As most of you know, I’m not much of an NBA fan, haven’t been since the days of Patrick Ewing’s Knicks battling Michael Jordan’s Bulls, so I’ll try to keep my comments brief…
Memo to LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Pat Riley, Dan Gilbert, and EVERY talking drone associated with the interminable free agency discussion – SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP. Thank you.
As was the case for many of you, I was more than annoyed by and eventually had to tune out the entire Magical Free Agency Tour. The last straw was yesterday’s ESPN SportsCenter, seeing a small snippet of Rachel Nichols’ interview with the “Miami Thrice” – James, Wade, and Bosh. What finally got me to the point of wanting to flip to the Cartoon Network? Hearing LeBron James say that with all the continuous discussion about his future destination and each team’s associated fortunes, “I wanted the last day to be all about me.” HELLO?! EVERY day was about YOU, you Freudian ninny!
This statement was about as silly as little kids asking their parents on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day when Children’s Day is. C’mon… is he serious?
I think Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News hit on things with a real keen eye in his Sunday column. Did James, Wade and Bosh all conspire for years for this joining of forces dating back to when they signed their new contracts in 2006, all having opt-out clauses set for 2010? Do James, Wade and Bosh understand comparing themselves to Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce in Boston is classic “apples and oranges”? Is this “Miami Thrice” a glaring example of what can happen in modern-day sports when players openly fraternize?
Bill Madden, also of the New York Daily News, compared this year’s NBA free agency story with how free agency came about in MLB back in 1974. Madden encouraged readers and the new “Miami Thrice” boys to take a trip back in history and the very first free agent contract signed by the late Catfish Hunter when he joined the Yankees. For a contract worth more than $3-million, it was very intriguing to see that half of Hunter’s salary was deferred. What does that mean? The Yankees were paying Hunter approximately $1.7-million AFTER he retired, most likely in annual installments, to help Hunter maintain his economic comfort later in life.
Why do I bring this up? Despite a willingness to take less money to join the Heat in what turned out to be sign-and-trade deals with Cleveland and Toronto, James and Bosh still didn’t come cheap. They still earn major bucks to play basketball in South Beach, and they truly believe they’ve orchestrated the magic bullet for a quick NBA title, one of many to come. That’s not really how it works.
It’s going to take time for everyone to mesh on the court, and that’s not even counting egos. Worse, as the Celtics have shown us over the past three seasons, to be a perennial champ you need talent, good health, and lots of luck over the course of an 82-game regular season and en route to winning 16 playoff games over four separate series. So far, for all the talent and heart wearing Celtics uniforms, this new version still only has one title in three seasons. My point is that the “Miami Thrice” boys need to understand all they’ve really done is give themselves a very good chance to be in hunt each season. Everything else depends on how they play.
And let’s not forget that the rest of the NBA isn’t simply going to lay down and forfeit games or concede the title to the Heat. In fact, if anything, the Heat have now put a huge bulls-eye on their jerseys with every other team licking their chops waiting for a shot at knocking them off their self-anointed perch.
I think James is the epitome of today’s young professional athlete, wanting it all too fast, too soon, and not having the patience for the process towards greatness. As was the case when I was a young scientist after leaving my football life, the curse of youth is that sometimes you lack a true sense and appreciation for the history of your profession or craft, and it stunts your growth as part of the profession. With all the fast money and fame young athletes get today, I honestly wonder if any of them truly comprehend or appreciate how their sports and leagues evolved over decades to bring them to this day of mind-boggling paydays.
So James is hurt by Gilbert’s remarks? Boo-Hoo-Hoo. I think Dan Gilbert was reasonably angry, but his public letter certainly was poorly worded for an owner. Did James quit on the Cavs? Maybe yes. Maybe no. Who knows if a deep rift existed within the Cavs organization and locker room by the time the Cavs crashed and burned against Boston? We can only speculate and wonder what the underlying story was. But I do wonder where Dan Gilbert and other members of the Cavs brain trust were over the past 2-3 years if James has tanked games and quit when the pressure was on. Why does he finally rip into James now that he’s left for sunny Florida? If this was a festering situation for the past 2-3 years of coming up short and shorter, why are we first hearing about your anger now?
Professional sports really in a funny business, and I emphasize business, because that’s what this is all about. The titles and trophies are nice, but it’s really the bottom line that counts for most of these bozos. If you don’t believe me, just watch what’s going on with the Knicks and the behind-the-scenes involvement of Isaiah Thomas. If you honestly think the Knicks are hoping to get back to their glory days we shouldn’t be hearing a whiff of Thomas’ name, and certainly not from Donny Walsh who now seems to have been filling the role of understudy for Thomas until the coast was clear with the New York fans and media.
Speaking of the Yankees, is anyone really that heartbroken over their failure to complete a trade for Cliff Lee? Why is it that if the Yankees acquire a pitcher like Lee for a pennant run it’s Divine Right, but if the Mariners pull the plug and trade Lee to the Texas Rangers it automatically calls for an ethics investigation? Bill Madden calls this the “greed over need” approach, where the old Steinbrenner philosophy was if we keep collecting these guys you can’t have them to beat us. As distasteful as I always found the way ol’ George ran his team, I could at least respect his adherence to the old adage you win championships with defense. George… I think that really applies to football, and we all know a prevent defense more often than not means you’re preventing the defense from winning the game. Or maybe George thought he was playing keep-away, his version of the old Dean Smith four-corners offense at North Carolina? Or maybe George just liked collecting star players for his ego. Granted, the Yankees won their share of World Series titles during his ownership, but George really did see more teams implode than he or Yankee fans care to admit while all that money was tossed around.
Speaking of the Yankees, a solemn note on the passing of legendary voice Bob Sheppard at the age of 99. For more than 50 years, Sheppard (1910-2010) was the voice of Yankee Stadium, and to think he almost turned down the gig because it interfered with his teaching schedule. Gee, if I had a guy like Sheppard as my high school English teacher I might’ve stayed awake and focused more often. Rest in Peace, Mr. Sheppard.
As talent-laden as the Yankees are, having MLB’s best record at the All-Star break, the truth is that they have their share of warts and bugs just like every other team still in a divisional race. Could the Yankees use Cliff Lee? Maybe, but as they proved last year, they can get by in the post-season with a three-man rotation. They didn’t really need Cliff Lee as much as they need more depth for an aging everyday lineup and an inconsistent bullpen. But then again, that’s the story for at least 10-15 other teams this season.
By the way, did you notice Lee lost his debut Saturday night to Baltimore, 6-1? That’s the on any given day beauty of sports. In fact, the Orioles’ Chris Tillman pitched 6.1 innings of no-hit ball that night. Add to that the perfect game Cincinnati’s Travis Wood took into the ninth in Philadelphia (a 1-0, 11-inning loss), the no-hitter Toronto’s Jesse Litsch lost in the sixth inning in a 3-2 home loss to the Red Sox, and the no-no the Dodgers Vincent Padilla took into the sixth in last night’s 7-0 home win over the Cubs. As I’ve been saying for weeks, all these flirtations with no-hitters continue to threaten the season record of seven set in 1990 and 1991.
However, as no-hitters are being broken up now in earlier innings than the seventh, you have to wonder if this is a sign hitters are finally catching up to pitchers. But if the trend continues to hold form for the rest of the season, don’t be surprised if commissioner Bud Selig tosses out the idea of lowering the mound another 5 inches like MLB did after the 1968 season. As we all know, Selig fears major changes like instant replay, but minor cosmetic changes like lower the mound sounds about right for his 19th century thinking mode. Less piles of dirt sure seem more “natural” than using cameras, right?
Wasn’t that a strategic stroke of genius by Cubs pitcher Carlos Silva, getting tossed from last night’s game arguing a first-base call (the runner was indeed out according to replays) when you’re already down 5-0 in the second inning? If you don’t think so, consider the replacement pitcher gets extra warm-up throws as opposed to a regular pitching change. And it worked… the scoring stopped after the fourth inning. Yeah, the Cubs definitely know how to play baseball this season… 103 seasons and counting since their last World Series title.
Talking about pitching, how about that 5-inning, 103-pitch gem the Angels’ Scott Kazmir tossed this weekend against Oakland? 11 hits, 13 earned runs, and at least a dozen looks to the dugout for manager Mike Scioscia to take him out of the game. If you wondered why the Mets traded him to Tampa Bay years ago and the Rays traded him to Los Angeles, now we finally know and can stop beating up the Mets for giving up on a once can’t-miss pitcher.
Have you noticed the Phillies won back-to-back 1-0 games against the Reds this weekend? Only the Dodgers have accomplished this feat this season. When you’re sweeping four-game series by a total of five runs you know your team is playing gritty baseball. I hope players like Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino keep things in perspective while they whine about the Philly faithful booing them for inconsistent play. While you guys may play with grit and heart, you have been rather inconsistent all season and despite three straight NL East crowns and consecutive World Series berths, the Philly fans have high expectations and don’t give free passes. Remember, these are the same fans who booed Santa Claus at the old Vet during an Eagles game during the 1970s.
Great pitching lately from the Mets’ Johan Santana, a complete-game shut-out of the Reds on Tuesday and another seven shut-out innings in yesterday’s 3-0 win over the Braves at Citi Field. Maybe now that the story of his October sexual misadventure is out in the open he can pitch with a free mind and clear head. I’m just saying there may be a little connection. After all, as Yogi used to say, 90 percent of pitching is half-mental.
How many of you are honestly disappointed in how the Mets are doing at the All-Star break? Could they be playing better? Sure, but eight games over .500 and only four games out of first place in the NL East, I’ll take it. Just like the Yankees, the Mets didn’t have all their horses during the season’s first half and played inconsistently (granted, more inconsistent than the Yankees), but this Mets team is starting to jell more and more and the All-Star break comes at a good time. Reyes needs to heal better. Pelfrey needs to find his splitter again. Beltran is finally coming back from the DL. Bay needs to improve his power numbers. Francoeur needs to be more consistent at the plate. But there’s much more optimism for July and August this year than last. Who knows? Maybe Maine and Perez might come back and contribute something? Anything’s possible during a long season.
Do you enjoy watching Angel Pagan play center field and at the plate? I think he’s finally becoming who the Mets thought he’d be when they got him from the Cubs, and he’s earned the right to stay in the lineup as much as possible. While Carlos Beltran may be the regular centerfielder and clean-up hitter, he still need to prove what he can do on a daily basis after knee surgery and extended rehab. If I was Jerry Manuel, I wouldn’t be so quick to assume Beltran belongs in center field and in the clean-up spot. In fact, I would be rotating all of my outfielders for the next several weeks until Beltran is in true form. That means Beltran needs to suck it up and play some of the corner positions once a week while Pagan, Bay, Francoeur, and Chris Carter get their at bats.
I really like watching Ike Davis play first base and hit. This kid’s gonna be a real special part of the Mets for the next several seasons. His bat reminds me more and more of Darryl Strawberry’s and his play in the field reminds me more and more of Keith Hernandez. Of course, Davis will always remain the team’s best acrobat when it comes to fielding pop-ups near the dugout. However, if you watched yesterday’s win against Atlanta, Francoeur did a little gymnastics of his own chasing a ball near the right field foul line.
The Mets are one of a few streaky teams making this season more than a tad exciting. In addition to the Mets, the Braves, Reds, Rockies, Dodgers, Red Sox, White Sox, Rangers, Tigers, and Rays have had at least one hot and cold streak. Of course the key to winning a pennant in baseball is to make sure the hot streaks are more frequent than the cold.
Have you noticed how interesting the AL Central race is getting?
Have you noticed how the Rockies have started their annual hot streak and climbed into second in the NL West? As I’ve warned, and beware Padres and Dodgers, they’re baaaaaackkkkkkkk….
You know who I hope finds his way back to MLB? Pitcher Dontrelle Willis, recently released by the Arizona Diamondbacks after he lost his mojo with the Marlins and never found it with the Tigers. Here’s a perfect example of a kid who starts out like fire, but fails to adjust mechanics as his body matures and fills out. Some folks are already asking if he should consider retiring or reinventing himself into an outfielder like Rick Ankiel did years ago with the Cardinals. Willis can hit, no doubt, but his pitching was much more fluid and impressive than Ankiel’s ever was. I do hope someone can straighten him out and help him relocate his groove and love for the game. MLB is better when one of the good kids is part of it.
For those of you thirsting for football this summer, you could always follow the CFL and root for the Calgary Stampeders, who are off to a 2-0 start. Canadian football is fun to watch, and the Stampeders have long been one of the better teams. Their season begins on July 1 and runs through our Thanksgiving weekend (in case you didn’t know, Canadian Thanksgiving coincides with our Columbus Day) with the Grey Cup. Just a gentle hint, folks.
If you’re not reading USA TODAY columnist Mike Lopresti (Keeping Score) you’re really missing out on some great stuff.
Oh, did DeMarcus Russell just sneeze or cough again? Someone please pass him a Halls or Ricola… he needs wiser choices for cold symptoms.
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