Bleacher Report - Articles by David Burnett

Remember These Titans: Tennessee Wins Fourth Straight

David Burnett — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:04:20 -0500

Remember this—the Tennessee Titans have now won four games in a row. The winning streak was extended Monday night with an impressive victory in the Titans’ original hometown of Houston.

The streak started just over a month ago after a humiliating loss to the New England Patriots, 59–0.

At that point, the Titans were winless on the season. Six straight losses. Nowhere to go, but up. At least that’s what they always say when it looks like there is no hope.

But apparently hope springs eternal for 86-year-old Titans owner Bud Adams, who called for Vince Young to return to the starting lineup after the Patriots loss.

Titans’ coach Jeff Fisher apparently agreed with the owner and benched veteran quarterback Kerry Collins. For tarnished star Vince Young, it was now or never.

But clearly it is Now, as the return of Young is propelling a once floundering team.

Monday night’s 20-17 win over the Houston Texans is actually making it possible for Tennessee fans to think about the playoffs…

Well okay, if not this year, most certainly it looks like there are big games ahead for the Titans in the near future, if they keep playing like this.

The resurgence of the Titans of course coincides with the return of Young, who is looking more and more like the guy who was simply unstoppable at the University of Texas, the guy who won the national championship over USC.

Against the Texans, Young passed efficiently and ran effectively when he had to. At times, Houston’s defense didn’t seem to know how to defend against him.

Young’s return to relevance seemed unlikely a year ago when there was good reason to think that he had just about lost his mind. After the opening game of last season, Young seemed to come apart emotionally when he was injured and benched in favor of Kerry Collins.

There were rumors of a suicide attempt after that game. Although Young has strongly denied trying to take his own life, his reputation was badly harmed. Making matters worse, the Titans went on to have the league’s best record last season with a troubled Young on the sidelines and many wondering if he was finished as a player. But that was then.

Of course, the new Vince Young is helped greatly by the spectacular running of blazing fast tailback, Chris Johnson, who has been timed at 4.24 in the 40 yard dash. Johnson is leading the NFL in rushing and looks like he might make a run at a two thousand yard season.

With Johnson, Young and an improving defense, Tennessee is keeping faint hope alive for the faithful in Nashville.

And right now, it looks like whether they actually make the playoffs or not, Vince Young and his re-energized teammates will make it hard to forget these Titans.

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The Los Angeles Lakers: Whose Team Are They?

David Burnett — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:09:31 -0400

The Los Angeles Lakers have just won their 15th NBA title. And because of his obvious importance, a lot of people believe the Lakers are Kobe Bryant’s team. After all, he is their best player, and he did win the Bill Russell Most Valuable Player Award.

But does that actually mean the Lakers are in fact Kobe’s team?

With 13 successful (and often spectacular) seasons in the NBA, Kobe just might be one of the greatest players in basketball history. That’s a fact. But when you really ponder the implication behind the question “Whose team is it?” the more absurd and ridiculous the concept becomes.

Why is this important, anyway?

Much was made during the Lakers–Magic NBA Finals about how crucial it was for Kobe to win a fourth championship in order to prove he could do it without Shaquille O’Neal.

I wonder why.

Looking at the statistics from the Lakers' last three championships, the numbers tell us that Kobe Bryant averaged roughly 30 points per game during those three series in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In reality, this suggests that Shaq needed Kobe every bit as much as Kobe needed Shaq.

So whose team were Laker squads that won the championship three years in a row—Shaq’s or Kobe’s team? Did it really matter? And I know this is rhetorical, but weren’t there other players on those Laker teams?

Just asking the question "Whose team?" seems to render the other less prominent players irrelevant.

That’s why this "Whose team?" thing must stop and must stop now.

Back to this season.

Let me make this point, and stay with me as I say this: The Lakers could not have won the title without Pau Gasol. Take Gasol—the closest player in style and play to Boston Celtics great, Kevin McHale—out of the lineup and the Lakers simply can’t beat the Magic.

Furthermore, if you take Derek Fisher, and his crucial three-point shooting out of the Finals, the Lakers would still be playing the Magic.

Let me go on.

Lamar Odom, the versatile 6’10" Lakers power forward who can do just about anything with the basketball when he puts his mind to it, created a tremendous matchup problem for the Magic. Orlando simply had no answer for him. They would have certainly lost the series without Lamar Odom’s contributions.

The same can be said for Lakers small forward, Trevor Ariza—the Magic couldn’t handle him either. Ariza just kept hitting important shot after important shot during the series and played great defense.

Again I ask: Is Kobe Bryant the Lakers best player? Yes he is. But could he have won the title this year on his own? The clear answer is: No, he could not.

So let me ponder once more: Are the Lakers Kobe’s team?

Well, actually they are. But they are Derek Fisher’s team too! The Lakers also belong to Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Trevor Ariza. Take away any one of those players and the guys on the bench and rusty starting center Andrew Bynum, and the Orlando Magic are in position to win an NBA championship.

Frankly, this "Whose team?" stuff is old and tired. I’m beyond sick of hearing about it.

But this concept is not just one that harms the values of team play in basketball. Every team sport has some version of this issue. And the more I read about it, the more I listen to the debates, the more stupid I find it all.

Team sports are won by teams, not individuals. Certainly great individual performances matter, and we marvel at them, but take away any of the component parts—the teammates—that surround that great player and all you have is a great player; you don’t have a champion.

I especially hope the folks in Cleveland understand this.

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Rafer Alston Skips to Relevance

David Burnett — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:58:41 -0400

I had just about written him off as another playground punk, but I’m glad that at least for one game, the man known on asphalt courts as "Skip to My Lou," was the main catalyst for his team. It was good to see Rafer Alston turn things around.

Alston played an outstanding game Tuesday night in the Orlando Magic’s Game Three win against the Los Angeles Lakers when his team absolutely needed him most.

Alston’s success—20 points and four assists—will go a long way toward rebuilding a rapidly fading reputation that had suffered greatly from his actions and his play during the first two games of the series.

Like many people who are following the NBA Finals, and cheering for Orlando, I was down big-time on Alston. Alston seemed to pout like a child when he sat the bench, while the previously injured starter and all-star, Jameer Nelson, returned to the lineup for long stretches of Game One.

Game Two wasn’t much better either. Alston didn’t appear to have his head in the game, playing inconsistently and badly missing shots. It could be that he was selfishly thinking about playing time rather than helping the team.

Alston has never been someone teams depended on, or trusted. He has bounced around a lot during his ten years in the NBA. This year he moved on to Orlando at mid-season in a trade with the Houston Rockets.

Honestly, I never thought much of Alston or his game. Quite frankly, I’m biased against playground-style players. Many of them seem to be “me-first” guys who don’t care about team play and in some cases don’t even care whether they actually win the game.

Alston’s apparent attitude—I say apparent, because it's based solely on the interviews I watched, and his body language on the bench, and on the court—suggested he was exactly like the stereotype that I described. But something seemed to change for Alston Tuesday night.

Maybe it was playing in familiar surroundings at home. Maybe it was the frustration from all the criticism he’s gotten lately. But Tuesday night the light clicked on for Alston. His inspired play early in the game, his leadership, and shot-making set just the right tempo and tone for the Magic, who would go on to set an NBA Finals record for field goal shooting percentage. Alston also, thank goodness, said all the right things when he was interviewed during and after the game.

The thing about watching championship series, particularly the NBA, is that if you are lucky, you get to watch the team you follow evolve, grow, get better, and hopefully win. And other times you get to witness miraculous and sometimes game changing plays.

But if you are really fortunate, you literally witness a player grow into maturity. From all appearances, Tuesday was Alston’s night to finally grow up.

And it looks like he has finally skipped into NBA relevance at just the right time.

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Michael Vick's Release: What Will It Say About Us?

David Burnett — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:25:50 -0400

Ponder these words for a minute: rehabilitate, redeem, remorse, incarceration, guilty, exile, forgiveness.

They are a jumble of powerful words that are not always properly understood and are sometimes used incorrectly.

I think of those words and several others when I consider the eventual freedom of a famous prisoner in Leavenworth, Kansas.

Michael Vick.

I wonder how we will interpret and use those words when this man is set free.

The 28-year-old Michael Vick, a federal prisoner who was once the highest paid player in the National Football League, will be going home in less than two weeks.

Vick will be released into home confinement for the remaining eight weeks of his prison term. Ironically, the end of Vick’s sentence will neatly coincide with the start of NFL training camps.

The end of July traditionally marks the beginning of a new season for most NFL players. It could mean a fresh start for Vick who would like to resume his football career after missing two seasons.

But it could also mark the beginning of the coldest reception ever received by an athlete.

Sadly, many athletes have been in trouble. And some, like Vick, have spent time in prison. Several have even been connected to crimes where people have died.

Yet a number of them went on to successfully compete and star again. But none of them, I believe, at any point faced the utter contempt and widespread anger that has been directed at Vick.

There is no disputing that Vick’s crimes were horrendous. Vick’s greatest burden will likely be that he will forever be known as a man who not only ran a dog-fighting operation, but was extremely cruel to the dogs he owned.

In some cases, the evidence indicates that he apparently participated in the torture and killing of dogs that did not perform well in fights.

Still, I am uncomfortable with how all of this is playing out. I am troubled by the vitriol that has been heaped on Vick.

The response feels wildly out of proportion to the crimes he committed, considering what we have tolerated from other athletes.

For his crimes, as terrible as they were, Vick pled guilty and will soon have served his time. I always thought that in this country a man once released has a right to return to society and try to reclaim his life.

How should NFL teams, the commissioner, fellow players, and fans deal with a free Michael Vick. The criminal justice system soon will indicate that he has paid his debt.

Is there an additional public debt that Vick must now pay? And if so, for how long?

So I ask: What is enough? What more do we want from Vick?

Public opinion will play a huge role in what happens to Vick in the future. There are many people who say they are prepared to protest—and even boycott—any team that dares to sign him to a contract.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says that Vick must show “genuine remorse” and demonstrate that he is a changed man if he is to be considered for reinstatement.

I ask though, how high is that bar of remorse?

Perhaps we need to look at this through the eyes and heart of Tony Dungy, one of the most respected and honorable men in the history of professional football.

In what was only described as a private meeting, the former NFL coach met this week with Vick behind bars at Leavenworth.

Dungy’s meeting with Vick was extremely important. Dungy is not just a football coach, he has considerable experience talking with and counseling prisoners.

His prison outreach ministry is one of the reason’s the Super Bowl-winning coach decided to retire from the NFL after last season. Dungy believes in both discipline and redemption.

I hope that one day Dungy will share his thoughts about the imprisoned quarterback. What Dungy saw and and heard from Vick should go a long way toward shaping how we understand Vick.

It may be that only a man like Dungy can lend the much-needed perspective to bring common sense, understanding, and closure to our feelings about Vick.

I believe how we receive the former Atlanta quarterback upon his release from prison will say more about us as people than it may ever say about Michael Vick, the convicted felon.

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An Open Letter to Jason Campbell

David Burnett — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:04:49 -0400

Dear Mr. Campbell,

You have taken the high road for weeks, while your boss, Washington Redskins owner, Dan Snyder, has now twice tried to publicly fire and embarrass you.

I commend you for your decency during what must be an uncomfortable and trying time. You are truly a southern gentleman. You are much more decent and dignified about being slapped in the face than most of us might be under similar circumstances.

I wonder though, doesn’t it make you a little angry that Snyder, who just a couple of weeks ago promised that his flirtation with another quarterback, Jay Cutler, was just a passing fancy and that he was really committed to you, lied? His commitment lasted just about a week, and then he turned his attention to a smooth talking college kid to play your position right behind your back. Isn’t that some BS!!

But you, Mister Classy, simply said only that you were “shocked” that Snyder would do that. I applaud you for your self-control.

But here is the bottom line. Mr. Snyder and his team of advisers, despite their best efforts, couldn’t get the men they wanted to play quarterback. And now they are “stuck” with you. And it's either a pretty messed up position for all of you to be in, or perhaps, irony of ironies, potentially the best situation of all.

It's what you make of it.

No, Jason, I’m not a Redskins fan, I never have been except for the briefest of moments—to cheer for a past-his-prime, Doug Williams, who heroically played one of the greatest Super Bowl games in NFL history, and one other time to root for Marty Schottenheimer, who is the only coach in the Dan Snyder era to truly mold the Redskins the right way, even though it meant Snyder had to cede power to someone who actually knew how to put together a professional football team.

But now I’ve decided that even if I don’t completely root for the Redskins, I will definitely pull for you, Jason Campbell. And I’m sure I am not alone here. You have been wronged. We know it and so do you.

Most folks I know hate to see someone get played, the way Dan Snyder and the Redskins have tried to play you.

Nonetheless, like the upstanding, respectful young man that you are, you have displayed a dignity far beyond anything that should rightfully be expected from anyone. I like and respect that.

But right now, as a new fan and member of what has to be a growing fan club, I want more from you.

Please seize control of this team. Even though Dan Synder owns them, circumstances now dictate that the Redskins can become your team now—if you want that responsibility.

The Redskins have done virtually nothing in the Snyder years. But if you can take over the team with your leadership, your poise and your play, you will have stock in this town and this team that Dan Snyder will never be able to take away from you.

You wear number 17, just like Doug Williams did, so it's time for you to act like number 17 and produce with big numbers the way Doug did in the Super Bowl two decades ago, when he played the greatest game any Redskins quarterback has ever played, when everything was on the line.

The biggest complaint against you is that you might be too nice, too soft spoken, and accommodating to be a star in the NFL. But I believe it is not too late to show that nice and decent doesn’t mean weak. You haven’t nearly reached your prime as a player.

But you have already been tested, and so far you have aced all the dignity courses. Now its time to for you to earn your advanced degree in signal calling and team leadership.

You can do it, I know you can.

Sincerely,

A New Fan

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2009 NFL Draft: Why Mark Sanchez Has League Personnel Swooning

David Burnett — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:24:06 -0400

I’m not at all surprised that NFL scouts and executives are swooning over USC’s Mark Sanchez, and his stock continues to rise as draft day approaches.

The guy who started only 16 games in his college career is now projected to be the second quarterback drafted, probably within the first four overall picks.

What I believe some are seeing is a young man who is as smooth an operator as has come around in years at the quarterback position.

It's almost as if Sanchez was groomed to assume the role of team spokesman and leader. He smiles engagingly, he speaks well, and he knows how to conduct himself in public.

All of those qualities help give Sanchez perhaps the most important attribute a quarterback needs: star quality.

Star quality is the essential, yet intangible, asset that separates the superstars and fan favorites from those who are merely good or just competent.

Quarterback is football’s most important and glamorous position, and most owners, coaches, and fans would prefer to have stars play quarterback. It helps the team with marketing, it helps coaches keep their jobs, and it helps fans identify with the team.

I can see why here in Washington, the Redskins’ owner, Dan Snyder, after recently spending quality time with Sanchez, became enamored with him and is trying to find a way to deal up in the draft to get him. Snyder has been looking for a player like Sanchez ever since he bought the Redskins a decade ago.

Mark Sanchez is very impressive in person. I witnessed his appeal firsthand when Sanchez was one of the nation’s top players as a high school senior, at the US Army All-American Bowl. I had the chance to meet and interview Sanchez.

I also watched him work the fans, his teammates, and the media. He had poise far beyond his years. That was in 2005, and even then he talked in TV-ready sound bites. It didn’t seem an implausible leap to imagine him playing on Sundays someday.

The one thing I have yet to mention is Sanchez’s ability. Based on what I have seen, Sanchez does have talent. Is he as talented as one of his predecessors at USC, Carson Palmer, who has distinguished himself in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals? I’m still not sure about that.

Nonetheless, NFL folks always believe they can nurture quarterbacks to greatness, either through their systems or through their coaching. Is Sanchez coachable? Probably, but being a star quarterback is more than just being a good student of the game, or what you actually accomplish on the field.

I’m not saying that any of this means that Sanchez will ever be a better player than the man the Redskins would like him to replace, Jason Campbell.

In his three years as a Redskin, Jason Campbell has so far failed to display that ever-elusive star quality. As of now, Campbell is simply a nice, competent player, with a big arm and potential. But for Dan Snyder, that isn’t nearly enough.

Jason Campbell isn’t Joe Theismann, and he’s also not Doug Williams—the only two guys in the last 30 years who even vaguely displayed star quality at quarterback in a Redskins uniform. Prior to that, the other star Redskins quarterback of the last half-century was Sonny Jurgensen, who will this year turn 75 years old.

Star quarterbacks are rare indeed in the NFL. Peyton Manning, of course, comes to mind, and obviously Tom Brady. I also consider Donovan McNabb a star, just as I do the just retired—again—Brett Favre.

Those guys are stars. Their fans talk about them, buy their jerseys, and watch their games.

Dan Snyder, and I’m sure several other owners who may gamble on Mark Sanchez, believe that he might one day become one of those special signal callers.

That’s why they are swooning.

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Surprise, Surprise: Mike Wilbon Upsets Wes Malott

David Burnett — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:26:20 -0400

Jim Nabor’s famous TV character Gomer Pyle often proclaimed: “Surprise, Surprise”. And surprise is the best word for what happened when I finally got a chance to watch the Mike Wilbon-Wes Malott bowling challenge the other day.

Believe it or not, with a surprising effort, Mike Wilbon, the co-host of the popular ESPN sports talk show Pardon the Interruption, with the benefit of a 57 pin handicap, knocked off Wes Malott, the PBA’s player of the year 256 - 248.

Winning based on handicap is a fair and accepted practice in bowling. In fact most bowling leagues all across the country use the handicap system. Wilbon who rolled a “scratch” or actual 199 game, performed well under the TV lights against one of the best bowlers in the world.

At one point Wilbon, who was dressed in a special PTI bowling shirt, rolled four consecutive strikes. Wilbon’s “HAMBONE” as TV bowling announcer Randy Pederson often proclaims when someone hits four straight strikes, is pretty darned good—no matter who is rolling the ball.

This all started a couple of months ago when Wilbon, on Pardon the Interruption, was highly critical of Wes Malott for failing to appear at an old-school, plastic ball only tournament.

Wilbon suggested with his remarks that Malott did not want to test himself without the benefit of the high-tech special surface balls that are normally used by professional players and top ranking amateurs.

These high-tech balls are believed by many bowling purists to have artificially inflated bowling scores. The unstated is that a “real bowler” should be able to win with any ball, old-school plastic or high-tech.

A couple of weeks later Malott, while winning a tournament in Indianapolis, taunted Wilbon on the air for suggesting he was afraid to use plastic balls and challenged the TV host to a match.

Malott said he would use only plastic balls and destroy Wilbon. On his TV show the next day Wilbon accepted Malott’s challenge but said he needed at least 57 pins as a handicap since he would be facing the PBA’s top player.

The match finally took place last week, and will air on ESPN 2, Apr. 22 as part of a special PBA bowling series. If you don’t want to wait till then, the match is available to see right now on ESPN.com.

What I saw was an impressive showing by an amateur player in Wilbon. Rolling a 199 is an excellent score by any measure. And when you consider the pressure that Wilbon was under to perform on camera against one of the best bowlers in the world you’ve got to give the PTI host credit.

Now let’s see Wilbon take on LeBron James, one on one. I hear LeBron is a pretty good bowler.

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John Madden Calls It Quits: The Audience Loses Its Voice

David Burnett — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:41:57 -0400

John Madden transcended football—the sport he coached and later covered. There has never been a sports announcer quite like him. He was an American sports original.

Madden never talked over our heads. He would hit us at eye level with small, punchy, syntax-challenged words, pictures, and insights. He said it; we got it.

John Madden talked about football in a way that everyone could understand. Along with the fine points of team strategy, he also pointed out the silly, inane little things that go on in games that other announcers would never dare mention. He often said what we were thinking.

While he wasn’t a comedian, he had a comic’s timing. We laughed along with him because he never tried to pretend that football was more than just a game.

But at the same time, when the miraculous happened on the field, those unbelievable moments that cement us as fans, he knew just how to describe what we saw and, more importantly, why it happened.

John Madden will leave one of the most unusual and profound legacies in the history of pro football—great coach, great broadcaster, video game pioneer, and perhaps the all-time sports everyman.

He is the one guy who really makes me feel old. I say that because I can remember very clearly when Madden was young.

Madden first made headlines when he was named coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1969. At 32 years old, he was the youngest coach in pro football.

Madden inexplicably retired from the Raiders after the 1978 season. He would never coach again. During his time on the sidelines, he crafted the best record in NFL history, based on winning percentage, with 103 wins and only 32 losses.

He coached the Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory in 1977. He was an unexpected success as a coach who, after retirement, would immediately start to build a resume as football’s most unique and successful voice as a broadcaster.

Madden started broadcasting football games 30 years ago. Most of the time, he worked with another football man turned broadcaster, Pat Summerall.

The two teamed up to become the essential game to listen to for more than 20 years. When Madden went to Monday Night Football, he generated much of the same magic with his new partner Al Michaels, with whom he also worked on NBC’s new Sunday Night Football.

Just like he left the game as a coach, Madden is now leaving the announcer's booth on his own terms and in his own time.

To a lot of kids, Madden is a video game. In fact, the game that bears his name is the most successful sports video game in history.

John Madden is clearly more than a game. In fact, he was more than a coach or broadcaster.

In the purest sense, John Madden was really a great communicator. In the easiest language to understand possible, Madden told us what is really going on during a football game. His take on football and his easy folksy manner in explaining it made the game more accessible.

Football will not be the same without him.

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Crowning the King: LeBron James Leads Cleveland to its Best Record

David Burnett — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:57:57 -0400

Last night, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers knocked off the Indiana Pacers to clinch the NBA’s best record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

With 66 wins and only 15 losses, the 2009 Cavs own one of the best records in league history.

As a result, I must take my hat off to James, who at 24 years of age and in his sixth season, has led his team to the top of the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is no worse than a co-favorite to win an NBA title this season.

While I am on record as pulling for Dwayne Wade to get the MVP trophy, I am now willing to concede that crown. King James has earned the right to represent the league as its best.

I’m still not yet sure that the Cavaliers are, in fact, the best team in the NBA. But for a full regular season, James' teammates have played without concern that their star player might leave when his contract is up in a couple of years.

The Cavs have lost only one home game this season, which ties an NBA record. They continually play with determination and passion, and at this rate, they will only get better.

But more importantly, James will continue to get better, and that in itself is a scary proposition for the rest of the league.

James' Cavs have played like they want him to know they are ready to step up and be the teammates he needs to win multiple championships. Championships are what James says he needs.

If this is true, whether he wins it all this year or not, the ingredients are certainly now in place for James to be a championship contender with Cleveland year in and year out.

Ten years after Michael Jordan won his last championship, it now seems his worthy successor may finally have been found.

At 6’9” tall and 260 pounds, there has never been a player of James' size who can do the things he can do on the court. He leads, scores, passes, and gracefully handles the ball with unmatched strength and jumping ability.

He is also a steadily improving defender.

Kobe Bryant may be the best all-around player right now, but he is also in his 13th year in the league. Keep in mind that the great Bill Russell only played 13 seasons.

We can argue whether right now Kobe is better than LeBron, but in a couple of years it will not be an argument.

Inevitably, there will be other players to challenge the King and his Cavaliers. Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat come to mind first, but Wade too is older than James.

The 20-year-old, silky smooth and tall Kevin Durant also comes to mind. But for now, Durant plays on an inexperienced Oklahoma City team that may not make the playoffs for several more years.

Players are never considered truly great until they take their teams deep into the playoffs. So, true super-stardom for Durant is still several years off, meaning James' reign in the NBA should last another seven to eight uncontested years.

A championship may not come this year for the Cavs. But if the king stays in Cleveland, he will be crowned eventually.

He is that good.

Tiger Falls Short at Masters: Do We Care Who Won?

David Burnett — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:58:52 -0400

Tiger Woods was making another one of his legendary charges on Sunday at the Masters. He was 10 under, two-shots back of the lead, and six under par for the day. This time Tiger was being pushed to the limit by his playing partner Phil Mickelson who also stood at 10 under and was simultaneously shooting some of the best clutch golf of his career.

This was an ultimate made for TV sports moment. Golf’s top two players coming from way, way behind poised to sweep past a group of unknowns and into Masters glory.

Then suddenly at the 17th with an improbable victory still possible, Tiger tees off into trouble and for all practical purposes his day was done. And so was mine. While I continued watching, I no longer cared about the outcome. There would be no dramatic Tiger victory at this Masters.

Making matters worse for golf in general, Tiger’s chief challenger, Phil Mickelson, also made a costly mistake by missing what seemed the easiest of birdie puts at 17 to also drop out of contention. I didn’t have to listen closely in order to hear the sound of TV sets being turned off all across the country.

This is both the blessing and the curse of the PGA. Tiger moves the needle. He brings in the casual fan. Tiger makes everyone wealthy. With Mr. Woods, golf matters. But without Tiger, professional golf generates minor league interest.

The NBA faced a similar problem with the retirement of Michael Jordan. Jordan and the Bulls mattered and we watched. When Jordan took off his number 23 jersey for the last time in Chicago the NBA was forced to regroup. Only now, a decade after Jordan’s last championship, has the NBA begun to find ways to re-interest the casual fan.

That is the problem when a sport hitches its fortunes to a single star. The National Football League is nearly immune to this. Bad teams one year, become great teams the next. And the fans never stop watching no matter the stars or who is atop the leader board.

The Arizona Cardinals for god’s sake go to the Super Bowl this year and no one thinks its a misprint.

Super Bowl ratings were again tremendous.

Such is not the case for golf. The ratings are only great when Tiger is playing and winning. Still, we’ll postpone golf’s TV funeral for now. The sport luckily has at least 10 more years to celebrate Tiger’s greatness.

But the drop off after that point will be likely be steep and perhaps permanent unless golf finds another way to sell the game to the casual fan, or another guy captures wins and interest like Tiger has done for the last 12 years.

By the way, what happened after Tiger finished up at the Masters yesterday? There was a playoff? Three guys in it. Really? Who won? Oh—a guy named Cabrera. Okay.

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How Should We Judge Tyler Hansbrough?

David Burnett — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:33:38 -0400

He just helped lead his team to a national championship. He is a four-time All-American. He was once the national college player of the year. But really, seriously, honestly, just how good is Tyler Hansbrough? Why is he yet another lightening rod for debate about an NBA future when we’ve barely had time to take in his recent accomplishments?

The Hansbrough debate is similar to the discussion about the professional merits of Duke shooting sensation J.J. Reddick a couple of years ago. As it turned out the critics were right about Reddick. While Reddick has not been a total NBA bust, he’s made virtually no impression at all as a pro.

But should potential NBA greatness be the key measure of a player’s worth? Must that player have the ideal physical dimensions to be properly evaluated for a chance to succeed in the NBA? Does he need long arms? Or a 40-inch vertical jump?

Just what does make a player great? How should he be judged? Today, less than 24 hours after Hansbrough cut down the nets in Detroit, the critics on radio, TV and, the Internet are already forecasting a less than rosy future for the North Carolina star. So much so that I almost feel sorry for Hansbrough. He has done as much or more than anyone in recent memory to promote the virtues of college basketball and the value of the near mythical “student-athlete.” Should that be enough?

I just want to know what is actually wrong with Hansbrough? Is he too short to be an NBA power forward? Is he too slow to be a small forward or shooting guard? Does he lack the range on his jump shots that might make him valuable to teams at the next level?

Is Hansbrough the proverbial “tweener” who just doesn’t fit into any known position category? Someone please tell me what this kid needs to do to get respect today and at least the acknowledgement that he may have a future.

When I was a kid, one of my college basketball heroes was not projected for NBA or ABA greatness. He was considered a step too slow, and without the ability to create his own shot. But it did not stop me from cheering him on or appreciating him many years later for the joy he gave me when I was too young to “know better.”

The player from my youth who captured my imagination was Purdue’s Rick Mount. He remains in my memory the best long distance shooter I’ve ever seen. That includes all players I’ve seen in high school, college or professional basketball.

Mount would shoot a rainbow fadeaway jumper from NBA 3-point range from any point on the court that would invariably shoot Purdue back into the game or increase the Boilermaker’s lead. Mount averaged more than 30 points per game for his three-year All-American career at Purdue and led them to an NCAA championship game appearance against mighty UCLA and Lew Alcindor, now known as Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

The point is, Rick Mount, who went on to play for the home state Indiana Pacers and later the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA, never came close to stardom, but I will always remember him and how good he was at Purdue. The fact is Purdue has had a number of players go on to the NBA including Glen “Big Dog” Robinson, but they never had a player like Rick Mount.

Tyler Hansbrough could be today’s Rick Mount, and go from college greatness to NBA non-star. Or he could prove everyone wrong and maybe even help lead a team to an NBA title. But maybe he won’t. Maybe it shouldn’t matter. Hansbrough has already done a lot so far. Perhaps we should properly appreciate that.

Michigan State Spartans: Destiny's Choice

David Burnett — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:47:16 -0400

If a Michigan State national championship helps to uplift the hopes of a troubled state and inspire its people then I’m all for it. I don’t always root for the Spartans since I didn’t go to school there or live in the state, but I will cheer for them wholeheartedly when the game tips off in Detroit on Monday night.

I am certain I will not be alone cheering on the Spartans. It is likely, for at least one night, they will become America’s Team. They also have a former star and national treasure, Magic Johnson, sitting court side.

The stars have aligned. This is Michigan State’s year—exactly 30 years after Magic lead them to their first national championship. Coincidentally, if not providentially, the game is being played in the Motor City, during the worst period in the history of the American auto industry, an industry which is essentially headquartered in the state of Michigan.

Cheering for the Spartans is not just the patriotic thing to do, it's the smart thing to do; they are a team of destiny.

While destiny will play a part in Michigan State’s victory, it's not like the Spartans enter the game with nothing else. They are led by one of the most underrated great coaches in NCAA tournament history in Tom Izzo.

This is Izzo’s fifth trip to the Final Four and his second time in the championship game. The last time, the Spartans won it all in 2000. They are a smart, rugged team that rebounds and defends well. And they hit clutch shots when they have to.

They have also now beaten two of the tournament’s No. 1 seeds in consecutive games, handling Louisville last week and Connecticut Saturday night.

I have nothing against the University of North Carolina, its players, or its fans. The team has talent at every position. They also have a great coach in Roy Williams, a rich basketball tradition with four NCAA titles, and an all-time college star in Tyler Hansbrough.

Further, the Tar Heels also have a convincing victory this season against Michigan State on the very same Ford Field court in December.

North Carolina returns to the Final Four for the second consecutive year intent on erasing the pain of last year's loss to Kansas in the semifinals. Kansas would then go on to win the national championship by beating Memphis.

North Carolina is on its own mission. But at game time, UNC will be the enemy, as the Tar Heels are swimming against a tide of public sentiment that favors Michigan State for all of the obvious reasons.

I’d like to believe that destiny will also play a hand in the outcome as well.

Congratulations Spartans.

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Jay Cutler Becomes A Bear: Maybe Everyone Wins

David Burnett — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:52:56 -0400

The travel weary Jay Cutler caravan has finally stopped in Chicago. Sports outlets are reporting that the Denver Broncos traded Cutler late this afternoon to the Chicago Bears. This ends a saga that has seen Cutler go from rising quarterback star, to wounded, petulant starlet.

Now let the healing begin. I believe once everyone regains their bearings—from the folks in star-struck Washington, to the frustrated fans in Denver, to just about everyone in Chicago, this may turn out well for all.

What this means is that the Bears get a chance to prove the team won’t ruin a 4,000 yard passer. There has never been a quarterback in the Windy City to even come close to throwing that far. But the Bears have speedy receivers and a slick young running back and a defense that when healthy is pretty good. Adding Jay Cutler to the mix now means that the Bears immediately are division favorites.

Denver gets important top draft picks, and a pretty decent young quarterback in Kyle Orton, who while he may have some detractors in Chicago will reap the benefits of working with Josh McDaniesl as his new head coach. McDaniels is the same guy who helped to tutor Matt Cassell into emergency stardom last season in New England and Denver gets rid of a disgruntled player in Cutler as well.

Washington, which until the very end looked to be the winner in the Cutler sweepstakes, in the meantime is forced to stand pat with an improving quarterback already on their roster in Jason Campbell. Campbell, who is perceived to be almost too laid back, may now have inadvertently gotten all the fire in the belly that he ever needed by discovering that he was expendable.

The good natured Campbell has all the potential in the world and may now get to prove it. He may ultimately have Cutler to thank if all of this confusion helps make him even better.

Wooing Jay Cutler: Will The Washington Redskins Get It Right This Time?

David Burnett — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:14:35 -0400

The rumors are rampant. The Broncos' soon-to-be ex-quarterback, Jay Cutler, just might be the next quarterback of the Washington Redskins.

Jason Campbell, the current Redskins QB, is saying all the right things. But even Campbell, who is used to change, probably believes his time is short in the nation's capital. Because in Washington, under the Dan Snyder regime, where there is smoke there usually is fire, and no price is ever too high. Snyder's Redskins are a controversy magnet.

But this time, just maybe, the Redskins will get it right. A lot of folks have things to prove right now. How many more times must the ultra-successful businessman Snyder fail in trying to do the right thing for the team he loves? And make no mistake, Snyder does love the Redskins. Perhaps too much, but there is love.

Sometimes, though, even the mistake-prone can finally stand up straight. Just ask the folks in Arizona. Who would have ever thought that the woebegone Cardinals would make it to the Super Bowl and almost win it? And maybe after more than a decade of super spending and errant deal-making, Snyder's Redskins will once again become the powerhouse that the team's rabid fans have been waiting for for nearly two decades.

And the talented Jay Cutler, who is fast earning a reputation as an immature prima donna, needs a new team to lead. And a reputation to rebuild. He has quickly proven what he can do on the football field. What better place to be than Washington to prove that he can overcome any concerns about his leadership or the bout of head-case-itis that he recently has been afflicted with?

Also, maybe the Redskins ought to bring in Mike Shanahan, while they are at it. Cutler admired Shanahan, who led the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl championships a decade ago but was fired at the end of this past season in Denver when ownership believed he no longer had the magic to get it done in the Mile High City. That firing is what started the whole saga of Cutler's unhappiness.

Sometimes a makeover is really a do-over, and the Redskins are badly in need of another do-over. I'm betting this time they might get it right, even by accident, if they bring in Cutler.

A Tale of Two Cities and One Team

David Burnett — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:11:28 -0400

I was reminded this morning that this is the 25th anniversary of me becoming a Colt's fan. On this day two and a half decades ago the Colts left Baltimore under the cover of darkness and moved to my hometown, Indianapolis. The move enhanced the transformation of one city and devastated another.

All these years later, thousands of people in Baltimore are still not over the loss of their original NFL team. In Indianapolis, where I grew up, the city continues to enjoy the downtown renaissance, civic pride and nationwide respect that the Colts helped to inspire.

These days I live 45 miles from downtown Baltimore. Over the years, I have come to appreciate how strongly the people in Baltimore feel about their teams and their heroes, particularly the Colts. As an Indianapolis native, who grew up without the NFL, I was happy when my hometown moved closer to big time respectability when it “acquired” the Colts in 1984. I feel for Baltimore, but I’m happy for Indianapolis. Although, as much as I like Baltimore, when I’m there, I rarely tell anyone that I’m from Indianapolis.

For more than a decade the Indianapolis Colts have been one of the NFL’s marquee franchises. They just moved into their second downtown facility, a retractable roof marvel known as Lucas Oil Stadium. The new stadium is being used not just for Colts football, but also for NCAA tournament basketball. This weekend it hosted a Sweet 16/Elite Eight regional and the Final Four will be played there next year. Three years from now Lucas Oil will play host to the Super Bowl. This is today’s Indianapolis, spurred on by the Colts.

In Baltimore, it took 12 years before the NFL returned. In 1996 the original Cleveland Browns, became the new Baltimore Ravens. Ironically, Baltimore “acquired” the Browns/Ravens with a better offer than the city of Cleveland made. Just the way Indianapolis made a better deal for the Colts than did the city of Baltimore. But this time Baltimore stepped up. The facility they built for the Ravens, M &T Bank Stadium, is another ornament in an exciting downtown, one that was forced to remake itself after the Colts moved away. But this remains a bitter sweet tale. Even though the Ravens would win a Super Bowl just five years after moving to Baltimore, they remain the city’s second favorite football team. The number one team remains, the Baltimore Colts.

Colts fans, from Baltimore, fell in love with the legendary No. 19, Johnny Unitas, years ago and a team that proudly symbolized their working class city. They feel their team was stolen by another city. Their pain has lasted a quarter century.

Six hundred miles away and many years later, another great quarterback, No. 18 Peyton Manning, is creating his own legend in a uniform that looks just like the one Johnny Unitas wore. But Manning, the NFL’s highest paid commercial endorser, symbolizes the changes that time often brings about. Manning embodies the new Indianapolis and the new NFL.

Where sports are concerned a connection can be made that lasts a lifetime. That’s the way it was with the Baltimore Colts, that’s the way it is with the Indianapolis Colts—a tale of two cities and one team.

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Gillispie's Fall Guarantees Nothing at Kentucky

David Burnett — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:00:17 -0400

Fired after only two seasons, Billy Gillispie never had a chance at Kentucky.

The UK faithful are rarely satisfied. Anything less than multiple Final Four appearances and an occasional championship means Wildcat followers will begin looking for the next head coach.

Gillispie’s short tenure produced “only” 40 victories. Not nearly enough. It did not help that he had some of the most embarrassing losses in school history mixed into the 67 games he coached there.

Still, the hard fact is that UK basketball is no longer assured top status. UK fans never warmed up to previous head coach Tubby Smith either and he won an NCAA title.

Reality is a hard thing to adjust to in Lexington. For now, at least Kentucky isn’t getting the best players. Basketball talent is spread out all over the country these days, no longer concentrated on Kentucky Bluegrass. But that has not yet sunk in on the victory-spoiled fans in one the most basketball crazy states in the nation.

Anyway, back to Gillispie. Do I feel sorry for him? In a word, no. He was handsomely paid. He knew full well what he was getting into. When you sign up to coach Kentucky, you’d better win, right away. Gillispie didn’t, now he must go. I predict that once he gets over the feeling of rejection he will feel relieved. Just like Tubby Smith now does at the University of Minnesota.

Kentucky is a pressure-cooker, and most smart coaches will avoid it. The expectations are unreasonably high and the support is just not there for anyone. At a news conference, UK Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart said Gillispie was not “the right fit” as coach and added coldly that University of Kentucky fans, "deserve a coach that understands that this is not just another coaching job."

Good luck to the next coach at Kentucky, whoever he will be. He will need it. Because the brutal fact is, winning at the highest level is no longer guaranteed at UK. And the sooner everyone understands that the better off the state, the university, and its unrealistic fans will be. Until then, any coach going to Kentucky will never get a fair shake.

A Closing Argument: Wade for MVP

David Burnett — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:32:14 -0400

We have entered the home stretch of another long NBA season.

Actually it has been one of the league’s best seasons. With the season winding down, it is now time to start casting votes. And my vote for 2009 NBA MVP goes to - drum roll please - the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade. For me this vote is not even close.

Wade is the league’s top scorer, and has been all year. He is the Miami Heat's most important player and has been all year. They would barely have won 10 games this year without Wade. However, with him they will win more than 40.

This to me is an open and shut case for MVP. Well, it is open and shut unless you are from the school of thought that believes that there are only two choices this year and Wade is not one of them.

It has become popular, even cliche, these days when discussing the next MVP to mention Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, and stop there.

This is to take nothing away from either Kobe or LeBron, both of whom have had fabulous seasons and have led their teams to the league’s two best records. But how can most commentators and fans not even place Dwyane Wade in the discussion? How is that possible?

I do not know the answer to the question, but one way to stop the lunacy is to redefine what constitutes an MVP. There are some who suggest that the MVP must come from a team with one of the best records, leading their division, or conference.

Okay fine. But what about the player who singlehandedly turns a team around, even if the team does not win its division or conference?

What about the player who is responsible for taking a team that won less than 20 games one season to more than 40 wins the next?

Well, that player is Dwyane Wade.

Further, Wade does not have the same kind of supporting cast that Kobe and LeBron have. More importantly, and this is the clincher, he does not have a cute first name.

In fact, his first name is misspelled, maybe that is the real problem. Perhaps if he had a quotable, catchy, easy to spell first name. One that simple-minded voters could use and play with other than his stale nickname D-Wade. Or the more ridiculous nom de plum, Flash, given to him by former teammate Shaq, he would stand more of a chance.

But no, his name is Dwayne. I’m sorry, Dwyane. Damn his family.

Speaking of Shaq, lets clear something up.

When Miami won the NBA title a couple of years ago, it was Wade, and Wade alone, who lead them to a championship. It was not his overweight supporting cast mate, Shaquille O’Neal.

Wade had what was arguably the greatest overall performance in NBA finals history. Someone please debate me on that point. I am waiting.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that Wade is averaging nearly 35 points per game since the All-Star game. I think the votes are already in.

Media members, who vote for MVP, will select either Kobe or LeBron. Yes, media acclamation will decide the outcome, which is not common sense. I am wondering will someone in Wade’s situation ever be eligible for MVP?

What more does he have to do? Is he too short? Is he too nice? Does he play in the wrong city? Does he have the wrong endorsements? Or is it simply that Miami didn’t win enough games? Or did not win them entertainingly enough?

My closing argument is that this year’s case for MVP should be decided by imagining how many games would the Lakers win if Kobe were injured like Wade was last year? If you think the number is greater than 15, you must vote for Wade.

The same goes for LeBron James. How many games would Cleveland win if LeBron was hurt? If the number is greater than 15 then, you must vote also for Wade.

Finally, how many games would Miami win this year if Dwyane Wade were hurt again? If the number is greater than 15, then vote for whoever you want. I say the guy carrying the greatest load with the least talent hands down is Wade. That should close the book on this, but it won’t.

That is my case to the MVP voters, most of whom have already decided, who they believe should be MVP, like me. Knowing what I know about human nature and the screwy ill-defined voting criteria, I do not think Mr. Wade has much of a chance this year.

As a consolation prize I predict he will come in third. Still, he is an absolutely magnificent player, who should be getting MVP votes just for coming back even better than he was before he was injured.

That is my definition of an MVP.

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