WBAISports.com Newswire

Rose wit' a lil' Mayo

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:29:22 GMT

Synopsis

With two months to go in the basketball season, Chicago's Derrick Rose and Memphis' O.J. Mayo are the top two contenders for rookie of the year honors. They both speak with Wbai Sports about their new beginnings.

Story

Leading up to last June’s NBA draft, the overwhelming choice amongst NBA executives and media types over who was the best player in the Draft was University of Memphis point guard Derrick Rose. The Chicago Bulls agreed and selected the hometown product Rose with the first overall pick in the 2008 draft. Rose, like most high school ball players, was a relative unknown before bursting onto the national scene in his one and only year in college at the University of Memphis. Another guard selected 2 picks after Rose with the 3^rd overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies, O.J. Mayo out of USC, has been widely known to basketball fans for a few years. Now, with about two-thirds of their rookie season complete, the two rookie guards are the leading candidates for NBA rookie of the year. Rose and Mayo resemble a similar connection with another pair of exciting guards who were selected early in the 1996 NBA draft, Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury. One is a typical point guard while the other is a cold blooded scorer.

When Iverson and Marbury came out of college in 96’, Marbury was a freshman and Iverson was a sophomore. Mayo and Rose entered the draft following their freshman seasons. In 96’ Iverson was as dynamic a guard the game of college basketball had seen in ages. In his two seasons at Georgetown, the six foot playmaker, with the size of a point guard, displayed great ball handling ability, but had the scoring mentality and game of a shooting guard. A man who rose up on seven footers in the lane and stuffed it down in their faces. Marbury was a star point guard from New York City who got all the hype of a New York City high school legend. He had a similar game and ability to Iverson, except Marbury didn’t rang up as many numbers in the points category but always dished out a heck of a lot more assists than Iverson. The point was that both guards could do both well but their strengths were slightly different.

Leading up to that 96’ draft, the big talk, surrounded over which one would end up having the better career. Many looked at Iverson as the guy who would put on a “highlight reel” type performance on a night in and night out basis, while Marbury, who was looked at as a true point guard who could make other players around him better, was widely considered the one who would be a bigger winner because of his ability to be a true point guard and get all his teammates involved. Iverson, the all-world scorer was selected first overall by Philadelphia while Marbury was taken fourth by Milwaukee, then immediately traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Ray Allen.

After Lebron James was coveted out of high school and later selected with the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft, O.J. Mayo took the role, along with center Greg Oden, as the next can’t miss future NBA prospect. Oden and Mayo were both covered by national publications early in their high school years, including by sports illustrated. Mayo was the guard who always had the rock in his hands which gave him the opportunity to dazzle and showcase his talents. O.J. who was raised in Huntington, West Virginia, made his rounds around the AAU basketball circuit which led to his rising national popularity. O.J. played the early part of his high school basketball career at North college Hill high school in Cincinnati, Ohio where he led his school to three consecutive AP poll titles. He also won Mr. Basketball of Ohio honors in his sophomore and junior seasons before returning to West Virginia and enrolling at Hunnington High School for his senior season.

Derrick Rose’s star on the national scene wasn’t born quite as early as that of O.J. Mayo, but he too had a standout high school career, winning two consecutive state championships at Chicago’s Simeon career academy. In 2007, he was named Mr. Basketball of the state of Illinois. He then moved on to the University of Memphis where his pure package of athleticism, power, speed, and smarts immediately grabbed the attention of the sporting nation. Following the recent success of NBA point guards Chris Paul, Steve Nash, and Deron Williams, and the positive effect they each had on their teams rapid rise up the standings, Rose was looked at early in his freshman season as a franchise changing player. However, around this time a year ago, before the start of the NCAA tournament, neither Rose or Mayo was really looked upon as the guy who would be the first player selected in the June draft. Instead it was Kansas State University rookie forward Michael Beasley. After march madness and the NCAA tournament, in which Rose led Memphis to the national championship game, and a heartbreaking loss to the University of Kansas in overtime, there was little debate that it would be Rose who be selected first overall.

Now in their rookie seasons, Rose and Mayo have reached the “The Show”, fulfilling a lifelong dream “It’s great,” said O.J. Mayo of his rookie season in the NBA “I had an opportunity to fight my whole life to get to this point, and to finally get here is pretty exciting for me and I’m just looking forward to getting better each and every night.” Mayo leads all rookies in scoring this season with an average of 19.4 points per game, while Rose is 2^nd with an average of 16.9 points per game but leads all rookies with an average of 6.4 assists per game. Guys like Rose and Mayo are no doubt basketball crazy, love the sport, and have never been ones to shy away from any opportunity to play the sport. But you would have to think that one of the biggest obstacles for any rookie would be adjusting their body to the physical grind that comes with playing a six month 82 game NBA schedule. “It definitely does” says O.J. Mayo “it’s a tough league and there’s really no easy nights. Every night is a fight, so you’ve got to just continue to work hard and get better.” Neither Mayo nor Rose has missed a game this season “I’m eating right, sleeping right, I’m just getting a lot of rest and I really don’t go out like that.” Derrick Rose tells Wbai Sports about how he’s been able to keep his body from breaking down during the long NBA season, “I’m just listening to all my vets and seeing what they do, taking ice baths and all that stuff, so right now I’m feeling good.”

Generally, in a high school or college season, the most games on a basketball schedule is somewhere between 30 and 40. “So many games in a short amount of time,” Mayo tells wbai Sports about his biggest adjustment to NBA life, “And every night having a tough player to compete against, there are no easy nights, no easy days, only the strong survive in this league.” Mayo acknowledges that in the off-season he has to get stronger so in his words he can hold his ground against “some of the stronger players in this league.” When asked who his toughest matchups are in the NBA Rose chuckles and says “Everybody,” “This is the best competition in the world, every night you’re playing against somebody good, so it’s hard,” he continued “everything is hard, all this new traveling, trying to eat and sleep right, learning the plays as a point guard, learning the opponents plays, all that stuff is hard.”

The NBA and the sport of basketball period, is all about the show. A game that’s mixed with a lot of showmanship in between the fierce competition. O.J. Mayo knows a thing or two about putting on a show and how to promote and draw attention to himself. Coming out of high school he choose to attend the University of Southern California because the school has forever been known as a football school, and Mayo wanted to step foot on campus under the L.A. lights, and make the basketball team a power as well. O.J. wanted to throw his name and talents into the mix under the L.A. spotlight, with the special USC football names such as; Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, Reggie Bush, and the rest. Mayo even considered doing something which would have been extremely big and ground breaking. Before deciding to attend USC he considered going to a historically black university, something we never see from the top black athletes of our time. If Mayo would have chosen this route, he sure enough would have created a lot of buzz, because again, the basketball masses knew this kid’s name all throughout his high school career.

Nevertheless, when it comes to some of the players who inspired him to want to make a living out of making incredible things happen with the rock, Mayo points to one of the finest products ever produced from a historically black university “Earl Monroe,” O.J. says, “I’m a really big fan of the older players because back then it didn’t matter if you were 6’4 or 6’2, they just played ball, whether it was point guard or two guard, they really just went out there and played hard and competed well so I’m a big fan of those players.” Interesting for a kid who was born seven years after the pearl retired from the sport “A guy in my neighborhood who really liked his game talked to me about him a lot when I was younger, he found some tapes for me to watch and once I saw those tapes I really became a big fan, the way he played real smooth with a bob to his game, he really had a lot of fun.” Mayo says.

Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls have the best chance of making the playoffs when it comes between them and O.J. Mayo’s Memphis Grizzlies. At the time of this article the Chicago Bulls are a game and a half out of the final playoff spot in the eastern conference with two months remaining in the season, while Memphis stands 18 games removed from the final playoff spot in the western conference, which has them looking towards next year and the future for any possible playoff talk. “We’re a young team, and us growing together is pretty interesting, we’re all going through the same difficult stages, it’s just trying to turn it around and become a good team, we have each other, it’s not going to be easy but I think we’re a team that can fight this uphill battle and become a good team.” Says Mayo. The Grizzles franchise which originated in Vancouver has only been in existence for 14 seasons and still has never won a playoff game. So Mayo and his fellow Grizzles have a long ways to go before they change the aura surrounding the Memphis Grizzlies. As far as individual awards go, if all things are pretty much even, they are usually given to the player whose team does the most winning. So if Rose is able to push the Bulls into the playoffs this spring he could come away with rookie of the year honors “If it comes with me winning I’ll take it but if we don’t make the playoffs then it really wouldn’t mean nothing.” As far as whether Rose speaks with his fellow rookies around the league he says “I don’t talk to them like that, we have a busy schedule.” Like Iverson and Marbury, Rose and Mayo will be linked together in NBA history. It will be fun to watch whether or not these two young guards will surpass the heights of the two who came before them in 96.’

Blame Commish and Media

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:42:53 GMT

Synopsis

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig and the baseball writers of America must take the most blame for the steroids era, writes Samori Benjamin.

Story

With the allegation, and then, the admittance of steroid use from New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriquez, major league baseball has officially been tarnished, and to a certain degree ruined. None of the other major professional sports leagues in the United States have damaged their brand more than the protectors of the national pastime. The commissioner of Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, has to take the biggest responsibility in what we now know as the steroids era. An era that has contaminated and tainted the baseball record book. A record book that’s always been the most sacred among all the rest, in a sport that’s largely about the numbers.

Major League Baseball never had an official steroids test until 2004. The idea of no steroids testing was a joke. Professional sports is an arena where it’s the survival of the fittest. If you are not testing for a drug that enhances athletic performance, you have to expect players to use. Baseball players have to provide for their families like everyone else. The sport is the means by which they earn their living, and it’s a business. Baseball team executives want to win, and the best way to judge whether a player will help you win is by looking at their numbers. Numbers that are pulled out at the bargaining table when an athlete states his case for a contract. The bigger the numbers the more millions a ball player can command. Steroids enhance the numbers. We all grew up as kids hearing and seeing steroids testing at the Olympics and knew it was a drug that would turn you into superman. A magical poison injected into your rear that would give you an unfair advantage. So what did the governing body of major league baseball and the commissioner think was going to happen?

The duties of the commissioner clearly states he must defend what is in “the best interest of baseball.” The commissioner and the governing body of major league baseball are the police of the sport. They are supposed to uphold the tradition and integrity of the game, and there is no way the commissioner’s office could not have known or at least had a high degree of suspicion that ball players were using the juice. To think anything else would be extremely naïve, and there is no way people who are around the game the way the commissioner and his officials are, could be that naïve. It starts at the top, and the commissioner and his executives presided over an era that’s now made the league look like a joke.

The biggest dynamic in the entire steroids conversation are the baseball fans. Baseball fans are the reason major league baseball has a steroids test in place today. For many years, it was not public knowledge that baseball players were not being tested for steroids. Baseball fans just always assumed major leaguers were being tested for steroids. Then everything changed with the Balco laboratory bust in the California bay area in 2003, where major leaguers from Barry Bonds to Jason Giambi were linked to steroids use, and more specifically a designer steroid, that was undetectable on a steroids test, which were being created and distributed to athletes by the company.

The Balco case was the first episode that revealed to the public that major league baseball had neither a steroids policy nor a test. If the public knew this before 2003, the suspicion level towards ball players would have been significant way before 03’, and the public would have demanded credibility and steroids testing in the sport. Which is what happened when the feds busted Balco in the 2^nd half of 2003, and players were therefore linked to steroids, the evidence went to a grand jury, there was an indictment, grand jury testimony of New York Yankee Jason Giambi was leaked, which immediately caused the public to question every homerun hit in the major leagues over the preceding 10 to 15 years.

The public was outraged and wanted answers, and that is what got congress involved. In early 2005, America’s elected officials marched baseball commissioner Bud Selig and the director of MLB’s players association, Donald Fehr, up to Capitol Hill to explain why there had never been steroids testing in the sport. A few weeks later, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Schilling, and Sammy Sosa were called to the capital to discuss the degree of steroids use in baseball. After that embarrassment major league baseball and the players association agreed to enact a steroids policy in which a first positive test immediately resulted in suspension without pay. There is no doubt had the public known there was no steroids testing in the sport in 1998 when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa had their dramatic pursuit of Roger Marris’ single season homerun record, the whole thing would have been played under heavy suspicion, and whether these guys were cheating or not would have been a big part of the daily conversation. But that wasn’t the case, and there wasn’t a thought on anyone’s mind that these guys possibly could have been using.

So we watched the homerun chase day after day in that summer of 98’ like it was something magical. Something that was saving the sport which had crippled itself with a mid-season strike in the summer of 1994. Then three years later, after McGwire set a new single season homerun record finishing with 70 homeruns, Barry Bonds comes along and shatters the record that had previously been held for 36 years before McGwire captured it, finishing the 2001 season with 73 homers. And still, during the whole time, both homerun chases were looked upon with amazement and as being great for the sport. There was no public outcry from anyone, that, maybe, possibly, it could have all been aided by steroids. Because the public was not aware that zero percent of major baseball players were tested for steroids.

Another critical aspect of the steroids discussion is the role or non role the baseball writers played. The baseball writers cannot go unscathed, they deserve blame for this era as well. The baseball writers of America are the ones who vote for the hall of fame. On the hall of fame ballot there is an integrity clause which a lot of writers like to point to whenever they give reasoning for why they left someone off their ballot who is worthy of induction. It is the baseball writers role to be the watchful eye over the game, to call out nonsense, to expose the truth, and to make the figures inside the sport accountable. If at any time during the steroids era the baseball writers would have written and informed the public that major league ball players were not being tested for steroids, they would have drawn a lot of attention to the subject which would have set the forces in motion that would have led to steroids testing in baseball. But instead it took the Balco scandal to begin to shed light on the entire issue. Did the baseball writers not know major leaguers were not being tested for steroids? Or did they know and decided to not make an issue of it? We cannot forget the influence and the power of persuasion that the media has over the public. As much as baseball writers and other members of the media love to get into everyone’s business and break bombshell stories, we didn’t hear a word from anyone in the media about the possibility of steroids use in the game. The baseball writers let the entire era take place right under their noses, and missed the story.

The baseball players association did everything they possibly could to avoid their players to being subjected to steroids testing. But that’s what union’s do, they protect their players. Yes, this makes the players association very guilty as well for what took place over the last 15 years in the sport. The baseball owners knew what was going on as well, but they are about making money, and power and homeruns draw fans and their dollars to the game. No one can seriously expect the players and the owners to blow the whistle on something that was profitable for them both. This is why the baseball commissioner and those inside the major league offices are the ones who must take most of the blame for what went on in the steroids era. He likes to say that he was really unaware of the rampant steroids inside the game, and he likes to say that he wanted a steroids test in place a long time ago but that he never happened because the players union would not agree to it during negotiations of a new collective bargaining agreement. If the latter is true, then again, he could have used the baseball writers and the rest of the media to drive home the fact that his players were cheating. It’s as simple as that. Instead, the commissioner turned a blind eye, while those in the media slept the story entirely.

Lighting Rod

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:56:03 GMT

Synopsis

With the acquisition of closer Francisco Rodriquez, the New York Mets fill their biggest hole by adding a man who holds the single season saves record. Rodriquez also gives the Mets another guy who loves to dance on the field. Something they have not been able to back up. They've fired up division rivals in the process, and it has cost them.

Story

The Mets now sign closer Francisco Rodriquez to a $37 million deal over three seasons so he can finish what the Mets could not a season ago. When they blew 29 saves and surrendered 61 homeruns after the 7^th inning. Then found themselves one game out of a playoff spot when the final team crossed the finish line of the 162 game marathon. This after they had the worse mid-September collapse in baseball history in 2007. Rodriquez last season set a new saves record with 62 while pitching for the Anaheim Angels. No question the Mets filled their biggest off-season need, not only by landing Rodriquez, but also by trading for Seattle closer J.J. Putz, who saved 76 games between 2006 and 2007, before he missed a lot of last season with rib and elbow injuries. Putz will setup for Rodriquez, and the Mets hope this flame throwing duo can give the Mets the best late game bullpen in the sport since John Wetteland and Mariano Rivera in 1996.

Rodriquez, who has the nickname “K-Rod” because of his strikeout prowess, adds a lot to the Mets and upgrades the talent level, but Rodriquez sure brings another quality that will keep the fuel burning between them and their national league east division rivals.

In 2006 the New York Mets had themselves a great season. They ran away with the division from the start of the season and did not look back. Everything came together for a team who had tremendous talent sprinkled throughout the lineup. They danced and celebrated through every win all season long. Jose Reyes carried on with teammates inside and outside of the Mets dugout whenever he or a teammate did something special. It seemed as if the shortstop with the innocent mega mega-watt smile had a different handshake for each teammate. We looked at the surface of it and saw a team mixed with youth and veterans, and we thought all the theatrics the Mets exhibited on the field was good for team chemistry and represented a team united.

We took a look cross-town at the boys in the Bronx and saw them mired in their annual mid-season struggles, a team filled with veterans who had been together for awhile without accomplishing the World Series goal. The Yankees businesslike approach looked unenthusiastic and stiff, in a going through the motions type of way. They were hardly as outgoing as their 2006 counterparts over in Queens, and some of us used this as insight into where both teams were headed. Then we saw the Yankees go out listlessly in the first round to the Detroit Tigers. Unfortunately for the Mets, they were upset in the National league championship series against St. Louis and failed to make the World Series. The Mets failed to back up all the dancing they did at the feet of their opponents all season long. The only thing they accomplished that season was bad will directed at them from the rest of their division. Baseball is a game where too much outward emotion and chest boasting gets frowned upon. A sport where the old-timers insist, back in the day, a batter would've had a pitch thrown towards his neck had he or his teammates conducted themselves in such an animated manner.

Since last season there were rumors that the other teams in the national league east had a genuine dislike for the Mets in between the white lines. All because teams became annoyed by the Mets exploits on the field, and they all had their noses rubbed in it when the Mets were Kings of the division and steamrolling through everybody. After the Philadelphia Phillies won the world series this past October shortstop Jimmy Rollins noted to reporters that he believed a big reason for the Mets September collapse the last two seasons had to do with the fact that other teams in the N.L. East gave it their all against the Mets, even though they themselves had nothing to play for, because they had a dislike for the Mets resulting from all their on field shenanigans over the years.

Now the Mets bring in Rodriquez. A man who has no problem letting loose of his emotions in mound. After every strikeout he emotionally pumps his fists on the mound and shouts from his mouth. After each save the Venezuelan righty wails his arms emotionally towards the air with his head looking up at the sky as if he’s taking part in some sort of ritual ceremony towards the ancestors. Rodriquez even found himself in tension last season after opposing teams took offense to his animated and style, and words were exchanged. Rodriquez now becomes another member of the Mets who will draw haters to the new house of citi field, in the opposing dugout, come April 2009. His extroverted style will add more fuel to the fire of hate that burns in the belly of the Mets division rivals. It won’t hurt any that Rodriquez has already gone on record that the Mets will win the national league east division in 2009. How many more days until pitchers and catchers report to Port St. Lucie?

Not Worthy Of Cooperstown

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:17:43 GMT

Synopsis

Over his 18 year career Mike Mussina had some of the best "stuff" of any pitcher in the game. To bad he didn't pitch to the ability of his stuff because he was not a great pitcher.

Story

Last month New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina announced he was retiring from major League baseball at age 39 after an 18 year career. Even though there were reports that Mussina would bid adieu to the Yankees and Major League Baseball before the announcement became official on November 20^th, Mussina’s retiring is still a shocking one. After reaching the elusive 20 win mark for the first time in his career this past season, Mussina chose to retire to his home in Pennsylvania and spend quality time with the family, rather than continuing to chase a few career highlights, that if reached, would make him a sure shot hall of famer. Without it, it is very questionable whether Mussina should walk through the hallowed grounds of Cooperstown.

Mussina’s retirement is an admirable one. We can count on one hand the athletes who have left the game they love while still on the top of their game. Mussina leaves without winning a World Series championship, which all the great athletes chase to cement the legacy of their careers. Mussina also passes on the opportunity to play in the New Yankee Stadium which opens next season, an experience that’s worth hanging around for another season all in itself. The final carrot that made Mussina’s retirement surprising is the fact that he currently sits on 270 career wins, 30 shy of 300. Every pitcher who has won 300 games and is eligible for the hall of fame, is in. Without achieving these career milestones he should not be elected to the hall of Fame. In the end, Mike Mussina was a pitcher with great stuff but was never a great pitcher.

Mussina entered the 2008 season on the final year of a two year contract that paid him a little over $10 million per year. The season before in 2007, Mussina struggled all season long, this followed a few shaky seasons previous to that, and it appeared that the wheels to his career were finally coming off at the hedges. He pitched to a 5.15 E.R.A., the worst in his career by a whole lot. He lost his starting spot, and it looked as if the Yankees would have been better off to cut ties with him and eat their losses for what they owed him on the final year of the deal. Then out of nowhere in 2008, against much opposition from both media and fans alike, Mussina was brought back and had a fantastic season winning 20 games and posting a 3.37 E.R.A., his best since his first season in the Bronx in 2001.

The fact that 2008 was Mussina’s best season in pinstripes since 2001 is a damning testimony to his case for the hall of fame. Mussina won 17 games that season. His highest win total between then and 2008 was 18 in 2002. Mussina played for Yankee teams that had dominant lineups which were relentless in the regular season, winning their division year after year. But he was unable to post a 20 win season before 2008. A performance that had very little impact on the Yankees season. After all, they were sitting at home in October for the first time since 1993. Mussina never got close, really, to winning 20 games with the Yankees in any other season. With the Yankees, Mussina never had a season where he pitched to an E.R.A. under 3.00. The only time he did, in a season in which he started more than 12 games, was once in 1992. Mussina had his moments on the mound with the Yankees where he was brilliant, but he never looked like a pitcher who was capable of carrying his team to a World Series run, even with all the offensive muscle he had backing him up. Over this same period, the Yankees spent hundreds of millions of dollars on pitchers acquired from other organizations who they hoped would be the ace pitcher they needed. If the Yankees had felt they had themselves a big-time ace all along, they would have stopped the search along time ago and saved themselves many millions and aggravation from deals gone bad. I.e. Kevin Brown, Roger Clemens circa 2007, Carl Pavano, Kei Igawa, Jared Wright, and Randy Johnson.

Mike Mussina retires with a career record of 270-153. Almost every pitcher in major league baseball history who has won 100 more games than they have lost have been elected to the hall of fame. But numbers can deceive and mislead sometimes, thus the case for Mike Mussina. Far too many times he cried about having to pitch in less than ideal circumstances, whether it was the weather, some kind of interference in his pre-game routine, or having to pitch in Japan, there was always something. The Hall of Fame is a sacred place that should only belong to the best of the best. A player who is more than an all-star. Someone who was dominant on the field, approaching heights reached by only a handful of players in the history of the game. That pitcher is not Mike Mussina.

Mussina spent the first ten seasons of his career with the Baltimore Orioles where he made his name. He was often talked about in the same breath as the top pitchers in the game. He had tremendous stuff, including a Sl-urve pitch which was categorized as a half curveball, half slider. But Mussina never pitched up to the hype that others spoke of him. With the Orioles in the 90’s he pitched for a collection of teams who were good and competed with the Yankees for the American League East pennant. He matched up against the Yankees a few times in big games during his time in Baltimore and often failed to get the job done. Mussina never won 20 games in Baltimore, nor did he win the Cy Young award.

In 2001, Mussina was given a six year free agent contract by the Yankees, and was supposed to be the team’s next great ace. A pitcher who was going to pick up where the great Yankee pitchers of the late 90’s left off, and continue the legacy of championship success. Mussina’s first Yankee postseason saw him have what might have been his best start ever in Pinstripes. Down 2 games to none on the road against the Oakland Athletics and facing elimination from the first round Mussina was on the top of his game in the third game of the series. Unhittable. Throwing seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory which led to the Yankees rallying to win the series 3-2. The Yankees and Mussina would eventually go on to lose the World Series in seven games to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

A knock on Mussina’s game is that he was a pitcher with tremendous stuff but too often failed to fight through games in which he did not have his best stuff. On a rough night when he gave up a few early runs, he was more likely to continue to get rocked as opposed to fighting through the adversity and still being able to give his team six or seven innings. Mussina certainly was not a grinder. He either had it or he didn’t. One such moment however where this was not the case was in game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox. A performance that has almost gone down in Yankees lore. Roger Clemens was on the wrong end of a duel against his former team and Pedro Martinez, a pitcher who certainly will; be a first ballot hall of famer. Clemens was a first ballot hall of famer as well in 2003. But a lot has changed since then.

Clemens was knocked out of the game in the third inning down 4-0 with runners on first and third and no outs. Mussina was summoned out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. He proceeded to retire the Red Sox without allowing another run, and then pitched two more scoreless innings. The Yankees rallied to win the game 6-5 on Aaron “bleeping” Boone’s homerun, and they had Mike Mussina to thank for giving them another trip to the World Series, and another moment where they added to Boston’s 86 years of misery.

Mussina had 123 wins in his Yankees career. One could argue he was the beneficiary of a great Yankee team behind him, one that made the postseason 13 consecutive seasons. If Mussina were truly a pitcher worthy of being elected into the hall of fame, shouldn’t he have been able to post a 20 win season a lot sooner than before his final season in the Bronx? He was never even the best pitcher in the game or in his league. He never made an all-star team with the Yankees and he never had a moment in his career that defined greatness. Defining moments like Curt Shilling knocking off the Yankees in two separate post seasons that led to his team’s winning the world series. Both times he had a big hand in putting an end to long streaks. Or John Smoltz who has one of the best postseason resumes of all-time, with 210 wins and another 154 saves. These two contemporaries of Mussina will not have reached some of the historic milestones either, that Mussina failed to reach, whenever they decide to call it quits. But when Schilling and Smoltz were at their best they were great and as good as any pitcher in the business. They both have World Series rings to show for it. Something Mussina will never have. If he pitched like a true ace in Baltimore the Yankees might not have ever started their late 90’s dynasty with their first world series win in 96’, when Mussina’s Orioles lost to the Yankees in the ALCS. And if Mussina had pitched like an ace with the Yankees they might not be in a seven year drought of winning the world series. A drought that began the season he stepped foot in the boogie down.

Yanks Must Land This Man

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:06:06 GMT

Synopsis

In 2008, The New York Yankees failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Pitcher C.C. Sabathia is an ace and available on the free agent market. The Yankees need to lock him up when free agency begins because he is the ace they've lacked for years, and his signing would create an instant buzz in New York City's black community.

Story

The New York Yankees have led the baseball world in spending over the past decade. They pride themselves in being the best. But last off-season, with an opportunity to give themselves the best chance at winning a World Series championship for the first time since 2000, they past, and later found themselves out of postseason play for the first time since 1993. Which is why rampant rumors suggest, when the free agent period begins on November 13^th, they will give pitcher C.C. Sabathia an offer he cannot refuse, and make him the highest paid pitcher in the game.

The title “frontline pitcher” is often thrown around, but there are only are a handful of pitchers in Major League baseball who are true dominant aces. The class of pitcher who can carry a baseball team in the playoffs by shutting down the opposing lineup, and set the tone for a series. The Yankees have coveted one of these grade A type talents for awhile. They have not had one since the first go around of Roger Clemens. During the years they reclaimed their spot as a dynasty in baseball, from 1996 through 2000, their championship teams were built around an offensive core with tremendous chemistry, clutch ability, and pitching.

Even though the Yankees entered the 2008 season with a twelve year consecutive streak of making the postseason, they no longer had any of the qualities that made them a champion in the late 90’s. Last winter, after years of trying to land one of the top pitchers in the game, they got their chance in the form of Johan Santana, the best in the game, who was with Minnesota at the time and very much available on the trade market. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman choose to pass on a trade which would have cost the Yankees a top pitching prospect or two, plus outfielder Melky Cabrera, who is a solid role player but not much as else. Another factor which led to Cashman not wanting to trade for Santana was the fact that the pitcher was seeking a new long term contract in the $100 million dollar range, something Cashman did not want to do.

With the Yankees streak of making the playoffs ending this season in what was the final year of Yankee Stadium, the Yankees have admitted to their mistake by preparing to make a full court press for Sabathia. A rotation next season that features Sabathia, Joba Chamberlain, and Chien-Ming Wang as the top three starters would give them a serious look, and a shot at having a dominant starting rotation. However, there is also another reason that would make the Yankees acquisition of Sabathia a brilliant move.

With the decline of African-Americans in major league baseball over the years, where only eight percent of major league players in 2008 were African-American, C.C. Sabathia is one of the few starting African-American pitchers in the Majors. With the way pitcher Dontrelle Willis has fallen off the last couple of seasons, Sabathia is the only big name African-American pitcher in the game. In 2007, Sabathia became the first African-American pitcher to win the CY Young award since Dwight Gooden in 1986, and the first African-American to win the award from the American league since Vida Blue in 1971. The African-American community in New York City, like a lot of black communities in the country, has not exactly been a hotbed of enthusiasm for baseball. Many in New York’s black community have lost a serious interest in the sport, which is especially true amongst the youth. C.C. Sabathia would be a star in New York City. He is an outstanding pitcher, plus he has that hip-hop swagger which every African-American kid identifies with. From his hip-hop swagger, to his baggy uniform, to the way he wears his cap with a slight twist to the side. He would be a marketable black star who the black community would really be able to get excited about. After all, if there is no one who looks like you on the playing field then why watch?

For most of the 2008 season there was just one African-American player on the Yankees. That of course is Yankee captain Derek Jeter. Jeter, unquestionably is incredibly popular in New York and is as big as any athlete in the city. But for whatever the reason, Jeter is not exactly Mr. identifiable when it comes to the black youth. A lot of this probably has to do with the fact that he doesn’t have the look or the style of a hip-hopper, he just goes by his business in a quiet humble manner. And for all the charity work, and events in and around New York City that we see Jeter give his time to, it’s hard to remember a time when the cameras or the scribes covered him doing anyting in the black community.

The New York Mets last season only had two African-American ballplayers on its roster the entire the season. Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson, both of whom are little used bench players. In the mid to late 1980’s when the Mets were in World Series contention every season, two black stars, Dwight Gooden and Daryl Strawberry were as key as any other players on the team. The excitement in New York’s black community for these two athletes was real, and they turned some in the black community who were barely interested in baseball into Mets fans. The same would be true again if you had the only star African-American pitcher in the bigs pitching on center stage in New York. If Sabathia ended up with either the Yankees or the Mets, it would give whichever club who landed him an air of coolness about them.

While the Yankees choose to pass on Sabathia last winter, the Mets made the trade with Minnesota, and then made Santana the highest paid pitcher in baseball with a six year $137.5 million dollar contract. Sabathia is coming off a great season in 2008 in which he was traded from Cleveland to Milwaukee in July, then proceeded to finish the season with a 9-1 record with the Brewers. After a CY Young campaign in 2007 Sabathia probably will be looking for a contract this winter that exceeds the one Santana got. Even though Santana has had the better career, Sabathia is the hottest arm in baseball right now and his stock is at an incredible peak. Everyone knows the Yankees can spend with anyone when it comes to a player they covet. And all indications point to the bombers doing whatever it takes to bring Sabathia to the Bronx.

For the Mets to pursue Sabathia would mean they would have nearly $300 million locked in to two pitchers, which would be risky business. But no question, Sabathia would look good in a Mets uniform as well, and they would be the ones to attract the guaranteed excitement from the black community. But at the end of the day, the Yankees are the Yankees, with their historical mystique, and Sabathia in Yankee pinstripes would present one heck of a dynamic going into the New Yankee Stadium in 2009. For Sabathia and the Yankees it would be a match made in baseball heaven, and a win-win situation for both parties.

Wassup With The Black QB?

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:33 GMT

Synopsis

The Black Quarterback was supposed to revolutionize the Position with their ability to run and throw, creating the ultimate threat. But after some years of failed expectations from the top black quarterbacks, some are wondering if their running style of play is the best way to lead an offense.

Story

The game as we know it was supposed to have been changed by now. Franchise executives were supposed to have stumbled over each other for a chance at getting the next best one in line. After so much discrimination led to lost dreams because of the denial of an opportunity it was only going to be a matter of time until the chance finally came, and the point would be emphatically driven home as the athletic brilliance was going to be too powerful to be denied. The last position on the field that was identifiable with the Caucasian fan base was in jeopardy of turning out like all the others. But now, here in the year 2008 there are as many questions as ever concerning the black quarterback, after the multi-dimensional, running, new age crop of black quarterback has failed to deliver substance. Substance measured in longevity, wins, super bowl wins, and oh yes the dreaded quarterback passer rating.

The plight and the fight for opportunity for the black quarterback has been well documented throughout the history of the sport. Calls for inclusion of the African-American at the quarterback position were ignored for years as institutional racism kept the number of African-American quarterbacks down on the college and professional levels. But a few years ago, at the beginning of the millennium there was a lot of excitement in the belly for anyone who had longed to see the black quarterback really get a chance to take the field and showcase their talents in the National Football League.

On January 31^st 2008 Doug Williams, who starred at quarterback in college for historically black University Grambling State, led the Washington Redskins to victory over the Denver Broncos in super bowl XXII. Williams became the first African-American quarterback to win a super bowl and he did it in grand fashion setting passing records for most yards in a game (340), and most touchdowns thrown in a single quarter (4) and was named the game’s most valuable player. No other African-American quarterback has won a super bowl since and only two, Steve McNair in 99’ and Donovan McNabb in 04, have made it back. The success of Williams in super bowl XXII did not immediately signal the opening of the floodgates for the African-American quarterback. Warren Moon and Randall Cunningham were the only two black quarterbacks who really excelled in the league from the time Williams won super bowl XXII until the late 1990’s. While Moon was primarily a stand in the pocket assassin ala Doug Williams, and the other quarterbacks of the times, Cunningham on the other hand played the game different and was the first of his kind to really have an impact on the National Football League.

Coming on the scene with the Philadelphia Eagles in the late 80’s Cunningham exhibited a powerful throwing arm with sensational running ability to match, earning himself an NFC Pro bowl selection from 1988-1990. He was the NFL’s first legitimate dual threat at the quarterback position, and excited the football masses with his ability to scramble out of the pocket, and on occasion hurdle a defender or two before rocketing a 60 yard bomb down field from his wiry right arm. Randall Cunningham was Mr. Excitement and you knew there were others like him out there waiting to get an opportunity. Due in some part to injury Cunningham’s career with Philadelphia fizzled shortly after the 1991 season. He stayed with the Eagles until 1996 winning just one playoff game with the organization which came in January of 1993.

Cunningham moved onto the Minnesota Vikings in 1997, and in 1998 Minnesota added super rookie Randy Moss to the team and Cunningham had the greatest season of his career throwing for 34 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions. Minnesota ended the regular season scoring the most points in NFL history up to that point and finished with a record of 15-1, third best all-time. It looked as if they would cruise to the Super Bowl where a highly anticipated matchup against John Elway and the reigning Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos awaited. But the NFC Championship game brought disappointment as the Vikings were stunned at home losing 30-27 to the heavily underdog Atlanta Falcons in overtime. For Cunningham, a great opportunity at a super bowl title went by the waste side. He was named to his fourth and final pro-bowl that season and retired after the 2001 season with a career playoff record of 3-7.

In 1995 the AFC conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers were steered primarily by quarterback Neil O’Donnell, but the game plan was slashed once the playoffs began in the form of Kordell Stewart. Stewart, who had quarterbacked at the University of Colorado as a collegian, was a rookie on the 95’ Steelers and was the closest thing to Randall Cunningham, a dual threat type of quarterback, since Cunningham rose to stardom in Philadelphia. Because of his athletic ability, Pittsburgh head coach Bill Cowher used Stewart at a plethora of skilled positions. Stewart was a key talent in the Steelers playoff run to Super bowl XXX, (where they lost to the Dallas Cowboys), and took a number of snaps at the quarterback position where he threw defenses off and made things happen. The Steelers teased and whet the appetite of fans who waited to see a black quarterback burst onto the NFL scene and shake things up. The following season in 96’ Pittsburgh dumped quarterback Neil O’Donnell but head coach Bill Cowher did not name Stewart the starter. Kordell had to wait until the 97’ season to get his shot at the starting spot.

That same season in 1997, Steve “Air” McNair got his opportunity to start at quarterback after being selected 3^rd Overall in the 1995 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers, then spending his first two NFL seasons primarily learning from the bench. In 97’ the Houston Oilers relocated to Tennessee and unveiled McNair to their new fan base by naming him the starter for the 1997 season. Three years previous in 1994 during McNair’s senior season at Historically Black University Alcorn State in Lorman, Mississippi Sports Illustrated put McNair on the cover of one of their September issues with the headline “Hand Him the Heisman.” That season McNair put up numbers for the ages throwing for 4,863 yards, 44 touchdowns, and racking up another 936 yards with his legs. McNair would finish third in the Heisman trophy voting behind Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter and the eventual winner Rashaan Salaam from the University of Colorado.

Through his first two seasons as Tennessee starter McNair showed incredible toughness and became a young leader while putting up modest numbers. In the 1999 season McNair led Tennessee to the playoffs for the first time in his career, they finished the regular season with a 13-3 record and made it to Super Bowl XXXIV which made McNair the second African-American quarterback ever to play in the super bowl. McNair and Tennessee fell to St. Louis 23-16. In 2003 McNair had the best statistical season of his career throwing for 3,215 yards with 24 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions, while running for another four scores on the ground. McNair shared MVP honors for the 2003 season with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.

After the 2003 season McNair would battle a number of injuries which would keep him in and out of the lineup for the remainder of his career. He would not make another playoff appearance with Tennessee and in 2006 he went to the Baltimore Ravens via trade and was looked at as the missing piece to a championship run for a team that had been anchored for years by a dominating defense. McNair disappointed in Baltimore as he continued to battle injuries. In two seasons with the Ravens McNair threw 18 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and ran for just one touchdown. In April 2008 McNair announced his retirement from the NFL.

The slash style of play that made Kordell Stewart a popular player and an intriguing quarterback prospect translated into mild success during his six year on and off again career as Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback. In his first season under the helm in 1997 the Steelers went to the AFC Championship game where they lost to Denver and Stewart threw three interceptions. Four years later with Stewart guiding the reins after losing the starting job the season before, the Steelers finished the regular season with a 13-3 record and made it back to the AFC Championship game, and the quarterback was named a pro-bowler for the first and only time of his career. The season however ended terribly for Stewart as he played miserably in that AFC championship game against New England, throwing two interceptions in the final three minutes of the game with his team trailing by 7 points. The Steelers lost the contest 24-17.

Even though Stewart was a pro-bowl quarterback in 2001 the egg he laid in the AFC Championship game was the beginning of the demise for him in Pittsburgh and his career period. He would not last through the third week of the following season without being benched and losing his starting job for the remainder of the season. He was released following the season and went on to play for the Chicago Bears and later the Baltimore Ravens, but his big time to shine had past. Stewart is 2^nd all-time in career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 38.

The year Steve McNair became the second African-American to quarterback in a Super Bowl in 1999, the NFL had a heralded draft class of blue chip quarterbacks in which 5 of the first 12 players selected were quarterbacks, three were African-American. Donovan McNabb was taken second overall by the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia fans booed the selection. They wanted the Eagles to draft running back Ricky Williams from the University of Texas, who had just set the all-time career collegiate rushing record. McNabb dazzled in college at Syracuse University but the Philadelphia fan was not buying it.

With the very next pick, the Cincinnati Bengals chose Akili Smith third overall from the University of Oregon. Smith fell off the face of the football map faster than he arrived, which says a lot. Smith, who was raised in San Diego, California and comes out of the same high school as Marcus Allen and Terrell Davis, was a no name on the college football landscape prior to his senior season at Oregon. Of the five quarterbacks who were selected within the first twelve picks of the 99’ draft Smith’s stock rose overnight more so than anyone’s. Prior to his senior season Smith was a no-name, but 32 touchdowns in 11 games later in his final season made Smith a formidable NFL prospect. Teams fell further in love with him when they got a load of his raw athletic abilities. While in Cincinatti Smith would only make 17 starts for the Bengals in four seasons, totaling 5 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Smith was the classic case of a draft bust. After having such high hopes for Smith on draft day 1999, he was released by Cincinnati in 2002.

After McNabb and Smith garnered two of the first three picks in the NFL draft, 6-4 270 pound quarterback Dante Culpepper out of the University of Central Florida was snatched up by the Minnesota Vikings with the 11^thoverall pick. Central Florida was a small school that had just ascended from Division I AA to the Division I-A level during the time Culpepper was there. The school didn’t play in one of the power conferences against the best competition which led to Culpepper having that much more to prove.

The 1999 season saw McNabb, Smith, and Culpepper all sit the bench for the majority of the year as each of their head coaches wanted them to take their time and initially learn from the sidelines. During that same time in the fall of 99’ a young quarterback in Virginia was getting Virginians all riled up in a way never seen before in the old dominion state. The quarterback’s name was Michael Vick, and he was in the process of taking Virginia Tech University to threshold’s never before reached. Vick began the 1999 college football season in Blacksburg, Virginia as a redshirt freshman starting quarterback. While at the time Virginia Tech was a stalwart team inside the big east conference, the school was never a serious contender in the National championship discussion. Under Vick Virginia Tech reeled off win after win in the fall of 99’. VA Tech began to gradually give Virginians a belief that it could possibly be a special season. All of a sudden it was November and Vick and VA Tech were still undefeated. November 3^rd 1999 marked a matchup that pitted Virginia Tech on the road against the West Virginia Mountaineers. The game has since gone down in the annals as the “Miracle in Morgantown”.

Trailing 20-19 With 1:04 left in the fourth quarter Virginia Tech had the ball on their own 15 yard line with no timeouts remaining. Vick promptly connected on two passes to get Tech to their own 38 yard line. On the next play with time ticking off the clock Vick rolled to his right, could not find anyone open downfield, then promptly put the ball down and ran up the right sidelines for a clutch 26 yard gain which put Tech on West Virginia’s 36 yard line. On the next play Vick dropped back again and completed a 9 yard pass to West Virginia’s 27 yard line. That set up a 44 yard field goal attempt by Hokes kicker Shawn Graham which he nailed giving Virginia Tech a 22-20 win, keeping their undefeated record intact.

With a season of improbable wins and comebacks, Michael Vick became a must watch event on Saturday afternoon’s in Virginia, and the rest of the nation had begun to take notice. The wins kept coming and on January 4^th 2000 Vick and Virginia Tech found themselves in New Orleans with an undefeated record playing in the National Championship game against perennial powerhouse Florida State University inside the Sugar Bowl. Florida State beat Virginia Tech handily that night by the score of 46-29. Despite losing the game Michael Vick stole the show, shifting, shaking, and scrambling past speedy Florida State defenders who were on his tail all-night long. Tech fell behind in the game 28-7 but rallied back behind a strong charge from Michael Vick to take a 29-28 lead in the 3^rd quarter. Vick put his exploits on display in front of the nation that evening, improvising his way through arguably the fastest defense in the country, finishing with 225 passing yards and 97 rushing yards. After that night many college football observers who watched the game said Vick’s performance was the best they’d seen in their years watching college football. At the end of the 1999 season Vick won the Archie Griffin award, which is presented after the college football season and signifies college football’s best player for the entire season.

By 2000, Donovan McNabb and Dante Culpepper were doing something rarely seen by young quarterbacks early in their careers. Winning and going deep into the playoffs. Both men were named the starting quarterback of their team at the beginning of the 2000 season. McNabb and Philadelphia finished with an 11-5 record that season after finishing with a 5-11 record the previous season. After throwing for 3,365 yards, 21 touchdowns against 13 interceptions, running for an additional 629 yards and six touchdowns, and leading Philadelphia to a surprising playoff berth, McNabb finished second in the MVP balloting. McNabb went on to lead the Eagles to a first round playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before they lost in the NFC divisional round to the New York Giants.

After losing in the NFC championship game in 1998 with Randall Cunningham, the Minnesota Vikings got off to a 2-4 start in 1999 with Cunningham still at the helm. Cunningham was benched by head coach Dennis Green after the sixth game and the team finished the season with an 8-2 record over the final 10 games with Jeff George starting at quarterback. Minnesota qualified for the postseason with a 10-6 record and lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams in the NFC divisional round.

In 2000 with a super bowl contending team Minnesota handed the starting quarterback position over to Dante Culpepper in his second pro season. Culpepper finished the season with 40 touchdown scores. 33 through the air and another 7 on the ground. The Vikings went all the way to the NFC Championship game, where they had been two years earlier with Randall Cunningham. Minnesota would fall again suffering a 41-0 annihilation to the New York Giants. For the next three seasons Culpepper and the Vikings play would be erratic. They failed to make the playoffs again until the 2004 season when Culpepper had the best year of his career setting a number of franchise passing records and even broke Dan Marino’s NFL record of combined passing and running yards in a season with 5,123 total yards.

Culpepper and McNabb both led their teams into the 2004 playoffs where they faced off against each other in the NFC divisional round. Both men were teamed with the top two receivers in football that season. Culpepper with Randy Moss (who had been in Minnesota since 1998) and McNabb with Terrell Owens who was traded to Philadelphia before the season began. Like Culpepper, 2004 was McNabb’s best season of his career. He threw 31 touchdown passes and ran for three more. He finished the season as the first quarterback in NFL history to throw more than 30 touchdown passes while throwing fewer than 10 interceptions, 31 to 8. That season Philadelphia finished the regular season with a 13-3 record and unquestionably the best team in the NFC conference. In their postseason matchup both quarterbacks accounted for two touchdowns on the day, but it was McNabb and the Eagles who won the contest 27-14.

The 1999 college football National championship game was the only game Michael Vick lost in college as a starting quarterback. After being taken first overall in the 2001 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons it took him until the 2002 season before Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Reeves named him starting quarterback. First game out for Vick in September of 02’ he went to historic Lambeau field to face Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Vick finished the game throwing for 209 yards and a touchdown, and ran for another 72 yards and a score. His Falcons jumped out to a 14-3 lead only to give it up and eventually trail 34-31 late in the 4^th quarter before Vick led the offense to a late field goal to send the game into overtime. The Packers eventually won the game in overtime 37-34, but the performance by Vick in the opening game of his first starting season was impressive to say the least and laid the foundation for the rest of the season.

Led by the electric show stopping Vick Atlanta went on to finish the season with a 9-6-1 record to qualify for the postseason for the first time in four seasons. Vick looked like he was on his way to revolutionizing the sport. He finished the regular season throwing for 2,936 yards, 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, and ran for an additional 777 yards and 8 touchdowns. That set the stage for a first round playoff matchup in January of 03’ that sent Vick and the Falcons back to Green Bay’s Lambeau field for a rematch against Favre and the Packers in the NFC wildcard round of the playoffs. At that point Green Bay had never lost a postseason home game in franchise history. Furthermore Brett Favre was a legend with a super bowl championship under his belt and had the ghosts of Lambeau field and the frigid Green bay weather, that he had come accustomed to performing brilliantly in over his career, behind him. No one gave Atlanta a chance going in. The game began, and In his first ever playoff game Vick dazzled and stunned the football audience watching around the country, except for those who followed his college career in Virginia, as he dominated the game en leading Atlanta to a 27-7 victory, handing the Packers their first playoff loss in franchise history.

The following week Vick and McNabb met in the NFC divisional round. Both men entered the game pro bowl quarterbacks for the season, but the 26 year old McNabb outclassed the 22 year –old Vick as Philadelphia won decisively 20-6. McNabb threw for 247 yards and a touchdown, while Vick threw for 274 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Vick finished the game running for 30 yards on six carries, while McNabb ran for 24 yards on 4 carries. The following week McNabb’s season would end at home, a game away from the super bowl, in a stunning loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Championship game.

Two years later in the 2004 season the two explosive quarterbacks would meet again in the playoffs, and this time it was for a berth to the Super Bowl in the NFC Championship game. The meeting marked the first time two African-American quarterbacks met in a conference championship game. McNabb’s Eagles beat Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons once again 27-10. Once again it was McNabb who outplayed Vick, throwing for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Vick threw for 136 yards no touchdowns and one interception, and McNabb outrushed Vick on the ground 32 to 26. The two quarterbacks looked as if they were on the verge of being big winners in the league and taking the quarterback position to new heights. However, Michael Vick would not make another playoff appearance since, and Donovan McNabb would face a multitude of problems after that game as well. For McNabb it started two weeks later in Super Bowl XXXIX, where he and his Eagles battled the two-time super bowl champion New England Patriots to the end, but they lost 24-21. McNabb took some criticism after the super bowl for performing erratically in the fourth quarter, a fourth quarter in which he fell ill on a drive late in the 4^th quarter which caused precious time to tick off the game clock. McNabb has not quarterbacked another playoff game since. The following three seasons from 2005-2007 McNabb was hampered by injuries. These days the Philadelphia quarterback does not run as much and has settled into mostly being a pocket passing quarterback. Here in 2008, McNabb is healthy and off to his usual strong start in a season where the Eagles division of the NFC East is the strongest in the NFL.

Michael Vick’s showdown against Donovan McNabb in the 2004-05 NFC Championship game would be the last taste of success Vick would taste in a career that has been put on hold. Over the next two seasons Vick struggled to quiet critics who’d said since the beginning of his pro career that he was not, and would never be an efficient passing quarterback. Vick had a lot to shoulder in Atlanta. The franchise had only two winning seasons in the 20 years prior to him being drafted. When he became the team’s starting quarterback in 2002 his supporting cast was devoid of playmakers. He still led the team to two winning seasons in his first three seasons as the starter, and the one season Atlanta did not make the playoffs in 2003, he was out most of the season due to injury.

Atlanta failed to make the playoffs in either the 2005 or 2006 seasons, as the team finished 8-8 and 7-9. Over those two seasons Vick had a passing rating around 74, which ranked him in the bottom echelon of the league. While Vick continued to rack up yardage on the ground and in 2006 became the first quarterback in the history of the league to run for 1,000 yards, the Falcons passing game never got on track.

The frustration mounted on Vick. Despite the lack of a talented supporting cast, athletes in this country are measured by wins and losses and everything else is often looked at as an excuse. Football critics and fans dissected his passing game, and the bottom line was that the style of play that Mike Vick brought to the game was exciting but it was not proving to be a winning formula after back to back disappointing seasons of not making the playoffs. Then in 2007, at the peak of his career, while he was in the midst of trying to figure things out and take his game to the next level, he was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges of federal dog fighting. Michael Vick once looked as if he was on his way to totally revolutionizing the quarterback position, now he sits in prison hoping that one day he can get the opportunity to redeem himself and resurrect a career.

While Michael Vick struggled to find consistency with his passing game in Atlanta, a quarterback down in Austin, Texas began tearing up the college game, similarly to the way Vick did it during his college days at Virginia Tech. University of Texas quarterback Vince Young exploded onto the national scene during his red-shirt freshman year at the University of Texas. In 2004 he led Texas to an 11-1 record where they finished 5^th in the final national polls. That preceded a phenomenal performance by Young in the Rose Bowl against the University Michigan in which Texas won in a shoot-out. In 2005, Young led Texas to an undefeated regular season where they went on to face the University of Southern California for the national championship at the Rose Bowl. USC came into the game with a 34 game winning streak. Vince Young finished the game throwing for 267 yards and running for another 200. Young rushed for a nine yard touchdown in the waning seconds of that game to lead Texas to a 41-38 victory, snapping USC’s impressive win streak. Six years after Michael Vick put on an incredible performance in the national championship game Vince Young put on the greatest performance in the history of college football, and when the game was finished many looked at him as the greatest college football player of all-time.

The Tennessee Titans drafted Young with the 3^rd overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Young started his rookie season looking on from the bench but was given the starting spot on October 1^st against the Dallas Cowboys. Young came into the NFL with the promise to take what Michael Vick had started to the next level. While Vick possessed all the skills to make him a dual-threat quarterback with a shot at revolutionizing the position, struggles with his passing and two consecutive seasons of not making the playoffs began to remove a little luster from his star. Vince Young was a lot taller than Vick which allowed him to see over defenses better, and made it harder for defensive players to knockdown passes at the line, which happened a lot to the shorter Vick. Plus, Young finished his final collegiate season at Texas with the best passer’s rating in the country.

Young made great strides in that rookie season of 06’. He guided Tennessee to within one game of a playoff spot. He set a rookie record for rushing yards by a quarterback, led his team to fourth quarter victories, and was named NFL rookie of the year. 2007 saw Young and the Titans make the playoffs despite Young regressing in his progression. In 07’, Young threw just 9 touchdowns against 17 interceptions to finish with a quarterback rating of 71.1. He ran for another 395 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The 2008 season is now halfway complete and Young’s promising career has taken a pause for the moment after he injured his knee in the opening week of the season, which led to him being sidelined for 3 weeks, and coincided with him enduring some personal problems caused from pressures of quarterbacking an NFL team under national scrutiny. Two and a half years into his professional career, Young has yet to develop into the complete quarterback that saw him dominate the college game. Like Michael Vick, Vince has failed to become a consistent passer, and at times he has looked one-dimensional, unable to lead consistent drives with the pass. Now we wonder if he will materialize into the quarterback that we thought was coming when he was raising the national championship trophy at the rose bowl in the beginning of 06’.

Currently in the NFL, there are four starting black quarterbacks, which is actually a drop from the last four or five years. Jacksonville has David Gerrad who has proven to be a steady field general, but nothing special. Nothing like the talent of Vick and Young who have the potential to do things at the position never before seen. Oakland has the number one overall pick from the 2007 NFL draft, JaMarcus Russell, who at 260 pounds manages to be nimble on his feet, and possesses a big arm. Russell sat the bench for almost all of his rookie season, and in 2008 through six games he has thrown 5 touchdowns against 2 interceptions, and has a quarterback rating of 76. Oakland has a record of 2-4. Jason Campbell of the Washington Redskins wears the same number 17 that Doug Williams wore. Through seven games in 2008, Washington has surprised much of the NFL with a 5-2 record playing in the toughest division in the NFL. Campbell has played well, even showing occasional flashes of brilliance with a rocket arm. He has a quarterback rating of 96.3 which is very good. Donovan McNabb is the fourth and last African-American quarterback starting for a NFL today. He continues to put up impressive numbers which someday could land him in the hall of fame. Through seven games he’s thrown for 1,829 yards, 8 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has run for just 25 yards and no touchdowns on the ground. He has a passer rating of 93.2.

The black quarterback has added spice to the National Football League, but after more and more got the opportunity to man the position, none have managed to win a super bowl in 20 years. The talents that the running black quarterback has brought to the game has proven to be exciting. What is not so certain is whether or not the style of play can translate the excitement into the ultimate goal, efficiency and a super bowl championship. Are NFL teams better off which a traditional stand in the pocket quarterback? Or is the dual threat, make things happen with your feet quarterback, the best approach to run an NFL offense? For the black multi-dimensional quarterback, the point has yet to be proven.

Point Proven

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:22:22 GMT

Synopsis

After an unprepared unfocused United States basketball program had their struggles in international play from 2002 through 2006 a lot of people had a lot to say about the Style of play of NBA players. Some even had the nerve to say the world had caught up to NBA players. Well, after a dominating performance by Team USA in Beijing that talk can be dismissed as what it was was. Nonsense.

Story

A lot of folks had a lot to say about the games’ of NBA players during the 2004 Olympics when the United States Olympic basketball team won bronze and failed to win gold for the first time ever while using NBA players. The United States lost three games that summer and the exuberance from the world over finally knocking off the world’s basketball power drove many across the globe boastfully sticking their chests out saying they had caught up, and it left many Americans ragging on the style of play of the NBA player, calling it selfish and un fundamental. Nevertheless, if you tuned in at all to the basketball portion of the 2008 Beijing Olympics you could see that is far from the case.

The NBA and its players are admired all over the world. The NBA is still considered hands down the most competitive and best basketball league in the world. The greatest players that other countries have to offer bring their games’ to the NBA for the bigger dollar and the greater level of competition. The athletic and stylish freedom that the game of basketball allows has jolted a bolt of excitement through youngsters overseas. The same way it has enthused black youth in the United States. This eye catching show is illustrated the best in the NBA. The fact that a lot of sports journalists and sports fans were bold with their proclamations that there were some higher level of basketball being played elsewhere in the world other than on the playgrounds of New York, Chicago, L.A., and everywhere else in the States' is the reason the likes of Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, and the rest of the 2008 “Cream Team” United States Olympic basketball squad signed up and made the commitment to be a part of the 2008 summer games.

From the outset of their arrival in the Far East the United States basketball team was adored and mobbed by basketball fans who were lucky enough to be in the vicinity of these great NBA players. Announcers and other journalists covering the Beijing games kept speaking about the “rock star” treatment the NBA players received in China, and some of the video footage looked like images from a 1980’s Michael Jackson concert, with fans eager to get a touch or a glimpse of the basketball lords. Upon the team’s first game of the Olympics against host nation China and their star Yao Ming it was brought to the attention of the viewing public that NBA superstar Kobe Bryant is as popular or even more so than the face of the Chinese basketball team Yao Ming. A stunning but interesting revelation. NBC Sports did a report on the basketball scene in China in which they went to street ball courts and showed Chinese kids wearing the latest hip-hop gear and rocking the jerseys of Kobe Bryant and other NBA players not named Yao Ming.

When interviewed the young people of China looked into the camera and spoke about how they love the NBA game because of its fast flowing style of play and the close identity the league has with hip-hop. They explained how in Chinese society everyone is pretty much supposed to follow the traditional customs and ideals of the nation, individual freedom is not exactly encouraged and expression is something they all struggle with. And as we know hip-hop is all about expression. In the report you could see that the interest level that the young people of China have for the NBA is easily a representation of how kids in other parts of the world have been affected by the game as well. Hip-hop and basketball in a lot of ways have become synonymous with each other. And it’s that hip-hop flow along with the style of play on the basketball court that these kids feel they can express themselves through.

The NBA is a league that has become dominated by young African-American athletes with 80 to 85 percent of it's players being African-American. This group of athlete is responsible for taking the NBA to a new level, carrying the torch of the 1992 Dream Team which made a lot of foreigner’s fans of the NBA. Since the 1990’s the NBA athlete has continued to get stronger, more athletic and versatile, and graceful on the basketball court. The killa crossover dribble and other magnificent ball handling exploits along with the slam dunk have become as improvisational and exciting as any play in professional sports, and it’s that freestyle mentality that has attracted athletes to hip-hop, rappers to the NBA, and the world’s youth to the NBA and basketball. Today’s NBA player not only has that cool hip-hop aura but their all around skill levels are more versatile then at any other point in the game’s history, and when the NBA season is in session there is no doubt in anyone’s mind where the highest level of basketball competition is being played.

So when the 2008 United States basketball team stepped on the court in Beijing for the Olympics it was certainly a challenge to show and prove to the world that the game they all grew up playing on their local playgrounds was the best battle grounds in the world, and it was a chance to make a statement that they played the best brand of basketball on the planet. And after the Team USA squad went 8-0 blowing out every opponent put in their path, until the gold medal game when they got a stiff challenge from Spain before pulling away late for a 118-107 victory, at the Olympics en route to winning gold no one again could dare say NBA players did not have the best and most complete basketball games’ in the world.

The mere notion that the world has caught up to the American game is ridiculous. Every year during the NBA season we see international players who are the top players on their international teams, struggle to get off the bench and make an impact for their NBA team. Of course there are a few international players that have come to the NBA and made their presence felt, Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs are two of the best that come to mind. But we have too often seen players like Peja Stojakovic come into the league and light things up, but in the playoffs disappear faster than Houdini. The 2007 NBA most valuable player Dirk Nowitzki is an undeniable talent but the last three years have seen him exit the playoffs with his team going down in flames with performances softer than the next. Yao Ming who was a star at the Beijing Olympics has constantly been criticsized throughout his career for not playing meaner on the court, and we are still waiting for him to lead his team to a playoff series victory. And how exactly did the Los Angeles Lakers fare this past June in the NBA Finals with a team comprised of a few international players who are key for them in their rotation, going up against a Boston Celtics team where the entire 12 man roster was African-American? Which is the exact configuration of the 2008 TEAM USA Olympic gold medal winning basketball team. While a vast number of international players have come to the NBA and shown an ability to shoot and pass well, when it comes to the nuts and bolts of their games’ they have proven to be soft, and definitely not on the same level as the best ball players from the United States.

The United States basketball team had their rough times from 2002 through 2006 when they lost a combined seven games in international competition and failed to finish first in three consecutive tournaments, which was an embarrassment in itself and gave critics plenty of ammunition to denounce the American game as being the best. The biggest explanation for the disappointing play can be placed on the lack of preparation that Team USA put forth before the tournaments began. If the world has not caught up to the United States on the basketball court they certainly have gotten a lot better than the days of the1992 Olympics when players from other international teams came into the game with no thoughts of beating the Dream Team, and in fact their real agenda was to secure post game photo sessions with the United States players. After a couple of more perfect runs through the Olympics in 1996 and 2000 the luster of playing in the Olympics was gone for the NBA superstar. In this country no one cares or takes seriously a gold medal victory by the United States basketball team. Up to this point winning gold has been a foregone conclusion even with Team USA finishing a disappointing third at the 2004 Olympics. Even after this summer, with this collection of NBA talent going to Beijing and bringing back the gold for the first time since 2000 it’s not that big a deal in the grand scheme of what history will say about their careers long after they retire. The fact that a group of NBA superstars led by Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade won an Olympic gold medal is something that was expected and hardly seen as a great feat the way winning an NBA championship is. It was just good for American basketball fans to see their team dominate the competition and shut up all the critics. But NBA players are measured by what they do against each other. Not what they do when they pile all their talent together to take on international competition who are inferior.    American basketball fans and media know the most impressive thing that will ever go on the resumes of NBA players, from a team perspective, will be an NBA championship and not an Olympic gold medal. What’s more impressive, Dwayne Wade carrying an aging Miami Heat team to a NBA championship two years ago after being down 2 games to none in the NBA Finals against a more talented Dallas Mavericks team, or Dwayne Wade winning an Olympic gold medal with an all-star contingent by his side?   It’s not even an issue.

So with all this in play, and the meaning of winning a gold medal no longer a sacred thing after NBA players easily brought home gold in 92’,96’ and 2000 the emphasis on playing Olympic basketball was no longer a big deal for anyone involved in USA basketball. It was a tortoise and the hare type of scenario where Team USA basketball from top to bottom slept on the competition and failed to put together a collection of players who had practice time and chemistry on the basketball court. After all, the best international teams are made up of players who have been playing together on their national teams for years. A stark contrast from their American counterparts. Before the 2004 Olympics the collection of players on that Team USA team had only practiced together for the first time about 20 days before their first Olympic game. The lack of preparation showed and United States basketball rudely got their comeupins.   But this time around in 2008 Team USA led by Director Jerry Calangelo required all players to begin practicing together as of 2006, it gave the team three summers to build chemistry and prepare themselves, and whola they gave a dominating performance over the world in 2008, destroying the competitve spirt of the competition in the process.

After all the good feeling and bonding that went on between the NBA superstars in Beijing wears off every player on that team will know that their real challenge will be having a good NBA season and chasing that Larry O’Brien trophy come June. For international players winning an Olympic gold medal with the United States involved would be the biggest thing in their athletic careers. Because there is no question that 1 through 12 Team USA has the best collection of basketball talent bar none and on paper they are always the favorites. The NBA game and its players are still the standard that everyone in the world measures themselves against and beating them is always a huge upset and something to go crazy about. The national pride and hunger that the Argentina’s and Spain’s, and Turkey’s carry with them into international play is a real sense of going out trying to beat the big bad overwhelming favorite United States team. All of us journalists know what the magnitude of a team knocking off the United States in these past Olympics would have been.   It would have been tremendous. While the United States team basked in glory upon winning Olympic gold, happy they represented, the feat will be one of the easier challenges in their basketball lives. Watching Team USA play together for two weeks in the Olympics was a great show no doubt about it. But the real challenge for the players of Team USA will begin in a little less than two months from now when the NBA season tips off.

Something To Prove

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:43:16 GMT

Synopsis

The United States basketball team has failed to win three of the last four international tournaments they have played in including a stunning bronze medal finish in the 2004 Olympics. This time around a squad led by LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne try to save the United States basketball program from another summer of embarrassment.

Story

Sixteen years ago the thought of United States basketball losing an Olympic game was unthinkable and not bringing home the gold was unfathomable. Four years before that in Seoul, Korea at the 1988 Olympics, the national basketball program suffered an embarrassing bitter defeat at the hands of the Soviet Union. Because of boycott by the Americans of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and a returned boycott by the Soviet union of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles , the 1988 meeting between the two countries was their first in the Olympics since the 70’s. In the 1972 gold medal game, the Soviet Union gave the United States their first basketball loss in Olympic history defeating them in the final seconds, in a highly controversial ending, by the score of 51-50. The loss is arguably the most controversial in Olympic history. The game was protested by the United States, the protest was denied by an appeals committee, and to this day the members of that 72’ team have refused to receive their silver medals which remain locked up in a vault in Lausanne, Switzerland.

After the defeat in the 88’ gold medal game with a roster full of collegiate players the United States made the move to go with their best and got NBA players eligible to play on the 1992 Olympic team for the first time ever. United States basketball was way too talented to lose in the Olympic games with their best sitting at home watching. The thought at the time was to dominate the world in the game in which they were superior. As the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain approached the buzz around the team was unprecedented, they were dubbed the “dream team” as basketball fans across the globe imagined with great anticipation what it would be like to see all that great NBA talent come together on one team.

The greatest team ever assembled hit Barcelona in iconic fashion. They faced opponents who’d watched and admired them on television for years, and who were flat out in awe just to be sharing the same court as these NBA greats. The names Jordan, Magic, Bird, Drexler, Ewing, Stockton, and Malone. 10 of the 12 members of that team were later named to the NBA’s 50 greatest players list in 1996. The dream team blew out every opponent put in front of them. Team USA head coach Chuck Daly did not call a single timeout throughout the tournament and their smallest margin of victory was 32 in the gold medal game they won over Croatia.

The performance of the 92’ Dream Team in Barcelona fascinated the world. It inspired kids in soccer playing countries to want to be like Mike, the same way American kids wanted to be like him. Sports fans across the world loved the freedom and creativity that basketball allows. In today’s NBA in 2008 the league is sprinkled with international players who have burst onto the scene. All-stars Dirk Nowitzki and Pau Gasol, who are representing Germany and Spain respectively in these summer games, both say that 1992 dream team is the reason they fell in love with the sport. Basketball has a lot in common with the genre of hip-hop in the way they both began to become extremely popular overseas and grow internationally in the early 1990’s, and now has a big following worldwide where its influence inside different countries are clearly visible.

After the 92’ Olympics athletes around the world not only began to play the sport in a more serious manner but as the skills developed the confidence and hunger grew. The 1996 summer games in Atlanta, Georgia however provided more dominance on the hardwood for the United States. Team USA brought back five members from the 92’ team plus Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon and went on to win gold easily with an average margin of victory of 32.3 points per game. Four years was enough for the world to raise their game, and in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia team USA failed to win a game by 10 or more points for the first time since NBA players began playing in the Olympics in an 85-76 win over Lithuania in the preliminary round. In the semi-final round the teams met again and the Americans barely escaped with an 85-83 win. This moment was the beginning of the end of dominance for the NBA led Team USA national team. While the United States continued to field teams filled with all-stars it wasn’t the best names the NBA had to offer.

The loss in the 88’ Olympics left something for the 92’ dream team to prove. The 92' team took pride in demolishing the basketball teams that the world had to offer, proving they were by far and away the best basketball players on the planet. By the end of the 2000 Sydney games the appeal of playing in the Olympics had worn off for NBA players. After all, the Olympics is an event comprised mostly of amateur athletes who are not making the millions of dollars that NBA players are. For most Olympic athletes competing in the Olympics will be the peak of their athletic career with little financial reward. For NBA players, the challenge of winning gold against foreign countries who everyone expected them to blow out anyway was far less than the challenge of winning a NBA championship. Winning gold at the Olympics was expected from team USA. Sacrificing summer vacation time for an Olympic gold medal was no longer as appealing for the NBA superstar. For the rest of the basketball playing world however, the pursuit to knock off USA basketball was a quest to make history and the possibility of it happening became a realistic focus after the 2000 Olympics.

The next time the United States put a national team on the court at the 2002 FIBA world championship, which took place on American soil, the results were disastrous. Team USA lost for the first time since NBA players began playing, first losing to Yugoslavia and then Argentina. Team USA finished the tournament in sixth place. The 2002 roster was another All-star laden one capable of winning gold even though the true superstars of the league were missing. But a lack of practice time and unfamiliarity between the players is all that was needed to close the narrowing gap between the United States and the world’s top challengers. In 2004 at the Olympic games in Athens, Greece the point of preparation finally hit home with the United States as another more than capable team led by Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson, which included first year players Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Carmelo Anthony, were defeated in Olympic play for the first time since NBA players began playing. While other countries sent national teams composed of players who had played together for years the players on team USA didn’t practice together for the first time until 20 days before the Olympics began. The United States all-stars lost three games in total in the 04’ games and came back to the states with an embarrassing bronze medal.

The disappointment of the 04’ Olympics caused the United States Olympic basketball committee to restructure how they did business. No longer were they going to show up to the Olympics with a group of random NBA all-stars, with neither practice or experience under their belt as a team, and expect to win gold. The United States basketball committee named former Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Calangelo director of the 2008 squad and gave him sole responsibility for putting together the team. Calangelo then brought in Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who was an assistant on the 92’ dream team, to be head coach. Calangelo and Krrzyzewski then demanded that any player who wanted to participate on the 2008 team make a three year commitment to practice and participate in world tournaments during the summer following the NBA season in order to increase the chemistry on the team. Even with the three year requirement in the mix Calangelo was able to recruit the cream of the NBA talent pool beginning with Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Carlos Boozer, all of whom were young players who barely saw any playing time on the 04’ team. Add to that Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul who were the top two candidates for NBA MVP this past season, big men Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh, with three point specialist Michael Redd to go along with Jason Kidd, Deron Williams, and Tayshun Prince, and this USA Olympic squad has all the talent it needs. Two summers ago however, in the first summer of the three year commitment a team made up of most of the players on this current 08' roster and coached by Mike Krzyzewski rolled through the FIBA 2006 world championships until they were stunned in the semi-final round by Greece, who had no NBA players on it's roster at the time, losing 101-95.

On paper none of the international teams can matchup with the United States. That’s always been the case. But the x-factor that has leveled the international playing field a bit has been better chemistry and preparation amongst the top international teams such as Argentina, Yugoslavia (who are not in this tournament) Spain, and Greece. The slightly different international rule changes one of which allows teams to play zone defense rather than man to man defense, which is what’s played in the NBA, allows international teams to clog up the paint to compensate for a lack of speed against the athletically dominant United States team. Neutralizing a little the great one on one skills of the United States players. Another rule difference in international ball is the shorter distance of the three point line which international teams capitalize on more than anything else.

At the time of the 1992 Olympics there were just 4 international players in the NBA. Now in 2008 that number has risen to 76. A tell tale sign of the growth in basketball participation and skill level across the world. There will be a number of NBA players playing for their countries in these Olympics including big name players, beginning with the reigning Olympic champions Argentina who are led by San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobli. Other NBA players playing in Beijing Olympics include Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman of Germany, Pau Gasol on the Spain squad, Andrei Kirilenko of Russia, and Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian of host country China. China was the first opponent for the United States on their quest for redemption on Sunday evening inside Beijing’s sold out Wukesong stadium. Team China came out strong as expected in front of their raucous home crowd and the score was tied at 29 apiece with about six minutes to go in the first half. It was only a matter of time however until Team USA started rolling, and they won going away by the final score of 101-70. Dwayne Wade led the way going perfect from the field and free throw line to finish with 19 points, Lebron James added 18, while Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant finished with 13 apiece. Led by superstars like these, it should only be a matter of time until Team USA recaptures gold in impressive fashion.

Must See T.V.

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:59:10 GMT

Synopsis

There once was a time when New York City football fans had to spend their Sunday afternoons watching lackluster football between the two city football teams. But with the Giants preparing for a defense of their super bowl championship, and the Jets BIG acquisition of Brett Favre, NFL Sundays in NYC have become Must see T.V.

Story

The New York Giants are coming off the greatest super bowl run in NFL history. Eleven straight road victories to end their season, culminated with a trip to Phoenix Arizona and a defeat of the undefeated New England Patriots in super bowl XLII, in arguably the greatest super bowl played of them all. Every time we hear the Giants referred to or mentioned this season it will be preceded by the words “world champion.” When you have that title every game is a big game, if not for the excitement of watching a great team, than for the fact that it will be a big game for the giant’s opponent because everybody wants to measure themselves against the champ, and knock them off.

But now, no matter where this giants story goes from here in this upcoming season, they will have to share the spotlight with the New York Jets. All in one stroke, by trading for Brett Favre this week, the Jets have created the biggest story in the NFL and in the city of New York. Favre is a quarterback with a legend as respected as any old tale of the cowboys of the old west. He is a gunslinger, a gunslinger who won three consecutive MVP awards from 1995-1997, and he has a super bowl championship under his belt which along with his current accolades gives him ultimate creditability. Everyone has heard the term “man’s man” and that’s what Favre is, and that’s why 90% of football fans are fans of Brett Favre.

Favre, the soon to be 39 year old quarterback, gives the Jets a star for the first time in years. During the Herman Edwards era the Jets were consistent playoff contenders, backed by a stout defense and a solid leader at the quarterback position with Chad Pennington. Then Edwards left two years ago, and the new regime led by general manager Mike Tannebaum and head coach Eric Mangini seemed content on brining in players who were not high on sex appeal, as if they were taking a page from the New England Patriots blueprint with the “no one player is bigger than the team approach.” During Tannebaum and Mangini’s first draft in 2006 when Jets fans were ready to move away from quarterback Chad Pennington, they passed on drafting USC’s Matt Leinart who had the golden boy persona and was one of the all-time winners in the history of college football. At the time Leinart would have been the popular pick, and a fresh face to rebuild the franchise with. But the Jets passed. Then in the 2^ndround of that draft, having already drafted D’brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold to anchor the offensive line for years, Leinart’s USC teammate, tailback LenDale White, was on the board to be had and surely would have been a nice look to add with the two offensive linemen. But the Jets passed on the popular running back. Then a year later during the 2007 draft Jets management chose to pass on getting involved in trade discussions with Oakland for a very available Randy Moss. Subsequently, Moss ended up being traded to rival New England.

On the field, year one of the Tannebaum-Mangini era in 2006 was supposed to be a transition year where little winning was expected, as the team was coming off a disastrous 4-12 record the season before. But the team shocked everybody, going 10-6 and qualifying for the playoffs. A playoff year is always good, but the Jets overachieved that season, playing excellent team football and taking advantage of a favorable schedule. The team still lacked explosiveness at the skilled positions and were in dire need of a playmaker. In 2007 the lack of true explosive talent caught up with them as they took a step back and had the type of season many expected them to have in 2006. All of the goodwill head coach Eric Mangini built up in his first season was hanging on a thread that threatened to be blown away with another disappointing season in 2008.

So instead of passing on the star attraction, the Jets go out and get themselves involved in one of the biggest stories the NFL has had in recent history. The Jets get involved with the Brett Favre-Green Bay breakup and come out of it with the biggest of stars. Favre coming out of retirement and not finding a home with the Green Bay Packers was a huge story unto itself. Favre announced his retirement from the NFL on March 4^th, at the time of the announcement many fans and sports pundits talked about how we had not heard the last from Favre, and that he would be back. They were exactly right. He got the itch; the itch that many athletes get, and after 16 NFL seasons him was ready for a 17^th. But the Green Bay Packers had moved forward without their beloved quarterback. Favre wanted to play for a division rival, which he now admits was more vindictive than anything as he had visions of revenge against the franchise that would not let him back in the door to resume a hall of fame career. The moment the Jets knew Favre was available they were aggressive in finding out how they could make a deal. And with the Jets being the only team with serious interest who did not play in Green Bay’s NFC conference, they end up getting the man that will have not only Jets fans but NFL fans watching very closely all season long.

From the first time Brett Favre gets under center in his first preseason game against Washington next week, all eyes will be on him. One week after that the Jets play the world champion Giants in their annual preseason tilt at the meadowlands which will generate a ton of hype in the big apple. Then the season starts, and from week 1 the Jets will be one of the biggest stories in the National football league because of Brett Favre. Everyone will want to see him and they will be rooting for him. Favre against Bill Parcells’ Miami Dolphins, Favre against Tom Brady and New England twice a year, Favre under the bright lights of New York City. The stories will be tremendous, every game will be exciting, and if Favre can come to New York and win he can own the town. There was a time when Sundays in the fall in New York City meant watching struggling football teams who were uninteresting. Especially in the case of the Jets, who fans of the team know all too well have had a number of dreadful seasons throughout its history. There has never been a time in New York City when both the Giants and Jets were fascinating stories. No doubt that has changed, and come this fall between the hours of 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoons it will be must see T.V.

Favrelous

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:03:54 GMT

Synopsis

The New York Jets were able to make a trade with the Green Bay Packers which landed them future hall of fame quarterback Brett Favre on Wednesday. After forty years of disappointment since their last super bowl appearance, the New York Jets have provided their fans with one of the most exciting moments in franchise history.

Story

It has now been exactly 40 years since the New York Jets won their first, last, and only super bowl championship in super bowl III behind the confidence and brilliance of Joe Namath. The Jets have not had a quarterback nor a star as bright since then, but that all changes now. It changes because the Jets were able to step up to the plate and make a trade for a quarterback in Brett Favre who is a sure shot first ballot hall of famer, and proved last season that he could still perform at his vintage level. The Jets make this deal one month before the 2008 season begins, and Just a few months removed from the ending of a disappointing 4-12 season. A football season concluding with the Jets organization watching their city rival New York Giants knock off their nemesis New England Patriots in the super bowl. The trade was a no-brainer for the Jets. All they have to give up is a conditional draft pick for a quarterback who instantly changes everything about their franchise. The possibilities are immense, and the scenarios going through the minds of Jets fans have to make them smile all over themselves.

The time is now for the New York Jets. They are in the third year of a new regime which replaced the past regime of head coach Herman Edwards, who got the team into the postseason three of five years at the helm, but even he was practically ran out of town. The Jets are serious about competing at a high level this season. As soon as NFL free agency began in early March the team was extremely active, throwing multimillion dollar deals at a few veteran free agents. Two of which, Damien Woody and Alan Faneca, are on an offensive line whose duty it now is to protect an all-time quarterback who is pushing 40 years of age. In the middle of summer pennant races for both New York City baseball teams, and with the Beijing Olympics one day away from getting underway in China, the biggest sports story in New York City and the nation for that matter is the New York Jets acquisition of Brett Favre.

There are no New York City sports fans who have suffered more than Jets fans. Forty years of mediocrity and now the ball is handed to one of the all-time gunslingers the NFL has ever seen. It’s a move the franchise has to be given credit for. With a successful playoff run in 2006, the Jets have now made themselves instant contenders again for a playoff berth with this trade, and who knows what might else. The proposition of the Jets achieving the ultimate goal this season, which is to win a super bowl championship, may be far-fetched but Brett Favre brings excitement and optimism to a Jets team that’s proven they are more than capable of competing for a postseason spot. The Big Apple loves stars and they will embrace Brett Favre with lots of love as he begins what will be an amazing ride and an amazing story during the 2008 season, and who knows how many more beyond that. At this point for the Jets and Favre it’s one step at a time, and the magnitude of the situation makes those steps feel like their being taken on air.