Too Many Bits

I’ve missed a lot over the weekend with other obligations so it’s about time to hold court on a variety of topics circling the sporting globe.  Of course, we will begin with the biggest story of them all.

Bit #1: NCAA Can Consider Only Death Penalty

I am on record saying the NCAA should not be involved in sanctioning Penn State’s football program.  The organization, which rarely does anything properly in my mind, regulates on-field competitive advantage, which is not a factor in this case.  Calls for NCAA involvement, however, continue to grow as journalists, coaches, and fans begin to fully appreciate the significance of the Freeh Report.

And it makes sense to want some sanctions…the Penn State cover-up will take a place alongside the O.J. Simpson murders as the most revolting, most heinous crime ever associated with the world of sports.  And for many that should not go unpunished.

But many of the same people shy away from the death penalty.  While NCAA President Mark Emmert waits on Penn State’s response to the Freeh Report, he hinted in a candid interview on PBS that he would consider exceptionally harsh sanctions.  If he believes he can do so, Emmert can only prescribe the death penalty for Penn State football.  The survivors of these attacks by Jerry Sandusky are worth much more than a few scholarships and even fourteen years’ worth of wins.  No sanction besides the death penalty makes sense unless Penn State is required to pay millions to the survivors and their families for emotional distress and other damages.  Unfortunately, it appears the NCAA cannot create that kind of a penalty, and if Penn State officials possess any intelligence they will do all they can to financially compensate the families who have suffered through the last 14 years and especially the last 8 months, even though lawsuits will undoubtedly force the University’s hand.

Emmert wants to make a stand, but half-hearted postseason bans will never look like enough.  Again, I am not supporting this logic, but if I’m in favor of the death penalty my reasoning is as follows: “USC received a two year postseason ban and lost a Heisman because Reggie Bush got a few cars and other amenities.  Penn State has done much, much worse, so they should lose not just the postseason but the regular season too.”

So, I beg the sports world to consider the two alternatives: these crimes are outside the NCAA purview and don’t merit sanctions or the death penalty.  If Mark Emmert and his minions decided they need to involve themselves, they can only come to the conclusion of the death penalty, since would any other penalty fit the crime?

Bit #2: An NBA story not dealing with Dwight Howard

The New York Knicks need to determine what to do with Jeremy Lin.  You all may remember Lin’s rise to international prominence in February of last season, sparking the Knicks to a great winning streak in which the undrafted Harvard graduate cast shades of Isiah Thomas and Steve Nash at the point guard position.

 

But he’s a restricted free agent this offseason, meaning any kind of conventional wisdom on how to sign him will be politely acknowledged by teams than thrown out the proverbial window.  The Houston Rockets, desperate for some kind of attention, offered Lin an offer sheet that would pay him $25 million over three years.  This guy made a single comma salary last year at $788,000.  The best part: Year 3 of the proposed deal would pay Lin almost $15 million.  So the Knicks need to figure out what they will do…if they match the Rockets offer they are forced to pay Lin and take the huge $15 million cap hit simultaneous with the increase in the NBA’s luxury tax, a mechanism designed to keep teams under the salary cap.

Generally speaking, the Knicks make terrible personnel decisions.  I expect them to pass on Lin, choosing instead to insert newly-acquired and two-years-overweight Raymond Felton as point guard.  Passing on Lin would make very little sense for the Knicks.  First, Felton provides an average ability on the floor and has not played well in Portland the last two seasons.  His previous years with the Knicks in Mike D’Antoni’s up-tempo system cast doubts on his ability to improve this team.  Also, consider the amount of hype created about the Knicks by Lin last year.  Worldwide recognition, greater revenue, and tons of profit considering Lin’s base salary make Jeremy Lin a good investment, especially for at least one year.  Given his acclaim and the recent trade of Joe Johnson’s mega contract, the Knicks could find suitors for him.  Take a chance and deal him if it doesn’t work out.

Bit #3: Not exactly Dream Team II

Occasionally, it’s fun to know Kobe Bryant opens his mouth too much.  For a team that, according to Bryant, could beat the 1992 Dream Team in its prime, the US Men’s Olympic Basketball team did not impress on Monday night.  Brazil obviously doesn’t slouch in international competition, but for the American players to be down by 10 at the end of the first quarter says this team needs a little more time.  Coach K packed the roster with All-Stars, many of whom will be Hall of Famers, not unlike the original Dream Team in Barcelona, but there truthfully is no comparison.

While LeBron and Kobe represent the dynamic of MJ and Magic on the 1992 Dream Team, the roster noticeably thins from there.  Christian Laettner and Anthony Davis cancel out as the amateurs on the team, only two other guys from the original 1992 team would be on the chopping block in favor of 2012 entrants.  Chris Mullin, at the time a very reliable inside defender and scorer, could be replaced with Kevin Love, the beast playing for Minnesota right now.   From there, I would support switching John Stockton for Russell Westbrook at point guard or the beat-down Larry Bird for any of the offensive 2012 players, but Bird definitely needed to be on the 1992 team.  All the other players had competed directly for championships by 1992.  The 2012 version has Andre Iguodala and Deron Williams on the roster, decent players who have never realistically sniffed a championship.

Forget the “occasionally” in the first sentence of this Bit.  It’s always fun to call out Kobe.

Bit #4: The Open Championship

The Open Championship begins on Thursday.  This is my favorite tournament of the year, mainly because the style of golf looks so different from that on the normal PGA Tour circuit.  Links golf rarely uses trees, preferring instead to house ticks in the long grasses lining most fairways.  In addition, links courses often utilize deep bunkers to severely challenge players to hit it high and straight.  Even then, however, the high winds and rain often seen in the UK, the primary birthplace of links golf, make hitting the ball high with any accuracy next to impossible.  Expect lots of low shots intended to cut through the wind and run up to the green rather than the high draws and fades you might see at a U.S. Open.

The question this week centers around Tiger, seemingly the only golfer playing at all in every tournament.  He has won three times this year on Tour, the most of any professional, meaning he has some momentum leading into the third major of the year.  And I trust his game, as he’s done well in recent wins to establish his shorter irons, the main impediment to a U.S. Open win last year.  He has also decided to play smart, refusing to take too many risks and remaining surgical, which when combined with his skill makes him formidable.

That said, I’m taking the field here.  While Americans have played well at The Open in the past few years, it’s hard not to like one of the many European players out there now.  Maybe Rory will return to top form, but ultimately I see a few Brits in contention this week.  And Tiger likely will be in contention as well, but given the desertion of his precision at Olympic last month in the U.S. Open I am not convinced he will be mentally his former self this week.

Bit #5: Surprises on 50 Highest Earning Athletes list

SI released its annual list of the 50 highest earning American athletes yesterday, and there are some big surprises on the list that I wanted to highlight.  The totals include not just salary but also endorsements.

First, right at the top we see a listing the caught me by surprise: Phil Mickelson made more money last year than Tiger Woods.  Lefty’s $60.7 million outlasted Tiger’s $56.4 million for the No. 2 ranking, but these numbers show some of the depths to which Tiger fell after his scandal.  Losing the endorsements of companies like Gillete clearly hurt Woods, who finds himself $2.5 million behind Phil for endorsements.  Given the difference in their play over the last three years and Tiger’s resurgence recently, I’d say he’s done pretty well in rough times.  Sure, one endorsement might be a Japanese pain rub, but I don’t think he much cares.

A second surprise is the second highest paid player in baseball last year by salary.  I immediately thought it would have been Albert Pujols given his numbers, or maybe a Ryan Braun in Milwaukee.  Nope, it’s Vernon Wells of the Los Angeles Angels, still using the monster contract given to him by the Toronto Blue Jays.  Wells made just over $24 million, after hitting .218 in the 2011 season, a truly pathetic number for such an investment by his team.  What a lot of money for a guy who last hit over 100 RBI in 2006, but that’s part and parcel of baseball.  Huge contracts that often do not pan out.  Still, I was shocked he made that much money this past year.

Lastly, I have to wonder how the Arizona Cardinals feel about this list.  Quarterback Kevin Kolb and defensive end Calais Campbell both jumped into the top 50 last year due to large bonuses.  For Kolb, easily the most financially overrated player in football, his $7 million roster bonus that ended Arizona’s chances of landing Peyton Manning vaulted his numbers up.  For Campbell, who I confess I had never heard of, he’ll be making $2 million in base salary but received a gargantuan $15 million signing bonus.  While Arizona came on strong last year, I have to wonder if their internal decision making might be flawed.  Campbell might actually be worth the money, recording 8 sacks last season, but Kolb has been an awful gamble by the Cardinals front office.  His season this year will decide his fate.

Peruse the list for further surprises, but the fact that Rashard Lewis earned just over $17 million at any point in his life and made this list should sicken any NBA fan.

Bit #6: Franchise deals being done

It says a lot for a team to come to term with its franchise player.  The Saints, Ravens, and Bears all did that by the Monday deadline with their designated franchise players, who now will play under long-term deals instead of the one year contract.  Drew Brees, Ray Rice, and Matt Forte could each singlehandedly carry their respective clubs deep into the playoffs.  I’m especially proud of Bears GM Jerry Angelo, who proved his stupidity last year by seeing Caleb Hanie as the backup quarterback on his depth chart, a colossal mistake that would doom any NFL franchise past or present.

But, Rice and Forte represent the cream of the crop in the NFL for smaller running backs with a great blend of quickness and power.  Brees, as I’ve said all along, could be the best quarterback in the league right now, so his contract was too late in coming.  Can’t wait for the season.

Bit #7: Barcelona signs a 9-year old

I don’t want to say any more, other than to point out this makes sense in European soccer.  The powerhouse clubs have the ability to sign kids at this age.  While U.S. soccer phenoms go to camps similar to one run by Barcelona, very few have their rights bought by clubs so young.  Truly amazing.