April 30, 2009 at 4:54 pm (Basketball, NBA, Sports)
Tags: Dallas Mavericks, NBA, San Antonio Spurs, Sports
The Writing Was On The Wall …..Somehow Some Didn’t Heed The Warning
Last night the San Antonio Spurs were unceremoniously dumped out of this year’s playoffs in the NBA. Having succumbed at the hands of their instate foe divisional rival the Dallas Mavericks. It has to be said that this was all foreseen the very moment they lost their indomitable super sub Manu Ginobli before the start of the playoffs. If nothing else this was as much a gut wrench to the team as it was for their fans.
Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks dunks the ball while the Spurs' Michael Finley looks on. The game was played on the Spurs' homecourt of the AT&T Center in San Antonio ,Tx. The Mavericks would end up winning the game (106-93) and close out winning the series 4-1. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ D Clarke Evans ................
However in losing the series outright (4-1) and the result of the game last night being so conclusive with an emphatic 106-93 win. The Dallas Mavericks move on with a no doubt happy owner in Mark Cuban smiling from ear to ear. For the San Antonio Spurs the ride while it lasted was a pleasant one for their fans and the community at large.
However it can’t hide the fact that the team underperformed. And much of that responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of coach Gregg Popovich and that of his bench players who failed to show up. It was left to the team’s erstwhile duo of All Stars in Tim Duncan and Tony Parker to try and carry the team on their shoulders. And as gallantly as they both performed the task was made all the more insurmountable by the ineptitude shown by the duo’s supporting cast.
Erick Dampier of the Mavericks and the Spurs' Tony Parker contest a loose ball during the game. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Eric Gray ....................
Popovich in large part was outcoached by his counterpart Rick Carlisle throughout much of this series. But then again the Mavericks’ players also stepped up to the plate and answered the call of their coach to go out there and execute. And nowhere was this more apparent than with the play of Josh Howard who proved to be the catalyst for the Mavericks through much of the series when it mattered most. There were also valid contributions from Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd. For Nowitzki he may well be now cast off that name tag of being considered just a regular season player, instead of being a postseason performer.
And that if anything has proven to be the difference between the two teams. When asked for the contributions to be made in whatever way possible it was the players of the Mavericks who stepped and answered the call. For the Spurs it was the complete opposite but for the exceptions of Duncan and Parker. The Spurs were languid and slow to the touch and but for their sole victory in game 2 of the series. This would definitely have been a blowout for the Dallas Mavericks. The heroics of Tony Parker in that 105-84 triumph cannot be underscored. Parker himself single handedly willed the team victory and ended up scoring 38 pts in his team’s triumph.
Tony Parker of the Spurs tries to evade the defensive presence of the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki during the game. picture appears courtesy of nbae/getty images/ D Clarke Evans ..................
The thing now everyone may well be asking is what now happens to the San Antonio Spurs ? Having won four NBA championships in the decade. They may well have been considered a modern day dynasty. And if nothing else theirs is a consistency that’s not often seen in the game over the decade in question. However with Duncan now viewed as an aged veteran no longer being able to perform like the player he once was in halcyon days. It has to be said that this is no longer the team that once performed so methodically and whom about everything was admired as an organization within the NBA. Never viewed as one of the more glamorous franchises within the NBA. That spotlight is often shone on the Los Angeles Lakers , Chicago Bulls (Jordan era) and Boston Celtics because of the renowned history. Though now there are fans who believe that the Cleveland Cavaliers ought to be added to the mix. I beg to differ as having perhaps the game’s most celebrated player in LeBron James at present doesn’t give you legitimacy for staking that particular claim. You have to win something first be considered a perennial contender amongst the game’s elite.
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March 25, 2009 at 9:26 pm (Basketball, NBA, Sports)
The View From The Top Is All It’s Cracked Up To Be ……Some’d Like It More Than Others
Tonight is the night whereby the defending NBA champions the Boston Celtics (54-18) will face one their main challengers and conference rivals the Orlando Magic (52-18). It’s being viewed as a make or break game for both teams. And in many respects it’s more a gauge in seeing whether or not the Magic can be considered an elite team within the NBA.
So much of what we tend to view is all about perception if nothing else. And over the last couple of years the Magic as a team has improved greatly. But can they finally considered to be one of the elite teams within the NBA ? They may well be zoning in on winning their second consecutive Southeast Divisional title. And that’s most certainly a compliment to the coaching of Stan Van Gundy. But until the Magic are capable of showing that they’re capable of just making the playoffs and going beyond the first round on a consistent basis. The veracity in trying to make the argument that they’re indeed an elite teams stands on shaky ground.
Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic shoots over the outstretched arms of the New York Knicks' David Lee in a game played at Madison Square Garden , New York. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Nathaniel S Butler ..................
This season they’ve played exceptionally well but there have been times where they’ve come back to the pack . And have looked extraordinarily ordinary. As a team they possess a player who’s now considered the best center in the league in Dwight Howard. And that’s no disrespect to ‘The Diesel’ Shaquille O’Neal , who it can be said is now on the downside of an illustrious career. It’s now Howard’s time to shine as the sun sets on O’Neal.
Howard for his part has led the team impressively and his cast of subordinates have been prepared to follow wherever he’s led them. And with Hedo Turkoglu , Rashard Lewis , Rafer Alston and Mickael Pietrus providing able support. One might consider the team to be a worthy if not dangerous opponent in the playoffs. They’ve suggested that they can raise the level of their play and be on par with some of the more finesse teams around the league. But all too often we’ve seen spurts where they’ve regressed back to just a middle of the pack mentality type of team. And that’s nothing that they can ill afford to have happen in the playoffs. So tonight against the Celtics they will have to prove themselves. And with their opponents seemingly rejuvenated with the return with their inspirational leader and the player viewed as their heart and soul in Kevin Garnett. Tonight’s game should indeed be filled with a great deal of drama and excitement. And no doubt the Amway Arena in downtown Orlando will be brimming with the home fans hoping to see their team acquit themselves well.
Whilst this is all being played out we can’t forget that the Celtics themselves have something to play for as well. With a four game winning streak to their name at present . The Boston Celtics are looking for a way to remind the Cleveland Cavaliers (57-13) that they’re still close enough in their rear view mirror to remind LeBron James and his team that the regular season hasn’t ended just yet. And with the number one seeding still up for grabs even though it favors the Cavaliers. The Celtics would like to remind Cleveland that until the schedule is finished not everyone within the Celtics’ organization has given up hope of catching them before they reach the finish line.
Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics avoids the defensive play of the Los Angeles Clippers' Eric Gordon in a game played at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston , Mass,. picture appears courtesy of getty images /Steve Babineau .....................
Whoever holds that number one seeding has the advantage of playing their games at home throughout the playoffs. And it can be said with the home record of Cleveland looking all the more impressive. The odds are against either Boston or Orlando catching the Cavaliers at this juncture. Homecourt advantage does mean a great deal but if anything it’s also predicated on the form of the team in question. The robust home record (32-1) that the Cavaliers possess makes the team all the more ominous. And away from home it just doesn’t get any better where they are 25-12. So whatever way one would look at it . A one horse race is now on the cards with just Boston and Orlando looking to see who will come in second to grab the second seeding in the Eastern Conference.
The Orlando Magic are 8-2 over their last ten games with a three game winning streak in their possession. But if anything a win tonight would be viewed with a great deal of pleasure and perhaps cement the credentials they’re seeking. Defensively sound and efficient when needed to be on offense. The team wants now to show that they also possess all of the facets that one would consider to be part of a championship caliber team. Howard possesses the leaderships skills sought. And as alluded to before he’s ably abetted by some very good players to complement his skills. But all too often what’s been seen or viewed by many as toughness shown . Suddenly becomes lackadaisical where the effort put forth seems all too abysmal. The good teams play well but the great teams know how to raise the level of their game and maintain that consistency.
The NBA regular season is now winding down and the Eastern Conference if anything has provided us with a great deal more excitement than we could have perceived. Last year it was the Boston Celtics streaking away with the best record in the league. Then winning the Eastern Conference and finally defeating the Los Angeles Lakers to lift the NBA Championship trophy for the seventeenth time. This time around we could well be in for seeing a new name on the Eastern Conference trophy and perhaps one even on NBA trophy as well. But that’d also be predicated on the eastern representative being able to deal with their counterpart in the West.
The room at the top does give you a spectacular view. As you’re able to look down upon all that you reign over. For some they’re able to deal with the climb to the top . Others aren’t so lucky as they aren’t able to often deal with the pressure of being there let alone remaining there over a long period of time.
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March 16, 2009 at 7:48 pm (Sports, Sports & Social commentary)
Tags: Sport and social commentary, Sports
Over the weekend as I didn’t have to work. I thought I’d catch up on my sporting intake somewhat. As it is the girlfriend had been chiming on as to how we don’t do enough together as a couple. To which I replied …..” we live together don’t we that’s a start isn’t it ?
I’ll tend to reread the USA Today and in particular the business section and then sport’s pages. And then that’ll be it. I’ll then take in one or two of the new magazine programs such ‘Meet The Press’(NBC) and ‘This Week ‘ (ABC) with George Stephanopoulos. My own personal favorite however is CNN’s ‘GPS’ with Fareed Zakaria . Basically programs such as these just keep me abreast of things to an extent. However much of what I do glean information wise for the large part does tend to come more from the internet and the scouring of the various online editions of some major international newspapers.
This past Sunday however whilst tuned into ESPN to watch ‘ The Sports Reporters’ hosted by John Saunders. I also continued to watch afterwards ‘Outside The Lines’ (OTL) , the network’s Sunday morning news magazine program. The entire program dealt with male professional athletes fathering children out of wedlock. Not that’s anything new to begin. But what got me not so much visually dumbfounded was the fact that the journalists were carrying on as if this was anything new. I don’t know if they’d been hiding under a rock but it’s something that’s become common place within sports for an eternity. Much like sex ,drugs and music goes hand in hand in the entertainment field. In the world of high profiled sports the two go hand in hand there also.
Travis Henry seen here with six of his nine children. A woman in the state of Florida has since come forward to state also that Henry is the father of her set of two year old twins, a boy and girl. picture appears courtesy of afp/ Roman Atkins ...................
One of the athletes that the segment dealt with in particular as a subject matter , was that of former Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos’ running back Travis Henry. The program also mentioned New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady , the Orlando Magic’s center Dwight Howard and the Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Matt Leinart. It’d be remiss to think that these three individuals ought to be seen as the poster children for this sort of social behavior ? Were it not for the fact you can this all happening across all four of the major professional sports to begin with. One can’t surmise and quantify to what extent this goes on with amongst the college ranks. But it’s safe to say that it happens but it isn’t always brought into the public domain too much.
Politically correct or not our views on this matter over the years has diminished somewhat. From being overly conservative to where we to an extent accept it as being part of the norm. However the tone that is set and the behavior or lack thereof shown by the individuals in accepting the responsibility of fathering a child and then being a responsible parent does give great cause for concern. And this was if anything a part of the mission that the story set out to investigate. When approached to give an on air interview or statement . The spoke’s people for Howard , Leinart and Brady declined to give an interview much less a statement. It was left to Henry to speak openly of his travails and woes on this topic.
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard seen here with his young son Braylon. Howard and the child's mother Royce Reed are no longer involved in a relationship. Reed a former Magic cheerleader and dancer now has custody of the child and receives child support payements from the player. For Howard however this does create something of chink in his pristine armour of being a devout Christian and in espousing abstinence .
In the case of Henry having fathered nine children with nine different women. His plight as it now stands is extreme. And to add this story is the fact the former player now owes in excess of $176,000 in child support. Furthermore the player also faces Federal drug trafficking charges that when it’s all said and done only adds to his woes. And were that not enough a tenth woman now has proof that Henry also fathered her twin children who are just over two years old. Henry himself acknowledges the nine children that he says he knows he’s fathered. But he can’t be all that sure that there aren’t any others. What I found disgusting was the all too flippant attitude when asked why had he not considered using protection when he chose to be with these women ? His response was ‘ that they should’ve been the ones to make sure’. In effect that tells me all one would need to know concerning Henry and how he views many of these women. In some circles they may well be viewed as gold diggers who are seeking an opportunity to entrap the athlete and then use them as a meal ticket. But in large part more than anything else is the fact that we have consenting individuals who are merely using each other for sexual gratification without really thinking about the consequences and the aftermath of their actions.
Leinart seen here with former girlfriend and college sweetheart Brynn Cameron and their son Cole. The player no longer maintains a relationship with the child's mother. But it's been stated that he meets all of the child's needs monetarily. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Lee Clarke .............................
And if you think that Travis Henry’s situation is acute. Then consider the situation with former Chicago Bulls’ player Jason Caffey ? Having fathered ten children with eight different women. He’s now staving off legal threat of being imprisoned for failure to pay child support. One of the women who’s the mother of his year old son is now owed in excess of $197,000 including interest and court fees. At this moment in time Caffey is still a free man. He has withered away much of what he’d earned over the course of his career either on gambling or speculative business ventures and investments that didn’t pan out. It seems inexplicable to think that many of these athletes feel that they’re invulnerable in situations such as this. But then again they’re enabled in many ways merely because of what they feel is there and openly available to them. From the amount of money that they can make and their behavior both in public and private. It’s as if being amoral is the only thing that they’d deem to be appropriate.
Tom Brady seen here with his young son Jack . The player is no longer involved with the child's mother , actress and former model Bridget Moynaghan. The two who separated some two years ago do play an active role in their child's life. Moynaghan maintains primary custody of Jack. Brady is allowed visitation and provides for him monetarily. picture appears courtesy of bostonherald.com/ Tim Shaughnessy ............................
From a legal perspective it certainly doesn’t help when they’re treated by legal environment as if their acts aren’t at all irresponsible and has a consequence. All too often they’re let off without much of an edict by the presiding judge as to their actions. By merely making a court order placing a monetary value or penalty as the case may be upon someone who’s earnings millions of dollars isn’t in the end much of deterrent. But then again how else ought to view the legal profession to begin with ? All too often they fail to do the right thing even when the facts are there steering them right back there in the face.
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February 23, 2009 at 3:03 am (AIG, Alex Rodriguez, Allan 'Bud' Selig, Bank of America, Baseball, Business, Citibank, Derek Jeter, JP Morgan Chase, NYSE, Sports)
Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Bank of America, Baseball, Citibank, JP Morgan Chase, New York Yankees, NYSE, Sports
A Sport Can Only Be As Good As Its Players And The Leadership That’s Shown By Its Executives.
Much like a profitable company is viewed as a viable investment opportunity for equity investors. The same can be said for professional sports. And in particular , baseball and the fans who are avid followers and supporters of not only the game but the franchises as well. The fans are much like that of an investor as they’ve a vested interest in seeing the equity maximize its profit potential exponentially . However of late the share price of baseball were it a share price on the New York Stock Exchange would be at an alltime low. Baseball’s share price has dropped precipitously low . It’s now nothing more than a penny stock at present and is not about to rise anytime soon.
Players' Union representative Donald Fehr (left) and MLB Commissioner Allan 'Bud' Selig brielfy exchange pleasantires before addressing members of Congress on Capitol Hill. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Chip Smodoville .........
Unfortunately for baseball at present it’s not looking as worthy an investment as say the Big Three (Chrysler, Ford , GM) automotive companies or that of the failing banking industry on Wall Street. About the only thing that separates these entities at present. Is the mere fact that now the titans of those two particular industries have finally the will to stand up and admit to the mistakes that they’ve made. Albeit that they’re now being bailed out at the taxpayers’ expense. But then again the automotive industry hasn’t been a worthwhile entity in well over a decade ! However the game of baseball hasn’t the leadership or presence of mind to even admit that it is at fault in any way.
New York Yankees' third baseman Alex Rodriguez and team GM Brian Cashman share some words. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Rod McCullough ..............
If nothing else Commissioner Bud Selig and the owners have shown that they don’t possess a backbone or the willingness to stand up to the union. If anything at the owners’ beckoning and acting in collusion with Donald Fehr of the Players’ Union they’ve seen fit to defraud the public and the fans at large. And we’re meant to believe that these individuals have the best interests of the game in their mindset ? In reality nothing could be further from the truth. Selig couldn’t spot the truth if it were written in 5 foot high letters and place atop of the Time Magazine building in New York City for the world to see. One thing is now becoming abundantly clear is that Selig lives in his own imaginary world of make belief. And each of the characters in it are merely those from a fairy tale. As to which to fable that might be , is open to a great deal of debate.
Vikram Pandit CEO of Citicorp (Citibank) and Wells Fargo Chairman John Stumpf at the Senate Banking and Finance hearings on Capitol Hill. Washington DC., picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Balce Cenetta .............
Now as the game finds itself in perhaps the most unexpected of controversies concerning that of one the pre-eminent players in the game . It has to be asked is there nothing a shoe awaiting to be dropped concerning Alex Rodriguez or any other player who might well be on the infamous list of 104 names ? Rodriguez’s admittance that he’d used steroids for three years whilst playing for the Texas Rangers. Though it has to be said the veracity of the argument being put forward by the player himself has so many holes in it. That the press conference convened by the New York Yankees was merely nothing more than a charade. Clearly the player is still delusional and his thinking that this may well lead to a dissipation in the ongoing interest in the matter.
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February 7, 2009 at 7:46 pm (Basketball, David Stern, LeBron James, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, Phoenix Suns, Shaquille O'Neal, Sports)
Tags: Basketball, David Stern, MLB, NBA, NBA All Star Game, NFL, NHL, Phoenix Suns, Sports
Bah Humbug ………………….
There’s a certain amount of irreverence meant to take place when each of the major showcase events take place with regard to each of the All Star events covering Major League Baseball(MLB), the NHL, the NFL and the NBA. Which brings me to the real reason behind this article.
To my mind these events are about as meaningful now as the voting is on determining who’ll become a charge on that eponymous reality show American Idol. The voting for these events are mind numbingly boring and even though the fans do have a say. They’re merely voting for their favorite players rather than voting for the athletes on merit. Much like it is with the reality show itself. If that’s the case then we might as well have Simon Cowell , Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson adjudicate who should or shouldn’t be playing in the upcoming NBA All Star Game.
The event itself will be held in the Valley of The Sun . For those of you who are uncertain as to where that might be . Well we’re talking Phoenix, Arizona for the uninitiated out there . There’s already been a great deal controversy as to who has been voted in and to those who’ve been omitted. But at the end of the day does anyone really care for that matter ? It’s not as if the event itself is all that meaningful to begin with. Its only reason for assembling their stars is in order for their corporate sponsors to get a chance to see the players up close and personal. If it’s for the benefit of the fans then it’s sorely lost on a number of them. I’d dare say that the wife a Fortune 500 company executive wouldn’t know LeBron James from Rick James ? But she might well know that if she’s into the r&b scene or was once an NBA groupie ? Or quite possibly they might have children who are fans of the sport in general.
Amare Stoudemire and teammate Grant Hill of the Phoenix try to defend the offensive play of Kelenna Azubuike of the Golden State Warriors ...................
Amare Stoudemire and teammate Grant Hill of the Phoenix Suns try to defend the offensive play of the Golden State Warriors’ Kelenna Azubuike ……………
But as this showcase approaches what are we to expect ? It’s not as if the game itself has ever been known to competitive . It’s merely an exhibition to curry favor with the fans. Albeit that the ones benefiting from this all are primarily the NBA and its corporate benefactors. The fans certainly aren’t. But then again Commissioner David Stern would tell you otherwise. For the twenty five years that Stern has been the commissioner the business of the NBA has multiplied twelve fold. It’s now become a multi-billion enterprise and its tentacles reaches right across the globe. It’s greatest presence is now in the Far East. China and its 1.2 billion population is the market that Stern now seeks to conquer. And with the Olympics in Beijing having such a presence. The triumph of Team USA was the greatest sales’ pitch that the NBA could’ve wanted.
The All Star Game that it signifies as alluded to before is nothing more than exhibition for the game to show of its wares. The players themselves are lauded by the fans . And it raises awareness and allegedly more accessibility as on appearance it makes these superstars approachable and fan friendly. That may well be the case for many of these athletes who are being millions of dollars to show off their athletic abilities. But then who amongst wouldn’t want to be in their shoes ? It’s not as if we haven’t envisaged ourselves at one time or another being a part of the winning team , hitting the winning shot, scoring the winning goal. Pipe dream or not it’s something that we can allude to.
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February 6, 2009 at 1:57 pm (College Basketball, Gary Williams, NCAA Tournament, North Carolina, Roy Williams, Sports, The Terrapins, The Tar Heels, University of Maryland)
Tags: ACC, College Basketball, Gary Williams, NCAA Basketball, North Carolina, Roy Williams, Sports, The Terrapins, The Tar Heels, University of Maryland
Terrapins Are Having Problems ………………….
It’s time and it’s not a good for Gary Williams at present and the University of Maryland men’s basketball team. Much has been made of the program and the belief that it just might be getting stale under the tutelage of Williams.
Williams directs his team during the game against North Carolina which resulted in Maryland’s loss 108-91 in an ACC game . picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/Gerry Broome ……………………..
Mediocrity is not an acceptable word in their dictionary when it comes to this particular program. The heights of success reached under Williams goes without saying . But when his abilities comes into question one has to wonder what it is that went wrong with regard to the program. It’s certainly not as if overnight the program fell upon hard times. The luster of the program has gradually worn thin and the scuff marks have begun to makes its way into how the team plays.
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February 5, 2009 at 7:56 pm (Geno Auriemma, John Wooden, Kentucky, NCAA Basketball Championships, Pat Summitt, Sports, The Huskies, The Lady Vols, UCLA Bruins, UTEP, University of Connecticut, University of Tennessee, Women's Collegiate Basketball)
Tags: Collegiate Basketball, Connecticut Huskies, Geno Auriemma, John Wooden, Kentucky, NCAA Women's Basketball, NCCA Basketball Championships, Pat Summitt, Sports, The Lady Vols, UCLA Bruins, University of Tennessee, UTEP
One Isn’t Quite The Loneliest Number ………….
It probably hasn’t gone unnoticed by many of you. But recently the Lady Vols of Tennessee and their coach Pat Summitt sits on the cusp of winning 1,000 games in women’s collegiate basketball. Summitt easily the most successful coach in women’s college basketball . In the women’s game she has been the quintessential individual who everyone else is judged by when it comes to the game.
A disheartened Summitt looks deep in thought after her team's loss 80-70 to Oaklahoma in Oaklahoma City , OK. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/Sue Ogrocki ..............
A disheartened Summitt looks deep in thought after her team’s loss 80-70 to Oaklahoma in Oklahoma City, OK. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/Sue Ogrocki ………….
We’ve had John Wooden the coach of the heralded UCLA Bruins whose records bear no introduction. The program is the pedestal against which all in men’s basketball hopes to aspire to. However when it comes to the women’s game. It has to be said the achievements of Summitt and the University of Tennessee is simply astonishing. No other program even comes close . OK so Geno Auriemma and the University of Connecticut (Huskies) may well think that his program is equal to that of the Vols. But when I look at Auriemma I tend to see a guy who thinks so highly of himself that he tends to forget where comes from.
Sooners' fans acknowledge Summitt's attempt at making history but they also acknowledge Sooners' coach Sherri Coales' attempt at winning her 273 rd game. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Sue Ogrocki ......
Sooners’ fans acknowledge Summitt’s attempt at making history but they also acknowledge Sooners’ coach Sherri Coales’ attempt
at winning her 273rd game . picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/Sue Ogrocki …………..
His Huskies have been very good over the time of his tenure. But he’s yet to reach the heights that Summitt has reached. He may well bark louder than most. But his bite has been nothing more than that of a puppy.
For Summitt this’ll be an extraordinary achievement when she reaches that unprecedented height. No other coach within the collegiate game has ever won 1,000 games. Not only does it say something about longevity but also the very fact that much of this has been achieved with the Volunteers’ program. She may well have failed when the Lady Vols succumbed to Oklahoma. But there’s every reason to believe that when they face Georgia tonight. This may well be the game where this magnificent achievement will take place.
It has been said that were Summitt a male she’d be coaching in the men’s ranks. That may well be the case. But with the glass ceiling still in existence . It’s unlikely that we’d ever come to see the day where a female will be coaching a men’s team at the collegiate level much less in the NBA. And that’s not said as a disservice to the abilities of Pat Summitt. But I for one believe the NCAA much less the NBA is yet ready for such a distinction. It’s still the old boys’ network in many a case. And they make what has taken place when it came to minorities within their midst either as players or coaches much more than an egregious error. Hell were it not for UTEP’s victory over Kentucky in the mid sixties the face of college basketball much less the NBA wouldn’t have seen such a seismic shift.
But it’s as they say good things’ll come to those who wait. I know that we now have the existence of the WNBA as a basis for the professional game for women. But as to its competitive nature it pales into significance when measured against that of the NBA.
As for Summitt the road traveled for her has been one filled with success. And much of it has been appreciated by the alumni , fans, and the public in general. They’ve seen the highs and lows with the program and its teams. Thankfully their highs have far exceeded the lows under Summitt’s tenure. The eight national championships won under her tenure are a record. With her closest rival being the five won by Auriemma with the Connecticut Huskies. Obviously atop of all this in collegiate basketball world stands John Wooden’s 10 titles won over his tenure with the storied UCLA Bruins. John Wooden is still beloved by all and his significance to the men’s game is without doubt indelible. The same can be said of Summitt’s mark on the women’s game as well.
This year it may well be viewed that there’s a chink in the program’s armour as they’ve struggled somewhat to avail themselves of wins. But within the SEC they sit at (5-2) fifth within the conference and 17-5 overall with a number 17 ranking nationally. You’d be somewhat foolish to think that the program is declining. If nothing else it’s that we know that Pat Summitt knows how to motivate her players and bring out the best in them. They may well struggle this season but it won’t be for the lack of effort on their part or that of their coach. Her determination is that of her players and they’ll reciprocate accordingly with their effort on the court.
So as we await this landmark that will probably remain unbroken. It says much as to the esteem with which Pat Summit is held with the collegiate game of basketball. No one else has perhaps personified what the game has been about better than her when it comes to women’s basketball. A feeling long held by many.
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February 3, 2009 at 2:05 am (BJ Penn, Dana White CEO of UFC, George St Pierre, Lightweights, MMA, UFC, Welterweight, Zuffa LLC)
Tags: BJ Penn, Dana White CEO of UFC, George St Pierre, MMA, Sports, UFC, Zuffa LLC
If there was any doubt that George St Pierre has finally proved himself the better of B J Penn. We now know that Penn has been more talk than anything else. So much trash talking and at the end of the day he just didn’t have what it takes to defeat his Canadian nemesis.
George St Pierre seated at the press conference publicizing his bout with BJ Penn picture appears courtesy of ap/Brian Boscoe ................
George St Pierre seated at the press conference publicizing his bout with BJ Penn . picture appears courtesy of ap/Brian Boscoe ……………
If there was disappointment then it had to be amongst Penn’s fans. If nothing else this trilogy of fights within the UFC genre has made the fans all the more affixed as to the rivalry between the two. It’s these sort of rivalries that make the sport the thriving and driving force it is.
Penn takes a right hand from St Pierre . picture appears courtesy of mma.com/ Paul Whitfield ..................
Penn takes a right hand from St Pierre . picture appears courtesy of mma.com/ Paul Whitfield ………………….
No longer viewed as the back street bullies of brawling as the sport has been portrayed by certain legislators and law enforcement officials. The genre that is known as mixed martial arts has now become a multi million dollar business. And the king of the hill is the entity UFC which is a wholly owned entity of Zuffa LLC.
That being said the fight card put together UFC 94 by UFC had St Pierre and Penn as the headliners. The undercard itself wasn’t too shabby either.
The fighters were very much a who’s who of the MMA world in other weight categories. Lyoto Machida versus Thiago Silva, Stephan Bonnar versus Jon Jones , Karo Parisyan versus Dong Hyun Kim and Nate Diaz versus Clay Guida. The gate itself was one of the highest gated revenues for an MMA event. The box office revenues were in excess of $4.35m and had over 13,000 people in attendance.
St Pierre the victor after his bout against BJ Penn . picture appears courtesy of ap/Brian Boscoe .................
St Pierre the victor after his bout against B J Penn . picture appears courtesy of ap/ Brian Boscoe ………….
If Penn had anything to prove to his fans and to St Pierre in particular . It was he was the better of the two practitioners in the genre. It has been greatly debated by many as to who really is better of the two fighters. And if nothing else all the sniping between the two has added nothing but disdain for each other between the two. And this is the thing if any that UFC CEO loves to see amongst his stable of fighters. Create the atmosphere of animosity that the fans will love. And then you’ve got them hook line and sinker in terms of fans for the bouts or attendees for an event. Be it there live or via PPV. And PPV is the cash cow for UFC. In 2007 the revenues for all UFC events combined were in excess of $275m . And when you consider that boxing was only marginally lower than that in terms of its overall revenues via pay for view.
Penn and St Pierre in the octagon. picture apears courtesy of ap/Brian Boscoe ...............
Penn and St Pierre in the octagon . picture appears courtesy of ap/Brian Boscoe ……………………….
But now the new kid on the block is MMA with UFC as its proprietor. Never let it be said that Dana White doesn’t know how sell his product. He’s the Don King for the new millennia. Such has been his acumen in making MMA what it is . That he now rules the roost like a megalomaniacal despotic ruler. He’s the final arbiter of everything to do with the sport. Though he states that it’s a collective that actually is a part of the decision making. But his intent is now on world domination when it comes to the sport and nothing , absolutely nothing will stand in his way.
St Pierr and BJ Penn side by side to publicize their upcoming bout at UFC 94 ...............
St Pierre and Penn side by side publicizing their bout at the UFC 94 press conference. picture appears courtesy of ap/Phil Wainwright ………….
The bout between Penn and St Pierre would last for five grueling rounds. But it was St Pierre who got the better of Penn of for much of this bout. Penn was the offensive for much of the fight but it was St Pierre who was the better practitioner. He punished Penn with severe brutality and it was clear that the referee had no choice but to stop the bout when he did.
So now we must ask what’s next for St Pierre in the welterweight division ? For Penn he’ll have to rethink his future quite possibly as to whether it’s better for him to fight as a welterweight or lightweight. It has to be said that at this juncture it’ll be interesting to see what’ll materialize down the road for both fighters.
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tophatal
tophatal
Alan Parkins
Morally Ambiguous ……………..
March 16, 2009 at 7:48 pm (Sports, Sports & Social commentary)
Tags: Sport and social commentary, Sports
Over the weekend as I didn’t have to work. I thought I’d catch up on my sporting intake somewhat. As it is the girlfriend had been chiming on as to how we don’t do enough together as a couple. To which I replied …..” we live together don’t we that’s a start isn’t it ?
I’ll tend to reread the USA Today and in particular the business section and then sport’s pages. And then that’ll be it. I’ll then take in one or two of the new magazine programs such ‘Meet The Press’(NBC) and ‘This Week ‘ (ABC) with George Stephanopoulos. My own personal favorite however is CNN’s ‘GPS’ with Fareed Zakaria . Basically programs such as these just keep me abreast of things to an extent. However much of what I do glean information wise for the large part does tend to come more from the internet and the scouring of the various online editions of some major international newspapers.
This past Sunday however whilst tuned into ESPN to watch ‘ The Sports Reporters’ hosted by John Saunders. I also continued to watch afterwards ‘Outside The Lines’ (OTL) , the network’s Sunday morning news magazine program. The entire program dealt with male professional athletes fathering children out of wedlock. Not that’s anything new to begin. But what got me not so much visually dumbfounded was the fact that the journalists were carrying on as if this was anything new. I don’t know if they’d been hiding under a rock but it’s something that’s become common place within sports for an eternity. Much like sex ,drugs and music goes hand in hand in the entertainment field. In the world of high profiled sports the two go hand in hand there also.
Travis Henry seen here with six of his nine children. A woman in the state of Florida has since come forward to state also that Henry is the father of her set of two year old twins, a boy and girl. picture appears courtesy of afp/ Roman Atkins ...................
One of the athletes that the segment dealt with in particular as a subject matter , was that of former Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos’ running back Travis Henry. The program also mentioned New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady , the Orlando Magic’s center Dwight Howard and the Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Matt Leinart. It’d be remiss to think that these three individuals ought to be seen as the poster children for this sort of social behavior ? Were it not for the fact you can this all happening across all four of the major professional sports to begin with. One can’t surmise and quantify to what extent this goes on with amongst the college ranks. But it’s safe to say that it happens but it isn’t always brought into the public domain too much.
Politically correct or not our views on this matter over the years has diminished somewhat. From being overly conservative to where we to an extent accept it as being part of the norm. However the tone that is set and the behavior or lack thereof shown by the individuals in accepting the responsibility of fathering a child and then being a responsible parent does give great cause for concern. And this was if anything a part of the mission that the story set out to investigate. When approached to give an on air interview or statement . The spoke’s people for Howard , Leinart and Brady declined to give an interview much less a statement. It was left to Henry to speak openly of his travails and woes on this topic.
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard seen here with his young son Braylon. Howard and the child's mother Royce Reed are no longer involved in a relationship. Reed a former Magic cheerleader and dancer now has custody of the child and receives child support payements from the player. For Howard however this does create something of chink in his pristine armour of being a devout Christian and in espousing abstinence .
In the case of Henry having fathered nine children with nine different women. His plight as it now stands is extreme. And to add this story is the fact the former player now owes in excess of $176,000 in child support. Furthermore the player also faces Federal drug trafficking charges that when it’s all said and done only adds to his woes. And were that not enough a tenth woman now has proof that Henry also fathered her twin children who are just over two years old. Henry himself acknowledges the nine children that he says he knows he’s fathered. But he can’t be all that sure that there aren’t any others. What I found disgusting was the all too flippant attitude when asked why had he not considered using protection when he chose to be with these women ? His response was ‘ that they should’ve been the ones to make sure’. In effect that tells me all one would need to know concerning Henry and how he views many of these women. In some circles they may well be viewed as gold diggers who are seeking an opportunity to entrap the athlete and then use them as a meal ticket. But in large part more than anything else is the fact that we have consenting individuals who are merely using each other for sexual gratification without really thinking about the consequences and the aftermath of their actions.
Leinart seen here with former girlfriend and college sweetheart Brynn Cameron and their son Cole. The player no longer maintains a relationship with the child's mother. But it's been stated that he meets all of the child's needs monetarily. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Lee Clarke .............................
And if you think that Travis Henry’s situation is acute. Then consider the situation with former Chicago Bulls’ player Jason Caffey ? Having fathered ten children with eight different women. He’s now staving off legal threat of being imprisoned for failure to pay child support. One of the women who’s the mother of his year old son is now owed in excess of $197,000 including interest and court fees. At this moment in time Caffey is still a free man. He has withered away much of what he’d earned over the course of his career either on gambling or speculative business ventures and investments that didn’t pan out. It seems inexplicable to think that many of these athletes feel that they’re invulnerable in situations such as this. But then again they’re enabled in many ways merely because of what they feel is there and openly available to them. From the amount of money that they can make and their behavior both in public and private. It’s as if being amoral is the only thing that they’d deem to be appropriate.
Tom Brady seen here with his young son Jack . The player is no longer involved with the child's mother , actress and former model Bridget Moynaghan. The two who separated some two years ago do play an active role in their child's life. Moynaghan maintains primary custody of Jack. Brady is allowed visitation and provides for him monetarily. picture appears courtesy of bostonherald.com/ Tim Shaughnessy ............................
From a legal perspective it certainly doesn’t help when they’re treated by legal environment as if their acts aren’t at all irresponsible and has a consequence. All too often they’re let off without much of an edict by the presiding judge as to their actions. By merely making a court order placing a monetary value or penalty as the case may be upon someone who’s earnings millions of dollars isn’t in the end much of deterrent. But then again how else ought to view the legal profession to begin with ? All too often they fail to do the right thing even when the facts are there steering them right back there in the face.
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