When I look at the Braves, I see a team with an identity crisis. They have just enough talent to not be in rebuilding mode, yet they aren’t talented enough to make the playoffs this year. Even if by some miracle they manage to make the playoffs, they certainly won’t last very long. This is a franchise that is located in a large media market, but has the mentality of a small market franchise. Since 1991 the Braves were the Gold Standard for consistency in sports. They made the playoffs every season from 1991 to 2005 (excluding1994, due to the Major League Baseball strike). What do they have to show for these 14 playoff berths you ask? ONE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP!!!! in five appearances. During the 1990’s the Braves set out each season with the goal of winning the World Series. To accomplish this goal they put the best team possible on the field each season. I know that you can’t win a championship every year, but I was proud of the Braves for putting together a team that would be in contention. In recent years it has been clear that the Braves are not working toward winning a World Series, but simply putting a slightly better than average product on the field to sale tickets. They care more about the bottom line on the balance sheet than winning. This is clearly a team that is stuck in no man’s land. They don’t want to compete, yet they also don’t want to totally start over. This approach has sucked the excitement out of Braves fans.
There are two ways to win in Major League Baseball. You either buy the best talent available or you scout your butt off and find the best young, inexpensive players possible. The Major League Baseball trade deadline is fast approaching. The July 31st deadline will set the tone for the future of the Atlanta Braves. It’s now time to decide if they want to start competing for championships again, or remain a middle of the road franchise. I would hope they decide to actually start competing again. I know that they are not going to start spending money like the Yankees or Red Sox, but there is one way that they can acquire a boat-load of young inexpensive talent, and excite the fans of Atlanta once again. They must TRADE CHIPPER JONES.
I know that most Braves fans are going to hate this idea, but if you remove the emotions and evaluate the idea, it makes a lot of sense. First of all, we know that there is NO CHANCE that the Braves will win another World Series with Chipper Jones on the roster. Honestly, Mike Hampton has a better chance of making 5 consecutive starts. This is the time in his career that the Braves can get maximum value for Chipper. He is a switch hitter currently batting .394 with 16 HR’s and 46 RBI’s, so there is definitely a market for him. It’s time for the Atlanta Braves to do what the Dallas Cowboys did with Hershel Walker in 1989. They traded him and set the foundation of the franchise for years to come.
A team that’s in playoff contention and feel as though they are one bat away from winning the World Series would definitely give up a good number of talented prospects for the player that could put them over the top. Chipper Jones is now 36 years old, so his career is definitely winding down (that is unless he moves in with Julio Franco who played until his 138th birthday). Also, THERE IS A ZERO PERCENT CHANCE THAT HE HAS THIS GOOD OF A SEASON EVER AGAIN. The Braves can either trade him now or resign themselves to being mediocre for the foreseeable future. It’s nice to have a marquee player start and finish their career in the same city, but do you keep a player for sentimental reasons or do you use your assets to build for the future.
Looking at the Braves run of success (or high-level mediocrity depending on who you ask), I always asked myself one question. Is it better to be a fan of a team that is consistently above average year in and year out (no peaks or valleys)? or Is it better to be a fan of a team that is really bad for a couple of years followed by some really good years (lots of peaks and valleys)? Personally, I prefer the team that rebuilds, wins, and then does it all over again. Apparently the fans of Atlanta agree with me. If you don’t believe me, simply turn on a Braves game and see how many empty seats there are. The fans are tired of slightly above average and are ready for a winner. If it takes a while to build a winner, I am sure that they will understand as long as it is clear that the team is rebuilding and not simply re-tooling for more mediocrity. Trading Chipper would start the rebuilding process and if the front-office and scouting department are any good, it should be a successful one.
***FYI***
For those of you who enjoyed the Warren Sapp dance included in the entry titled “WHAT A CLASS”. There is good news. You will be able to see more of Mr. Sapp dancing on the next season of Dancing with the Stars. I usually don’t watch that show, but I will definitely be tuning in to see this.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
THIS IS TOO EASY
In the week leading up to The US Open, I listened to countless “experts” talk about Tiger Woods’ chances in the tournament. Outside of ESPN’s Andy North, I did not hear one analyst, TV host, or radio host give Tiger any chance of winning. There were even those who suggested that he wouldn’t even make the cut. On the surface, it looked as though they had logical reasons for those opinions. Tiger had not played since the Masters and he was also coming off arthroscopic knee surgery. But there was one flaw in their logic, HE IS TIGER WOODS!!!! and they should know better than anyone that YOU NEVER DOUBT TIGER WOODS!!!!
Going into the tournament, everyone knew that Tiger would be playing through some pain, but no one knew the extent of the injury. As it turns out, he played with a torn ACL and double stress fractures in his left leg. As a matter of fact he is scheduled to have season-ending surgery very soon. Even with all of that going against him, HE STILL WON!!!! The US Open. He can honestly say to any golfer on tour, “I am so much better than you, that I can beat you on one leg.” This was his 14th career win in a major championship (the record is 18).
Tiger Woods is the most dominant “athlete” in the world. The gap between him and the second best golfer in the world is so wide, that no one even knows who the second best golfer in the world is. Even the second best golfer in the world doesn’t know that he is the second best golfer in the world because his self-esteem is crushed by Tiger on a weekly basis. (Can someone please tell me who the second best golfer in the world is?) Due in large part to his injuries, it took Tiger 91 holes to win The US Open (72 regulation holes, 18 playoff holes, and 1 sudden death hole). He also had a competitor neck and neck with him the entire way. His competition was none other than the GREAT ROCCO MEDIATE. If you weren’t familiar with Rocco before last week, you are not alone. He wasn’t even familiar with himself two weeks ago. Seeing Rocco battle Tiger, made me wonder what happened to the guys who are supposed to be Tiger’s main competition. You know, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, and Sergio Garcia. In other words the imaginary competition created by the media in hopes of adding drama to the telecasts. You would think that one of them would have been good enough to compete with a one-legged Woods.
I know that everyone at the networks that broadcast golf tournaments would love for Tiger to have a rival. Rivalries make for great television. Magic Johnson had Larry Bird, Peyton Manning has Tom Brady, Pete Sampras had Andre Agassi, and Dan O’Brien had Dave Johnson (sorry bad example, they both bombed at the’92 Olympics). If Tiger had a rival, the television ratings for PGA Tour events would skyrocket. Instead they will plummet without him for the rest of season (I know I won’t be watching). Let’s face it, Tiger Woods is like Michael Jordan. HE HAS NO COMPETITION. Like Jordan he has to compete with himself and the record books just to remain interested. It must be frustrating to be a professional golfer and know that each week when you tee up, you are simply playing for second place, or the right to be the first loser. The money’s great, but the abuse that your pride and ego take from all of the losing has to take its toll. No matter how hard you work, you won’t come close to Tiger Woods. This game is just too easy for him.
Going into the tournament, everyone knew that Tiger would be playing through some pain, but no one knew the extent of the injury. As it turns out, he played with a torn ACL and double stress fractures in his left leg. As a matter of fact he is scheduled to have season-ending surgery very soon. Even with all of that going against him, HE STILL WON!!!! The US Open. He can honestly say to any golfer on tour, “I am so much better than you, that I can beat you on one leg.” This was his 14th career win in a major championship (the record is 18).
Tiger Woods is the most dominant “athlete” in the world. The gap between him and the second best golfer in the world is so wide, that no one even knows who the second best golfer in the world is. Even the second best golfer in the world doesn’t know that he is the second best golfer in the world because his self-esteem is crushed by Tiger on a weekly basis. (Can someone please tell me who the second best golfer in the world is?) Due in large part to his injuries, it took Tiger 91 holes to win The US Open (72 regulation holes, 18 playoff holes, and 1 sudden death hole). He also had a competitor neck and neck with him the entire way. His competition was none other than the GREAT ROCCO MEDIATE. If you weren’t familiar with Rocco before last week, you are not alone. He wasn’t even familiar with himself two weeks ago. Seeing Rocco battle Tiger, made me wonder what happened to the guys who are supposed to be Tiger’s main competition. You know, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, and Sergio Garcia. In other words the imaginary competition created by the media in hopes of adding drama to the telecasts. You would think that one of them would have been good enough to compete with a one-legged Woods.
I know that everyone at the networks that broadcast golf tournaments would love for Tiger to have a rival. Rivalries make for great television. Magic Johnson had Larry Bird, Peyton Manning has Tom Brady, Pete Sampras had Andre Agassi, and Dan O’Brien had Dave Johnson (sorry bad example, they both bombed at the’92 Olympics). If Tiger had a rival, the television ratings for PGA Tour events would skyrocket. Instead they will plummet without him for the rest of season (I know I won’t be watching). Let’s face it, Tiger Woods is like Michael Jordan. HE HAS NO COMPETITION. Like Jordan he has to compete with himself and the record books just to remain interested. It must be frustrating to be a professional golfer and know that each week when you tee up, you are simply playing for second place, or the right to be the first loser. The money’s great, but the abuse that your pride and ego take from all of the losing has to take its toll. No matter how hard you work, you won’t come close to Tiger Woods. This game is just too easy for him.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
Congratulations to the BOSTON CELTICS!!!! for defeating Kobe Bryant and the European Select All-Stars to win the NBA Championship. I am truly happy for Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Jesus Shuttlesworth (aka Ray Allen), and the rest of the CELTICS. They were the best team all season and truly deserve to be called champions. While watching the NBA Finals several thoughts entered my mind. My thoughts from the NBA Finals are as follows:
KOBE BRYANT IS NOT THE NEXT MICHAEL JORDAN – While watching the Finals, I realized that although Kobe Bryant is arguably the most talented and skilled player in the game, HE IS NOT MICHAEL JORDAN. Michael Jordan never lost a championship series, and Kobe has lost two. Also, I believe that this year’s Lakers had more talent than any of Jordan’s teams and he still led them to championships. I know that Michael Jordan would have led this team to a championship. He would have definitely gotten more out of Lamar Odom & Pau Gasol, because he would have demanded it. That is what separates Jordan from everyone else. Remember he made Luc Longley, Bill Wennington, Jason Caffey, and Will Purdue look like basketball players.
PLAYERS WIN CHAMPIOSHIPS – It’s funny how Doc Rivers was a Coach of the Year candidate this year after winning only 24 games last year (the Hawks won more games than the Celtics last year). What did he do differently, you ask? He inserted Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen into the starting lineup with Paul Pierce. He also brought James Posey off the bench. WOW! I can’t believe that you can improve as a coach, simply by getting two All-Stars and a clutch reserve. Go figure.
PAUL PIERCE IS “THE TRUTH” – Pierce has always been known as a great scorer, but he has now proven to be a complete player. He totally owned (insert the name of soft Laker defender here) throughout the series. Pierce took the challenge of guarding Kobe Bryant and shut him down in stretches. He also has a flair for the dramatic. Some say that he was overly-dramatic (the whole wheel-chair incident and acting as though he was about to pass out after each game). I simply think that he leaves it all on the court every night.
PAU GASOL & LAMAR ODOM NEED TO GET DOGS, BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED – Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom were absolutely DOMINATED by the Boston front line. Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, and PJ Brown absolutely bullied the SOFTEST FRONTLINE IN THE NBA. The only LAKER big-man who did not tuck his tail and run was Ronny Turiaf. The only problem with that is the fact that Turiaf is talent-challenged. In other words, HE CAN’T PLAY. We all love the player that hustles non-stop, but at some point you need someone with just a little bit of talent.
RAJON RONDO IS THE BEST DEFENSIVE POINT GUARD IN THE NBA – Yes, I am a huge Kentucky fan and probably the biggest Rajon Rondo fan that any of you know. With that being said, I challenge anyone to name a better defensive point guard in the NBA. If you don’t think that he is a great defensive player, simply ask Mike Bibby, Chauncey Billips, and Derek Fisher. In addition to his defensive prowess, he is lightening quick and sees the floor like Magic Johnson. In fact, if the Celtics could play all 82 games at home, he would be an All-Star. Honestly the only difference between him and Chris Paul is a jump shot. If he’s smart, he would take private shooting lessons from Ray Allen this off-season. Once he develops a jump shot he will be a top three PG in the NBA (along with Chris Paul and Deron Williams).
JAMES POSEY IS THE NEXT ROBERT HORRY – I don’t know what it is about this guy, but he is simply the piece that makes each team that he plays on better. He defends well, and makes timely shots. He is a Free Agent and I will make a BOLD PREDICTION: WHOEVER SIGNS JAMES POSEY WILL WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT SEASON (he is likely to re-sign with Boston). He currently has two rings and will finish his career with more titles than Kobe Bryant.
LAMAR ODOM IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDER-ACHIEVING PLAYERS IN NBA HISTORY – Odom has all the tools to be a Hall of Fame player except the desire to be a Hall of Fame player. It is just frustrating to watch him play. With his skill set, he should be Scottie Pippen version 2.0. If you could create your ideal basketball player, he would look like Lamar Odom. He is 6’-10”, 230 lbs. and can defend all 5 positions. He handles the ball like a guard, can score in the post, and can shoot from three-point range. He is also a better than average defender. With all of that being said, HE IS THE STARTING SMALL-FORWARD ON MY ALL-UNDERACHIEVING TEAM (will be detailed in a later entry). He simply does not have the mentality of a championship player.
THE BOSTON CELTICS WILL REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS – Who will beat them? I really don’t think there is a team in the East that can compete with them next year. The PISTONS will be broken up, the CAVALIERS will be Lebron and the Pips as always, the MAGIC and the BULLS will be too young, and the HAWKS aren’t quite ready yet. Also, the West will be up for grabs. I have heard countless people say that the Lakers should be back, because of their youth and the health of Andrew Bynum. I am not buying that. The West will be too tough to simply say the Lakers will win it. The ROCKETS will have a healthy Yao Ming, the TRAILBLAZERS will have a healthy Greg Oden, the SPURS will make the necessary changes and they still have Tim Duncan, the JAZZ will always be hanging around, and the HORNETS will only get better. Did I also mention that, THE LAKERS HAVE THE SOFTEST ROSTER IN THE LEAGUE.
I hope that everyone enjoyed the Finals as much as I did. This year’s NBA season was one of the best in recent memory, and the Finals were the perfect ending.
KOBE BRYANT IS NOT THE NEXT MICHAEL JORDAN – While watching the Finals, I realized that although Kobe Bryant is arguably the most talented and skilled player in the game, HE IS NOT MICHAEL JORDAN. Michael Jordan never lost a championship series, and Kobe has lost two. Also, I believe that this year’s Lakers had more talent than any of Jordan’s teams and he still led them to championships. I know that Michael Jordan would have led this team to a championship. He would have definitely gotten more out of Lamar Odom & Pau Gasol, because he would have demanded it. That is what separates Jordan from everyone else. Remember he made Luc Longley, Bill Wennington, Jason Caffey, and Will Purdue look like basketball players.
PLAYERS WIN CHAMPIOSHIPS – It’s funny how Doc Rivers was a Coach of the Year candidate this year after winning only 24 games last year (the Hawks won more games than the Celtics last year). What did he do differently, you ask? He inserted Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen into the starting lineup with Paul Pierce. He also brought James Posey off the bench. WOW! I can’t believe that you can improve as a coach, simply by getting two All-Stars and a clutch reserve. Go figure.
PAUL PIERCE IS “THE TRUTH” – Pierce has always been known as a great scorer, but he has now proven to be a complete player. He totally owned (insert the name of soft Laker defender here) throughout the series. Pierce took the challenge of guarding Kobe Bryant and shut him down in stretches. He also has a flair for the dramatic. Some say that he was overly-dramatic (the whole wheel-chair incident and acting as though he was about to pass out after each game). I simply think that he leaves it all on the court every night.
PAU GASOL & LAMAR ODOM NEED TO GET DOGS, BECAUSE THEY ARE SCARED – Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom were absolutely DOMINATED by the Boston front line. Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, and PJ Brown absolutely bullied the SOFTEST FRONTLINE IN THE NBA. The only LAKER big-man who did not tuck his tail and run was Ronny Turiaf. The only problem with that is the fact that Turiaf is talent-challenged. In other words, HE CAN’T PLAY. We all love the player that hustles non-stop, but at some point you need someone with just a little bit of talent.
RAJON RONDO IS THE BEST DEFENSIVE POINT GUARD IN THE NBA – Yes, I am a huge Kentucky fan and probably the biggest Rajon Rondo fan that any of you know. With that being said, I challenge anyone to name a better defensive point guard in the NBA. If you don’t think that he is a great defensive player, simply ask Mike Bibby, Chauncey Billips, and Derek Fisher. In addition to his defensive prowess, he is lightening quick and sees the floor like Magic Johnson. In fact, if the Celtics could play all 82 games at home, he would be an All-Star. Honestly the only difference between him and Chris Paul is a jump shot. If he’s smart, he would take private shooting lessons from Ray Allen this off-season. Once he develops a jump shot he will be a top three PG in the NBA (along with Chris Paul and Deron Williams).
JAMES POSEY IS THE NEXT ROBERT HORRY – I don’t know what it is about this guy, but he is simply the piece that makes each team that he plays on better. He defends well, and makes timely shots. He is a Free Agent and I will make a BOLD PREDICTION: WHOEVER SIGNS JAMES POSEY WILL WIN THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT SEASON (he is likely to re-sign with Boston). He currently has two rings and will finish his career with more titles than Kobe Bryant.
LAMAR ODOM IS ONE OF THE MOST UNDER-ACHIEVING PLAYERS IN NBA HISTORY – Odom has all the tools to be a Hall of Fame player except the desire to be a Hall of Fame player. It is just frustrating to watch him play. With his skill set, he should be Scottie Pippen version 2.0. If you could create your ideal basketball player, he would look like Lamar Odom. He is 6’-10”, 230 lbs. and can defend all 5 positions. He handles the ball like a guard, can score in the post, and can shoot from three-point range. He is also a better than average defender. With all of that being said, HE IS THE STARTING SMALL-FORWARD ON MY ALL-UNDERACHIEVING TEAM (will be detailed in a later entry). He simply does not have the mentality of a championship player.
THE BOSTON CELTICS WILL REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS – Who will beat them? I really don’t think there is a team in the East that can compete with them next year. The PISTONS will be broken up, the CAVALIERS will be Lebron and the Pips as always, the MAGIC and the BULLS will be too young, and the HAWKS aren’t quite ready yet. Also, the West will be up for grabs. I have heard countless people say that the Lakers should be back, because of their youth and the health of Andrew Bynum. I am not buying that. The West will be too tough to simply say the Lakers will win it. The ROCKETS will have a healthy Yao Ming, the TRAILBLAZERS will have a healthy Greg Oden, the SPURS will make the necessary changes and they still have Tim Duncan, the JAZZ will always be hanging around, and the HORNETS will only get better. Did I also mention that, THE LAKERS HAVE THE SOFTEST ROSTER IN THE LEAGUE.
I hope that everyone enjoyed the Finals as much as I did. This year’s NBA season was one of the best in recent memory, and the Finals were the perfect ending.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
WHAT A CLASS
“Do you think that he’s a Hall of Famer?” This is the question that is asked at sports bars, on sports radio, in barbershops, and among friends who are sports fans every time any NFL player of note retires. Over the past couple of years I have been asked this question about such players as Steve McNair, Jerome Bettis, and Tiki Barber. My answer was NO!!!! in the case of all three players for the following reasons:
Steve McNair – May be the toughest player in the history of the NFL. He played football through injuries that would make someone who sits at a desk all day miss work. He was maybe one yard short of getting in the Hall of Fame (remember “The Tackle” in Super Bowl XXXIV).
Jerome Bettis – was NEVER an elite running back, no matter what Steeler fans think. He also played during the era of Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Curtis Martin, who were all much better than he was. Also, the media likes to say that he won a Super Bowl, but in all honesty (at that point in his career) he was simply along for the ride.
Tiki Barber – had some very good years but was not an all-time great player. There were better backs during his era. Also, Congratulations on the Super Bowl victory. Oh, I’m sorry they did that without you, actually the year after you retired. You must feel really stupid. You were really holding the team back.
When considering if a player is worthy of Hall of Fame induction, I ask myself one simple question, “Was this player a top 3 player at his position for an extended period of time (at least 5 years)?” All three of the players listed above fall short of this definition, as do most NFL players. That is what makes it a Hall of Fame. It is an elite club that should only admit the best of the best.
If a player is truly a Hall of Famer, that question never has to be asked. Notice, no one ever asked if Rod Woodson, Deion Sanders, or Marshall Faulk are Hall of Famers. That is because they are “no brainers”.
Speaking of sure fire Hall of Famers, the potential class of 2013 is full of them. Six of the best players to ever play the game will be eligible (players must be retired for 5 full seasons before becoming eligible). These players are (in alphabetical order):
Larry Allen – arguably the best offensive guard in the history of the game. He has been named to 7 All-Pro teams, 11 Pro Bowls, and is a Super Bowl Champion (Dallas, Super Bowl XXX).
Brett Favre – temporarily owns basically every significant passing record in the NFL (that is until Peyton Manning breaks them all). He has won a Super Bowl (Green Bay, Super Bowl XXXI), is a 3-time NFL MVP, a 9-time Pro Bowler, and a 7-time All Pro. He has a place on the Mt. Rushmore of NFL Quarterbacks.
Jonathan Ogden – is THE GREATEST LEFT TACKLE IN NFL HISTORY. He has been named to 11 Pro-Bowls in 12 seasons, and was an All-Pro 9 times. He also won a Super Bowl (Baltimore, Super Bowl XXXV), and did I mention his statue is going to have the coolest afro of any inductee since the 70’s.
Warren Sapp – is the best pass rushing interior lineman in NFL history (had 96.5 career sacks as a defensive tackle, that is ridiculous). He was named to 8 Pro Bowls, and 6 All Pro teams. He is also a former Defensive Player of the Year (1999) and a Super Bowl Champion (Tampa Bay, Super Bowl XXXVII). In addition to his football moves, we have also seen that he is quite the dancer (see video).
Junior Seau – played 17 seasons and is a 12 time Pro Bowler and is a 7-time All Pro. The missing piece of his resume is that he did not win a Super Bowl.
Michael Strahan – holds the single season sack record (thanks largely to Brett Favre) and is a Super Bowl Champion (New York, Super Bowl XLII). He has also been named to 7 Pro Bowls and 6 All Pro teams, in addition to being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001).
The only negative thing about this list is that someone will be left out. Hall of Fame rules only allow five people to be enshrined each year. Although all of these players will get in eventually, only five will have the honor of being First-Ballot Hall of Famers.
Who will be left out? If I was a betting man (which I am not), I would say Junior Seau. Although he was a GREAT player. He wasn’t the best ever at his position like Ogden, Sapp, and arguably Favre. He is also not a Super Bowl Champion, unlike the other five. There is still a slim chance that Seau will play another season. If he does, he could possibly be a First Ballot selection in 2014.
****ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT NOTE****
All comparisons between Kobe Bryant & Michael Jordan must end immediately. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD JORDAN LET HIS TEAM LOSE A 24 POINT LEAD AT HOME IN THE NBA FINALS. With that being said, Kobe will never be as good as Jordan.
Steve McNair – May be the toughest player in the history of the NFL. He played football through injuries that would make someone who sits at a desk all day miss work. He was maybe one yard short of getting in the Hall of Fame (remember “The Tackle” in Super Bowl XXXIV).
Jerome Bettis – was NEVER an elite running back, no matter what Steeler fans think. He also played during the era of Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and Curtis Martin, who were all much better than he was. Also, the media likes to say that he won a Super Bowl, but in all honesty (at that point in his career) he was simply along for the ride.
Tiki Barber – had some very good years but was not an all-time great player. There were better backs during his era. Also, Congratulations on the Super Bowl victory. Oh, I’m sorry they did that without you, actually the year after you retired. You must feel really stupid. You were really holding the team back.
When considering if a player is worthy of Hall of Fame induction, I ask myself one simple question, “Was this player a top 3 player at his position for an extended period of time (at least 5 years)?” All three of the players listed above fall short of this definition, as do most NFL players. That is what makes it a Hall of Fame. It is an elite club that should only admit the best of the best.
If a player is truly a Hall of Famer, that question never has to be asked. Notice, no one ever asked if Rod Woodson, Deion Sanders, or Marshall Faulk are Hall of Famers. That is because they are “no brainers”.
Speaking of sure fire Hall of Famers, the potential class of 2013 is full of them. Six of the best players to ever play the game will be eligible (players must be retired for 5 full seasons before becoming eligible). These players are (in alphabetical order):
Larry Allen – arguably the best offensive guard in the history of the game. He has been named to 7 All-Pro teams, 11 Pro Bowls, and is a Super Bowl Champion (Dallas, Super Bowl XXX).
Brett Favre – temporarily owns basically every significant passing record in the NFL (that is until Peyton Manning breaks them all). He has won a Super Bowl (Green Bay, Super Bowl XXXI), is a 3-time NFL MVP, a 9-time Pro Bowler, and a 7-time All Pro. He has a place on the Mt. Rushmore of NFL Quarterbacks.
Jonathan Ogden – is THE GREATEST LEFT TACKLE IN NFL HISTORY. He has been named to 11 Pro-Bowls in 12 seasons, and was an All-Pro 9 times. He also won a Super Bowl (Baltimore, Super Bowl XXXV), and did I mention his statue is going to have the coolest afro of any inductee since the 70’s.
Warren Sapp – is the best pass rushing interior lineman in NFL history (had 96.5 career sacks as a defensive tackle, that is ridiculous). He was named to 8 Pro Bowls, and 6 All Pro teams. He is also a former Defensive Player of the Year (1999) and a Super Bowl Champion (Tampa Bay, Super Bowl XXXVII). In addition to his football moves, we have also seen that he is quite the dancer (see video).
Junior Seau – played 17 seasons and is a 12 time Pro Bowler and is a 7-time All Pro. The missing piece of his resume is that he did not win a Super Bowl.
Michael Strahan – holds the single season sack record (thanks largely to Brett Favre) and is a Super Bowl Champion (New York, Super Bowl XLII). He has also been named to 7 Pro Bowls and 6 All Pro teams, in addition to being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001).
The only negative thing about this list is that someone will be left out. Hall of Fame rules only allow five people to be enshrined each year. Although all of these players will get in eventually, only five will have the honor of being First-Ballot Hall of Famers.
Who will be left out? If I was a betting man (which I am not), I would say Junior Seau. Although he was a GREAT player. He wasn’t the best ever at his position like Ogden, Sapp, and arguably Favre. He is also not a Super Bowl Champion, unlike the other five. There is still a slim chance that Seau will play another season. If he does, he could possibly be a First Ballot selection in 2014.
****ON A TOTALLY DIFFERENT NOTE****
All comparisons between Kobe Bryant & Michael Jordan must end immediately. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD JORDAN LET HIS TEAM LOSE A 24 POINT LEAD AT HOME IN THE NBA FINALS. With that being said, Kobe will never be as good as Jordan.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
THE HAWKS ARE ONE MOVE AWAY
On Thursday night I was sitting in my living room thoroughly enjoying the Boston Celtics victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, when I suddenly began thinking about my favorite team, the Atlanta Hawks. I began to think about the moves that new General Manager, Rick Sund should make (besides re-signing Josh Smith & Josh Childress to long-term contracts) to improve our young, exciting, up and coming team.
Some of the ideas that entered my mind included:
Draft Derrick Rose (my regular readers might have noticed that I am a huge Derrick Rose fan) – That won’t happen because unlike previous years, we made the playoffs and are without a lottery pick; in fact, we don’t have a draft pick at all.
Require the entire team to grow Josh Childress style afros (to promote team unity) – That won’t happen because Al Horford would look incredibly funny.
Petition the league to allow them to play all 82 games at home – THAT SIMPLY WON’T HAPPEN
Trade Mario West for LeBron James (we found a team dumb enough to take Sheldon Williams, so anything is possible) – OK, this is just wishful thinking, and if we lose Mario West, who will guard the opposing teams best perimeter player for the last 2.3 seconds of each quarter.
Although I know that none of the previous suggestions will ever be seriously considered (although they would be interesting), I do have the answer that will propel the Hawks to a top four team in the Eastern Conference. THEY SHOULD ACQUIRE TAYSHAUN PRINCE from the Detroit Pistons.
After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals, Pistons GM Joe Dumars said that things would change and that he would evaluate all of his options. With that in mind, it is now the time for us to make our move for Tayshaun Prince. He is the missing piece to the Hawks puzzle. Acquiring a player of Prince’s caliber is not going to be cheap. We are definitely going to have to give up something of value to acquire a player who can shut down the opposing teams best perimeter scorer, defend a quality post player, all while rebounding well and giving you 12 to 15 points a game. Therefore I propose that we offer Marvin Williams (former #2 overall pick) and Salim Stoudamire to Detroit for Prince. This trade will be a win-win for both teams. It would shake things up in Detroit with a quality young player with great upside. It would also give Atlanta just what they have been missing, an elite perimeter defender with the ability to score.
Adding Tayshaun Prince would give the Hawks one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. It would also help Joe Johnson immensely. Joe Johnson is the best scorer and the best perimeter defender on the Hawks team and having Prince would allow him to guard someone other than the best perimeter player on the opposing team. That way he would have more energy on the offensive end of the court in the fourth quarter. This would also help him to stay out of foul trouble. Tayshaun Prince also provides VETERAN LEADERSHIP and CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE to one of the youngest and inexperienced teams in the league. He is a team first guy who is very unselfish and will easily fit in with the Hawks.
I know that some of you won’t like the idea of parting ways with the talented Williams, but his skill set simply doesn’t mesh well with the Hawks. He is basically a 6’9’’ mid-range jump shooter, who is not an elite rebounder or defender. I truly believe that he will improve and be a very good player down the line, but you have to give up something to get something in the NBA. (That’s unless you make a deal with the Grizzlies who, as Jeff Van Gundy stated, simply "donated" Pau Gasol to the Lakers cause for basically nothing). I too would miss Williams. But let’s be honest, he is a nice guy and a nice player, but he NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HAWK (we should have drafted Chris Paul or Deron Williams in the 2005). If Rick Sund is serious about building a contender in Atlanta, he should take my advice and trade Marvin Williams for Tayshaun Prince. Trust me on this, he won’t be sorry.
Some of the ideas that entered my mind included:
Draft Derrick Rose (my regular readers might have noticed that I am a huge Derrick Rose fan) – That won’t happen because unlike previous years, we made the playoffs and are without a lottery pick; in fact, we don’t have a draft pick at all.
Require the entire team to grow Josh Childress style afros (to promote team unity) – That won’t happen because Al Horford would look incredibly funny.
Petition the league to allow them to play all 82 games at home – THAT SIMPLY WON’T HAPPEN
Trade Mario West for LeBron James (we found a team dumb enough to take Sheldon Williams, so anything is possible) – OK, this is just wishful thinking, and if we lose Mario West, who will guard the opposing teams best perimeter player for the last 2.3 seconds of each quarter.
Although I know that none of the previous suggestions will ever be seriously considered (although they would be interesting), I do have the answer that will propel the Hawks to a top four team in the Eastern Conference. THEY SHOULD ACQUIRE TAYSHAUN PRINCE from the Detroit Pistons.
After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals, Pistons GM Joe Dumars said that things would change and that he would evaluate all of his options. With that in mind, it is now the time for us to make our move for Tayshaun Prince. He is the missing piece to the Hawks puzzle. Acquiring a player of Prince’s caliber is not going to be cheap. We are definitely going to have to give up something of value to acquire a player who can shut down the opposing teams best perimeter scorer, defend a quality post player, all while rebounding well and giving you 12 to 15 points a game. Therefore I propose that we offer Marvin Williams (former #2 overall pick) and Salim Stoudamire to Detroit for Prince. This trade will be a win-win for both teams. It would shake things up in Detroit with a quality young player with great upside. It would also give Atlanta just what they have been missing, an elite perimeter defender with the ability to score.
Adding Tayshaun Prince would give the Hawks one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. It would also help Joe Johnson immensely. Joe Johnson is the best scorer and the best perimeter defender on the Hawks team and having Prince would allow him to guard someone other than the best perimeter player on the opposing team. That way he would have more energy on the offensive end of the court in the fourth quarter. This would also help him to stay out of foul trouble. Tayshaun Prince also provides VETERAN LEADERSHIP and CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE to one of the youngest and inexperienced teams in the league. He is a team first guy who is very unselfish and will easily fit in with the Hawks.
I know that some of you won’t like the idea of parting ways with the talented Williams, but his skill set simply doesn’t mesh well with the Hawks. He is basically a 6’9’’ mid-range jump shooter, who is not an elite rebounder or defender. I truly believe that he will improve and be a very good player down the line, but you have to give up something to get something in the NBA. (That’s unless you make a deal with the Grizzlies who, as Jeff Van Gundy stated, simply "donated" Pau Gasol to the Lakers cause for basically nothing). I too would miss Williams. But let’s be honest, he is a nice guy and a nice player, but he NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN A HAWK (we should have drafted Chris Paul or Deron Williams in the 2005). If Rick Sund is serious about building a contender in Atlanta, he should take my advice and trade Marvin Williams for Tayshaun Prince. Trust me on this, he won’t be sorry.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
I HATE KOBE BRYANT
I would like to start off by congratulating the BOSTON CELTICS and the LOS ANGELES LAKERS for making the NBA Finals. This should be a magnificent championship series, and as a huge NBA fan I plan to enjoy every game. Trust me, this will not be a dud of a series like the San Antonio Spurs v/s LeBron James and the Pips series of a year ago. You can probably tell by the title of this entry that I will be pulling for the CELTICS.
Before I continue, I would like to clarify the title of this entry. I don’t have anything against Kobe personally nor do I wish any harm or ill will toward him or his family. With that being said, he is by far my favorite athlete to root against in the history of sports. Kobe Bryant has won three championships, two scoring titles, one MVP award, and is a 10-time NBA All-Star. Although he is immensely talented and quite possibly the best player (we might not agree if he is or isn’t, but we all must agree that he is in the conversation) in the game today, I still can’t find a reason to root for him. I’m simply not a fan. I see him as the Nas of the NBA. Nas is an incredibly talented rapper, but I’m just not feeling his music. Let’s be honest, there is a lot not to like about this guy. Having trouble figuring out why someone would hate Kobe Bryant? Don’t worry, I have detailed some the reasons below.
I must admit that I began hating Kobe Bryant the minute that Adidas released his first signature shoe, the Adidas KB8 (if you don’t remember how ugly they were, please do a Google image search for them). That was by far the ugliest basketball shoe ever made. I consider myself a stylish fella, and there is no way that I could be a fan of a player who wears shoes that ugly. I am going to take pause for the cause to allow all of the readers who ever owned a pair of these shoes to slap themselves and feel really bad……..
Ok, I will resume now. The main reason that I am a Kobe hater is because he is an arrogant player who didn’t realize how fortunate he was to play with Shaq during his prime. Thanks to Shaq, Kobe has three championship rings. He was a great Robin to Shaq’s Batman, but what he failed to realize was that Shaq would have won those championships with any other elite perimeter player in the NBA at that time (i.e. Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, and maybe even Vince Carter).
My dislike for Kobe grew during his feud with Shaquille O’Neal. They were both immature about the situation, but I felt as though Kobe was the instigator. In my opinion, he seemed to have grown tired of playing Robin, and was upset that his mommy wouldn’t let him wear the Batman costume on Halloween. Why couldn’t he just enjoy winning championships as a member of a team? After all of his complaining, Shaq was eventually traded to Miami, where he won another championship a year later. I must admit that Dwyane Wade is better than me, because immediately after winning that championship with Shaq, I would have worn a “THANK YOU KOBE” t-shirt to the press conference.
I also hate the fact that Kobe has had the reputation of being a terrible teammate and was once called uncoachable by Phil Jackson.
Another reason to hate Kobe Bryant is that he fights like a girl. Come on, you all remember the fight with Chris Childs of the New York Knicks. That moment proved that he is a baller and not a fighter. Should we be surprised that he can’t fight? I mean, his middle name is Bean. Do you really think that someone named Bean could scare anyone?
What really makes me a Kobe hater is the fact that he violated a sacred man-law. Never put another man’s business in the streets when you get caught up in a difficult situation. He reportedly told police about matters in Shaquille O’Neal’s personal life during the investigation into the rape allegations brought against him.
These are only some of the reasons to hate Kobe Bryant. Trust me, there are more, but I simply don’t have the time or space to get into them. If you like you can hate him for your own reasons. If you can’t think of any, don’t worry, I got your back. You can simply use any combination of the ones listed above.
Kobe Bryant had a great season this year by averaging 28 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds in route to his first MVP award and also earned a place in the NBA Finals. He is very talented, as a matter of fact I often find myself amazed by the things that he is capable of doing on the basketball court. I have a great deal of respect for his individual skills, but I would hate to play with him.
So sit back and enjoy the NBA Finals. It should be a classic series. GO CELTICS!!!!
****WARNING****
Prepare yourself for non-stop replays of historical Celtics v/s Lakers playoff games on ESPN Classic and NBATV. This is a dream series for the NBA, so you know they plan on capitalizing on it as much as possible.
Before I continue, I would like to clarify the title of this entry. I don’t have anything against Kobe personally nor do I wish any harm or ill will toward him or his family. With that being said, he is by far my favorite athlete to root against in the history of sports. Kobe Bryant has won three championships, two scoring titles, one MVP award, and is a 10-time NBA All-Star. Although he is immensely talented and quite possibly the best player (we might not agree if he is or isn’t, but we all must agree that he is in the conversation) in the game today, I still can’t find a reason to root for him. I’m simply not a fan. I see him as the Nas of the NBA. Nas is an incredibly talented rapper, but I’m just not feeling his music. Let’s be honest, there is a lot not to like about this guy. Having trouble figuring out why someone would hate Kobe Bryant? Don’t worry, I have detailed some the reasons below.
I must admit that I began hating Kobe Bryant the minute that Adidas released his first signature shoe, the Adidas KB8 (if you don’t remember how ugly they were, please do a Google image search for them). That was by far the ugliest basketball shoe ever made. I consider myself a stylish fella, and there is no way that I could be a fan of a player who wears shoes that ugly. I am going to take pause for the cause to allow all of the readers who ever owned a pair of these shoes to slap themselves and feel really bad……..
Ok, I will resume now. The main reason that I am a Kobe hater is because he is an arrogant player who didn’t realize how fortunate he was to play with Shaq during his prime. Thanks to Shaq, Kobe has three championship rings. He was a great Robin to Shaq’s Batman, but what he failed to realize was that Shaq would have won those championships with any other elite perimeter player in the NBA at that time (i.e. Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, and maybe even Vince Carter).
My dislike for Kobe grew during his feud with Shaquille O’Neal. They were both immature about the situation, but I felt as though Kobe was the instigator. In my opinion, he seemed to have grown tired of playing Robin, and was upset that his mommy wouldn’t let him wear the Batman costume on Halloween. Why couldn’t he just enjoy winning championships as a member of a team? After all of his complaining, Shaq was eventually traded to Miami, where he won another championship a year later. I must admit that Dwyane Wade is better than me, because immediately after winning that championship with Shaq, I would have worn a “THANK YOU KOBE” t-shirt to the press conference.
I also hate the fact that Kobe has had the reputation of being a terrible teammate and was once called uncoachable by Phil Jackson.
Another reason to hate Kobe Bryant is that he fights like a girl. Come on, you all remember the fight with Chris Childs of the New York Knicks. That moment proved that he is a baller and not a fighter. Should we be surprised that he can’t fight? I mean, his middle name is Bean. Do you really think that someone named Bean could scare anyone?
What really makes me a Kobe hater is the fact that he violated a sacred man-law. Never put another man’s business in the streets when you get caught up in a difficult situation. He reportedly told police about matters in Shaquille O’Neal’s personal life during the investigation into the rape allegations brought against him.
These are only some of the reasons to hate Kobe Bryant. Trust me, there are more, but I simply don’t have the time or space to get into them. If you like you can hate him for your own reasons. If you can’t think of any, don’t worry, I got your back. You can simply use any combination of the ones listed above.
Kobe Bryant had a great season this year by averaging 28 points, 5 assists, and 6 rebounds in route to his first MVP award and also earned a place in the NBA Finals. He is very talented, as a matter of fact I often find myself amazed by the things that he is capable of doing on the basketball court. I have a great deal of respect for his individual skills, but I would hate to play with him.
So sit back and enjoy the NBA Finals. It should be a classic series. GO CELTICS!!!!
****WARNING****
Prepare yourself for non-stop replays of historical Celtics v/s Lakers playoff games on ESPN Classic and NBATV. This is a dream series for the NBA, so you know they plan on capitalizing on it as much as possible.
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