The NBA Hypnotists

The NBA Playoffs can be one of the most gleeful sporting events to witness. As I watch playoff series after playoff series, I find myself staying up way past my bedtime again and again. From LeBron and Wade in Miami, to Westbrook and Durant in Oklahoma City, the playoffs are an eye- opening display of athleticism. And, like a train wreck, I can't look away.

Then the cure to my insomnia is found in the San Antonio Spurs. Despite winning 10 straight playoff games, and 20 straight games going back to the regular season, they continue to put me to sleep. I turn on their games, then out go the lights. I awaken the next day to watch the highlights and am amazed to see that at the exact time they lulled me sleep, the Spurs made some sensational plays. This seems to be their strategy. Putting opposing teams to sleep with their bland, traditional, dry, slow tempo, style of play, then completely turning it up to 11.

Looking at the San Antonio Spurs recent and historical  accomplishments, including 4 NBA Championships in the last 10 years, having Duncan, Parker, Ginnobli be the top three Spur scorers for nine straight seasons ( which hasn't been done since the Lakers were still in Minnesota), having a future Hall of Fame Center and Coach, and winning 20 straight, the Spurs appear to be a team that would be able to keep my eyes open wide. But I always succumb to the opposite: sleep. The horrible part is that it doesn't matter who they are playing. The San Antonio Hypnotists   Spurs powers are too strong to overcome.

Now, there are some boring and unappealing aspects to the Spurs. For one, the Spurs extremely sparingly do any national interviews. In a recent episode of The Dan Patrick Show, Dan asked how many Spurs interviews they have conducted in the show's 7 year history. His producer checked and found that the answer was two. The first was Tony Parker and the second was Tony Parker, with one of those having to do with a Tony Parker Subway promotion. Other examples of the Spurs' boredom are that they play in a small market, they currently have 7 players born outside of the U.S., they are named the "Spurs", and their team colors are black and white...okay the last two were a little absurd.

With all their amazing accomplishments, past and present, the Spurs' extremely unique and  athletically talented team is unlike any other in sports history.  The NBA is a league driven by sexy stars and flashy plays, two areas that the Spurs fail miserably in. The San Antonio Spurs are many so-called experts' pick to win the Championship once again. I just hope they snap their fingers before they do, so I am able to see their true greatness. But until then it is time for me to hit the sack, and fittingly enough, the Spurs game is on. Good night.

What The Flop???

photo courtesy of  SI.com

In a league with some of the most skillful and talented athletes, there is a trend that seems to be spreading like wildfire. This is a trend that is disheartening to the icons of the sport and the fans who crowd arenas and television screens to watch the NBA.

This trend is called flopping.

Flopping is when a player tries (usually successfully) to deceive an official by faking or exaggerating contact by an opposing player to try and draw a foul.

Commissioner David Stern has addressed flopping in the past and continues to do so. In 2008 the NBA announced that they would begin to fine players for clear cases of flopping, and David Stern was quoted as recently as last week saying:

"I think it's time to look at (flopping) in a more serious way, because it's only designed to fool the referee. It's not a legitimate play in my judgment. I recognize if there's contact (you) move a little bit, but some of this is acting. We should give out Oscars rather than MVP trophies."

 While no player has yet to be fined for flopping, many coaches and players have been fined for voicing their concerns on the issue. Pacers' coach Frank Vogal was fined $15,000 last week for making the comment that Miami is the "biggest flopping team in the NBA". He has a point. Just do a quick Youtube search for any of the Big 3 followed by the word flop and you will be thoroughly entertained.

But Miami is not the only team that practices flopping, as most teams take part in this art form. And why wouldn't they when it works to their advantage at least fifty percent of the time? This is why immediate action needs to take place and discipline needs to be handed down. This seems to be the sticking point. How to discipline players for flopping. So here is what I would propose:

 Any player found deliberately flopping shall be suspended for the first quarter of the following game on the first offense, then adding on 1 (one) additional quarter for each offense thereafter . The penalties would begin with the start of the season and then be reset for the start of the post-season.

While this proposal has no direct impact on the current game, it would be a definite deterrent. It would be nearly impossible for the league to hand out discipline during the game, as it would be up to the referee's discretion. Also there would need to be a committee that would determine if a player was flopping. Then, of course, an appeal process.

While this latest trend of flopping hasn't become a full blown epidemic, it may slowly get to that if action is not taken. Flopping has become more prevalent now than ever before. This ridiculous behavior needs to stop now.  If it does not, I'm afraid that the flopping in the NBA will soon rival that of soccer.

Bryce Almighty

picture courtesy of  nydailynews.com

The Washington Nationals have had the two most electrifying prospects in recent history. First up was Stephen Strasburg in 2010, and now is the thrilling Bryce Harper. The first overall pick in the 2010 draft, Harper exploded on to the scene and has become a must-watch sensation. During Harper's first start in the majors, other players were shown his power when he hit a laser shot over the head of Matt Kemp in the 7th inning. Then, with a throw from left field to home plate that was right on the money (but the runner was safe after catcher Wilson Ramos was unable to hold on to the ball), players quickly learned that he had a cannon for an arm as well.

At the age of 19, not only is he the youngest player in the big leagues, but there is no one younger than him in  triple-A either. After only five games in, Nationals manager Davey Johnson felt he was ready to bat in the number 3 spot: a spot usually designated for a team's best hitter.

Harper caught a great deal of criticism while he was playing for the Class A South Atlantic Hagerstown. After homering in a game, he first admired his work, then proceeded to blow a kiss at  Greensboro pitcher Zachary Neal. The video became a instant hit, being broadcast on every major sports network and making the rounds on social media. My first thought when I saw the clip was: Here is another big time prospect that just doesn't get it. Then I learned that there was more to the story.

"The pitcher was showing us up the whole game," said Taylor Jordan, then a Hagerstown (Md.) Suns pitcher. "Bryce finally tattooed one and showed him he's not the only one doing something out there."

The opposing pitcher was "showing them up" by doing a little dance and screaming at the Hagerstown dugout every time he struck one of their batters out. Harper's actions, while immature, where at least understandable.

But what a difference a year makes. Last Sunday, Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels' first pitch to Harper nailed him right in the back. No doubt, it was an intentional act by Hamels, who even admitted so after the game. Harper took his base with no incident, then advanced to third on a Jayson Werth single. Harper would then attain his sweet revenge:

This clip illustrates Harper's improved maturity. After stealing home you see Harper stand up, give a small fist pump then head to the dugout. If I were in his shoes, I would have at least stared down Hamels, and would have been tempted to run out to the mound and let him have a piece of my mind.

 For a 19 year old phenom that Sports Illustrated called "Baseball's LeBron," Bryce Harper's big league career so far has been very refreshing. From his on the field non-stop never say die attitude to his off the field interactions with fans involving pick-up softball games (youtube.com), I look forward to seeing him continue to develop into a perennial All Star and eventual Hall of Fame inductee.

Why Do So Many Bang On The Commish?

Photo by Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY

I can not begin to comprehend the idiocy of football fans who hate Commissioner Rodger Goodell. Fans are quoted as saying that he is ruining the NFL. There is even a Facebook page dedicated to this notion: Facebook.com. He is doing nothing but protecting and progressing the NFL product in the present and future.


Goodell is protecting the present by implementing his "personal conduct policy" which states:

"It is not enough to simply avoid being found guilty of a crime, instead, as an employee of the NFL or a member club, you are held to a higher standard and expected to conduct yourself in a way that is responsible, promotes the values upon which the league is based, and is lawful. Persons who fail to live up to this standard of conduct are guilty of conduct detrimental and subject to discipline, even where the conduct itself does not result in conviction of a crime."

To put it simply, hold yourself to the highest standard set forth by the NFL or face disciplinary action. This is true for any business or industry. Just as a teacher would be disciplined if he or she were to have sexual conduct with one of his or her students. Or a radio DJ would be fined by the FCC for using profane language. The Commissioner has the right to discipline any player for anything he sees as detrimental to the league, such as alleged sexual assault, a helmet to helmet hit, or an illegal and devastating hit to a quarterback.

Protecting the quarterback is a MUST. The quarterback position in the NFL is vital to league and team success. How did the Bears look without Jay Cutler (7-3 with him and 1-5 without)? Which means less NFL interest and diminishing attendance in one of the biggest cities in the U.S.

So when there is a NFL team that is providing financial benefits to its defensive players for taking opposing players "out" of the game by any means necessary, swift and stiff punishment is a must.

Which leads to protecting the future of the NFL . There is almost nothing that can bring down an enormous corporation such as the NFL. Almost being the key word. The one thing that could crush the NFL is litigation in the form of lawsuits. Lawsuits are already piling up on desks of NFL execs due to Bountygate. So the NFL is protecting themselves by disciplining the Saints organization and letting other teams know that this kind of conduct is completely unacceptable and will be met with immediate action.    

Since Goodell has become the Commissioner, NFL player arrests have gone down from 79 in 2006  to 62 in 2011 and as of May 2 this year, only 16 (USA Today). Which points out that Goodell's "personal conduct policy"is working exceptionally well.

To play in the NFL you have to be extremely talented. The number of high school seniors who make it to the NFL is microscopic. But no matter how talented you may be, to be employed by the NFL is a privilege. A privilege that comes with great responsibility. Rodger Goodell informs players of these responsibilities and holds them to the highest possible standards which has made the NFL more popular today then ever before.

See more:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2007-04-10-new-conduct-policy_N.htm


http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2012/05/has-roger-goodell-improved-player-conduct/1#.T6HD3MWUUmY

The Unraveling of Albert Pujols

Being A fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, nothing has made me more joyous (other than the Cardinals hot start) than seeing the complete downfall of one Albert Pujols. A career .327 hitter is batting just .217 with 0 homers and  4 RBI in his first 92 at bats (23 games) as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. Hey Angles,you where expecting these numbers, right? Oh, but not until the final year of his contract. But Albert insists that the home runs will come.
         "I don't think about that, man," Pujols said. "It could be tomorrow, maybe the next day, a month from now, I don't know. My job is to get myself ready to play and take my swing. ... Home runs, when they come, they come in bunches."
Yeah, I'm sure you're not thinking about that.
     
The media and Los Angeles fans claim that he is in an adjustment period and that Pujols isn't used to facing American League pitching and doesn't know the pitchers' tendencies. Complete garbage. Or maybe I am wrong in assuming that Pujols has access to video of these pitchers. Or maybe the Angels have the worst scouting department in baseball. YOU'RE 23 GAMES IN. Here is a hint Albert: They're going to throw hard and inside cause they know you can't turn on it like you used to. Also, I don't hear anything about Prince Fielder struggling, and after St. Louis traded Colby Rasmus to the American League last season he had 3 HR in 140 at bats. To your credit Albert, you've never used this excuse.
In a hitters pregame meeting Monday you stood up in front of your teammates and vowed to put end to your slump. How do I know this? Because your hitting coach told the media. Which, in turn, pissed you off. HE WAS COMPLEMENTING YOU  and your leadership. But yeah, you're not stressing. For God's sake, your replacement's replacement Matt Carpenter is batting .267 with 1 HR and 14 RBI. The Cardinals are 3 games up while you and your Angels are 9 games back. I couldn't have dreamed of a better start to the 2012 baseball season.


St. Louis is where you made a home and where you should have stayed. You had a chance to be a Cardinal legend, to be right there with Stan "The Man" Musial, Lou Brock and Ozzie Smith. You will never be uttered in the same breath as those players. You say you felt disrespected when the Cardinals' initial offer was only 5 years for 130 million . Are you kidding me? All of the St. Louis fans felt disrespected when you spit in our faces and jumped ship to go the Angels. Enjoy chasing the Rangers all year.  I know if you could you would come crawling back to the Cardinals, but they (hopefully) would slam the door in your face. When you come back to St. Louis as a member of the Angels don't expect a single clap from me. Also IF you get in the Hall of Fame DON'T EVEN THINK of doing it as a member of the Cardinals.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/05/01/pujols-finishes-april-with-no-homers-for-angels/#ixzz1tezgK3MJ