Bleacher Report - Articles by kwame manu

Kobe Bryant Doesn't Like The Phillies

kwame manu — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:15:33 -0400

There seems to be an uproar lately surrounding Kobe's baseball allegiance. If you follow sports at all, you know that the Los Angeles Dodgers are playing the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series.

At the Dodgers' home games, Kobe can be seen on the sideline next to the mayor, cheering for...the DODGERS.

If you know Kobe, you know that he was born and partially raised in Philadelphia/the Greater Philadelphia area. To Philadelphia fans, this is treason of the highest degree. How can one of the most famous sons of Philly turn on them?

In a recent article on Philly.com by John Gonzales , Kobe's treason can be blamed on his massive ego, or maybe on his "Hollywood" persona. According to Gonzales, "Bryant gave a very large, very public middle finger to Philadelphia."

However, let's not forget that there are two sides to every story. Let's not forget February 10, 2002. You don' t remember February 10, 2002? It was the NBA All-Star game in Philadelphia.

Of course, Kobe Bryant was participating. But not only did he participate, Kobe dominated. Every time Kobe touched the ball that game, he dazzled. Every time Kobe touched the ball, he put on the show. Every time Kobe touched the ball, he was booed by the crowd.

Yes, booed by his home city of Philadelphia.

The city of Philadelphia betrayed and embarrassed Kobe in front of his fellow NBA players and the nation. They ruined his 31 point, five rebound, five assist performance.

When asked if it hurt his feeling Kobe simply said, "I don't know, I mean, I don't know what to say. It was something that I can't really describe the feeling that I have when it happened. I'm happy to win MVP in Philadelphia. The booing was just hurtful."

So why would Kobe "turn" on Philly? Maybe because Philly turned on him first. Maybe Philadelphia put the metaphorical middle finger first. Don't blame Kobe for not representing the city that chastised him.

Would you lovingly embrace a dog that has bitten you? No. Scars don't heal easily. Kobe is embracing the city that loves him...Los Angeles. LA loves Kobe to no end. They buy his t-shirts and defend him to the grave.

Philly had their chance to show Kobe the same love and chose to do the complete opposite. Philly had their chance to hold on to one of their most prized asset. Instead they let Los Angeles take him.

You missed your chance Philly. Get over it.

Fact: Americans Do Like Soccer

kwame manu — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:33:47 -0400

On July 24, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland over 71,000 fans packaged themselves like cheap sardines into M&T Bank Stadium to watch a soccer game. I will allow you to digest that for a moment. In the United States of America, the place where soccer is supposedly irrelevant, 71,000+ Americans (and probably some other nationalities) watched soccer.

Furthermore, in a span of less than 10 days, over 335 thousand people watched six soccer games. Again, this is in America.

This can only mean one thing: Americans actually like soccer.

The games that drew such large crowds were between some of the most well-known and well-respected soccer teams in the world. This leads me to another conclusion.

Americans like soccer, but they like soccer played well.

American like to watch the best teams go at it: teams like Inter Milan or Chelsea. Generally, Americans are very educated about the beautiful game and they know that the best teams are overseas. This repels many potential American soccer fans.

Also, It is hard to watch the best leagues play without some special sports TV package or a fuzzy live stream on the Internet. However recently, even ESPN has realized America's "like affair" with soccer and are showing several Premier League games this season.

The perception of American soccer being horrible is one that is hard to break. It is one of, if not the biggest, reason that Americans turn a blind eye to soccer. Would Americans watch the NBA if the Spanish league was better. Or the NHL if the Russian League was better? This is also a big reason that seasoned soccer fans fail to support US Soccer.

Just think, how many times have you met or known an avid soccer fan from America who loves watching the Premiership or La Primera and refuses to watch the MLS. How many friends do you have that wear Brazilian Kaka jerseys or Portuguese Ronaldo jerseys, but refuse to wear an American Donovan or Dempsey jersey.

Fortunately, this perception is changing. Despite what many say to the contrary, USA's victory over Spain is one of the most important victories in USA's history. It not only was a big upset, but it forced old and new American fans to respect their own damn team.

It is now up to the US National team to build or destroy this new-found respect. The fault is not with the American public. We love our soccer. Most of our parents are foreign born. Our country is a melting pot of cultures. It is up to the American National Team to take this cultures and have them bear one flag. The American flag.

Let's hope they can do it.

The Traditional NBA Center Nears Extinction

kwame manu — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:35:01 -0400

The NBA is changing. Whether the changes are for better or for worse is up in the air. One of the things I notice most about the changing NBA are the positions on the court. This couldn't be more evident than during 2009's NBA Finals.

There was a PF that could shoot three pointers in Rashard Lewis, a SF that can play PG in Hedo Turkoglu, and a SG that likes to play with his back to the basket in Kobe Bryant. Don't even get me started on Lamar Odom's array of skills.

A decade or two ago, this was almost unimaginable. Back then, point guards played at the top of the key, shooting guards played on the wing, and centers and power forwards in the paint.

So as I watch the NBA, I can't help but notice that two players on the court are becoming a dying breed: Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum. They are back-to-the basket, dunking, shot blocking, "traditional" centers.

They are some of the few left.

Look at the best big men in the NBA: Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, etc. Besides Shaq and Dwight, the best big men in the game often play facing the basket and shooting jumpers.

A lot of this may come from the influx of foreign players that come to the NBA with a very wide skill set.

A lot of it may also come from all the rule changes that make the game easier for slashers and jump shooters.

Let me make it clear, though, that I do not think this is a bad thing. I actually like the rise of these "hybrid" players. I just want to bring this to the table in order to garner discussion as to whether or not the "true" NBA center will die out.

I mean look at this year's draft class...how many centers are there? Think about it.

Shaquille O'Neal Traded to Cavaliers: Kobe Bryant Haters Bite Their Nails

kwame manu — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:39:35 -0400

The Kobe Bryant versus LeBron James debate just got a small twist—a twist that could be mountainous depending on what happens in the next year or two.

The twist is the Big Aristotle. The Big Cactus. Shaq Diesel. Superman.

Shaquille O'Neal.

In the early morning of June 25, Shaq was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, the 46th draft pick, and $500,000.

That's nothing to scoff at. They didn't give up the world, but they didn't give up pocket change either.

This give the Cavs a presence down low to work with besides Big Z. So think of a Big Z and Shaq tandem.

Not bad.

But this isn't the point of my article. I despise the Cavs.

This is an article to highlight the ongoing, polarizing debate of Kobe versus LeBron. One of the main knocks against Kobe is that he won the majority of his championship rings with Shaq. Because Kobe won these with Shaq, he is forever tied to him—like it or not.

LeBron may have to deal with this as well—especially if he wins a championship.

Imagine hearing, "Oh well, he won with Shaq."

It's so funny, because now those who chastise Kobe for winning with Shaq will have to give the same treatment to LeBron.

This can hurt LeBron in two ways:

"Oh well, he only won because he had Shaq."

"LeBron couldn't even win with Shaq."

You see?

This new dimension to LeBron's career will change him forever. Both Shaq and LeBron have very dominating personalities. Both like to be the center of attention and the leader of the pack.

Can both exist on the same team?

Time will tell.

I hope they can't. I hope they crumble. But my opinions are unimportant and belittle the fact that this trade can make or break Cleveland right now.

I don't want to go as far as to say that the dynamic of the NBA has changed. Shaq isn't at that level that he once was.

However, this does make things interesting in the NBA, especially since the draft is upon us.

Get your popcorn.

Golden State NBA Draft...No Guards On The Horizon

kwame manu — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:08:32 -0400

The Golden State Warriors are in a state of unrest, notice how you are not surprised.

Our shining star, Monta Ellis, is not happy in Oakland. Again, I'm disappointed that we are not surprised.

Monta's discontent threatens to erupt into anger due to the rumors circulating around the Warriors draft plans. Ellis doesn't want Don Nelson and company to draft a point guard, or any playmaking guard.

Now there may be some surprise on your face, just a little though.

Why is Ellis doing this to us?

I mean, this class is heavy in playmaking guards. This is our chance to draft a Jennings, Rubio, Holiday, or Flynn. However, Monta wants no part of it.

General Manager Larry Riley and head coach Don Nelson supposedly flew to Atlanta, where Ellis is currently residing, to meet with him and try to calm the situation. Part of the cooling off involved promising Monta that they wouldn't draft a PG.

Monta sees himself as a true PG, a position that hardy anyone else sees him as.

In almost every mock draft, the Warriors are predicted to pick a point guard. Over the last couple weeks, the Warriors have held workouts for mostly PGs. I believe this is a big blow to their plans, especially since the draft is only nine days away.

It is no secret that this year's draft is not the strongest when it comes to front court players. For Ellis to do demand this is ridiculous, we are passing up on the best players in the draft.

However, we don't want to ship out our best player.

US-Italy Confederations Cup: What We Learned

kwame manu — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:56:01 -0400

What have we learned?

Nothing. The US is terrible at the beautiful game. We should can our whole soccer federation and pretend that this whole experiment never happened.

Of course I just say that out of rage. I'm not completely serious.

There is much to learn from the recently ended match with Italy.

I am not angry because the US lost. Losing seemed inevitable.

I am not angry because we were leading and then lost by two goals. I saw it coming.

I am angry at the way we lost. I am mad at so many different things that I am having an incredibly difficult time trying to put it literary terms.

At half time, the US was down to 10 men, but was up 1-0.

To any soccer—no, sports fan, or even logical thinking human being—there is only one thing to do.

Defend. If you are winning but are down a man, the logical thing to do is to defend.

Anyone would expect the United States to play possession soccer. Everyone expected the US to hold the ball as long as they could and play D.

This didn't happen. The US can't pass.

I feel that US does one thing very well...kick and run. We continuously booted the ball and ran to try and catch it.

Also, the US tried too much. I cannot even count all of the times Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey dribbled themselves into a trap, which led to a turnover.

It was actually this type of situation that led to Italy's first goal. A goal by US born (aaaarg) Guiseppi Rossi.

Now, a big problem with the US is our defense.

I don't even want to talk about "What the F" Oguchi Onyewu was doing when De Rossi shot the second goal: that little half-attempt ninny clearance.

The first two Italy goals were great shots, but they were only possible because the US defense was backpedaling.

Why? Why weren't they attacking the ball, why weren't they putting a body on the attacker? No one knows the answer.

I can't even begin to break down everything I hated about the USA's performance. I'm supposed to be writing an article not a novel.

I know there are some out there that feel I'm being too harsh. I know there are some out there that think that my argument hold no merit. Honestly, I don't care. That game against Italy was a winnable game...man-down or not.

Once again, the US blew it.

This is the reality of a U.S soccer fan. The world of disappointment.

I'm never going to look at this article again. I haven't even taken the time to edit it. This article is just the emotions of a disappointed U.S soccer fan. The emotions shared by millions.

Will things ever look up?

Kentucky Wildcats Basketball: Best College Basketball Recruiting Class Ever

kwame manu — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:49:34 -0400

I don't like being that guy. You know, the guy that likes to jump the gun. The guy that likes to label things prematurely. The guy that is always quick to label the next best thing as the best thing.

However, this time I do believe that the next big thing can be the best thing...ever.

The Kentucky Basketball recruiting class has the potential to be the best we've ever seen. Yes, better than UCLA's class of 1965 and better than the still popular "Fab Five" of Michigan. They are simply that good.

In ESPNU's Top 100, Kentucky has four members. By Scout.com's rankings, three of Kentucky's five recruits are five-star recruits. Kentucky had one recruit in the McDonald's All American game and three players in the Jordan Brand Classic.

I hope you see my point.

Now, I know that high school rankings don't always translate to collegiate success (Greg Paulus?). But I have seen these guys play in person. The Kentucky recruiting class completely dominated high school basketball.

Kentucky's top recruit, John Wall, aka the No. 1 point guard in the country, will give Kentucky the most explosive and athletic floor general in college basketball. Bar none.

In high school, it was impossible to keep him out of the paint. He has outstanding court vision. His scintillating array of skills compare favorably to Derrick Rose.

If John Wall plays half as well as D-Rose did in Memphis, then it'll be a great year for the Wildcats.

DeMarcus Cousins, one of the best centers in the country, is an absolute beast in the post. However, I see him as more of a power forward at the next level because of his handles and 15-foot jumper.

Cousins paired with incoming 6'10" center Daniel Orton or even returning junior Pat Patterson would create a backcourt that could be one of the best in college basketball.

I've only talked about three of the top recruits that Kentucky has coming in and haven't even mentioned the "recruitment" of one of the top coaches in college basketball, John Calipari.

Calipari's credentials, in tandem with the immense potential of the 2009 recruiting class, makes Kentucky one of the best college teams in basketball.

In my eyes, al that may hold Kentucky's class back are the one-and-dones. The thing that made the Fab Five so spectacular was not only that their five freshman starters led Michigan to the Championship game, but the fact that they also returned as sophomores and did it again.

It is very unlikely that all of Kentucky's starting five will be back for the 2010-11 season. John Wall has already stated that if there were no eligibility laws, then he would have put his name in the 2009 NBA Draft.

There is no reason to believe Daniel Orton and DeMarcus Cousins wouldn't do the same thing. Such an exodus would be similar to the 2006 UNC class with Raymond Felton, Sean May, and company.

So, when you are watching Kentucky during next year's college basketball season, enjoy it. Chances are that we will only be able to enjoy this group of guys for a year.

Whether they make it to the Final Four or the National Championship is irrelevant (though it seems inevitable they will make it). The fact is, that we may not have seen a recruiting class like this ever before.

The hype machine is working overtime and the expectations are high. However, I don't think the expectation will phase this class at all. I believe this class will rise to the occasion.

Best recruiting class of 2009? Most definitely. Best recruiting class ever? We'll have to wait and see.

Why Kobe Bryant Is The Best

kwame manu — Sun, 31 May 2009 22:07:20 -0400

This has been obvious to me for a long time. Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA. Through the years, many have argued that LeBron is better for a variety of reasons. Many see that LeBron is more athletic and believe that makes him better.

Some say that LeBron puts up better numbers and that makes him better than Kobe. Some go as far to say that LeBron is doing less with little and that makes him better than Kobe.

These are all wrong. Furthermore, these are rather stupid reasons. To me, those who use these reason know very little about the game of basketball.

First off, let me say that athleticism has nothing to do if a player is better than another. Paul Pierce is not very athletic and he was a Finals MVP, Steve Nash is not ridiculously athletic and he has won 2 MVP awards.

Just because LeBron is more athletic, it doesn't mean that he is better. In many cases, especially with LeBron, he depends too much on his athleticism to get the job done.

This past year, LeBron put up better stats than Kobe Bryant. Let me put it like this: in the 2008-09 NFL season Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, and Jay Cutler threw for more passing yards than Peyton Manning. Are those three QBs better than Peyton Manning?

Now, the conception that LeBron's team is bad is absolutely ridiculous. It is funny though that I only here this argument when the Cavaliers lose. When they win, everyone is saying how much better his team is around him. Make up your mind.

The Lakers had only 2 players that have ever been to an All-Star game, Kobe and Pau Gasol. The Cavaliers have 3: Lebron, Mo Williams, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. They also have 4 time Defensive Player of the Year in Ben Wallace. Mo Williams averaged 18 points and 5 assists during the regular season.

They had the No. 1 ranked defense in the NBA. Did Lebron guard the opposing team by himself?

LeBron has a great supporting cast. They all can create their own shot and play outstanding defense. It is not their fault if they can't deliver.

Kobe delivers. He also give his team exactly what they need at the right time. Kobe is the standard that player's are often compared to now. He is also the reason that players like Dwight, Carmelo and LeBron got better this year. They said it themselves. Many of them said that after the Olympics they adopted Kobe's work-man attittude.

All these things makes Kobe the best there is. To me it is painfully obvious.

Ryan Babel Is Leaving Liverpool: Manchester City Should Pay Attention

kwame manu — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:54:47 -0400

Manchester City better not screw this up.

Ryan Babel is a Dutch 22-year-old stud that has already represented his country in international play. He plays winger/forward for Liverpool, and during the 2007-08 season, Babel had 11 goals and six assists.

However, despite his success with Liverpool in his first year, he has struggled this year. Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez prefers to play Babel out of his natural position. This has affected his play.

I mean, it is hard to get playing time as a striker when you have Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, and others ahead of you.

On May 26, reports surfaced that Liverpool gave Babel the green light to leave the club. The price tag? £11 million.

Manchester City offered £100 million to Kaka. To have a Dutch international on the market for one-tenth of the price offered to Kaka is the best thing Manchester City can ask for.

It is well documented that Mark Hughes is looking for another striker. Ryan Babel at 6'0" has the size and ball skills to really make an impact at the Eastlands.

With all the money Manchester City has and with the gaps in the frontline, Babel is a steal.

I hope Manchester City realizes the potential of this deal. I hope they aren't blind.

Don't Make Your NBA Mock Drafts Yet

kwame manu — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:42:19 -0400

People get excited when the draft comes around. The draft gives fans the feeling of freshness. The feeling of hope.

It makes some believe that they are one man away from the playoffs, or a championship. Maybe you're next draft pick is the next big thing.

As the draft nears, people also like to make mock drafts. However, this year is the worst and most illogical year to make a mock draft.

Why illogical? Just look at the teams with the top picks and try and make them coincide with the best players in the draft. It doesn't fit.

The Clippers have the No. 1 pick. The best player in the draft is clearly Blake Griffin. You see? The Clippers already have 3 PF/C: Zach Randolph, Marcus Camby, and Chris Kaman.

Zach Randolph has a big contract and is guaranteed at least $23 million over the next two years. In addition to that, Zach Randolph has the personality that few teams would like to deal with.

Add this to Blake Griffins' rookie salary and it makes no logical or financial sense.

The Clippers may be forced to either trade their pick or pick someone else at No. 1 whether they want to or not.

It is already rumored that Oklahoma City is pushing for that No. 1 spot.

Now look at the Grizzlies. The second best player in the draft is Ricky Rubio. It has been said by Rubio's agent that he doesn't even want to play there.

A source from Draft Express said, "Rubio doesn’t want to go to Memphis, and he especially does not want to pay money out of his own pocket with that huge buyout for the honor of doing so.

"(Dan) Fegan [Rubio’s agent] wants him in L.A., and if he can’t have him there, he wants him in Sacramento. Definitely not Oklahoma City.“

Furthermore, if Rubio doesn't like what he sees in the draft, he can always go back to Spain for a year or two. Wow. Looks like the Grizz have to pick someone else besides Rubio.

This would shake up many mock drafts and, potentially, the entire draft.

They do not need Thabeet, because they have 7' Marc Gasol at center. Now, they probably go for a PF like Jordan Hill.

If Thabeet and Rubio are still on the board, all hell will break lose. At this point, many GMs will be trying to trade up because trading up to No. 3 is a lot easier than No. 1.

Now, I don't have time to break down all the mayhem that can go down on draft night, but I just want to give you a taste about what is not possible, but probable.

This year's draft is looking to be one of the most interesting we have seen in a while.

Stay tuned.

Welcome to the Golden Era of the Point Guard

kwame manu — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:52:45 -0400

There was a time that the big man dominated the NBA. Game strategies always worked from the inside out.

However, now we live in a highlight obsessed society.

To feed this addiction, the NBA has made several rule changes over the last few years that have allowed for guards to thrive in the NBA. I am not saying this is a bad thing. I am just stating the facts.

Due to the fact the rules favor guards, we have been blessed with many solid and spectacular point guards over the last decade (AI, Kidd, Paul, Nash, Billups, etc). These players have been some of the biggest stars and trendsetters of sport.

In the early days of the NBA, it was common for the point guard to simply be someone who doesn't turn over the ball. They were not depended upon to score.

Now, with the athleticism of some of the point guards in the NBA this is not the case. In addition to great athleticism, many point guards have a very high basketball IQ. They know the game.

I am not saying there were no great point guards in the past. That is stupid. I am saying that there have never been so many great point guards playing at the same time.

Athletic guys with size are not becoming undersized shooting guards like in the past. They are becoming point guards.

Today, point guards are beginning to emerge as stars even from the prep level. The past three years, the top rated players in the country have been point guards (Derrick Rose, Brandon Jennings, and John Wall). The top rated player in the class of 2010 is also a point guard (Brandon Knight).

We all know how point guards affect the game in college.

This past season, Ty Lawson was the ACC player of the year and was the leader of the National Champion Tar Heels. On the other side, Kalin Lucas was the driving forces behind Michigan State’s improbable run to the Championship game. The year before that Derrick Rose shocked the nation by leading his Memphis team to the Championship game.

In this year's draft alone, it is predicted that 11 point guards will be taken in the first round.

The past four years in the NBA, the Rookie of the Year has been a point guard two times.

I think you just about got my point.

Every spectacular team in basketball is being lead by a point guard who is a facilitator.

Leaders like Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul are running teams. Studs like Derrick Rose or lights-out up and coming scorers like Stephen Curry are captivating fans.

This is a time like no-other when the point guard is becoming the premier star in the NBA. As NBA teams get faster, it is becoming more important that point guards can attack with speed and intelligent. They are exactly what the fans want and need.

Watch your favorite team. Now watch their point guard. I guarantee he is either the team leader or one of the team's best players.

So next time you want to find the next big thing in basketball, don't look at a 7' 3" center or a 6' 10" PF; look out for that 6' 2" point guard.

You may be surprised.

What the Warriors Should Do with the No. 7 Pick in the NBA Draft

kwame manu — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:59:24 -0400

From the front office to the game-style, the Golden State Warriors are not the most organized franchise in the NBA. After success in the 2006-2007 season, the Warriors went into a downturn which eventually led to Baron Davis leaving the team.

Now fast forward to May 19, 2009. The Golden State Warriors have won the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft.

So what should they do?

Well, the Warriors have two glaring weaknesses: They need a big man and a true point guard.

With the No. 7 pick, it is very unlikely the Warriors will get a good big man. There are only a few of them in this year's draft class. This is unfortunate because any team with championship aspirations needs a good big man. Just look at the past NBA champions; all of them had at least a solid big man (Shaq, Garnett, Duncan, etc.).

Since they don't get a big man unless Jordan Hill or Thabeet drop, they should go with a PG. Currently, we are in a "Golden Era" of PGs. It would be easy to pick a PG to fit the Warriors' system because all of the PGs in the draft are athletic.

The most athletic in this group is Brandon Jennings. His flash, quickness, and great passing ability would make him an instant favorite in Oak-town.

Monta Ellis does his best work off the ball. When he won NBA's Most Improved Player, he was playing with Baron Davis. Brandon Jennings will give the Warriors' frontcourt that 1-2 punch that they lacked last year.

It is imperative that the Warriors make use of this draft so that: 1. They don't get left in the dust in the West; and 2. They have an appealing team for potential free agents in 2010.

Let's hope they don't mess up.

Inter Milan Wins the Serie A Tiltle...Who Cares?

kwame manu — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:26:14 -0400

This past weekend, Inter Milan won it's fourth Serie A title (Scudetto) in a row. Yes, fourth.

For any club, this would be an amazing accomplishment. But not for Internazionale. You see, this past summer Inter Milan hired arguably the best manager in all of football—Jose Mourinho. Mourinho's resume speaks for itself. He has two Premier League titles, one Champion's League title, and many more that I don't feel like getting into.

He was supposed to bring a new age to Internazionale. You see, Inter Milan has been knocked out of the Champion's League before reaching the quarterfinals for the past four years. Yes, four years.

Even though Inter had been seeing great success at the domestic level, they had been embarrassed in the European level.

Mourinho didn't waste any time when he arrived at Inter. He quickly signed some of the most talented players in Europe and built a squad that seemed destined to take the world by storm.

Wrong.

Once again, Internazionale bounced out of the knockout rounds. Even with this new and improved squad.

So what was the point on wasting money on transfers. Why waste money on Jose Mourinho? He did nothing that Inter managers hadn't done before.

There are many that will say that the season is only a true failure if Jose failed to win the Serie A. However, that is not the point. The point is that Jose failed to do what he promised.

The world of football is a very impatient. Now, Jose is one of my favourite managers, but he needs to be the "Special One" that he claims to be. This summer will be big for him. Not only is he expected to fight off challenges from AC Milan, Juventus, and Roma, but also, he is expected to at least go deep into the knockout stages of the Champion's League.

Easier said than done.

However, as long as Jose and Inter struggle on the international stage, they will not get any respect. In a week, when the Champion's League final is played, we will be watching the La Liga Champions and the Premier League Champions.

It's time for the Serie A to stand up.

Sebastian Telfair: The Story of a Bust

kwame manu — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:47:42 -0400

Let me tell you a little bit about Sebastian Telfair.

Sebastian Telfair is the second highest scorer in NY state history. HISTORY. As a sophomore, Telfair averaged 27.1 points. He was a stud. He was everywhere.

Telfair was featured in USA Today, Slam Magazine, and had a documentary in the works before he was even 19 years old. Telfair regularly came to games with Jay-Z, and Derek Jeter in his entourage.

Telfair drew the attention of scouts from all over the country. At the beginning of his senior season he committed to the University of Louisville.

"As I'm watching Sebastian," Pitino said of Telfair back in 2004, "I realize that if he puts on a Louisville uniform he will be the best point guard i would have coached at the collegiate ranks"

Telfair was the best.

When he decided to jump straight to the NBA from high school, hardly anyone believed that he was making a mistake. That's why he was taken 13th overall.

But what of him now? Most people who do know of him, know that he is famous just for being famous. Most basketball fans haven't even heard of him. His star has fallen. Four year and three teams later, Telfair has averaged 9.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.

I think that this would constitute as a bust. Actually, this may be the definition of bust. But here's the problem: I like Sebastian Telfair. Actually most of my favorite players end up being perceived as busts (uh-oh, coincidence?).

I will fight the bust label that has been placed on Telfair. This past year, Telfair scored 30 points against the Miami Heat. This wasn't the only time. Telfair has had such flashes of brilliance during his NBA career.

His problem is consistency. His jumper is very suspect, and he has failed to make an impact in the offensive systems he has been put in.

This is a problem with many prep to pro stars. Many of these stars use their athleticism to run up and down the court and blaze by their defenders. In the NBA, Telfair can't do that.

If Telfair is placed in a high octane offense, like that of the Suns, Knicks, or Warriors; Telfair will be able to succeed. Telfair needs to be put in a situation that caters to his strengths. He can be effective in the NBA.

Maybe I'm just reaching here. Maybe I'm just trying to stick up for one of my old favorite players. Maybe I'm not.

Maybe Sebastian Telfair can still be a star.

My Manchester City Wishlist

kwame manu — Mon, 18 May 2009 03:06:38 -0400

What would the summer be if there were no wild summer transfer rumors or wish-lists. With the transfer window soon to be open, the newspapers are going crazy with rumours. I have decided to fuel the fire by making a wish-list of my own. These are the players that I would like to see at Manchester City next season. I have picked players that are not only affordable, but are very talented. They would be great finds for Manchester City. It is not necessary to go off and spend $100 million on a single player. There are many young and experienced players that we need to bolster up our squad. If we want to be a world-class team, we need depth. Many of our Starting XI players should be coming off the bench. 4 or 5 signings as well as bringing up our youth will help us. I have listed some players at the same position. I did this because in case Man C doesn't get one player, there is another at that position that I will be happy to see at Eastlands. Also, I am on of the few people who have faith in Mark Hughes. Therefore a new manager is not on my wish-list.

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Carmelo Anthony: The Story of an Underrated Basketball Player

kwame manu — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:24:35 -0400

Carmelo Anthony is an underrated NBA player. Let me just clear that up right now. Maybe I should just end the article there. I should, but I won't.

I don't know what he has to do. I just don't know. I don't know why he has never made All-NBA first team (or second). I don't know why he has only made two All-Star games. One of those time (the year he averaged 28.9), he was only selected after a reserve got injured. I don't know why.

The numbers are there. Carmelo has career averages of 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. He has a total of over 10,000 points; over 2700 rebounds; and over 1200 assists. That's more points and rebounds than Dwyane Wade.

During the 2007 FIBA Americas Tournament, Carmelo led a team with NBA superstars (Wade, James, Bryant) in scoring en route to a Gold Medal.

Why is he not considered a top player?

Let's look at the things that make Anthony a solid player.

Has he turned around a franchise? Check. Before the Nuggets drafted Carmelo Anthony, they were in a nine year drought in which they didn't make playoffs. The year before Carmelo joined the Nuggets, they were 17-65. The year after he joined, they made it to the playoffs and went 43-39.

Marketability? Check. Carmelo Anthony is the only athlete to feature on three basketball EA franchises: NCAA Basketball, NBA Live, and NBA Street. Carmelo signed a $75 million deal with Nike and Air Jordan right out of college. Carmelo also earns over $15 million a year with his contract with the Nuggets.

Amazing Performances? Check. That's all I can say about that.

Clutch? Double Check. In this past season alone, only Lebron and Kobe have more points in crunch time (Last five minutes of fourth quarter or overtime).

So what does he have to do? I don't know. It's seem obvious to me that Carmelo is in the conversation. He is one of the best.

I'm not saying he's the best. I'm just saying give credit where it's due.

As you watch Carmelo, Chauncey, and the Nuggets blitz their ways to the NBA Western Conference Finals, pay attention. Watch him and tell me he's not a special player. Watch him and tell me, he isn't one of the best in the league.

Give Carmelo his respect.

Kobe Is Not As Good As Jordan, But He Is the Next Jordan

kwame manu — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:57:37 -0400

Now, before you bite my head off, consider this: When there is a ruler of a kingdom, the ruler's reign must end eventually. How the reign ends is up in the air (death, overthrow, retirement).

When this ruler is no longer the ruler, there is another one to take his place. Always.

It has been six years since Air Jordan retired for the last time. With his retirement, the long standing ruler of the NBA had stood down. So who took up his place?

Kobe. Hands down.

Kobe had been gearing up to take the seat at the thrown for years. His popularity had been off the charts since before he put on an NBA uniform. His most prominent personality traits are his competitiveness and intensity. On the court, he is a cold blooded assassin.

All of these traits were used to describe Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan was known to be the most competitive player in the NBA. His drive to be better than everyone else drove him to train rigorously every day to become the best. For more on his competitiveness see here.

Such competitiveness is said of Kobe. Even from watching his intensity during a game, one can tell that his competitiveness sets him above most of the people he faces. He wants to destroy you on the court. His competitive drive won't let anybody else outwork him. Look here for Kobe's work ethic.

Coach K chronicled Kobe's competitiveness in his book The Gold Standard. Coach K writes that Kobe said "Coach, I want to guard the best player on the perimeter of every team we play." He then paused, still staring Coach K in the eye, and then continued, "And I will destroy them."

Such competitiveness leaked to the other members of the Redeem Team and all the players from that team are better from it. Look at the play of stars Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. Kobe strives to play great on both ends of the floor. Carmelo and LeBron have gone on to say that this NBA season they have stepped up their defense because of Kobe's example.

That is Kobe's influence on today's players.

I don't even have to mention MJ's influence on basketball.

Kobe and Michael worked so hard during they're career that they built a confidence that was also unsurpassed by everyone else. They knew that they couldn't be guarded. This confidence bothered defenders. Kobe and MJ psych out their defenders before they even touch the ball. They could not be guarded; if anything they had bad games.

Finally, Kobe and Michael were some of the most popular and marketable players to ever play the game.

Michael was a marketing phenomenon. From his lucrative deal with Nike, to the Air Jordan symbol, to the Gatorade commercials with Mia Hamm, Michael was everywhere. He was the face of basketball.

Nearly every child in America wanted to play for the Chicago Bulls. Almost every child loved Space Jam with Bugs Bunny. Even today, there are commercials and songs made about MJ's shoes.

During the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, MJ was treated as a rock star. Everywhere he went, he was swarmed with fans. This was even before the NBA was a big success overseas. MJ helped make the NBA a global phenomenon.

Though not the extent of Jordan, Kobe has had enormous popularity. From his high school days, Kobe has garnered much attention. His swagger, talent and good looks made him almost instantly famous.

It is hard to watch TV today without seeing a Vitamin Water commercial with Kobe. Kobe's Ankle Insurance commercial has almost 600,000 views on Youtube. In China, during the 2008 Olympics, Kobe was clearly the most famous player on the US "Redeem Team". Giant crowds of fans followed Kobe religiously, as shown by the picture above.

Kobe and MJ are the rulers of their respective NBA eras. They are the standard at which players are measured. Whether you like or not, they're popularity has been high for ages and it is only impossible to imagine what the league would be like without them.

Rulers always have successors. Kobe is MJ's successor—and a worthy one at that.

USA Is Ranked #15 By FIFA...Don't Be Fooled By The Ranking

kwame manu — Sat, 09 May 2009 21:22:44 -0400

I for one am a huge critic of the FIFA ranking system. Through this article I'm going to give one of the biggest reasons: The USA being ranked 15 in the world.

Though I am not saying the US is a terrible team, I am saying that the US is not better than #16 Uruguay, #19 Cameroon, or even #30 Nigeria.

This isn't the first time the USA has been inaccurately ranked highly. Let's not forget that before the 2006 World Cup, The US was ranked #5, yes five, in the world; they didn't make it out the first round.

So how is this possible?

How does the United States manage to be place over teams with clearly more talent (Nigeria has stars such as Obafemi Martins, Victor Obinna, and John Obi Mikel). Easy. The level of competition. Now, before I get into the level of competiton, I will break down the FIFA ranking point system.

A win (with no penalty shootout) is three points. With shootouts, it's two points.

A draw and a loss (with penalty shootout) is one point apiece.

A loss is 0 points.

The point system is also weighted. Therefore a FIFA World Cup qualifier and a Continental Cup qualifier is x2.5. A Continental Cup or Confederations Cup Finals is x 3.

Do you see where I'm going?

The United States constantly beats up on teams with poor teams with even poorer economies. As the United States continues to beat on teams like Haiti, Cuba, and Jamaica, we continue to rack up points. Especially in World Cup Qualifiers and CONCACAF victories.

This is also one of the reasons that the United State constantly makes it to the World Cup.

Teams like Uruguay, play such difficult competition, that it is not even guaranteed that they make the World Cup.

Could you imagine if the US had to play Brazil, Argentina, or Ecuador on our route to the World Cup?

The problem is: the United States is not to blame. It is not the fault of United States that the other competition in our confederation are average at best.

Recently, our main rival has been Mexico. But now they are struggling to find a manager and form. They're national team is in danger of our sharp decline. As they decline, so does our level of competition.

Since we can't raise the level of competition in our confederation, it's up to the US National team to challenge themselves with International Friendly matches.

Last year, the United States started to do this with friendly matches against England, Spain, and Argentina. American fans were enthralled that the United States was attempting to make they're presence known on the international stage.

It is imperative that the United States continue to do that. Our players can only get better from doing so.

We can't get better from pounding small islands like Hurricanes. More importantly, we can't get complacent just because the FIFA rankings have us at #15. Simply, we are not the 15th best team in the world.

Being a United States soccer fan I find this painful to write. However, I feel that it is necessary. By realizing that the United States is not a #15, we and the United States team can realize that we still need to get better.

Our ranking is not a reflection of our work. There is much work to be done until the USA can deserve this ranking.

Weighing Manchester City's Needs as the Summer Transfer Window Approaches

kwame manu — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:15:46 -0400

I'm going to start off with somewhat of a revelation: Manchester City does not need to spend big massive amounts of money this summer. Manchester City has the tools in hand to have a solid squad.

Also, Manchester City has one of, if not the, top English Premier League youth academies (they just were the 2008 FA Youth Cup Champions)

However, Manchester City often suffers from a lack of depth, consistency, and chemistry. I believe the chemistry will come with time. By having so many players rumored in and out of the club, I would not be surprised if the locker room is a little antsy.

Also, as Mark Hughes gets used to his new players, he will be able to find what position on the field works best. He has started to do so already.

Now I will break down the keys to future Manchester City success by first finding the holes in the team, then deciding who should be let go, finding those who can be brought up from the youth academy, and finally finding who should be bought and at what position.

Part I: Holes

Manchester City has the fifth best offense in the Premiership. Only Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United have scored more goals. However, as the saying goes: defense wins championship.

All of these teams, except Manchester City, have the top ranked defenses in the Premiership. Manchester City is only ranked 10th.

It's clear where the needs are.

Micah Richards has had a very sub-par season, and this has caused concern for many Man City fans. However, he is only twenty years old. I have no doubt that he will regain form next year and be a starting right-back for years to come.

The same goes for Nigerian Onuoha. He is also only 22 and has a bright future ahead of him.

The real problems in the back lie with Richard Dunne and Wayne Bridge. Man City has a very fast and athletic squad. Dunne and Bridge just can't seem to keep up. Even though, they are often solid at the center back and left back positions, they do not fit into the new style of Man City play.

Also, if one of the players in the back four are injured, there are few to replace them. Depth is a big concern here.

The midfield is one of Manchester City's best positions. With Ireland at a center attacking role, Kompany and de Jong at defensive roles, and Wright-Phillips and Elano as wingers; we have a great group of players.

At the forward position, we have a lot of depth, but not a lot of quality. Of the seven forwards on the squad, only three have managed to score more than a goal. If it wasn't for outstanding efforts from Robinho and the midfield, Manchester City would not have nearly as potent of an offense.

Part II: Offloading

The primary position that need offloading is the striker position. There is a lot of unneeded money being spent there. Darius Vassell, Valeri Bojinov, and Benjani have a combined 132 caps between them. However, they only have 21 goals between them. It is apparent that they have been given time to succeed and have not delivered.

In the midfield, Martin Petrov is old and ineffective for Manchester City. With the depth of the team, he is just taking up space. He needs to be allowed to continue elsewhere. The same goes for 35 year old Dietmarr Hamann.

In the back, we have a lot of youth. Therefore we should give them a chance to succeed. However, Richard Dunne is already rumored to leave. This should not be that much of a blow, because he has been out of form. Michael Ball and Danny Mills are also aging players that have little or no future with the Citizens.

Manchester City may still be able to get a fair amount of money off these players by transferring them to lower teams like Sunderland, Bolton, or Hull City.

Part III: Youth are the Future

The Manchester City youth squad are the FA Youth Cup Champions. It is clear that the guys have the talent, now it is up to Mark Hughes to give them a chance at first team football.

19-year old Slovakian starlet Vladamir Weiss was the driving force behind the youth's FA Cup run. He skill set has been compared to that of Cristiano Ronaldo. He has quick feet, great passing, and can whip in free kicks with the best of them. It is only a matter of time before he makes an impact with the first team.

Adam Clayton, Ben Mee, and Ryan McGivern are also youth wonderkids that could really make an impact coming off the bench next year. They should be given a chance. With the success of youth team products like Stephen Ireland and Daniel Sturridge, why not?

Part IV: Incoming Transfers

Everyone's favorite part. The footballing world is buzzing with rumors. It seems as if every top player in the footballing world has been linked with a move to Man City. I'm going to be a rare realist in the situation.

As show previously in the article, there are only a few key areas where we need to potentially spend big money. Though, we have young youth in Sturridge and Kelvin Etuhu. We need immediate effectiveness from our attack.

By bringing in a top out-and-out box predator, we can further fortify the attack. A tall striker who can head the ball would also be a perfect compliment to Robinho, Sturridge, or Bellamy. There are few of those out there already, and even less of them are for sale.

Mario Balotelli of Inter Milan would be an outstanding player for Man City because he is aggressive and skillful. 6' 2" striker Roque Santa Cruz is also a very effective striker that is eager to leave Blackburn. He has scored 23 goals in 57 appearances, with little or no help.

Obafemi Martins of Newcastle, Negredo of Spanish club Almeria, Diego Forlan of Atletico Madrid, Andre-Pierre Gignac of Toulouse, Karim Benzema of Lyon, Batefimbi Gomis of St. Etienne, and Mario Gomez of VFB Stuttgart are some of the players that would fit nicely.

In the midfield, I honestly believe that Man City need no changes. Ireland was one of the candidate for FA Young Player of the year, Kompany and de Jong are very extraordinary players that can play both defensively and attack, Wright-phillips and Elano are very quick on the wings.

We also have upcoming Vladamir Weiss. They also have good young players in Ched Evans and Michael Johnson (hailed as the next Gerrard).

However if I had to choose, I would say Mark Hughes should get another quick winger like Alexis Sanchez or Bastian Schweinsteiger to run at defenses.

In the back, I would add a centre-back first and foremost to replace Dunne. By looking at a team like Manchester United or Chelsea, it is apparent that this is one of the most important positions on the field. City needs a tall strong defender to compliment Onuoha, such as Andre Barzagli or Salvatore Bochetti

I hope this article helped you see that Manchester City has a very strong squad, despite popular belief. The main problem isn't talent, but the consistency. By relieving some baggage, and inserting key players at a specific few key positions, Manchester can make a run at a Champion's League spot next year.

I guarantee it.

The MLS Needs To Bring American Stars Back from Abroad

kwame manu — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:23:49 -0400

During World Cup 2006 Qualifiers, a young American star by the name of Eddie Johnson made himself a household name (by American soccer fan standards, that is) when he scored seven goals in his first six matches.

The next year, on June 2, 2007, Johnson became the first player in MLS history to score back-to-back hat tricks. He was only 23 years old, and he had what appeared to a bright future ahead.

Word of Johnson's exploits reached the ears of several European clubs, and in the end, he signed a three-year deal with Premier League club Fulham FC. His talent was undeniable, and he was expected to be a star.

Unfortunately, things just didn't come to fruition.

Eddie Johnson failed to reclaim the form that made him a star in the MLS. In August of 2008, he was loaned to second-tier team Cardiff City, and in 25 appearances with that club (mostly off the bench), he has only scored twice.

Eddie isn't the only one with this story. There are several American players that are abroad that struggle to make an impact on their teams. They are confined to the bench and sometimes the reserve squad, where their talent and confidence diminish.

Some of these players aren't given a chance to succeed, but many of them simply don't have the raw ability.

But as the guys' skills atrophy, so does the quality of our national team, and in some cases, so does our domestic league, the MLS.

It is time for MLS team to put their money together and bring back players like Eddie Johnson.

The MLS cannot expect to become popular with American fans unless the league's teams can boast the top homegrown players. Right now, the majority of the best in the MLS are aging international players.

If you ask a young American soccer fan who his or her favorite players are, they will likely mention international stars like DaMarcus Beasley or Eddie Johnson. But kids' interest in these players will fade because they do not ever hear from them again.

By bringing them here to the United States, our youth will be able to see their heroes on a weekly basis.

This article isn't meant to downplay the success of stars like Clint Dempsey or Michael Bradley; these are players that deserve to be in Europe and are making an impact on their respective teams.

Nor is this article an attempt to keep American players from going to Europe. Our young talents should try to excel in European leagues, as many of them will become better players for it.

But the MLS is in danger of becoming like the NHL, a league in which the closest thing to "domestic" stars are Canadian. I mean, the MLS team with the second-highest average attendance is Toronto FC, and in 2011, Vancouver will receive an MLS team.

The team with the highest positive change in average attendance so far in 2009 is Chivas USA, a club whose games are primarily attended by Mexican immigrants.

Though it is great that attendance is increasing overall, the MLS is losing American fans. What's truly tragic is that some of those fans could have potentially been national stars in the future.

There is a time to say "enough is enough," and that time is now. If a player is struggling even to make it to the bench after years abroad, it is time to come home.

Come back to the U.S. Get paid as much as the aged international stars, and become heroes for millions.

Growing Tired of High School Star Lance Stephenson

kwame manu — Sat, 02 May 2009 02:43:15 -0400

I bought the hype. I watched the movie. I watched him on national TV. I followed the recruitment circus that surrounds him.

Now, I'm bored.

Lance Stephenson is one the few high profile prep stars that is yet to decide where they will be playing basketball next year. Now, I really couldn't care.

After Brandon Jennings took the route to Europe, it was expected by many that Stephenson would follow suit. Stephenson quickly changed his mind and the recruiting circuis commenced. It seemed that every school was on his list.

He dragged along the media as he mentioned interest in USC, UCLA, Maryland, Kansas, Memphis, St. John's (yes, St John's the Big East bottom feeder), just to name a few.

He was set to make an announcement as to where he would attend school during the McDonald's All American game on March 31. But no that would be to easy. After dodging several questions of the media as to why he has not yet chosen a school, Stephenson jump right back in the recruiting ring.

Since then it was assumed that he had his list down to three school: Maryland, St. John's (yes, St John's), and Kansas. Since prep star Xavier Henry is attending Kansas, it is very unlikely that Stephenson will be able to attend that school.

Doing simple math, that leaves us with to schools...right? Wrong. Recently, Lance has broadened his recruiting to several new schools. Some of these schools were never even put on the radar to begin with. Arizona and Kentucky are now supposedly in the mix for his services.

Now, take a moment to digest all this.

Now think. Is he even worth it. It's not like he is a LeBron James. He doesn't have the talent of Kobe or Kevin Garnett. So why should anyone even care.

Prep stars create a media circus around them. A hype machine, whether or not they are deserving. This creates headaches not only for fans, but for college coaches as well.

How is a coach supposed to prepare for the next year when they don't even know who is going to be on their roster. It is May 2. Most students know where they are going to school.

Why should high school players like Lance Stephenson, who are probably only going to spend 1 year in college anyways, get humored.

I feel it's not worth it. He's not the second coming of anything. Where Stephenson goes next year, is a mystery. A mystery I don't care to find out.

Call me when he's in the NBA.

The Future Stars of American Soccer (Football, Footy?)

kwame manu — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:28:36 -0400

Yes, American soccer does have a future. In 2008 the US Under-20 team made it to the quaterfinals of the U-20 World Cup in Canada. They had to beat powerhouses like Brazil and Uruguay to get there. The same year, the U-17 team made it to the round of 16 where they lost to eventually 3rd place Germany. The future is bright. At the youth level and somewhat at the senior level, American players are excelling on the global stage. Though we have a very long way to go before our youth teams and programs can compare to the skill level of those in Brazil or England, there is a beacon of light at the end of the tunnel. Most avid American soccer fans (and some casual fans) know of foreign wonderkids that excel nationally and in domestic leagues like 19 year of Alex Pato of AC Milan and Brazil, or 20 year old Theo Walcott of Arsenal and England, or even the 21 year old Lionel Messi of Barcelona and Argentina. However here, I will countdown to you the top 10 players 22 years of age and younger that will lead the United States to a new Era of Soccer. Players that one day will hopefully be able to compare to the "Walcotts" and "Patos" of the world.

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Eras Ending For Pistons and Spurs? I Don't Think So.

kwame manu — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:47:34 -0400

With the first round of the NBA playoffs coming to an end, there has been a theme buzzing around—the End of an Era.

This headline has pertained specifically to the Pistons and the Spurs, who both have already been eliminated from the playoffs in four and five games, respectively.

This is surprising given the fact the Detroit Pistons have been to six straight Eastern Conference finals.

The Spurs, who have one of the greatest power forwards of all time in Tim Duncan, have been to at least the Conference Semifinals every year since 1996.

With the rise of new teams like the Cavaliers in the East and the Blazers in the West, it's hard to see these to dynastic teams rise again.

It's time to open minds and check the facts. This is one of the best times of the last decade to hit a slump. Why? The 2009 and 2010 free agent classes. These free agent classes allow for a team to completely bolster their squads for the future.

Here are some of the enticing potential free agents of summer 2009: Jamal Crawford, Danny Granger, David Lee, Charlie Villanueva, Hakim Warrick, Trevor Ariza, Carlos Boozer, and Kobe Bryant.

Not only are some of these great potential role players for the Pistons or Spurs, but some of these guys are bona fide studs.

Danny Granger (Restricted Free Agent) was a 2009 All Star and had averages of 26 PTS, 5 REB, and 3 AST. David Lee (restricted) led the league in double-doubles with averages of 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Here are some the duds of the 2010 free agent class: Rajon Rondo, Michael Redd, Tyrus Thomas, LeBron James, Josh Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Dwyane Wade, Brandon Roy, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Chris Bosh.

Now, I was clearly joking when I used the word "dud" to describe this free agent class. Many are saying that this free agent class is the best of all time. I don't even need to go into how these players could alter the complexion of a team.

Furthermore, many of these players are unhappy in their current situation: Amar'e, Chris Bosh, and Michael Redd among others. These are franchise-altering players.

So before you jump on the bandwagon that is writing off the futures of teams like the Pistons or the Spurs, remember this: The winds of change are coming.

With the inevitable dumping of players from both the Pistons and Spurs this summer, they are not desperate. They are clearing space to acquire a Chris Bosh or a LeBron James.

They are only clearing space to make themselves formidable again. Rest assured, they will be formidable again.