Bleacher Report - Articles by Dustin Haley

Following Josh Childress' Lead, Is LeBron James Heading Overseas? (Humor)

Dustin Haley — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:43:48 -0400

The Guangdong Southern Tigers, of the 中国男子篮球职业联赛 (Chinese Basketball Association), seemingly are clearing their unlimited cap space to make a run at LeBron James in 2010.

“Guangdong happens to be my fifth favorite province in China,” James says. “And some of my best Cantonese cuisine restaurants reside in Guangdong!” he exclamates.

All of this is now surfacing, after former NBA player Josh Childress and top high school prospect Brandon Jennings both signed with European clubs.

Guangdong, the fourth-most populous province in China, has been atop the CBA for the last five years, winning four of the last five championships. It appears they would like to stay on top.

An anonymous spokesman from Nike told this reporter that the sports apparel company was prepared to offer James a new contract including “China escalators” that would significantly increase James' endorsement bonuses.

Former Southern Tiger and current New Jersey Net, Yi Jianlian, was asked if he would return to his former team should they land LeBron, since he has a player option at the end of this season. “I wourd be ecstatic to rrun with Rebron James” he answered.

So far, the details of the offer Guangdong is preparing is being kept secret—but rest assured, I will let you know how this situation plays out.

Clay Matthews: Overdue for NFL Hall of Fame Induction

Dustin Haley — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:16:25 -0400

The National Football League Hall of Fame; A fraternity reserved for the most idolized, respected, and legendary athletes to play in the National Football League. Names include Johnny Unitas, Jim Otto, Lou Groza, Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Dick Butkus, and Reggie White.

The best of the best, all of the inducted players showed exemplary intelligence, skill, and discipline both on and off the field (mostly…<cough>… Michael Irvin…<sniff>).

The 2008 Hall of Fame inductees are DE Fred Dean, CB Darrell Green, WR Art Monk, CB Emmitt Thomas, LB Andre Tippett, and T Gary Zimmerman. As expected, the election committee once again filled the Hall with some of the greatest names to pass through the league.

However, I feel, and not to take away from the illustrious careers of the aforementioned, that one stand out player is being continuously over looked. He is LB Clay Matthews.

Matthews played 19 seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons organizations, 16 of which with the prior. Being amongst the leaders of the seasons played category of Cleveland’s history books, he was second to Lou “The Toe” Groza’s 17 seasons with the franchise. Astoundingly, he played two hundred seventy eight games in the NFL ranking him twelfth all-time.

The All-American USC prospect was the first linebacker drafted in 1978 as the No. 12 overall pick. A versatile young OLB, though listed as a ROLB, could play both sides of the field, and he immediately found himself within the defensive rotation. Clay proved that he was prepared for the pro game and was willing to contribute.

In his first four seasons (1978 – 1981) he played in 61 games, starting in over three quarters of them, and in the process put up impressive stats. Over that span, he had 348 tackles, five fumble recoveries, and five interceptions. He also solidified himself as a leader and cornerstone of Cleveland’s defense for seasons to come.

In week one of the 1982 season, Clay went down with a fractured ankle in a 21-7 win in Seattle against the Seahawks, with mere seconds left in the game. He would not play the rest of the season and would be replaced by future Browns' assistant coach and eventual nemesis, Bill Cowher. I believe, with his break-out season coming in 1981, missing this season to injury has negatively affected his HOF status, statistically speaking.

As the seasons progressed, Matthews established himself as a premier linebacker in the NFL. Opposing teams respected his ability to rally teammates, consistent tackling, and his stellar pass rushing. His play would earn him four Pro Bowl appearances in 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1989.

Although statistically these were great seasons, they certainly were not his best. Cleveland’s play overall had improved under coach Marty Schottenheimer and they had made the playoffs in all of those years, thus receiving more attention.

In 1984, arguably his best season, Matthews’s recorded 126 tackles, 12 sacks, three forced fumbles, and would start all 16 games. Browns fans will tell you that for the most part, as is with most his career, he was playing under the radar on a mediocre at best defense. The defense's highlight of the season came when the Browns managed 11 sacks on Atlanta quarterback Steve Bartkowski.

One of Clay’s performances that I’m old enough to remember came on January 8, 1990, in the divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo was supposed to be the better team, and quarterback Jim Kelly wanted to prove why, throwing for 405 yards and four touchdowns. The Browns had the lead in the middle of the fourth quarter, 34 to 24.

Kelly’s last touchdown pass came on a short three yard pass to Thurman Thomas, but Buffalo would miss the ensuing extra point, forcing the Bills to get in the end zone on their last drive attempt.

We Browns fans held our breath as Kelly nearly had a fifth touchdown pass, but it was dropped by the receiver. With three seconds left in the game, Kelly fired another shot towards pay dirt, but Matthews made an excellent read and break to the ball, intercepting it and sending the Browns to the AFC Championship Game.

At the end of his career, Clay had recorded 1,561 tackles, 16 interceptions, 27 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries, and two defensive touchdowns as regular season stats. He currently holds Browns' records for most consecutive seasons, most games, and is in the top ten with 76 and a half regular and post season sacks.

In closing, we all know that Clay will eventually join his brother Bruce, a 2007 inductee at OL, at the Hall. Eventually the committee will realize that he was too great of a player who spent his career playing for lower echelon teams.

I would just hate to see him inducted 30 years after he retired, or worse yet, when he's incapable of enjoying the award. I would enjoy some discussion on this article on whether or not you agree or disagree with me, or maybe bring up some other players who deserve to be in the HOF that haven’t yet been inducted.

The War of 2010: Battle of LeBron James

Dustin Haley — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:54:45 -0400

There are countless sports analysts and fans who speculate on how LeBron

James will be heading to a larger market like New York to make more money off his endorsements, to gain more exposure, and apparently to move away from his friends here to be closer to 1.47% Nets owner Jay Z. (Apparently the economics of flying to hang out with each other has gotten much too expensive for both, due to rising gas prices)

We all know one of his goals is to be the first billionaire athlete, and with his Nike escalators, these arguments do make sense. However, I have never read any articles that actually tried to break the situation down. Nobody has tried to use any real logic. Unfortunately, the only articles I find repeat exactly what ESPN reported after he signed his three year deal. That trickled down to the sports columnists, who in turn put their own little spin on it, but all wanting James in a new market.

Reportedly, the stipulation is always his decision will be made on whether or not Cleveland wins a championship by 2010. To do so Danny Ferry needs to sign a “Scottie Pippen”, if you will, for scoring help. Apparently, other than James, the Cavaliers are full of scrubs. Never mind these same scrubs carried him through seven games in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Celtics this year, but that’s an argument I won’t get into. All teams are always looking to improve.

Is LeBron better off in a larger market?

In my opinion, the answer is no. If he wants to go, he’s going to go. But unless the franchises clearing room for him have not put together at least a .500 team by then, he’ll be in the same if not worse situation he’s in now. I’m sure Nike would prefer that their investment play in a city like New York or L.A. (again the escalators), but 2010 holds the same anxiety for Nike as it does Cavaliers fans. His Nike contract is also up in 2010.

Some say the 2008 Olympics in Beijing will have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the situation. With the exposure associated with the Olympics, a great performance by James, and a Gold Medal, Nike will be forced to give him a more lucrative contract. In reality, Nike is going to have to give him larger contract regardless of what happens. They do not want to let their investment sign with another shoe company. Whatever amount of money LeBron wants from Nike, he will get. Regardless of what market he plays in.

It appears to me that LeBron James is quite the savvy business man. He’s put himself in a great position to control his own future. Not Nike, not the Cavaliers, but him. Also in 2010 he becomes a seven year pro. Any player with less than seven years experience can only command 25% of the salary cap. After seven years players are eligible to earn 30% and, under the current C.B.A. (at least how I understand it), the Cavaliers are the only team who can offer 30%, a term of six years, and with a 10.5% annual increase. Any other team can only offer five years, with an 8% increase. That’s 30 million more than any other team can possibly offer. There will be no Nike escalator to make up that difference in 2010.

Will Lebron James receive more exposure in a large market?

People tend to base a teams market solely on city population and economy. This could not be more inaccurate. Here are some interesting statistics I’ve found on Cleveland’s “market”.

1. The Cavaliers were third in the league in average home attendance, with 20,465 (a capacity of 20,562). They had 33 home sellouts. Only Chicago and Detroit averaged more, with capacities of 22,879 and 22,076 respectively.

2. They had 31 nationally televised games (Top Five). The Lakers had the most with 33.

3. Every Cavalier regular season game was televised regionally. A network that reaches cable companies in Toledo, Columbus, Youngstown, Lima, Pittsburgh PA, Buffalo NY, and areas in between. The channel is also offered nationally in a Direct T.V. package.

4. Cavaliers merchandise is in the top 10 in the league, per capita. (Up 500% from six years ago)

5. LeBron is top three behind Garnett and Bryant for licensed product sales, and he is fourth in jerseys sales.

Let’s also take a look at some of the things he has accomplished as far as his exposure is concerned.

1. Cover of Fortune Magazine

2. Cover of ESPN Magazine

3. Cover of Vogue Magazine

4. Hosted the ESPY awards

5. Hosted Saturday Night Live

6. Collaborated with NBA brass to play pre-season games in China.

All these things he’s done while playing for Cleveland. The King is well on his way to becoming a World Icon. Even if he was concerned about his media market, the Cavaliers are quickly becoming on of the top markets in the league. Regardless, he’s above the nuances of worrying about which market he plays for, unlike your average upper echelon NBA baller. He's already established himself as a mutli million dollar business, he has created his own market in his name. Similar to MJ.

In closing 2010 is still two seasons away. It’s far too early to actually predict what LBJ will do that year. If he leaves I think it will be because of management issues and not because of his endorsements, market, or who he’s friends with. I think Danny Ferry has done a great job cleaning up the mess he inherited. We now are much closer to a Championship caliber team. So Cavs fans, relax, I expect we will keep our super star for many seasons to come.