We Expect Too Much from LeBron James

Anyone who knows me personally can attest to my dislike for LeBron James as a person.  While misplaced Decisions and numberings of championships will always color my judgment against him, as a basketball player he remains one of the best and will undoubtedly go down as an all-time great (not the greatest though).

Recently, however, I realized that we as a sports culture are never satisfied with LeBron’s effort.  And I mean never.  When he played for Cleveland, many thought his performance in the NBA Finals to be lackluster, despite having carried the team to that success, winning two MVPs during his career there.  He hit big shots, beat big opponents, and cemented himself as a “big” player.  But, he was unable to win a championship, moving to Miami for various reasons but, above all, to try and win it all.

Fast forward to the NBA Finals last year…LeBron disappeared in the fourth quarter, literally passing on shots that normally he stands a good chance of draining.  The Heat lost a Finals that they should have won.

Situations like Cleveland and Miami require high expectations.  The MVP of the league and one of the best should be able to make a shot at the highest stakes.  Any sports fan would agree.  While pundits often discuss team collapses in the playoffs of any league, those collapses often center around the best players that, for one reason or another, disappear, like Tretiak in the 1980 Olympics or Jordan Jefferson in the 2012 snoozer of football’s national championship.  For players to be great, they should play great at the biggest moments.

The point above takes on added weight when a player announces to a stadium crowd that his team will win “not one, not two, not three, not four…not seven” championships under his tenure.  Like it or not, viewers will judge athletes by a consensus standard, until those athletes put a different standard out for themselves as LeBron did that night.  While Joe Namath’s victory in Super Bowl III would have shocked everyone, his guarantee of victory beforehand put the game on a higher level in the minds of viewers.  No longer would fans focus on “Who will win?” but rather on “Will Broadway Joe (LeBron) live up to his own public standard?”  I maintain that while LeBron’s quote from all those months ago implying his team would be one of the best ever put perhaps impossible pressure on him, he brought that pressure on himself.

On the other hand, we should be careful to expect championships, not unsullied perfection.  In Sunday’s All-Star Game, LeBron passed up the potentially tying shot to pass cross court.  The pass being intercepted, the game ended.  Immediately critics emerged, like Hayden Kim of Bleacher Report who headlined his column with “All-Star Game shows LeBron Will Never Be Clutch.”  If he were to make a similar assertion on the NBA Finals or playoffs, that’s fine and well within the boundaries of expectations.  But, to judge based on an exhibition game with little defense and almost no season value strikes me as ridiculous.  It’s true that of all the great players now, LeBron has fewer game-winning shots in big moments, but whether the All-Star game counts as a “big” moment remains infinitely suspect. 

Historically, LeBron has not made his presence felt when needed, and I can see the argument put forward by Hayden Kim.  Yet, when we are looking to LeBron to win an exhibition game single-handedly, I cannot help but wonder if our expectations of him are too high.

Bit #1: Wade contact with Kobe; literally foul

In the third quarter of the All-Star Game, Kobe Bryant of the Lakers drove past Dwayne Wade to the basket, only to be mugged by Wade from behind.  Kobe suffered a broken nose and mild concussion as a result of the foul.  Wade has no portfolio or history to suggest he is a dirty player and no evidence presents itself for any kind of feud between the two players.  On one hand, fans like me who don’t appreciate the lack of defense in the NBA do like when a player shows some fire to prevent a basket.  But, more importantly, the All-Star Game requires a lack of defense to allow for all those dunks.  Players clear out the lane to give easy access to the basket.  Wade’s hard foul (bordering on flagrant) does not jive with that tradition in the All-Star Game.  I don’t have an issue with fouling in the game, but when someone easily gets by you in the lane, there’s no need to foul hard, especially when you are highly likely to dunk at the other end.

Bit #2: Drama across The Pond

Don’t look now Americans, but the English Premiereship may provide the closest title race of any sport this season.  With 26 games played the city of Manchester is rapidly approaching a war zone between soccer fans.  The city’s two clubs, Manchester City and Manchester United, are first and second in the EPL respectively, separated by two points.  Next closest team, Tottenham, looks up at them from eight points behind.  I could go into detail about the proficiency of the Manchester teams, but I will merely suggest you all pay attention.  Man City has not won in a long time and has dealt with staggering expectations for the last two seasons.  Man U, with all the tradition of Beckham and Ronaldo, creates the added intrigue of big brother-little brother to this race.

Bit #3: Trade deadline come and gone

May be news to most of you, but the NHL trade deadline passed at 3 PM yesterday with little more than a snore.  No big names changed hands, so I have very little to say on it all.  I will say, however, if you want to follow the NHL for the rest of the season keep an eye on the Nashville Predators.  Yes, everyone will tell you this so I’m not being original, but they added depth in their defensive corps with Hal Gill and gained a top-six forward in Andrei Kostitsyn, all without giving away Ryan Suter, a cornerstone of their team.  I would not be surprised to see Nashville playing hard in the conference semifinals, maybe making the Western Conference finals.

Bit #4: What to do about RGIII

According to reports released Tuesday, the Rams are set on trading the second pick in the NFL draft, already having Sam Bradford at quarterback.  The most likely candidate for this pick will be my Washington Redskins, mainly due to the good relationship between GMs and coaches on the respective teams.  And, I should make clear, I would not complain with RGIII as quarterback if the Skins picked him at number six.

I will, however, complain if the Redskins trade up for Griffin, at least given current information.  While I understand the 40 yard dash time wowed many in the NFL, the Skins need a quarterback not a Michael Vick equivalent.  Obviously similar players, like Cam Newton, play well at points but have yet to lead their teams to championships.  Every champion in the NFL relied on a traditional pocket passer, meaning I will be skeptical of RGIII until he throws for scouts at some point next week.  At the very least, since the Rams may want three 1^st-2^nd round picks, I don’t think it’s worth it if Washington can pick someone like Ryan Tannehill in the second round.

Bit #5: February 27, 1987 – NCAA cancels whole SMU football program

Yes, I continue to remind Dallas residents of past misfortune, but the cancellation of SMU’s program should be noted because it has never happened in any other college sport before or since.  Southern Methodist’s Pony Express relied heavily on recruiting big, bludgeoning running backs like Craig James and Eric Dickerson while competing with powerhouses like Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M in the Southwest Conference.

But, SMU broke the rules, giving players money, cars, and other improper benefits.  To be clear, subsequent research shows almost all colleges in Texas engaged in this practice but SMU remains special because after receiving NCAA sanctions, boosters continued to give players lavish gifts until one player spoke out.  The scandal went all the way up the chain to the Board and school president.

Why is this important?  The “death penalty,” the cancellation of a whole program, is the largest possible sanction from the NCAA.  Interestingly, however, SMU’s program disappeared for almost 20 years, so much so that many find it doubtful the NCAA will ever resort to such a strong penalty unless under outrageous and extraordinary circumstances.  So why is this relevant?  Mainly because last season marked the most scandal-filled college football season ever, so maybe we will see a resurgence of the “death penalty.”

More Questions than Answers for MLB

Friday brought the announcement that Ryan Braun, the reigning NL MVP, successfully appealed his 50 game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs.  As many of you know, this is the first time any player successfully appealed a positive test.   While Braun’s victory sets precedent, the whole thing does little to dispel questions. 

The first question focuses on whether Braun actually tested positive or not.  To be clear, I do not want to unnecessarily surmise about his use of these drugs, though I find a few facts interesting on this line.  For one, the ratio of testosterone hormones in Braun’s urine was 20-to-1.  Any ratio over 4-to-1 breaks baseball’s policy.  Braun’s team, according to  most reports out there, claimed that the 20-to-1 ratio was three times higher than any ratio ever recorded, signifying tampering with the sample in some form.  I am skeptical of that point.  If WWE wrestlers don’t have testosterone ratios above 20-to-1, I would be shocked.  So, the ratio should not immediately point to tampering.

Second, was the sample tampered with?  Listening to Braun’s press conference, he seems to think so.  But, most sources close to the case tell the media Braun did not plead tampering behind closed doors (we’re getting to what he did plead).  In addition, the head of the Montreal lab assigned to MLB did not see signs of tampering and testified as such.  So immediately there is something a little fishy on this: Braun quickly brought up tampering in public but did not focus on that during his private defense.

Finally, the actions of the collector form the crux of this question.  According to Braun’s conference and information from the hearings, the collector did not follow the specified protocol mandating the shipment of samples immediately through FedEx.  He thought the hours for shipment ended, so he went home and put the sample in his refrigerator.  Between Saturday when the test was taken, and Monday when the collector dropped of the sample, 44 hours elapsed.  I have no clue as to the mechanics of this guys’ fridge, but chemistry occurs differently in a fridge like that compared to a shipping truck.  Also, 44 hours is a long time; the sample might have lost some of its chemical integrity, but most anti-doping scientists have said they think not.

The process agreed by the MLB and players broke down, so I do not contest the mediator throwing out the suspension.  Most legal minds would have difficulties with a 44 hour gap.  But, in the court of public opinion (what am I saying, this is my opinion!) there will always be questions.  If Braun gained innocence through a technicality, it revitalizes his career prospects, but we should be cognizant of the surrounding doubt.

What does this mean for baseball testing in the future?  Looks a little uncertain as of now, other than that the league will work to ensure something like this does not happen again (as to the FedEx hours, why would baseball make a process of collection leaning on a package carrier that doesn’t have 24 hour availability?  Clearly the collector didn’t get the memo when he should have).  Another aspect of this: Braun’s alleged offer to take a DNA test to prove the sample wasn’t his, which MLB reportedly denied (there is some question about this).  Considering how invasive baseball’s collection procedure is (urinating anytime anywhere), I believe MLB should accept offers of DNA tests.  For many players, especially a former MVP, a positive test has far-reaching consequences for their career.  Players like Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, and Barry Bonds will most likely never get to the Hall of Fame because they used steroids.  Those players should have the opportunity to make sure the sample is, in fact, theirs.

We as fans are tired of the steroid era, and I applaud baseball for creating a rigorous testing process.  That said, when the process breaks down it does nothing to create closure for us.  Watch this situation closely---I would not be surprised if the league and players’ association come together to refine the process very soon.  The question remains, however, is there a good process at all?

Bit #1: The rise of Nicklas Backstrom

Many of you may be tired of these Caps-related Bits, but I can tell you I resigned myself to the Caps not making the playoffs this past week.  They are 4-6 over the past 10 games, including a 4-0 and 5-1 losses to bottom feeders Carolina and Ottawa.  I attribute this to one factor: the loss of center Nicklas Backstrom.  There are multiple causes for sure, but I will make a controversial statement: Backstrom is a much better player than Alex Ovechkin.  I cannot make any other judgment on the current situation.  Ovechkin has been unable to make this team reach new heights, despite an incredibly deep talent pool.  The worst part: the Caps have a murderous stretch the rest of the season and play like an AHL team when away from Verizon Center.

The trade deadline in the NHL approaches, and Caps GM George McPhee must be thinking of what he can do.  My suggestion: strip Ovie of the captaincy and give it to Brooks Laich.  The Capitals are not in need of more players, they are in need of better leadership.  Some have gone far enough to say Ovechkin needs to be traded and, while I would not go that far, the NHL continues to prove mega contracts for 10+ years do not work as motivational tools (for evidence see DiPietro, Bryzgalov, Gomez, Richards, Carter).

Bit #2: Why can’t Tiger win?

Other than wearing shoes more suitable for Betty White, Tiger can’t win because he can’t putt.  At last week’s Pebble Beach, Tiger missed 5 putts from inside five feet during his final round.  This past weekend, Tiger couldn’t match Nick Watney’s putting, fittingly missing an 8 footer to lose the match.  Tiger’s putting tanked over the last few years, going from spectacular to cadaverous.  In 2009, he ranked second in strokes gained from putting but fell to 45^th in that category last year.  If he wants to win any time soon, Tiger needs to dial in his putting stroke.

Bit #3: Huge contract for Ryan Zimmerman

The Washington Nationals signed third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to a six-year, $100 million contract extension on Sunday, ensuring a solid core of young talent with Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.  While building that core makes sense, I am immediately skeptical of giving so much money to a guy with only 395 at-bats last season.  Zimmerman embodies most of Washington sports: huge potential that, for one reason, or another has not lived up to the talent as of yet.  I will give him credit, however.  He wanted a full no trade clause, meaning he wants to stay in DC, an increasingly rare characteristic in sports.

Bit #4: February 25, 1989 – Tom Landry fired

In 1989, the Dallas Cowboys found a new owner, Jerry Jones, who promptly fired 29-year head coach Tom Landry, a Dallas institution.  The Cowboys won three championships in the next 7 years, but the coaching situation always remained in flux.  Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Dave Campo, and Chan Gailey all served under Jones after Landry until 2003, when Jones hired Bill Parcells.  While the championships of the Cowboys erased a lot of indignation against Jones, his handling of coaches since this time is second-worst to Dan Snyder in Washington.  After running Landry out of town, Jones did the same to Johnson.  Owners like Jones work for a while in a salary-capped sport, but eventually the act wears thin.  He should hire a true GM and give the team more space, allowing for positive growth without coaches looking over their shoulder.

Most Interesting QB Class?

On Thursday, the sports world will revert to football for 5 days to analyze the upcoming 2012 draft class, almost two months before teams draft players.  As much as I appreciate the rejuvenation of football on sports radio, in my opinion the NFL Combine proves only how fast a player can run and what he can bench.  Yes, teams interview players, but like many sports nothing can replace game experience.  So, in my mind, the “Indoor Underwear Olympics” rarely require too much attention for sports fans (Jerry Jones forgets this advice every year).

This year, however, presents one of the most interesting QB crops I can remember.  While very little can ever approach the 1983 QB class in talent (Elway, Marino, and Kelly), I find this group intriguing for its many storylines.

The Best: Ask anyone, and Stanford QB Andrew Luck looks like “a sure thing” with many comparing him to a predecessor from Stanford, John Elway.  Watching a few Stanford games this year, I would have to agree.  He throws strongly, accurately, and quickly while maintaining the intelligence and athleticism to play in a pro offense.  Not much more to be said, other than he will almost undoubtedly replace Peyton Manning in Indy, so there’s some intrigue right there.

The Angry: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III mesmerized the nation last season and the obsession can only grow if you live in Cleveland, Miami, or Washington.  This week, however, RGIII expressed some frustration at ESPN analyst Todd McShay’s suggestion Griffin enter the draft as a wide receiver, so much so to move his pro day away from conflicting with Luck’s.  I want to encourage you all to watch the newswire this week to see the attitude towards Griffin after the Combine.  While he will be the #2 QB, the question remains which team will take him.

The Old: The NFL must ensure wheelchairs are available for draft day, because Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden, a former professional baseball player, will enter the NFL at the ripe age of 29.  Easy to think teams will avoid him, since he has a foreseeable shelf-life, but the attention lavished on him by scouts adds to the intrigue of this class.  He has maturity to learn quickly and can play in a pro offense immediately.  While you may think him better suited for a BENGAY sponsorship, I’d put money on Weeden getting some love come draft day.

Raising Arizona:  The state of Arizona boasts two NFL quarterback prospects this year.  Arizona State QB Brock Osweiler engenders varying reactions.  He might have stood a better chance in next year’s draft, to better work on his mental toughness, but still possesses the necessary physical build (6 foot 7 inches) and athleticism to be a good quarterback (watch his 40 meter time be second to Darron Thomas for QBs).  Arizona QB Nick Foles also looks good to many NFL scouts, mainly because his offensive line last season forced him to develop calm under pressure and a good running ability.  Along with Ryan Tannehill of Texas A&M, these two will vie to be the third QB drafted overall.  My take: teams will appreciate Osweiler’s physique and choose him first, while Foles will fall farther than expected.  Tough to believe in a guy with so little team success.

The FCS Transfer.  Tennessee-Chattanooga QB B.J. Coleman presents an increasing NFL rarity: a realistic prospect at the most important position from a FCS school.  Of all the current NFL quarterbacks, there is room for FCS talent.  Joe Flacco and Tony Romo lead playoff-worthy teams each year (though Dallas underachieves like clockwork) and John Skelton led the Cardinals on a string of victories last season.  Coleman played his first year at Tennessee, but never saw the field, so his presence at the draft gives the feeling of either a solid NFL prospect or a raw talent with good upside.  Either way, worth watching how he does this weekend.

The Weird.  Collective wisdom right now puts Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill behind Luck and Griffin as the third QB prospect.  While RG3 dislikes the wide receiver label, Tannehill presents the opposite.  Recruited to play receiver, Tannehill played a season and a half at QB in College Station, but now finds himself as a high prospect.  This is a unique situation: in recent years players like Antwaan Randle-El and Matt Jones moved to wide receiver after playing quarterback in college, but rarely vice versa, even in the four year college life.  Thus, I will be curious to see what happens to Tannehill.

The Possible but Highly Likely Mistake.  Oregon QB Darron Thomas can flat out burn you.  He has amazing quickness, finding a second and third gear when reaching the second level of a defense.  The issue for Thomas is, in a draft class this deep, why would he come out after being a “system quarterback.”  Any eight-year-old could tell you Oregon doesn’t play in any way similar to the NFL, so why leave one of the best college teams for the 7^th round?  I will be shocked if he stays in the league more than 4 years and, if he does, I bet he does not remain a QB.

In summary, while this week normally does not provide much excitement, the cast of characters after Luck and RGIII presents some very interesting possibilities.  Who will be third?  Would a team believe in the equivalent of an NFL octogenarian?  Could we see this class in future years be one of the deepest ever?  Maybe not, but perhaps the most interesting.

Bit #1: Great Oden’s Raven?

Occasionally in sports you feel a real sadness for a player who cannot show their talent due to injuries.  On Tuesday, I felt such sadness for Greg Oden.  Those of you with long memories remember the Oden vs. Durant debate in the 2007 draft, when the Portland Blazers chose Oden with the first overall pick.  Even so, in the five years since being drafted, Oden has undergone five knee surgeries and played in only 82 games.  Yes, one full season in games over the course of five calendar years.  The flip side: Oden has collected $23 million since draft day, but draft busts always engender sympathy, especially with injuries involved.

Worst part: the Blazers are good at this act.  If the name Sam Bowie rings a bell to any of you, please skip to the last sentence.  For others, the Blazers passed on one Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft.  Imagine if the Blazers took both MJ and Kevin Durant when they had the chance…truly interesting thought.

Bit #2: London Bridge is falling down

For the second week in a row, a London-based club team lost in horrendous fashion in Italy during the Champions League.  On Tuesday, Chelsea lost to Napoli 3-1 in Naples, a team that hasn’t won the Italian Serie A since the late ‘80s.  As I described last week for Arsenal, if Chelsea can beat Napoli at home while covering the difference in goal differential, they advance to the next stage.  If they are unable, however, watch the Champions League for a Spanish triumph, with two of the four big English clubs (Arsenal included) out by the Round of 8.

Bit #3: Where is the Slam Dunk Contest?

On Wednesday afternoon, New York Knicks rookie Imam Shumpert pulled out of the Slam Dunk Contest this weekend, with Utah’s Jeremy Evans taking his place. (Pause for jaw hitting the floor....)  WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!?

In the 80s, the Dunk Contest was a premier event with premier participants.  Jordan, Wilkins, Erving, and Drexler participated and the rules were simple: one chance to successfully dunk and the judges give a score out of a possible 50.  Since those days, the Dunk Contest has looked an awful lot like a Mark Ruffalo movie where you think, “there must be someone better for this, right?”

It astounds me recognizable superstars like Blake Griffin, LeBron James, and Dwayne Wade are not in the Contest.  Instead, NBA fans must watch Chris Anderson try almost 20 times before completing his dunk.  I’ll pass on this for a while.

Bit #4: February 22, 1980 – Miracle on Ice

I’ve waited to spotlight this event since starting to post.  The Miracle on Ice, in my mind, continues as the greatest single American sports moment.  To rehash for your benefit: the USSR decimated competition in the late 1970s.  The team beat the NHL All-Stars in the 1979 Challenge Cup, punctuating victory with a 6-0 crushing after two competitive games.  The U.S. team, on the other hand, boasted the services of college athletes, many hailing from Minnesota or Michigan who could not believe they would play in the Olympics.  From a pure sports angle, this easily enters the conversation as the biggest sports upset of the last 50 years, if not all-time.

But the true value of the Miracle was not the unlikelihood of U.S. victory, but the context around it.  Americans in 1980 suffered from huge inflation, long gas lines, and TV images of American hostages.  The Soviet Union, by comparison, invaded Afghanistan a few months before this game, seemingly unstoppable in building its power.  The Miracle on Ice shows the incredible power of sports to rally the confidence of a whole nation.  Winning as the underdog added excitement, but beating a political international rival during one of the lower points of American confidence created the atmosphere many people still remember from the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.  I couldn’t tell you anything else from that year’s Olympics, but they maintain a mystique for many as the point when Americans believed in themselves, idolizing upstart collegians as models in the face of overwhelming adversity.  All through one sports event.

The Best Franchise You Don't Know About

The current sports culture focuses on successful franchises, especially over the course of several years.  For example, every year NFL pundits spend too much time discussing the Dallas Cowboys, allegedly “America’s team.”  Unsurprisingly, I hate the focus on a franchise that has underachieved every year since 1996, but the Cowboys have earned it by being near the top for the better part of the last 30 years.  Same goes for the Lakers, Yankees, Celtics, and Steelers to name a few.

But one franchise should be on the level of the Lakers and Yankees, but media never mention them as one of the current bests.  I’m referring to the Detroit Red Wings.  For those of you who don’t watch hockey, greatness should still be admired and followed.  They’ve been in the news recently.  The current Red Wings season remains a revelation.  They stand at the peak of the Western Conference standings and have won 23 straight games at home, an NHL record.

Detroit’s dominance extends far beyond this season.  Since 1987, a period of 25 years, the Red Wings are perennial playoff contenders, missing the playoffs only once in that period.  By comparison, the Lakers are one behind, missing the playoffs twice over the same stretch.

The astute of you are saying, “half the teams get to the playoffs in the NHL, so what’s the big deal?”  A fair question, so we should look at the manner of playoff success, like winning a division.  Since 1987, Detroit has won their division 16 times.  No other franchise in the major sports can make that same claim.  The Atlanta Braves of MLB are closest with 14 divisional wins in the NL East.  Detroit’s six conference championships rank second behind the Yankees (seven) and Lakers (eleven).  Oh, and I should have mentioned, they have won 4 Stanley Cups.  Only the Lakers (7), Jordan Bulls (6), and Yankees (5) have more titles over the same span.

While we could spend hours discussing the Red Wings’ rise to prominence, think about what caused it.  My answer: Detroit’s early adjustment to the globalization of hockey.  Using Steve Yzerman, the alert and quick two-way center, as a centerpiece, the Red Wings proceeded to add draft picks from Europe, particularly Russia and Sweden.  Once the Berlin Wall fell, many Russian players could play in the NHL, with some of the best ending up in Detroit.  Sergei Fedorov (NHL MVP 1994) and Nicklas Lidstrom (best defenseman 7 times since 2001) are some recognizable figures, both European, who fueled the Wings.

When you see the Wings this season, keep in mind you are watching not just the best team in hockey this year, but also the best hockey franchise of this generation.  While we hear so much about the flashy franchises, like the alleged “America’s team”, do not think those are the only ultra-successful sports organizations out there.  For what it’s worth, the Wings won’t be going away any time soon.  Watch one Pavel Datsyuk goal and you will see the talent pool in Detroit remains deep and really, really impressive.

Bit #1: Wandering in the wasteland in DC

The latter half of last week disappointed me.  I watched the Caps twice lose against teams they should beat without any problem.  I soon realized the issues with this team are myriad and are exacerbated by coach Dale Hunter.  As a young fan, I loved Hunter.  As captain, Hunter played meat-and-potatoes hockey, instigating fights and adding a goal often and always finishing his check.  When he took over as coach this year, I hoped the team would channel his individual playing style.

What I envisaged, however, would have combined grittiness with offense.  Instead, the Caps average 2.72 goals a game, entirely too little for a team with the unreal offensive talent on Washington’s roster.  As many of you imagine, Alex Ovechkin embodies the incredible potential of the Caps, but Ovechkin is by no means the player we all know from seasons past.  His 45 points in 55 games (0.81 points per game) pales in comparison to his career production (1.29 per game).  In addition, he is minus-7 on the season, finally exposing the worst part of his game: defense.  During many Caps games Ovechkin reminds one of Snookie at a black-tie event; sloppy and better suited for a less classy affair.  There is tons of work for this team, but it’s time for Hunter and Ovechkin to take leadership and start working better together, because as of right now, we aren’t making the playoffs.

Bit #2: The key to success in baseball

Training camp starts this week for MLB, a week I dread every year.  In two and a half months, we will be stuck watching only baseball of the major sports.  While the prospect does not excite me, baseball provides an interesting opportunity for analysis because the season lasts forever (162 games).  The common wisdom thinks money will directly correlate to success in baseball, since there is no salary cap.

An article by Tom Verducci of SI.com this week, however, presents other evidence.  Verducci pointed out that 11 teams over the last four seasons have had four starting pitchers make 30 starts.  Ten made the playoffs, six won their respective pennant.  So, don’t necessarily be looking for your team to spend lots, but hope for your team to have an established rotation that can stay healthy all season.

Bit #3: The week of mid-majors

Last week should drive home to college basketball fans that BCS conferences no longer have a stranglehold on this season.  Teams like Long Beach State, Wichita State, Creighton, Murray State, and Saint Mary’s all played entertaining games last week showcasing their potential.  In the last two years, teams from non-BCS conferences advanced to the Final Four.  I will tell you all now: one of the aforementioned team will make the Elite Eight this year.

Bit #4: February 18, 1986 – Alvin Robertson quadruple double (2^nd in NBA)

20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals.  The quadruple double (making double digits in four stat lines) remains something of an anomaly.  Robertson, Nate Thurmond, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson are the only four players to record a quadruple double since the advent of the possibility in 1973 when the NBA began tracking blocks and steals.  While it is highly likely players before 1978 recorded one of these, certain performances or plays (think the unassisted triple play in baseball) are rare enough that the casual sports fan should know what they are despite the low probability of occurrence.

The Perfect Storm Fueling the Rise of Lin

I experienced a strange phenomenon this week: a request from one of you to write about Jeremy Lin.  I briefly thought of telling the petitioner that I write what I want to write, not what she wants to write.  I like to refer to this urge as my "inner Skip Bayless" (look him up if you don't know him).  The urge feels great until you realize Bayless makes irrational sports comments (normally at high volumes) and uses as his pulpit a daytime ESPN show that people only watch during Jerry Springer commercials.  So, I'm writing about Jeremy Lin.

In my last two posts I mentioned Jeremy Lin only to promote his true value through assists and steals.  Lo and behold, Lin picked up 13 dimes Wednesday night against the Sacramento Kings while only scoring 10 points.  The guy remains a sensation, and his performance last night cemented his ability to be effective without constantly looking for points.

What caused all the excitement?  Many folks who don’t rabidly follow sports want to say, “This is cool, but why is everyone making such a big deal about it?”  The answer is more than the barroom response of “Dude, it’s so awesome how can you not follow it?”  Truly, a perfect storm presents the only possible explanation.  I will list the factors in order of importance that, when taken together, I think explain the emergence of Lin and the surrounding mania, besides the obvious black hole for the Knicks at point guard this season.

The Knicks system favors point guards

I find this to have the least relevance to the worldwide sensation of Jeremy Lin, but coach Mike D’Antoni’s system certainly helps his production.  The offense runs with the point guard who in turn pushes the transition game up the floor, slashing to the basket or finding open teammates.  To emphasize, the Knicks are 13^th in the league in points-per-game with their most talented player (Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony) struggling through career lows.  For added emphasis, remember when Steve Nash played in this system?  In his four years with D’Antoni, Nash averaged 17.45 PPG in the regular season, and has averaged 15.375 since switching coaches.

Lin plays in New York

Consider this: if Lin played the same as he has the last 7 games in Indianapolis, would anybody care outside the state of Indiana?  My guess: not really.  New York athletes (A-Rod, Eli, Tom Coughlin) face the two-edged sword of the large media market: do well and they love you, stumble and they hate you.  Regardless, the whole sports world keeps an eye on New York.

Jeremy Lin graduated from Harvard and is Asian-American

One of the weirdest aspects of Lin mania centers around his undergraduate experience.  A Harvard graduate, Lin already inserts himself into a small group.  According to basketball-reference.com, only two other Harvard grads have ever played in the NBA or ABA.  The other two (Saul Mariaschin and Ed Smith), played in only one year each (1948 and 1954 respectively).  In addition, Americans like Harvard athletes because they mystically seem to embody the ideal combination of athleticism and smarts.  Think about Buffalo Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, and how impressed NFL fans were with him (before he got paid and began to stink up the place).

Lin’s racial affiliation comes into play for one reason: worldwide attention.  His Taiwanese heritage opens up new markets for the NBA and strengthens existing ones.  One need only watch a Knicks game to see many fans donning Taiwanese flags, especially during games on the road (I’m thinking particularly of Toronto).

The Knicks performed very poorly pre-Lin

This point need not be belabored: the 7-game win streak sparked by Lin leaves the Knicks at .500 (15-15 record).  The sports world loves turnarounds, especially dramatic ones.  A few close wins and people pay more attention.

Those factors are fairly obvious, but two others are not so obvious.

Lin has played a relatively easy schedule

Before New York fans send me spiteful e-mails I will explain.  The schedule facing Lin up to this point has not been incredibly daunting.  The Nets, Jazz, and Kings are in the bottom 10 for team defense and I can tell you from experience how horrific the Wizards play defense.  In truth, the Knicks under Jeremy Lin played one team in the top 10 of team defense: the Lakers.  I will gladly point to his performance in that game as exceptional if folks will admit Derek Fisher (his primary defender) has not been in shape the entire season after negotiating a labor deal over the summer.

The key will be this weekend: the Knicks welcome two top 10 defenses, the Hornets and Mavericks, to the Garden.  Saturday against Dallas should loom large.  It is difficult to imagine Linsanity getting bigger, but what if he beat Kobe Bryant and the defending champions on this run?  Truly stupendous.

This does not happen in the NBA

Believe it or not, this may be the most important factor to explain the mania around Jeremy Lin.  When I sit with my boy Jacob before the NBA season, we can usually decipher who will make the playoffs, with about an 85-90% correct percentage at season’s end.  The NBA remains the most predictable league in the nation.  For example, the opposite expectations and subsequent performance of the Eagles and 49ers this past season happens almost every year in the NFL.  But in the NBA the hierarchy seems obvious before opening night. Even if you can’t fully predict who makes the Finals, at least 12 of the 16 teams can be predicted with certainty every year..  Many unique aspects of professional basketball contribute to this (smallest roster size so much less likely to have a Jeremy Lin), but regardless NBA fans do not expect something like this to happen.

In short, Lin-sanity combines many different factors.  An undrafted, Asian-American Harvard grad currently leads a previously bad team in the biggest media market, thus far against relatively sub-par competition, defying the normal nature of things in the NBA.  That about sums it up.

Bit #1 – Don’t be deceived by UVA basketball

Having suffered through four years of below average basketball at UVA, this season has provided a good outlet to appreciate the “once every four or five years” cycle that is post-Sampson Virginia basketball.  But, I would caution you all to be careful about touting this team’s abilities too much.  Certainly the ACC is tough, so Virginia’s top 25 ranking and current Top 5 ACC placement should put us into the Dance, and our defense creates a challenge for opponents, but this team might still be a year away from being really good.

Virginia won a big game early in the season against #15 Michigan, but since then has not won against a good team.  A close 61-58 loss to Duke was our best game since the Michigan win, but a team that loses to Virginia Tech 47-45 and Clemson 60-48 does not inspire me.  In addition, ESPN ranks the Virginia strength of schedule as 117, compared to 20 for Florida State, our closest competition in the conference.  Will we make the tournament?  As it stands now, most likely, but barring a win against UNC or Florida State in the next games, I think we can hope for a 7 or 8 seed at best. 

Bit #2 – Spiking the Gunners

This past week, UEFA Champions League, a European competition of soccer clubs from each European country, began its first knockout stage.  Many Americans don’t pay attention to European club futbol, but believe me you should.  On Wednesday, English club Arsenal (often referred to as Gunners) travelled to play Italian powerhouse AC Milan.  What transpired could best be described as Orlovsky-esque.  The 4-0 drubbing is the largest European away defeat for one of the world’s oldest clubs.  In about a month’s time Milan will come to London where Arsenal must make up the goal differential to move onto the next stage.  Not happening.

Bit #3 – Disturbing trend in the NHL

Watching as much hockey as I do, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend: the increase in bad calls of goalie interference.  Much like an NFL QB, the goaltender in hockey should be protected by the rules because he has very little ability to defend himself from collisions.  The rule, however, does not mean players cannot make contact with a goaltender.  Last night, Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty knocked Tim Thomas over despite trying to leap over him to avoid the penalty, but was still sent to the box anyway.  While referees need to protect goalies (and QBs), these sports are contact sports and, as Carlotta says in Phantom of the Opera, “these things do happen.”

Bit #4 – February 16, 1992 – Lakers retire Magic Johnson’s number

Being in Generation Y, my perception of Magic Johnson limits itself to the guy on ESPN with a great smile and warm personality who provides infinitely better analysis than Charles Barkley over on TNT.  But Johnson was so much more than that in his playing days.  Johnson's career achievements include three NBA MVP awards, nine NBA Finals appearances, twelve All-Star games, and ten All-NBA First and Second Team nominations.  In short, one of the best players ever and, in my opinion, until last month, the best Laker ever.

Next post coming on Sunday.

Why We Should Remember to Sing the National Anthem

The news of Whitney Houston’s untimely death shocked the entertainment world this past weekend.  A woman of incredible talent, some of it viewed as squandered over the years, passed away in mysterious circumstances.  Truly sad and gut-wrenching stuff.

Yet the sports world also mourned.  To my surprise, the ESPN BottomLine (font of all knowledge), noted her death, reminding fans of Houston’s National Anthem performance 21 years ago before Super Bowl XXV.  Curious, I looked up the clip on YouTube.

I will state pure fact: her rendition is the best national anthem at an American sporting event.  Her expression, tone, dynamics (volume), and power blew me away during what is one of the toughest songs to sing, even more so on the biggest sports day of the year.  My immediate thought: “our national anthem should be sung that way every time.  In fact everyone should sing it, period.”

Ask yourself when you last went to a game and sang the entire anthem from the stands.  Some of you I know sing always, but have there also not been times when you feel strange belting out “O say…” because the lady with the fanny pack and visor in the next row turns around and stares at you?  We all have felt that way at some point, regardless of how deep our patriotism and seats at a game.

To be straight, I do not doubt anyone’s patriotism because they do not sing for every game.  However, I find it strange American sports fans are more excited to chant key words of the anthem rather than the whole song.  A short list of my familiar teams will demonstrate my point:

Orioles fans scream “OH” at the start of the second “Oh say…”

Virginia student intone “HOOS” during “whose broad stripes…”

Caps fans shout “RED” at “the rocket’s red glare” (as if they are the only NHL team with red as a primary color)

Are these cheers fun?  Yes.  At the same time, are they also a little silly?  Yes.  For whatever reason, the collective psyche encourages Americans to inject their own local teams into the national anthem and, if no witty ways of doing so present themselves, to not sing the anthem at all.  But, if you really must, do so under your breath for fear of disturbing Fanny Pack over there.

Watch most international sports and see the opposite effect.  Every Englishman sings “God Save the Queen” at English Premiership matches (even so at the yearly NFL game in Wembley).  In Edmonton, the singer points his microphone aloft after the first phrase and the crowd leads on.  Wouldn’t such a practice be somewhat anathema to most Americans?  I do not think Canadian or British patriotism runs deeper than that of American spectators, but sadly we do not feel compelled to give our country the fully proper due at the start of a game.

Thirty seconds of Whitney Houston singing to millions, in the context of the Persian Gulf War at the time, shows how exciting our anthem can be.  The mere fact folks discuss that 2 minutes of music twenty-one years later displays the remarkable power Americans can gain from The Star Spangled Banner.  I do not think times are good enough for us now to where we can prioritize Fanny Pack’s comfort level over giving the anthem, and by association our country, its full due.  We are blessed to be here and to be given the opportunities to watch football, much less go to an actual game.  We should never forget that…the least we can do is sing when the PA asks us to “stand and remove your hats (or visors).”

Bit #1 – New Evidence of God in DC sports

From Achilles to Tebow athletes have long believed a supernatural influence exerts itself in sports.  Without opening up a Pandora’s box of spiteful comments from the religious among you, I think it fair to say many athletes quickly thank God publicly for wins and not for losses (for obvious reasons).  He rarely comes up in post-loss interviews.

Not so this week if you’re a Caps fan.  In two of three games, Caps opponents have scored goals from beyond the red line (equivalent of a half-court shot in basketball).  Dustin Byfuglien of the Jets scored with a few seconds left in the game on what would normally be a routine dump-and-chase play.  Last night, the Sharks’ Joe Pavelski scored from center ice, almost in identical position as Byfuglien.

You could go years without seeing one of these, so to see in two in three games truly makes me pause.  While I doubt the man upstairs would care enough about the Caps to engineer losses in such fashion, Caps fans may want to consider if there is a hidden message: wait til next season when fate (or God) resets allegiances.

Bit #2 – Requisite long memory for college basketball and an early sleeper pick

The NCAA Tournament starts four weeks from now when the field of 64 begins play.  College basketball requires a spectator to possess a long memory.  Non-conference matchups haven’t happened since December, meaning many teams that looked good then might be sliding as we approach the Dance (UConn) or vice versa (Michigan State).

Be that as it may, don’t lose sight of Long Beach State.  The 49ers have made no buzz since Christmas, but remain on track to sweep their conference schedule.  And, when playing ranked opponents this season, the 49ers beat then-top 15 schools Pitt and Xavier while losing to UNC and Kansas by a combined 16 points.

Bit #3 – Occupy “White” Street?

On Tuesday morning Falcons wide receiver Roddy White tweeted that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made too much money.  According to White, “How in the hell can u pay a man this much money that cant run tackle or catch.”  Goodell will make $20 million per season.

While that is a gaudy number, Goodell ultimately heads an organization that recently stopped labor to figure out how to divvy up a whole lot of money in profits.  Certainly the players make the league great, but without good administration the league wouldn’t enjoy its current popularity.  I ask Roddy, “how the hell can u pay yourself $8.3 million when you can only run and catch?”

Bit #4 – The true value of Jeremy Lin

Playing fantasy basketball this season has opened my eyes to the different values a player can bring his team.  Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin provides a fascinating example.  I will not sneeze at his 26.8 points per game over the last five games, but I find his value to be deeper than that.  Seemingly unbeknownst to the casual observer, Lin averaged 8 assists and 2 steals over the same period.  While the wider world coos at Lin’s scoring numbers, keep in mind he shot 8 of 24 in the last game against Minnesota.  Ultimately, I think his shooting touch will fall as perimeter defenses figure him out, but if his assist numbers stay the same we can expect a heavy dosage of Lin-sanity for the next little while.

Bit #5: February 12, 1982 – Gretzky ties points record in a season

Many of us in my generation look at the NHL today with offensive stars like Crosby, Datsyuk, etc. and wonder if we are seeing the best ever.  Short answer: not even close.  Just over 30 years ago the Great One tied the NHL season scoring record against the much-maligned Washington Capitals.  The astounding aspect of this: Gretzky tied the record with 24 games remaining!  He went on to the best statistical season in NHL history with 92 goals and 212 points, both still records.

The Sadness of the Manning Madness

The Sadness of Manning Madness

The sports world remains fixated on the Peyton Manning situation.  From Jim Irsay’s late night tweets to the pasta-like quality of Peyton’s arm, very few sports media outlets can afford to stop and consider the reality of the situation: one of the best quarterbacks of all-time will be leaving his hometown team the season after his worth was demonstrated.

Let’s consider the history of the pre-Manning Colts for a moment.  The Baltimore Colts boasted the services of Johnny Unitas, a man who won three MVP awards in 8 years (1959-1967) and drew the admiration of football fans nationwide.  While the heavily-favored Colts lost to the Jets in Super Bowl III, two years later saw them as the winners of Super Bowl V, a championship legacy cemented in the post-merger NFL despite the game being known as “The Blunder Bowl” with 11 combined turnovers.

Then the bottom dropped out, plunging the franchise into the depths of mediocrity and, at points, downright fecal matter.  In the 28 years between the Super Bowl win and Manning’s 1998 debut, the Colts won 4 division titles and made the playoffs 7 times.  In the 13 years since Manning, the Colts made the playoffs 11 times, 7 of those divisional wins, two of those Super Bowl appearances with one win.  Manning has built the Colts from the NFL’s proverbial garbage heap to a perennial power.

This year the Colts had to rely on Dan Orlovsky, who once  forgot the end zone has specific boundaries , to win twice.  Most of America suffered through multiple Colts primetime games.  The team was outscored by 187 points over the season.  Peyton was sorely missed.

Many media outlets accused NFL Magazine of callousness for recommending Manning as the 2011 MVP.  And yet, the Colts had eight less wins than 2010 without Peyton, meaning Manning was worth eight wins (also known as half the season).

This is all to say: Manning deserves the respect of Jim Irsay and the Colts organization.  Irsay’s success as a Colts owner is due to Peyton Manning and to no one else except perhaps Bill Polian.  And yet each morning I hear Irsay bending over backwards to disconnect from Manning, expressing no joy when hearing he had been cleared to play.  I have difficulty understanding how a man can act in such a way towards the one player who brought his franchise, stadium, and profits from the pit of despair.

Peyton deserves sympathy from all of us.  This past season proved his worth and value, and yet he will most likely be sporting another jersey next year.  While that is the business of football, it doesn’t jive with how a franchise should treat its most valued player.

Bit #1: Tiger’s Shoes

Watching the Pebble Beach Pro-Am this week has brought joy to my heart.  The sports world sees the crisp breakers and craggy landscapes of the Northern California coast only once a year.  Regrettably, we can’t watch Bill Murray play in a ghillie suit every day.  Yet, this week attention diverted to Tiger Woods revitalizing his game, currently sitting four shots from the lead.

One area of Tiger’s game exempt from rejuvenation is his footwear.  While healthier for the golf course, Pebble Beach was not made to be walked in sneakers or the sneaker-golf shoe monstrosity on Tiger’s feet.  As if I didn’t know about Tiger’s advancing age, he now looks as if he’s going to play tennis with the married couples on Saturday morning (too soon?). 

Bit #2: The final plunge of the Big East

This past week the Big East added Memphis as its most recent member.  Many in the Big East might be happy until they realize the drudgery that is Memphis Tigers football.  Memphis has attended 6 bowls since its first season in 1912, many of those coming behind DeAngelo Williams earlier this decade.  Memphis has gone 5-31 in football over the last three seasons.  If football drives the recent spate of conference alignment, how does Memphis fit the bill?  Certainly the basketball program provides value to the best basketball conference in the country, but why wouldn’t the Big East continue its disgust for geography and add Nevada as football member?  The rivalry with Boise State could be continued and their football program has won its conference in the last three years, more than can be said for Memphis.

Bit #3: A very bad week in Waco

After starting the season on a tear, Baylor worked its best impression of a lawn chair this week, folding in two huge games against the class of the Big 12: Kansas and then Missouri.  The Bears are now 0-4 against those two teams this season, but averaged 55.5 points this week, 20 points beneath their season’s average.  In addition, Baylor’s last three wins have all been by less than 5 points, raising serious doubt about Baylor as it goes into the homestretch.  Needless to say, Baylor must regain some confidence this week to feel like they belong in the Big 12 when they clearly don’t.

Bit #4: The most hated hockey player ever

Tonight I watched the Toronto Maple Leafs retire Mats Sundin’s number.  My brief appreciation for a great player immediately gave way to disgust when Tie Domi was shown smiling from the stands.  As many of you won’t know this, Tie Domi deserves to be reviled by all sports fans.  In addition to resembling a beardless Gimli from the Lord of the Rings, Domi epitomized cowardice and peevishness during his career in the NHL.  While his fights with Rob Ray remain legendary, Domi showed his true colors when he knocked out Scott Niedermayer in the 2001 playoffs with a deliberate elbow to the head.  While I’m sure Toronto fans appreciate him, Domi does not win any points in my heart.  (This was more of a rant than a Bit).

Bit # 5: February 11, 1990 – Douglas KO’s Tyson

On this day 22 years ago, Buster Douglas, a 42 to 1 underdog, defeated Mike Tyson in Tokyo .  Coming into the fight, Tyson was 37-0 while holding the WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles, one of the most feared boxers ever.  Douglas, a journeyman, entered the fight 22 days after his mother’s death with almost no believers.  In the 10^th round, Douglas knocked Tyson down for the first time in Tyson’s illustrious career, ending the match.  While the fight marked Douglas’ high point, he exposed the first chink in Tyson’s armor in one of the biggest upsets ever.

Welcome to Dibbles and Bits!

Welcome to Dibbles and Bits, a blog designed to give me an outlet for my sports knowledge, generally considered useless by many others.  That said, this will be a chance for others to learn a little bit about the world of sports, at least as seen through my eyes.

The blog will center around a main feature, known hereafter as Dibbles, that will attempt to encapsulate my thoughts about a large sports topic of interest to me and almost every other sports fan.  Every sport is likely to be covered in this section, though I can guarantee some teams will receive less attention (or almost no attention if you're a Philly fan).

Dibbles will be followed by Bits, a series of 4-6 smaller paragraphs that will address similarly interesting sports topics with a smaller amount of text.  The content of these will be completely random except for one Bit each post that will be "This Day in Sport History."  Too often we forget the legends who preceded the current crop of professional athletes even if those memories and the stories associated with them remain relevant.

I can guarantee one thing: there will be some emphasis on Washington sports and a concerted indifference to Philadelphia sports (all within reason of course).  I follow both my favorite sports (football and hockey) and what I consider the ultimate snoozefest (baseball) so some of my points may seem obvious or downright stupid (depending on the sport), but why read a blog if you're not ready to read some unfounded opinions?

I look forward to sharing all this with you all, and I hope you enjoy.