Bleacher Report - Articles by Patrick Laird

Tebow Injury Yet Another Reason For College Football Playoff

Patrick Laird — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:43:21 -0400

To play or not to play? Not quite the same philosophical ponderings of Hamlet, but a question many players, coaches, and doctors face on a weekly basis.

When a BYU defender planted, Heisman winner, Sam Bradford's shoulder into the turf against on the opening weekend of the 2009 season, many thought the Sooner's hopes of a national championship were planted with it.

Even scarier, however, was when Tim Tebow suffered a concussion during defending champion Florida's SEC opener at Kentucky. While Urban Meyer's postgame address dealt with the severity of the injury after the game, the rest of the nation couldn't help but look ahead two weeks and whether Tebow would play against national powerhouse LSU.

Almost two weeks later the college football world still wonders if Tebow will take the field in what could be a pivotal game in the national championship picture. A head or spinal cord injury, however, is not something to rush. A tweaked ankle or sprained knee might be detrimental to one's career, but a head injury could be detrimental to one's life.

Last year in North Carolina, a public high school varsity football team conducted practice before Friday night lights. A RB for the team took a jarring hit during that practice. As a head or spinal cord injury was suspected, the player was evaluated by the team trainer and later that night, by a medical doctor. Both cleared him to play the following night.

On the team's first offensive possession, the same player, who had staggered off the field the day before, carried the ball for a short gain before being taken down by what was called a textbook tackle. He rose to his feet and walked to the sideline, much as he did the day before. Showing symptoms of a concussion, he was sent to the hospital where he later died.

The nation has seen the severity of Tebow's injury; only a fool would force a young man back so quickly from a terrifying snapping of the head.

But this is college football, and this is the BCS. The BCS has created a yearlong playoff system. Lose a game at the wrong time, and title hopes are dashed. Lose a player at the wrong time, and a team is sentenced to the same fate.

A playoff system would allow for a clean slate for some competitive teams. A slip up late in the season against Oklahoma after a big win versus Texas? Texas Tech, your new season is upon you to prove your worth.

Run the table in what is ominously dubbed a "mid-major" conference? Utah, you may dance with the big boys to prove your merit.

Best player goes down with an injury at the most inopportune time? Then, Oklahoma and Florida should be granted the same rebirth come playoff time.

The problem is they won't and a freak injury such as Tebow's might hamper Florida's plans at repeating.

All eleven defensive starters returned for Florida this year, and now their prophetic placement in the BCS bowl system lies in the Apollo-like equations of a computer. Heck - just have the priestess tell the public that the BCS computer is located at Delphi.

Like anything else, the BCS has its advantages and disadvantages. But Tebow's injury may have highlighted another problem with the lack of a playoff system. With such a big game on the horizon, will doctor's feel pressured to allow Tebow to return to play too quickly?

That's not to say that doctors won't have Tebow's best interests in mind. The point is though that doctors are human. They may feel pressured to a make a decision that they normally wouldn't due to the status of a team and its star player.

Meyer and Tebow have too much of an invested interest, but can anyone tell the nation's best player that two weeks isn't enough following such a serious injury?

Perhaps. Then again, perhaps not. Sounds a little like Hamlet's musings. Nevertheless, Hamlet and Tebow weren't and aren't worrying about something minuscule. The question here, however, is whether or not the BCS supersedes a player's well-being. Hopefully not, but it also can't be making such vital decisions any easier.

Neither Rain Nor Snow Nor Sand Nor Marsh, Soccer Plays On

Patrick Laird — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:16:15 -0400

This article can be viewed with YouTube clips at Pickin' Splinters

The often misquoted and unofficial creed of the U.S. Postal Service on the James Farley Post Office building in New York City reads:

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

The statement encompasses the attitude of not only the postal service, but the American people in general. No barrier will impede the hardworking federal employees.

The exact same rings true for soccer and its fans. It's no surprise that when one looks worldwide for the game of soccer, no amount of inclement weather or debilitating playing surfaces can keep the beautiful game from engaging a community, nation, or continent.

The pitch consists traditionally of 115 yards by 74 yards of gorgeous green grass. There are times and places, however, that the traditional turf will simply not suffice.

The freezing weather of some areas can cause a pitch to become barren of any footwork. No worries, because "footy" fanatics can hone their skills in the confines of an indoor field.

Soccer becomes a distant cousin of hockey, as an elliptical enclosure of fiberglass and plywood allows the most avid of players to fancy skills in close proximity of one another.

Perhaps some soccer hearts desire both the cold and the game. Then Colorado may hold the panacea for their wintry wishes. Ice Soccer, played on a traditional hockey rink, calls soccer enthusiasts during the coldest months and even some in the summer.

European football purists can travel to Germany for their dose of the frozen footballers. Players wear full pads like in hockey as they slide across the ice searching for adequate footing to blast a shot off the frozen field.

Summertime in any part of the world is a time for the outdoors. Most people want to find the closest beach, be it near an ocean or lake. No matter where one decides to soak in some rays, soccer always finds its way to the sandy paradises.

Beach soccer, in fact, is sanctioned by FIFA. You can catch some of the CONCACAF qualifying rounds for the Beach Soccer World Cup this summer. The games are shorter, but imagine how the legs must feel after a game on the unsymmetrical, bumpy, soft granules of the beach.

Though the games are shorter, beach soccer can tire and dehydrate even the most able-bodied of footballing fanatics. No problems on the Asian continent, where water soccer has become the pastime of summer frolickers.

This version can be played either on an inflatable "field" covered with a few inches of water or a stage with built-in sprinklers. This refreshing recreational adaptation will have some goalies involuntarily hydrating with every diving save.

As if water and sand does not pose enough of a maneuverable mishap, Finland decided that the pitch isn't challenging enough if it doesn't attempt to swallow players whole.

Created in Finland and also played in the UK, swamp soccer displays footy determination beyond any other form in the world.

Bogged down in often knee deep muck, simply getting off a shot takes perseverance unknown to the professionals gracing Old Trafford and Anfield.

Since 1997, competitive teams from all over the world have been strengthening their leg muscles in the Swamp Soccer World Championship.

Teams creatively pay homage to their soccer ancestors with team names such as Real Mudrid and Mudchesthair United. The marshy mayhem plays every year with a men's and mixed champion.

No matter the season, geography, conditions or surface, the world's most popular sport plays on. Just like the devoted mailmen and women of America, soccer finds its way into the competitive hearts of players and fans alike.

So next time you peer onto a baseball diamond or outdoor basketball court on a rainy, snowy or putridly hot day, just think—somewhere, somehow, people have brought out the soccer ball and started a friendly gathering to enjoy the game they love.

Discuss this and much more at Pickin' Splinters

When Will the Ivy League Produce Another NBA Talent?

Patrick Laird — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:21:23 -0400

I recently attended a high school state all-star basketball game. There were two guards from a state championship team that I looked forward to seeing play. Behind me, a discussion began about one of the players, a point guard that will attend Yale.

"Why is he going to Yale? He ain't going pro if he's going to the Ivy League. Must not have had a lot of offers. They don't even have athletic scholarships in the Ivy League."

I quickly turned to the player's bio in the program and confirmed his college of choice. It said, amongst his impressive accolades as a high school player, that he will attend Yale University and "wants to pursue a career in law and own his own law practice." No better place to prepare oneself for the law field.

But a professional basketball career? I thought the comment was somewhat ignorant because surely there are a couple of Ivy League players in the NBA today.

In actuality, it's been quite some time since an Ivy League player made an NBA roster, let alone get drafted.

I thought of perhaps the greatest backcourt in Ivy League history, the University of Pennsylvania's Jerome Allen and Matt Maloney. NBA fans remember Maloney more than Allen because of his performances with the Houston Rockets in the late-1990s when he started all 82 games his rookie year.

While Maloney went undrafted, Jerome Allen is the last Ivy League player to be drafted into the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Allen with the 49th overall pick in 1995. He later played for the Pacers and Nuggets.

In fact, there have only been two players from the Ivy League selected the last two decades. Dartmouth's Walter Palmer preceded Allen in the 1990 draft. Quite the decline from the 1980s that saw 13 Ivy League players selected.

Allen's selection into the NBA probably came as no surprise to basketball purists. He and Maloney's career at Penn became one of the, if not the most, dominant in Ivy League history.

Under Allen's guidance, Penn achieved an astonishing 51-5 record in Ivy League play and an overall record of 85-24. Allen achieved multiple player of the year awards for both the Big 5 and Ivy League. Behind Allen and Maloney, Penn saw its return to the national poll in more than a decade. Penn's highest spot in the AP Poll was 21st in 1995; they also reached 24th the previous season.

Allen and the Quakers advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 1994 by defeating sixth-seeded Nebraska 90-80. They lost their second round game, but it was the first time in 14 years that Penn advanced past the first round.

Allen and Maloney almost did it again in their final season. Unfortunately Antonio McDyess' 39 points helped Alabama defeat the Quakers 91-85 in overtime in the first round of the 1995 tournament despite 53 combined points from dynamic Penn backcourt.

With an illustrious collegiate basketball career sans an athletic scholarship, Allen's induction into the NBA might have appeared to be a return to the 1980s for a league often dubbed the "Ancient Eight."

Yet here we sit in 2009 without a single player from the Ivy League earning an NBA paycheck. It is one of six conferences that did not have a player in the NBA during the 2008-2009 season.

Fran Dunphy, former Penn coach and current Temple University coach, said that tougher non-conference schedules for Ivy League teams have seen an influx of professional scouts at games. But that was said in 2005 and since then a couple of worthy prospects have come through the league and failed to reach the NBA.

One such prospect, Ugonna Onyekwe, played for Dunphy while at Penn. He finished his career as a two-time Ivy League player of the year and remains the school's second leading scorer with 1,732 points.

Before he arrived on the Philadelphia campus, some speculated that the London native would possibly be the first Ivy League player ever to leave school early to enter the NBA draft.

Onyekwe, however, did end up playing four years at Penn and made one final push for his NBA future in the 2003 NCAA tournament. Though his Quakers were eliminated in the first round by Oklahoma State, the 6'8" forward scored 30 points and earned the praises of legendary coach Eddie Sutton. Sutton said that Onyekwe was "probably as good as any player we have in our conference and we have some good ones in the Big 12."

NBA scouts had seen Onyekwe play and often confirmed that his talent, though physically undersized, exuded that of an NBA player.

It was not to be. He went undrafted and sought a professional basketball career in Europe. As of last season, Onyekwe still earns a living playing basketball in Israel.

The most recent NBA prospect to come through the Ivy League was—surprise—another Penn Quaker.

Ibrahim Jaaber played for Penn between 2004 and 2007. He, like his Quaker predecessors Allen and Onyekwe, won the Ivy League player of the year twice and even became the first Big 5 player of the year from Penn since 1979.

The 6'2" guard went undrafted but played for the Detroit Pistons in the 2007 Summer League. Unfortunately, an NBA contract never resulted in his short time with the Pistons summer league team, but a European one did.

Jaaber still plays professionally in Europe and also plays for the Bulgarian national team.

The question then is what has happened since the 1980s when multiple Ivy League players would hear their names called on draft night?

For one, it seems that while other universities' standards become a little more flexible, Ivy League universities continuously become more stringent. This, along with no athletic scholarships, makes it harder for top recruits that depend heavily on athletics in order to afford higher education.

Another reason that the Columbia Spectator points out is tuition. Since Penn's Final Four trip in 1979, tuition rates in the Ivy League have become 10 times greater.

On the whole, the Ivy League can still compete with the nation's best teams, but probably not on a consistently high level. It's been over a decade since one of the Ancient Eight have won a first round tournament game.

The overall talent level of the Ivy League is disputable; are they any worse than years past or have the other conferences just become that much more centralized and stronger in talent? Every so often, they'll surprise the nation with an unexpected upset.

Tommy Amaker's Harvard Crimson were the latest by upsetting Boston College 82-70 in January of 2009. A pretty surprising upset considering that Harvard is historically the worst Ivy League basketball school, being the only team never to have won a conference title.

Ironically, they beat a team from the conference that currently boasts the most players on NBA rosters, the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Does the near future hold an NBA talent from the Ivy League? Chances look faint, but Ryan Wittman may be the league's best NBA prospect.

Wittman plays for Cornell, the back-to-back Ivy League champions from 2007-08 and 2008-09. The 6'6" guard certainly has the basketball pedigree. His father, Randy Wittman, played and coached in the NBA after winning a national championship and Big Ten player of the year at Indiana University.

The younger Wittman averages 16.5 points. He led the league in scoring this past season with 18.5 a contest. He's known as a sharpshooter, hitting a career 43 percent of his shots beyond the three-point line. Wittman also doubled his assists from 41 the previous season to 82 this past season.

Perhaps his most important NBA resume builder are his performances against teams from major conferences. He averaged just over 27 points against Syracuse, Indiana, and Minnesota this past season, scoring 33 against Syracuse (albeit an ideal opponent for a deep threat like Wittman).

Wittman will play his senior season at Cornell in 2009-2010. It might be a stretch to say that Wittman will become the first Ivy League player drafted since Jerome Allen, but certainly most will say he can find a home in the NBA.

So does the Yale-bound point guard I saw have a chance of going pro?

By modern standards, his chances are slim if he plans on staying in North America. It appears that the NBA has slowly replaced mid-major players with European players. But basketball is basketball and if he is good enough NBA teams will come calling.

The Ancient Eight remains far removed from the players like Jerome Allen and Matt Maloney. Allen was a true NBA talent even though his career did not quite work out. Maloney is probably the last player from the Ivy League to have a significant impact on an NBA team.

The Ivy League vehemently states time and time again that it cares about sports and wants to compete and win. It just chooses not to provide kids a tuition break for doing it. The league remains steadfast in its roots, and all should applaud that.

After all, the point guard from the all-star game probably didn't want to attend Yale in hopes of making a fortune in the athletic field. He'll get something that a broken bone or ACL injury can never take away from him: a degree from an Ivy League school.

After watching that all-star game, there was no question that he was the best guard on the floor. Surely there were offers of an athletic scholarship, but he chose the road less traveled for the athletically gifted. And maybe he's a sign of what has really changed.

More kids, and it seems more college coaches as well, are willing to put all their chips in the NBA than a high quality education. To answer the question of the gentleman who sat behind me: Yes—he is going pro. Just probably not in basketball.

While five-star recruits narrow their choices down based on the most money and best NBA-ready program, Ancient Eight recruits are siding with the prestigious academia of its schools. As long as the Ivy League and its recruits remain the same, the NBA dream will become more and more of a distant dream for the nation's best student-athletes.

We may never see the likes of a Bill Bradley rise from the Ivy League again. As the years, and now decades go by, it seems as though another Jerome Allen or Matt Maloney is becoming less and less of a reality as well.

Discuss this and much more at Pickin' Splinters.

Money Or Legacy? Lamar Odom Must Decide

Patrick Laird — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:30:08 -0400

In some ancient folklore, the quest for immortality came by way of courage, loyalty, and successful battle. No currency existed; no riches, so to speak, upon a warrior's return. The quest was more about valor and honor in one's people and purpose.

Check Beowulf. Scandinavian folklore is entrenched with those continuing to fight well beyond what could have been suited an illustrious career for a warrior.

Check the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Sumerians had little to provide for their audacious advocates of virtue. This is why according to Sumerian legend, Gilgamesh's friend Enkidu feared his own death should it not come in battle.

Legacy made men rich. Wealth and immortality came in consecration of something great. One's financial gains does not concern legacy.

If sport is a microcosm of epic tales, then Lamar Odom must decide if greatness and financial wealth are woven of the same thread.

The twenty-nine year old forward became a free agent fresh off of winning his first NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have recently rescinded a three-year $27 million offer to Odom. Reports have Odom seeking a deal in the realm of five-years and $50 million. Portland, among a few other teams, might be interested in offering Odom the money he desires.

Portland seems like a fine destination for Odom. Brandon Roy has shown he can be one of the heavyweight scorers in the league, and if Greg Oden can possibly stay healthy the Blazers are an inside and outside force to be reckoned with.

However, Odom's best chance at winning another title in the next few years have to be in L.A. The question is, in what way does Lamar Odom want to be considered rich? Does he want his money or a lasting legacy with one of the more glorious franchises in the league?

When he first came to the Lakers via the Miami Heat, Odom became the Lakers' second option. He averaged 15.3 points a game and nearly 10 rebounds in his first season donning the purple and gold.

The Lakers saw little success during Odom's first three seasons with the team. They failed to make the playoffs in 2004-05 and lost in the first round the following two seasons. Unfortunately for Odom, much of the criticism came to him. Many said that he could not deliver in big game situations and could handle his important role with the team.

Though critics existed then, many realize now in retrospect that neither Odom nor Bryant had the supporting cast to foster a championship run. Besides, Odom's first three seasons with the Lakers did not see a significant drop in his overall career numbers.

The trade for Pau Gasol in Odom's fourth season with the Lakers gave them a legitimate, and consistent, third option—Lamar Odom.

Gasol averaged 18.9 points the past two season with the Lakers. Odom's scoring output dropped to 14.2 in 2007-08, the year Gasol joined. This past season saw Odom's lowest scoring average yet at 11.3. His playing time also decreased as he averaged less than 30 minutes a game during the regular season for the first time in his career.

With a minimized scoring role, albeit still an important one, Odom and the Lakers made the NBA Finals two consecutive years and finally won a ring this past trip.

Now perhaps feeling his worth has somehow been proven to the league, Odom is seeking a big payday and long-term contract. Certainly one could argue that Odom is deserving or vice versa. For whatever reason, be it the business of the league, Odom threatens what could be his immortality in the NBA.

Should Odom stay with the Lakers, he and Bryant and Gasol have a unique opportunity of winning multiple championships the next few years.

Odom won't be remembered for winning one championship. People will talk about the leadership of Kobe Bryant after years of disparagement. They'll talk about the acquisition of Pau Gasol. They'll extol the virtues of Phil Jackson returning and surpassing Red Auerbach with ten championships.

But why do people remember the likes of Michael Cooper, Danny Ainge, and B.J. Armstrong? Do these players cement a place in the NBA lexicon without being a part of a dynasty? More than likely not. Does any fan care how much their contracts were worth? Absolutely not. Lamar Odom has that same opportunity.

Odom may be able to get the money he seeks; his hard work over the years and performance with the Lakers certainly makes him deserving. Or maybe Lamar Odom became satisfied with just one title. Maybe, after just one title, he's lost his desire for NBA gold.

Odom needs to understand what is at stake and consider what's more important. It is possible he goes to a Portland, Miami, or Dallas and wins another title. Even so, he'd still be far from being immortalized like Robert Horry.

But winning with one team, especially if it can be in consecutive fashion, is something only made of epic proportions. No, fans won't remember the numbers to this impending contract with whatever team it may be. They remember the greater good and the plural form of success.

Ancient history does not remember those who went off and won one small battle that many other men have also achieved. No—it remembers the epic heroes who returned, time and time again, and conquered over and over and over.

Beowulf didn't beat Grendel and return home to bask in the spoils of his heroism. Gilgamesh didn't weep for an eternity and pity the death of his friend. They're remembered because they picked up the sword or the ax and fought on. Not for money, but legacy.

Lamar Odom deserves his ring; the Lakers could not have done it without him. Lamar Odom also deserves to give his teammates a shot at becoming an epic NBA tale to be told for years to come. After all, if he doesn't re-sign with the Lakers, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol may go ahead and achieve that legacy without him.

Temple Owl Guards in the NBA: How Will Dionte Christmas Fare?

Patrick Laird — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:30:41 -0400

Quite a few Temple University guards continued their careers at the highest level of professional basketball these last two decades. Some became first round draft picks while others signed after going undrafted. With the 2009 NBA Draft finally coming Thursday June 25, Dionte Christmas has completed all of his pre-draft workouts including an invite to the draft combine in Chicago. Toronto, Washington, Houston, Oklahoma City, Detroit, San Antonio, Milwaukee, and Chicago all invited Christmas for personal workouts as well. Much like his Owl predecessors, Christmas has been projected all over the draft board. He could go late in the first round or drop well into the second. Though this history of Temple guards in the NBA is a celebrated one, not every player achieved their anticipated success after draft night. Dionte Christmas' career could go either way. The following is a brief history of former Temple guards and their time in the NBA since 1990. Sources: http://www.basketballreference.com/players/bycollege.htm?sch=Temple+University http://collegebasketball.about.com/od/players/tp/career-steals.htm http://www.channel3000.com/sports/4808005/detail.html http://www.owlsports.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/051309aaa.html http://www.owlsports.com/sports/c-hallfame/mtt/macon_mark00.html http://www.ibiblio.org/craig/draft/1993_draft/draft/9.html

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LA Lakers' Luke Walton: Role Model for the Aspiring Non-Superstar

Patrick Laird — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 09:58:36 -0400

Charles Barkley famously expressed the phrase, "I am not a role model," in a Nike Air commercial. Many have lost the message from that commercial where Barkley also said, "Parents should be role models."

Unfortunately, Charles, for you and the many superstars who have graced the NBA, you are role models. Maybe not role models for social behavior or business ethics, but indubitable role models for how to play the game that so many kids love.

More often than not, young aspiring basketball players compare themselves to the elite not realizing that the two abilities are unmatched. The dichotomy of the "team player" and "superstar" is lost on a kid with nothing but hopes and dreams.

Of course, that's not to say that NBA superstars can't be team players—kids just don't recognize that quality as clearly.

Consequently, many young aspiring players get lost in their development. They emphasize the look, signature moves, and style of a superstar. The fundamentals and intangibles get lost in translation without a good parent or coach.

When I was growing up, Michael Jordan played in his prime and just like the old Gatorade commercial said, everyone wanted to “be like Mike.” Kids fought over the number 23. They wore the knee sleeve void of any leg injury and stuck their tongue out.

Legitimate post players with height and strength over their opponents disregarded their advantage and traded their coach’s post moves and footwork for the patented MJ fade away. They even kicked their leg out.

Jordan was an ideal player because not only could he score many different ways, but he was also a tactical, consummate team-player. Parents across America could tell their sons and daughters, “Watch him play defense. Watch how he gets teammates involved. Watch how he coaches everyone on the floor,” aside from his obvious prowess as a scorer.

After Jordan, kids became more infatuated with impersonating the likes of Allen Iverson. Here was someone the undersized youths of America could actually relate. And what made Iverson the hero he was to the younger generations? The patented Iverson crossover.

Kids across America doubled—no tripled—their turnovers by not being able to quite get the ball to exchange hands as quickly as AI. Let’s not even discuss Mr. Iverson’s views on practice and the impact it had on basketball amateurs.

And that whole elbow sleeve craze sweeping basketball players? I'm not sure, but I think AI started that after he wore one after elbow surgery for bursitis.

How many Michael Jordans are there on a team? Heck—how many Michael Jordans or Allen Iversons are there in a section, region, or state? Why not mimic someone who fulfills an important role, someone more equal to the masses of young basketball players who will forever be told to “accept their role.”

The 2009 NBA Finals contains just that player for youngsters aspiring to become better basketball players. His name is Luke Walton.

Phil Jackson, who is one Finals win away from passing Red Auerbach with 10 championships, said a couple of years ago that Walton is like “yeast in bread” because of his exemplary team play. Not a bad endorsement.

Walton doesn't even play half of the game for the Lakers, yet his importance to the team is not lost on perhaps the greatest coach of all time.

During these playoffs, he'll usually substitute in when Kobe Bryant subs out. Why? Jackson knows that the University of Arizona product will do the little things to keep the Lakers offensively efficient without their best scorer. When Walton enters the game, so do the fundamentals of basketball.

Walton's knowledgeable play keeps the defense constantly moving and rotating. The Laker forward understands the value of ball reversals and makes them quickly. He also makes entry passes to the post and will relocate every time he sees a post player's chest. A valuable quality indeed.

If he's open, he knocks down the shot. If not, look for Luke to quickly get it back to the middle of the floor either with a pass or the dribble.

Most importantly, however, Walton never does anything with the dribble that does not force two defenders to commit to him. No matter how fancy a move, it serves no value to the game of basketball if it doesn't force defensive commitment from more than one player. It also doesn't hurt that Walton seems to have an innate passing ability as well.

Walton's role on the Lakers is not the result of any lack of skill. In the 2009 playoffs, Walton is shooting 43 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range. At 6'8", he is agile enough to guard the perimeter or the post.

The same goes on the offensive end. He usually faces up to the basket in more of a wing role, but Walton will also post up smaller players and display his back-to-the-basket skill set.

Walton doesn't boast the flashiest of games. There exists no signature move or alluring equipment that kids can mimic. He doesn't have to possess these though. For Walton, it's more important to be an efficient player who contributes to the flow of the team.

Should the aspiring truly pay attention to Luke Walton when he enters in the game, you can guarantee an appreciation for the game's intangibles. Though they may not be as tall or as natural a passer as Walton, their understanding of the game will certainly expand.

Who knows, maybe we'll see young players fighting over the number four instead of 23 and 24.

Besides, how many mix tapes can you find for a guy with a career scoring average under six points?

The Undaunted Task of the Orlando Magic's Mickael Pietrus

Patrick Laird — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 08:23:38 -0400

Somebody has to do it. If you plan on winning an NBA title in this era, you’re going to have to go through two of the most prolific scorers of all time. Of course I’m talking about former league MVP Kobe Bryant and reigning MVP LeBron James.

Kobe Bryant: the youngest player to reach 20,000 points.

LeBron James: the youngest player to reach 10,000 points and the quickest ever to 12,000.

As is always the case with great players, nobody expects you to stop them. You just need to somehow contain them. The “you” in this season’s case is the Orlando Magic’s Mickael Pietrus.

The 6’6” wing player from France guarded James in the Eastern Conference Finals. Now with his team in the 2009 NBA Finals, he is the “Magic Man” who must try to contain the scoring machine that is Kobe Bryant.

Don’t believe for a second that Pietrus doesn’t welcome the challenge. It’s written on his face every game as he assuredly chews his gum and keeps the poise of a wildcat stealthily hunting its prey. Maybe that’s how he got his nickname, “Puma.”

If Pietrus plans to live up to that nickname in the Finals, he'll have to be as sneaky as a wildcat, too.

Orlando General Manager Otis Smith knew what he was getting when he signed Pietrus from Golden State.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy knew it, too. After signing him in the summer of 2008, Van Gundy said Pietrus would “Go to Cleveland and he’ll probably guard LeBron James . . . and guys like that at the two.”

Pietrus has been labeled a “versatile player” and most importantly a “lockdown defender.”

The Magic knew that a defensive player like Pietrus would be an imperative part in competing for the NBA Title. With the rest of the pieces in place, Orlando took only one season to conquer the East and now vie for the title against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Though Bryant and James are great scorers, the defensive assignment changes drastically from one to the next.

Against James, Pietrus guarded a barreling locomotive. James benefited from an extra two inches and could easily shoot over Pietrus.

More times than not, however, James looked to create by attacking the lane. Pietrus was able to keep James in front of him most of the time and challenge shots and passes with either hand.

Pietrus also benefited with Dwight Howard playing the middle and knew that even though James might be able to turn Pietrus’ hips and gain the advantage, the defense would rotate.

Many times, though, Pietrus remained square with James, forced him to the block and baseline, and didn't get his hips turned and succumbed to a clean look at the basket. James was forced to rely heavily on his teammates to knock down outside shots.

The Eastern Finals turned out to be more about the strength of Pietrus than anything else. Based on game one of the Finals, he will have to match wits in guarding the Lakers' Kobe Bryant.

Pietrus challenged every jump shot Bryant took off the dribble. Because he and Bryant are the same height, Pietrus kept him relatively contained and went literally hand-to-hand with him on shot attempts. Bryant may have realized that he wouldn’t shake the equally quick and tall Pietrus every time.

Bryant attacked the middle of the floor and only attempted one three-pointer for the game. A majority of his shots came between 10-17 feet, mostly near the elbows. This is where Bryant outsmarted Pietrus.

By attacking the elbows, Bryant used Pietrus’ momentum against him. Bryant would either make his way to the rim or jump-stop. If he jump-stopped, Pietrus' momentum often didn't allow him to stop with him thus creating a little space. Bryant could take the shot or kick it out.

If Pietrus was able to anticipate the jump-stop, Bryant would utilize his pivot foot. Pietrus would overcompensate and close out on Bryant as he pivoted away from Pietrus as if to attempt a fade away jumper.

When Pietrus recovered and closed down, Bryant would either up-fake and try to draw the foul or completely step across Pietrus and shoot a leaner.

Bryant ended up shooting 9-for-19 from that range, but also made all 8 of his free throw attempts. (Some of these attempts were off a Laker pick-and-roll).

Looking at the stat sheet, Mickael Pietrus looks like the worst defender of all time. The Magic allowed James to average over 35 points per game.

In game one of the Finals, Kobe Bryant took Pietrus and Courtney Lee for 40 points and 8 assists. But to say Pietrus isn't getting the job done is missing the point.

Pietrus is so versatile that he can physically match the two diverse styles of Bryant and James.

Undoubtedly, he will give up a massive amount of points. But watch closely; he is making things a little more difficult for each player than it appears. Only Pietrus can remain so confident after giving up so many points.

The harder of the two challenges will in fact be Kobe Bryant. His understanding of the game and how to score reach beyond that of the youthful LeBron James.

Bryant had his way in game one and showed everyone that basketball is as much mental as it is physical. For all his athletic prowess on the court, Kobe Bryant is also one of the smartest players to ever play the game.

We've seen that Pietrus can get it done physically on the defensive end, but these Finals will show if the "Puma" will prove his stealth if he can match wits with Bryant.

2009 NBA Draft: Players Who Should Return to College

Patrick Laird — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:40:56 -0400

All NBA draft prospects have the month of June to make their final decision of whether to stay or return to their collegiate programs. Some have already forgone their college eligibility by hiring an agent. There remain, however, a host of players who have not and thus can still return. There are many players still left that could benefit from another year of college. Some have more to prove, some have potential to meet, and some need to learn that basketball isn't all about how big and fast you are. These players should return to their respective programs and work on turning weaknesses into strengths before becoming a professional.

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2009 NBA Draft: Players Who Should Go All In and Get an Agent

Patrick Laird — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:23:09 -0400

All NBA draft prospects have the month of June to make their final decision of whether to stay or return to their collegiate programs. Some have already forgone their college eligibility by hiring an agent. There remain, however, a host of players who have not and can still return. Going with the theory that you should "strike while the iron is hot," there's a few I think who should hire an agent and remain in the draft for 2009. Whether it's because a player has reached his peak at the college level or he risks actually hurting his draft status if he returns, these players are as ready as they'll ever be. Thank you to the following: Chad Ford at ESPN.com Draft Combine information NBAdraft.net

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NBA Playoffs: Where Amazing Happens (and so Should Morality and Humility)

Patrick Laird — Mon, 25 May 2009 18:51:16 -0400

The 2009 NBA playoffs is certainly living up to its slogan. Amazing has happened in most of the series. The conference finals continue the trend of final second suspense and Herculean efforts late in the games.

As amazing happens, however, players need to remember that humility should follow. Amazing attracts the attention of the media, fans, and outsiders alike. So when amazing occurs, as it often has in the 2009 playoffs, players need not forget that doing something incredible does not require an idiotic reaction.

I've been more than disappointed in some of the NBA players and their "amazing" reactions. Rather than basking in the glory of a big shot with some form of ethical jubilation, they've often chosen words and actions bordering on self-righteousness and obscene.

Chicago's Ben Gordon displayed histrionics more suited for a prison gang fight after some of his big shots in the first round. After hitting a big three while in Chicago, he turned to the crowd near midcourt and decided to display his excitement by grabbing himself below the equator. At home. To his home fans. Toward his team's bench. The one's cheering for him. Ben, rubbing your brilliance in someone else's face is bad enough, but what sense does it make to rub it in the face of your supporters?

The boastful display of one's superior performance hasn't been limited to those playing in the game. Kevin Garnett seemed as visible on the bench in his designer suits as he would have been on the court in his Celtic green. Maybe someone in the Celtic's organization forgot to tell him this. After many big shots and game-changing plays, the camera often panned to Garnett who most of the time was jawing with the opposing players' bench using a choice of words not even acceptable in some bars.

I liked Denver's Chris Anderson and his amazing defense, until his moment of foul mouthed absurdity. After picking up his fourth foul against Dallas, he sat down on the bench and the camera caught him at the perfect time expressing his displeasure. He exclaimed the referee made a call equal to bull feces.

This normally doesn't bother me because players often express their frustrations forgetting for a moment about the cameras capturing their every move.

But this particular one was beyond unnecessary considering "The Birdman" nearly severed a player's arm at the shoulder in an attempt to block his shot from behind. I'd hate to see what Chris would say in the event a referee actually made a bad call. It might be a tirade that would make former Temple basketball coach John Chaney cringe and say, "Chris - watch the language."

Eddie House seemed to hit an endless amount of big shots during these playoffs. It's hard not to think they were big shots, since after every single one he either turned to the opponent's bench to express his the magnitude of his magnificence or ran down the floor in what seemed like a schizophrenic shouting match. The Magic's Rafer Alston probably did what most of us non-Celtic fans wanted to do: slap some humbleness back into House's obviously swollen head.

Thanks to Eddie House, the theatrics after shots can come at any time during a game now apparently. I thought usually such celebrations and superfluous screaming came after game winning shots. Denver's J.R. Smith proved to me otherwise.

The other night in game three of the Western Conference Finals, Smith hit a three point shot against the Lakers to beat the third quarter horn. He commenced to yelling at the Laker's Sasha Vujacic as if Vujacic just hit on his girlfriend. Smith was promptly assessed a technical foul as he skipped away like Reggie Miller in Madison Square Garden. Trash-talking at the end of the third quarter didn't do much good as the Lakers won game three and seized the series lead on the Nuggets' home court.

Please don't take any of this the wrong way: players should express their exhilaration after amazing moments in the playoffs. I enjoyed watching Boston's Glen Davis run a 4.2 forty after making the game winning shot against Orlando in the first round. I loved seeing the NBA's MVP, LeBron James, hit a three-pointer to win it against Orlandoin the Eastern Conference Finals as his Cavs teammate Sasha Pavolic hung on for the ride afterwards.

All that I ask is that players realize the influence they have and to display a celebratory decorum that all fans can appreciate and watch over and over again. I want amazing to happen in every game. That shouldn't have to mean that the decay of anything ethical in the NBA occurs with it.

The 2009 FA Cup: The Battle of the Blues

Patrick Laird — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:34:21 -0400

The 2009 FA Cup Final, to be played on Saturday May 30 at Wembley Stadium in London, will be a battle of the Blues, Chelsea and Everton.

Chelsea will be making their first appearance in the final since their 2007 win over Manchester United. Everton return to the FA Cup Final for the first time since their 1995 triumph at the old Wembley, which was also against the Red Devils. This is not only the last silverware Everton have won, but also the last final they have reached.

Chelsea, on the other hand, have experienced a bit more success since 1995. They've won the FA Cup three times (1997, 2000, 2007, only prior final victory was 1970).

The London club of course won back-to-back Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 (ending a 50-year drought) and also reached its first Champions League final in 2008, losing to Manchester United.

Ironically, Chelsea have experienced most of the club's success as it juggled several managers. Everton have had five managers since its 1995 FA Cup win, but have remained with their current Scottish manager, David Moyes, since 2002.

Moyes and Everton have only qualified for the Champions League once, when they finished fourth in the Premier League in 2004-2005. Consistency has not reigned at Goodison Park as the Toffees have qualified for Europe and narrowly avoided relegation since the arrival of Moyes.

Chelsea will double Everton's number of managers since 1995 when current manager, Guus Hiddink, leaves the club. Claudio Ranieri experienced the longest stint with the club between 2000 and 2004.

Regardless, these two sides carry with them expectations, whether old or new, that will certainly reach an apex this Saturday.

Two sides, both who see the world through blue eyes, vow for the prestige of England's most famous crown.

Two sides, one with a history as rich as any other club in England without much recent domestic success; The other who's had more success in this decade than perhaps all its others combined.

Each side view this cup in a very different light. Everton have a vision which they hope will come to fruition, having acquired a coveted manager and his record signings. Chelsea, however, are desperate to maintain their status as one of Europe's elite clubs.

For these two sides, Saturday serves more than just a trophy presentation at the center of the pitch with thousands of its most loyal fans cheering and exulting with them.

Chelsea's Frank Lampard said that it is important for the direction of Chelsea, with its vast array of international players, to be considered the best in the world, and not to endure two trophyless seasons.

Surely some Everton fans would love to be faced with the same demands at the moment. They haven't sipped from the chalice of champions in quite some time, though their prosperous English history boasts ten league titles (including one in the old second division) and five FA cups.

More importantly for Everton are the what seem to be cosmic signs. They've had the toughest road to the final, defeating Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester United to reach it. They've become a little more consistent the past couple of seasons, qualifying for Europe and remaining on the fringe of the top four.

Although with consistency come greater expectations, it won't be too much longer that even Everton fans become a little critical of beloved David Moyes and the void of silverware during his reign.

Just the same, lofty expectations forever replaced fallow ones when Jose Mourinho guided Chelsea to Premier League Championships and the Blues of London became a guaranteed fixture in the latter stages of Champions League.

Saturday's endeavor will be a crossroad of expectations. A win for Everton will cleanse the palate at Goodison Park until next season, then wants will transform into needs.

Stamford Bridge will search for a new manager, but the fact of the matter is the core of players and talent have remained much the same. Saturday can be a day of vindicated summer signings and managerial jugglings, or it can turn into a brooding of misfortunes and shortcomings.

The songs will echo Saturday from Wembley Stadium, surely all extolling the rich blue that both teams adorn.

Whether it is Everton's fans belting out " Onward Evertonians /Onward for to see / See the Royal twin towers / And Royal Wem-ber-ley" or Chelsea's fans singing " Flying high, up in the sky, / We'll keep the blue flag flying high / From Stamford Bridge to Wemb(er)ley / We'll keep the blue flag flying high," the songs will encase with them a pride that only the FA Cup can strengthen.

No, Saturday isn't the most important game for Chelsea and Everton—it's now the only game, and one fans will use to fuel the plight of another decade full of tradition and, hopefully, championships.

Orlando Magic's J.J. Redick: Intangibles Still Have Value in NBA

Patrick Laird — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:37:39 -0400

I probably need to clarify that I have no invested interest in what I am about to write, which concerns one of the most celebrated and equivocally detested college basketball players of all time.

I'm not a Duke fan, nor am I a Duke hater.

Former Duke University star J.J. Redick is much more valuable to the Orlando Magic than the stat sheet may reveal. In fact, the Magic cannot win a playoff series without him.

(Please refrain from coarse language and crass comments until further reading).

Sure, the numbers don't jump off of the stat sheet thus far in the playoffs (6.1 points, 2.1 assists in just about 23 minutes a game), but he brings certain qualities and a basketball IQ that makes everyone around him a little bit better.

Redick started playing a more active role when Courtney Lee went down with an injury in the Philadelphia series. Prior to game five in that series, he played only 12 total minutes. From game five onward, he averaged nearly 27 minutes per contest.

The increased minutes did not result in increased points from the regular season. The point was not for Redick to replace Lee, because quite frankly, Redick's game is not Courtney Lee's. Redick rather has filled in as a quintessential role player.

Redick's contributions have Orlando coach, Stan Van Gundy, realizing Redick is not someone he can just part with now that Lee has returned.

Offensively, Redick's execution of the high pick and roll with all-star center, Dwight Howard, has been masterful. He has not shown much of an ability to create for himself off of it (he's shooting below 40 percent in the playoffs), but he is successful at drawing both defenders and making a timely pass through the trap.

If the defender follows him over the screen, Redick takes a sharp angle as Howard creates space on the roll. Howard's man, mostly in the Boston series, looked to close out on Redick and force him into a trap, especially off the baseline side of the screen.

Reading the defender the whole way, Redick has been making pinpoint bounce passes to the rolling Howard. Few times has the defender went underneath the screen because Redick is still feared as a shooter.

How valuable is this?

Many players might become a little too greedy off the pick and roll and get caught in a trap or force a shot. Not Redick. He knows the game plan and follows it precisely. It establishes their best offensive threat early and potentially puts opposing big men in foul trouble.

It also establishes an inside-out game plan that completely opens the floor in the latter stages of the game. Boston had trouble defending this, even though they knew when it would be run, because Redick executed it so well. Redick also does it without turning the ball over (four total in the 2009 playoffs).

When the pick would not come, Redick became an ideal perimeter teammate. If open, he shot (though not too well). If not, Redick would allow the defense to close down on him and quickly reverse the ball. With defenders committing on one side of the floor, a quick reversal opened up backside options for the Magic.

Hedo Turkoglu, Mikael Pietrus, and Rafer Alston benefited from such altruism; they often found themselves with open shots or, in Alston's case, an open lane with an opportunity to attack the basket when the defense did not rotate quick enough.

Redick has been no slouch defensively either. For most of the Boston series, he had to defend Ray Allen. This is where the little, subtle things make a player quite valuable to his team.

In the Boston-Chicago series in the first round, Ben Gordon spent most of his time defending Allen. He followed Allen through all screens. Mistakenly, however, Gordon would widen himslef out on cuts without working to keep between Allen and the basket.

As a result, Gordon chased Allen more than defended him. Any time Allen used multiple screens and re-screens, Gordon became completely lost.

Redick defended Allen much more aggressively. He would stay in front and force Allen to go through him to reach the screener. This often caused Allen to round off his cuts through screens and gave Redick's teammates opportunities to bump him as well. Because Allen was not cutting as precisely and sharply, it was easier for Redick to close out on his shot.

Whereas Gordon relied too much on his speed to defend Allen, Redick never really chased, probably because he knew it would have been in vain. Instead he made it a wrestling match between the two as Allen tried to run the resilient Redick into screens, though often to no avail.

Allen's field goal and three-point percentage took a big dive between the two series'. Against Chicago, he shot 45 percent from the floor and 47 percent from beyond the arc. In the Orlando series, Allen only managed 34 percent from the floor and an abysmal 19 percent (8-42) from three-point range.

Was Allen's decline due solely to J.J. Redick? Certainly not, though the way in which Redick defended had to play a role in Allen's comfort level and fatigue late in games.

Redick will probably never live up to the expectations of being a lottery pick, but he doesn't have to. His merit isn't in the points column. His merit is something more intangible.

Contrary to popular anti-Duke belief, J.J. Redick will be an NBA player for years to come. And if you are a Duke fan, that gives you yet another NBA veteran and even more haters.

Udinese 2-1 AC Milan, Secures Inter Milan Serie A Title

Patrick Laird — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:44:45 -0400

It was a long shot, but AC Milan remained in the 2009 Serie A title hunt going into Saturday's contest at Udinese. Those hopes were quickly dashed by a more aggressive and offensive-minded home side.

Gaetano D'Agostino scored the first goal off of a penalty kick (31'), and Christian Zapata blasted home a second half goal (49') when AC Milan failed to clear a corner, taking the match, 2-1.

It is Udinese's first home win against AC Milan since 2003. The victory keeps them close to a qualifying spot for the European play next season.

The game saw a juxtaposition of styles; while AC Milan controlled possession most of the game, Udinese took full advantage of its touches on offense. The home side tallied 26 shots, nine of which were on target. AC Milan, despite their number of possessions, only managed three quality shots on goal.

Milan certainly fulfilled the Italian stereotype of "possession football." Their opponents, on the other hand, provided a more entertaining brand of physical play on defense coupled with an opportunistic, insatiable desire on offense.

Udinese proved the aggressor all game. Its counter-attacks highlighted the club's exceptional speed and often left AC Milan players trailing after an interception. Defensively, they closed down well and were not afraid of the referee's potential reprimands.

Milan's attempt at offside traps proved futile as a host of Udinese attackers gained clean shots on goal throughout the first half. If it hadn't been for the timely play of Milan goalie, Dida, the Zebrette might have netted three or four more.

The Red-Blacks lone strike came too late when Massimo Ambrosini scored (90') a header off of a superb, arching Kaka cross that placed itself perfectly at the Italian midfielder's head.

Stoppage time did not slow down Udinese, however, as Fabio Quagliarella narrowly missed on the game's final shot attempt, hitting the left post.

The win secures Inter Milan the Serie A title, which is their first under Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho. More importantly it is the club's fourth consecutive title. This makes seventeen total Italian championships for Inter, which ties them for second most in Italian football history with their derby counterparts, AC Milan.

With rumors already circulating concerning the sale of Brazilian star, Kaka, it is sure to be a long summer for AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi. Only time will tell if it will be a summer of discontent or one of new, burgeoning hope going into the 2009-2010 season.

The EPL in May: My Favorite Time of Year

Patrick Laird — Sat, 16 May 2009 10:36:52 -0400

The question arises every sports season. When is the best time of year in the sports world?

Football fans, January and February probably seems like heaven. The BCS bowls and National Championship followed by the pinnacle of the pigskin: The Super Bowl.

Maybe you're a baseball fan. The best times of year are certainly book ends for you. Many try to suppress elation when pitchers and catchers report, but most find their pastime bliss in October and early November.

Basketball and hockey fans seem to have an eternity of a season. Ask most and you'll certainly here about June.

For me, none qualify as the best time in sports. As the title states, the best time of year is the end of May. Not because the English Premier League will be crowning a champion, but due rather to the battle at the other end of the table: the fight against relegation.

For those unfamiliar with relegation in soccer, allow me for a moment, soccer connoisseurs, to explain to those novices like me reading.

Take all levels of professional baseball for example: A, AA, AAA, and the Major League. Eliminate the whole farm system affiliations and make each team its own business entity that can hire and fire as it pleases.

The EPL replicates this idea with the Premier League (Majors), League Championship (AAA), League 1 (AA)and League 2 (A). The only difference is the top three teams get promoted at season's end, and the bottom three teams get relegated.

So based on last season, the Washington Nationals, Seattle Mariners, and San Diego Padres would be competing this season in AAA. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, Louisville Bats, and Pawtucket Red Sox, all of the International League, would be playing Major League baseball in 2009.

Think of how that might change professional sports in America.

Even though I'm a basketball guy, the last few weeks of May present to us something quite unique in sports.

The majority of sports fans are average Joes, but more times than not, professional sports is a tale of nobility. The biggest, strongest, richest, and athletically gifted win the championships.

Players who could not be further from who we are or the roles we have in society prevail while the ordinary begin reciting the infamous sports maxim, "there's always next year."

Sure we want our favorite teams to win, but since that is rarely the case, we often look for an underdog. Why? Because the underdog represents us.

Why do you think the best story come March is a Cinderella team? It's a reflection of who we are.

Every season, The bottom the EPL becomes a perfect microcosm of middle-class America. The CEOs, like Manchester United, continually challenge for the top spot while the average employee, such as Sunderland, just wants to survive another day with the company.

The rich prosper and bask in the glory of championships and trophies. Meanwhile, the peons like me struggle to make ends meet month-to-month and are left only with delusions of grandeur.

American sports are unrealistic. If a team fails miserably, there's no consequences. In fact, fail bad enough, and teams get rewarded with picking the new hot shot player for next season.

Not in the EPL. Finish in the bottom three and it's a punishment. Moreover, teams won't be bidding on top players; they'll struggle to keep those who are good enough to be loaned to Premier league team. That's more representative of life.

Time and again we see smaller clubs fighting for their Premiership lives by the end of May. Big clubs like Liverpool and Chelsea may feel dejected if they don't win a championship, but smaller clubs, like Fulham last season, feel uninhibited respite when they narrowly avoid being relegated.

The joy of fans' faces as the referee blows the final whistle exudes a feeling not often seen in sports: the feeling of accepted mediocrity only relative to those bidding adieu to the topflight football.

West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough, Hull City, Newcastle United, Sunderland, and Portsmouth will all be playing for the Premiership lives in the final two weeks of the 2008-2009 season.

Their respective matches are sure to be entertaining and hard fought. Fans will either sob for their club's demise, or, for those lucky clubs who narrowly avoid the bottom three, revel in the fact that for another season, even if by only an inch, they can say that they're competing with the best.

I'm a little guy. I love my teams, but they aren't me; they suffer no consequences if they tank a season.

So you can have your NBA Finals, Stanley Cup, and game sevens. Take your Super Bowl Sunday and Mr. Octobers. Every year, I can't wait for the end of May to watch the purest form of sport on display in any professional league.

Where teams are playing at their highest level until the very end. Where fans are more than proud to finish seventeenth. Where the common man takes center stage and plays with more heart and grit than a jaded, inflated payroll ever could.

Lakers-Rockets Series: The Semantics of Flagrant Fouls One and Two

Patrick Laird — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:53:25 -0400

Much has been said concerning the flagrant fouls in the Lakers-Rockets series. The fouls have been viewed, reviewed, and the jurisdiction has gone beyond just the call on the court in every game. Therein lies the problem.

The flagrant foul calls in the NBA perhaps are too subjective on-the-court calls because flagrant foul one and flagrant foul two are separated by a single adjective yet carry different consequences.

According the NBA rule book, a flagrant foul one is defined as follows:

"If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary, a flagrant foul—penalty (one) will be assessed" (Section IV paragraph a).

A flagrant foul two is defined as:

"If contact committed against a player, with or without the ball, is interpreted to be unnecessary and excessive, a flagrant foul—penalty (two) will be assessed" (Section IV paragraph b).

A flagrant foul is first and foremost "unnecessary." The difference, however, between a flagrant foul one and a flagrant foul two is whether or not it is "excessive." The problem is, what is defined as excessive?

The personal fouls help better define this. A personal foul is anything that impedes the progress of the offensive player with the following exceptions; "Flagrant, elbow and punching fouls" (Section One paragraph e). Even the lexicon for loose ball fouls denotes a flagrant foul if punching or elbows are involved.

Based on the description under the personal fouls section of the NBA rules, can it then be said that any elbow thrown, whether connected or not, is a flagrant foul two? Does that define excessive? Because what is at stake is being able to continue play with a flagrant foul one or being ejected (and most of the time suspended) with a flagrant foul two.

Last night in Game Three of the Lakers-Rockets series, Ron Artest was assessed a flagrant foul two late in the game for his hard foul on Pau Gasol. Taking a close look at the play, it looked as though Artest did two things right.

First, he took a proper angle to challenge the play. Secondly, he went after the ball and actually made a play on it. In the process, he body checked (which is in the definition of a personal foul) Gasol in the air and sent him hard to the floor.

See the Ron Artest foul here

Excessive? Certainly harder fouls have been committed and Gasol did hit the floor hard, but one would expect that to happen when a 6'7" 265-pound player is making a play on the ball near the basket.

Unnecessary? What was Artest to do? Wait until Gasol was closer and heighten the chances of an and-one play? Not make an attempt to stop Gasol from scoring? As mentioned, he had a very good angle to challenge such a shot.

Now going back to Game Two, where Kobe Bryant was brought into question for his actions on a box-out involving him and Artest. This particular foul was upgraded to a flagrant one after the game.

Off a shot attempt, Bryant has inside position on Artest. He pivots so as to seal Artest from the rebound, thus establishing inside position deep under the basket. As the ball hits the rim, without pivoting, Bryant's elbow rears back and hits Artest above the neck.

See the Kobe Bryant foul here

This foul was certainly unnecessary. Bryant did everything right in establishing a box-out, then, by swinging his elbow, looked for an advantage when he realized his position was too far under the basket for the rebound. No play for the ball, but simply a strategy to clear space that is not established by the player.

According the rule book, Bryant used his elbow. Therefore, his was upgraded to a flagrant foul. The NBA did well in correcting this error; however, throwing an elbow that is above the opponent's neck should be excessive and flagrant two.

If a player uses a pivot foot with elbows flared, there is no swinging. Bryant, in this case, swung his elbow back. Since this is not defined under the flagrant foul description, it is left too subjective and thus ineffective within the fast-paced action of an NBA game.

The two changes that probably should be made in the semantics of fouls, first for personal fouls:

1) They need to establish that a successful play on the ball from a frontal angle of the offensive player is never flagrant

Any player who genuinely goes after the ball may body check the offensive player, but if a play on the ball is the intended motion, then it will not be harmful, just aggressive.

And for flagrant fouls:

2) They need to include any swinging of the arms once in an established position, including during the use of the pivot foot, is prohibited.

A flagrant one is an aggressive play on the ball from any angle other than the front. A flagrant two is then an aggressive play that involves swinging the arms in a manner that could harm the opponent.

Based on this wording, then Bryant should have received a flagrant two foul and been ejected from Game Two. Since the correction was made after the game, he should have been suspended for Game Three.

Conversely, Ron Artest should have been called for a personal foul on Gasol and nothing more.

This might not make it as specific as it needs to be, but it at least would be away from using words like "unnecessary" and "excessive" to separate minor and serious infractions on the game rules.

Then, maybe, every hard foul with two players facing each other will not draw the ire of fans and teammates. From now on, the NBA should be proactive and not so reactive when it comes to aggressive play.

Top 10 Trivial Top-10 Lists

Patrick Laird — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:30:41 -0400

Don’t take the title the wrong way because I love a good top 10 list. The more I read, though, the more I see the same ideas mundanely being pushed out just to post.

The best lists and rankings are creative, debatable, and pose themselves as a cogent and educated argument.

But more and more top ten lists bore me and point out the obvious or useless. So for the first and last time, I will post a top 10 list of my own: The Top 10 Trivial Top 10 List ideas.

10. Ranking amateur athletes/teams

I try my hardest to stay away from glorifying any amateur athlete or team. College sports are basically semi-professional sports, so I don’t categorize them as amateur. Mainly I’m referring to high school players. The whole point of ranking is being able to have at least seen some of the players/teams on the list.

Going off of what you’ve heard makes for quite a hyperbolic explanation. Plus, trying to project what a teenager will do athletically is just wrong to me. We should be teaching these kids better values than ordaining them future kings without much evidence. Ranking amateur teams is equally purposeless.

9. Ranking sports casters

I don’t watch ESPN or any other sports news show for the entertaining sportscast. I can honestly say I want the score and highlights and I’m done. Ranking the sportscasters is like ranking the judges at the Hawaiian Tropic bikini contest - nobody is looking nor paying attention to them. And besides, comedy is an acquired taste; it is too subjective to rank.

8. Lists greater than 20

This one kind of bucks the trend so far, but the only thing worse than a bad top 10-list is a bad top-25 list. Is it really necessary to talk about the guy ranked as no. 24 with the guy ranked as No. 3? They’re not in the same league, so no need to have them on the same list.

At least with a top 20 or top 20, you have created an upper and lower echelon with no spot directly in between. Some very good debates have occurred if a player or team does not make the top five or top 10 on a list. The only time you need to go higher than 20 is if you are ranking all-time players or teams. Even then it may be too much.

7. Rankings that have everything to do with one’s geographical location

For example: ranking the best rivalries. This is pointless. Is somebody in Ohio going to say UNC-Duke is historically a better rivalry than Ohio State-Michigan? It’s way too broad and there are more creative ways to evaluate these.

Regardless, this list is guaranteed to come out every year during college football and basketball season. The only people who could possibly give us an objective vote on such lists are those living in geographical oddities like Montana, the Yukon, or the planet formerly known as Pluto. I agree that it is great discussion, but it’s overdone to rank.

6. Ranking the aesthetics of uniforms

I’ll be the first to admit that I do comment on uniforms. I like a sharp looking uniform. However, I refuse to debate, a la Tyra Banks, the aesthetic pleasure I get from a uniform. In the end, I really don’t care and neither should fans.

I think when a franchise, as they often do, come up with a hideous uniform or abandon a traditional and beloved color scheme, the fans should shout their displeasure in oral and written form. Otherwise, don’t waste your time writing an editorial better suited for Allure magazine.

5. Ranking fan bases

What does it matter? This is also kind of falls under the category of number seven. I guess I see the point because you’re also ranking the best atmospheres at games, but I really don’t care how the other people react.

Plus, there is extreme bias and prejudice in doing this anyway if you’ve never actually attended a game there, or the game you attended was a bad one.

North Carolina fans are always called a “wine and cheese” crowd by outsiders and national sports telecasts. Really? Come spend a day in North Carolina with a Carolina fan and attend a game with him or her.

If you leave without committing a felony on that person, you have either tremendously strong morals, a conscience, or patience that would impress Job. They are one of the most unequivocal, passionate fan bases around and they do not try to subdue that in any way.

4. Ranking franchises

Please note it is “franchises” and not “teams.” I love ranking teams, especially teams from different eras. It lends to great debates. Ranking franchises, on the other hand, does not make any sense to me.

They’re not static; organizations change over time and are mere shadows of what they once were (either good or bad). New ownership, front office, let alone coaches, players, and playing styles completely change the landscape.

Plus, lists like these consider the most success over generations. What do the 1980 Patriots have to do with Belichick’s Patriots? Nothing, they just happen to be the same franchise. I just see no purpose in ranking a franchise when there are so few businesses who uphold the same ideals as they did in their infancy.

3. Lists where the No. 1 spot is obvious

Maybe I should say painfully obvious. I hate these lists with a passion. I start to read them, fully expecting the writer to go out on a limb and make an argument for a massive underdog, then sheer disappointment.

What then, pray tell you, is the point? If the point is ranking the other players or teams, then include the word “Not” in your title. “The best Syracuse players of all time NOT named Carmelo Anthony.”

I think we all know the arguments for Carmelo Anthony, no need to be anticlimactic. Now I’d be interested in reading that list and seeing who is ranked No. 1.

2. Ranking current players

These are necessary, I know. We debate all the time. Who deserved the NBA’s MVP this season: Kobe, LeBron or D-Wade? But is a whole list obligatory when most of the time it is clearly a race between only a few players?

I recently read a top 10 list for the NBA MVP race this season that included Brandon Roy and Dwight Howard. Great players with phenomenal seasons, but are they really in the upper echelon with the aforementioned players?

I contend to come up with a more creative way. Discuss who is NOT the MVP this NBA season. Rank only the ones who actually matter. I do like lists that rank players from different eras and generations. These are always the most fun when it comes to discussion.

1. Ranking the hottest/sexiest cheerleaders/fans/athletes and/or their wives/girlfriends

Simply put: a colossal waste of time both for the reader and the writer. Not only is beauty one of the most subjective topics out there, but such articles claim to be “sports” oriented when they could not be any further from it.

Overall, I think the best lists are original, creative, and imaginative. They are debatable yet cogent, but mostly a vat of information in support.

One of the most informational I’ve read recently is here (Note: though some on this list are young, all are professional players):

The Future Stars of American Soccer

Intriguing with in-depth analysis and enough player evaluation.

Many that I’ve mentioned require first hand information (e.g. fan bases). I also like lists that bring up topics not really being delivered to a wide audience. Take for example this well put together list:

Five Most Embarrassing Commercials to Watch with Your Little Girl During the Game

Appealing to us sports fans with daughters. And, of course, it is unique and something I’ve always thought about but never read about.

Better yet - don’t always be tempted at writing a list or ranking multiple players. This is one of the best I’ve seen to do such. It’s a comparison of Don Hutson and Jerry Rice:

Why Jerry Rice is NOT the Greatest Wide Receiver in NFL History

I was mostly intrigued because it completely avoided ranking any more players than what the author thought was necessary when discussing the best NFL wide receivers. Informational, compelling, cogent.

As always, feel free to comment. But understand one thing—these are my opinions. Some might love lists and rankings on sports casters, fans, or franchises. I, on the other hand, enjoy something a little more distinctive.

NBA Playoff First Round Underachievers

Patrick Laird — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:36:58 -0400

The first round has given us one forgettable seven-game series (Hawks-Heat) and one that may be unforgettable (Celtics-Bulls). Through them all, certain players have shown us that they are not ready to play on the big stage. Those we thought would or should (due to their incredible talent) help their team more than hurt, or on some nights, embarrass them. Some are great players who have found out that playoff basketball is whole different beast, and others seem more like megalomaniacs that wish to establish themselves, and not the team, as one of the best in the NBA.

Begin Slideshow

NBA Playoff First Round Overachievers

Patrick Laird — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:56:51 -0400

The first round has given us one forgettable seven-game series (Hawks-Heat) and one that may be unforgettable (Celtics-Bulls). Through them all, certain players have stood out and gone above and beyond what was expected of them in the first round. These overachievers, if you will, have shown that the bright lights of playoff basketball do not blind them. They realize their talent is only relative to the concept of the team, and their contribution has everything to do with what the team needs most.

Begin Slideshow

FIFA Shows Croatia Only a Yellow For Racism

Patrick Laird — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:05:23 -0400

This piece was originally published on October 6, 2008 at Pickin' Splinters. I wanted to post it here at Bleacher Report for a wider audience. Keep in mind this issue has since been resolved and no further allegations have been brought against Croatia that I know.

In soccer, a yellow card is a cautionary measure for what FIFA deems “unsporting behavior of a less serious nature.” If such a behavior is deemed “serious,” then a red card is shown and the player is sent off and suspended.

A second yellow card in a match is considered an indirect red card and merits the same disciplinary action. Realizing this is well known to even non-soccer fans, FIFA utilized this knowledge in their fight against racism.

One of FIFA’s slogans in their philanthropic plight to end racism is “show racism the red card.” Catchy, but is also a statement about their level of intolerance towards such behavior. Which is why I was surprised when after an investigation into racist behavior amongst Croatian fans, FIFA forgot its own rules.

The allegations, which include “racist chanting” and “racist behavior,” apparently occurred on three separate occasions: two qualifying matches against England, one recently during a qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup, and then another during Croatia’s 2008 Euro quarterfinal match against Turkey. One such chant allegedly included “monkey chants.”

Appalled, I was anxious to see what type of punishment FIFA had put in place for such despicable behavior. I was hoping for a direct red card. They announced last month a fine on the Croatia Football Federation CHF 30,000 ($26,759.25) for the fans’ actions against England in September.

This turns out to be the second fine for Croatia. FIFA submitted a smaller fine for fans’ behavior at the 2008 Euro quarterfinals. Sounds like racism only received a yellow card.

FIFA’s disciplinary code under article 58 states in concerns to racist behavior: “where supporters of a team breach at a match, a fine of at least CHF 30,000 shall be imposed on the association or club.” I obviously have a couple of problems with FIFA’s handling of this situation.

First, if Croatia had already been fined less than CHF 30,000 as result of behavior at Euro ‘08, why has FIFA followed up a second offense with just another fine? I assume Croatia was shown leniency in hopes the behavior would be corrected. It didn’t happen.

Secondly, how does a fine hurt the fans? It only hurts the Croatian FA.

FIFA has several options, according to their disciplinary code, that they should have taken. The document puts fan liability on the respective association. “The visiting association or visiting club is liable for improper conduct among its own group of spectators…. Supporters occupying the way sector of a stadium are regarded as the visiting association’s supporters (article 74 paragraph 2). I absolutely agree.

Additional sanctions are noted in article 58 in response to continued racist behavior. They include playing matches behind closed doors, forfeiting a match, deducting points, and disqualification. Furthermore, fans that continually breach, “shall receive a ban of at least two years.”

My question is—what are you waiting for, FIFA? Your own disciplinary plan lays out the punishments, all you have to do is enforce them. Here’s what I would liked to have seen done following Croatian fans’ third offense:

Since the latest offense occurred during a World Cup qualifying match—dock Croatia three points. Turn their next win into a loss so the fans can see the result of their behavior in the standings.

At neutral sites, which is where all these offenses have occurred, do not provide Croatian fans a designated section. Sit everyone throughout the stadium randomly. Eliminate their power in numbers. If the behavior continues, it will be much easier to pinpoint individuals wherein it will give FIFA the ability to punish those responsible with a two year ban as they have so noted in their disciplinary code.

Should this behavior ever occur at a home game in Croatia, then ban all home games for a year. Make Croatia play home games at a neutral site where FIFA can control Croatian fans that attend.

The “behind closed doors” sanction in the code won’t work because it punishes the other team and its fans for Croatia’s inability to comply.

One thing is for certain: FIFA is certainly justified in their quest to fight against racism in their sport; I applaud their efforts to put this at the forefront of its international schedule.

The Croatian incidents may be FIFA’s first instance to prove their seriousness against racism publicly. Sadly, they stumbled. Instead of showing racism the red card, FIFA pulled two yellows.

I may be an American soccer novice, but even I know that two yellows make a red.

FIFA Disciplinary Code
FIFA fines Croatia FA – FIFA.com
Croatian federation fined for fans’ racist behaviour against Heskey – guardian.co.uk

There's No 'I' in Aaron Curry

Patrick Laird — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:32:00 -0400

The old sports adage states that there is "no 'I' in team." We love it because it succinctly yet thoroughly teaches everything we need to know about playing a team sport.

Too bad professional sports often times resemble a mockery of this beloved sports proverb. Players demand more money. They gripe about playing time. Some have even refused to play in protest of something that does not concern the team.

Yet for most fans, I think, the sports deities bequeath upon us timely moments so as not to make us lose our faith in the games we love.

I don't consider myself a huge NFL fan, and I'm certainly not a fan of the Seattle Seahawks. But Aaron Curry has made me a fan for the time being of the Seahawks, Wake Forest football, and primarily him.

I admit I have not watched a single live down of football that involved Aaron Curry. It's hard to not know who he is because of the voluminous NFL draft coverage. The last I heard before the actual draft day was that he could, though chances were very slim, be picked number one if contract negotiations did not work out with Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions.

As Roger Goodell strolled to the podium and announced the first pick not long after 4 o'clock eastern time, I sat watching only half-interested. My Buffalo Bills were picking eleventh overall so I still had some time.

I'm at best a laissez-faire football fan, so I'm not ashamed to say that I needed more than an education on the next two picks.

Then Seattle selected the outside linebacker from Wake Forest fourth overall. At this point I was helping the better half clean around the house, and since this pick involved an ACC school (my current place of residence) I sat down with mild interest.

The cameras swarmed Curry's table and he started crying. Not too surprised (many cry at the draft), my attentiveness grew as Curry refused to sheath his emotional response. I said aloud to myself, "That's awesome." He wants people to see this unadulterated emotion.

This was loud enough for my wife, an avid yet extremely critical sports fan herself, to hear in the kitchen.

She quickly came into the room and commented on the green hat the Seahawks provided. I rolled my eyes.

Then Curry made his way to Erin Andrews for his first interview as a professional athlete. She referenced the sheer emotion displayed in the green room and in classic sports interview absurdity, asked to put it into words.

Aaron Curry's response earned him two immediate fans.

He said, "It's hard to put into words how hard we work our whole lives for this one moment."

Two simple pronouns: "we" and "our." One nominative, one possessive, but both plural in form. Perhaps meaningless to some, but speaks volumes to others.

He didn't talk about himself or say "I've worked hard" or "People doubted me." He realizes that it he is not alone; he is not unique when it comes to be being drafted, playing football, making millions.

He also mentioned, in what has become a cliché for young men who were just selected to make millions, that he is thrilled that he can now provide for his mother and younger brothers.

It isn't about him, or how good he is, or how much money he will make. It's about the success of his team. In fact, not even the team. It's about the fraternity that is professional athletes. He wasn't just happy for himself, he was happy for all of those who worked so hard to get there and can now repay their families.

In an event that is often too much about the individual in a consummate team sport, Curry showed everyone that he gets it and possesses an unbridled appreciation for all involved in his success.

Curry's family quickly joined him on stage. Adorned with those distinctive green hats, they smiled uncontrollably.

My wife, gazing at the TV in rare appreciation of the genuineness of an overpaid professional athlete, let out an "awhhh."

I knew then that I wasn't just overanalyzing Curry's answer. His subconscious had spoken and chose the correct pronoun, thus proving to the both of us that that old sports adage is not dead. There is no "I" in team, and there definitely is no "I" in Aaron Curry.

Temple Owls' Supply and Demands For 2009-2010 Season

Patrick Laird — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:57:53 -0400

The past two seasons have brought some hardware for the Temple Owls by way of two Atlantic 10 tournament championships. Unfortunately, high hopes of upsets in the NCAA tourney never came to fruition in either season. A first round exit to Michigan State in 2008 and Arizona State in 2009 has left a bitter taste for Owl faithful.

Lofty expectations were plentiful going into the 2008-2009 season, what with senior leadership on the perimeter and in the post, especially with one of those seniors, guard Dionte Christmas, being a potential All-American.

Now the Fran Dunphy era reaches a vital turning point. Most players will all be his own recruits when he took over the helm from legendary coach, John Chaney, in 2006.

Looking ahead at what's in store for Dunphy and the Owls, let's first assess the losses.

Players lost to graduation

Obviously the biggest loss for Dunphy and the hardest to replace is the aforementioned Christmas. He led the Atlantic 10 in scoring for three straight years (nearly 20 ppg this past season). He was an unquestionable go-to-guy supplied with deep, deep range from beyond the arc.

Often overlooked, however, was his defense. He was the best off-the-ball defender the Owls had and thrived in Dunphy's man-to-man style. He averaged 1.5 steals a game to lead the Owls in 2009 as well as nearly 6 rebounds, most of which were undoubtedly on the defensive end.

For all his acclaim, Christmas showed some flaws that may hurt his NBA status. With 98 turnovers and exactly as many assists, Christmas was a shady ball-handler at times. His biggest fault was his reluctance to attack the basket when his jump shot wasn't falling. He could be extremely stubborn in trying to shoot himself out of a slump rather than penetrating and creating something for himself or a teammate.

Regardless, Christmas, like Mardy Collins and Lyn Greer before him, will be a sorely missed scoring threat for the Owls.

Also graduating is the 7 foot center, Sergio Olmos. The Spaniard grew into his own over the past couple of seasons. Under Chaney's style, Olmos played mostly reserve minutes. When Dunphy made the move to North Broad Street, Olmos nearly doubled his minutes and did well in Dunphy's high-low post offensive sets.

In 2009, Olmos really began to show improvements offensively. He could seal and provide a big target for easy entry passes and was aware of cutters often finding them baseline or flashing opposite side through the lane.

Olmos understood he was not the first scoring option, and often served was more like a displaced point guard in the post by kicking it out and looking to make quick reversals.

For all his improvements on offense, he never showed it in the rebounding category. Olmos only averaged 4 rebounds a game - at 7 feet tall, mind you. He was an easy box out on the defensive end, often getting pushed past the free throw line.

Despite his downfalls, Olmos will be tough to replace because of his size and wide target in the post. Nearly 1.5 blocks a game was also nice to have as well.

It seems as though Temple is losing a major player from every position, as point guard Semaj Inge also departs. Inge brought some stability to the offense; he truly was a floor general and controlled the tempo well at times.

The senior was reliable mostly in the half court. Teams that brought some pressure, on the other hand, exposed Inges' panicky side at times. Defensively, Inge was sometimes a liability and lacked aggressiveness.

He was a very good cutter away from the ball, keeping constant motion. Along with Olmos, he thrived with a high-low offense and created a lot of opportunities for Christmas and junior Ryan Brooks on the perimeter. He wasn't flashy and wouldn't "wow" with his play. But Inge was a senior point guard with experience and that cannot be measured on paper.

Moving ahead, let's examine returning players and the potential demand for next year's recruiting class.

Top returning underclassmen

Rising senior Ryan Brooks may be the best scoring guard to return for the Owls. Brooks will certainly have more touches due to Christmas' absence. He has the jump shot, as evidences by shooting 41 percent from three off of 144 attempts. He seems to be a little more aggressive than Christmas in regards to attacking the lane and perhaps can surprise a national audience next year.

Other than Brooks, rising junior Lavoy Allen probably has the best chance to lead the team in scoring. The 6'9" post averaged nearly a double-double in his sophomore campaign—11 points and 9 rebounds.

His footwork improved greatly from his freshman season as he displayed an array of post moves on the low block. The biggest upside is Allen has a special knack for rebounding and displayed aggressiveness of a seasoned veteran this year on the glass.

However, Allen can be physically weak against other posts on the defensive end. If he gets stronger in the off-season, he could potentially be a first team all Atlantic 10 pick.

Complementing Allen in the post will be Michael Eric. Eric's playing time can best be described as sporadic, which may lead some to speculate there is something Dunphy might not like concerning his character or work ethic. He will be the tallest player for the Owls at 6'11" but will need to supply more in his minutes to have a greater impact in 2009-2010.

Juan Fernandez came in at the middle of the year. The 6'4" Argentinean has an impressive resume from his time spent with the under-18 National team for Argentina. As soon as he put on a Temple uniform, he was logging plenty of minutes.

Fernandez brings a savvy international play and is careful with the ball. He averaged nearly 3 assists to go along with 6 points. He should be more comfortable next season as he will be with the team from beginning.

Biggest demands

Brute strength in the post

Fans need look no further than the Arizona State game. The biggest worry was how Temple would stop James Harden. Whether or not he was contained (which he was, being held to 9 points), the real concern was 6'9" 240 pound Jeff Pendergraph. No one was able to match his strength and body up with him. He was 8-14 shooting with most of his shots being within two-feet of the basket.

Temple has not had a physical post player since John Chaney was coaching, except his posts players were a little less basketball agile, mainly there to fulfill a minor role. Allen and Eric have decent potential, but may continue to get dominated by stronger post presences.

To date, Dunphy has not signed a major post player other than a 6'6" 185 recruit who will move to the wing. The potential signees remaining do not look too promising either.

A sheer play-maker

This sounds obligatory and perhaps counterfactual, but the Owls have not had a guard who could attack the lane consistently and break defenses down since Lynn Greer, almost seven years ago.

Mardy Collins was excellent during his tenure, but he was still more a shooting guard than point guard; he could create his own shot wonderfully, just did not have the overall quickness to create for others. Christmas certainly had the ball a majority of the time with the game on the line, but was a bit one dimensional.

If Temple can at least get a playmaker like Greer at the point, Allen and Eric's offensive numbers could explode in the post.

They've already signed a 6'3" guard, who apparently is a natural scorer from all areas of the court and sounds like he understands unselfish play.

Dunphy is also waiting on a 6'5" point guard recruit out of Philadelphia. Temple and Saint Joe's have both offered. Scouts questions his ball handling but think he has the play making ability to be effective at the division I level. He sounds very similar to the previously mentioned signee, only fits the taller mold of traditional Temple guards.

Though Allen and Brooks are capable of again helping the Owls challenge for a conference championship, it still seems like the major demands have yet to be addressed if the Owls plan to make it to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament.

While Others Recruit, Michigan State's Tom Izzo Keeps Coaching

Patrick Laird — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:19:32 -0400

As we approach the 2009 National Championship game for NCAA men’s basketball, I feel as if we’re watching two totally different programs face off.

I can’t help but think of the lopsided 35-point game earlier in this season between North Carolina and Michigan State.

Surely this topsy-turvy year in college basketball won’t leave us with an anticlimactic championship game?

To believe such a game will ensue is to once again doubt the preparedness and teaching of Tom Izzo. This isn’t the same Spartan team from early December. And this isn’t just any other program.

Izzo has led his Spartan clubs to five Final Fours in the past 10 years, cutting down the nets in 2000. Two of those years since 1999 his squad narrowly missed (Elite Eight in 2003, Sweet Sixteen in 2008) doing so again.

Yet, I think many of us don’t rank Michigan State nor Tom Izzo in nearly as high regard as they deserve.

Many coaches look to get the best recruits. The best recruits are often All-Americans. What being an All-American does not measure is a young man’s heart, character, and will to win.

Not saying that All-Americans are entitled individuals and void of passion for the game, but deeming them “the best of the best” doesn’t always translate into team success.

Consider this: Izzo has been finding success since 2005 without a single high school All-American.

His counterpart in Monday night’s championship, Roy Williams, consistently heads the list of signing the most highly touted All-American high school players in the country.

In 2005, Williams brought in All-Americans Danny Green, Bobby Frasor, and Tyler Hansbrough. Danny Green has certainly panned out as one of the more important players for UNC. Hansbrough, as we all know, has lived up to all expectations; his personal accolades speak volumes.

Michigan State did not sign any high school players who played in the McDonald’s All-American game that year, however, 2005 brought another Final Four trip.

Roy Williams then landed one-and-done Brandan Wright, along with Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson in 2006.

Michigan State? No high school All-American signees.

Both the Heels and Spartans did not sign any All-Americans. This is probably because much of Williams’ scholarship money was on hold as, to his current pleasure, Ellington, Green, Lawson, and Hansbrough all returned.

The next year in 2008 saw a return to normalcy as recruiting goes, with Roy Williams signing three All-Americans—Ed Davis, Tyler Zeller, and Larry Drew.

Michigan State? Well, you surely get the picture by now.

As I perused this year’s All-American game, UNC is putting scholarship money to good use, signing four of their future players who are participating in the 2009 McDonald’s High School All-American game.

Williams hit the jackpot by getting a two for one deal: a pair of 6'10" twins from California.

Tom Izzo apparently isn’t that savvy a salesman as he made it five years in a row without a McDonald’s All-American.

If you look for yourself at the high school All-Americans now playing college basketball, you’ll notice a trend of teams consistently showing up other than Carolina.

I noticed Louisville with at least one or two each year. Their current status? Sent home convincingly by Izzo and company.

Kansas and Bill Self work hard to sign some of the best each year, having five over a two-year span between 2005 and 2006.

The Jayhawk's current status? Resting comfortably in Lawrence, courtesy of Izzo and MSU.

Wait a minute: Self is probably frequenting some obscure AAU tournament to find the next big thing.

We’ve all heard the allegations surrounding Jim Calhoun and the UConn Huskies. His school’s name never fails to show up on the All-American list. His vacation was started early thanks to—you already know it—Michigan State and Tom Izzo.

So what makes a great coach?

Kentucky lured John Calipari away from Memphis for a record salary because he can “recruit the best.” Very true. He’s brought in the two most coveted point guards the past two years in Derrick Rose and Tyreke Evans (and most have him snatching up John Wall this year).

He had a heck of a class coming in once again for next year, most of which analysts say will follow him to Kentucky. But how’s his coaching?

As others tirelessly recruit and flash alluring eyes toward the nation’s best high school players, Tom Izzo continues to do the one thing he was hired to do year after year: coach.

Pickin' Splinters

Villanova Busted My Bracket, but Taught Me About Allegiance

Patrick Laird — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:56:17 -0400

I consider myself a Philadelphian, but not in the native or "born and raised" sense. Let's say I was adopted.

I grew up in western New York (the state) but chose to spend my college years at Temple University, so I called the City of Brotherly Love home for four years.

Though I no longer reside there, I feel an affinity to everything Philly. So you can imagine how aghast I was to find myself cheering for Pittsburgh in the 2009 East Regional final.

Philadelphia is a true "Mecca" of sports, but unfortunately, its college basketball is often overlooked.

That's a shame, as Philly is the home of jewels like Temple, Villanova, Saint Joseph's, La Salle, Penn, and even Drexel (though that school is not considered a part of the "Big Five").

I enrolled at Temple in the fall of 2001. The spring before, I had visited the campus for the first time. At the time, Temple was playing in the NCAA Tournament and had advanced to the Elite Eight as an 11-seed.

They lost the regional final to Michigan State 69-62. Then, as fortune would have it, Temple never made the NCAA Tournament during my education, but hey, it was Philly. There were other schools in the brotherhood to cheer for.

If Temple is out in March, there's an unwritten Owl rule that says to cheer for another Philly school. We're a cordial group of rivals.

Philadelphia schools give the locals some good Marches. So with Temple out in the first round of this year's tournament, you'd think Villanova's Final Four run made me happy.

But there was one problem: My bracket said Pittsburgh.

After Temple's improbable run in the tournament in 2001, Saint Joe's seemed primed to make a strong case with two extraordinary guards, Delonte West and National Player of the Year Jameer Nelson.

Dynamic guards in Philly is like caramelized onions and steak: They just fit.

It was in the 2004 tournament that I cheered on Phil Martelli and the Hawks after their undefeated regular season. I was heartbroken when Oklahoma State's John Lucas hit that shot to beat them in the Elite Eight; I reacted as if I were an alumni of the small, private school on City Line Avenue.

Neither Temple nor Saint Joe's has seemed able to find those "spark plug" kind of guards lately; maybe it's because Jay Wright at Villanova has been taking them all.

A season after the St. Joe's disappointment, Wright captured the hearts of Philadelphians when he decided to red shirt big man Curtis Sumpter after a knee injury.

What was important about this was that he was putting his faith in his guards, because he wasn't going to try to replace Sumpter. The team's strength was in its smaller players, and he showed his trust in them when he started four guards.

I loved the brass involved in playing a set like that. Wright also showed some confidence by sticking to his defensive philosophy and playing man-to-man; he would just have his guys completely front anyone in the post. The combination of Randy Foye, Allan Ray, and Kyle Lowry was fun to watch, to say the least.

I cheered for that Wildcat crew in March of that year ('06), much the same I had for Nelson and the Hawks a season before. They lost in the Elite Eight to eventual national champion, Florida.

In typical sports-fan fashion, I filled out my bracket at work this year and submitted my five dollars. I picked Pitt, for no other reason than they seemed like the most experienced. I wholly realize it's all just a crap shoot.

By the regional finals, I was behind the leader by only one game. I was well aware of it, but also figured that if Villanova won, it was no big deal, right?

When it came to the end of the game, Levance Fields of Pittsburgh made a timely steal and was fouled.

Then it happened: I cheered.

I cheered against Philly. I cheered against my adoptive home. And worst of all, I cheered for western Pennsylvania.

On the next possession, Scottie Reynolds of Villanova flew up the court and scored with less than a second left. I almost felt dejected.

Here was Philadelphia making a triumphant return to the Final Four. Villanova making its first trip back since their miraculous run to the championship in 1985, and I was concerned about...my bracket.

I sat in my chair, utterly baffled. I should have been happy for Philly. Instead, I had gotten caught up in my bracket, thinking not just of money, but also of being right in my picks.

As if picking the games made me some kind of expert, some kind of college basketball connoisseur.

I'm sorry, Jay Wright. I'm sorry, Villanova. And most of all, I'm sorry to you, Philadelphia.

I forgot for one moment how important our allegiances are, not just to our school, but to the places we call home.

For a brief minute, I turned my back on you. And for what? A silly, meaningless bracket.

There's a reason I don't do any fantasy leagues. I don't want to start cheering for my players and hastily lose the status of follower of my own team.

I will never do another bracket. Though it was just for a second, I felt like a deserter.

As an Owl, I'd be horrified at a Penn, 'Nova, or Saint Joe's alumni that did not cheer if we represented Philly in March. I was certainly appalled when I was that person for a bit.

Never again.

Go Villanova!

Cleveland State-Arizona: Tale of the Tape

Patrick Laird — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:39:48 -0400

Exposition: This 12-13 seed matchup comes compliments of No.4 Wake Forest's climactic collapse after a 16-0 start, and Arizona's not so unexpected win against No.5 Utah in the Midwest Region.

Plot: Who has more to prove? The team nobody wanted to get in, or the little school that could? No.12 Arizona continues on a mission to prove that they are supposed to be here. Bracket pundits want the Wildcats to fall, proving their unworthiness. No.13 Cleveland State fits right into the glass slipper, as they remain the highest seed left.

Despite being undersized, Cleveland State, led by Coach Gary Waters, takes pride in their defense. They caused 18 turnovers against a young Demon Deacons team despite being out-rebounded, and shooting a lower percentage from the field.

Waters and company did well in jumping all over the youth-laden Deacons, but how will his Vikings do against an experienced junior Wildcat core?

Protagonist: Cleveland State

There is little doubt as to who the nation views as the hero in this storyline.

CSU will look to counter the Wildcat height with speed. Norris Cole led his team with 22 points in the first round.

J'Nathan Bullock will have his hands full down low. The 6'5" 240 pound forward plays bigger than he is, averaging seven rebounds a game.

Cedric Jackson realizes the importance of being an all-around player for his squad. The 6'3" senior guard averages 11 points, close to 6 assists, nearly 6 rebounds, and 3 steals.

Antagonist: Arizona

Most would like to see this pseudo 12 seed exit stage left.

Arizona do-it-all 6'7" forward Chase Budinger, who shoots 40 percent from beyond the arc, has been cold as of late. He's only made 1-11 in the last two games. No worries, his 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in the first round shows that he can do whatever his team needs.

Jordan Hill will prove quite the problem for the smaller Vikings. At 6'10", and with a game many NBA scouts are lauding, he may be the best that this defensive CSU team has had to face all year.

Sub Plot: Will either bench be a factor?

Cleveland State has played without sophomore guard D'Aundray Brown quite a bit this season. He's sat out for a fractured rib, and most recently he hyper extended his knee in the Horizon League tournament. Without him the Vikings are still 9-3.

He could, however, add some much needed depth to an already thin bench. Against Wake Forest in the first round the CSU bench only provided 7 points, and a single rebound.

Arizona's bench did far worse against Utah, scoring only 3 points. It didn't seem to be an issue as their three-headed junior core of Budinger, Wise, and Hill combined for 66 of the Wildcat's 81 points. This was capped off by Nic Wise's 21 point second half performance.

Flashback: The Horizon League Champion Vikings did not fare well in their only meeting with a PAC-10 foe this season. Washington defeated the Vikings 78-63 on November 18 in Seattle. Cleveland State's front-court could not handle the Huskies' 6'7" senior forward, Jon Brockman, who went for 23 points and 13 rebounds.

If this is a bit of foreshadowing, Arizona's Jordan Hill might be looking at his best tournament opportunity yet.

Arizona has done well in the past against Horizon League opponents in the NCAA Tournament. They defeated Valparaiso in 1996, and stopped an upset-minded Butler team in 2001; in the second round.

Conflict: Cedric Jackson of Cleveland State v. Nic Wise of Arizona

The Vikings' 6'3" guard knows how to rebound; he had a team high seven rebounds in the first round. This could be troublesome for Arizona's smaller guard, the 5'10" Wise.

Cleveland State demonstrated that they're able to play as quick as any other team in their first round upset. Jeff Teague was challenged all night long by Viking guards, and if there is a weakness for Arizona, it might be their ball handling.

Denouement: The Winner will get No.1 seed Louisville, assuming they defeat #9 Siena. Expect Arizona to slow the game down and exploit Cleveland State's size disadvantage down low. They'll control and protect the ball in half court situations, and will not be as hasty as Wake Forest in transition. Arizona should prove that the committee was not picking solely off of past merit.

Appreciation to the following:

Casey at Pickin' Splinters

ESPN Preview

Cleveland State Fan Page

Your NCAA South Regional Menu

Patrick Laird — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:03:23 -0400

Welcome to the South Regional Cafe. The South loves its food, so browse the menu and see what your tastes may get you in the 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball South Regional bracket.

Grits—If you've ever seen My Cousin Vinny and have never been south of the Mason-Dixon line, I'm sure you, too, have pondered what exactly a grit is. It looks like baby cereal with no taste, which is why true home-grown southerners will cover their grits with butter, cheese, or some other condiment.

But make no mistake—just like defense in basketball—though bland at times, they're essential to any southern meal.

This region has two of the top three defenses in the nation in No. 5 Illinois and No. 14 Stephen F. Austin. Each school is holding opponents under 57 points per game.

The Lumberjacks, champions of the Southland Conference, may need to get down to the nitty-gritty of defensive principles in the first round; they play an explosive No. 3 Syracuse team.

Illinois will be lacking on both ends of the floor as their leader, senior point guard Chester Frazier, will be sidelined with an injury.

Neither grits nor a defensive battle may provide tasty results, but you can't have the whole meal without them.

Hush Puppies—These are a staple to all lunches and dinners across the south. A simple recipe: tiny rolls of fried cornmeal bread. These are enticing and addicting.

Nothing may be as enticing as a mid-major ready to take on the major players. It seems as though Butler is still a gleam in everyone's eye. The No. 9 Bulldogs will face No. 8 LSU first and if they advance, will likely face No. 1 North Carolina.

Butler's best days may be ahead of them, as a majority of the players are freshman and sophomores.

Forward Matt Howard has had a stellar sophomore year, leading the team in scoring and rebounding. Freshman Gordon Hayward and Shelvin Mack will need to grow up fast to get their No. 9 Bulldogs to the Sweet Sixteen.

Western Kentucky may seem enticing. Unfortunately, most of that magic might have left with last year's hero, Courtney Lee.

Spicy Potatoes—The underrated, underappreciated side dish of the South. The potato is cut into quarters swimming in an orange, spicy sauce. It's often passed up by newcomers but appreciated by those who truly know their Southern food. There are some spicy players in this bracket who have been underappreciated this season.

Watch 6'4" senior guard Marcus Thornton of No. 8 LSU. He's quietly averaged 21 points per game this year, eclipsing the 30 point mark on six occasions. He can be an explosive player and may cause havoc for the Ginyard-less No. 1 Tar Heels should his Tigers make it to the second round.

Kevin Thompson of Morgan State is no slouch. This 6'8" 240-pound freshman will have his hands full in the first round as his No. 15 Bears, champions of the MEAC, take on the Griffin brothers of Oklahoma.

Thompson should be up for the challenge, as he went well above his average in the MEAC championship game, scoring 15 points and pulling down 11 boards. If he can get some help from his fellow frontcourt members, the Sooners could have a dog fight on their hands.

Austin Daye of No. 4 Gonzaga is a rising star on NBA prospect lists. This lanky 6'11" forward continues to cause match-up problems and may give other schools fits defensively. He's third on his team in scoring at 13 a game, leads rebounding with nearly seven a game, and just for good measure will throw in two blocks a game.

Daye's Bulldogs will face MAAC champion Akron first. Looking ahead, the Zags may have a potential Sweet 16 match-up with the No. 1 Tar Heels.

Barbeque—Not the sauce. This barbecue is a vinegar mixture with shredded pork. It's an acquired taste; regardless, it's a staple on the Southerner's menu.

Certain players will determine the success of their team. Not always the best player, but rather the glue that holds things together. These players will have to show up big on the menu or no true southerner will consider it a meal...just like their beloved barbeque recipe.

James Harden, 6'5" sophomore guard from Arizona State, opted out of last year's NBA draft and made many college basketball fans happy.

Averaging 21 points per game to go along with nearly six rebounds, four assists, and close to two steals, he is the No. 6 Sun Devils' main course. However, if he doesn't come ready to perform in round one, Arizona State can expect an early exit.

The road to the Regional will be tough, even in the first round game with the Atlantic 10 champion Temple Owls. Syracuse and Oklahoma will probably be waiting in the wings should Harden strap the Sun Devils to his back.

Tyler Hansbrough has become Carolina basketball, but no true UNC fan will tell you that Ty Lawson isn't the most important player on this Tar Heel squad. The big questions seems to be when he will play

Roy Williams says it is possible he sits out the first round game against No. 16 Radford. He makes the Carolina engine run, but if his injury slows him down, this bracket is loaded with guards ready to challenge.

Jonny Flynn continues to put his name out there with the best point guards in the country. What better stage to improve one's NBA stock? He may have a lot to prove, as does his school.

Syracuse has been disappointing in the Tournament since their championship in 2003, even having to settle for the NIT two years in a row. Orange fans are ready for a return to greatness, and Flynn has the ticket.

The No. 11 Temple Owls will bring their own NBA-esque guard with them. Sharpshooting 6'6" guard Dionte Christmas has to be salivating. A first round game against Herb Sendek's match-up 3-2 zone and a potential second round game against Jim Boeheim's 2-3 zone may have the Owls thinking Sweet 16.

If Christmas gets a hot hand, it could spell trouble for these zone defenses.

No doubt Blake Griffin is it when it comes to the No. 2 Sooners. Although, we were able to see what his teammates could do when he suffered a concussion and sat out a few games. Those games revealed the athleticism and gutsy play of freshman Willie Warren.

The freshman guard scored 27 and 23 in Griffin's absence, well above his 14 PPG average.

Not to be forgotten is Blake's older brother, Taylor Griffin. He averages close to 10 points and six rebounds. Most importantly, however, is his interior passing ability. Both Griffins are not afraid to move the ball to an open perimeter player or each other to get a better look.

Fried Chicken—Delicious no matter where you go. Sure, everyone will have their preferences and claim one recipe is better than another, but in the end, they're all the same. It's not always the recipe, but how well it's prepared.

Interesting defensive styles will take the court in the Southern Region. Some like to boast about the prowess of their school's specific scheme; nonetheless, it's all about how it's executed and in fried chicken's case, how it's prepared.

The traditional 2-3 zone could cause trouble if the Syracuse Orange get Temple in the second round. More than likely, though, they'll face Oklahoma in a Sweet 16 match-up. The Griffin brothers may be passing circles around Arinze Onuaku in the middle of that zone.

Oliver Purnell will bring his No. 7 Clemson squad to face John Beilein's No. 10 Michigan. Both these teams have their signature defense.

Purnell will stick to his full-court pressure. It's done wonders against some teams, holding Duke to under 50 points earlier this year. Then again, in other games, it has been their demise, as teams' press breakers seemed to bust the odd front pressure time and time again.

Beilein will put his tall and long 1-3-1 zone up against the Tigers of the ACC. This seems to be a pretty effective strategy when it works; a balanced zone that allows quick close outs on the arc.

Terrence Oglesby has become better at attacking with the dribble. He is still as formidable an outside threat as last year, so if the Wolverines fail to identify him at all times, it could be lights out early for Big Blue.

Pig Roast—There is nothing like a huge grill with a pig split open inside it, slowly cooked throughout the day. Most common in the summertime, this delicacy of the Dixie means something special is going on. Grab a plate, get in line, and enjoy the succulent, savory pulled pork.

Let's be honest: as much as everyone loves upsets and Cinderellas, the South Region comes down to No. 1 and No. 2.

Who doesn't want to see Oklahoma versus North Carolina? Former player of the year versus current player of the year. Warren vs. Lawson. The seasoned coach in Roy Williams and the new kid on the block in Jeff Capel.

Anything else would just be, well, fried chicken. Enjoy your meal, and don't forget the tip!

Note to Chelsea's Abramovich, Phoenix's Kerr: Don't Burn Down the Empire

Patrick Laird — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:13:21 -0400

Let me first get this off my chest: I'm a closet Chelsea fan. I started following soccer in 2006 and have somehow morphed into a fan of the Blues.

I hate to admit it because, in my opinion, this leaves me in the same category as the thrall of Boston Red Sox fans that suddenly appeared post-2004. I wasn't around during Chelsea's 50-plus years of struggle to prove that I am a true fan.

But in the same note, I also wasn't a fan of anyone pre-2006.

Since following the Premier League and secretly the boys at Stamford Bridge, they've been through three managers and may be four when this season ends.

Other clubs on the cusp of the title do not seem to follow this trend, like Arsenal with Wenger, Aston Villa with O'Neill, Liverpool with Benetiz, and Manchester United with Sir Alex.

Why has Chelsea, a contender every year for the Premier League and Champions League, fallen into this NBA-like trend of hastily firing every manager that starts slowly? Perhaps greed but more so impatience.

Steve Kerr, general manager of the NBA's Phoenix Suns, made a bold hire at the end of last season. He realized the "seven seconds or less" era, albeit entertaining, was not going to produce a championship.

Building off the philosophy that defense wins championships, Kerr went out and hired Terry Porter, who he believed could build a defensive team with the same offensive fire power left over from Mike D'Antoni's tenure.

Porter definitely had the Suns playing at a different pace, and perhaps most affected by this was Steve Nash. The two time MVP's numbers were down and he seemed stagnant.

Blame spread far and wide, mostly circling around Nash's age in a ridiculously athletic position and, of course, the Shaquille O'Neal trade from last season.

But Porter wasn't given much of a chance to implement his system and create the platform for which he was hired.

One would think that with two of the most prolific finishers perhaps in the game's history, Amare Stoudemire and O'Neal, as well as guards who could get them the ball, that Porter would be given the chance to make a cohesive defensive unit out of these fun-and-gun cohorts.

Think again.

Kerr fired Porter during the All-Star break. Yes—before he even completed one season in his new job.

The Suns were 23-18, which was a worse start than the past few seasons. Worse, yes, but the point was for Porter to produce a better finish, not necessarily a better start.

Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's owner, has displayed the same impatience in his hiring practices and, like Kerr, seems to forget that the end result is what matters.

Jose Mourinho and the Blues started a bit slower than usual last season in the Premier League. Amid reported strife between owner and manager, Mourinho (please pick one) left/was fired and Avram Grant stepped in.

Grant did not win the Premier League but was able to get the Blues to the Champions League final. They faced fellow English club Manchester United in Abramovich's home country of Russia and lost in a shootout.

Grant was then predictably let go after the season and Chelsea made the popular hire of Portugal's Felipe Scolari, whose most famous managerial stint was with Brazil in 2002 when they won the World Cup.

As is the case for all teams not far removed from chugging out of the championship chalice, everyone started to overanalyze Scolari's start forgetting, once again, it's how they finish the race, not start.

Soon reports followed that some players were not thrilled with Scolari's training sessions and that the team's poor performance was deteriorating any enthusiasm amongst players.

Abramovich fired Scolari in early February in what seemed like déjà vu from the previous season.

Note to Abramovich and Kerr: Rome wasn't built in a day.

These two are more like Nero rather than Julius Caesar. The empire has been built, and they're willing to burn it down in order to build a more grandiose version.

Both hires, in my not-so-expert opinion, were fine. Now we see Phoenix probably back at square one with Alvin Gentry. Sure the Suns are scoring an insane amount of points and have somehow discovered Shaq's fountain of youth, but haven't we read this script before?

Phoenix will not outgun the West's best in a seven game series.

Chelsea continues on almost the exact same path as they did with Grant at the helm. New manager, Guus Hiddink, won't see the Blues hoist the Premier League trophy.

However, the Blues have been impressive at home and currently hold a 1-0 aggregate advantage in Champions League round of 16 against Italian club, Juventus. He can certainly buck Chelsea's managerial trend if he can win the Champions League.

Julius Caesar established Rome as a world power that spread far and wide. Nero nearly burnt it to the ground (allegedly).

Hopefully, Abramovich and Kerr take note of the greatest empire of all time and realize that patience, especially with one's handpicked personnel, is a virtue.

White Hart Lane and the Importance of Frugality

Patrick Laird — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:37:52 -0500

The only objection I have against European club football is not having playoffs. As an American sports fan, this is a hard concept for me to grasp.

Despite no postseason, relegation encompasses all the anxiety and excitement of a playoff. The bottom of the table as the regular season winds down plays out like the BCS as teams desperately try to avoid relegation to the league below, which would cost a club millions in revenue.

Tottenham Hotspur currently find themselves out of the bottom in thirteenth place. They'll probably avoid relegation this season, but certainly feel the disappointment of a self-fulfilling prophecy not fulfilled.

Every team has its ups and downs, but what is most frustrating for Tottenham fans is the poor results after two summers of record spending. In their outwardly desperate attempt to compete with the top four clubs in England (Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea), Spurs have gotten little success in return (aside from the Carling Cup).

A financial report from 2006/2007 season by accounting firm Deloitte showed that Tottenham was quite an anomaly by being one of the richest clubs in the world despite not qualifying for UEFA Champions League. Apparently success without European play meant nothing to those in charge at White Hart Lane.

In a league where debt is commonplace (latest reports show a £3 billion debt for the English Premier League), Tottenham decided to join in on the fun and become a frugal farce.

How do they compete with the top four? By apparently purchasing as many high quality players as possible.

Last summer saw Tottenham outspend (£54 million total) everyone except Liverpool. This past summer Spurs spent close to £60 million, while also selling their top scorers from last season, Robbie Keane (who has since returned after a brief stint with Liverpool) and Dimitar Berbatov.

The past two summers, however, Spurs has spent more than any other club in England. The only good news is they continue to have a halfway decent turnover despite other clubs getting hit hard. The bad news? They have little to show for it.

The idea of spending a lot of money in free agency in hopes of quickly putting together a winning franchise is not foreign to American sports fans.

In exploring expensive off-season spending and its capability to produce championships, I decided to examine North American sports leagues. I barely had to look outside of New York City.

I started with the New York Giants. In 2006, they had the eighth highest payroll in the NFL at $108.1 million. They finished 8-8 and were eliminated in the first round as a wild card.

In the 2007 season, the eventual Super Bowl champions had the lowest payroll at $75.7 million. Who’d they beat in the Super Bowl? The team with the second highest payroll, the New England Patriots ($117.9 million).

The Giants cut roughly $33 million, became the cheapest team in the league, and walked away champions.

Meanwhile, teams like the Redskins and Cowboys spent over $100 million in each of the last two seasons and have come away empty-handed.

In the actual city limits we have an obvious case study for inflated payrolls: The New York Knicks.

It’s no secret that their record payroll has not paid off. Since the 2001-02 season, the Knicks have had at least the second highest payroll in the NBA, having the actual highest for five of the last seven seasons.

Since 2001, the Knicks have gone 256-356, a winning percentage of .418. Even worse, they have not made it out of the first round of the playoffs during this stretch. The NBA champion the past two seasons has spent an average $24.6 million less than the Knicks.

And of course we have to talk about the New York Yankees. The Yankees’ payroll and the correlation to championships becomes a little more complicated than its New York brethren, the Giants and Knicks.

I’d like to emphasize the word excessive in examining the Bronx Bombers.

The Yankees have four championships in my lifetime, and for three of those championships they had the highest payroll in the majors, though not by much.

Take a look at the last four championship seasons for the Yanks and how many dollars separated them from the next highest payroll:

- 1996: Highest payroll by $3.4 million
- 1998: Second highest payroll, behind Baltimore by $7.2 million
- 1999: Highest payroll by $6.8 million
- 2000: Highest payroll by $2.5 million

Excessive? Not really, especially when many people would say their best team was in 1998, when their payroll wasn’t the highest. But the championships ceased after 2000, and the real spending began.

From 2002 on, they have had the highest payroll in the majors – by a lot.

Here’s the dollar separation between the Yankees payroll and the second highest payroll in MLB since 2002 (World Series Champions and their MLB payroll rank in parentheses):

- 2002: $17.5 million (LA Angels – 15)
- 2003: $35.5 million (Florida Marlins – 25)
- 2004: $56.8 million (Boston Red Sox - 2)
- 2005: $84.8 million (Chicago White Sox – 13)
- 2006: $74.5 million (St. Louis Cardinals – 11)
- 2007: $46.6 million (Boston Red Sox – 2)
- 2008: $71.2 million (Tampa Bay Rays win AL pennant with the second lowest payroll at $43.8 million compared to Yankees’ $209 million)

It’s interesting to note that from 2004 to 2006, the second highest payroll dropped each year (a total of $7 million over the three seasons).

In the Yankees’ championship years, the average separation of the two highest payrolls was close to $5 million. Since 2002, the Yankees average a whopping $55.2 million higher than the team with the second highest payroll.

Frugal they are not.

And how many championships has this excessive spending turned out? A big fat goose egg, capped off this year with no playoffs after a 13-year run.

There is no formula that could possibly prove some type of correlation between money spent and championships. Plenty of rich teams have won. But the sports deities frown upon excessive spending and vain attempts to “buy championships,” as we so often put it.

Instead of mimicking the desperation of the Knicks and Yankees, Tottenham should take a page out of the Giants’ playbook. They stuck with Coughlin and Manning, made good draft picks (Jacobs) and played it out.

So as Spurs fans ponder the meaning of this season, a few things to me are for certain.

First, they should not succumb to the temptations of spending money on just any player. Figure out your identity, buy players who can fulfill that vision (Modric - and thank goodness they did not get Arshavin) even if they are not necessarily the best at their position, and find a coaching staff that will carry this out.

Oh—and this is very important—allow what you have put in place to run its course.

Secondly, don’t potentially squander a financially sound franchise to be successful this instant.

They were the only club ranked in the top twenty of the richest European clubs to have not played in the Champions League. That means they’ve figured out how to be profitable without it, so they could have afforded to be patient.

Unfortunately, now they find themselves having to fight off relegation, which could reportedly cost the club more than £40 million in revenue.

They’ve done well by putting a new stadium on hold (a reported mortgage of over £300 million) and have avoided disaster with their bank investment owner. With a new coach who has proven himself more than capable of leading a club to success, the core of players seem to now be in place.

Summer signings Luka Modric and David Bentley have since been joined by English national player, Jermain Defoe, and Irishman, Robbie Keane.

Hopefully the powers that be at White Hart Lane are settled on the club's identity and a return to a summer of frugal terms returns to North London. Besides, the sports deities having frowned on this club after such record spending may now be willing to bestow a little more than middle of the table finishes.

The Will of the Warriors: Zimbabwe's Quest for the World Cup

Patrick Laird — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:44:00 -0500

This piece was originally posted on July 14, 2008 at www.pickinsplinters.com. The Zimbabwe national team has since been eliminated from 2010 World Cup qualifying finishing third in their respective group. Amid claims of an attempted assassination and the death of Zimbabwe's Prime Minister's wife, I wanted to re-post this article at Bleacher Report.

South Africa will host the 2010 World Cup. Nine cities—including Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban—will be the center of the world between June 11 and July 11.

FIFA’s decision to hold the world’s biggest tournament on the oft war ridden continent is not sitting well with the rest of the world.

If you haven’t followed the world news at all, Zimbabwe is muddled with violence and alleged political corruption.

Now I can’t give you the details of who is who or the acronyms of any political factions; all I know is that the situation has affected South Africa.

Leading up to a recent election and its conclusion, which was delayed many times, Zimbabweans sensing political strife and out lash from a suspicious delay fled to their more economically stable neighbor, South Africa. Those who fled early were lucky: they have escaped the daily violence that ensued.

This past week, FIFA has finally admitted that they are concerned with the situation in Zimbabwe and how it may affect the safety of the players and hundreds of thousands of fans that will descend upon South Africa in 2010. They have revealed that there is a backup plan in place, but refuse to disclose any details including the possible country.

Rumors have also been swirling that FIFA is considering the suspension of the Zimbabwe National team, who is still in place to advance to the next stage of qualifying.

Lost in all of this is Zimbabwe’s plight to use soccer as a tool for peace.

Zimbabwe originally had high hopes of hosting some of the World Cup fixtures in Harare, but ultimately lost that chance due to the inadequacies of its stadiums. They thought hosting some games would promote national pride.

One stadium in particular, Rufaro Stadium in Harare, began renovations in hopes of hosting. However, problems with the drainage and turf put the stadium’s progress eight months behind schedule.

In fact, up until recently, FIFA was not even going to sanction the use of Rufaro for qualifying matches, which would force the Zimbabwe team to play qualifying matches elsewhere.

FIFA eventually approved Rufaro and the dilapidated stadium hosted a couple of qualifying matches. Zimbabwe performed valiantly well, most recently drawing against Kenya and defeating Namibia. There will be at least one more qualifying match played in Harare’s Rufaro Stadium on September 7 against Guinea.

Zimbabwe remains in third place in Group Two, two points behind Kenya; they have two more matches to finish in the top two spots in order to advance.

My guess is that FIFA is in fact considering disbanding the Zimbabwe National team, but has chosen to wait out the qualifying round to see if Zimbabwe can just eliminate itself. On one hand, it’s hard to argue with one point of view FIFA could make—they may be protecting them from violence. But on the other hand they may actually prolong it.

A few years ago the Iraqi National team experienced success beyond expectations despite a war in their country. They practiced and played all “home games” in Dubai. Many of them were witnesses to unspeakable horrors experienced by many athletes during Hussein’s reign in Iraq. Yet, they continued to compete.

They finished fourth in the 2004 Olympics, and in 2006 and 2007 won gold and silver medals in two different Asian tournaments. These Asian tournaments exposed nationalism in Iraq.

During their participation and success in these tournaments, it was widely reported on American news channels that violence was down in Iraq. I can recall CNN running a video of Iraqi celebrations after a big victory and was enthralled at the power of soccer.

(It is unfortunate to reflect back on this now. Iraq was recently eliminated from World Cup qualifying after losing to Qatar. The government decided to dismiss the manager and disband the team until a later time. Victory begets pride, defeat begets shame.)

FIFA understandably refused to allow Zimbabwe to host any World Cup games, but why suspend the team if they continue to be successful?

All it needs to do is look at what the Iraqi team did for its country. Soccer can be a powerful force when allowed to run its course.

Maybe “The Warriors,” as the Zimbabwe team is so affectionately called, are destined for something bigger. Normally perennial underachievers in Africa, they have shown signs of an undeniable will during qualifying.

Why interrupt that?

Just look at the games played at Rufaro thus far. There has been no violence whatsoever and national pride has been palpable.

Rufaro has a capacity of 35,000. The attendance at Rufaro for both qualifying games?

35,000 proud Zimbabweans.

2008 Zimbabwe presidential election
FIFA has no plans to suspend Zimbabwe
Details on Rufaro Stadium
2010 FIFA World Cup

The Orange Coats Are Coming! The Orange Coats Are Coming!

Patrick Laird — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:10:39 -0500

I loved war history in high school.

The most intriguing would have to be the Revolutionary War. The idea of an underdog defeating its predecessor and claiming its independence had so many sports equivalents to me.

One particular image that sticks in my mind is the “Red Coats.” Those bright, audacious uniforms the British wore as they carelessly marched through fetal America beating drums.

And then ... BANG!

Disguised by the land that would soon birth their country, the Americans easily take down the big bad British. How ridiculous. Why didn’t you just adapt, Brits?

This is how I am becoming to envision Jim Boeheim’s Orange.

A few weeks ago, Big East rival Georgetown came for a clash at the Carrier Dome. I was hoping for a better showing than the season’s previous matchup where Georgetown won in convincing fashion.

The Orange kept it close, leading by one at halftime and broke the game open late in the second half.

Syracuse went up 66-50 with 8:11 remaining after a Devendorf three-pointer.

Then I heard it: “The Orange coats are coming! The Orange coats are coming!” As is always the case, if you’re down big against Syracuse with some reasonable time remaining, you can always shoot over their zone.

Down sixteen with the ‘Cuse sitting in their signature 2-3 zone, Georgetown knew they could shoot themselves back in it. And shoot Mr. Wright and Mr. Summers did.

In the final 2:12 of regulation, the Hoyas made four shots from beyond the arc. Christ Wright buried the first two. Then DaJuan Summers went for the dagger and made two of his own, the biggest with only twelve seconds remaining that tied the game at 83.

The Hoyas looked around, saw the bright orange, and knew they still had a shooter’s chance.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

None of the Hoyas three-point attempts were very well contested by the guards playing the top of the zone, Devendorf and Flynn.

Every three point attempt came above the free throw line so the bigger guards of Georgetown would not have to worry about the lengthy players who often play the bottom wings for Boeheim.

(Remember Hakim Warrick closing out from that position? Looked more like a frontline volleyball player on more than several occasions as he’d spike a shot into the stands).

Not wanting his heroics to be finished, DaJuan Summers stole the ball on Syracuse’s last possession in regulation and got a shot off that hit the back of the rim as time expired.

Sixteen-point lead diminished, but bullet dodged.

Syracuse would go on to win the game by four in overtime. The extra time should have been unnecessary if the Orange would have just gone man-to-man towards the end and made a not-so-fluid Georgetown team beat them through offensive sets.

As the Big East tournament approaches, I beg the Orange to go man just a little more. Every good team has its preferences, and I can’t imagine a Jim Boeheim led Syracuse team not running a 2-3 zone. But every team must be able to man up against their opponent down the stretch of close games.

With the high quality play of big man Rick Jackson, this is as a good a defensive team as anyone else. Plus, poor Onuaku looks lost at times playing the middle of the 2-3.

Flynn as is quick as they come and can apply adequate ball pressure. Devendorf has a knack for playing off the ball and getting in passing lanes, as proven in the zone. And Paul Harris has enough size (6′4″ 230) to defend some of these bigger guards and forwards.

I’ve seen the Orange go man more than ever, but Boeheim has to be comfortable with it late in close games.

I’m no expert and I know you shouldn’t stray too far from what you’re accustomed to, but wearing bright red (in this case, orange) coats and beating a drum while fighting a ground war is just asinine.

As Jonny Flynn said after the Georgetown game, “I was so zoned out.” When it comes to Syracuse basketball in the final minutes of a close game, so am I, Jonny. So am I.

The Boss Explains the First Half '08-'09 Premier League Campaign

Patrick Laird — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:14:51 -0500

What do Bruce Springsteen and The English Premier League have in common?

Admittedly not much.

But the Boss does have a way with words, and in honor of his much anticipated halftime performance in Super Bowl XLII, I figured he could help me better understand the first half of the Premier League season and perhaps even what to expect.

"Waste your summer praying in vain For a savior to rise from these streets" - Thunder Road

Maybe it's because I'm relatively new to the beautiful game or because my knowledge of it does not stretch too far out of English football, but it seems like this past summer clubs spent way too much money on new players in hopes of finding a savior.

After a solid stay at Blackburn (13 goals and 23 assists in three seasons), David Bentley joined Tottenham.

Much was expected of the English national player after the departure of forwards Berbatov and Keane, but so far he has only produced one goal and two assists. Tottenham has been fighting off relegation since day one and currently sit 16th.

Irishman Robbie Keane joined Premier League power Liverpool. This move proved a little more important once it was decided that Spaniard Fernando Torres would be sitting out a great deal due to injury.

Keane took a while to get situated, though, scoring his first league goal in November. He has a total of five. Though Liverpool is still sitting in the top four, Keane's play must be leaving Reds fans yearning even more so for Torres' return.

Champions League veteran Deco joined Chelsea from Barcelona. His three league goals may be attributed to an injury suffered early on, but he is certainly not being mentioned nearly as much.

A couple clubs, however, heard their prayers answered through summer transfers.

Andy Johnson went to Fulham from Everton and has provided some exciting goals in the post-Brian McBride era. Fulham, an annual pick for relegation, actually sits in the top half of the table at 10th.

Peter Crouch returned to Portsmouth from Liverpool. The 6'7" Englishman has scored seven goals. Though Portsmouth sits in 12th, they are only three points from the relegation zone.

Don't blame Crouch—Portsmouth has switched managers and also lost their best player, Jermain Defoe, to Tottenham.

Geovanni came over to newly promoted Hull City after a stint with Manchester City. The Brazilian midfielder has scored six goals and along with his club, caused early season hysteria by completing the North London sweep (Arsenal and Tottenham).

Hull City has since dropped out of the European picture but still sits in ninth place.

"So when you look at me you better look hard and look twice Is that me baby or just a brilliant disguise" -Brilliant Disguise

This season has brought a few new clubs and faces to the attention of a soccer novice. Since their promotion in 2005, Wigan has finished above 14th place just once—their first year in the Prem—and narrowly avoided relegation in 2007.

Now they sit in seventh place thanks in large part to Egyptian transfer, Zaki, who currently has 10 goals (third in the league).

Wigan has seemed like such a boring team in seasons past, but now with one of the more exciting goal scorers in the league and hot on the trails of perhaps a UEFA berth, I'm going to be looking hard and twice to see if this is the new Wigan or just a disguise.

Aston Villa has climbed from a 16th finish in 2006 to now looking primed to take a top four finish in 2009. Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has built a convincing club since his hiring in 2006.

22 year old Gabriel Agbonlahor has impressed with nine goals thus far. Aston Villa has started strong the past couple of years but then dropped off. With February around the corner, they currently reside in fourth place ahead of Arsenal and Everton.

A brilliant disguise? I think Villa and O'Neill are the real deal this year, but the last few months will certainly answer that for us. Seven of their last fourteen games will be against teams sitting in the top half of the table.

They play Chelsea in February, Liverpool in March, and visit Old Trafford and defending Champion Manchester United on April 4. Villa will have a long hard look in the mirror and find out if they're ready to challenge the top four.

"Didn't you think I knew that you were born with the power of a locomotive able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? And your Chelsea suicide with no apparent motive you could laugh and cry in a single sound." -For You

Chelsea without a doubt has the power of a locomotive. Ballack, Drogba, Deco, Terry, Lampard, Cech. Expectations were and are high. But supermen the Blues apparently are not.

They've leapt the smaller clubs, but have stumbled against those taller ones. They only managed one point after two meetings with Manchester United, the last a 3-0 drubbing at Old Trafford.

They've also dropped one match each to other powers, Arsenal and Liverpool. A single bound? The Blues are still jumping.

With Champions League still a reality for fans, they have to wonder whether this team will come together or commit a "Chelsea suicide."

Didier Drogba seems unhappy and has been quoted recently as desiring a return to a French club. And now recent reports that players are not happy with the manager, Luis Scolari, and his training sessions.

Avram Grantwas run out of town, but now the job he did does not look all that bad. His start was points ahead of where Scolari and Chelsea are right now. To me, with all their experience and talent, it will be up to the players to decide whether they make their fans laugh or cry by season's end.

"Poor man wanna be rich, rich man wanna be king And a king ain't satisfied till he rules everything" - Badlands

Manchester City desperately wants to be a big time club and qualify for European play. When purchased this summer by an Arab investment group out of Dubai, they immediately bought Robinho for £32.5m. With 11 goals in 16 games, he's delivered.

The new owners have tried their best to acquire former FIFA player of the year, Kaka, from the Italian club AC Milan during the January transfer window. Reported offers had it at a record deal but nothing came of it.

I couldn't agree more with Bruce on this: rich men do want to be king of something, and Man. City wants to be king of the Prem. Unfortunately money hasn't solved their problems as they sit only four points away from the relegation zone.

"This storm'll blow through by and by / House is on fire, Viper's in the grass /..../ I'm gonna pray / Right now all I got's this lonesome day / It's alright? It's alright? It's alright" -Lonesome Day

The most fun I've had watching sports the last two years is watching teams on the verge of relegation play as if they're lives depended on it.

This year will perhaps be the most exciting, as thirteen clubs currently are within eight points of the relegation zone. I can't even begin to explain the excitement I have for how the end of this season will play out at the bottom half than the top half.

Middleborough, Stoke City, and West Brom currently sit in the last three spots based off of goal differential.

Portsmouth, Bolton, Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottnenham, and Blackburn are all within three points of the bottom three.

West Ham, Hull City, Fulham, and Manchester City have a little more breathing room, but not enough to exhale quite yet.

The eminent danger of relegation is there for all of these clubs. Eventually, that viper is going to strike and when it does, no amount prayers will help.

For those who haven't already heeded the warning from Bruce, all they might have come May 24 is that lonesome day and relegation.

"Well now I don't wanna be greedy / But when it comes to love there ain't no doubt / You just ain't gonna get what you want / With one foot in bed and one foot out / You got to give it all or nothin' at all" -All or Nothin' at all

Bruce never minces words when it comes to love.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Arsenal, and Everton have all been on plenty of dates now and are past flirting. They have to take matters into their own hands towards the end and fully commit to one of the top four spots.

They've bought dinner, paid for the movies, flowers and even some jewelry—you name it. The Champions League is no whore, which is why it can only invite four.

The Premier League trophy, well—that's reserved for one lucky winner. So who will that coveted league trophy hop in bed with come May?

My pick, Chelsea, may have the easiest road to pick up three points at a time. They play Aston Villa and Liverpool in February, but after that their toughest games will be Everton and Arsenal on May 9.

Along with their May 9 clash, Arsenal will have Liverpool in April and a visit to Old Trafford in May to play Manchester United. The Gunners may have the toughest road ahead of them along with more ground to make up as they sit in fifth place.

The key to the championship may be Hull City. They play Arsenal, Villa, and United in the final months of the Prem. If anyone can play spoiler, the Tigers of Hull City have already proven it can be them.

It's been an interesting season to say the least. It's past the midway point and teams will certainly be giving it all, otherwise they may come away with nothin' at all.

Pickin' Splinters