Bleacher Report - Articles by Bill Wright

Rick Pitino Needs a Period of Reflection

Bill Wright — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:54:10 -0400

I just heard Rick Pitino say that he's "had enough" of the media coverage of his adventures. While I'm a forgiving guy (Michael Vick should play, and Plaxico Burress' sentence is excessive), I have very little sympathy for Coach Pitino.

I can't understand how he's still considered fit to lead young men.

I am not saying that there are perfect people out there. I have my problems, and I'm sure Coach K and Roy Williams have theirs. OK, Coach K might be close to perfect, so let's replace him with Rick Majerus.

But my problem stems from the publicity and lack of humility of the subjects involved, especially Pitino in this case. He should be let go.

If I were ever blessed to have a son consider a top-notch school like Louisville, I would immediately utilize my parental veto power and scratch the Cardinals off the list of potentials.

I understand that his current recruits remain committed to Pitino and Louisville, but they were impressed with him before all of this came out.

What future recruits can he land? Forget about the fact that his competitors will use this against him. Any caring family network will think twice about having this type of influence around their son for so many hours during the week.

I assume that the only recruits Pitino can sign now are those who come from one-parent households consisting of a half-time mother, no father figure, and no Internet access. Who would encourage a young, impressionable man to attend Louisville right now?

Perhaps a few years off, a sort of penance, would benefit Pitino, his family, and whatever potential program he coaches. I know that would weigh positively on my mind during the consideration process if Pitino were recruiting my child.

Rick Pitino has no right to be upset. He has no right to "have enough" of whatever criticism he is receiving. And he certainly has no place invoking Ted Kennedy's death into the mix.

He made a very poor decision. As the leader of a group of young men, the face of an institution, and a world-renowned coach of basketball, he should understand the impact he has and how his actions influence others.

How would a recruiting trip unfold with Pitino in the dining room of a prospect, speaking to caring parents?

"Mr. Johnson, I want your son to play for me at Louisville. We're like a family. He'll develop on the court, and he'll become a citizen we can be proud of."

Mr. Johnson's son will have to "do as I say and not as I do." Would Mr. Johnson's son not be expected to treat a woman like a placemat? Would Mr. Johnson's son be expected to cover up any trouble he gets into?

I'm not saying that Pitino is irredeemable. But instead of crawling into the corner in an apologetically humble position, he's sticking his chest out acting as if he's been wronged and deserves to continue being the leader of young men.

I believe, without a doubt, that he has true remorse and will never act in this manner again (remember, I'm forgiving...maybe too forgiving), but time heals wounds. I used to be a huge Pitino fan, enamored by his intensity, tenacity, and take-no-crap attitude.

He now needs to take the I'm-full-of-crap attitude and take some time to adjust it. Maybe then I would consider having my son play for him.

It's called reflection—there is no better rehabilitator.

NBA: the Picture Dictionary

Bill Wright — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:40:33 -0400

I'm sure there exists an NBA Dictionary, Encyclopedia, or Almanac. But if I were to create my own, the following pictures would be attached to the various definitions in order to clearly define that aspect of the game. So in the interest of..."Next to $^*% in the dictionary, there is a picture of you"...

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Poor Spud Webb: How Expansion Has Ruined The NBA, Part 2

Bill Wright — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:32:36 -0400

In an attempt to figure out why this year’s NBA playoffs have been both exciting and excruciatingly awful—as have many previous playoffs—I can’t help but come to this conclusion: expansion has ruined the NBA.

No offense to Memphis (Vancouver), Orlando, Miami, Minnesota, Toronto, New Orleans (Charlotte), and Charlotte, but none of those franchises should have ever been birthed if quality of play was a factor.

I say it’s exciting because awesome players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard are able to express their tremendous skills. But they are able to succeed in large part because some of their opponents have no business being on the floor playing defense.

That is the excruciatingly awful part.

Although it is refreshing at times to witness Anderson Varejao’s enthusiasm and hustle, it would be much more refreshing to see an actual basketball defender give Dwight Howard fits.

Yes, Luke Walton is a fan favorite, but he should be waving a towel at the end of a bench, not being a factor in a playoff game. It has become too ridiculously common: C-level players receiving substantial minutes in crucial moments of these playoffs.

It has been 20 years since expansion began in the NBA. In my previous article (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/186642-id-be-pissed-if-i-were-a-denver-nuggets-fan-how-expansion-has-ruined-the-nba) we got a small glimpse of how different the NBA would look if there were no expansion teams (it’s a “perfect world” piece).

The 1987-1988 season was the last time we saw 23 teams in the NBA. Since that time, the NBA has increased the number of players by 30%. That is an enormous amount in a fairly small amount of time.

Compare that percentage with the growth of Major League Baseball: MLB has seen a 25% increase in players in 32 years. That is a lower number of players, comparatively speaking, entering the league over a much longer period of time.

The NFL has increased the number of players by 14% since 1988 and only 23% over the past 33 years. This gradual expansion has, to a certain extent, produced a more quality product.

My argument here is that the more gradual the expansion and the further a league is away from expansion the greater opportunity there is for a quality product on the diamond, field, or court.

Imagine if the NFL had expanded the way the NBA has over the past 20 years. To achieve an increase in player personnel at a 30% clip, the NFL would have had to add an additional five teams on top of the Browns and Texans.

Let’s assume the NFL did this, and added five teams in Los Angeles, Portland, San Antonio, Utah, and Mobile (cities don’t matter for this purpose—it just goes to show how ridiculous it is to have an NBA team in Oklahoma City, Memphis, or Toronto).

Five more quarterbacks would be pushed into starting roles. It’s already difficult to find a quality QB, but imagine if Dan Orlovsky, Brett Basanez, or Cleo Lemon were handed the ball on a full-time basis.

I would venture to say an inferior product would develop quite quickly.

But this is exactly what has happened with the NBA over the past 20 years. We have seen seven teams added in a very short period of time, allowing players like Chris Duhon, Raymond Felton, and Ramon Sessions lead their teams as point guards.

Although these players are solid, they don’t even come close to the backup point guards of the 1980s. Vinnie Johnson, a key ingredient with the Pistons in the 1980s, would probably be a starting point guard today for a mediocre team.

The same could be said for Rickey Green or Spud Webb.

Seriously—Spud Webb would be a starting point guard in today’s NBA. I am a huge Spud Webb fan, but it’s a good thing he never was a full-time point guard.

Chris Duhon, Raymon Felton, and Ramon Sessions shouldn’t be full-time point guards either. And there are dozens of other players who shouldn’t be in the NBA.

Dwight Howard would be a great player in the 1980’s NBA. Anderson Varejao, however, would be a 10th-12th man, if he were in the NBA at all. We could say the same thing for at least two players on each team.

Expansion is not totally a bad thing. The NFL, and MLB to a certain extent, has shown how successful it can be. The way the NBA has done it, however, has created a situation where many fans say, “Remember the 80s?”

If I Was a Denver Nuggets Fan, I'd Be Pissed: How Expansion Ruined the NBA

Bill Wright — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:41:56 -0400

There has been much discussion lately regarding where Kobe and LeBron rank among the greats in the history of the NBA. As a professional analyst dealing with numbers frequently, I attempted to come up with a formula that could logically conclude who has been the best player in the NBA covering the last 30 years. I found that it was impossible. The expansion of 7 more teams in the NBA in the past 20 years has ruined the quality of play in the NBA. I completely realize that much of what I'm about to put forward will not sit well with many people, such as the fact that the Knicks would have won at least two titles within the past 20 years and the Sonics probably would have acquired at least one. So let us go through a few of those drafts that occured after expansion was implemented.

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Golf, NASCAR, Bowling, and Poker Are Great Hobbies

Bill Wright — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:46:52 -0400

The gut on John Daly (pictured above) does not evoke notions of athleticism, does it?

That belly is just one piece of evidence that leads us to the conclusion that golf is not a sport. With all apologies to Tiger Woods, who is definitely a great athlete, he has acquired millions participating in a hobby.

Some will suggest that the walking of golf alone is "grueling" and requires effort. Well, if we are going to permit long walks into the world of sports, it's not out of the realm of possibility to soon see a "Meter Maid League" on the horizon.

"Jackie Smith from Philadelphia still holds the record for most citations issued in a shift, with 247. Of course, that was during the caffeine era of 2010-2011."

If the activity can be conducted in slacks and church shoes with spikes, it is not a sport. If a "highly-trained athlete" like John Daly can be successful, it is not a sport.

And the same goes for NASCAR. Yes, they build up sweat driving those fast cars in circles, but there are many city bus drivers out there who do it for much longer with many more obstacles.

Heck, just this past spring break I drove from Roanoke to Texarkana (13 hours) without any rest, and I am far from an athlete. I did break a sweat, however, from eating too many sunflower seeds.

And with all that said, there shouldn't even be an argument about bowling or poker. Why a card game is on ESPN I'll never understand; it is highly frustrating.

Don't get me wrong—an athlete can definitely participate in golf and racing, but a person does not have to be an athlete to participate in those hobbies at a high level. It does help to be in shape, just as with any other activity, such as working on a car engine or painting a house.

But let us not accept golfers as "athletes" any longer. It's an extreme insult to real athletes like Lance Armstrong, Jerry Rice, LeBron James, and Michael Phelps.

Oh yeah, baseball isn't a sport, either.

By Popular Demand: The Top 25 Basketball Players from the State of Oregon

Bill Wright — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:08:16 -0400

Growing up in Tacoma and Seattle, I always looked down upon those citizens from the south (Oregon), considering them my dirty little step-brother. The reasons for my nose-raising? Easy: --One major sports franchise, and it's the Trailblazers --Portland is not in the same class as Seattle, so stop the comparisons --Uniforms of the Ducks and colors of the Beavers --UW is better than OU and OSU. Heck, WSU is better. Shoot, Gonzaga is better. What the heck, Evergreen State College is better. --Best thing to come out of Oregon: Tillamook Cheese and Ice Cream So when I wrote about the Top 25 Basketball Players to come out of the State of Washington ( http://bleacherreport.com/articles/135348-top-25-hoopsters-of-washington-state ), I never thought I would be cajoled into doing the same thing for the State of South Washing...er...Oregon. I almost think this was a waste of time. But here it is, nonetheless.

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Top 25 Basketball Players To Come Out of the State of Washington

Bill Wright — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:16:23 -0500

With the Washington High School State Championship scheduled to be played tomorrow night, it's only fitting that we look back at the tremendous talent that has come out of the great Pacific Northwest. At one time in the not-too-distant past, it was abnormal for a Washington product to garner national attention. Nowadays it seems to be fairly common to see talent from the Evergreen State recruited to Top 25 schools and drafted into the NBA. Let's go over the "weights and measures" of how the list was formed before the countdown begins: --Each nominee had to play high school basketball within the state of Washington --NBA career is the top weight, followed by college career, NBA draft status, high school career, McDonald's All-American participation, and National/State awards --Projection also carries some heavy weight as you will see in the rankings of players like Brandon Roy and Rodney Stuckey, and Isaiah Thomas (above)

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Turning The Tables: NFL Mock Draft...Franchise Style.

Bill Wright — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:40:54 -0500

Hello great fans of the NFL!

My name is Bill Wright and I am coming to you live from Madison Square Garden. You are witnessing a monumental moment in the history of sports as the greatest fans of the NFL are choosing which franchise will play for their beloved city.

Throughout the day I will be receiving updates and analysis from my colleagues up here on the platform as well as those down on the floor.

Remember, the selections have been ordered by fan base.

Joining me on stage are Zel Piper, JR, Coach Pitka, and Tort, of the "Tort Report".

At the ground level we have Clayton Johnson. He'll be bringing us interviews of the fans, owners, and whoever else he wants to talk with.

Let's start with you, Zel, who do you have at the top of the board?

ZEL: Well, it's no surprise I think to anybody that the Dallas Cowboys are the number one franchise available. That's a no-brainer. But where it gets interesting is ranking teams two through five. At number five I have Baltimore, number four is Miami, number three is New England, and my number two team is Philadelphia. I truly believe this is how it's going to play out.

BILL: Uh...um...sounds great, Zel. Coach, what do you think about that? Do the Cowboys carry enough clout to be picked first by the fans of Green Bay?

COACH: This guy is off his rocker. If you call on him again during this broadcast I'll rip out your thigh muscle and hit you in the face with it. The Dallas Cowboys. Are you serious? DON'T! Do not open your mouth until I say it's alright, you got that? The obvious choice here is Pittsburgh. They are a tremendous franchise with great ownership. If the great people of Wisconsin are smart, they'll go with Pittsburgh.

TORT: You're probably right, Coach. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they stick with the Packers.

BILL: Let's hear what the commissioner, King Ruler, has to say.

RULER: With the first pick in the 2010 NFL Franchise draft, the fans of Green Bay select the Patriots.

TORT: I can't say that this is a surprise. Some people had the Colts going No. 1, but with the departure of Tony Dungy that threw too many questions into the mix.

BILL: Perhaps the greatest franchise of the past decade, they will now be playing their home games at historic Lambeau Field. Coach, what are your thoughts?

COACH: I think this is a good pick. It's a safe pick. You really can't go wrong with the coaching staff, ownership, and personnel. And with Brady coming back healthy next year, they should do some good things.

ZEL: I still think the Cowboys are...

COACH: Shut it!

BILL: Clayton, do you have any information for us from down on the floor? What are the people saying?

CLAYTON: Well, most people are ignoring me, but one fan from Green Bay whispered to me that it will be great not having to wear green all the time. It'll definitely be interesting to see where the Packers will be playing next year.

BILL: And here is the King with the second pick of the draft.

RULER: With the second pick, the fans of Washington select the Eagles.

BILL: WOW! I hope you can hear me over all the boos from the Philadelphia section. This is surely a shocker. Wait a minute, I think I see riot police in full gear holding back all the people from Philadelphia.

COACH: I knew this would happen.

CLAYTON: Someone, please, send.....help. I think that was a battery. I don't know if I can...

COACH: Suck it up! Do your job!

CLAYTON: Tell mother I love her.

TORT: You can't blame the people of Washington for going after this franchise. They are very stable and have been to more NFC Championships than anyone. I think it's an excellent choice. And the city that gets the Redskins won't be disappointed.

BILL: Let's see who the people of Indianapolis select.

RULER: With the third pick of the draft, Indianapolis selects the Colts.

BILL: Why not? They are familiar with the team and it appears that they are the best team available, contrary to Zel's opinion. What happened to Clayton?

TORT: Jerry Jones has got to be wondering why he's still sitting here. I talked to his people and they forecasted his franchise being selected no lower than three.

BILL: And now up, the people of Philadelphia.

RULER: Due to their behavior, the Philadelphia fans have dropped one selection. Arizona selects the Packers.

COACH: I knew this would happen. But the people of Arizona receive an excellent franchise. Good for them. Even though they made it to the Super Bowl this year, you can't argue with the history and marketing opportunities.

BILL: Hard to argue with that, Coach. The Packers have a tremendous following. Tort, where do you see the people of Philadelphia going with their pick?

TORT: I actually see them pulling the Seahawks out of Seattle. I honestly thought the Seahawks would go a bit higher but losing Holmgren, this may be a stretch. We'll see.

RULER: With the fifth pick in the draft—Don't make me drop you another—that's it, Philadelphia picks ninth!

CLAYTON: I've managed to find my way over the Miami section and most of them are sleeping. I think I'll be OK here.

BILL: I just don't understand it. They are only hurting themselves. This means that Cleveland has the next selection.

RULER: The people of Cleveland select the Ravens.

COACH: I knew this would happen. This is strictly a pay-back selection. I truly believe that.

TORT: Hold on a second, Coach, I think we have a trade. Yes, we have a trade.

BILL: Let's go to the Ruler.

RULER: There has been a trade. In exchange for the Ravens, the city of Kansas City gives the City of Cleveland their selection along with barbecue.

BILL: This isn't too much of a surprise, as the Chiefs have been irrelevant for so many years. And now Cleveland will be home to Kansas City Barbecue.

COACH: This works out for both cities. Kansas City gets a top-notch franchise and Cleveland will be enjoying baby backs for years to come. I still think Cleveland did it to screw Baltimore, who actually picks next.

RULER: With the sixth pick of the draft, the people of Baltimore select the Steelers.

TORT: This has got to be the steal of the draft so far, ha ha ha ha. They'll probably win the Super Bowl this year and they've got a very young, successful coach. And now that the Ravens will become irrelevant in Kansas City, this is a great move for Baltimore.

BILL: Great insight, Tort.

RULER: With the seventh pick of the draft, New York selects the Bears.

BILL: Wow, the people of New York who weren't on the selection committee are really letting their voices be heard. They are really giving them the Trent Tucker treatment. But they do have two picks.

COACH: I just don't understand why they didn't pick the Giants. It's a good franchise. I guess they're just too tired of Coughlin so they decided to scrap the entire team. Maybe the Giants will fall to them again, who knows.

BILL: Let's see who Tennessee selects.

RULER: With the eighth pick, Tennessee selects the Buccaneers.

COACH: I'm actually shocked at this one. I would have thought that the people of Tennessee would have stuck with the Titans, I really would. The Bucs have great owners, but whoever gets the Titans will be in good shape.

TORT: Bill, I've talked with some folks close to Jerry Jones and they tell me that the Cowboys are still on the board because of his refusal to part with Wade Phillips and T.O.

BILL: Well, I doubt anyone is surprised by that information. Let's go down to the King.

RULER: With the ninth pick, Philadelphia......just try me......Philadelphia selects the Falcons.

BILL: Sticking with the bird theme, the people of Philadelphia take the Falcons out of Atlanta. Your thoughts, Coach?

COACH: I think this is a great selection. They have a great coach and a young quarterback and running back. They'll be in the playoffs many times over the next decade.

RULER: With the 10th pick, the people of Pittsburgh select the Broncos.

COACH: I just don't like the sound of that, "The Pittsburgh Broncos." Just doesn't sound right. Don't get me wrong, it's a good franchise and a good selection, but it just sounds goofy. The Panthers were still up there, why didn't they go with the "Pittsburgh Panthers?"

TORT: Dallas has an opportunity here with this pick at No. 11 to keep the Cowboys. Let's see if they do it.

RULER: With the next pick of the draft, Dallas selects the Giants.

BILL: Another surprising move in this draft. This time by the people of Dallas. They take one of their enemies, the G-Men, and bring them to "Big D."

CLAYTON: I've tried to get close to Jerry Jones, but it appears that he is too distraught to speak. Now that he knows he won't be able to pace the field of his new stadium, I guess it's understandable.

COACH: He brought it on himself. Look at the mess he created. It serves him right. Bet he ends up in Buffalo.

RULER: With the 12th pick of the draft, the people of Houston select the Panthers.

BILL: No real surprise here. The Panthers have been contenders year in and year out. Great move by Houston.

TORT: You'll get no argument here. Now that both NFL teams in Texas are filled, it will definitely be weird to have the Texans in the a different city.

COACH: Hey, I never thought of that. It would be really stupid if a team like San Diego becomes the Texans. Hope they change their name.

RULER: With the 13th pick, the city of Cincinnati selects the Jets.

CLAYTON: I spoke with some of the people from Cincinnati and they said they would have been happy to get the Toronto Argonauts, let alone the Jets, a team they've had their eye on sine the beginning. They just want the Bengals to leave.

COACH: I feel sorry for the city that ends up with the black and orange, that's for sure.

BILL: Considering Delta has a hub in Cincinnati, it's a logical fit.

RULER: With the 14th pick of the draft, the people of New England select the Chargers.

BILL: Hmm, not sure what to make of this selection.

COACH: It's a winning organization. Perhaps they'll make it to the Super Bowl once they're out of the sun. I just don't know if the "New England Chargers" makes any sense.

RULER: With the 15th pick, Minnesota selects the Titans.

TORT: Now this is the steal of the draft. The Titans are a quality organization with an amazing coaching staff. I'd have to say that the question at quarterback is the reason this team fell so far.

COACH: If I were them, I would have just stuck with the Vikings. They made it to the playoffs, they have one of the best defenses in the league. This was just stupid. They're going to regret this one.

BILL: Well, perhaps the Vikings will end up in New York, as they have the next pick.

RULER: With the next pick, New York selects the Vikings.

COACH: See, New York knows what they're doing. Forget the Bears pick, this is the good one. The Vikings will be in the Super Bowl within the next two years. I promise that.

BILL: Just as we heard many boos with the selection of the Bears, the people of New York are cheering just as loudly with this selection. A.P., you're moving to the Big Apple.

RULER: With the 17th pick of the draft, the people of Carolina select the Jaguars.

COACH: Now I'm starting to wonder if the Cowboys will ever get picked!

CLAYTON: Jerry Jones has now started mumbling something about starting his own league. His people are denying this but I know I heard something like, "I will start the JJ League, and I will coach and own all 16 teams—which will all be located in Texas."

BILL: Very interesting, Clayton. Thanks for the update.

RULER: With the 18th pick of the draft, Denver selects the Saints.

BILL: Well, that's a decent pick. Cities are running out of options at this point.

COACH: Yeah, I can't fault them for picking the Saints.

RULER: With the 19th pick of the draft, Seattle selects the Redskins

TORT: This is a great pick for the city of Seattle. Without many quality teams available, the Redskins have to be the one of the most marketable. There are Redskin fans all over this country.

COACH: This is a really good pick. I think the push to change their name will be greater up there, however.

TORT: Wait fellas, I think we have a blockbuster on our hands.

RULER: There has a been a trade. Seattle has switched teams with Washington. Seattle obtains the Eagles and the Redskins go to Washington. In addition, Seattle sends Starbucks, Salmon, and the Space Needle. Washington sends Seattle the Washington Monument.

BILL: Amazing. The people of Washington get their team back, and the fans in Seattle get another flying mascot. What a great deal for Washington.

COACH: The city or the state?

BILL: The city.

RULER: With the 20th pick, Jacksonville selects the Rams.

BILL: Next.

RULER: With the 21st pick, St. Louis selects the Bengals.

TORT: What a blow to Jerry Jones. I really thought the Cowboys should have went by now. Jerry is all alone in the waiting room, listening for the phone to ring.

COACH: Maybe the Bengals will be better in a dome, we'll see.

RULER: With the 22nd pick, Chicago selects the Raiders.

BILL: I would think that Al Davis will be fine with this move

TORT: So do I, Bill. It's a big city with a great stadium. The people of Oakland have to be disappointed, though. Cowboys must go next. They just have to.

RULER: With pick 23, New Orleans selects the Chiefs.

COACH: The who? Who did he say?

BILL: I think he said, "the Chiefs."

TORT: Where are they...oh yeah, I think they played in Kansas City.

COACH: They wear red, right?

BILL: OK, now I know who you're talking about. Interesting choice.

COACH: I'm sure they'll do better in the dome.

RULER: With the 24th pick, Tampa Bay selects the 49ers.

BILL: From one bay area to another, the 49ers head to Florida.

COACH: I think this is a great pick. Mike Singletary has this team on the move.

RULER: With the 25th pick of the draft, Atlanta selects the Cardinals

BILL: I forgot all about the Cardinals! This is a great choice!

TORT: Sometimes a team just falls because they are overlooked. I think that's what happened with the Cardinals. Many people overlooked them.

COACH: Another flying team in the dome. They wear red, too, just like the Falcons. Good pick.

CLAYTON: From what I'm hearing down here on the floor is that most cities viewed the Cardinals as a fluke. They think this is a "one-hit-wonder" situation.

RULER: With the 26th pick, Cleveland selects the Dolphins.

BILL: This has to be one of the more dynamic selections in terms of climate change for the drafted team. To go from sunny South Florida to Cleveland. I assume the only one happy about this is Mr. Ginn.

RULER: With the 27th pick, San Diego selects the Texans.

COACH: I hope they change their name. That just sounds stupid.

RULER: With the 28th pick, San Francisco selects the Browns.

BILL: The San Francisco Browns. Has a nice ring to it.

RULER: With the 29th pick in the draft, the people of Oakland select the Lions.

COACH: Well, considering their choices, this pick isn't bad.

RULER: With the 30th pick, Buffalo selects the Cowboys.

TORT: Well there it is, the Cowboys are going to Buffalo.

COACH: It's quite fitting if you ask me.

BILL: Clayton, any word down there?

CLAYTON: Jerry Jones is the only one left in the room, and he's curled up in the fetal position repeating the phrase, "Romo in the cold. Romo in the cold." It's quite a sight.

RULER: With the 31st pick, Miami selects the Bills

COACH: Maybe they'll do better in warm weather. We'll see. Good pick.

RULER: With the final selection of the draft, Detroit selects the Seahawks.

BILL: Well, I can't say I'm surprised at that last selection. Some teams just drop, just as you said, Tort.

TORT: Yeah, it happens. They are on the verge of not being competitive for many years to come, but I'm sure they'll do fine in Detroit.

BILL: There you have it, folks. With the exception of the Colts and the Redskins, every NFL city has a new team. Stay tuned to this channel, as we present you with the National Championship of Go Fish! Goodnight!

Mookie Blaylock, Mike Tyson, and Artichokes: Top 10 "Top 10" Lists of All-Time

Bill Wright — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:52:10 -0500

When it comes to Top 10 lists, I am a sucker. The list could consist of "Top 10 Coaching Guts in Football" and I'd be diving into it.

Over the years, I have developed my very own favorite lists. These are usually annual lists (ex. draft busts) but sometimes a major event occurs that forces a writer to dust off the old list and compile a new one—scandals.

With hopes that this does not reach the "Top 10 Worst Articles of All-Time" list, here are my Top 10 "Top 10" lists of all-time:

10. Top 10 Trades of All-Time

You never fail to see a list like this after a draft-day trade is made. I doubt that a year will ever go by that Olden Polynice will not be mentioned.

This list also makes an appearance after a major trade. Herschel Walker and Ricky Williams will always be linked because of "The Trade" and "The Marriage."

9. Top 10 Underdogs of All-Time

Bryce Drew...'Nova...Tampa Rays.

There is a spot in the heart of everyone for the "little guy." Few things make us smile like seeing Goliath toppled. Appalachian State, we salute you.

8. Top 10 Scandals

This definitely won't be Mike Tyson's only appearance on this list of lists. He had the heart of Robin Givens and the ear of Evander. Something sick within me misses the guy.

Isiah, Jimmy the Greek, Rush—you all set very high standards. It will take a Lewinski to topple you from this list.

7. Top 10 Superstitions

Fried chicken...fruit loops...and dirty underwear.

Some people are just weird. Baseball players usually dominate this list. Wade Boggs and inside-out caps...whatever floats your boat.

Just once I want to see some rookie yell, "You the man....how are you doing it, Josh Beckett?"—during the seventh inning of a perfect game. That would be classic.

6. Top 10 Injuries

No, I'm not talking about Joe Theisman or Willis McGehee. I'm talking about Ricky Henderson acquiring frost bite in August or Marty Cordova's extra-tanned face.

It's been rumored that Glenallen Hill is now deathly afraid of glass-top coffee tables.

5. Top 10 Mascots/Nicknames

Thanks to "Pulp Fiction", everyone knows about the Banana Slugs of UC-Santa Cruz. But how many of us knew that the Fighting Artichokes of Scottsdale Community College exist?

Just as some schools shorten "Wildcats" to "The Cats," do Scottsdale supporters refer to their teams as "The Chokes"?

4. Top 10 Draft Busts

Brought to us every year during the NBA and NFL drafts, we are constantly reminded of the blunders made by General Managers. Michael Westbrook, Sam Bowie, Tony Mandarich, and a score of others are regulars.

Mike Tyson finds his way on to this list because Mandarich once challenged him to a fight. Imagine how much more devastating the Packers would have been had they picked Barry Sanders instead.

3. Top 10 Fights

Ironically, Mike Tyson fails to appear on this list. What we usually have on this list is Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, and Charles Barkley tossing fists.

More recently the Miami-Florida International football brawl quickly acquired the No. 1 slot on this list. Swinging helmets, injured players fighting with crutches, and a Lamar Thomas firing will be difficult to overcome. Come on Knicks, you can do it!

2. Top 10 Quotes

"I've won at every level except college and the pros"—Shaq

Athletes never fail to give us good reasons to laugh at them. Jason Kidd and Pac-Man are money-in-the-bank when it comes to saying something different and amusing.

And, of course, Mike Tyson always makes an appearance on this list—something having to do with eating children. I change my mind. I don't miss him.

I've been looking and I still haven't found a "Script" club. Has anyone been to one of these places?

1. Top 10 Names in Sports

Who doesn't like saying the name, "Mookie"? "Booger" wasn't cool in "Revenge of the Nerds," but Anthony McFarland made it sound fierce.

Is it just me, or does everyone say, "Hey you, turkey glue" when they see Hedu Turkoglu on the court?

I really enjoy Top 10 lists.

No Shortage of Options for John Gruden, Tampa Bay Buccaneers This Offseason

Bill Wright — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:47:53 -0500

Considering how much John Gruden likes to tinker, this offseason should be like Christmas for him.

The Buccaneers have plenty of money available and if it is not spent on at least a couple marquee individuals, a repeat of this past season would appear to be inevitable.

The Bucs definitely have many decisions to make in both free-agency and in the draft, but the first task is to figure out which players to hang on to.

It is obvious that re-signing Antonio Bryant is priority No. 1. Joey Galloway is almost done and who knows what Michael Clayton will bring to a game, let alone an entire season. The availability of T.J. Houshmandzadeh should not be passed over by Bruce Allen and the Bucs.

We all know that the Panthers like to go to battle with a “two-headed-monster” in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathon Stewart. Fans in Tampa probably hope that the Bucs don’t try to duplicate this philosophy with Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn.

While both are serviceable running backs, the Bucs have not had a 1,000-yard running back since Cadillac’s rookie season in 2005—and his career is currently up in the air. He will not be running in 2009.

The Bucs have many choices relating to this position. With Brandon Jacobs available, Tampa must at least put forth an effort to acquire the bruiser--a type of player who is definitely needed in the NFC South.

Darren Sproles is also available, but there has to be a limit on sub-5’10” running backs on one team. At 5’11”, Maurice Morris may be the cheaper option as a full-time contributor.

When considering Gruden’s infatuation with quarterbacks, it is only a little far-fetched to think he may have Kerry Collins, Kurt Warner, and Jeff Garcia all at training camp together to battle with Brian Griese and Josh Johnson.

A more realistic scenario would probably see Tampa aggressively pursuing Garcia as Johnson, a project Gruden wants to work with, gains another clipboard year.

In order for this team to rise to the top in the South, they must stop the run and put some pressure on the QB with a ferocious defensive line. The emergence of Michael Turner and the work-horses in Carolina prove that the ground game success translates into playoff appearances.

The Bucs could look towards Albert Haynseworth, although prying him from the Titans may prove to be difficult. Another intriguing scenario could see the Bucs killing two birds with one stone—signing Julius Peppers if the Panthers fail to utilize the franchise tag.

Peppers has been a thorn in Tampa’s side for many years. Removing him from the Panthers would bolster the defense and help their offense during games against the Panthers.

With the 19th pick in the draft, this team has many options to choose from for the defensive line. Peria Jerry of Ole Miss will probably be available and would be an excellent selection at this point in the first round.

A bulldozer of a beast who never gives up on a play, Jerry forced a fumble, recovered another fumble, and is the best lineman on a team that sacked Tim Tebow three times in their defeat of Florida in September.

Addressing the wide-receiver mess in the second round would not be a surprise. Looking towards Hakeem Nicks of UNC or Kenny Britt of Rutgers would serve the team very well.

Some parents have experienced hearing their children say, “Is this it?” on Christmas morning. Let’s hope we don’t hear that same sentiment from Tampa fans as this offseason progresses.

What BCS Controversy? New System Gives Everyone a Shot at Title

Bill Wright — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:40:56 -0500

In a cramped office located in Central Texas, not too far from where the Longhorns are celebrating their Fiesta Bowl victory over the Buckeyes, exists a group of misfits who had nothing better to do over the last few months than solve the most controversial problem in all of sports.

This is an obscure think-tank if there ever was one.

They meet after work, sometimes until 3 a.m. They come from many different backgrounds: a social worker, a high-school basketball coach, a grocery store clerk, among others.

They are the Group for a Better Championship System (GBCS*). They are all volunteers, and only one out of the entire lot of them is a Texas fan.

In this unknown, hard-to-reach, unnamed strip mall where the office is located, you will find a University of Washington fan, a Florida backer, and a few Big East fans.

They were all brought together by one man, who states that the only qualifications to be a part of the GBCS is to “Have an open mind. Be passionate about college football. And be creative.”

The founder of the GBCS, Coy Raimer (Gator fan), insists that the system his group has created is, “flawless.” When asked what makes his system so different, he jumps out of his chair and rattles off the money points.

“There will never, ever again be two undefeated teams. And if your team is undefeated, you will be the National Champion. What most other ill-thought-of attempts at a solution have failed to factor in is the rivalry games. We have ensured that every rivalry game in existence will continue. Heck, we’ve even brought back the War on I-4 between UCF and USF.”

The GBCS calls their solution the 8/128 plan. The number “8” represents the number of regular-season games each team will participate in before they begin “Group Play”. The “128” refers to the number of teams that will participate in the very unique tournament that will commence once the eight-game regular season is over.

But the GBCS is very hesitant to call it a “tournament.”

“With most tournaments, it’s single- or double-elimination,” Raimer said. “Our Group Play and re-seeding of the final 8 guarantees all 128 teams six games apiece—thus having a 14-game schedule for everyone.”

When informed that there are currently only 120 teams that can vie for the National Championship (in theory, Utah, in theory), the GBCS has proposed that eight teams gain entry, increasing the number to 128.

Raimer stated, “Over the past several months we’ve conducted countless hours of research to determine which eight teams deserve to be entered. We concluded that four of the teams are natural fitsL Montana and Eastern Washington, as both would enter the Pac-10, Villanova, and UMASS, with those two teams entering the Big East.”

The remaining four teams: Appalachian State, Weber State, Richmond, and Southern Illinois.

When asked about, “Group Play,” Raimer was more than eager to explain how this part of the plan works.

“Well, we determined that there should be four groups of 32 teams. Each conference, and the four independents, would be placed into a group. We have spent a tremendous amount of time and effort into which conferences should be paired together into each group,” he said.

Group I: Big 10, Big 12 North, Sun Belt, Mid-American West, and Appalachian State

Group II: Big 12 South, WAC, CUSA, Notre Dame, Navy, Army, and Southern Illinois

Group III: SEC, ACC, Mid-American East, and Richmond

Group IV: Pac-10, Mountain West, Big East, Montana, Eastern WA, UMASS, and ‘Nova

The GBCS factored in current strength of conference, past national championships, and success in bowl games to determine where each conference and team should be placed.

Raimer understood that there would be an outcry regarding the splitting up of the Big-12. “This doesn’t mean the teams within those groupings cannot play each other. We still allow for every rivalry game, which means the Tiger-Sooner Peace Pipe will still be factored into the schedule every year.”

It must be noted that the Tiger-Sooner Peace Pipe between Oklahoma and Missouri is the only rivalry game between the two divisions. Raimer feels that out of all the conferences, the Big-12 is the most likely one to split up because it has only been in existence for a little over 12 years.

Also factored into the situation is that the Big-12 is a large conference with many excellent programs. Placing the entire Big-12 within one Group diminishes the values of the other Groups, comparatively speaking.

“But we know that this conference must still maintain a piece of history and nostalgia, so we’ve allowed for cross-group play, especially when the divisions only have six teams apiece,” Raimer said.

An example of this shows Baylor playing Nebraska at the end of the eight-week schedule.

The GBCS has generated a mock schedule, mock Group Play, and a mock re-seeded 8, which Raimer says has been a painstaking process.

“A schedule for each team is available upon request to gbcs2009@yahoo.com.” Raimer said that he would enthusiastically supply a mock schedule to anyone, as it can do nothing but promote the system.

“Honestly, the mock 8-game schedules are not that different from a team’s current schedule. Georgia will still play a majority of SEC teams, except for its game against Georgia Tech,” he said.

Group Play is where it gets interesting.

After the eight-game regular season each team is seeded within its respective group. For the mock Group Play, the GBCS generated a schedule based on how the teams performed this year.

For example, Oklahoma would play Southern Illinois and Texas would battle Weber State in the first round of Group Play for Group II.

“This allows for so much drama and rematch action. You can’t help but be excited,” Raimer said.

It is easy to understand what he is talking about. During the fourth round of Group Play for Group I, Penn State plays Ball State in the mock tournament.

During the third round of the same group, Iowa gets its first shot at Ohio State. That would be a fairly interesting game, as Iowa has been one of the hotter teams winning its last four games, including Penn State.

During the third round of Group Play for Group III, Florida State is pitted against Florida for a second time and Boston College has a shot at Alabama. Perhaps a more interesting match-up has Buffalo facing Georgia in the second round.

The Bulldogs do, however, obtain a rematch against the Gators in the fourth round. Of course Florida and Alabama advance from this group in the mock situation.

In Group Play for Group IV, we see a rematch of USC and Oregon State in the third round. It would be nice to see USC have another shot at Oregon State.

Raimer also points out that certain teams like Cincinnati would not fall apart because they are in a meaningless bowl game.

“Cincinnati fell apart in the Orange Bowl. What’s interesting about our mock Group Play is that we have Cincinnati playing UCONN in the second round. I think Cincinnati beats them a second time around and has a chance at a national title. Do I think they beat USC in the fourth round? Of course not. But it would be nice to see them play on.”

Another interesting match-up in that Group Play is TCU against Utah in the fourth round. The only losses TCU suffered this year was a three-point defeat at the hands of Utah in early November and the 35-10 loss to Oklahoma.

Currently, the only option TCU has is to play in the Poinsettia Bowl. In the system that the GBCS has developed, TCU has another shot at Utah, a shot at the National Championship, and if they lose to Utah the second time, they still have a chance to play in the Poinsettia Bowl.

For Group II, drama and rematch dominate the landscape. Tulsa and Oklahoma face off in the third round. Oklahoma moves on and faces Boise State in the second round. Texas Tech and Texas play each other in the fourth round—that is, of course, if Texas Tech gets past East Carolina in the third round.

Once each group is down to its final two teams, those remaining eight teams are reseeded based on records, strength of schedule, and margin of victory—all factors that are also included in determining the 1-32 seeds in Group Play.

“Whoever thinks that margin of victory has not been a factor in determining the poll placement of Oklahoma is nuts. We want to use margin of victory. I think it should be used,” Raimer said. “Perhaps Texas will give us a more exciting fourth quarter with our system. Plus it’s not based on a computer—it is determined on the field.”

With the mock re-seeding of the final eight teams, we see the following match-ups:

Florida vs. Utah

Alabama vs. USC

Texas vs. Texas Tech

Oklahoma vs. Penn State

The teams that have lost throughout group play will continue to play, ensuring that each team plays a total of 14 games. But the GBCS has thrown an interesting twist into this as well.

There are no bye weeks during the first eight-game regular season. The first bye week is after the regular season. There are no games the weekend following the regular season.

Once Group Play begins, every team that wins receives the next week off. Every team that loses plays each other the following week. This continues throughout Group Play, giving every victorious team a weekend off between games. Every losing team must play the following week.

With the “win one, wait one” (win a game, wait a week) situation, as the GBCS likes to call it, the poor quality teams will start eliminating themselves during the first or second week of December. The National Championship game will be played during the second weekend of January. Yet they will all have played the same number of games.

What about the bowls?

“We think the bowls will make more money—and who’s denying that money is the No. 1 factor in all of this? And after discussing our system with anonymous sponsors, they agree. Multiple Bowl sponsors would rather have a share of Florida or USC than settle for Memphis. No offense to Memphis.”

Raimer says no entity wants to go on record against the current BCS system.

“Does the New Mexico Bowl make more money having Colorado State and Fresno State play in a meaningless game or having Florida and Florida State play in a game that means everything?”

Raimer continued, “Yes, some teams will be left out of being invited to a bowl, but more money will be generated because of the infinitely increased meaning of the game. And who’s to say that the extra money earned can’t be shared more equitably among the schools and conferences?”

The new system that the GBCS has developed would allow for one school to possibly win three or four bowl games. Raimer sees a scenario playing out such as this:

Florida vs. Utah in the Orange Bowl
Alabama vs. USC in the Rose Bowl
Oklahoma vs. Penn State in the Capital One Bowl
Texas vs. Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl
Florida vs. Alabama in the Sugar Bowl
Oklahoma vs. Texas in the Fiesta Bowl
Florida vs. Oklahoma in the FedEx National Championship Game

The Capital One Bowl immediately takes on a much greater significance. But Raimer says the designation of these bowls are negotiable, as are the admittance of the eight extra teams.

“We’re not saying that these teams must be admitted. We’re just saying that we have a system that is foolproof. A champion will be determined on the field, not on some computer and definitely not by a bunch of people sitting behind a desk and watching television. Let the players decide who’s National Champion.”

Still not satisfied because of the elimination of the conference championship games? Raimer has a question for you, “Would you give up a conference championship in order to crown a real, undisputed, final, national champion?"

I know I would, and it’s an easy thing to do. We’re not saying that a conference champion couldn’t be had. It’s acceptable for the Pac-10 and Big-10, why not everyone else?” Raimer said. “People seem to think that those two conferences have it wrong. We say the Pac-10 and Big-10 are excellent conferences and aren’t diminished by their lack of a conference championship game.”

It is easy to dismiss these non-affiliated group of guys with no connections to schools or conferences. But it is very difficult to dismiss the solution they have come up with.

At best this system, or something quite similar, is implemented and we have a real national champion. At worst, this solution at least sparks conversation within the power circles and a change is made.

The 8/128 plan…everyone has a chance.

*The “Group for a Better Championship Solution” and “Coy Raimer” are both fake, made-up entities created in the mind of the author in his attempt at a utopian college football world. The email address, however, is real.