Bleacher Report - Articles by Don Abraham

Team USA Gets It Done

Don Abraham — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:02:37 -0400

Finally, the time has arrived. Team USA has won a meaningful game in international soccer.

By beating Spain the USA, have garnered attention in the international soccer community. This victory is no fluke. Team USA has showed poise and discipline since losing 3-0 to Brazil, in the first round of the Confederations Cup.

Team USA played the number one team in the world, and gave them a run for their money, against a loaded Spain team, comprised of some of the world's best talent.

I can assure you one thing! Several Team USA players are on the transfer block, after the past two performances.

Imagine what Team USA is going to look like next year at the World Cup, with Maurice Edu in the lineup, and a couple players like Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, and Michael Bradley receiving more experience in Europe.

Conversely, hats off to the defense for the shutout against a powerful front lineup, they held their own and accomplished what no other team was able to accomplish in 35 matches.

Bob Bradley, has done an excellent job with the group of guys and must be commended.

Stan Van Gundy: What A Shame You Are

Don Abraham — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:47:26 -0400

Stan Van Gundy is the dumbest NBA coach to ever coach in the finals! Rafer Alston should be playing the majority of the minutes at point guard. Jameer Nelson should either warm the bench or be in a suit cheering the way he did against Boston and Cleveland.

No wonder Pat Riley gave him the boot in Miami and took over the coaching duties. Alston was the point guard who led them to the Eastern Conference Championship, not Nelson.

With all respect to Nelson and the job he has done in the regular season, playing him in the finals after a four-month absence is absurd.

Alston had big games against Cleveland, Boston and Philadelphia, so why would Van Gundy delegate minutes to Alston.

In Game One of the finals the Orlando Magic was leading by five points in the 2nd quarter 33-28, Alston sat the bench the whole second quarter and the Lakers blew open a 12-point lead which lead to a 26-point victory.

In Game Five, Alston sat the bench in the fourth quarter and overtime. Unfortunately, Jameer Nelson was in the game.

With the Magic up by three with 10 seconds left, a rusty Nelson let Derek Fisher take the ball up the court and shoot a wide-open, uncontested, three-point shot.

The Magic had a foul to give, so Nelson had three options. The first option was to foul Fisher and make the Lakers run another play, the second option was to contest the shot and the third option was to let Fisher shoot an uncontested shot.

Needless to say Nelson chose option No. 3. What else can you expect from a rusty point guard who hasn't played in four months.

I do not think there is a coach on the planet who would have inserted Jameer Nelson into the rotation after a four-month absence, especially in pivotal moments. The point guard position is so important in basketball, a sport that's based in chemistry, the Magic had chemistry with Alston as the captain, now their on the verge of being eliminated.

Im sure Alston cannot sleep at night. I have never seen a coach in any sport make such a stupid decision. Van Gundy is the dumbest coach in American sports I have ever seen.

There is no reasonable explanation for Nelson being inserted into the rotation this late in the playoffs. There is no reason for Alston to lose playing time when he has anchored an offense that beat Boston and Cleveland.

If there is anyone out there who can provide me an explanation for Van Gundy's rotation switch, please explain.

Every time the cameras are pointed at Alston on the bench I just shake my head and think "oh what an idiot Stan Van Gundy has become!"

Look Out for Ricky Hatton's Power

Don Abraham — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:43:47 -0400

Ricky Hatton goes into Saturdays fight an underdog against Manny Pacquaio, an overrated champion. Not to say Manny is not a great champion, but he is overrated.

When Hatton was on the verge of fighting Floyd Mayweather, more people gave him a chance to win then they do against Pacquaio.

Unbelievable, Floyd Mayweather is two steps ahead of Pacquaio. Hatton will let the world know come saturday night at the MGM.

Manny Pacqauio is fighting his third fight at 140lbs, the first fight was against a sub par David Diaz, the second fight was against a washed up, untrained, and dehydrated Oscar De La Hoya, whose ex trainer was training Pacquaio. Not to mention De La Hoya came down 8lbs in weight. Pacquaio wont have those advantage this time.

Pacquaio is going up against a solid Ricky Hatton. Who has punching power unlike Manny has seen against anyone at 140.There is a reason Pacquaio has three losses and two draws under his belt. "Hes extremely beatable."

This will be Pacquaio's first time fighting a Non-Mexican Fighter in five years. No offense to Mexican fighters, but everyone in the boxing world know that Mexican fighters have a weak gut, which is the perfect opponent for a boxer with speed, like Pacquaio. Ricky Hatton has a strong gut.

Ricky Hatton, will utilize his power and reach to get inside Pacquaio to exploit his weak chin that is not often tested. Ricky Hatton's trainer is Floyd Mayweather Sr., the best trainer in the world.

Ricky Hatton will frustrate and disturb Pacquaio all night long, Pacquaio will not find room to land the crisp and clean punches he has landed the past two fights. This is Pacquaio's first real test against a fighter who has solidified himself at 140lbs.

Ricky Hatton in his fight against Floyd Mayweather was exposed to a great combination of speed and power. Pacquaio has speed, but not like Mayweather, Pacquaio has power, but not like Mayweather. Hatton went toe-to-toe with Mayweather, something no boxer has ever dared to do.

If Hatton has the heart he he showed against Mayweather, combined with the skills he will receive from Mayweather Sr., he will knock Pacquaio out.

With Floyd Sr. in his corner I'm sure Hatton, has gained some knowledge on how to beat speedy fighters, especially one who does not have the power to knockout a welterweight.

Don't expect Ricky Hatton to display the same game plan as De La Hoya and Diaz. Hatton will be prepare to show Pacquaio what its like to compete with the best of the best in the welterweight division.

The perception that Pacquaio is this unbeatable champ is mind blowing to an avid boxing fan like me. He has three losses and two draws for a reason, plus his hit the canvas numerous times as a lightweight. Expect for thundering blows from Hatton all night long.

America Makes The Beautiful Game Look Like The Ugly Game

Don Abraham — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:49:11 -0400

European football AKA, soccer is not sitting well with the American public. Pele introduce America to soccer back in 1975, while playing for the New York Cosmos. Mainly immigrant communities and upscale suburban communities have taken an interest in soccer.

Unfortunately, the heartland of America, and urban America, never paid attention. Why is soccer an international sport of great value, and the Americans do not care to even pay attention to the sports?

MLS soccer is not interesting, to be truthful, the MLS has thrown so much money at developing the league, but it just don't work. The departure of David Beckham is an interesting situation.

Beckham was expected to be the saviour of soccer in America, now he wants nothing to do with it. Maybe he found it odd, that a league where they can afford to pay a player $50 million per season, was getting their butts kicked by teams that can afford to barely pay their players $40,000 per season.

The USL is far more exciting, aggressive, and skillful than the MLS. The New England Revolution cannot even beat Joe Public, a team based in Trinidad and Tobago. The Houston Dynamo cannot even beat the Puerto Rico Islanders. Why are USL teams advancing in the Concacaf champions league and MLS teams not.

The MLS format is utterly ridiculous, the idea that the MLS thinks they can develop into a league and cannot outperform teams that play in front of audiences of 2,000, is illusional. Flat out the USL is just a better league. I don't know why, but maybe some one can tell me.

The MLS has become a breeding ground for young American players before they depart to Europe. Players like Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Maurice Edu, Michael Bradley, Brad Guzan, and Fredie Adu, have practically used the MLS as a stepping stone before going to play in Europe.

Its totally unacceptable, that an American sports league is a breeding ground. In America we are suppose to be the best of the best, the cream of the crop, when it comes to soccer we are a total whack job.

With all due respect the fact that Landon Donovan is touted as the all-time goal scorer in the history of US National soccer is ashamed. I love Dovonvan he grew up where I grew in the Inland Empire, of Southern California, but hes an average soccer player who struggled to crack the lineup while on loan at Bayern Munich.

US soccer needs to develop players at a younger age, and make an effort to introduce kids from all backgrounds to the sport. Players like Maurice Edu, who is a friend of my family and also comes from the Inland Empire of Southern California, comes from an immigrant family, just as Freddy Adu, and Jozy Altidore.

There accomplishments are not applaudable for US soccer, I come from an immigrant family also, and was born it soccer. Soccer was the first sport I played and the only sport my parents ever took interest in me playing. However the environment to develop into a player was no where to be found.

It is mind boggling how the MLS continues to expand, and invest money into the league, when the future looks grim. The fans here at MLS games in Los Angeles at the Home Depot Center are wannabes. I go to the games and the fans are not passionate in the stands, they only appear to be passionate in order to imitate the European Football fans they see on Fox Soccer Channel, and Gol TV.

The main problem with US soccer and the MLS is that their is no fundamental ingredients as to how to develop players between the ages 6-13. Soccer is unlike any other sport.

You cant start getting serious about soccer when your in high school, like baseball, basketball, and football. Most elite soccer players are signing their first professional contract in high school.

Shame on the MLS for investing in a league, without implementing youth academy's. The MLS only have 3 teams that have a youth academy, Chicago Fire, D.C United, and New York Red Bulls. The MLS is completely clueless to the fact that the league needs more youth academy's. Every team in the MLS should be mandated to have a youth academy.

In Los Angeles, where I live there is a huge surplus of talented kids. The Home Depot Center is a state of the art soccer facility, but yet no youth academy. The youth system is the only way to build great players and leagues.

The concentration on youth soccer are one of the reasons the English Premiere league is so dominate. Anyone who has been to the UK knows that youth soccer is very huge, and every kid in the UK participates, therefore no potential talent goes unnoticed.

As a father of 2 boys one 18 months the other 3 months, I day dream about my kids playing professional soccer, but not here. I look at potential youth academies and leagues but there are very few, which offer a competitive nature.

Hopefully when they get older, but as for now I'm stuck with crafting my own strategy to develop my children in to elite football players. I hope its works!

The Clock Is Ticking on David Stern

Don Abraham — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:57:18 -0400

In 1984, Michael Jordan was drafted and David Stern became NBA commissioner. The year after Jordan retired, the NBA went on strike. It has not been the same since.

Stern is just like the Chicago Bulls—nothing without Jordan. Since Jordan left the league, fans have been looking for the next superstar to bring the league back to prominence.

First it was Shaquille O'Neal, but his game was so much different than Jordan's.

Then it was Tim Duncan, but he lacked Jordan's flair.

Allen Iverson was too much of a thug.

So the NBA turned to Kobe Bryant, but then he forgot to call an escort and had sex with the bell girl.

Now the success of the NBA is pinned on the shoulders of LeBron James. But he plays in Cleveland, a small market city with a poor economy. Stern has to be praying LeBron lands in New York when his contract is up after the 2010 season.

Stern has been called a great commissioner by many, but he isn't.

He inherited a league of stars: Magic, Bird, Dr. J, Jordan, Barkley, Olajuwon, Abdul- Jabbar, Worthy, Stockton, Malone, Isiah. Now that all these guys are retired, Stern is as confused as your neighborhood mutt, wondering what to do and where to go.

Before Jordan retired in 1998, the NBA was a first-rate league in American sports, equal to the NFL, greater than MLB. Now it's on the verge of being equal to the NHL.

Why?

Many NBA pundits and former NBA players have blamed the new generation of players. Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan have ridiculed players for being too close to hip-hop culture, bringing their posse to games, wearing braids and tattoos. After the Ron Artest incident, Rush Limbaugh said he had no desire to watch the NBA because, "all the players are ignorant thugs."

The "thugs" excuse is bogus. The NFL is full of thugs. Every year, players get indicted and convicted, often in connection with shootings. Think Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, and Pacman Jones. This hasn't hurt NFL ratings or attendance. Americans don't seem to mind watching hardcore gang bangers on Sunday, of all days.

Allen Iverson once said, "It's a shame that the NBA does not know the reality of their superstars. It is true that most NBA players come from the ghetto, but basketball players are corny individuals."

I agree, having played basketball in high school and knowing guys who have gone on to play Division I basketball and in the NBA. Basketball players, for the most part, are corny guys, momma's boys, who wouldn't harm a fly.

Thuggery isn't to blame for the NBA's decline. David Stern's decisions are.

Here are some examples of Stern's missteps:

Stern was adamant about creating salary cap after Kevin Garnett received a six-year contract extension worth $126 million after only three years in the league. The cap does not allow teams to develop into dynasties. Neither does it allow players to go to the team of their choice, via trade or free agency. All player movement is based on the cap.

MLB has been able to overcome the steroid era because there is no salary cap. Teams in baseball are able to get whatever player they want when they want, as long as they can afford it.

The average NFL career lasts only three years, so a cap is necessary to protect each franchise financially. However, in the NFL, first-round picks are allowed to rake in the big bucks. Rookies sometimes sign six to eight year deals worth $30 to $40 million in guaranteed money.

In the NBA, you're allowed to sign rookies drafted in the first round to maximums of three or four years worth $10 to $15 million.

The NBA is like MLB, with the average career lasting ten years. So why is a salary cap necessary?

Maybe without a cap, Stern would not be so eager to get LeBron in a Knicks uniform. The Knicks have the capital to run up a $100 million roster, but the cap limits them to $56 million unless they're willing to pay a luxury tax.

Stern's worst actions involve changing the rules.

The NBA has been transformed into a girly sport. Guys like Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, Kevin McHale, and Dennis Rodman were ten times tougher than the toughest guy in the league today. However, if they played today, they would get suspended night in and night out for rough play. Players are not even allowed to hand-check anymore.

Permitting teams to play zone also was foolish. It only leads to teams shooting jump shots all day. The same goes for creating the three-point shot. Teams fall in love with long jump shots, which makes the game boring. Driving to the basket is what fans prefer to see.

Who is to blame for the sinking revenues in the NBA? The guy who has been in charge through all of these changes. It's time for him to move on.

Is Mark Sanchez Ready for the Big League?

Don Abraham — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:01:16 -0400

It's hard to not be persuaded by a handsome, well-educated, athletic young man from Orange County, Calif. Many NFL executives are cramming the phones right now to jockey for USC quarterback Mark Sacnchez.

Is he ready for the big league?

Who knows? USC coach Pete Carroll did not seem too confident about his chances in the NFL. When speaking at a press conference with Sanchez back in January, Carroll said "After analyzing all the information, the truth is there—he should’ve stayed for another year.”

I agree with Caroll, especially after seeing how Matt Lienert turned out at Arizona, and Vince Young in Tennessee.

The NFL has a very complex format for quarterbacks. Becoming an NFL quarterback is very difficult and there are issues of masculinity, humility, decisiveness, and intelligence. Sanchez is very intelligent and comes from a great family and excellent community in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Humility—he's got it in the bag!

Decisiveness we don't know yet; there is nothing to measure how he will react with Brian Urlacher breathing down his neck every step of the way. Neither is there any way to assess how he reacts to cornerbacks with recovery speed faster than anything hes ever seen.

Decisiveness is practically how fast can you make good decisions. Will Sanchez throw to the receiver who appears to be open, due to a zone scheme imposed by the opposing team's defensive coordinator? Or will he reach down and gather up his masculinity and develop the trust and respect of his teammates in order to rally the team around his ambitions?

We cannot tell until he throws on that uniform. Typically, you can determine after five starts how well of a quarterback will be for the rest of his career.

Luckily for Sanchez, the Lions aren't interested in drafting him.

Does Mario Balotelli Have Any Integrity?

Don Abraham — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:51:25 -0400

Should Mario Balotelli reconsider his desire to suit up for the Italian national team?

Balotelli was raised in Italy, his parents are Ghanian, he's the best young talent in football, the best young talent Italy has seen in a while, and the best black Italian player.

Excuse me, according to the 75% of the Juventus fans there is no such thing as a black Italian! Maybe if this was 1000 years ago and he was a Moor their opinion would differ. However, it's 2009, does the overwhelming opinion of the Juventus fans speak for the country of Italy as a whole?

I'm sorry to say, yes it does. Italians have no interest in seeing a dark skinned, well-built black male of African descent line up on the pitch for Italy in 2010, 2014, or 2018.

They're more interested in Federico Macheda—he's a white Italian more of their type. Neither does it seem that Italy has any desire to line Balotelli up on the pitch with their first team, he has not made an appearance yet even though he's only 18, but he's dominating Serie A at the striker position.

If he was a white Italian he'd probably have made the line up for the Italian friendly against Brazil in London, back on 10th of February.

Mario Balotelli must understand the reality of the world he lives in. The Italian people do not recognize blacks as one of their own. The sooner he understands that, the easier his career will be, because as for right now his feelings are hurt deeply.

I was 18-years-old before and know how sesitive things can be. Balotelli is wasting his time in Serie A and on the Italian national team. Balotelli should transfer to a team in the English Premier League and play against the top talent, where he can showcase his skills to a larger audience—plus he can dance and mouth off and exhibit arrogance without being subject to bigotry.

Also, Balotelli should accept the invitation to play for the Ghanian national team. He will be an instant starter on a team that made it to the 2nd round of the 2006 World Cup and almost made it to the quarterfinals.

He will play in Africa in the 2010 World Cup on a world stage where he can make an international name for himself. Attempting to get Italian people to accept you as Italian is not going to popularize your image in the game of football, having a nation that supports and adores you is what make you into an international football superstar.

That's what made Beckham, Pele, and Maradona, household names. Show some integrity Balotelli and move on!