The season is starting to wind down and its somehow becoming less clear to me who is really in control. The Heat go on losing streaks then follow those up with what appear to be their own version of perfect harmonious basketball. The Lakers got Bynum back just in time for him to get suspended as a result of an over zealous foul. The Bulls are still playing very well and with Joakim Noah back look to be championship worthy for the first time since Jordan left and finally my beloved Celtics look like they could be in trouble.
With all the trades right before the deadline most teams changed face completely. The Celtics specifically look like they have invested a lot of stock in the "we must win now" routine. Trading Kendrick Perkins could be a great move if they can get Shaq healthy but that could go awry considering his track record in the last few years. The Thunder however now have the inside force they needed to balance out their stellar perimeter play. Perk only puts up minimal numbers compared to the likes of Gasol, Bynum, and Howard but is among the best at the position for having a deterrent affect.
All in all it will be an exciting play-off season. The changes made and the performances lately have started to help clear the haze on the top 5 or 6 teams but now its just a matter of who will actually finish out the season on top.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
March Madness
The tournament is in full swing and little can be debated about it's awesomeness, it's just as exciting as always. With quality quotes from every analyst from Charles Barkley to Jimmy V the action is nonstop and the teams are performing... except for Louisville who decided not to show up to the first round. Ohio State looks dominant, Duke got Kyrie Irving back and Barkley dubbed the term the "Big Least" referring to the wackness that is the Big East conference. With Villanova getting bounced among almost all the other teams they put up that isn't even a good topic for debate. However, Jimmer is.
He continues to perform. He performed all year and now is showing his talents on the big stage in a big way. Teams set up with him in mind on the defensive end and still there is little to keep him from putting up the numbers characteristic of his season. When BYU aquares off on Florida come Thursday there will be two factors; Florida's bigs and Jimmer's big play. He is not just real, he is the deal. When Florida inevitably dominates BYU inside the only real option is for Jimmer to take this game on his shoulders as he has done all year and lead BYU into the final four. If he scores less that 30 they are looking at defeat, but can Florida shut him down? No one has so the outlook is not good.
Besides this match up of BYU and Florida the other big story is Chuck's Wildcats are going to catch a beat down at the hands of my Duke Blue Devil's. Kyrie Irving is playing like he never skipped a game and most of his production against Michigan came from the line or as a distraction for the rest of the team.
He continues to perform. He performed all year and now is showing his talents on the big stage in a big way. Teams set up with him in mind on the defensive end and still there is little to keep him from putting up the numbers characteristic of his season. When BYU aquares off on Florida come Thursday there will be two factors; Florida's bigs and Jimmer's big play. He is not just real, he is the deal. When Florida inevitably dominates BYU inside the only real option is for Jimmer to take this game on his shoulders as he has done all year and lead BYU into the final four. If he scores less that 30 they are looking at defeat, but can Florida shut him down? No one has so the outlook is not good.
Besides this match up of BYU and Florida the other big story is Chuck's Wildcats are going to catch a beat down at the hands of my Duke Blue Devil's. Kyrie Irving is playing like he never skipped a game and most of his production against Michigan came from the line or as a distraction for the rest of the team.
Friday, March 11, 2011
18 Game Schedule
Drew Brees tweeted that not once has a player asked for money in the NFL labor negotiations. The obvious concern is that ten years after playing in the NFL players brains turn into Hellen Keller. It is a violent game. Yet, I believe an 18 game schedule would be better for the NFL.
When Aaron Rodgers got his concussion he came back and played two games later. He got crunched over and over in that game including a head to head hit that looked like it would give any man a concussion. Yet, after the game Rodgers said that his new helmet protected him. It baffles me that I can watch a game on my blackberry, but we can't figure out a way to prevent concussions for the people playing the actual game. Who wants to be the genius who steps into the court room and presents a helmet that is safe? For God's sake I'll let Ray Lewis hit me to test it if it gets me football next season.
Assuming there is football and players feel safe, which is a very large assumption, why wouldn't you want 18 games? 16 is to short, remember the year of Matt Cassell Patriot fans when we went 11-5 but didn't get into the playoffs? Ask the San Diego Chargers if they want 18 games. Pre-season football kind of sucks. Take away two pre-season games, and lets play two more real ones. It would give us a better playoff picture, and just as many players get hurt in the pre-season they just may not be as meaningful. The NFL would make more money from having regular season games, and NFL fans would have two more games to watch. Makes to much sense to me.
-Chuck
When Aaron Rodgers got his concussion he came back and played two games later. He got crunched over and over in that game including a head to head hit that looked like it would give any man a concussion. Yet, after the game Rodgers said that his new helmet protected him. It baffles me that I can watch a game on my blackberry, but we can't figure out a way to prevent concussions for the people playing the actual game. Who wants to be the genius who steps into the court room and presents a helmet that is safe? For God's sake I'll let Ray Lewis hit me to test it if it gets me football next season.
Assuming there is football and players feel safe, which is a very large assumption, why wouldn't you want 18 games? 16 is to short, remember the year of Matt Cassell Patriot fans when we went 11-5 but didn't get into the playoffs? Ask the San Diego Chargers if they want 18 games. Pre-season football kind of sucks. Take away two pre-season games, and lets play two more real ones. It would give us a better playoff picture, and just as many players get hurt in the pre-season they just may not be as meaningful. The NFL would make more money from having regular season games, and NFL fans would have two more games to watch. Makes to much sense to me.
-Chuck
Monday, March 7, 2011
The 16 or 18 Game Schedule
So I think that Bill Simmons has succinctly summed up and addressed the perspective of the owner in this column (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons%2F110304). The greedy and indifferent owner. That issue aside I agree with the plight of the player.
The 18 game schedule is a horrendous idea. Rather than find a way to profit off the monopoly on Sundays they already own they want to expand what has already dominated our conscious. I for one think injuries are the least of the problems an 18 game season would face. Considering the reduced attendance in some markets its almost obvious that the longer season would force some teams out of the league or worse increase the prevalence of TV Blackouts.
As it stands now the blackout represents the greediest act of any owner or team. As opposed to allowing fans who either cant afford or choose not to brave the traffic and irritations of attending a game to watch the games from the privacy of their own home they choose to attempt a mandate on attendance. Many of these fans who prefer the comforts of their home support the advertisers in the form of their flat screen TVs, cars, beverages, and more importantly in merchandise. I've never met a fan of a team who failed to purchase at least one article of clothing with the team's insignia. These purchases support the teams, the owners, and seems to be unaccounted for when a game is blacked out to the home market.
To address the injury issue its not a matter of being worn down necessarily that worries me its just the pure risk of exposure. When defensive players like Clay Mathews and James Harrison are your opponents its inevitable that people will get injured. By expanding the season you add to more 60 minute sessions of punishment to what already is a 17 week regular season.
With these things in mind I doubt the players can sustain and the fans can pay attention for another two weeks. I'll be willing to watch but it wont mean that my attendance increases any more.
The 18 game schedule is a horrendous idea. Rather than find a way to profit off the monopoly on Sundays they already own they want to expand what has already dominated our conscious. I for one think injuries are the least of the problems an 18 game season would face. Considering the reduced attendance in some markets its almost obvious that the longer season would force some teams out of the league or worse increase the prevalence of TV Blackouts.
As it stands now the blackout represents the greediest act of any owner or team. As opposed to allowing fans who either cant afford or choose not to brave the traffic and irritations of attending a game to watch the games from the privacy of their own home they choose to attempt a mandate on attendance. Many of these fans who prefer the comforts of their home support the advertisers in the form of their flat screen TVs, cars, beverages, and more importantly in merchandise. I've never met a fan of a team who failed to purchase at least one article of clothing with the team's insignia. These purchases support the teams, the owners, and seems to be unaccounted for when a game is blacked out to the home market.
To address the injury issue its not a matter of being worn down necessarily that worries me its just the pure risk of exposure. When defensive players like Clay Mathews and James Harrison are your opponents its inevitable that people will get injured. By expanding the season you add to more 60 minute sessions of punishment to what already is a 17 week regular season.
With these things in mind I doubt the players can sustain and the fans can pay attention for another two weeks. I'll be willing to watch but it wont mean that my attendance increases any more.
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