The Wildcard’s NFL Preview – Part II: NFC
NFC East
Washington Redskins
Last Season: 10-6 (Lost in NFC Wildcard)
Key Player: Robert Griffin III (QB). He single-handedly reinvigorated this team. Plus he sells more jerseys than anyone else.
The Wildcard’s NFL Preview - Part I: AFC
AFC East
New England Patriots
Last Season: 12-4 (Lost in AFC Championship Match)
Key Player: Rob Gronkowski (TE). Suddenly the Man Who Is Party has become Tom Brady’s most...
Alex Rodriguez: A Necessary Evil
In the grand stage show of professional sports, Alex Rodriguez is one of the bad guys. But as scathing as I have been about the guy in the past (I take none of it back) and despite what Major League Baseball may have thought, Alex Rodriguez is still good for the game. Because plays a crucial role, one that no great story can do without. He plays the villain.
The Wildcard's Spontaneous Ruminations on the Oceania Basketball Champs
What Was It?
FIBA Oceania Men’s Basketball Championships
What Happened?
Australia, as expected, came out on top in the two game series to claim the Oceania Men’s Basketball Championship. A 70-59 win in Auckland gave the Aussie Boomers the advantage, and they hammered it home with a 76-53 win in Canberra.
How It Happened?...
The Ballad of Pete Rose: Hit King & Gambler
Look, I understand that baseball needs to be clamping down on drug cheats. They are a permanent stain on the game, and the recent Biogenesis bans are a good step forward. But I cannot help but feel that they are doing this more for the reputation of the MLB than for the interests of the game. They want to show that they’re stamping down on cheaters, but they don’t want the bad PR that comes with exposing such frauds. So they’ve tried to do both. And as the great Ron Swanson once said: It is better to whole ass one thing than to half-ass two...
Miami or Bust: The Greg Oden Story
Injury is the bane of the professional athlete. Greg Oden knows this better than anyone. He once had the basketball world at his fingertips, but persistent injuries have kept him from ever getting close to his potential. His is a tragic story of wasted talent, but there may be a redemptive turn in his tale yet.
The Wildcard’s Spontaneous Ruminations on the MLB Trade Deadline
Well, that was a bust. Only three major trades came through on deadline day, and none were especially exciting. Still, a number of teams have enhanced or damaged their season’s prospects, if mostly via their own inactivity. Here’s the breakdown of this morning’s moves:
- SP Ian Kennedy joined the San Diego Padres, with lefty reliever Joe Thatcher, a minor leaguer and a draft pick to Arizona in exchange. Kennedy is a very good pitcher, but has struggled immensely this year. He was a 21 game winner two years ago, but is 3-8 in 2013 with an ERA well over 5. He could thrive in San Diego where pitchers fare better anyway, but he joins a team most likely out of playoff contention from a team just 3 games out of first place. Arizona wanted Jake Peavy, but the Red Sox flew in and stole him. They do get a key lefty specialist to boost a shaky bullpen, but fans probably feel a little underwhelmed by the whole scenario.
- Next up, the woeful Houston Astros dealt starter Bud Norris to Baltimore, who will appreciate the extra arm with Jason Hammel injured recently. Make no doubt about it though, if Baltimore can’t...
The Dugout - July 31
Welcome to the inaugural edition of 'The Dugout' - a weekly update on the US sporting scene. Like 'The Bench' over in the NRL section, only American. Hence the name. You geddit? 'Dugout'? Aw forget it.
First up this week: Chicago White Sox pitching ace Jake Peavy has been traded to Boston in a three team deal also including Detroit. Tigers get Jose Iglesias, White Sox get Avisail Garcia and a couple of Red Sox prospects, while Peavy trades his White Sox in for Red ones. This is a huge boost for the Boston rotation as they try to hold off Tampa Bay and the Yankees down the stretch. Peavy, who is contracted through next year with an option for 2015, was 8-4 for the season for Chicago with a 4.28 ERA. He is a three time all-star, who has impressed pitching in what is considered a hitter’s ballpark in Chicago. The MLB trade deadline expires at the exact conclusion of the month of July, check back tomorrow for all the late deals and reaction.
Elsewhere, Brian Wilson (not the same guy from the Beach Boys) has signed a 1 year deal with the LA Dodgers as he tries to restart his career after serious injury. Wilson had 171 saves as San Francisco closer, and played a key role in the 2010 World Series, but hasn’t pitched since the start of the 2012 season. Most people will recognise him by the more-than-notable beard that he sports. It is a very fine beard...
The Needle and the Damage Done: How Drug Cheat Ryan Braun Deceived Us All
If you didn’t catch the big news from Major League Baseball this week, Milwaukee star and former MVP Ryan Braun has been suspended for the remainder of this season, a total of 65 games, in yet another embarrassing steroid saga for the sport. We’re continually told that the steroid era is over, that these scumrats can’t get away with it any longer, but the dark shadow of PEDs still lingers like a bad smell. Players all stress that they’d rather these highly publicised scandals than nothing, because it means that the cheats are being smoked out, but it’s still a dagger to the heart of a great sport. The MLB needs to be commended for their efforts here, but as Mike the Cleaner would have said, “No more half measures”. 65 games is a slap on the wrist for this guy.
Ryan Braun is a superstar in baseball. He was the National League MVP in 2011, Rookie of the Year in 2007. He led the league in home runs last season. Plus he’s always been a really likeable guy, an All-American type, much sought after endorser; “The Hebrew Hammer” is an icon in the Jewish and Wisconsin communities. He even opened restaurant with Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (probably the only current sportsman in Wisconsin more popular than himself). Like any top ball player since the steroid era, he was often the subject of doping talks, which he vehemently and confidently denied. Then in 2012 he was banned for 50 games for PED use. Not many saw that coming...
The Young and the Relentless: Baseball's New Generation of Superstars
The All Star break has arrived for Major League Baseball, a time to reflect on the wonderful performances and achievements of the first half of the season; from breakthrough stars to established legends still at their peak. These are players that make America’s pastime what it is. And after all, who doesn't enjoy baseball? Because if you didn’t like Moneyball, you loved Bull Durham, and if not Bull Durham, then The Natural, or The Sandlot, or Angels in the Outfield, or A League of their Own, or Field of Dreams, and so on and so forth and etc. Anyway, right now I want to focus on the breakout stars. Because right now we have a core group of them that are set to reinvigorate the world of baseball for years to come.
Every now and then a selection of rookies emerges into the top grade that will set the tone for a generation of superstars. The 1984 NFL draft pool is one such example, the 2003 NBA draft pool another. Baseball is experiencing this at the moment, with a number of 20-22 year old players breaking through into the majors and not just playing well, but absolutely dominating players whom they no doubt grew up watching and admiring. And it’s not just the pure ability of these guys that is so amazing, but the breadth of their abilities. Outfielders Mike Trout (LA Angels) and Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals) are leading the pack...
The Future Ain't What It Used To Be: How Dwight Howard Just Ruined The Lakers
The biggest stage show of the NBA offseason concluded as many predicted this weekend when the league’s premier big man Dwight Howard eventually announced his intentions to sign with the Houston Rockets. In the space of two years, and thanks to two huge deals (the first being the trade with OKC for James Harden in 2012), those Houston Rockets have gone from a nothing team of nobodies to a contending team of stars. But just as quickly as the Rockets climbed the ladder of expectations, the Los Angeles Lakers came tumbling back down it.
A recurring theme in the NBA at this time seems to be the transition from one era to the next, as a generation of aging stars look for one last shot at glory. The Dallas Mavericks have seen an almost complete player turnover since their championship in a failed attempt to draw in an elite talent for Dirk Nowitski to pass the torch to. The Boston Celtics simply dumped a bunch of franchise legends as they look to make the transition into the future. The Lakers thought they’d found their next superstar in a team with a history of legendary players in Dwight Howard, who was to become the face of the franchise after Kobe Bryant retires in a few years. They even brought in Steve Nash, one of the most selfless players of all time, to help facilitate the two egos. It didn’t work. After just one injury-ravaged, underachieving season, the man known as DH12 has hit the road.
This is a devastating blow to a gloried team. Obviously they can’t sign every superstar on the market, no matter how great their legacy. To let one go, though? Unheard of. Shaquille O’Neill maybe, but when he left LA he was into his 30s and only had two or three more seasons of elite productivity. Plus he’d already won 3 titles and an MVP with LA. Dwight Howard is 27 and at the top of his game (presuming he’s fully fit, which he hasn’t been for a while). The 2012/13 season was a disaster for the Lakers, undeniably. Bryant, Nash and Howard barely...
The Wildcard’s Winners and Losers from the NBA Draft
Biggest Winners
Anthony Bennett – Who picked this one? Probably just the Cavs. First overall selection despite the odds, quite the day for the Canadian forward out of UNLV.
Steven Adams – Wow. Portland was the highest plausible chance for Adams to be drafted, but they picked highly rated guard Michael Carter-Williams, and once Philadelphia traded for Nerlens Noel Oklahoma City were free to draft the 7 footed kiwi. What a great deal for Adams. I was thinking maybe late teens in terms of picks. No New Zealander has ever been drafted this high before (in fact only Sean Marks had ever been drafted at all from NZ) so to go 12th is an incredible achievement for New Zealand sport in general. Even though it has been acknowledged that Adams is a raw talent, and will therefore probably spend a bit of time in the Development League, this is nothing but a huge victory for Steven. OKC are a title contending team, and hopefully Adams can have an impact late in the season. Special highlights included David Stern trying to get his tongue around the name Rotorua.
Minnesota Timberwolves – I love where these guys are going. A lot of young players, headlined by Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love give Minnesota a strong core, and as good as Trey Burke is, they got great value in trading down for Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng. If they land OJ Mayo as they hope too, this is a dangerous team.
Sacramento Kings – With Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum to go with current King Isaiah Thomas, the Kings have got themselves a handy backcourt.
International Players – 12 international born players went in the first round, more than ever before.
David Stern – There is a reason why the NBA is the most globally appealing league out of the big 4 in the US. Stern is a great part of that reason. After 30 years, he is stepping down as commissioner, but he still spoke through a chorus of boos all night. And he loved every minute of it. Bringing Hakeem Olajuwon, the first pick Stern ever announced, out to help present the last one he will ever announce, was a lovely touch too. Hakeem even wore his 1983 suit.
Biggest Losers
Boston Celtics – Ouch. I know it’s not really draft related, but that Garnett/Pierce/Terry trade signals once and for all where this team is headed and it’s not to the finals. Boston is firmly in rebuilding mode with almost nobody left on the team other than Rondo. It was a sad day for Celtics fans. At least Kelly Olynyk is a decent player.
Charlotte Bobcats – They only had the one pick, but it was the fourth one on the board, so they really should have gotten better quality than Cody Zeller, who is a talented guy, but with Nerlens Noel, Alex Len and Ben McLemore still around, this was pretty surprising. Will he be the scorer that Charlotte so desperately need?
Detroit Pistons – For a team who need a guard more than anyone, they passed up potential stars like Trey Burke, Michael Carter-Williams and C.J. McCollum for the safe option in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. ‘Safe’ won’t get you into the playoffs though.
Other Notables
Nerlens Noel – He was touted as the favourite for the first pick. He looked lost and confused for a while, but once his name was called (6th overall) all was fine. He was drafted by New Orleans, which set up a curious roster situation with Anthony Davis, dubbed “Block Party” by the experts, but it was soon cleared up when Philadelphia traded for Noel. That trade was a massive talking point too, with all-star guard Jrue Holiday on his way to the Pelicans.
Dallas Mavericks – They predictably traded down, but got good value of it with Shane Larkin and a gamble on Ricky Ledo. You can see where this is going for Dallas though, dumping cap space for a run at Dwight Howard in free agency. If they get him it’ll all be worthwhile. If he goes to Houston instead, which a lot of experts are suggesting he should, there isn’t really a plan B. Boom or bust for the Mavs.
What's In A Name: Institutional Racism and The Washington Redskins
Team names can say a lot about the organisation that they represent. Having said that, they can just as easily mean nothing beyond a particularly arranged set of letters and an obsolete theme or idea. The All Blacks are so-named because they wear black jerseys (though not literally ‘all’ black anymore). The Miami Heat, well, it gets pretty toasty in Florida. The Highlanders and the Chiefs in New Zealand rugby respectfully pay tribute to local cultural legacies while, say, the Melbourne Storm or Canberra Raiders names are more just example of badass imagery meant as a way of establishing an identity of intimidation and strength.
The NFL’s Washington Redskins have a problem with their name. As a franchise with great history and a well-recognised brand, they now finally seem poised to become a driving force once more, both on and off the field, thanks to one Robert Griffin III. RG3’s jersey is the highest selling jersey in the league, and his play on the field took the ‘Skins on their best playoff run for a long time. He is now the face of the brand and all it represents. But what exactly does it represent? Is their name racist?
The Wildcard’s Spontaneous Ruminations on the NBA Finals
- Well, the best team won in the end. I don’t think many will argue that. Miami took the opportunities that came to them; while San Antonio will be rueing their owned missed chances. It was a great series, one for the ages, the most competitive since at least Boston and LA went seven games a few years back. But the Heat were the best team all season. They’ve earned this.
- When LeBron hit that jump shot to make it a two possession game with 29 seconds left, and effectively sealed the title, he also secured his legacy. With that shot, and the championship and MVP award that came with it, he is surely now untouchable. He was outstanding today, as he so often is in deciding games. Long gone are the choking taunts, and his talent is impenetrable. The jump shot was his closest thing to a weakness on attack once, but no longer. He can actually do it all: Flawless offense, brutal and effective defence (seriously limiting Tony Parker’s production), clutch plays and intelligent decisions. A few years back he would have passed up that jumper, but it was telling that he held it and ensured that the defining moment of the game was his alone. And he nailed it. As Magic Johnson said afterwards, the only question now is not of his deserving a mention with the immortals, but just where he’ll finish up amongst them.
- You have to feel for the Spurs though. They competed so bravely, especially today after the heartbreak of game 6...
The Ones That Got Away: Sport's Biggest Chokes
It is said that for every great comeback victory there is an equal or greater choke. And as great as Miami’s comeback was in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, San Antonio sure blew it. I don’t know that a team has ever been so close to winning an NBA title, only to let it slip away like that. The crowd was being cordoned off; the trophy was being readied for presentation; Commissioner David Stern was probably preparing his speech. But missed free throws, missed rebounds and curious substitutions came back to hurt the Spurs. This was not like any other defeat they will have suffered before. This was crushing. Devastating. You just don’t recover from a loss like that, not ever, least of all not in two days’ time for a Game 7. A game like that can haunts you with a lifetime of regret, of bitterness. In some ways, the narrow losses mean more than the victories. Like a tattoo you wished you never got, it both scars you and it defines you. The San Antonio Spurs are not alone.
Here are five of the biggest chokes of all time:
Journalists Unite! It's Tebow Time in New England
In the midst of the NBA finals and the Stanley Cup, in a week where we have seen bench clearing brawls in the MLB, the biggest story in American sports was the New England Patriots signing a backup quarterback who was cut by the Jets (The NFL equivalent of being turned down by Amanda Bynes). It doesn’t sound like anything more than a side note from preseason NFL training camps when put like that. But that quarterback happens to be a former Heismann Trophy winner and the most polarising American since G.W. Bush. He is Timothy Richard Tebow.
Why the media circus? Well, a number of reasons. Tim Tebow rose to fame as the starting QB for the Florida Gators in 2007, where his breakout sophomore season led to that Heisman Trophy for young Timmy, and the first of two BCS national championships. He was always an unorthodox quarterback, more capable as a runner than as a passer. His outspoken and devout Christian beliefs won him legions of fans and detractors both. His habitual on-field prayers, and especially the pose that accompanies them, became the national trend known now as ‘tebowing’. Then there was the ‘Tebow Rule’, which prohibits...
The Blueprint
Pro Sports' New Super Agent: Jay Z. Yes, THAT Jay Z
Occasionally, I find myself feeling worried about the encroaching commercialism in sports. Then a story such as this one comes along and suddenly it doesn’t seem so bad. Like when New York Yankees second baseman and perennial all-star Robinson Cano dumped revered uber-agent Scott Boras and signed instead with none other than Mr Shawn Carter: Jay Z himself.
This is a huge deal, with wide ranging effects for both men, and indeed the future of sports agency. Cano is not just some ballplayer. He’s the best hitter on the biggest team: a serious MVP candidate and one of the very best in his position. Signing him is a clear statement of intent for Jay Z and his ever expanding entertainment empire. It’s also great news for Yankees fans, as I’ll come to soon...
Here's Thinking Of You, Kidd
I’d like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to one of the great basketballers of his generation, Jason Kidd, who announced his retirement from the game last week. After 19 years in the NBA, we have seen the last clever steal, the last sneaky rebound, the last incisive assist from a man who specialised in these small accomplishments like no one else in his era. He’ll be inducted without question into the NBA Hall of Fame at the very first opportunity, which is no less than his contributions to the game deserve.
You see, in an age of individualist expression and superstar egos, Jason Kidd was always a team player before anything else. He has his share of issues off the court, not the least of which a messy divorce and an even messier music career, but on the court he was the most consistent point guard of his generation, Steve Nash notwithstanding. Only John Stockton has more career assists and steals. Kidd is third all time...
The Wildcard’s Guide to the NBA Playoffs
Conference Finals
Impartial conjecture and estimation as to the outcomes of the National Basketball Association’s initial round of postseason matchups.
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat (66-16) vs Indiana Pacers (49-32)
During the LeBron James era in Miami, every time that the Heat has gone 1-0 down in a playoff series, they have gone on to win in five games. They maintained this outstanding record of resilience in euthanizing a damaged Chicago Bulls unit, despite the best efforts of Nate Robinson, Carlos Boozer and especially Joakim Noah. As this unfolded Indiana were busy grinding Carmelo Anthony and his Knicks into submission. Chicago can be consoled by the knowledge that things will be better next year with a hopefully fit and healthy Derrick Rose. New York will lament missed opportunities.
Undoubtedly this will be a physical battle. Both teams thrive in tight, gritty matches, though there aren’t many who can challenge Miami enough for such a game to transpire. These Pacers can, however. They were the most efficient defensive team in the league this season. Guarding LeBron James will likely be...