JUNE 22, 2009
TROUBLED
When Jayson Williams was with the Nets I heard many of his interviews. This was a funny, charming guy, he had a personality. You would always find a crowd of reporters around him, for he wouldn’t give you the same old dry cliché. But something happened on the way to retirement.
The former NBA player who once led the league in rebounding, and was a happy go lucky kind of a guy has become a dark violent character and continues to be in trouble with the law.
This is not some one time altercation, but a pattern of violent behavior which started with his shotgun going off and killing a limo driver in 2002. This deeply troubled man faces incarceration for covering up the shooting at his home. Williams has yet to be sentenced and continues to exhibit violent behavior everywhere he goes. Williams has not been sentenced because he has to be retried for reckless manslaughter, a charge he faces for the shooting.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Meanwhile, JW has been busy. In April the police had to use a stun gun on JW in a hotel altercation and in May he was involved in fisticuffs in a North Carolina bar. His wife has filed for divorce claiming physical and drug abuse.
It’s a funny thing, fame and fortune, sometimes it goes to your head.
JUNE 21, 2009
KlitschK-O
Wladimir Klitschko defeated Ruslan Chagaev for the Ring Magazine belt, the WHAT?
I get confused with all these titles and belts. Wladimir has a brother, Vitali. In 2003 I attended the Heavyweight Title fight between Vitali Klitschko and Lennox Lewis. I’m not a boxing fan but this was an event like the Oscars, you may not like the movies but you’ll go to the show.
I have to write, it was quite a bout. But for a severe cut over his left eye Vitali could have won. Lewis was out of shape but a much better athlete, smoother and a hint stronger. Vitali was younger and in better condition, but it was not meant to be for him that day.
Enter Wladimir, pronounced V-la-dea mear. Wladimir is the younger brother who seems to be better, stronger and a bit more athletic. Wladimir has all the belts the WBO, IBF and IBO, his brother still holds the WBC. Eventually, they may have to meet.
I don’t think there has ever been a heavyweight title bout between two brothers. Now there is something to talk about. Boxing has been absent from the front page. It has been missing a great champion. UFC and WEC are getting more headlines. A sport that had Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, just to name the first ones that come to mind, needs the brothers to resurrect it.
This is something that I, a mere casual observer of the sport, would actually be interested in.
Something to consider.
JUNE 20, 2009
FATIGUED
$25,000,000, that’s how much Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) makes in a single season for playing baseball. But apparently, A-Rod is tired or as the Yankee organization puts it FATIGUED.
This is absurd. This guy is batting .145 (8 for 55) in June. He's in an 0-for-15 slump, and is hitting .212 with nine homers and 26 RBIs. He was replaced Friday by Angel Berroa.
Was “Cal” Ripken Jr. ever fatigued? NO! The guy played since he was 6. Did Jordan ever take off a few games to REST UP? How about football players who play through all kinds of injuries and with all kinds of pain? This A-Rod character is pathetic.
But baseball deserves this, baseball did it to itself.
Just like the business of housing surged and Wall St. didn’t think it would ever end, the housing bubble burst resulting in the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression.
So did Baseball turn a blind eye to the use of steroids thinking it wouldn’t end and the home runs would rain down perpetually. But the steroid bubble burst. Now baseball is stuck with unfathomable salaries to average players who will never live up to them.
Maybe this A-Rod needs 5 Hour Energy
A-Rod really wanted to play against the Marlins in his home town of Miami and now he will not get the chance. Rodriguez said. "It's a big disappointment."
That’s the understatement of the year.
JUNE 19, 2009
DONTE’S INFERNO
I know a little about the law. I’d like to explain what little I know about it with regards to Donte’ Stallworth.
In order for the law to consider you a violent criminal it requires INTENT. You had to intend for the consequence. When a person walks into a post office with a gun and starts shooting, they probably intended to kill. Worst yet, when a person thought about the act for a week and decides to go through with it, they most certainly intended to kill. (This is called PREMEDITATED)
In the case of vehicular homicide the INTENT is missing. Stallworth most likely did not intend to kill the person he struck with his car, Donte’ was simply RECKLESS.
Criminal recklessness, although without intent, has devastating consequences. The law recognizes that, just not in Donte’s case.
A few hundred dollars and this tragedy could have been avoided. After all we are dealing with a millionaire, a professional athlete. Donte’ could have hired a limousine to drive him around. If he’s frugal he could have called a cab or a car service. But he did not and decided, in his inebriated state, to drive himself.
So I praise Roger Goodell for suspending Stallworth indefinitely with out pay and do what the legal system failed to do, hand down the appropriate punishment.
JUNE 18, 2009
SECRET WEAPON
How can you be so dumb so as to carry a gun especially in an airport! I understand all about needing protection form crazed fans and the paparazzi, but you need less protection in a public place with so much security.
It’s this thing athletes have, they like guns. Just because you’re an athlete doesn’t mean you have to be violent or do dangerous things like carry guns.
It’s the airport that has me baffled, you may be approached by fans and the media but it’s highly doubtful that you will be attacked in such a public place. However, a crazed fan will probably attack anywhere, no matter how public the location, but it’s rare, very rare, especially for athletes.
SO STOP CARRYING GUNS!!!
Stop going to places where you need guns, be humble, and don’t FLASH THE CASH. There are a lot of jealous people out there who do not have much to lose. But you do and you should not be at a place with such people. The only reason you go is to boast about your success. If you go to places frequented by your peers you won’t have to show off.
Say little when you lose, say even less when you win.
JUNE 17, 2009
BUSTED
Ryan Leaf, a.k.a. the BUST, is on the run, or just gathering his things before he goes to jail and ties to make a career of it in the prison league.
From a #2 pick in the draft to a jail bird. WHAT HAPPENED? This my friends is the result of laziness, the man had no work ethic. “This is what happens Larry, when you #$%!*@! a stranger in the ass” The Big Lebowski
You see folks, you have to work in life, apply your self or all those things that you think should just happen will go by the way side. Leaf could have been great, he had the tools but he didn’t have the all important mental portion down, from having emotional outbursts to overeating in the off-season.
What surprised even me is how far the BUST has fallen. He hasn’t even attempted to salvage what little life he has left. Has the BUST tried to coach football at some high school, NO! How about volunteering at a youth center, you know, do something constructive with your free time, NO! Leaf is popping pills and committing burglaries.
The irony is, is that Leaf would probably not go to jail if he were still playing.
Have fun in jail BUST, good by and good riddance.
JUNE 16, 2009
THE JACKSON TOUCH
“Phil Jackson is not a great coach because he had great players” this is what some pundits are saying out there. Now maybe they’re just being provocative or are trying to draw attention to themselves. But lets just end this ridiculousness right now.
YOU CAN NOT WIN WITHOUT GREAT PLAYERS!!!
Part of what makes you a great coach is that you can communicate with great players, you can let them be themselves. Allowing autonomy is crucial in dealing with today’s athletes. If a player wants to be vocal for the cause Phil steps aside and allows the player to do a little “COACHING” of his own. Kobe and Jordan did a fair share of that.
To win one must have great players. Auerbach had Russell and Cousy, Riley had Magic, O’Neal and Wade, K.C. Jones had Bird and McHale, Popovich had Duncan. And Jackson had MJ and Kobe.
In every sport the winning coach had great players, can’t win with out them.
What one needs to understand is that these coaches were not the original coaches to draft these players, except maybe Auerbach. All the coaches above replaced another coach who couldn’t win with those great players. That’s what makes these coaches special, they were able to get these players to be even better, to put the team before themselves and to make winning the only goal.
These GREAT coaches buttressed that all important team chemistry and found the formula that worked.
JUNE 15, 2009
WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
4 for 24, that’s four titles for #24 (Bryant.) This year’s NBA Finals was a far cry from the embarrassing 39 point loss of a year ago. This was a dominating performance, a FIVE GAME SWEEP, is the best way I can describe it.
It would seem to the casual observer that the games were close and they were points wise, two games going to over time. However, the Magic could not find a way to win those close games and that determination and mental toughness is what separated the champion Lakers from the runner-up.
The Magic did have a record setting night in Game 3 (62.5% FG), but this was an emotionally charged game, and a repeat performance was unrealistic. In Game 4 Orlando had a complete collapse in the 4th quarter (inability to make FTs-?) which led to a loss in OT.
Marred by inconsistent play from Lewis and the supporting cast, the Magic simply could not muster enough offense to win. The balance that allowed them to get to this point was gone and the scoring averages decreased. Howard, although getting a double double in every game, only scored 20pts or better once. For Howard’s first series, he showed that greatness is not out of reach but he will need to improve his scoring to win the ring.
The Lakers were better, tougher and mentally stronger, in Game 4 where no call went their way they fought and competed to win in OT. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. With that Game 4 win the series was over and a demoralized Orlando team did not have enough in their emotional tank to change the course of history.
What can you write about Kobe? #24 was resilient, ultra competitive and yes, UNSTOPPABLE. He was every bit the superstar. Unable to finish last year, he certainly finished this year, with an exclamation! Bryant did it all, and if you paid attention to the time outs, he did most of the coaching as well.
So we give credit where credit is due, and the Los Angeles Lakers are NBA champions for a reason, they were the toughest team in the league this year, and maybe for years to come.
JUNE 14, 2009
MAGICLESS MEN
It is inevitable that the Magic lose the series. After losing the all important game 4 at home due to their inability to make free throws, Orlando is finished. This Magicless bunch will not win 3 games in a row and 2 on the road. Forget it!
After being given every opportunity to win game 4 Orlando simply BLEW IT! I don’t think the Lakers had a single free throw attempt in the fourth quarter. The referees were working so hard to help the Magic the organization should cut them a check.
These undeserving chaps are awful the cheerleaders could have made those free throws. Orlando was leading the game by 3 with 00:36 left and failed to hit one out of two “charity” shots, that what they call free throw, CHARITY SHOTS, which would have given them the win.
Fine, the game goes into over time and these would be champs proceed to lose the game in OT. AT HOME!
Unbelievable, inexplicable, unforgivable. Maybe next year.
JUNE 13, 2009
HISTORY REPEATING
RESULTS: NHL Finals Game 7, Pittsburgh@Detroit. Penguins-2 Red Wings-1
Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins! The Penguins have done what only 2 other teams in the history of the NHL Finals were able to do, win a game 7 on the road.
And what a game it was, fast, clean, just how hockey was intended to be played. There was tremendous offense and even better defense. Detroit started fast and played most of the game on the Penguins’ side of the rink with the crowd behind them it seemed inevitable that they would win their 12th cup, but it was not to be.
A focused, scrappy, determined Pittsburgh team found a way to get the puck in the net more times than the guys from hockey town (Red Wings). And they did it without their captain, Sidney Crosby. And if it wasn’t for the cross bar we may still be playing.
This is the second time Detroit lost a game 7 at home in the Finals (First-1945.) Thanks to both teams for putting on quite a finally.
JUNE 12, 2009
“7”
Game 7, that is. No two words are more important in sports than GAME 7.
The NHL Finals come down to this final, all or nothing, for all the marbles or for Lord Stanley’s Cup, game.
I will admit that I have not watched the finals this year. But now that the NBA Finals are over, today’s game 7 is most intriguing. The Penguins were down 0-2 and are now in a one game playoff. Both teams have won every home game. Pittsburgh would need a champion’s performance to win the game on the road.
The NHL Finals have gone to a game 7 fourteen times and the road team has won twice. Thus it’s NOT IMPOSSIBLE!!! Let me write that again Pittsburgh, it’s NOT IMPOSSIBLE!!!
One of the losing home teams was the 1945 Detroit Red Wings. Will history repeat itself? The last time a road team won was in 1971, the Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks.
12-2 is better than 14-0, if some team has done it, then it can be done.
Maybe it can be the Penguins.
JUNE 11, 2009
IT’S BOOTY TIME
John David Booty that is. Where do I begin in writing about the mess in Minnesota. This tango that Brad Childress and Brett Favre are doing is dizzying. The Vikings are DONE, their OTAs barely started but I’m writing here they’re DONE!!
I think the reason why Childress wants #4 (Favre) so much is because they are so much a like. Let’s compare.
Both can’t make up their minds.
Both can’t tell the truth.
Both go back on their word.
And now Childress has lost all credibility. He told the press that “If Brett had the shoulder surgery.” WHAT! You know he had the surgery, you told him to have it, that’s why he sent you the X-RAYS.
Football is unique sport where toughness is a core element of everything you do. You have to be a strong-willed individual to coach and play this game. Making such allowances will not sit well with the other players and they will not play for you. When the coach’s character becomes an issue you can kiss that team good by.
Oh, and I began this little vent by mentioning a fellow by the name of Booty. That’s QB, John David Booty and he went to USC, and it’s not South Carolina.
JUNE 10, 2009
BABY STEPS
Let’s congratulate the Orlando Magic on their first NBA Finals victory.
Orlando shot a record field goal percentage 62.5% and yet I felt they just survived.
Orlando’s win seemed like a steal at home. They survived a Kobe Bryant so hot in the first half that they had to turn the AC up in the arena. They survived their own mistakes and this time made fewer of them than the Lakers.
In the closing minutes of the game #24 (Bryant) let his team down. He did not recognize the defensive pressure in time and after being double teamed he could not pass the ball, thus committing a turnover. With enough time remaining to still give the team a chance #24 proceeded to miss a key free throw.
Odom must have been on a candy break, because I did not see much of him in the closing minutes.
Perhaps Orlando can build on this small record setting victory. Unfortunately, however, I don’t see the Lakers losing. It would take a Dallas Mavericks like collapse for that to happen, and they’re too good.
But, that’s why they play the game
JUNE 9, 2009
THE COARSE HE HAS TAKEN
Lane Kiffin is young. And you know what they say about youth, YOUTH IS INEXPERIANCE.
The young, brash coach of the Tennessee Volunteers has been accused of recruiting violations. Who hasn’t! Some of the NCAA rules are so ridiculous that it’s hard not to violate them. But I’m not here to defend the kid.
It’s his style or lack there off that I wish to comment on. This guy has offended more people than Andrew “Dice” Clay in his prime. He is accused of telling a recruit that “he would be pumping gas after graduating from South Carolina.” When asked if that’s true Kiffin told ESPN that all the stations are self service and the kid would not be pumping gas.
That’s cute.
He hired away an Alabama recruiter and then told the news papers that it was that recruiter who was responsible for all that talent and not Nick Saban. WHERE DOES THIS GUY GET OFF!
What has Kiffin accomplished? Hold on I’m searching the internet for his accomplishment, yes his one single accomplishment….
It’s all about recruiting in college, but you have to coach the talent. Time will tell if the Vols recruited the wrong coach and Kiffin is the one pumping the gas.
JUNE 8, 2009
NO GUTS NO GLORY!
I want to know how many chances a team needs to win one game. I want to know why JJ Redick won’t take a shot and can’t make a pass. I want to know why Superman is playing like a mere mortal.
“Is this a mistake or are they doing it to me on purpose, because I really want to know. If it’s a mistake maybe we can do something about it.” The Witches of Eastwick, the movie not the book.
Game 2 of the NBA finals was a great game, but the Orlando Magic kept coming up short. For one, their star player is not shining, and the bench is cold. Take Courtney Lee missing the shot at end of regulation. ROOKIE you say, it’s the finals he has a year under his belt, maybe he should paint that mask black, he could be more intimidating.
How about JJ Redick, our scholar athlete from Duke. JJ “Dynamite” Redick made one good shot then decided to commit a turnover and deferred to others when he had open looks STAIRING him in the face.
TAKE THE SHOT MAN!!!
Orlando will need to drive the ball to the basket if they wish to get back into this series, and I think they will. Now we’ll just have to see if they do.
JUNE 7, 2009
UNFORCED SUISIDE
When Serena Williams was asked who had the better game on the tennis tour, she emphatically stated, the WOMEN’S! She said this before they played the Women’s Finals at the French Open.
How can I put this without hurting any of the ladies’ feelings, let’s just say it was a non event. Both women, Kuznetsova and Safina committed 22 unforced errors, but for Safina it was not enough, she also double faulted 7 times.
I can understand if one player just doesn’t have it that day and continues to make mistakes. Maybe the stage is too big, the lights are too bright, and butterflies never go away. But such sloppy performances just to see who can outlast whom are not inspiring.
The men have Federer and Nadal, the women have 44 unforced errors and 8 double faults.
Forgive us Miss Williams, but we must respectfully disagree.
JUNE 6, 2009
IVAN THE GREAT
The great Roger Federer has reached his 19th Grand Slam finals match. This is a remarkable feat, however, he is not alone to have accomplished this. A fellow by the name of Ivan Lendl, tennis’ greatest overachiever also has 19 Grand Slam finals appearances.
Lendl was my favorite player, he was disciplined, determined, and dedicated, like we are here at Sportvent. Lendl was a worker, he had to be, he was not as gifted an athlete as Federer or Sampras. To better understand this man let me relay some anecdotes.
Lendl would never stop training, he would say, “some people live to eat, I eat to live.” On his birthday he would go for a 20 mile bike ride to keep up his conditioning. Before Andre Agassi got serious about his craft he told Ivan that he had a trainer coming to get him in shape. Ivan responded, train yourself and save the money.
Ivan never won Wimbledon, but you had to admire his determination. He skipped the French open one year to take extra time to train on the grass, he was a worker.
Federer is a much more gifted athlete, ultra cool, ultra smooth, just like his shave in those ads with Tiger Woods. Roger should become the greatest of all time by winning more Grand Slam titles than anyone, currently Federer has 13 (Pete Sampras has 14).
But not too far behind him in the record books will be the greatest overachiever in tennis.
Tags: NBA Finals Basketball Orlando Magic Lakers Kobe Howard Pietrus Rodm
