Show Him the Money! May 18, 2010
Posted by Neil in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far
Normally I loathe athletes who hold out as a negotiation ploy to get a new contract. I think it is despicable for someone who is being paid tens of millions of dollars to hold out in hopes of receiving a couple of million more. While I respect that agents have a job to do for their clients, it is frustrating to watch athletes (as orchestrated by their agents) hold teams hostage in an attempt to pad their already obscene bank accounts. Players today are paid such staggering sums that prevailing public sentiment is that all players should be content with their already privileged lot in life. However, on rare occasions there are players that are truly underpaid. Chris Johnson of the Titans is certainly one of those athletes.
Johnson was one of the best players in the league last season. He was the top RB in the league and is one of the most dynamic players to step on a gridiron in decades. He toted the pigskin 358 times for an astounding 2,006 yards in 2009. That was almost 600 yards more than Steven Jackson who was 2nd in the league in rushing yards. Johnson also set the single season record for yards from scrimmage topping Marshall Faulk’s breakout 1999 campaign. He was voted by the AP as the league’s offensive player of the year. However, his base salary for next year will be only $550,000. While that is certainly not chump change for anyone, the amount is insulting for the biggest offensive weapon in the league.
If Johnson was a QB or WR, I wouldn’t be adamant about his need to hold out for the money he deserves. However, Johnson plays the most physically demanding position in the sport. As we have seen over the last decade, RB’s have a very short shelf life in the NFL. They are used heavily at the outset of their careers and then spit out of the league after their bodies inevitably break down from the repeated collisions they face each NFL Sunday. A running back has to get his money while he can. That time is now for Johnson. He is the best player in the league at his position and deserves to be paid as such. With his small frame he may be out of the league in 3 years. He can’t wait for a big future payday. His career could end with a big Ray Lewis hit or a knee injury this season.
If you see that Chris Johnson is holding out well until July or August, don’t dismiss him as another spoiled athlete. He is doing the right thing in a sport that will turn his back on him if he gets hurt this season.
LeBron to Chicago: Bulls*** May 18, 2010
Posted by Neil in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far
I keep hearing a lot about LeBron going to Chicago. While it makes a ton of sense from a personnel standpoint, I cannot imagine LBJ subjecting himself to being dubbed MJ Jr. for the rest of his career. LBJ’s decision over the next few months will go a long way in defining his career. It will shape his ability to win titles and determine his pecking order in the pantheon of NBA greats. While I do think LBJ will leave Cleveland, I have a hard time imagining him picking the Windy City as his final NBA destination.
Strictly personnel-wise it does make sense for LBJ to be attracted to Chicago. They are a young and talented team. They have a versatile big in Joakim Noah that would work well with LBJ on the court (although the two have had their differences over the past few years). The two of them are very passionate and I believe they are winners. The Baby Bulls also have nice complimentary pieces like Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas. Most importantly they have the best young PG in the Association (with apologies to Deron Williams) in Derrick Rose. I do forecast a minor problem with LBJ and Rose playing together (as they both need to dominate the ball), however I do think the two could coalesce into the best tandem in the league.
In addition, Vinny Del Negro is out in Chicago and LBJ could basically handpick his successor. John Calipari (although what he has done to deserve the admiration he has received is beyond me) would make the most sense. Calipari was Rose’s coach at Memphis (when Rose allegedly had someone take his college entrance exam for him and their National Finalist appearance was stripped accordingly) and is seemingly close to LBJ. He could be the coach that makes a transition between Rose and LBJ a fairly smooth affair.
Also, Chicago is a fairly sexy city. While it is not quite as alluring as NYC or LA, it is a major city that appreciates its sporting gods and will allow for LBJ to continue to grow as a brand. While the Bulls would seem to be the best fit from a basketball perspective for LBJ, I don’t think he will ever go to Chicago.
Why would LBJ want to subject himself to being labeled MJ Jr.? While he will always be compared to Jordon (although I agree with those that think LBJ is more Magic than Jordan and that Kobe is a better comparison to MJ), his legacy will always come up short if he plays and wins his titles in Chicago. Even if he wins 6 titles in the Windy City ala MJ, he will forever be second fiddle in the Third City. There can only be one MJ. At least in Chicago.
I do see LeBron leaving Cleveland. However, I have the hardest time even fathoming him deciding to subject himself to playing the rest of his career in MJ’s house. He could go to the Knicks, Nets, or even the Clippers and have a fresh legacy there. He will go down as the greatest player in the history of his next franchise. Unless, he goes to Chicago.
New York Loves Boston May 13, 2010
Posted by Neil in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far
New York loves Boston. That sentence looks real strange. As a New Yorker, it disgusts me to even write it. However, over the last two weeks New York has fallen in love with Boston. The two cities have united as one. At least in the basketball world that is. Knicks fans who have been trained to hate the color green and that stupid leprechaun are now living and dying with each Ray Allen three pointer, Rajon Rando assist, and Kevin Garnett block. The Big Three of Pierce, Garnett, and Allen might as well be Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, and Clyde Frazier. While tonight is a vital game for the Celtics in their quest to win a second championship in three years, Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals is much more important to two other franchises.
Tonight is really a Game 7 for three organizations. I maintain that the team with the least riding on the outcome tonight is Boston. While tonight is a virtual must win for the Celtics if they want to advance to play Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals (as I don’t think they are likely to win Game 7 in Cleveland), in the grand scheme of things this is a minor game for their franchise’s storied history. Sure, winning tonight could allow them to move on and eventually capture another NBA title. However, if the Celtics do go on to capture the Larry O’Brien Trophy this year it will be one of 18 for the greatest organization in league history. It will be special, but really just another notch on the belt and a banner in their barn.
Tonight will be a transcendent evening for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. While there is certainly no guarantee that LeBron James will leave the Cavs if they lose tonight, it is highly possible. His departure would forever change the landscape of the team he departs and the team he comes to. If LBJ plays well tonight and sees his mediocre teammates struggle in defeat, he will have every excuse to leave the Cavs. In his mind, he has done everything he can. Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and an aging Shaq are not enough to help him get over the hump. Unlike MJ or Kobe, he has never had a Robin. MJ had Pippen and Kobe had Shaq in his prime. Even LBJ’s contemporary DWade has a ring. However, he too had a relevant Shaq. LBJ is getting Shaq at the very end of his career. He is trying to win a title all on his own. The history of the Association shows that this is not possible.
The reasons for LBJ to leave seem to trump the reasons to stay. The only reason he might stay is out of loyalty. He is an Akron kid. His friends and family live around him and can support him. He is the biggest of fish in the smallest of NBA ponds. However, if he leaves he has an opportunity to play wherever he wants. He could go to Miami and team with DWade to form a dominant duo that could dominate the title landscape for the next decade. South Beach is DWade’s crib though.
The most logical place for LBJ to land would be with the Knicks. They are a proud franchise that has fallen on tough times during the last decade. LBJ would be the true King of his sport if he went to the Big Apple. He could fully capitalize on endorsement deals and all that NYC showers on its pantheon of greats. Most importantly, he could make the NBA relevant in the Mecca again. For the last decade, the biggest market in the Association has been devoid of a reason to watch the league. TV ratings have suffered as a result. Imagine a Knicks-Lakers Final with LBJ against Kobe and Phil. I am sure there are times that due to the excitement of the notion David Stern needs to sit down and relax just thinking about such a concept. The NBA needs the NYC market in the coming decade. With Kobe entering the golden years of his career, the league needs something for its fans to be excited about. A contender in the Big City would propel the league for the foreseeable future.
If the Celtics take care of business tonight, and LeBron is sitting on the bench in the waning moments, he will look at the Celtics and see a team that has already provided a blueprint for his future. Before their championship in 2008, Boston had a record of 24-58 in 2006-2007. Then, they magically transformed overnight. They added Allen and Garnett. They along with Pierce led the transformation into a team that had the biggest single-season turnaround in NBA history. They improved by 42 games and went an astounding 66-16 and won the NBA title in their first season together.
That could be LBJ’s and the Knicks fate. The Knicks were 29-53 this season. If LeBron comes to the Mecca, many will follow. Chris Bosh via free agency. Tony Parker via trade. There are endless possibilities. A team that relied on David Lee as their best player could became a dominant team where Lee is the scrappy 4th scorer that he should be. The Knicks could win the title next season. That is, if Boston wins tonight. New York loves Boston. They have to right now.
Cincy’s Insanity May 8, 2010
Posted by Neil in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far 
A common definition of insanity which is credited to the great Albert Einstein is: “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Using this as a guide, I think it is safe to label the Cincinnati Bengals as insane. The decision makers in ‘Nati are officially making even Al Davis appear more and more lucid. While Davis has made rational moves this offseason (releasing JaMarcus Russell and drafting Alabama LB Rolando McClain to highlight a sensible draft class), the Bengals brass has continued to make head scratching decisions. While the franchise has improved slightily over the last 5 seasons (even making 2 playoff appearances during this span), the player personnel moves made by the organization have been deplorable. The Bengals egregiously lived up to their reputation by signing Pacman Jones to a 2 year deal this week.
While I am all for giving people second chances in life, the Bengals apparently take this motto to the absurd. Pacman has had more than a couple of chances during his NFL life. He has already made stops in Nashville and Dallas and has been littered with criminal problems that have plagued him for his entire career. While he is only 26, he was suspended for the entire 2007 season and for 6 games in 2008 for violating the NFL’s conduct policy. Since being drafted out of West Virginia by the Titans, he has been arrested approximately 6 times and allegedly involved in 12 instances that required police intervention (according to ESPN). Once he went to the loving arms of Jerry Jones (who may be the only person that can rival Heidi Montag as far as cosmetic procedures during a lifetime), he was suspended for the 6 games in ‘08 for getting into a alcohol-fueled scuffle with a bodyguard that was assigned to babysit him.
The thing that astounds me most is why teams continue to give Pacman a chance. When doing a cost-benefit analysis, the headaches with his baggage and risk of potential future problems is not nearly worth the skills he brings to the gridiron. Simply put, he is a very average NFL player. Sure he has some speed, but his cover skills are not above average and he is a mediocre NFL player at best (he didn’t have an interception with the Cowboys). He is lauded as a great return man, but averaged less than 5 yards per punt return with the ‘Boys. There are dozens of guys in the NFL that are as good or better than him. It is amazing to me that he still has a job in the league. While I am floored that he is getting another chance, I shouldn’t be surprised by the team that is giving it to him.
The Bengals have the most checkered personnel history in the sport over the last decade. It would take a novel to dissect all of the questionable acquisitions they have made this decade, but a few are worth mentioning. Pacman’s former West Virginia University teammate is the most glaring and sad example. Chris Henry was a talented and fairly productive WR, but was released by the Bengals in 2008 following multiple arrests. While head coach Marvin Lewis apparently didn’t want the Bengals to bring back Henry last year, owner Mike Brown brought him back anyway. Henry seemingly had turned things around, but unfortunately died last year in a bizarre incident where he fell from the back of a truck.
Other examples of second (and third and fourth and fifth and sixth and seventh) chances that the Bengals have given to troubled players include: Odell Thurman, Cedric Benson, and Tank Johnson. Also, in February 2010, the Bengals signed former Arkansas QB Matt Jones who had played WR with the Jags for a a few productive seasons. Matt Jones didn’t play at all in the league last year after being released by the Jags in 2008 following a charge for cocaine possession.
Lets not forget that the face of the Bengals franchise is Chad Johnson (I refuse to ever call him “Ochocinco”). While Johnson is not known for brushes with the law like many of his former and current teammates, he is the most eccentric player in the league. While I personally enjoy most of his antics and believe that he is generally good for the league, it is troubling when he is one of the veteran stable examples in your locker room. While he may be able to dance nimbly both on the field and on the stage of “Dancing With the Stars”, he is not exactly the ideal leader for a franchise in turmoil.
So, what is next for the Bengals? Despite having some talent with Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson, the franchise still hasn’t won a playoff game since 1991 when they beat the Oilers in a Wild Card playoff game. The next week they lost to the LA Raiders. Speaking of the Silver and Black, they just released a QB this week that is looking for a second chance. While most teams won’t touch him with a ten foot pole, there is one franchise out there that is probably more than willing to. It seems like a natural fit. Plus, JaMarcus will automatically look better as a Bengal. Stripes are always slimming.
AVP Tour: An Unknown Entity May 8, 2010
Posted by Neil in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far
Nobody is going to read this article. It is about volleyball. Nobody cares about volleyball. Many people like to pick up a volleyball when they go to the beach a few times a year. However, nobody actually watches the sport. Sure, NBC has done a decent job packaging Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Traenor over the past two Summer Olympics during their runs toward gold medals. However, beach volleyball is a niche sport.
Just like most sports fans, I keep up with the NFL, NBA, and MLB. They are the bread and butter sports for me and all sports enthusiasts. Before last weekend, I had never been to an AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) tournament before. I had seen it on TV a few times. I had heard of Karch Kiraly and his pink hat. I had always thought that beach volleyball should get some more exposure. Speaking of exposure, what is there not to like about the idea of beach volleyball? Attractive athletes playing a fun and exciting sport that everyone knows how to play.
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to actually attend an AVP Tour stop on West Beach in the coastal destination of Santa Barbara. While I always enjoy a weekend in Santa Barbara, I thoroughly enjoyed my first brush with life on the AVP Tour. The atmosphere is outstanding. There are a lot of tremendous athletes (besides Misty May-Traenor) that the mainstream has no idea about.
While the AVP experience was outstanding, I was left with a couple of impressions about the AVP administration itself. First, the AVP needs to do a much better job marketing their players. A lot of them are very attractive and while the sport will never be considered a major one, it certainly should be more prominent then it is. The weather is always great, the action moves very fast (each game is usually about an hour) and the players are fantastic. The athletes are very approachable and are playing for the love of the sport. They are quick to banter with fans and enjoy performing for the sparse crowds that attend.
The AVP puts on a wonderful show for those few people at the event. The prices are very affordable (about $15 for an entire day of action). There are DJ’s spinning during play, and a MC that is hilarious and has free reign at all times to heckle players and commentate on the matches. There are also crazy contests to get fans involved during breaks in the action. While the product itself is of high quality, unfortunately anyone outside Southern California doesn’t hear about the events and doesn’t care.
Consequently, the prize money is not sufficient for these guys and gals. Unless you are a top 5 team on the Tour, you need to have another job to survive. I watched an outstanding player last weekend named Austin Rester. He plays on the 18th ranked team on Tour heading into last weekend. He is a hulking 6′7″ impressive good-looking athlete. He was extremely cordial to the ballkids, fans, and officials. He is a guy that sports fans would like. That is, if anybody knew who he was. He led his team to an upset of the #2 ranked team and a 5th place finish. For winning 3 tough matches on Friday and Saturday and then losing to the #3 ranked team on Tour, the duo split $6,000 for a 5th place finish. That was his career best finish. I went to the AVP website and looked at Rester’s career stats. Even though he is one of the top 30 players on the Tour, he has made just $33,000 in 7 seasons. He plays for the love of the game and seemed like a great guy. However, he trains too hard to have to work other jobs while striving to be one of the best athletes in the world in his sport.
Much like the minor leagues of baseball or tennis, there are a lot of unique stories out there. Unfortunately, the AVP Tour has not brought their worthwhile product to the consciousness of American sports fans. They have failed to capitalize on the momentum that Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Traenor built for the sport during the past two Summer Games. It is simply a regional niche sport that will only be appreciated in So Cal, Hawaii, and maybe Florida. There is an AVP event in San Francisco (near AT&T Park) in August. I am planning on being there. I bet you won’t.
JaMarcus’ NFL Legacy? A Black Hole April 30, 2010
Posted by Paul in : Uncategorized , 10comments
In the past few days, rumors have been swirling around Raider Land. Several credible NFL reporters have come out and proclaimed that JaMarcus Russell would be cut by Al Davis in the coming days, after failing to once again stay in shape during the off season. These rumblings are only exacerbated by the Raiders’ actions over the weekend: namely trading for former Redskins starting quarterback Jason Campbell. Not only was this promising signal-caller brought into Oakland, but his contract was extended one year. Needless to say, all signs point towards an exit for Russell.
With that in mind, the talking heads are already debating whether or not JaMarcus is the biggest draft bust ever. Old names like Todd Marinovich and Ryan Leaf are tossed into the conversation. And we continue to argue on who should take the cake in that dubious category. While that is all well and good, as it may entertain us, or might fill air time, or generate good columns in the morning paper, what fascinates me most about this story are the explanations for its apparent ending.
Forget the “he didn’t have enough talent around him” excuses. Or the tired questions about a changing coaching roster. Or the ever-present query: why wasn’t he mentored to greatness? Granted the Raiders have had their share of dysfunction over the past few years. Their out-of-touch owner (some have said much worse) has almost singlehandedly driven this franchise into the ground. But Russell’s issue hasn’t been one of misfortune. Or about not being given a chance. Oakland has bent over backwards to give him a chance. When he was putting up terrible numbers on the field, and having a hard time connecting with receivers, guess who stuck by him? Al Davis. When he was showing up to camp, overweight and out of shape, who was on his side? Mr. Davis. While the Raiders haven’t upheld their “Commitment to Excellence” over the past few years, one thing they were committed to was their high-priced signal-caller. Until now.
So what caused this mess? What are we supposed to learn from this train wreck? If we were to put our folk psychologist’s hat on for the sake of this exercise, what would we diagnose? JaMarcus’ sole motivation for playing football was about attaining financial wealth. When that was attained, with the guaranteed portion of the contract he obtained in his rookie year ($31.5 Million, no less), Russell’s raison d’être in the NFL vanished. Unlike Peyton Manning, he wasn’t in love with the game of football. Transforming into a caveman and dissecting game film was never a hobby of his. It isn’t even something he enjoyed doing. Nor was he known for being a gym rat. His pudgy exterior was proof of that. His leadership skills? Nonexistent. The prodigious physical skills that had made him a success in College at LSU were not sufficient to carry him in the pros. The game is too fast and the opposition too smart. The result: Russell was going nowhere fast.
When pondering this situation, I couldn’t help connecting the dots with tennis legend Andre Agassi. In his recent autobiography, the Las Vegas native wrote about his hatred for the game that has brought him so much fame and fortune. Like JaMarcus, Andre was set for life financially early on in his career, as endorsers showered him with long-term deals to push their products. Agassi accepted the “Image is Everything” slogan as his mantra, and kept cashing in. But through the early portion of his career, Andre clearly was fighting himself; desperately trying to find his identity, and the necessary motivation to play top tennis. As a result, his career trajectory looked like jagged edge of a saw. Almost despite himself and on talent alone, Andre won an early Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. But the struggles continued. And that’s where the comparison stops between the two athletes. Agassi, through deep introspection and with the wise guidance of a good support group, decided to own his game, for better or for worse. The consequence: the tennis star benefited from a renaissance at the tail end of his career, which cemented his place in tennis history. Russell seems far from doing such a thing. Will he ever turn it around? I can’t foresee, let alone imagine it happening. Why, you ask? Largely because, unlike Andre, Russell hasn’t shown an ability to surround himself with quality people. One thing is for sure: if it doesn’t materialize for JaMarcus, his NFL legacy is sure to fade into oblivion.
Tiger’s Tribulations Today April 29, 2010
Posted by Neil in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far
Tiger shot a 74 at Quail Hollow today in the opening round of the PGA event in Charlotte. While that score is certainly a disappointment for the world’s greatest golfer, Tiger came out as a winner today. The fact that he actually played is the only important thing that occurred.
Tiger is chasing golfing immortality. While certainly his lurid affairs will always follow him, he is first and foremost a golfer. When is obituary is drafted, his marriage (or divorce) to Elin will be mentioned. However, it will be dealt with in a subsequent paragraph after his golfing greatness is discussed. In the end, the amount of majors he wins will be his defining number. Not the amount of women he slept with.
For this reason, today was a huge success for Tiger. It was imperative for him to get back out on the course. Who cares about Quail Hollow? It is a nice event, but it is merely preparation for June’s US Open. Tiger just needs to get out on the course in Charlotte this week, and at the Players and the Memorial in May. Whatever he shoots in these 3 events is virtually irrelevant. He simply needs to get back into the flow of tournament golf. Tiger will be defined by his final major total. Today was a step forward for Tiger to make sure he is prepared for Pebble Beach and St. Andrews this summer. In the history books, his performances in the majors are all that matters for his legend to be cemented. Despite his subpar play, today was a triumphant one for Tiger.
Tiger Teachings: 6 Rules for the Modern Athlete April 23, 2010
Posted by Paul in : Uncategorized , 2comments
[This article was originally written for CBSNews.com. It resides, here: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31751_162-20001956-10391697.html. A big thank you to CBS Interactive for allowing us to post an extended version of the piece on our website.]
This week, the most recognizable athlete in the world makes his return to the discipline he has mastered above all else. A man now humbled by the ridicule of an extensive sexual scandal that has been covered by media outlets large-and-small, Tiger Woods comes back to the game in hopes of finding piece of mind at his sport’s Wimbledon: The Masters. In the quiet (some have called them stuffy), controlled confines of Augusta National, Woods will try to put the difficult last few months behind him, and attempt to regain the form that has made him the world’s greatest golfer.
In looking back at the Tiger Woods Saga, I was most interested in seeing if there weren’t some lessons to take from it. Over the recent few years, the Modern Professional Athlete has had to adapt to new technologies and an ever more competitive media landscape. With the advent of Twitter, Facebook, a slew of sports blogs, shortened news cycles, and an invasive paparazzi, the sportsman of today has had to be even more careful about who he associates with, what he does on a daily basis, and how he portrays himself to the outside world. With those new constraints, which certain athletes are having a hard time fully grasping (I’m looking at you Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Leinart), the Modern Athlete has had to tread lightly and be incredibly aware of what goes on around him. In the case of Tiger Woods, one of the most famous people in the world, these principles get even more exacerbated; particularly when one deals with a lengthy series of affairs with women that were not his wife. The aim of the present exercise is to delve into these recent happenings and distill some life lessons for the athlete of Modern Times. Contemporary pro jocks: take note. The following learnings will serve you well, as you navigate through an increasingly tricky landscape.
1) Don’t Take The Plunge:
Many have already voiced this large disparity between two of the foremost American athletes of the last decade. What is the biggest difference between the way we have portrayed Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter and Tiger Woods? One of them said “I do”. Over the years, and his many conquests, Jeter has been known as a ladies’ man, a playboy of sorts. But the media has never painted an ugly picture of the Yankee Captain’s womanizing ways. Instead he has been lauded by most men, as a guy’s guy who has been able to “land” numerous beautiful women. A good looking, rich, famous man making the most of his status in New York and around the nation at large. Why? Because, as opposed to Woods who had pronounced those two little words, thereby committing himself to his wife Elin, Jeter has largely been noncommittal. And that made him non-hypocritical, at ease with his lifestyle, and free to chase Manhattan skirts to his heart’s content without us frowning down upon him. One cannot say the same thing about Tiger….
2) Cheat with Your Equal:
If you are going to engage in extra-marital affairs, there are things you can do to prevent the most damaging aspects of a scandal. Let’s conduct a quick thought experiment. If Tiger had chosen to cheat with someone that would be considered his equal (or closer to his equal) there is a good chance that quite a few stories would have been kept quiet. Why, you ask? His counterpart would have had as much (or close to as much) to lose in such a scandal were it to be made public. Don’t you think a high-powered married New York business woman would have much more to lose by outing Tiger than a young waitress serving pancakes at IHOP? There is less incentive for such a mate to bury Woods. Tiger’s choices in mates however—it would seem—were often women in the latter category. These were women that had a lot to gain in “outing” him, and very little to lose (except, perhaps some dignity).
3) Invest in Extra Cell Phones:
The danger with reaching the status of a Tiger Woods is that you start thinking you are bulletproof. You will never get caught. You have always managed to get out of the cross hairs. Any time you have been in a bind, you have been able to pay someone off, or hire someone to clean up your mess. Until, your world comes crashing down as your Escalade collides with a fire hydrant one Thanksgiving night. If Tiger had invested in one extra cell phone (or in his case, several others, considering his busy sexual exploits) for his extra-marital communications, he would have maintained a cleaner break between his above-board activities and those of the purely carnal variety. As an example, that now-famous voicemail that was replayed ad nauseum on what-seemed-like every radio show would never have even surfaced. A little organization has never hurt anyone, regardless of the realm, right?
4) Keep your sex-ting to a minimum:
Everyone loves a little excitement leading up to an encounter. Who doesn’t like those 140-character mini-flirtations, that are always full of double entendre (whether you want it or not)? In Tiger’s flirty texts to his porn star mistress, we discovered that the man isn’t necessarily a fan of what the French call, a “bon mot”. His SMS messages were crude, lewd, and full of logistical arrangements. In short: dull and off-putting. But the greater point, here, and yet another lesson for our Modern Professional Athlete is: why leave an electronic paper trail that can be later published and disseminated for all to see?
5) Protect Yourself:
I’m not talking about protecting yourself from death threats, bodily injuries, or other potential mishaps that should be considered if you are a mega celebrity of Tiger’s stature. Nor am I meaning talking about purchasing a firearm. Quite a few modern professional athletes have shown an incapability of being responsible with that kind of protection. Gilbert Arenas, Plaxico Burress, can you hear me? I am speaking of protection during intimate relations. According to many of his mistresses, Tiger preferred to proceed without taking those “necessary precautions”. Without getting into the medical consideration of disease transmission, there is that rather small other concern called natural reproduction. Do the names “Travis Henry”, “Evander Holyfield”, or even “Shawn Kemp” ring a bell? Each man fathered many children with several different women. The financial burden of child support payments didn’t initially dissuade these men from procreating without restraint or forethought. No, no. These men did it with reckless abandon. And Tiger seemed to be on the same path. The same invincible feeling that once had him conquer the most difficult golf courses in the world now had him believe that he would not impregnate any of the women he was engaging with. Tiger would have done better to protect himself, thereby reducing the risk of embarrassment and the heavy pecuniary liability that engulfed the Henrys, Holyfields, and Kemps of the world.
6) Don’t be a Victim of Your Own PR:
There is very little doubt in anyone’s mind that Tiger’s handlers, marketers, and PR folks wanted to maximize their client’s earning potential. In order to do that, one must create a well-crafted image that ensures credibility as an endorser of major brands. Thus far, the reasoning is rather straightforward. Where Tiger’s advisors erred was in creating the illusion of perfection for their client. Had they allowed him a few endearing flaws instead of creating a robotic winning machine, it surely would have made him more relatable to the rest of us mere mortals. And there is a good chance that Tiger’s collapse would have been much less severe. Had Tiger’s image been crafted around a man who dominated the game of golf, but who was “one of the boys” off the course, the general public’s surprise and subsequent disappointment would have been lessened after learning of his numerous, colorful, carnal endeavors.
A Plea for Rugby and Curling on TV March 29, 2010
Posted by Paul in : Uncategorized , 2comments
[This article was originally written for CBSNews.com. It resides, here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/24/opinion/main6328901.shtml. A big thank you to CBS Interactive for allowing us to post an extended version of the piece on our website.]
The way we consume sports has changed greatly since the advent of television. The medium has been a great distribution tool to the masses. More and more, and particularly in moments of recession, people turn on their TVs instead of going through the turnstiles of their local sports arena. The NFL’s great success and standing as the 800-pound gorilla of the North American sporting landscape is due, in large part, to understanding and embracing one small modern notion: professional football is a television show above all else. While television has its limitations (communicating true speed for one), it is very proficient at delivering a broadcast sporting event to a large number of eyeballs.
Now let’s move ahead to the early portion of the year. As Americans, we were treated to NBC’s coverage of the Olympics. The Peacock Network’s tape delay and lack of live broadcasts got a lot of criticism from a faction of folks. Others, like yours truly, found the Games packaged nicely, with just enough story lines and compression to keep things moving, fresh, and educational. For many of us, the Vancouver Olympics were a time for discovery of sports we rarely have an opportunity to watch on a regular basis. While learning about and re-discovering some of these athletic disciplines, I began to think about the sports that make for good television but don’t yet get showcased on the boob tube enough. Consider this a plea to television executives everywhere, asking them to take a chance on sports that haven’t gotten the airtime they deserve. I thought we would forge ahead and start compiling a list of the World’s Most Underrated Television Sports.
1) Short-Track Speed Skating: It may well the most underrated television sport out there. The mixture of unpredictability, sheer chaos, white backdrop, tight spandex, and precision passing make this athletic endeavor one of the best watches on the tub e. This sport encompasses quite a few things that Nascar is desperately trying to rekindle or fabricate. You add in an articulate Apolo Anton Ohno for good measure (and star power), and the occasional last-minute disqualification and you’ve got yourself a nail-biting sport that deserves to get more year-round television coverage. It is, perhaps, the best television sport of the Olympics, and it certainly deserves to have a television executive bet on it at some point down the line.
2) Curling: I know, I know. You’re going to start telling me that sliding stones on ice not even a sport. If men can keep regular jobs, drink beer, and forgo much if not all cross-training, and still make the US Olympic team, the discipline in question probably doesn’t qualify as an athletic endeavor. What can I tell you? I’ve got a soft spot for any bar game—shuffleboard—that has been augmented and placed on ice. In our increasingly caffeinated and attention-starved society, perhaps I’ve remained old-fashioned. I like to see grown men and women yell at each other about sweeping the floor. Such disputes about domestic tasks once remained behind closed doors; contained within one’s household. I somehow feel privileged to have the opportunity to witness those exchanges. For those reasons, Curling makes for an inherently compelling television spectacle. We need more wall-to-wall coverage throughout the year, like we had on CNBC during the Games. Can we go as far as to ask for this sport to have its own cable channel?
3) Beach Volleyball: Tall, golden, lean, sweaty, partially-naked bodies moving dynamically on sand in little more than swimsuits. The protagonists in these contests are overwhelmingly eye-pleasing, and evoke some semblance of sensuality as they compete on the AVP Tour. This sport can be distilled in the following elevator pitch: “Baywatch” meets volleyball. Much for the same reasons that Pam Anderson’s show enjoyed such long-standing success, beach volleyball is clearly a winner with television viewers. For those in cold weather climates, watching these tight-bodied athletes on a beach setting can provide a nice respite and escape from the chilling realities of daily life. For those in inhabiting warmer destinations, viewing these top competitors can make you feel like you, too, can step out to the nearest sandlot and replicate some of the action you have just witnessed.
4) Rugby: What would you say if I told you could have a sport related to football without heavy padding and with the same level of contact? You would say “Give me more!” right? Despite the United States having had a strong rugby tradition in the beginning of the 20th century through to the 1924 Games, where the squad brought home a gold medal, rugby is rarely, if ever, televised during primetime in America. While football gives you the impression of a gladiatorial sport pitting two heavily armored teams against each other, rugby has the advantage of giving you the same level of physicality, sans large pads. What does that translate to? More blood and guts spilled on the playing field. And more actual face time for the game’s stars. There is a reason why football players occasionally take off their helmets during their touchdown celebrations. They want to be recognizable to fans out there. They remove the heavy armor that makes them bland and similar to their teammates, and strive to stand out on their own, as individuals. Team sports have embraced the notion of marketing through individual star power. What marketer or television executive doesn’t want more recognizable protagonists putting themselves on the line for their televised event? You’ve guessed it: none. Rugby only makes it easier with no helmets and lighter padding.
Now that we’ve established these sports as good television, can we start pitching these to some of the television big wigs? Are you listening, Dick Ebersol? How about you, George Bodenheimer? Sean McManus, are you there? Are you gentlemen ready to roll the dice and take some chances? Nothing against the allure of football, the mental confrontations of poker, or the wall-to-wall coverage of March Madness…I’m an avid consumer of all of them. But, can we possibly mix things up on occasion? All too often the old adage of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies to sports broadcasting. The problem is that, without taking a chance once in a while, you are unlikely to land the next great sensation for the small screen. The key is opening one’s mind, keeping one’s eyes peeled, and allowing the rest to follow. Television’s role in sports will only continue to grow. Some have even envisioned scenarios where sports would be played on soundstages and not arenas, in the not-too-distant future. If that’s where we’re headed, do keep in mind the viewer back home; the one who views sport as a diversion from daily life, a spectacle produced and packaged as entertainment he can enjoy from the comfort of his living room. Just because that sports fan sits on his couch in what most would deem a passive position doesn’t mean he doesn’t value change and variety in his programming. If one keeps that consumer in mind when thinking about sports broadcasting, one is highly likely to succeed in sports television.
A-Rod vs. Ochocinco: A Battle for the Ages February 11, 2010
Posted by Paul in : Uncategorized , 2comments
[On a night where Roddick easily dispatched American qualifier Ryler Deheart in the first round of the 2010 SAP Open, Your Sports NightCap’s Resident Tennis Expert Payam Tabar turns his attention to an upcoming tennis match-up that would be sure to draw headlines. One pitting outspoken Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and perennial top-tenner Andy Roddick.]
Bo Jackson, Deion Sanders, Michael Jordan, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Willie Gault…the list goes on when it comes to famous two-sport athletes. And if you’ve caught up with the latest and greatest blogosphere gossip (http://backporch.fanhouse.com/2010/01/22/roddick-ochocinco-bet-a-car/), you’ll realize you just might have to add Chad Ochocinco to the mix very soon. Yes, I said it folks: Chad Ochocinco. Via the social media service, Twitter, the starting Wide Receiver for the Cincinatti Bengals has challenged America’s top tennis star, Andy Roddick, to a tennis duel taking place in about 2 months. So he’s not exactly adding another professional sport to the mix as a full-time gig…BUT it should make for some worthy entertainment!
So let’s get the facts out of the way first:
What’s the arrangement?: A match (or set) would take place where Andy would have to play left-handed and Ochocinco would have 2 months to train.
What are they playing for?: Ochocinco started off by offering to play for pink slips of their favorite cars. Andy countered by saying the Loser has to buy the Winner a brand new car of his choice…seems like they’ve agreed to that. And now, it seems like this match could help raise money for each of their respective charities as well. Not bad.
But forget the news and the facts. You probably heard all about it already on OCNN (OchoCincoNewsNetwork). Instead, let’s get to what really matters here: the Xs and Os of this upcoming classic!
With Andy coming off of an another loss deep into the second week of a Grand Slam, he may be a bit rattled and mentally fragile. #85 is feeling the opposite after a winning season. If Ochocinco is going to win this match, the time is now.
Andy is coping with some injuries. His right shoulder in particular is acting up and was a contributing factor to his loss down in Australia. But did you get that? RIGHT shoulder. That won’t apply here.
Known for his TD celebrations and practical jokes, Ochocinco may rely on some of these antics during the course of the match. Perhaps he’ll try to distract Andy by approaching his newlywed wife, Brooklyn Decker, to offer a box of these:
Speaking of Andy’s right shoulder and lack of a need for it, I have seen Andy mess around in practice, playing left-handed, including serving and overheads. I must say…it was VERY impressive….now he just has to make sure to work on that one handed lefty backhand.
Speaking of impressive, Ochocinco has four of these little things to tend to:
…while Andy has only TWO of these bigger things to tend to:
…but I’m not so sure which group is more motivating??!!!
Ochocinco has claimed to be the Liberty City (a neighborhood in Miami) tennis champion from back in the day…1983 to be exact. Since Liberty City is also known as The U’s prime recruiting ground in the 1980’s, it’s doubtful that honor holds much in the tennis world. It’s not like Uncle Luke’s getting a spot on the circuit anytime soon!
Although Chad Ochocinco grew up in Miami, Your Sports NightCap cannot confirm this information to be true. But if it is, the experience should help!
Football, like tennis, requires stamina and 360 degree agility. Ochocinco’s incredible ability to sprint, back-peddle, side-step, jump, and lunge will certainly apply on the tennis court. And if he’s going to have a chance against Andy, he’ll not only have to show off those skills, but he’ll also have to demonstrate his ability to hang out there while Andy moves him around the court with his baseline play. Andy may be a big server (when playing right-handed), but he’s a grinder by nature.
For overall athleticism and the intangibles, I’ll give Ochocinco the edge. If we were to put the pads on Andy and throw him out to the wolves (other NFL players), I’d put my money on the wolves…even if they were restricted in some way or fashion to even up play. As for Ochocinco crossing over to tennis, it’s a bit easier of a transition for someone who has demonstrated the athletic ability I referenced above. But maybe none of that will even matter and the match will be a toss-up. After all, they both have had mohawks:
The court surface can certainly be a huge factor in this particular matchup. I propose playing on a hybrid of grass/astroturf. After all, neither of them have ever won a championship on it. Chad’s got no rings. Andy’s got no Wimbledon. Sounds like an even matchup to me!
The Officiating crew for this battle is key. Both Andy and Ochocinco have perfected the art of interacting with umpires/referees during the game/match. Therefore, it may be necessary to have the 2009 US Open lineswoman who took the brunt of serena’s outburst on standby to call the match. At least that person will be ready when the endless outbursts begin.
So quite the analysis indeed. And I’m sure many of the readers out there are on the fence with this one. My prediction?:
Andy pulls off a 7-5 victory on his home turf, sending Ochocinco home in one of his old cars…NOT the dream car he would’ve been due had he won. Regardless, it will go down right up there with Mac and Borg, Pete and Andre, Roger and Rafa…A Battle for the Ages.
