Nadal Out; It Is Now or Never for Roger in Paris May 31, 2009
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The “King of Clay” Rafael Nadal was shockingly dismissed from the Round of 16 at the French Open today by Swede Robin Soderling in four sets. Here is an immediate reaction to the epic loss by Rafa and the opportunity that awaits Roger Federer to complete his career Slam and tie Pete Sampras’ mark of 14 GS titles:
I cannot think of a bigger upset in our lifetime in tennis. Nadal winning at the French has been the most sure thing in sports until today.
It is one thing for a Murray, Fed, or Djokovic to end his perfection in Paris, but another for a player like Soderling who is quite solid, but has never shown a penchant for being able to come up with a victory like this on clay. Robin has had a ton of good results at Wimbledon, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to see this result and score line at the Big W, but at Roland Garros it is amazing.
I now think that the winner of Murray-Gonzo will very likely be in the final. I am interested to see what Novak and Rafa’s losses will do to Federer. Will he be able to raise his mediocre play now that he is the favorite to take home his first French title? Will he actually play worse now that there is immense pressure on him to win it this year with Novak and Rafa gone by the quarters?
I have no doubt that he will tune Haas tomorrow. I am most interested by a potential QF against Monfils. If I had to put my pecking order for the title contenders right now, here they are:
1. Fed
2. Murray
3. Monfils
4. Tsonga
5. Del Potro 6. Gonzo
7. Roddick
8. Davydenko
Federer better root hard for Roddick to beat Monfils tomorrow. If Roddick takes care of the Frenchman, then I think it is pretty smooth sailing for Roger to get to the final and what could be an intriguing date with Andy Murray. However, if Monfils takes out Roddick, I really feel that Fed will succumb to the pressure of winning the title and will lose to Monfils in the QF. Then, the winner of the national French orgasm semifinal between Monfils and Tsonga will take on Murray in an intriguing final of Western European allied nations that will have Winston Churchill and Napolean breaking bread from the great courtside seats above.
I will say one thing with absolute conviction. I truly believe that if Fed doesn’t win this title, he will never win the French. He now has the perfect concoction for the title with no Novak and especially no Rafa. Nadal may not lose this early in this event for the rest of Fed’s career. It is now or never for Roger. It will be interesting to see if he is able to raise his game. The way he is playing right now is not good enough. This next week will provide one of the most interesting and most difficult tests to his legacy.
Shaq-tastic: O’Neal on your Television Set May 21, 2009
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Many of us have been fast to criticize Shaquille O’Neal. And guess what? He’s been an easy target, at times. His periodic laziness throughout his basketball playing days has been well-chronicled. His well-documented feud with Kobe in Los Angeles has left many Lakers fans with a bad taste in their mouths. Speaking of just that, he’s done a few unsavory things, in his public time, off the courts. One recent such incidents had him rapping to a nightclub full of patrons, calling out Kobe Bryant, by asking his former Laker teammate how his derriere tastes. Dressing on the side, please! Another older snafu had Shaq showing insensitivity towards the Chinese when he mockingly imitated Chinese speech when asked about then NBA-newcomer Yao Ming. So how are we to react when we’re told that the self-proclaimed Big Aristotle is taking Syracuse’s accelerated sports broadcasting course, during his off season?
At first glance, you may think to yourself, “Wow! This guy, a true broadcaster? Really? A guy who drones on in a monotone delivery, after games, without even an inkling of emotion?” Is Shaq going to be able to entertain us, through broadcasts, while he doesn’t just speak to us about his basketball, but has to be a sturdy broadcasting presence?
Here are a few reasons why Shaq Diesel will end up being a very good broadcaster:
1) He’s willing to work at it. The saying is simple. In every endeavor, practice makes perfect. The most incisive critics will oversimplify things; reminding us all of the times where Shaq has lacked focus on his basketball. Just because Shaq has shown patches of boredom or laziness through his career doesn’t mean he can’t focus on something and master it. After all, he’s managed to do just that, with his basketball career. When Al Michaels was asked what he had admired most about his former broadcast partner John Madden, Michaels instantly spoke of Madden’s knowledge of the broadcasting profession. To Michaels, Madden had been a broadcaster first, and a former head football coach second. By showing the willingness to study the craft, Shaq fully understands that there are nuances to the art of broadcasting that merit learning. In an era where many athletes would think of broadcasting, as purely spewing back their experience, accumulated throughout years of play, Shaq has decided to go back to school, for something that wasn’t his first calling. An admirable trait, for a thoughtful man….
2) O’Neal is incredibly thoughtful and eclectic. Usually, athletes will fall in one of two categories. Those that have had a singular focus on their craft throughout the length of their careers. And those others that have been dilettantes but have amassed a number of side interests during their professional lives. Shaq falls in the latter, and can certainly call upon many life experiences when conducting himself in front of a camera or microphone. Whether it’s his several movie roles, or rap albums, Shaq has at least had the intestinal fortitude to try a few things, despite the tough time he’s gotten from critics. He’s lived by one of my favorite quotes, from Ted Roosevelt: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” O’Neal has been brave enough to try his hand at things others would have been afraid to even attempt. Some have worked out, others have not. That’s all part of life. Shaq should not only be lauded for the charitable work he’s done, but also for the example he sets as a human being. Success and failure are all part of our existence. And Shaq has had portions of both. But at least, he keeps going, and is curious enough to try new things….
3) He’s a born self-promoter. Let’s face it: the term Shaq has virtually become part of our official English vernacular. I’m almost tempted to delve into Webster’s Dictionary to see if it hasn’t been added there. Not only had O’Neal built himself into a global brand, he has become an icon in our culture. It’s a well-known fact: anyone that has attained one-name status is a superstar. Examples include “Prince,” “Madonna,” “Ronaldo”… And “Shaq” is certainly no exception. Now, the interesting thing about the term “Shaq” is that, unlike these others, but similarly to other staples of the English language, it has acquired plenty of derivatives: “Shaq Fu,” “The Big Shaqtus,” “Dr. Shaq,” and, most recently, “Shaqovic.” And these don’t even include the myriad of other ones, which have been hatched up over the years. Monikers like: “The Diesel,” “The Big Aristotle,” “The Big Daddy,” “Superman,” “The Big Agave,” “The Big Cactus,” “The Big Galactus,” “Wilt Chamberneezy,” “The Big Baryshnikov,” “The Real Deal.” The most compelling aspect about all these names is that most of them have emanated from his lips. Other larger-than-life athletes would probably just sit back and let the media come up with descriptive names and monikers for them. Shaq has a knack for keeping us interested in him, by coming up with new takes on the world at large. When we all think he’s aging and hasn’t said anything in a few weeks, O’Neal re-inserts himself in the conversation with that winning smile, an off-the-cuff remark, or a new handle for himself. In essence, he has a gift for PR and self-marketing. Watch him to leverage that ability when the cameras are rolling, and the red light comes on….
4) Nobody has ever accused Shaq of not having a personality. That trait is key to being good on television and radio. Let’s not forget how crucial that characteristic can be when conducting interviews. During his Laker days, everybody spoke of Shaquille’s contagious personality, and his willingness to take his teammates out to dinner, while Kobe was more of a loner. O’Neal has always been great at connecting with people, and that trait will serve him well, in any media role he pursues, whether he hosts his own radio show, or participates on a television set as an analyst.
5) He’s not afraid to ruffle feathers. The last thing we all need on the boob-tube is yet another person who is afraid of saying something that has substance. There are a plethora of broadcasters and analysts out there, who are bland talking heads; giving us reheated feedback that would hardly qualify as insightful analysis. The best analysts out there have strong opinions, out-of-the-box viewpoints, and are articulate enough to defend them. On that short list of top analysts: Charles Barkley and John McEnroe. What do these two possess over all the others? A maverick quality rarely seen in many human beings. A touch of irreverence which always makes them compelling. They are not fearful of speaking their mind on any topic. And they are certainly not going to engage in the tough practice of walking on eggshells. If you’ve ever seen Shaq speak, you know that he’s not the type to conform to the masses.
With so many athletes not only holding on for too long, but also thinking very little about their post-athletic careers these days, it’s incredibly refreshing to see a man not only ponder his next chapter, but take concrete steps into making that transition in a very proactive fashion. The modern professional athlete is usually pampered throughout his life, from high school onwards through the pros. Things have come easy to him. Why should they change? Most ex-athletes are content to sit back and let their pasts carry their future in broadcasting, sharing their anecdotes of yesteryear. But the issue, there, is that they’ve never actually moved on. Instead of transition to the interesting things that life has to offer after a career in sports, they rely on that past experience, and relive those moments of glory. Shaquille is different animal. He has so many other interests than basketball that he won’t let his athletic career define him as a person. He’ll move on the next thing that strikes his fancy, and probably be very good at it.
Let this be my prediction: I have a feeling that Shaq may be eyeing TNT’s colorful “Inside the NBA” set, as his next move, post-NBA career. I wouldn’t be surprised if preliminary behind-the-scenes talks have already been seeded between Shaq’s handlers and the folks at Turner Broadcasting. Can you imagine the Round Mound of Rebound and the Big Aristotle going at it, on that set? Wouldn’t that make for compelling television? Don’t get me wrong: Chris Webber is a telegenic presence. But does he really do a whole lot when it comes to ratings? To their credit, TNT has already shown that they are willing to take chances, in order to improve their programming. Wouldn’t it be alluring for TNT to bring on Shaq, and throw him into the mix with Ernie, Kenny, and Charles? If you took a poll out there, amongst casual sports fans, I would be willing to bet that most would tell you that Shaq’s addition to “Inside the NBA” would have them tune in even more frequently than they already do. When O’Neal joins that TNT set, Barkley may still be driving the Show, but expect Shaq to be the Diesel that keeps it running strong…
A King About to be Crowned May 8, 2009
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All hail King James! While his ultimate coronation may not arrive for a few weeks until he holds the Larry O’Brien trophy aloft, the prodigal son of the NBA took home his first MVP award (of many to come) earlier this week. His Cavs are dominating having won their first 6 playoff games (all by double digits), and Bron is the toast of the sports world in a time period where baseball is being scarred by Manny being forced to sit on his fanny.
LeBron’s dominant display in the playoffs thus far is some of the most superb individual work I have witnessed in any sport in my quarter century on this planet. The only NBA player who has left me in such a state of awe and admiration was Michael who continually tormented me as a young Knicks fan who wanted to see Patrick Ewing and Co. get past the Bulls just once and win a championship. While it seemed so easy for Jordan from my vantage point as a youth, I feel I can now appreciate the diffuculty and the process that LeBron has had to endure. In a way, I feel that I have kind of grown up with him.
I remember watching him play against D.J. Strawberry in high school at Pauley Pavilion with Bill Walton at the mic courtside, and wondering what it must be like to be a 17 year old that has so much talent, yet an avalanche of pressure everytime he steps out on to the hardwood. He impressed me that first night with his unselfishness and ability to distribute, but most of all with his NBA (or maybe even NFL) ready body. I kept thinking he was the preeminent example of a man among boys, and for the first time in his professional career I have felt that this season.
Prince LeBron has had an excellent first 5 or so years in the league. He has been one of the best players in the East since he stepped on the court as a rookie, and while his jumpshot and free-throw shooting (although markedly improving) have always left something to be desired, his freakish ability has been able to avoid the pitfalls that befell most who make the jump from high school. Despite his always outstanding play on the court, what has always impressed me most is his poise and maturity. He may want to be one of the guys (which has been one of the biggest criticisms), but he carries himself with an aura that demands respect from older teammates and opponents. He may still be a kid, but like his old commercials portrayed he has an old man somewhere inside of him steering the youthful LeBron the right way at all times.
I was sick of hearing all of LBJ’s critics during the first few years of his career. He needs to try and finish at the rim in the closing seconds, be more demanding, etc. Dare criticize now. He has become one of the greatest team leaders in modern sport. He fosters an atmosphere among his teammates that has led the Cavs to have the best chemistry in the Association.
The Q is rockin’, and LBJ has running mates with Big Z, Delonte West and Co. He has his Batman finally in Moe Williams. The Cavs also have the best bench in the league with all former solid NBA starters (Joe Smith, Big Ben Wallace, Wally’s World, etc). King James has that look like Clemens, Jordan, and Montana in their prime, he is going to find a way to win and defeat is not even an option.
I am not necessarily about making predictions (although who am I kidding, I love to), and I didn’t write this piece to forecast a Cavs NBA title. However, it is going to happen this year. Over the last couple of weeks as I have begun to watch LBJ more and more, I am getting that same feeling I had watching him play in high school. He is a man among boys. Every time he makes another unreal play, I want to ask David Stern and the NBA brass whether there is another league for him to move on to. He is just too good for the NBA. It is unfair that others have to compete with. Can we beam down some aliens with mad game, or create some 7 foot robots with handles and a deft outside touch to challenge him?
Michael Jordan may be considered the greatest basketball player of all time. That may be the case. However, Wilt “The Stilt” is the most dominating player ever. I still can’t believe he averaged 50 in a season. While King James will never do that, I think when all is done, LBJ will stand in a class with Wilt alone. These guys dominate with their physicality more than anyone ever. The game just comes so easy to LBJ for a man his size. It is a joy to watch. I just wish there was more to challenge him.
Perhaps it will be more difficult during these economic times to keep him from amassing $1 billion as he wants to then to keep him from racking up NBA titles. However, with his off the court desires, and burgeoning network (insert Warren Buffett), I bet his financial portfolio will be every bit as attractive as his mantle that will be adorned with multiple NBA championships. Get set for the coronation of the King in June.
Manny Being Shifty May 7, 2009
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I was still in a mid-daze this morning, when the news broke about Manny Ramirez. I hadn’t yet had my customary two espressos. Yet, I instantly fully grasped the enormity of the story. But I can’t say that my clouded noggin had me thinking that I was dreaming this scenario up. Far too many of our superstars have been implicated in drug scandals for me to be shocked anymore. Surprised at potential players that are outed? Okay. But shock is an emotion that has been removed from my sentiment palette. And I have a feeling that I’m not alone in that camp…
Manny’s PR machine was already hard at work; attributing this positive drug test to medication prescribed by a Miami doctor for a personal health issue.
Now, let’s think about this long and hard. Let’s examine the facts of this developing scandal, and evaluate if we’re being told the truth.
1) Major League Baseball has a very public list of banned substances. It took me less than a minute to find it on the Internet, after “googling” after it. Ignorance on what substances are part of the drug policy’s banned list just doesn’t cut it, as an excuse, if I’m able to search for, and clearly read the list within minutes of scouring the web.
2) Any player is able and encouraged to check in with the Players’ Union before putting any new substances in their bodies. Having already seen mishaps (honest and otherwise) from players who had taken non-FDA approved supplements and ended up testing positive for a banned substance, the Players Association has put forth a few safeguards in place for players who would decide to put something new into their bodies. Doctors are employed by the Association to double-check and test medication, supplements, and other substances so that its members don’t run the risk of “unknowingly” taking a banned substance.
3) The money at stake is just too substantial for such an oversight to happen. The numbers have already been crunched. Any player that is suspended under the Major League Baseball’s drug policy isn’t compensated during the time of the suspension. For Manny, who was to receive $25 million in salary over the course of this season, his 50-game suspension will cost him about $7.7 million worth of pay, about 31% of his annual gross income. Are we supposed to really think that with those sums of money at stake, players are not instructed by their agents and handlers to take the most careful of precautions before introducing anything in their bodies? Scott Boras, the baseball super agent, who has built an athlete representation empire, has a huge financial interest in his clients’ earning their salary. Agents typically make anywhere between 3-5% of their clients’ annual salary. As shrewd and rigorous as Boras is, you don’t think he’s taken the time to find a few physicians, who are “on call” for such purposes? The modern day professional athlete may be reckless. But don’t forget that these athletes–particularly high-profile ones like Ramirez–have become brands, that generate a whole lot of money for quite a few people. You’ve got business people invested at many levels. These folks have way too much vested in these athletes not to think about protecting their downside. Precautions and safeguards are in place. Anybody that believes otherwise just doesn’t understand the business of sports, these days.
As is often the case when it comes to damage-control PR, our intelligence is insulted once again by the statements put forth by the Ramirez camp. That type of excuse used to float at the very beginning of this Steroid Era, where players could have fallen into the trap of “unknowingly” putting a banned substance into their bodies. Today, it is inexcusable by any Major Leaguer to put forth that type of rationale for a failed drug test. More is sure to come on this story. Regardless of what follows, we’re dealing with one of two things: blatant disregard for the rules, or sheer recklessness in one’s banned drug-intake regimen. Either one you pick, it’s not a pretty picture, as we’re left with yet another dark mark on what used to be our romantic National Pastime…
Young Hired Guns: The New Coaching Trend in the NFL May 5, 2009
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We’ve all heard the story of the bright new whiz kid, in Corporate America. He comes in with new ideas, fresh perspectives, shoots down the stuffy “establishment”, and replaces it with new infrastructure and processes that will give your company that edge in the marketplace. He’s lauded for being the ambassador of the new way of doing business. He’s hip; cutting-edge, and socially savvy. He can relate to the entire workforce. His iPod is filled with the same songs, as those of his colleagues. His cultural references don’t hearken back to the past, but are of someone that is “plugged in”. He can outwork his older counterparts because he’s younger, fitter, and more equipped to handle the late nights, early mornings inherent of 18-hour workdays.
This is exactly what NFL owners are buying into these days. The trend is: get yourself a young charismatic guy, who can relate to your players, and energize your whole football organization. At the cost of bringing in so-called “retreads”, owners and GMs, today, are more than happy to try to catch lightning in a bottle, in hiring on what-look-like promising young men to coach their franchises. Position coaches are elevated to head coaching gigs. Prominent college coordinators are asked to take the reigns of NFL teams. All of this upward mobility is all well and good, but at what point do we start asking ourselves if it’s justified? I’m one of the biggest proponents of the plasticity of the human mind, the limitless potential of human beings, and the accelerated promotion of those that separate themselves from the pack. But at some point, should we start asking for a track record? Some proof that the person in question has performed duties that would qualify him for the position?
Apparently not. In this copycat league, if there’s anything that shows us that the current trend is here to stay, it is this year’s Super Bowl match-up. Both Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt are under 50; at 36 and 46 years of age respectively. They are both qualified as player’s coaches, and can relate to the younger generation of players. They are more likely to rally their troops, and inspire them, than to drive them into the ground. In a league that now protects its players more than ever with pad-less practices and new rules being instilled, the players are the prized pupils.
The NFL’s parity is well-documented. Some will wonder if we’ll ever see true team dynasties, again. With those forces, as the backdrop, this season has seen two unfathomable turnarounds in both Atlanta and Miami. The Dolphins, the league’s doormat in 2007 at 1-15, quickly sprung to its feet in 2008 by capturing the AFC East crown. The Atlanta Falcons, once marred by their quarterback’s inhumane and distasteful behavior, and left rudderless by the shameless resignation of their head coach, now appear to be one of the league’s best-run franchises, with this season’s 11-5 record, and subsequent playoff birth. These are two of the foremost examples which give owners the impression that they can turn things around very quickly. It has them thinking, “If my current coach can’t get it done in a year or two, then there’s certainly someone out there, that can…”.
Armed with this lack of patience and insatiable thirst for results, owners have become very trigger-happy as they hire and fire coaches at will. Looking back at its 55-year history, coaching turnover has never been stronger in the NFL. Since the season ended, 10 teams have hired on new head coaches. Since New Year’s morning 2008, the total of new coaches brought in is up to 16. An impressive stretch of fickleness by the owners. And what would be the average age of these new 10 football coaches? Just under 43 years of age…
Now that we’ve established this trend, let’s take a closer look at it. Is this craziness over the young guns all justified? Are owners mining for a fountain of youth? Are they getting seduced by younger men who reflect back a positive image of themselves? Let’s look at a few recent examples, that have clearly shown some strange behavior at the top of football organizations.
Enter Raheem Morris, the latest young kid who’s gotten an accelerated shot at head coaching greatness. As we took the turn towards ‘09, the 32-year old Morris had just been promoted from Defensive Backs coach to Defensive Coordinator, after Monte Kiffin announced he would be joining his son Lane at the University of Tennessee. And then, on January 16, Raheem gets a call right after leaving a barber shop at 2:30pm, from the Glazer family. One of the Glazer brothers wanted him to return to the Buccaneers facility. Morris, naturally, thought that they wanted to go over staffing on the defensive side of ball. After all, Morris has just taken over the Bucs’ defense. Raheem Morris returned to the facility only to find out that he was being offered the head coaching job. Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden were being let go, and the Glazers wanted some new blood atop their organization. On getting the gig, at his young age, Raheem Morris responded, “Getting a job at this age, I don’t know if you’re ready. But I don’t know if you’re ever ready. They could have given me the job at 65, and there would still be things I’d be unsure about. All I know to do is deal with each situation as it comes. Deal with the situation honestly, with candor, and be direct. Keep your core beliefs the same. They hired you because they believe in you. That’s what I plan to do.” A direct, honest take on things. One that would have you trusting him from the get-go. But it is still astonishing to see this type of accelerated promotion from within by team owners. During the ‘08 season, Morris was responsible for coaching one position: DBs. Now he was being thrust into the spotlight. He is going to be the new face of the franchise, stepping into the rather large shoes of Jon “Chucky” Gruden. I’m not one to judge before someone has had a chance to perform, and I wish Morris the best, but can we perhaps be skeptical at the Glazer family’s thought process? Is it wise to promote this quickly, without preparing the young coach into handling the enormous responsibilities awaiting him? Particularly for someone that hadn’t been a head coach at any level?
After a painful breakup between Mike Shanahan and Pat Bowlen, Josh McDaniels arrives on the Denver sports scene with high hopes and higher promise. The man is part of the Belichick coaching tree. (At that moment, most forget to tell you that Bill’s coaching progeny is not quite as sturdy as Bill Walsh’s, to say the least.) Regardless, the expectations have been set Mile High. Much like a Shanahan of yesteryear, he’s the bright young offensive mind, who took his lumps under a coaching guru (in New England), and who is likely to re-energize a stale organization with new ideas and his natural swagger. So far so good. Until this bright young mind decides to try to bring his former pupil into town. McDaniels wheels and deals, has several conversations with the Patriots and other teams in an attempt to bring in Matt Cassel to the Broncos. Understandable thus far. In Corporate America, people go after their former colleagues, and attempt to recruit them all the time. Except this happens… In this rumor-mill, 365-day-a-year nature of the NFL, with several information men working around the clock, data flows more freely than ever. Jay Cutler, the promising franchise quarterback for the Denver Broncos, who by the way, had just made his first Pro Bowl this year, gets wind of his new coach’s private dealings and ruminations. Already upset by the changes made at head coach by ownership that had Shanahan and former quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates leaving town, Cutler naturally starts fuming. “How could his new coach think about undermining me, by bringing another guy into this organization?”, Cutler must have thought. “What else do I need to do, to prove that I’m the franchise quarterback, here?”, he must have exclaimed. The former Vanderbilt Big Man on Campus starts clamming up, and decides to ignore inbound calls and texts from Bronco high ups, including McDaniels and owner Pat Bowlen. Not the most mature thing to do, granted, but a reaction that could be expected by a young, proud quarterback. Here’s where things start going wrong… After long lapses of time without a word from Cutler, despite many attempts made to contact him by both the owner and the head coach, a meeting reportedly ensues between coach and quarterback where differences are not patched up. The rift is perhaps exacerbated, as Cutler shortly thereafter formally asks the Broncos for a trade. Cutler is shipped out of Chicago. In return, the Broncos get Kyle Orton, 2 first-round picks, and a third round selection. The Broncos end up losing one of the most promising quarterbacks in the NFL, in an era where the league is signal-caller poor.
Now let’s imagine a similar scenario in Corporate America. A Fortune 500 company’s CEO has been recruiting a former colleague and friend to head up global sales and business development. This CEO already has someone in place for that position, his trusty Senior Vice President of Sales, who has done an admirable job growing the business over the past few years. But somehow he’d like to bring in the one he’s got more affinity with. The two friends have a few discrete meetings in New York City, away from visible hotel bars and cafés. The last thing they’d like to do is show signals of instability at the top that Wall Street could grab a hold of. While this is happening, the Sales SVP is on business in Asia, where he’s opening up a new office in Singapore. Even though the meetings are occurring under the greatest discretion, the two executives are spotted chatting in the corner of a pub by a journalist–who, like any good reporter–wonders what these two are doing together… The business journalist does his job: namely investigates who the parties are, and tries to put two-and-two together. He writes one of his colleagues, and describes the scene he just witnessed. That colleague has a previous relationship with the current Sales SVP, and shoots him an email, asking him to comment about the situation involving his boss and a friend. The Sales SVP who has been delivering great results for years, and has played an integral role in growing the business globally, is now alerted that the CEO might not have his best interest in mind. His ego is a little wounded. He decides to inquire with the CEO about the rumors he’s heard through a few journalists. The CEO takes some time to respond. When he finally does, he does so with a quick blurb saying, “I’m flying out to Singapore tomorrow. Can we get together in the next day or so? I would like to take you out to lunch.” The Chief Executive boards a flight on a Friday, and is taking his current Senior Vice President of Sales to a lavish brunch at Singapore’s Four Seasons hotel by Sunday morning. During the sit down, the CEO makes sure let his SVP know that “he’s his man. That he’s incredibly happy with his performance…that there’s nothing for him to worry about…” The point is, despite the flirtation happening between the CEO and one of his old fraternity buddies, the deal fizzled after pragmatism was applied to the situation. A mature person–this CEO–has quickly recognized the situation–and made a quick, reactive move to assuage any tensions that existed between him and one of his most productive executives. Josh McDaniels, who could be considered the Chief Executive of the Broncos organization never taken such a step. Despite the unresponsiveness by his young gunslinger, the appropriate thing would have been for McDaniels to make the trip to Cutler. Go to the doorstep of his off season home, if you have to, and knock on the door. Don’t let the situation fester. Be proactive in resolving key human issues. McDaniels, showing the immaturity of his young age, never made the move to appropriately handle an emotionally-charged situation. Instead of cool-y diffusing it by reassuring one of his most productive team assets, he let the saga evolve out of control. A more seasoned leader of men would have certainly reacted in a better manner. McDaniels let his ego get the best of him, and the end result isn’t so pretty: a Pro Bowl quarterback with his best days sitting in front of him, is now in Chicago, while he’s left holding onto mediocre talent at the position.
Jim Armstrong, the outstanding columnist for the Denver Post came onto our Show a few weeks ago, during the climax of the Cutler Saga, and he told us a few revealing things. He made it clear that quite a lot of blame should be laid on the Broncos’ new head football coach. Armstrong reminded us that it was Cutler who came back to Denver, during his vacation time, for two whole weeks, to work with Josh McDaniels when he was first hired. It was him who had initially been gracious to the new coach, and made an effort to welcome him to the Mile High City. Armstrong also make another strong point. Last season in the NFL, the average points per game allowed by a defense was 22. During his career, when his defense had allowed 22 points or fewer per game, Jay Cutler is 12-1. If that doesn’t give you a glimpse at the quality of this signal-caller, I don’t know what will… For McDaniels to even think that the problem on his team was his quarterback is ridiculous. He should be paying closer attention to the other side of the ball, which cost the team dearly in critical stretches last season, and had them rank 30th out of 32 teams in team defense. Thankfully, Armstrong made the promise that McDaniels would not be allowed to get away with his recent foolish actions. He intimated strongly that the media would hold him accountable for letting his ego and personal loyalties get the better of his judgment.
Let’s face it; the old image of the football coach is dead. In the pros, the disciplinarian has made his way through the EXIT doors. The “Bud Kilmer” character (played by Jon Voight) from “Varsity Blues” is now a dinosaur. With soaring player salaries, it’s more likely that you’re going to want someone that is going to cajole your players into being inspired; instead of someone that is going to instill the fear of God in them. But don’t start telling me that experience (especially when it comes to management of egos) doesn’t belong in the game. The Joe Torres and Phil Jacksons of the world have made their (great) livings off that aspect of coaching in this era of professional sports. A coach that is young runs the risk of not possessing that full tool-set; as it pertains to handling human beings.
But don’t take it from me. I’ll end this piece with words from KKFN’s Joe Williams, a man who knows a thing or two about Denver sports. He says it best, when he questions Bowlen’s decision to hire Josh McDaniels, “Here’s what I can’t get over,” Williams said. “He hired a 32-year-old head coach. You don’t see 32-year-old generals in the army. The only 32-year-old general I ever heard of was George Custer. And look what happened to him.” This keen observation doesn’t only apply to Bowlen, but should be extrapolated to all the NFL owners who have decided to latch on to the youth movement. Yes, it’s worked well in Pittsburgh with Mike Tomlin. But couldn’t he just be the exception to the rule? Shouldn’t there be more attention paid to track record and experience? NFL Owners–please do your due diligence when hiring on your head coaches. As you might risk putting your franchise back several years, with one bad hire at head coach. It wouldn’t be fair to you, nor would it be for your loyal fan base…
Your Sports NightCap Goes Mainstream with Tennis Commentary May 4, 2009
Posted by Paul in : Uncategorized , add a commentThanks to Neil Harman of the Times Online, and to our tennis journalist friends Kamakshi Tandon and Matt Cronin, last week, Your Sports NightCap has managed to obtain a mention and a link from a reputable mainstream online publication: The Times. We’re thrilled to have graced their online pages, and only hope that this serves as an example to all writers out there: you might think you’re on the far reaches of the blogosphere, but it only takes some thoughtful writing and a few breaks to get some notice in mainstream media outlets.
Here’s the article, where the mention occurred: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article6176335.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1
The entry that was cited resides here. It delves into the problems in marketing our great game of tennis.
To those of you that thought that bloggers were writing from their mother’s basement in their underwear…well, despite that affliction, the YSNC blog has managed to sneak itself into the mainstream media spotlight, even for the briefest of moments. “Yea, Ma… I’m coming upstairs for dinner. I’m polishing off an entry right now. Let me put on a pair of pants, and I’ll be right up…what are we eating? Those strange veggies again?”. Ahemm…sorry…that tends to be a nuisance.
Let it be known that the YSNC brand plans to continue to produce content–both radio and written–that will engage you (the sports consumer) and other media entities. Thanks for the continued support throughout our existence. We’ll aim to continue to serve you to the best of our abilities, and uphold the standard we’ve already set for ourselves…
