an unprecedented rate, thus boosting the economy and helping to solidify sports and politics as the driving force behind the resurgence of the United States of America .

Want to Play For the Boston Celtics

As a Boston Celtics fan for all twenty-eight years of my life I was disheartened to get this email today…

From: Danny Ainge, Boston Celtics General Manager
To: Boston Celtics Fan Club

Let me first say thank you for being the best fans in basketball. Thanks to your support we have won our second straight Atlantic Division Championship! The road is far from over and that is where the C’s need your help. As you know we are currently suffering with a rather serious injury situation. We have had injuries to Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Leon Powe, Big Baby Davis, Tony Allen, and Brian Scalabrine. We are currently looking for a few superfans to suit up for the Celtics! While you wouldn’t be able to be active for the playoffs, you would be a true member of the team and may even get a chance to play. If you are interested please fill out this application and send it back to me. We can’t wait to see you on the bench in Celtic’s Green.


Questionaire

1. Are you healthy?

2. Do you currently play for another NBA team?
If yes, will they buy you out?

3. Can you pass a physical?

4. Have you ever played in the NBA, CBA, NCAA, NBA D-League, or any European professional league?

5. Do you currently have any injuries?

6. Have you ever played basketball at any level?

7. Seriously, are you healthy?

8. Are you under 50 years old?

9. Can you be here in time for our next game?

If you answered “yes” to at least five of these questions than we will be in contact with you shortly.

Sincerely,
Danny Ainge

The Positive of Steroids for Baseball

Alex Rodriguez deserves a thank you from baseball fans. After Barry Bonds and his steroid filled body passed Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron atop the all-time home run leader board the game felt tarnished. Rodriguez was the clean-cut person destined to knock Bonds off his perch and restore dignity and fair play to baseball’s most cherished record. That dream is now a fallacy, but the more important issue is that home runs might not be part of baseball’s future. Recently championships have been built on pitching, defense, speed, and clutch hitting. Home runs might sell tickets but they don’t win games.

One of the best offensive teams in baseball history was the 1980’s St. Louis Cardinals. They scored runs in bunches (in part thanks to Astroturf) but never had a glut of power hitters. Tom Herr was an All-Star second baseman that once had over 100 RBI in a season while only hitting one home run. ONE! Herr couldn’t hit home runs in batting practice but was a truly effective run producer. He is the model of what baseball players have become. Players that can hit the ball, take a walk, advance a runner, steal a base, and win with their glove and mind, not just with 22 inch pythons.

Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis were both in the top three of American League MVP voting in 2008. Both players won Gold Gloves and were catalysts for their team. Either player can hit anywhere in the batting order, can get on base, and have some power, but don’t rely on just the longball. Both men are doubles hitters that can drive in runs in a variety of methods. These are the men that are the modern day legends, the players that prove that you don’t need to hit a home run to make a difference for your team. When Barry Bonds complains that he can’t get a job, remind him of the success he had with the Pirates in the 1990’s and how he was a complete player, not just a medicinal freak.

No Brady, No Problem

Fear not Patriots’ fans, Tom Brady’s torn ACL does not mean all is lost. The Patriots will still win the AFC East and win double-digit games in 2008. The Patriots’ defensive front seven is the best in the AFC, they have one of the top five wide receiver duos in the league, and a great and diverse running game. While quarterback might be the position that you can least afford an injury, the Patriots have the best team to surround a new quarterback. Matt Cassel is stepping into a situation very similar to what Tom Brady was thrust into in 2001 when Drew Bledsoe was injured. If Cassel can manage the game efficiently (find the open man, don’t try to do too much, and limit turnovers) then the Patriots will be fine (just don’t expect to see Brady shipped out of New England before next season like Bledsoe was).

When Tom Brady stepped up and threw a wounded duck in the direction of Randy Moss it was obvious that something was wrong. Most fans could see by the first replay the severity of Brady’s injury and realize he had an injured ACL. While the team was saying that Brady’s return to the game was “questionable”, what was really in question was if he was returning this season. The Patriots’ concern shouldn’t be Tom Brady’s injury as much as it should be the play of the offensive line. Center Dan Koppen and left guard Logan Mankins are Pro Bowl players but the rest of the line is a concern. Left tackle Matt Light can be one of the best at his position but he is coming off of a preseason injury and struggles with speed rushers. Light has a tendency to shrink when he needs to step up, but he is still solid. The real concern is the right side of the line. Right tackle Nick Kaczur is average but the issues at right guard make him more vulnerable. Starting right guard Stephen Neal is a Pro Bowl player but he is injured and not eligible to return until Week 7 at the earliest. Russ Hochstein is a decent fill-in, but not a long-term answer, and he is injured as well. Bill Yates started against the Chiefs, but he should not be a starter on this team at any time. Until the offensive line is healthy the Patriots have a major weakness that will make the offense much less explosive.

This year the Patriots’ defense will have to play up to their potential to win, as the offense will not set another NFL scoring record. The key to the defense rest in two positions, inside linebacker and cornerback. Jerod Mayo will have to play up to his top-10 draft status, and he has shown that potential so far. Mayo’s quickness allows Tedy Bruschi to freelance without having to worry about the middle being covered. The depth at linebacker will also allow Bruschi to get a bit more rest than he had in recent years, something crucial to him staying successful all year. Cornerback is more of a concern. Ellis Hobbs will forever be remembered as the man who was beaten by Plaxico Burress for the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, but Hobbs is an emerging star. The play of Deltha O’Neal and Terrence Wheatley at the other cornerback position will need to be steady for the Patriots to keep opponents from picking apart the secondary. Fortunately the Patriots strength is collapsing the pocket and forcing the opposing quarterback to make bad decisions. A strong defense will not only make the job of the Matt Cassel easier, but also give the Patriots great field position.

The injury to Tom Brady will make the road to the Super Bowl much more difficult. The Steelers, Colts, and Chargers do not care that Brady is hurt, and will be looking to give the Patriots a dose of playoff payback this year. The Patriots are still the team to beat, but the rest of the AFC can see the blood in the water. The true test for the Patriots will come this year. When every team is gunning for you, and your gunslinger is hurt, do you have what it takes to win it all? Hopefully for Pats fans the answer is yes, but this isn’t Brady’s team anymore. This will need to be a true team effort and the work of Belichick’s magic to have the Patriots still be the NFL’s elite team.

Tragedy Meets Legal Stupidity

The station night club fire was a tragedy, but the drawn out legal issues are more tragic. Many of the civil suits have been settled and some of the companies named are amazing and beyond stupid.
The tragic 20 February 2003 fire at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., killed 96 people and injured more than 200. It was a stupid stunt: the band playing that night set off fireworks, setting fire to soundproofing foam. With the nightclub's insurance maxed out and no one else to turn to for the expected $1 billion of liability, lawyers in the case sued anyone they could think of in their search for deep pockets to pick. One unlikely victim of the tactic was Clear Channel Communications, which owns a radio station in the area, on the basis that they helped promote the event. In February, Clear Channel announced a tentative $22 million settlement with survivors and the families of those killed. Rhode Island's "joint and several liability" put Clear Channel on the hook; as long as lawyers could show just the tiniest involvement by the company, it ended up having to pay even though they had no part in the fire. {It gets worse}

Other deep pockets included TV station WPRI, which was ironically onthe scene to do a story on the dangers of nightclubs when the fire broke out, which paid $30 million on the theory that their cameraman's equipment blocked an exit. {Wrong place, wrong time. Plus $30 million on a theroy? Insane} JBL Speakers paid $815,000 to settle a charge that its speakers had flammable foam in them{This makes sense to me, speakers for concerts should have fire resistant material if possible}; beer maker Anheuser-Busch ($5 million) and its local distributor ($16 million) because their beer was sold at the nightclub {Ummm, why not? I guess drunk people can't get out of a building? Why not other breweries?}; Sealed Air Corp. paid $16 million, since its foam was used for soundproofing, even though the foam was not rated for such a purpose {They shouldn't be held responsible if someone misused their product}; the State of Rhode Island, $10 million, and the city where the fire occurred, $10 million, for who-knows-what reason; and HomeDepot (amount unknown), where the foam was purchased. {Let's just sue and see what sticks}

Over $110 million in lawsuits settled without any real cause. I know this is a tragedy but why go after companies that are not at fault. It's all about making someone, anyone, pay.

Manny Ramirez Adios

A seven and a half year relationship is now over, as the Boston Red Sox finally gave into the insanity that is Manny Ramirez and sent him packing. This is a bittersweet day for Red Sox fans, a day that brings a tear to your eye while you are looking for someone to high five. Having Manny Ramirez in Boston was like having a psychotic nympho girlfriend. You are ecstatic when you’re riding high, but you want to pull your hair out when you have another bout of utter lunacy. Manny could hit a baseball like few players ever to enter Fenway Park, but he could send you to a padded room when he started his usual antics. The Sox might not be a better team after the Manny Ramirez trade, but they will never have to worry about another episode of Manny being a whiny pain in the butt.

Over the last seven plus years Manny Ramirez asked to be traded out of Boston 147 separate times, not including 25 times that he was “misquoted”. His antics finally became too much, and even his own teammates were encouraging management to trade Ramirez. Manny’s complaining has done so much to hurt his value that the Red Sox had to cover the remaining seven million dollars left on his contract, as well as trade two major league players, just to get back a player with less skill. When people look back at this trade in a few years it may very well look like a disaster. Jason Bay is an All-Star left fielder, but his isn’t in the same class as Manny Ramirez. Craig Hansen is a talented reliever who just needs to figure out how to throw strikes to be a dominant reliever. The key to the trade may be Brandon Moss. Moss is a talented young outfielder that was without a place to play in Boston, much like David Murphy was last year. Murphy was sent to Texas for Eric Gagne, and is now making a run at the American League Rookie of the Year. Moss has the talent to be a .300 AVG/20 Home Run/80 RBI player, and in Pittsburgh he will have a chance to play and develop his skills.

If Ramirez had been more of a professional and less of a nutcase he would have been easier to trade, but was his craziness the real reason that he got the trade he wanted?

Game 4, Best Comeback Ever

Celtics Lakers Game 4 will go down as the best game in NBA history. The Lakers came out playing like a team of ringers taking on middle-aged accountants at a local YMCA. After the first quarter the Celtics set an NBA Finals record for the largest deficit (21 points) and were losing by more points than they scored. In the second quarter the lead grew to 24 points, and was 20 in the third quarter. No matter how good your team is, you do not come back from that in the NBA Finals, it just isn’t possible. That fact was lost on the Celtics.

The group of bench players that were not good enough to lead the Celtics to an NBA Title stepped up and made history. Role players like James Posey, PJ Brown, Tony Allen, and Eddie House sucked the life out of the Staples Center and helped shrink the deficit to only two points by the start of the fourth quarter. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen showed that they had the heart to will the Celtics back into the game, and even take the lead. The Lakers’ fans headed to the parking lot early as the Celtics as the Lakers just couldn’t retake the lead.

A confident Lakers team in the first half were in stunned shock as they looked up at the scoreboard and saw that instead of a tied series they were one game away from golfing. When the Boston Red Sox were losing 3-0 to the Yankees in 2004 I told everyone that they would win the series. I had that same feeling that the Celtics would win Game 4. I have only had four Father’s Days, but on Sunday night I will be watching the Celtics receive the golden NBA Title. Actually I could deal with a loss on Sunday; I want title number seventeen to happen on the fabled Boston parquet.

Lakers Win, Celtics Have Winning Formula

As team sports go, basketball is the game that can most easily be won or lost by a spectacular performance by one player. A triple-double or 50-point game will certainly help you win, but other support players are needed. Would Larry Bird have been as good without Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish, or would Michael Jordan have won so many titles without Scottie Pippen? If you doubt the importance of a quality supporting cast than look no further than LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. One player can carry a team on his back on every level up through college, but the NBA is a different animal. The Lakers versus the Celtics in the NBA Finals is a perfect example of a star’s need for quality teammates.

There is no question that Kobe Bryant play is the reason the Lakers would win or lose a playoff series. When Bryant won his NBA Titles it was with Shaq as the alpha dog. Now Kobe finally has his own team, as well as competent complimentary players in Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. Throw in the instant offense that Sasha Vujacic can offer and the Lakers can be a brilliant team. Paul Pierce has had a similar experience over the last decade. The Celtics had a few deep playoff runs, but those teams were lead by Antoine Walker (the only player in NBA history that thought he could play all five offensive positions by himself but never play defense). Pierce was better than Walker, but he was a better and less selfish teammate. Now Pierce has another veteran shooter in Ray Allen and a low post threat he has never had in Kevin Garnett. The combination of veteran leadership and hungry youngsters gives the Celtics a deeper rotation than most people expected in October. The one difference in the series is not bench scoring, points off of turnovers, or any other measurable statistic. It all comes down to ego.

During the first two games in Boston the Celtics came out ready to defend that home court at any cost. One of the biggest reasons the Celtics have had success all season is because the best players play as a team, not as a group of individuals. The Lakers’ players played the first two games (both losses) as if they are afraid of incurring the wrath of Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. No matter how well you play you could have always played better, and Bryant seems to thrive on making sure his teammates know that. Kobe tried to get his teammates involved in the first two games before deciding to try to win by himself in Game 3. The only player that even had a chance to contribute in Game 3 was Vujacic, and he was arguing with Bryant for a chance to get his shots. Lamar Odom spent the game on the bench in foul trouble, and Pau Gasol played a timid game and looked uncomfortable out on the floor. While Paul Pierce was mired with foul issues, and Kevin Garnett couldn’t hit a jump shot, Ray Allen stepped up and kept the Celtics in the game.

Game 3 was won by the Lakers, but it will be remember as the game where the Celtics found the formula to beat the Lakers. Rajon Rondo is a player very similar to Jason Kidd when he entered the NBA. Both are great passers, defenders, and rebounders, but neither were a threat to score unless they drove to the basket. With Rondo in the game the Celtics offense lacked the ability to stretch the defense. The Lakers could collapse off of Rondo since he isn’t a threat to shoot. When Rondo went down with an injury, Sam Cassell and Eddie House stepped up and the game changed drastically. Both House and Cassell look for their shot first, and will take any shot at any time. This forced the Lakers to cover the point guard more diligently, which left them unable to double-team as easily as they did in the first two games. This allowed Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins/P.J. Brown to work in the paint against smaller defenders. The Lakers are stellar perimeter defenders, but they struggle on the blocks. If the Celtics continue to play three outside shooters and two big men then they should be able to score at will against Los Angeles. The key to this success is Rajon Rondo. Rondo missed part of Game 3 with an ankle injury, and his availability is in question for Game 4. The Celtics would be in trouble with House and Cassell running the offense for a full 48 minutes, as House lacks the ball handling ability, and Cassell doesn’t pass enough to keep the Big 3 involved. Rondo’s game is based on speed, so an ankle injury would leave him far less effective. The ideal situation would be a healthy Rondo but playing only about half the game as a precaution. His speed would still cause the Lakers’ guards fits, but when he was on the bench the Celtics would be able to stretch the floor and get the Lakers’ frontcourt in foul trouble. Doc Rivers has taken a lot of heat for not being a great coach, but even a fan can see the opportunity presenting itself. If he doesn’t try to have the Celtics exploit this than Rivers doesn’t deserve to be a coach.

After pulling out a must win in Game 3, what do the Lakers need to do to win the series? They need to collectively man up, Kobe needs to shut up, Lamar Odom needs to show up, and Pau Gasol needs to toughen up. Without Odom and Gasol playing their best then the Celtics will be too tough to defeat. Kobe is talented but he can’t carry the Lakers to four wins by himself. The Lakers will have the crowd on their side for two more games, and the Celtics have struggled on the road in the playoffs. The Lakers need to win all three games at home or else they will be at a monumental disadvantage. If the Celtics can head back to Boston leading the series than they will be able to hoist banner number seventeen by beating the coach tied with Red Auerbach for the most NBA Championships. You can almost smell the victory cigar being unwrapped.

Evan Longoria in AAA is Smart

The Tampa Bay (not Devil) Rays front office deserves a pat on the back for making a move that fans hate. Evan Longoria might not only be the Rays best prospect, but the best offensive prospect in baseball. When it came time to make roster moves the Rays sent Longoria to Triple-A Durham, even though Longoria is a leading Rookie of the Year candidate. By not promoting Longoria until after May 1st the Rays will be able to keep him under contract until 2014, as opposed to 2013 if he started the season in the Major League. It is no secret that the Rays will not be a playoff team this year (or at least until 2010), but with the amazing young players they have, they are looking like the Cleveland Indians of the 1990’s. Is one month now really worth taking the chance of a top player becoming a free agent a year early when you could be a World Series contender?

Evan Longoria will be in a battle with Jacoby Ellsbury, Daric Barton, and Joba Chamberlin for the American League Rookie of the Year award. Starting the season in the minors will hurt Longoria’s chances, but the twenty-two year old can benefit from a few more Triple-A at bats. Longoria is an amazing hitter, but he still struggles at time with off-speed pitches. Last year Jacoby Ellsbury could have started the year in Boston but he was sent to Double-A. Ellsbury hit well over .400, and then was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket where he became a more polished hitter. When the Red Sox needed Ellsbury he was ready, as he was a major contributor to the Sox stretch run and World Series Championship. Longoria would fit in the Rays lineup on opening day, but is a chance at winning the ROY really worth keeping him in the big leagues? No. Longoria will be a better player when he is recalled, and the Rays will not be missing anything without him in the lineup.

The Rays may have an abundance of talent, but it will take some time before they are able to pass the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays for a chance at the playoffs. Giving their young talent a chance to mature will only benefit the franchise in the long run. Fans may want to see prospects in the Show ASAP, especially when the playoffs don’t seem like an option. Too many players have been rushed to the Majors, only to struggle and never live up to their potential. Giving Evan Longoria more time in the Minors may annoy fans, but when the Rays are in the playoffs in a few years due to Longoria, that one month wait back in 2008 will seem like a great idea.

The Heat Isn't On

Every year at least one NBA team is accused of packing it in early in an attempt to gain a better draft pick. This year is no different, as the Miami Heat are officially in shutdown mode. It will be very difficult for Miami not to finish with worst record in the NBA, and the franchise has made sure they will have the most ping pong balls come lottery day. From trades to injuries to coaching issues, the Heat have had a dysfunctional season, a far cry from their championship season two years ago.

Miami started their makeover by freeing themselves of Shaq’s monster contract in exchange for Shawn Marion, who will likely opt out of his contract after this season, which will free up exorbitant amounts of cap room for next year and beyond. Dwyane Wade has been the lone bright spot for Miami this year, and now he has opted to sit out the rest of the year with an ailing left knee. With injuries to Wade, and at least one player at every position, the Heat are having trouble filling out their roster, and now are trying to scrounge up healthy bodies to occupy the empty seats on the bench. The coup de grace lies with coach Pat Riley, who just announced he was leaving the bench during the season to scout potential draft picks. Are things really that bad down in South Beach?

Riley’s move may be a necessary evil when you are head coach as well as the man that makes the roster moves, but this decision reeks of abandoning all hope. Shouldn’t one of the best coaches in NBA history at least try to portray that he cares about his team in the long and short term? Even if Riley is leaving the bench just for a few weeks, and is doing so to scout potential draft picks, doesn’t that just scream of desperation? Why have scouts if your coach has to leave during the year to evaluate talent? This reminds be of the Cincinnati Bengals when they wouldn’t spend the money to hire enough scouts to properly evaluate talent.

As bad as this move looks it does make a modicum of sense in a convoluted way. As long as the Heat continue their losing ways they will have a top four pick in the next NBA draft. The general consensus among draft experts is that the top talents are all freshmen and sophomores, and only one player (Memphis guard Derrick Rose) has stated that he plans on returning to college. The best player at the moment looks to be Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, who looks like Shawn Marion with more upside. Guards such as Rose, USC star O.J. Mayo, and Indiana’s Eric Gordon are point guards by definition, but both Mayo and Gordon are shoot first guards. With Dwyane Wade as a shoot first combo guard, does Gordon or Mayo really fit? The most talented big men (DeAndre Jordan, Brook Lopez, Anthony Lopez, and Bake Griffin) all project to be good to great players, but none are instant impact players. With so much up in the air with this draft class, all potential picks need to be scrutinized. Depending on which players enter the draft, it is possible this lottery will contain no upperclassmen, or even any player older than twenty. Teams will need to know exactly what they are getting, and the player they draft will be the player that a franchise can be built around. For those reasons it is tough to fault Pat Riley for wanting to make sure he knows his investment inside and out. Being an NBA General Manager or Head Coach are more than full time jobs, and one man trying to fill both roles is a recipe for disaster, even for one of the best minds in NBA history.