It’s been too long hasn’t it! It seemed so long ago that I was attempting to entertain the masses, give sight, life and breath to my thoughts from the NBA, to MMA; from Barack Obama, to Barry Bonds; from beautiful ladies to Bill O’Reilly. Whatever feelings made a pathway to my conscience, whatever thoughts entered the sight of my 3rdeye (thank you Rakim), and I wanted to get it out!!! I needed to get it out!!! So that’s what I did for a period of time.
After a hiatus that was too long for my liking, I’m back to start the written banter again. Now is the moment I start revving up that engine, to motor down the road that kept my passion for writing in my blog consistent.
Like before, I will give my thoughts and opinions about a variety of topics, along with my power rankings for the NFL, college football, the NBA, and college basketball. DAMN, IT’S GOOD TO BE BACK!!!!
When you have the greatest regular season in NFL history and lose the Super Bowl in the last minute of the game, you could argue that they should be #1. Spygate or no Spygate, Tom Brady is still the best QB in the game, Bill Belichick is still the best coach in the game, and from the outside looking in there appears to be no glaring weakness on this team.
QB Tom Brady put together one of the greatest seasons in NFL history last season throwing for 50 TD and a QB ratings of 117.2. To say this this season the offense could be better than last might be absurd, but I’m going to be absurd…I THINK THE OFFENSE COULD BE BETTER THAN LAST SEASON!!They might not score as many points or set as many records, but the acquisition of RB LaMont Jordan gives New England a very serviceable RB, as well as Wes Welker and Randy Moss having another year in this offense.
A few questions must be answered on defense where the linebacker crew are getting longer in the tooth by the day. Tedy Bruschi is still a very good player at one of the LB positions, but last time I checked, Junior Seau was born the same year I was…In other words, HE’S OLD!!! The coaching staff is want him back for another year and Seau is pondering what’s next. But when you’re relying on a 39 year old to help your defense, improvements must be made. First round draft pick ILB Jerod Mayo will be put into position be succeed but don’t expect him to be starting day one.
The loss of Pro Bowler CB Asante Samuelin free agency might be a cause for concern, but history has shown us with this team that losing a highly regarded player does not slow down the success of this team (for examples please refer to Lawyer Malloy and Dieon Branch).
#2) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
WHY THEY ARE #2
I thought the Jaguars had the best chance to defeat New England when the playoffs started. Indeed Jacksonville gave the Patriots a good game and was in the game until Dennis Northcut dropped touchdown pass in the 3rd quarter.
This season going into the season there is no debate about who is the starting QB. It seemed last season QB Byron Leftwich couldn’t get a starting QB job in a local rec league after being release by Jacksonville. His demise from first round pick to first round bust, opened the door for David Garrard and he took full advantage of it. Garrard, a natural leader, was the perfect player and QB for the type of team HC Jack Del Rio wants to build. He’s intelligent, steady, selfless, tough and talented who last season had the 3rd highest QB rating of 102.2. He completed 64% of his passes with only 3 interceptions compared to 18 TD’s.
The two running back tandem of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew should again be a dynamic duo from the backfield, and they need to be, until one of the WR becomes more consistent and dependable. The offseason acquisition of Jerry Porter should be a upgrade if Porter can come back to full force following hamstring surgery. They also traded for former 1st round draft choice Troy Williamson, hoping he can provide some downfield speed to stretch the defense. But like Porter, Williamson has also been fighting the injury bug as he’s been out following knee surgery.
Losing defensive coordinator Mike Smith is minimized because of the hiring of former Washington Redskins DC Greg Williams. Williams is a coordinator who loves to put pressure on the QB via the blitz, so the secondary will have opportunity to make plays if the front seven do their jobs.
#3) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
WHY THEY ARE #3
Probably the most talented team in the NFL (only team with an argument would be New England) is the San Diego Chargers. On offense they have the best running back in the game in, one of the better young QB’s in the game and one of the best TE’s in the league. On defense, despite the fact LB Shawn Merriman had arthroscopic surgery on his knee, they have a solid defensive unit. The only question might be the head coach and his ability to get this team where they’re expected to go, THE SUPER BOWL.
No one needs to question the coaching acumen of Turner when it comes to putting together a game plan, the calling of plays during a game, or improving the play of QB’s. The question is, can he get his team to believe in what he’s doing, or tough enough to gain the respect of his players?
Last season, the Chargers got off to a slow start losing three of their first four games, and the Turner haters were gathering their pitch forks ready. But Turner should be given credit for turning the Chargers season around leading them to 10 wins in their final 12 games. There will probably come a time somewhere this season where Turner mettle will be tested again in terms of being a leader of men, but for his first season with the Chargers, he passed.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Chargers are addressing the injury situation with the most important members of their squad. QB Phillip Rivers, who played the AFC Championship game with a partially torn ACL, should be ready to go by opening day, as well as RB LaDainian Tomlinson (torn MCL). It will be interesting to see the on field relationship between Rivers and Tomlinson who were involved in a few animated on field “disagreements” last season. If Rivers does not play well and incurres the wrath of a pouting Tomlinson, it will be interesting to see how it effects the offense.
#4) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
WHY THEY ARE #4
The question to how far the Colts will go this season depends on the health of their superstar talent and their undersized defense.
QB Peyton Manning is still recovering from an infected bureasac but should be ready by the time the season starts. Manning won’t need more preseason work, due to his knowledge of the offense and being familiar with his wideouts.
Indy nation had better pray that Manning stays injury free this season. Along with New England Patriots QB Tom Brady, no player is as important to his team than Manning is to the Colts. Last season, Manning had an up and down season, but still passed for over 30 TD’s and 4,000 yards.
WR Marvin Harrison knee appears to be completely healty and will be ready opening day. Harrison missed most of last season, injuring that knee against Denver early last season, and recorded a career low 20 catches and just one touchdown. It looks like Harrison doesn’t have to worry about any punishment from the NFL after Harrison was caught in some off field drama involving a gun.
The question remains how well can the defense play, especially if there two main players are out with injuries? Concerns must surround the long term effect the lisfranc injury has on Dwight Freeney and the ability of Bob Sanders to stay healthy.
When everyone on defense is one the field for Indy, the Colts may be the best team in the NFL next to New England. Without Sanders or Freeney the Colts offense might have to average 35 points per game to get to 10 wins.
#5) DALLAS COWBOYS
WHY THEY ARE #5
On paper and heading into the season, the most talented team in the NFC has to be the Dallas Cowboys. Last season 13 Cowboys made the Pro Bowl, they had the best record in the National Conference going 13-3, they destroyed the best teams in their conference multiple times…Then promptly lost at home to the New York Giants, a team they twice bludgeoned during the regular season.
HCWade Phillips will be under fire despite leading the Cowboys to their best season since Jimmy Johnson. With the assumption that OC Jason Garrett will take over the reins in the near future, there might not be anything Phillips can do to have total job security. I find it rather humorous that an established head coach in Phillips is being politely pushed out the door so a guy whose has ZERO years is a HC can have his job.
On offense, the offense should remain as strong as ever. QB Tony Romo has shown (at least in the regular season) to be one of the best QB in the NFC. He might not use the best judgement in the world (hey Tony, if you’re going to take your no-talent, but attractive “Celebrity” girlfriend to Cabo during the season, you better win a playoff game!! Your the QB of the DALLAS COWBOYS, not the Arizona Cardinals!!!), but he is a hard worker whose dedication to his team, craft and sport shouldn’t be questioned.
Rightly or wrongly, the other question is the season long attitude of WR Terrell Owens. Last season Owens was on his best behavior and had an outstanding year, gaining back his Pro Bowl stature. It was also a year when everything went right, from both an individual and team aspect, so the opportunity for Owens to transform into. “T.O” did not present itself. We still haven’t seen a mature Owens once the going get tough from a team standpoint. Until that situation presents itself, you must take the ,”NEW AND IMPROVED T.O” with a grain of salt.
On defense the Cowboys added a couple new players they hope will improve the unit. Zack Thomas is entering his 13th season in the NFL and at age 34 is not the player he once was. The good news is, he’s been looking great in camp and won’t be asked to make every tackle like he did in Miami.
The Adam Jones story has been the interesting storyline in Cowboys camp. Jones (who want to be known as Adam, not Pac-Man) has not played an NFL football in about a year but is being asked to upgrade the CB position and special teams. Jones, who still hasn’t been reinstated by the Commissioner, does have the ability to be a very good CB in the league but at least for the start of his Cowboys career he should used strictly in nickel and dime coverages. He should also concentrate on punt returns where he has the ability to get the ball in the end zone.
#6) NEW YORK GIANTS
WHY THEY ARE #6
Some people might say the Giants were lucky to win the Super Bowl last season. And without question, losing Future Hall of Famer MIchael Strahan was be huge. Be respect must be given to the defending champs and until they start playing games the Giants will stay on top of the mountain. Of course, that stay at #1 will be short if the Giants can’t overcome the season ending injury to DE Osi Umenyiora who suffered the injury in a preseason game against the New York Jets.
While QB Eli Manning was a hardy dose of the credit for getting the Giants to the promise land, the reason why the Giants were able to win the Super Bowl, was because of their defense. The front four dominated every offense thrown in front of them during the Super Bowl run and allowed the offense to run the way Tom Coughlin prefers (i.e stay away from the big turnover by staying away from making the huge play).
DE Justin Tuck will be sliding into the spot left by Strahan along the defensive line. Tuck has been groomed for this starting position for the last two years (remember, Strahan did his best Brett Farve impersonation the last year or two in giving the Giants a commitment about playing) and based on his play in the Super Bowl (sacking Tom Brady twice and being a disruptive force throughout the game) he should fit in well.
On offense, the Giants hope WR Plaxico Burress will stay healthy enough to give QB Eli Manning the #1 receiver he needs. Burress always had the talent to be a premiere receiver in the league and last season he came close to doing just that. His progression to top five WR status will coincide with Eli continuing his growth to near franchise QB. Losing the drama queen/diva known as TE Jeremy Shockly will offset the production he gave one the field (when he could stay on the field) and Brandon Jacobs will continue to become more of a focal point of the offense.
#7) PITTSBURGH STEELERS
WHY THEY ARE #7
Mike Tomlin’s first season as Steelersheadcoach was impressive, leading Pittsburgh to ten wins and a playoff berth. This season the pieces should be in place for Pittsburgh to become a solid force to win the AFC. They have upgraded the running back position and the defense should be stronger if SS Troy Polamalu can recover from a hamstring injury, suffered this summer.
The key for success on offense for Pittsburgh is the offensive line. Last season, the offensive line gave up a high number of sacks and was not consistent in opening holes from the running game. The Steelers addressed that problem by signing free agent center Justin Hartwig to go along with LT Marvel Smith, Kendall Simmons, Chris Kemoeatu and Willie Colon.
Pittsburgh drafted RB Rashard Mendenhall go pair with Willie Parker, forming what should be an excellent backfield. Parker is coming off a broken leg suffered late last season, and should never be a 25 carry a game type of back to begin with. Mendenhall was an absolute beast in college and should be used frequently if he can learn to pick up opposing team’s blitzes.
QB Ben Roethlisberger had an excellent 2007 season, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 31 TDs with a QB rating over 100 (one of three QB to do that last season). While still not the franchise Qb in the Tom Brady, Peyton Manning role, Roethlisberger is beginning his fourth season in the NFL and is one of the top ten QBs in the game. This season Big Ben will have to prove he can LEAD Pittsburgh far into the playoffs, not just GO FOR THE RIDE on the shoulders of Jerome Bettis and the defense like in his first two years.
#8) CAROLINA PANTHERS
WHY THEY ARE #8
Despite the suspension of two games of WR Steve Smith (Nice way to control your anger Stevie!!) for breaking the nose of a teammate in an altercation during practice, Carolina should rebound from a disappointing season last year.
The key will be the healthy return of QB Jake Delhomme. Delhomme, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, is the only viable and reliable signal caller they have. With him, I believe they have a chance to make the playoffs and be a real contender. Without him, Carolina has no one who can consistently get the ball to Smith.
To improve the offense from last year, and mainly give Smith some help, Carolina brought in some wide receiver help in the form of Mushin Muhammad and D.J Hackett. They also drafted RB Jonathan Stewart and OL Jeff Otah.
Neither Muhammad nor Hackett are #1 receivers, nor do they have the speed to stretch defenses, but they can take pressure off of Smith and both are very good possession receivers. This will be the second go around for Muhammad, who was part of the team that made it to the Super Bowl a few years ago.
The heart and soul of what HC John Fox is all about as a football man, is great defense and establishing a strong, powerful run game. Rookie first round selection RB Jonathan Stewart was brought in to fill the vacancy left by DeShawn Foster and complement former first round pick DeAngelo Williams. Stewart is not the big bruising back that will be able to run between the tackles 20-25 times a game (ala Steven Davis), but he does have the speed to take it to the house on any occasion.
The defense will need to improve from a disappointing 2007 season where a once excellent defense was just a shell of what they once were. Spotlight shines on DE Julius Pepper as the main culprit for Carolina’s poor defensive play. Peppers is coming off his worst season in terms of tackles, solo tackles and sacks since his rookie season when he played only 12 games. His 2.5 were alarming because there was no reasoning why his sack production dip so dramatically. If he cannot rebound from last season, Carolina’s defense will not regain its previous mettle.
#9) MINNESOTA VIKINGS
WHY THEY ARE #9
The Vikings have the potential to be playoff team because they are strong along the offensive and defensive lines. Mix into the equation a strong running game and improvement at the wide receiver position and the Vikings could win the NFC Central. What could be holding them back is at the QB spot where the jury is still out on Tavaris Jackson being a starting QB in the NFL.
The improvement of Jackson might be the only thing stopping Minnesota from being one of the top teams in the NFC. Reports from Vikings camp say Jackson has improved considerably from last season but still has work to do to go to the next level.
Jackson will never be asked to consistently carry the offense as long as Adrian Peterson can remain healthy and productive. Peterson was the flavor of a couple of months last season, finishing the season with over 1,300 yards rushing, averaging over 5 yards per carry, scoring 12 touchdowns and winning rookie of the year. Peterson is the star of the backfield, and along with Chester Taylor, Minnesota will be strong at that position.
On defense, the Vikings upgraded themselves by trading for DE Jared Allen from Kansas City. Allen will be on a line that includes Pat and Kevin Williams. They will need to consistently put pressure on the opposing teams QB, and do it quickly to avoid the Vikings secondary being exposed. Last season Minnesota was ranked near the bottom in passing yards allowed and really didn’t do anything to address the problem this offseason.
#10) GREEN BAY PACKERS
WHY THEY ARE #10
The train has truly left the station for the Green Bay Packers. After a summer of Brett Favre drama, the Packers sent the nation biggest drama queen to the New Jersey swamplands. Green Bay MAY HAVE BEEN better THIS SEASON with Favre under center, but in the long run the Packers did the right thing in not welcoming Farve back after he QUIT, eeeeerrrrr, I mean RETIRED this offseason. The fate of the Green Bay Packers is in the hands of Aaron Rodgers as the starting QB for the Green Bay Packers. And whether Packers/Favre fans like it or not, Rodgers will be the key to Green Bay success this year. With the talent GM Ted Thompson has surround Rodgers with, he should be alright.
One of the things that was overlooked last season was the fine play by the Packers receiving core. Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and Donald Lee are not first ballot Hall of Famers, but they help out Favre greatly have the season he had last season. Leading the league in YAC(yards after catch), Driver, Jennings and Lee fit in well with the West Coast style of offense HC Mike McCarthy implemented.
Leading rusher from last season, Ryan Grant, is in camp after redoing his contract, hoping to take the next step of being one of the better running backs. His back up Brandon Jackson, has been looking great in camp and should provide more production at the RB position.
Defensively, the strength of the unit is in the linebacking and secondary crew. A.J Hawk, Nick Barnett and Brady Poppinga are the heart and soul of the group, and CB Al Harris and Charles Woodson remain solid cover corners.
#11) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
WHY THEY ARE #11
In the final year that HC Mike Holmgren will coach Seatle, the team will evolve completely into having QB Matt Hasselback be the focal point of the offense. RB Shaun Alexander has moved on, and free agent pick-up Julius Jones and long time back-up Maurice Morris have not shown the ability to carry the offense. Hasselback has been under the Holgren system long enough to now carry the load offensively and the receivers to help him be successful. The best of the bunch, Deion Branch, could be ready to play by opening day after off season knee surgery, but he will be far from 100%. There’s a good chance Branch could be held out of game action until after the bye week.
The defense will be strong once again, led by 2007 Pro Bowlers DE Patrick Kerney, LB Julian Peterson, LB Lofa Tatupu and CB Marcus Trufant. These players were the key to Seattle finishing in the top 15 of total yards allowed and top 10 in yards allowed per play. First round pick DE Lawrence Jackson will provide depth and talent to an already talented defensive front.
#12) CLEVELAND BROWNS
WHY THEY ARE #12
Cleveland surprised everybody last year, winning 10 games an almost making the playoffs. HC Roemo Crennel looked like he was keeping the seat warm for Bill Cowher, and it looked liked another long season for the Browns. But no one thought QB Derek Anderson, who was not even the starter for the first game of the season, would pass for over 3,700 yards and 29 touchdowns. Even though the jury is still out on the 2007 Pro Bowler and a first round pick in Brady Quinn chopping at the bit to take his job, the Browns had enough faith in him to reward him with a 3 year, 24 million dollar deal.
Wide receiver Braylon Edwards came into his own last season catching 16 TD passes. To avoid generating to much attention from opposing secondaries, Cleveland made a big play for free agent Donte Stallworth, signing him to a contract worth 35 million dollars. It’s a big gamble to give a #2 receiver that much money, but if Stallworth performs like Cleveland expects him to, Cleveland could have one of the best offensives in the AFC.
On defense, they still haven’t found a way to get the job done. Finishing 30th in total defense last year, the defense couldn’t keep up with the offense. This season with a harder schedule and higher expectations the defense needs to improve dramatically to fulfil Cleveland expectations.
#13) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
WHY THEY ARE #13
Who are the New Orleans Saints? Are they the team that a few years ago made it to the NFC championship game, or are they the team that couldn’t run the ball on offense or stop anybody on defense through the air? It will be an interesting season for New Orleans, and with that being said, a few players on this team who will have to answer some questions of their own.
When the Houston Texans decided to use their #1 overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft to select DE Mario Williams over RB Reggie Bush, many pundits said it was one of the most atrocious moves in draft day history. So far into their NFL careers a strong case can be made that the Texans were the oneswho got the better of the deal. Bush has not yet lived up to minimal expectations and last season was a major disappointment. Not being able to pick up any of the slack after RB Deuce McAllister went down for the season with a knee injury last year, Bush has got to perform much better. He has to show he’s more than just an over-hype meida creation, and averaging more than 3.7 yards per carry would be a great start.
Defensively, the Saints upgraded there defense by drafting Sedrick Ellis and traded for Jonathan Vilma and signed free agent DE Bobby McCray from Jacksonville.
And we wonder why the youth of America are so weak and worthless. Don’t blame the kids!!! Look no further than these morons who are parenting our children to be useless adults (or, like parents, like sons).
A story below from the New Haven Register reports that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven has told one of it’s coaches that one of his players could not pitch anymore because HE’S TOO GOOD!!! They claimed that NINE YEAR OLD, Jericho Scott, a right hander who throws a 40 mph fastball, is intimidating the players on the other team because he’s TOO GOOD!!! When Jericho took the mound to pitch last week, the other team forfeited, packed their gear, and left.
Nice to see these jackass, a–hole parents, and chicken manure league officials, teaching these kids a great life lesson. When life gets too tough for you, QUIT!!! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; You don’t need to take an IQ test to become a parent. Adults in this country are raising our boy’s to be worthless, gutless, cowards, who are growing vagina’s instead of balls!!!
READ THE STORY BELOW
The fight between youth baseball league officials and one of its teams over a player whose pitching is said to be too good for batters is moving from the ball field to the legal field.
Leroy and Nicole Scott, whose fast-pitching son, Jericho, 9, is at the center of the dispute, met Monday, along with another player’s parents, with prominent attorney John Williams to see whether the season could be saved. Williams said Monday he will take legal action to try to get Jericho’s team into the upcoming playoffs, where they belong after an 8-0 season. He also will sue the league over the pain and suffering of Jericho and the other young players.
League officials offered to move the team’s 13 players to other squads after they tried to dissolve the team last week because the coach, Wilfred Vidro, refused to pull Jericho off the pitcher’s mound as requested by league officials.
Jericho’s pitches are so fast and accurate that league officials and some parents feared their kids weren’t able to play freely, league attorney Peter Noble said recently. All the players on Jericho’s team declined to move and are sticking together.
Williams says the league officials are out in left field.
“This is a terrible, terrible thing happening to these kids,” Williams said. “Not only does it spoil their summer and their childhood, but it tells them it’s more about winning than doing your best. Everything we value children in athletics for, this is the antithesis.”
Leroy Scott said Jericho remains sad about the situation, blaming himself for the team’s troubles, troubles that keep them from playing ball.
“He’s trying to hold the weight of the world on his shoulders,” Leroy Scott said. “The kids are suffering because they were looking forward to the playoffs.”
Scott said no one from the team of 13 has sided with the league, and league officials have declined to answer their many questions, leaving no choice but to approach the situation legally.
Parents will hold a car wash and other fundraisers to offset the cost of hiring Williams, known for being willing to tackle out of the ordinary cases.
Noble had no comment Monday, but said over the weekend the league has only the best interest of kids in mind and it is intended to be fun.
Vidro, who couldn’t be reached for comment, has said he never resigned, even though Noble has said that he did. When Vidro refused to remove Jericho from a game Wednesday, the other team walked off the field as Jericho began his warm-up pitches.
Vidro has said Jericho’s expert pitching should be looked upon favorably by other teams and parents because it will only help make their kids stronger players.
But Noble said Jericho’s pitches are so good that some of other children feel getting a hit is hopeless and are discouraged from the start. Noble admits Jericho’s pitches are not haphazard or apt to hit people.
The Scotts and Vidro said they believe league officials wanted Jericho off the mound because those officials wanted another team to win; a team that was in first place prior to Jericho’s appearance and is sponsored by Carlito’s Barber Shop, where a league official has a haircutting chair.
Noble said league officials are trying to find a traveling or other advanced team for Jericho, a New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez fan. But Jericho’s mom, Nicole, said she wants him to feel good about using his talents on a team that could benefit most from his efforts.
It hasn’t been 24 hours yet, and already I’m chomping at the bits to know, WHO WILL BE GOING TO TURKEY IN 2010? That will be the next time Team USA will be playing in international competition. The United States will be competing in the World Championship games, a tournament they last played in Japan in 2006, when they lost to Greece. Spain is the defending champion so a rematch of the gold medal game in China would be a great possibility.
It will take some time before the euphoria of winning a gold medal wears off completely, and the next mission to solidify the Americans supremacy in hoops starts again. USA basketball director Jerry Colangelo should be planing a course of action for 2010, and start putting the pieces into place soon.
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT COACH AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AND OLYMPICS?
Coach Mike Krzyzewski will be 63 by the time the world championship starts and I doubt he will be asked to continue as the head coach. Krzyzewski should be given a lot of credit for coaching this team in the manner that he did. Yes, there were in some times during the gold medal game he should have gonewith a bigger line-up (playing more Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard together). And one could argue the US could have run a better half court offense, but you know what…THEY WON THE GOLD, GOING UNDEFEATED AND BEAT THEIR OPPONENTS BY 28 PPG. Coach K kept the players involved in every aspect of the game, assigned well defined roles for each player, and stayed away from having the attention placed squarely on him.
Possible successors for the next Olympic team are; my personal favorite, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, and New York Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni. Both would be great selections but I would like to see Popovich as the head man for the 2010 world championships in Turkey and then the 2012 Olympics.
Along with Larry Brown and Phil Jackson, Popovich is the best coach in North America and would receive automatic respect from the players. He is stern but fair, ego-free, and one of the best coaches on the planet. I would also like to see that stain he received from winning the bronze in the 2004 Olympic games be removed and replaced with a gold medal.
WHAT PLAYERS FROM THIS YEAR’S TEAM ARE COMING BACK?
KOBE BRYANT
The best player on the planet will be 32 by the time the world championships roll around. He’s had surgeries the last few years on his knees, and with the current Lakers squad, he should be going deep into the playoffs each year, which means, he’ll be averaging almost 100 games a year. Bryant keeps himself in great shape, and is dedicated to keeping himself in shape year round, so it probably won’t be a huge issue for 2010. The Olympics on the other hand, might be a different story.
Bryant was quoted in the New York Times as saying he would be happy to come back. ”If they want me back, I’ll be back. I’ve loved it.” Kobe wants to be the greatest player to the game, and while he’ll never match Michael Jordan’s six championships, at least he could be a bigger winner in international competition.
CHRIS PAUL
Along with Derron Williams, Paul is already one the premier point guards in the league, and is only getting better. Paul should continue the fine point guard play he showed in the Olympics, and become a mainstay on the international scene. He can get to the middle of the paint or the rim whenever he wants, and as his jump shot improves, it will make him even more potent. Paul is only 23 years old, so he’ll just be starting his prime when 2010 comes along.
Like Kobe, Paul has also given a strong commitment to continue his Olympic and international career in a quote from the New York Times, “I’d definitely be back, especially if they would have me.”
DWIGHT HOWARD
Superman is still a work in progress, as free throw shooting and fundamentally sound post moves being his krypton. Howard had an uneven Olympic performance, dealing with foul trouble and adjusting to the inconsistent officiating.
He’ll never be a prototypical international post player, because he’ll never play near the perimeter. He can be is a dominate post man on the offensive and defensive glass, as well as being an intimidating presence in the middle when opposing guards and forwards drive to the hoop.
Howard seems to be committed to continuing his international experience, in a quote from the NY Times, “I’d come back. Why wouldn’t I? You get a chance to travel and see the world.”
CHRIS BOSH
Bosh was the interior glue player for the United States, and it’s most consistent post player. Showing the ability of being a consistently good low post defender, Bosh did a wonderful job maintaining strength in the post when Howard went to the bench.
Count Bosh as another member who is excited about representing our country in a quote from the NY Times, “I’d come. It’s fun, man. I’ve been having a blast out here getting in the spirit of the Olympics.”
DERON WILLIAMS
Played well during the tournament and will only get better as time goes on. He’s not as quick as Paul and is not the passer that CP3 is, but he’s bigger, stronger and a more versatile scorer than Paul (i.e-he’s a better outside shooter).
Paul and Williams played very well together when on the floor during the Olympics and look for that combo to continue. Williams was quoted in the NY Times saying, “I’d come. It’s fun, man. I’ve been having a blast out here getting in the spirit of the Olympics.”
WHICH PLAYERS FROM THIS YEAR’S TEAM ARE NOT COMING BACK?
JASON KIDD
This was Kidd’s second time playing in the Olympics and it most likely be his last. He is 35 years old and I’m quite sure Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban (the man who is signing his checks) would like to have Kidd dedicate the rest of his energy to helping the Dallas Mavericks win a championship.
Kidd main contribution was his leadership and being a great bridge from player to coaching staff. His minutes decreased as Paul and Williams clearly were the point guards that gave the team the best chance to win. He finishes his international career undefeated (56-0), with two gold medals, and the knowledge of being one of the greatest international players to play for USA basketball.
MICHAEL REDD
Was brought on to be the zone buster and outside shooter, but really didn’t get to perform as expected because of uneven minutes. With his gold medal, I doubt if he would want to go through it again.
CARLOS BOOZER
Was basically used as the 12th man on the team, receiving less playing time than anyone. Was surprised he didn’t play more minutes, but at least he has a gold medal and a great Olympic experience to make-up for the showing at the 2004 games.
He’s still young enough to play in 2010 and be effective, but I don’t know why they would invite him back. This Olympics, all he did was sit at the end of the bench and help with encouraging words. Unless a new coach could find a role for him that would involve more than just cheerleading, I don’t know why they would put him on the squad.
TAYSHAUN PRINCE
Prince came up big in the gold medal game against Spain, and proved to be one of the more intelligent players on the team.
Prince was selected to the team because of his defensive versatility and when he played he fit the bill. An overlooked component in selecting Prince, was his ability to play with superstars. Prince is the one player on the team that isn’t the focal point of his NBA team, so he already knows how to defer his game and do what he does best.
I would like to see Prince have another opportunity to play for the USA again in 2010, but something tells me they may opt to bring in another big man.
WHICH PLAYERS FROM THIS YEAR’S TEAM ARE NONCOMMITTAL?
LEBRON JAMES
If LeBron, aged 23, really wants to be the global icon he strives to be, he should want to continue playing for the USA in 2010 and 2012. LeBron was one of the main leaders on that team, and while he wasn’t the best player for the USA, (that honor goes to Kobe and D. Wade) he was one of the main ingredients to the team’s success.
LeBron wants to be the face of the NBA and soon be recognized as the best basketball player on the planet. Playing in international tournaments, and representing his country gives LeBron the global exposure he needs to expand his brand, and he wouldn’t have to consider playing overseas full time to achieve it.
DWAYNE WADE
Another player who might be to important to the NBA not to play in another go around of international competition. Wade was spectacular in the Olympics, and unless his style of play takes it toll quicker than expected, he should still be making unbelievable plays for the foreseeable future. Wade would not commit to playing in the 2012 games, saying “We’ll worry about London when it becomes time.”
CARMELO ANTHONY
Of the players who played on the 04′ Olympic team, besides Boozer, Anthony may be the one player I would take a wait and see approach with. There is no doubt that Anthony is a very talented player, and is only going to get physically better. How he continues to mature should determine if he is asked to play for Team USA again. But then again, it might be more of a Nike decision more than anything else.
WHICH NEW PLAYERS WITH A CHANCE TO REPRESENT USA IN 2010?
Kevin Durrant
Andre Iguodala
Tyson Chandler
Shane Battier
Brandon Roy
THE ROSTER I WOULD HAVE FOR THE 2010 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
It wasn’t easy, but the USA men’s basketball team got the job done. On a night where the United States left their defense in the locker room, it was up to Kobe Bryant to save the day. The best basketball player on the planet, Kobe put Team USA on his back scoring 13 of the USA’s final 20 points in the fourth quarter, including a four point play with three minutes left with Team USA up by five, to give the United States a 118-107 victory over a very tough minded and talented team from Spain. The victory put the United States back where they belong in basketball, at the top of the heap, for the first time in eight years.
I was the one who wrote yesterday that if the United States lost that gold medal game, it would have been the biggest upset in team sports history. I’ll back off that comment just a tad and say, if the US would have lost, it would have been one of the top 10 upsets in team sports history.
Little did I know Spain, who almost played a perfect game, would have been in a position to win the game late in the fourth quarter. The way Pau Gasol was playing, I’m sure everyone in the Los Angeles Lakers organization, along with their fans were watching and thinking WHERE WERE THOSE SKILLS AND THAT TOUGHNESS WHEN WE WERE PLAYING THE CELTICS IN THE FINALS? Rudy Fernandez was bringing agony to US assistant coach Nate McMillian with every incredible shot he made (while at the same time thinking, “He better bring this type of game to training camp!!!” ), and Juan Carlos Navarro was making plays that only someone who grew up watching basketball in the 1950’s would appreciate.
The reason why Spain was able to keep it as close as they did, was because they did some things to Team USA no other teams had been able to do. They took advantage of the USA’s small line-up, by getting the ball inside to the Gasol brothers, and let them take turns punishing Carmelo Anthony, Tayshawn Prince and the guards who would switch on to them on pick and rolls. Spain controlled the offensive boards and made the Americans pay for their propensity to leak out on the break and not have four or five players defensive rebound. Spain also benefited from the poor defense played by the United States, who played what I call VERY IMPATIENT defense. The reaching and gambling that the guards of Team USA were doing, were causing defensive breakdowns, which allowed Spain to get easy baskets inside, get in the penalty early in the quarters, and get the United States in foul trouble. It looked as though the United States didn’t want to play defense for the entire shot clock and started reaching for steals and getting out of position, shooting the passing lanes looking for steals, or losing concentration of where their man was. The result was Navarro, Fernandez, and the 17 year old future NBA All Star, Ricky Rubio, consistently got past Chris Paul and Derron Williams and made good things happen for Spain.
But in the end, the United States showed their mettle and mental toughness. Yes, Team USA wouldn’t have won without Bryant’s heroics down the stretch, but they wouldn’t have been in a position to play from ahead if it wasn’t for Dwayne Wade. Wade scored 27 points and was all over the floor with his hustle, energy and attack on the rim. Next to the four point play Kobe made, the second biggest shot that basically sealed the deal, was the three point shot by Wade that made it 111-104 USA with just over two minutes left.
Bryant and Wade might have been the stars of the game, but this was truly a TEAM VICTORY!! Jason Kidd provided valuable minutes and kept the tempo where the US wanted it. Chris Paul offensive floor game was tremendous and he made clutch free throws down the stretch. Chris Bosh battled both Gasol brothers and came away with seven rebounds. Even Tayshawn Prince, who has played sporadic minutes throughout the tournament, gave the USA great play, guarding the Gasol brothers, and making baskets off rebounds.
In the end, the emotions the Americans displayed in putting the United States back on top of the basketball world, came gushing out. Without question, Team USA showed they badly wanted to win this medal. It had nothing to do with redemption from 2004 in Athens; it had everything to do with vindication of a job well done.
Before the Olympics started, there were questions about the USA Olympic basketball team. It ranged anywhere from do they have the right personal and mind set to win against Spain, Argentina and Greece, to are they as committed as they need to be to win gold. Here are some answers to the questions I had about Team USA.
QUESTION
IS MIKE KRZYZEWSKI THE RIGHT COACH FOR THIS TEAM?
ANSWER
Without question, the answer is an emphatic YES!!! I still think Greg Popovich would have been a better fit if he would have committed for three years, but Krzyzewski was a great choice. Krzyzewski made the adjustment of dealing with teenagers, to multimillionaire professionals brilliantly, and has worked well with his coaching staff (great blend of college and NBA coaches).
Krzyzewski was intelligent enough to give the players great input and freedom, while still maintaining leadership of the team. Aligning himself with Jason Kidd (basically making him the coach on the floor and captain) and LeBron James, and giving them a strong leadership roles amongst the team, he allowed the players to feel they had more of a personal investment in what they were doing.
He also allocated minutes to almost everyone on the team, keeping the them fresh and able to play the type of pressure defense and up tempo style coach K demanded.
Unlike Larry Brown, whose humongous ego and quest for being the star of the show annoyed and alienated some members of the 2004 Olympic basketball team, Krzyzewski has been POPOVICH-LIKE in is desire not to have ANY ATTENTION GIVEN TO HIM.
Knowing that the players are the stars, and not the coach (i.e Larry Brown 2004 Olympics) Krzyzewski has developed a strong relationship with the core players for future Olympic competition (LeBron, Carmelo, D. Wade, C. Paul, D. Williams, C. Bosh) that should remain strong for 2012 in London.
In all fairness to coach Brown, Krzyzewski had a much better core a HUMAN BEINGS to deal with than coach Brown (Think Coach K would have been as enthusiastic to take this gig if he had to deal with Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion and Allen Iverson for THREE YEARS!!!) and this group of players have been playing with each other since 2006 (being coach by Krzyzewski, this team did lose to Greece in the 2006 World Games without Kobe or J. Kidd)
QUESTION
WILL THE USA TEAM WEAKNESSES (OUTSIDE SHOOTING, LACK OF ANOTHER BIG MAN) PROVE TO BE THEIR ULTIMATE DOWNFALL TO WIN GOLD?
ANSWER
Except for certain moments during a few games, the team at times has been porous shooting from the outside, especially from the three point range. Kobe Bryant in particular, started the tournament shooting horrendously from behind the three point arc, and the team’s designated zone buster Michael Redd, couldn’t get enough consistent minutes to find the rhythm on his outside shot.
Now in the gold medal game against Spain, the US was blazing from the three point arc, in particular Dwayne Wade, and made seven out of their first ten 3pt attempts.
But because of Team USA’s huge advantage in overall athleticism, it allowed the USA to make steals and cause turnovers on defense, as well as, getting them out strong on the break, and breaking down the opponents defense off the dribble. In other words, the fact that the US wasn’t deadly from the outside, REALLY DIDN’T MATTER.
QUESTION
CAN THESE NBA SUPERSTARS PLAY TOGETHER AS A TEAM?
ANSWER
Another question that has to be answered with a strong YES!! The players enthusiasm was evident from the first intrasquad scrimmage in Vegas, to the gold medal victory against Spain. When a teammate made a good, great or exceptional play, the entire team from the bench cheered loudly and viciously . Everyone was on the same page of what they needed to do to win, and accepted their roles without question or attitude.
The best part was they seemed to make a conscious effort to function as a team. At times they seemed too unselfish, passing up open shots and over passing.
QUESTION
DO THE PLAYERS CARE MORE ABOUT WINNING GOLD OR EXPANDING THEIR INDIVIDUAL FAME?
ANSWER
It goes hand and hand, but there is no doubt the Olympic experience has been tremendous for the players. Obviously winning a gold medal, and doing it in such dominating fashion can only enhance your position worldwide. For LeBron to get that gold and erase that nickname he had gotten in international basketball circles (LeBRONZE James) opens a pathway for more exposure and global notoriety and fame.
For players like LeBron, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant (basically anyone from Nike) it reinforced how popular they are in the country of China and around the world. For these players, all of them displaying their personal resumes on the basketball court, if you want to conquer a country in terms of popularity, you might as well start in a country with over A BILLION PEOPLE!!
QUESTION
CAN THE USA ADJUST TO THE INTERNATIONAL GAME?
ANSWER
The question may now be, CAN THE INTERNATIONAL GAME ADJUST TO THE AMERICANS? Team USA has adjusted to the international rules and inconsistent (aka HORRIBLE) officiating, which was one of their last hurdles they had to overcome. The core of the US team has played under the international rules long enough that they have adapted and it’s no longer an issue.
It is now time for the other countries to adjust to the speed, skill and athleticism to the Americans. Strong teams such as Greece and Argentina have many of their veterans playing in their last international competition, while the USA will have at least five to six of their best players still in the physical prime by the 2012 games. It will be interesting if these countries steer their tremendous run/jump athletes away from the track and onto the basketball courts? Of not I can’t see any countries producing the type of athletes that will be able to compete physically with Team USA.
QUESTION
CAN THE USA WIN OVER THE FANS IN CHINA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD?
ANSWER
Great article written by Chris Sheridan on ESPN.COM talking about how Team USA have been great ambassadors foe their country.
ARTICLE FROM CHRIS SHERIDAN ON ESPN.COM
Win or lose Sunday against Spain, the members of the U.S. men’s basketball team have been golden ambassadors for their country and their sport.
It happened so many times and in so many ways, no one could possibly count off how many hearts and minds they’ve won over — both among the Chinese, and among other American athletes.
But a few random stories can help paint a picture of how gregarious and down-to-earth Team USA has been.
LeBron James said he has signed more than 1,000 autographs since arriving in Beijing, but he had given away only one pair of his sneakers. That happened earlier this week, when James looked up toward the balcony at Beijing Normal University, where the team was practicing, and saw a 12-year-old girl watching with her mother.
James motioned for her to come down, took her around to meet the other members of the team, took a photo with her (recounting the story Saturday, he remembered her name was Katherine), then removed his shoes, signed them and handed them over.
For Kobe Bryant, the aftermath of a simple handshake will stick in his memory.
“I was just walking out to the bus after a game,” he said. “She was one of the volunteers, and she just started crying. That was a trip.”
Bryant and his teammates set the tone for how they were going to act on their first night in town, when they arrived at their hotel, immediately went downstairs and said they wanted to go to the athletes’ village to have a look around.
They were mobbed to such a degree that Chris Bosh said it was borderline scary, but they spent a couple of hours there, walking around and mingling with athletes from other countries — just as they would do two nights later when they attended the Opening Ceremony and made it a point to work the crowd.
Four years ago in Athens, the American basketball players had isolated themselves on a balcony, away from the other athletes as the American federation was waiting to march into the stadium, and other athletes took such offense that they sought out journalists to tell the stories of how aloof and disconnected the basketball players had seemed.
That ‘04 Athens team rubbed a lot of folks back in the United States the wrong way, too. One of its signature bad moments came when the players arrived at the arena to watch the U.S. women’s team play and were shown on television not really paying attention, sitting in a row with their headphones on, off in their own worlds. Away from the cameras, they were standoffish as well, such as the time in Belgrade on a pre-Olympic tour when they dined at a reception with the president of Serbia and stayed huddled in a corner, offending their hosts.
“The tough thing about that is it wasn’t everybody, but we were guilty by association,” recalled Carlos Boozer,one of four holdovers from the ‘04 team. “Hopefully we can change people’s perspectives about us because we don’t want people thinking we’re jerks or a——-. We want people thinking we’re representing our country correctly and are doing it the right way.
“We weren’t told we needed to fix our image; this is just who we are. We’re good people anyway.”
One of the better stories to make the rounds Saturday as the Americans prepared to face Spain in the gold-medal game (2:30 a.m. ET Sunday) was a game of P.I.G. played between Bryant and Adam Wright of the U.S. water polo team, which also trained at BNU.
First shot: A dunk. “P” for Wright.
Second shot: A 3-pointer from the left wing. “I” for Wright.
Third shot: A launch from behind the backboard, up and over the glass and through the net. “G” for Wright, although he at least got a piece of the rim on his attempt.
Several players have made appearances on Chinese television’s late-night talk show programs, and officials who travel with the team each day said the number of autographs and sneakers given out to young volunteers, security guards, police and military have been too numerous to tally.
Michael Redd described an endless stream of fans following him through a mall as he went shopping. People were asking him to stop and pose for a quick picture, or thrusting a piece of paper and a pen toward him for an autograph.
“They know all our stats, they know where we come from, they know everything about us,” he said. “It’s amazing — it really is — just how popular basketball has gotten. It really has gone global.”
Still, in a country of 1.3 billion, there are some who remain oblivious to the stardom of the American players they have randomly bumped into. Take, for instance, the pair of middle-aged women running a concession stand at the base of the Badaling section of the Great Wall.
They met Dwyane Wade and had no idea who he was … even as he pointed to his own face on the bottle of Gatorade they were trying to sell him.
Wade recounted the story:
“Once I get down from my long journey, like a 45-minute walk, now I’m thirsty. So I’m looking for something to drink, and lo and behold I see a Gatorade. And I’m like: ‘Can I get a Gatorade?’ and they asked for some crazy amount of money, like 3,000 [yuan], and I looked at it and I saw my picture, and I looked at them and said, ‘This is me,’ and she was like, ‘No, no. Money!’ So I have to come up with the money. I had to buy three or four of them because of how thirsty I was, and I didn’t even haggle her down. The kid in me came out. I was shocked to see my face on it. I’ve been with Gatorade [as an endorser] a couple years, but it just shocked me at that moment that I was there, on the bottle. So I invested into Gatorade as well.”
If all goes well Sunday against Spain, this team’s legacy will be the redemption it brought to USA Basketball after three straight international tournaments that ended with someone else winning gold medals: Yugoslavia at the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis, when the Americans placed sixth; Argentina at the 2004 Olympics, when the Americans took bronze; Spain at the 2006 World Championship, when Team USA finished third.
But what will stick in the heads of the players who competed are the snapshots of the people they met, the places they’ve seen and the treatment they’ve received.
“The way they’ve treated us over here, that’s what’s going into the memory bank,” Tayshaun Prince said. “People are treating us like we’re on top of the world — which we’re not.”
But the top of the world was only one more victory away, and the Americans were hoping to finish this tournament in the same manner in which they’ve played it — with one last display of unquestioned supremacy.
“We want to win, we want to dominate and show we can still dominate the game,” Wade said. “I know myself, as a fan, I want to see a good game; I don’t want a see a team win by 20.
“But right now I’m not a fan, so I’m not worried about that.”
All I know is, the nonsense that happened this morning, wouldn’t happen if Michael Phelps was involved!! I’m quite sure NBC will have (in their opinion) a reasonable explanation for not showing the USA-vs-Argentina basketball game live, but there are NO EXCUSES!!! Living in Las Vegas, which is Pacific Standard Time, I set my alarm for 7:15 Friday morning, thinking I was going to watch the semi-final basketball game live. After all, NBC (more appropriately the USA Network) had shown the majority of the Olympic basketball games live, so why would the most anticipated basketball game of the Olympics, featuring our team from the United States, not be shown live, right?!?
Much to my chagrin, when I turned on my tele at 7:15 this morning, I saw two NON-AMERICANS playing TABLE TENNIS!!! Now I like table tennis, played it a bit growing up, but I’m thinking WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!? WHERE’S THE BASKETBALL GAME!!! After that I was subjected to watching TWO NON-AMERICAN TEAMS play BEACH VOLLEYBALL!!! Man, you’ve got to be joking!!!
Am I the only one who thinks if America’s poster boy MICHAEL PHELPS was scheduled to swim at 7:15 PST, I would have seen that race LIVE?!? I realize all his races were delayed and shown in prime time, but I don’t think I would be watching two other countries playing TABLE TENNIS, or BEACH VOLLEYBALL, if Phelps would have been competing in his most challenging race at 10:15 A.M Eastern Standard time.
The game itself between Argentina and Team USA was anticlimactic. Not because I heard the game on radio and knew what happened, but because Argentina played the majority of the game without its best player, Manu Ginobili, out with an ankle injury, and Andres Nocioni, who was basically playing on one leg. Not saying Ginobili or Nocioni would have made a big enough difference to overcome the US, but they are Argentina’s best players (along with Luis Scola).
The USA came out the box looking to destroy Argentina, going on a 18-0 spurt early in the first quarter and leading by as many as 21 in the 2nd. They were crisp and efficient on offense, making great decisions, and making a good percentage of their three point shots. On defense they were disciplined, focused, and intelligent, challenging the Argentines with chest-to-chest, ball pressuring power. Against Ginobili, USA defenders did their best DENNIS JOHNSON impersonations as they cleverly held, bumped, grabbed, and smothed Gionobili seemly before each team left the locker room.
To Argentina’s great credit, they refused to be the Washington Generals to the USA Harlem Globetrotters. In a remarkable display of resiliently, despite not having the advantage of having their best player, Ginobili, available, Argentina kept fighting back. Once up by that large margin, Team USA started playing lazy, unfocused and careless basketball, and the lead kept shrinking and shrinking. Avoiding the paint like a fat man avoids a salad bar, Team USA started launching, and clanging three point jumpers at an alarming rate. When over 60% of your field goal attempts are three point shots, and you start committing silly fouls to send your opponent to the free throw line early in a quarter, you’re concentration has lapsed. Prime example was Team USA in the 2nd quarter.
Without Ginobili and a healthy Nocioni, the Team USA eventually wore down Argentina and coasted to victory. But great credit and admiration must be given to the Argentines, who showed great heart and fight. Despite going into this gun fight with a butter knife, they never quit and didn’t become the latest “Bitch” for the Americans. If Team USA would consistently play as hard as Argentina, they would win every game by 50 points.
To complete the road to Olympic gold, Team USA will have to defeat Spain, whom they hammered 119-82 in the previous round. In a year where the arguably the greatest upset in team sports happened (New York defeating New England), if Spain defeats USA on Sunday, it might be the greatest upset in team sports.
Reading on line the other day that Carrie Underwood is going to be on the cover of September issue of Allure magazine. She was interviewed about many things, including her relationship with Dallas Cowboys quarterback and pimp, Tony Romo. Now I had no idea who Carrie Underwood is, nor do I read Allure magazine, but the thing that interested me is her comment when asked about Romo. She didn’t speak ill of him, or reveal some embarrassing dirty laundry. In fact her comment was..
“We were both small-town people doing very big things, and we relied on each other, dealing with fame. And now? I don’t know. The phone will ring and it’ll be him, and I’ll maybe not answer.”
Now like I mentioined…It’s not anything rash or hurtful, but still, Tony Romo’s name in the magazine of Allure?!? Come on Tony, you’re the quarterback of America’s team…You can’t be having your name in ALLURE MAGAZINE!!!
And what’s up with Underwood’s comment about,“I don’t know. The phone will ring and it’ll be him, and I’ll maybe not answer.”. What up with that pimp? You’re Tony Romo, QB of the Dallas Cowboys superstar!! Unless you leave messages like the one below from ESPN news anchor Scott Van Pelt, I don’t see why she can’t make time for ya. Besdies, isn’t Romo dating Jessica Simpson?!?
I HOPE TONY ROMEO DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THIS
The only advice I’ll give to Tony (like he needs my advice right!!!) is use your fame to its fullest!!! I know you can add more ladies to team Tony.
HERE ARE MY TOP FIVE LADIES THAT WOULD FIT IN NICELY IN THE WORLD OF TONY “SAM MALONE” ROMO.
Before I begin, this statement goes to all of you who are going to bombard this blog with nastiness after reading this post. Typing with furor and foam from the mouth, you will make accusations of me being anti-American, making comments such as WHY DON’T YOU GO LIVE IN BRAZIL THEN, The venomous spit from your lips, the redness in your eyes as my love of country will come under fire, let me say loud and clear…I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!! I know there will be those who will go all, JOHN MCCAIN on BARRACK OBAMA on me, but like the next President of the United States said refers to me also…DON’T QUESTION MY LOVE AND PATRIOTISM FOR THIS COUNTRY!!!
Now, let me explain the title of this post. The reason I’m upset the USA Women’s soccer team won the gold medal, is because of one person…Goaltender HOPE SOLO!! To see her in jubilation made me absolutely sick to my stomach!!
For those who don’t remember, Hope Solo lashed out PUBLICLY against her then coach Greg Ryan, and disrespected Brianna Scurry after she was unfathomably benched for a washed-up Scurry in the 2007 World Cup semi-finals against Brazil. Scurry, whose best days were WAY behind her, was tattooed for 4 goals in a humiliating 4-0 loss. Afterwards Solo whined and complained like a BITCH that if SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GOAL, the US would have won that game cause SHE WOULD HAVE MADE THOSE SAVES.
Not we all know HC Greg Ryan’s decision to start Scurry in goal instead of Solo was the dumbest move in sports since Boston Red Sox Manager Grady Little decided to leave Pedro Martinez in against the Yankees in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. But brought Solo to the level of LEON in the Budwiser commericals, was yapping in front of a microphone about what a bad decision it was, then inovertly dissing Scurry over and over in the process.
YOU REMEMBER LEON RIGHT HOPE!!
But of course, just like everyother great athlete, male or female, if you can produce and help the team win, eventually all is forgiven. Owens can treat his QB’s like what comes out of our asses, treat toliet water, and still gets another chance to divide a team (oh he will with Dallas eventually) because he’s a great player. Leonard Little can kill somebody because he was drunk and driving a car, and still get to play football, and yes, Hope Solo can act like a spoiled brat after a tough loss and still be invited back to play by the new coach, because he realizes without her in goal, THE USA WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM CAN’T WIN A GOAL MEDAL!!!
Well I for one, was cheering for every team the USA women’s soccer team were playing against. I wanted the USA to lose 15-0 every game!!! I don’t care if they were playing Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan or N. Korea. I wanted to see one of those women kick the ball so hard at her, Solo’s head would come off (while the ball went into the net)!!!
Like everyone hero Brett Farve, the man who when he goes to the bathroom ESPN makes it the lead story, I am being vindictive. When Farve found out the Packers wouldn’t kiss his ass and rearrange their plans because he changed his mind about retiring, he wanted to play for the Minnesota Vikings so he could exact revenge against the team who (in his mind) did him wrong.
Well I was willing to put my patriotism on hold and route for Brazil, knowing that it would be a crushing defeat for our American women, if I could just see that selfish bitch Hope Solo lose!!!
Her comments after the game saying, “I went through hell. A lot of people did. But I feel stronger in the end. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m glad I went though it. I learned a lot about myself.” Oh please!!!
Yeah Hope, you went through hell, because YOU WERE THE ONE THAT WAS DRIVING!!! And because of that act of selfishness, you put you teammates in an unwanted position of having to discuss it and address it. This was of your own doing, and there’s no one to blame for it, but you!! DAMN, I HATE THAT THIS WOMAN WON A GOLD MEDAL!!!
When I watch players like Terrell Owens, MeShawn Johnson (when he was playing), any team that goes against the Washington Wizards, Redskins, or Georgetown Hoyas basketball, I’m free to cheer against them with impunity and glee because it’s basically USA-vs-USA!!! The USA is winning regardless. It’s city-vs-city, state-vs-state, etc.
But in an Olympic event, choosing sides becomes more serious!! It’s like your mother competing against someone not of kin; who are you going to root for?!? That’s a question that’s not for debate!! Well the same thing with the USA-vs-another country. You have love and respect for the competitor, but you root for mother USA. When I’m cheering against the United States, it almost feels like I’m betraying my flag. But in this case, the exceptation was made!!!
I am happy for the rest of the woman on the US who conquered gold, and had to go through some adversity to do it. Great for them, and I salute you. But in the case of Hope Solo, I’ll give you another salute. It consists of a particular finger…For you, I’ll raise it high and proud!!!
Read a nice story the other day on si.com, written by Luke Winn, about one of Shawn Kemp children. Shawn Kemp Jr. is a 17 year old player in the graduating class of 2009. He is a four star prospect and ranked as the 83rd best player in his class.
Taking a look at his highlights, he looks like a decent prospect, stands 6′9″ (same as his old man), has a 7′1″ wingspan and wears a size 19 shoe. He’s received scholarship offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, along with Washington and Indiana having serious considerations.
Interesting to note that for most of his life his father really didn’t play a part in his life. Now Shawn Sr. is making an effort to do so. Better late than never!!
Read the whole story below…
PHILADELPHIA — The kid was seated on the floor of a gym at Philadelphia University, a few minutes after his first game at the Reebok All-American Camp on Tuesday, when a man in an official camp polo shirt walked by and mistook him for a different high-school senior-to-be. “Dan Jennings?” the man said, but received only a strange look in return.
The man altered his inquiry. “What’s your name, kid?”
“Shawn Kemp.”
The man’s look said B.S. “What’s your name?”
“Shawn Kemp.”
“You,” the man said, slightly annoyed, “ain’t Shawn Kemp.”
And then the man walked away.
The kid, who was wearing a No. 71 jersey with no name on the back, was not perpetrating a ruse. While he is not the Shawn Kemp of Supersonics fame and paternal infamy, he is Shawn Kemp Jr., the eldest child of the former NBA forward, and one of at least eight kids — with at least six different mothers — fathered by the elder Kemp. Out of the Reign Man’s scattered DNA has grown another power forward who has played his way onto the national recruiting radar.
Kemp Jr. is 17. He has the nose, the ears, and the forehead of his father, but junior’s overall mien is friendlier. He is 6-foot-9. He has had only sporadic contact with his pops, and has been raised by his mother, Genay Doyal, in Marietta, Ga. He has a four-star rating from Rivals.com, and is ranked 83rd overall in the class of 2009. He has scholarship offers from Alabama, Georgia, Cincinnati and Ole Miss, and strong interest from Washington and Indiana. In the winter of 2009 he’ll likely make his college debut, and in his first televised playing time, the network will surely show flashbacks of the first Shawn Kemp. “Some people say I play like my dad,” Kemp Jr. said. “I do what I do, but I’m trying to be my own person, too.”
Unlike his father — who was kicked out of Kentucky in 1988 before playing a game, but was still taken in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft by Seattle — Junior is not yet forecasted as a major pro prospect. On Tuesday a multitude of high-profile D-I coaches, including Florida’s Billy Donovan, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski and Maryland’s Gary Williams, looked on as Kemp’s Reebok camp team (the “Jason Terry” squad) played its first game. Kemp started in promising fashion, throwing down a dunk for his squad’s first points, but then sputtered to a final stat line of four points and just two rebounds. Summer all-star camps tend to be guard-dominated affairs, but Kemp’s impact was still noticeably small in his second game, in which he scored two points and pulled down two boards.
Kemp has too much of everyone’s favorite recruiting buzzword — “upside” — to be ignored, though. That begins with his growth potential. “Have you seen his feet?” asked Roger Kvam, his coach at Cherokee High (Canton, Ga.), over the phone. “They’re huge — size 19 already. And his wingspan is 7-1.” Kemp said doctors have told him he should become a 7-footer by the age of 21.
He has also had limited exposure to the game: He didn’t start playing hoops competitively until the eighth grade, but has quickly developed into a dunking force. Kvam said Kemp had more than 60 slams in 28 games at Cherokee this past season, and, while playing close to the basket, shot 70 percent from the field. Kemp may not have the polished skills of his dad, but Kvam said, “He’s very explosive for his size. For me, that’s the correlation to his father’s game.”
Goyal, who grew up in Bellevue, Wash., said she met Kemp’s dad in 1989, just weeks after he had arrived in Seattle as a 19-year-old NBA rookie. Their son was born in the summer of 1991, and, although they never married, they jointly decided to name the boy Shawn Kemp Jr. They would regularly attend Sonics games for the first few years of his life, and “while he was somewhat conscious of it,” Doyal said, “I don’t think it really kicked in for [Shawn Jr.] that he had a famous father.”
When Kemp was 5, his mother relocated to the Atlanta area for a job with Nordstrom’s, her employer in Seattle. He said he didn’t have contact with his dad again until he attended a game between the Hawks and the elder Kemp’s second NBA team, the Cavaliers, in 2000.
“That was the first time I remember seeing him since I was 3 years old,” Kemp Jr. said. “We got to talk to him after the game before he got on the bus, for like 15 minutes. I don’t even remember what about; I was just like …”
He trailed off there, expressing wonder over seeing his dad in the NBA — not animosity over him being an absentee father. On that subject, Kemp Jr. has a magnanimous stance: “I’m just cool with it.” Some of the scattered Kemp kids seem interested in bonding over their shared experience: Kemp Jr. said he has been contacted, on MySpace, by a half-sister and half-brother he didn’t know existed. (“I guess they just went on and searched,” he said. “I got a message saying, ‘I’m your brother,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, OK.’”) The half-brother, Kyree Kemp, is an 11-year-old in San Diego, and Kemp Jr. said he’d like to eventually visit him.
It wasn’t until 2006, after the elder Kemp’s final NBA comeback bid, and his second drug-related arrest, that he reached out to Shawn Jr., calling him in hopes of fostering a relationship. Kemp’s father is married now, has three children with his current wife, and splits time between the Seattle and Houston areas. Kemp Jr. and his father have since been talking periodically, with Doyal’s blessing. “He still loves his dad and respects him,” she said, “and I feel it’s better late than never that he’s going to try to be part of things.”
One of Doyal’s brothers, Harold, who played basketball at Western Washington University in the ’90s and now plays professionally in Spain, has served as a basketball mentor for her son during the offseason. Harold most recently played for L’Hospitalet in Barcelona, alongside Serge Ibaka — who, coincidentally, became a first-round pick of the Sonics in last month’s NBA draft. But the elder Kemp, who is still regarded, along with Gary Payton, as one of the greatest players in that franchise’s history, has begun making attempts to play a role in his first son’s basketball career as well. Kvam said that Kemp Sr. dropped in on a Cherokee practice near the end of last season, prior to the team’s state playoff game. His father has never been to a high-school game at Cherokee, but did attend an AAU tournament in Portland last month in which Kemp Jr.’s Atlanta-based Worldwide Renegades were playing, and got to see his son in action on the court.
Kemp Jr. has begun to embrace the source of his NBA genes. Just last week, he said, he was wearing a throwback jersey of his dad’s — retro green-and-gold Sonics, number 40, the name KEMP stitched on the back. And on Kemp Jr.’s right shoulder is a tattoo of a basketball with “S.K.” and “40″ inked inside. He’s finally switching his high-school number to 40 this season to match his dad’s old Sonics digits. “I’ve been wanting to wear [40] for a while now,” he said.
A couple of days before the Reebok All-American Camp began, Kemp Jr. received another call from his father — and along with it, an invitation. The elder Kemp, for the first time, inquired about running his son through some workout sessions in Houston to prepare him for his senior year. They’re still trying to iron out the details, but hoping to meet up soon after the final AAU tournaments conclude, in the final days of summer. It will be a reunion long overdue.
“His father said he wanted to basically work with him, on basketball,” Doyal said, recalling the conversation. “Which, I think, is a very good thing. Because he said he doesn’t want his son to be compared to him. He wants his son to be better than him.”
