Archive for April, 2008

SOD

sandcrabs April 25th, 2008

Any time that I get to talk about football is a good time for me.  I get as giddy as a little schoolgirl during the off-season whenever there’s any significant news.  That is why I treat the upcoming NFL draft like a national holiday.  In order of importance (to me at least): Super Bowl; Opening Day; Draft day.  The draft is entertaining and a lot of fun.  Can Mel Kiper look any worse than he does right now?  What’s up with his hair?  It seems as if it’s trying to get away.

Now, I don’t pretend to be any kind of a draft expert.  I’m not one of those mouth-breathing, mother’s basement-dwelling mopes who comes up with my own mock draft.  I have my opinions on who I think would be best for each team, but I don’t have white boards set up with each player and their collegiate statistics.  That’s why I watch ESPN and the NFL Network so that I can get that information from people who get paid for it.  Right or wrong, they still get paid.  Would any of us still have jobs if we were wrong as much as Mr. Kiper?  Probably not.

But that’s not my point.  Every year there’s that draft pick that is widely considered the steal of the draft (SOD, get it?)  Adrian Peterson, though still picked rather high in the first round, was given that distinction by many last year.  There were concerns about his durability, which did surface a bit in his rookie campaign, but how many teams that picked ahead of the Vikings wished they would have taken that chance?  Some annoint themselves as the SOD (Onterrio Smith, 2003 4th round).  Tom Brady also comes to mind, but who the hell could have predicted that back in 2000.  The Patriots got lucky, and have continued to do so since (it was a fumble!).

Recognizable names will be called out early: Jake Long; Darren McFadden; Glenn Dorsey to name a few.  There is an individual who’s draft stock has risen but still comes with questions from the so-called experts.  This person will likely still be taken in the first round, but several teams will pass on him.  I am speaking of Jonathan Stewart.

Call me an Oregon Ducks honk (which I am), that doesn’t bother me, but the guy is a beast.  He had a great combine  and has done nothing since to devalue himself.  He didn’t do the agility drills as his turf toe was still healing.  What you’ve got to look at is what he did his senior year at Oregon.  He was in pain for the 2nd half of the season.  In the past he packed it in; sat our for several games.  Last year?  What a stud.  Because of his presence, and performance, Oregon hammered a very good South Florida team in the Sun Bowl.  If only Oregon had performed at that level when Dennis Dixon went out we’d be talking about a magical season for the Ducks….but that’s another blog for another time.  Jonathan Stewart put the team on his back and marched them to the win.  Once he gets to a professional team, the level of medical care dramatically increases.  Teams have to protect those million dollar investments.  Stewart will have the means to get on better conditioning programs and be able to take better care of himself.  Of course, that also comes with maturity.  I’m of the belief that once he gets drafted everything will become so much more clear for him.  I think it already has.  His senior year showed his progress and how much he’s grown up.  He accepted a leadership role and flourished.  By all appearances he sets a good example. 

I expect Stewart to be picked in the top 8.  However, should he fall out of the top 10 the team that gets him could be charged with larceny.  Out of the top 10. Jonathan Stewart becomes the Steal of the Draft.

Damnit David!

sandcrabs April 21st, 2008

Once again we see what truly runs the NBA.  Money.  The owners have overwhelmingly authorized for the Seattle Supersonics to be moved to BFE.  Now before anybody starts in with “The owners can do what they want” crap let me first state that I do agree with that statement.  If a city does not show the support necessary to keep a team then it’s their own fault if the owner wants to move.  I have nothing against Art Modell or Jim Irsay.  They are smart businessmen who saw a better opportunity elsewhere.  How they went about it could be questioned, but I feel it’s within their rights to relocate to a more lucrative market.  Seattle really hasn’t shown that much support for a once-storied franchise who does have an NBA crown.  What does rankle me are the circumstances that are now coming to light.  Most notably the evidence that shows the new ownership group really had no intention on keeping the team in Seattle.  They knew ahead of time that their proposals where so far above and beyond what any sane person would agree to, and they knew when purchasing the team that they would be able to spin it their way.  Howard Schultz’s attempt to regain the team again is admirable, but a little too late.  If the team and the fans meant so much to him then why sell the team in the first place?  Clay Bennett?  The epitome of snake, politician or any other slimy creature you can think of.  The communications that have been made public show that he and the group had no intention of staying in Seattle even though in order to purchase the team he had to promise to.  Their half-hearted attempts were a joke even before this information came out.  Now that we have more of the story it looks closer to fraud.  That’s too bad because Oklahoma City supported the displace New Orleans Hornets with passion and intensity that we wish we could see from other cities.

The main issue that I take umbrage with is David Stern’s inability to run the league like he’s in charge.  He allowed the vote to take place even in the face of these allegations and without even looking into the situation more.  What was the motivation?  Of course, money.  That’s what David Stern is all about.  Staging games in a country known more for it’s human rights violations than for anything else (China) bolsters trade relations for sure.  Asking for a boycott of goods from China is extremely difficult because, like most of you, over half the tags on items that I own are made in China.  Ain’t that a bitch?  Oh, I try and look before purchasing but is it really my responsibility to not buy these things or should my government be the ones trying to stem that tide?  Just as it should be David Stern’s responsibility to look out for the fans.  Without us, there really would be no NBA.  Unfortunately, and Mr. Stern is well aware of this, piss off one group of fans (Seattle) and just find another to take their place (Oklahoma City).  It’s all about the Benjamins.  Integrity?  Loyalty?  Who cares?  As long as the owners continue to line his pockets all fans should be as nervous as those in Seattle.

Relevant vs. Irrelevant

sandcrabs April 9th, 2008

The college basketball season is not officially over.  Champions have been crowned in both the men’s and women’s divisions.  Congrats to Kansas and Tennesse.  Really though, was it that thrilling?  Sure the shot near the end of regulation by Mario Chalmer was a hell of a shot.  But does anybody really care that much?  Unless you’re in some kind of tournament pool I’m thinking that college basketball is beginning to lose some of it’s allure.  On the side of irrelevant, can anybody name the coach for any college women’s team not named Sullivan?  I’m just glad that Rutgers was knocked out.  Had they won, their accomplishment would have been overshadowed with questions regarding vindication over last year’s controversy.  I’m not getting into that because, quite frankly, I don’t really care.

Moving right along.  What’s happened to officiating?  Kansas’ blowout win over North Carolina was one of the worst officiated games I’ve ever witnessed.  Next to Pac-10 officials (more on them in a minute) that group of incompetants were some of the worst I’ve seen.  Basketball referees in general don’t seem to have actually read a rule book.  From the NBA on down, how often have you just sat there shaking your head wondering what the hell the ref saw.  I have a theory on this.  Aside from which team David Stern wants to win for ratings, I think they sit in their little room before a game and think of a number between 1 and 10.  However many times they see a foul they don’t call it until they get to that number, unless it’s a blatantly hard foul.  I just don’t get it.  Umpires in baseball admittedly have different strike zones depending on the individual.  The rule book specifically states where the strike zone should be.  You constantly hear pitchers discuss the need to “adjust” to the strike zone.  Really?  Wow!

By far the best officials are in the NFL, but even some of those aren’t worth a damn.  Thank God Tom White finally retired.  Most in football generally do a good job, with the exception of Pac-10 officials.  Everybody should remember the OU game.  Yeah, the Sooners got jobbed on that onside kick attempt, but not enough that the replay official should get death threats.  Pac-10 officials who worked bowl games embarressed themselves with missed calls and complete confusion.  Some of those games were unwatchable due to this.  I’m sure it’s some sort on conspiracy.  The Pac-10 is out to make other conferences fail.  I’m sure 9/11 wasn’t an inside job but Pac-10 referees planned it all.  Hell, wasn’t that a Pac-10 official on the grassy knoll?