The Formerly Great Rick Reilly

For anyone who reads this, I alpologize for my month long absence. Looking back at my last few posts before temporarily abandoning the site, I’m struck by two things.

First, I’d like to take back my earlier statement that LeBron did not deserve the MVP award. Sure, he may not be playing in the NBA Finals right now, but he really was a one man team in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, one-on-five never works, no matter how good the one is, meaning the Magic took the Cavs expected place in the finals, derailing the whole Kobe/LeBron puppet commercial series that Nike had going.

Secondly, I wrote that if the Dodgers could play .500 baseball while Manny Ramirez was suspended, they would be fine. They have exceeded .500 and I get the feeling they would win the NL West even if he missed the rest of the regular season. The Dodgers really are that good. If he comes back with a chip on his shoulder, this team has a good shot at getting to the World Series. Anyways, enough reflection, let’s get to some new stuff.

As a faithful reader of Deadspin, I get a fair amount of Rick Reilly criticism in my daily sports reading. The man who was once my favorite sports writer has fallen on hard times. His problems certainly aren’t financial (he signed a deal worth $17 million when he came to ESPN, which he described as “ridonkulous”, an odd word choice coming from a middle aged white man). No his problems are those of the creative kind, namely apparent writer’s block. He has been criticized in recent weeks for reusing old articles from his better days at Sports Illustrated. While this may be shoddy journalism (or maybe just plain laziness), I’m all in favor of it. His new writings are just north of terrible so if this is what it takes to get the good Rick Reilly back, so be it. What I don’t understand is how his writing can be so mediocre. It’s not like he’s Bill Simmons, who writes a column that approaches novella length each week (Simmons also has a book on the NBA coming out later this year, supposedly more than 700 pages, making it the War and Peace of sports book).

No, Reilly writes the old newspaper column way, limiting himself to around 800 words. Most good writers can do that in an afternoon and he only has to turn in one each week. Frankly, it sounds like easy money to me. However, he recently wrote an article pleading with God to allow the Denver Nuggets to beat the Lakers (didn’t happen). This article could have been written by any literate Nuggets fan, and, come to think of it, one of them may have done a better job. The biggest problem I have with this is the idea that Reilly thinks God cares about what happens to his basketball team. Also, he’s not writing for a local Denver paper, he’s writing for ESPN, the biggest sports website in the game. How many people care that he’s a fan of the Nuggets? 7? 8? I hope he continues to recycle old articles from his days at SI. It may be what makes him a relevant writer again.

Before I go, I’d like to make a few announcements. I’m going to write more frequently, but it will probably only be a few times a week. Visit the site regularly, because there are no set days for new articles. Also, I’m going to focus on basketball in most of my future writing, so look for a mock NBA Draft next week and something on Lamar Odom’s obsession with candy soon (I’ll write about it once ESPN stops mentioning it).

You stay classy San Diego.

Manny Suspended 50 Games

By now, most sports fans have heard that Manny Ramirez has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance.

Ramirez has claimed that the drug was prescribed for a personal health reason by a doctor. He has also claimed to be unaware that the drug was on the banned substances list.

However, it has been revealed that the drug he tested positive for was HCG, a women’s fertility drug, typically used by steroid users to restart their body’s natural testosterone production.

It seems likely that he was using HCG in conjunction with actual steroids, which means the legacy of another one of the best hitters of this era will be tainted.

The number of baseball players who have tested positive seems to be piling up. A list that had the names of 104 steroid users is down to 102 unknown players, with Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez having been revealed as users.

Unfortunately, there seems to be no end in sight. Major League Baseball needs to do something definitive quickly to prevent losing fans that are now wary of every homerun hit.

LeBron Did Not Deserve the MVP

LeBron Did Not Deserve the MVP LeBron James is an amazing athlete, clearly the most physically dominant in the NBA right now, but he did not deserve to win the MVP award this season. At just 24 years old, he has more than a decade left to dominate the game.

This year, the player most deserving of the award was not LeBron James. There were several players were more valuable to their teams, including Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat, Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets, and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic.

Wade, not James, led the NBA in scoring this season with 30.2 points per game. His team was the number five seed in the Eastern Conference. One season ago, with Wade injured for much of the season, the same team won just 15 games. That total tripled to 43 this year.

Paul was the NBA leader in assists per game, averaging 11 this year. His value to the Hornets was made especially evident during the postseason was especially evident, as the Denver Nuggets easily defeated the Hornets by double and triple teaming Paul. Rendering him ineffective allowed them to move on to the second round.

Billups, who few have mentioned as a worthy candidate, was the main reason the Denver Nuggets were the two seed in the Western Conference this season. He came in early in the season, traded from the Detroit Pistons in exchange for guard Allen Iverson. Billups gave a team lacking direction a true leader, allowing talented players like Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith to fully showcase their skills.

Howard was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, leading the league in rebounds, at 13.8 per game, and blocks, at 2.92 per game. He led the Orlando Magic to 59 wins, the fourth most in the NBA.

James will be the right man for the MVP award soon enough, but he did not deserve it this year.

Wikipedia of the Week – Marvin “Bad News” Barnes

Last week I completely forgot to post an interesting wikipedia, so coming off of an accidental bye week, I figured I should find someone really interesting.

The ABA was a league filled with colorful charcters but Marvin “Bad News” Barnes may have been the most fascinating of the bunch. As a basketball player he was dominant, winning ABA Rookie of the Year for the 1974-1975, while with the Spirits of St. Louis. When the ABA came back in 2000, one of the divisons was even named after him.

Off the court, he was notorious for getting in trouble with the law. Multiple arrests and drug usage had derailed his career by the time he was 28. He eventually cleaned up and now mentors kids, telling them not to make the same mistakes as him. Barnes has said of his past, “It took me a whole state. State police, DEA, everyone.”

One Year Anniversary of Buzz Bissinger’s Meltdown

Considering this is a sports blog, I can’t say I have the greatest respect for author Buzz Bissinger following his blowup on Costas Now one year ago. He seems to be behind the times, an angry old man pissed off about someone else doing what he does. Bob Costas is forced to say “Let him respond” every time Bissinger tries to interrupt Deadspin founder Will Leitch, who does a good job defending blogs.

For the most part, Bissinger spends the entire segment making generalizations about blogs (“glib, profane, quick”) and referring to rude comments made in response to articles posted to Deadspin. This logic is flawed because articles on newspaper websites are likely to be commented on in a similar manner. 

Sportswriters like Bissinger are not doing themselves any favors by railing against blogs, which are clearly a major part of sports media’s future. His quote: “The future in the hands of guys like you is really, really going to dumb us down to a degree we cannot recover from.”

One of the funnier parts of this whole thing may be the fact that Braylon Edwards is the other member of the roundtable considering the news he’s made in recent days (he sought modeling and acting advice from safety Will Demos during a game last season). Sadly he struggles to get a word in edgewise with Bissinger bickering with Leitch throughout the segment.

The full video is on Deadpsin.

The Future of the San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have been eliminated from the playoffs, marking their earliest postseason exit since the 1999-2000. Since then, they have won three NBA Championships (2003, 2005, and 2007). Considering they also won the title in 1998-1999, the lockout shortened season, the Spurs have four championships in the last decade, making them the closest thing the NBA has had to a dynasty since Jordan’s Bulls. However, the future of this franchise is very much in question.

They have great ownership and front office leadership but their core group of players is rapidly aging. Tim Duncan, the team’s unquestioned leader and 11-time All Star, is 33. He missed significant time this season due to injury and it seems that the wear and tear is beginning to catch up with him. Manu Ginobili, who has also been hampered by injuries the last few seasons, will turn 32 over the summer. The last two seasons have proved that the Spurs need a healthy Ginobili come playoff time. Both seasons, he has been out for the playoffs, and both times, his team and been eliminated early.

Tony Parker, the youngest member of the Big Three, is just 26 but it’s hard to envision him staying in San Antonio once Duncan and Ginobili are gone, especially since he is married to actress Eva Longoria. Her ties to Hollywood may drive the point guard and 2007 Finals MVP to a bigger market.

Coach Gregg Popovich has also stated that he will leave the Spurs once Tim Duncan is gone. Granted, Duncan still has a few years left in the tank, but with his injury problems, retirement may come sooner than fans expect. If Coach Pop really does follow Duncan to the exits, this team may be left without a direction and leader.

With the Lakers and the Cavs looking potentially dominant for the next several years, it’s likely that we have seen the last of this Spurs dynasty. If that is true, it was a terrific run. Many fans complained that the team played uninteresting basketball, but many purists credited San Antonio with bringing fundamentals back to the NBA.

If the Spurs management is wise, they will plan for their long-term future now because it does not appear this team will be together for more than the next few seasons.

A Reason to Envy the Florida Gators

Beyond their terrific athletic department, Florida consistently ranks among the top colleges in America for partying and female attractiveness. Seems fitting then that Erin Andrews and Layla Kiffin (the really hot wife of Tennessee Vols football coach Lane Kiffin) were in the same sorority at UF, Zeta Tau Alpha. Lucky Gators. And yes, I posted this news simply as an excuse to put up pictures.

Great Draft Moment

The look on Darrius Heyward-Bey’s face (at 6:42 in the clip) is priceless when he finds out that he has been drafted by the Raiders. Here’s a guy that’s been taken about 20 spots too soon, meaning he will make millions more, and yet he doesn’t look the least bit excited. Can’t say I blame him, I can’t imagine wanting to play for the Raiders and senile owner Al Davis.

Draft Thoughts

With the NFL Draft nearly over, here are my thoughts on some of the happenings this weekend.

Clearly, the strangest first round pick was the Raiders choice of wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey. Heyward-Bey has the skill of a first rounder, but taking him at number seven overall seems like a reach. Al Davis covets speed in his players above all else, but that does not justify this move, especially with Michael Crabtree still on the board. 

I’m not sure what to think of Mark Sanchez. Scouts loved him, but I still don’t know if he will be a good NFL quarterback. And the fact that he’s going to New York may make things worse. Jets fans expect a lot and the media will scrutinize him ad nauseam. Both he and number one choice Matthew Stafford will struggle early. Stafford will also be under a lot of scrutiny as well, considering he signed a $78 million contract and he’s going to a team that didn’t win a game last season.

Some of the best first round picks: Aaron Curry to the Seahawks (#4 overall), Michael Crabtree to the 49ers (#10), Michael Oher to the Ravens (#23), and Donald Brown to the Colts (#27)

It will be interesting to see how Pat White does in Miami. The Dolphins took the former West Virginia quarterback early in the second round. Miami is the perfect place for him considering they run the wildcat offense. White and running back Ronnie Brown form the perfect wildcat tandem and will give opposing defensive coordinators headaches. 

James Laurinaitis and LeSean McCoy were both possible first-rounders who fell into the second round. Each can come in and contribute to their teams, the Rams and the Eagles, right away. Everette Brown, who was drafted by the Panthers, also falls into this group. He looked like a lock for the middle of the first round but he fell all the way to pick number 43. There are numerous second and third round picks that will come in and contribute right away.

Top 5 Late Round Steals in NFL Draft History

The NFL Draft is tomorrow, giving football fans and their teams an opportunity for a fresh start. I know I’m excited because it means viewers get two days of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay debating over every little thing. It’s probably a good thing ESPN has put them in two different locations or a fight may have broken out. And Erin Andrews has been added to the coverage, which can’t be a bad thing.

For teams that had bad seasons, it’s a chance to draft some new leaders that can make a team relevant again. And for the more successful franchises, it’s a chance to reload and continue winning. Last week I compiled a list of the five biggest busts, so today I present the five best late round steals. Drafting players like these is what seperates the competent GMs from the great ones. Hopefully your team will find a late round gem this weekend. Let’s get to the list: 

1. Tom Brady

Like when I wrote about the biggest busts last week, the Number One spot is an easy choice. Brady is the polar opposite of biggest draft bust Ryan Leaf in a number of ways. Leaf was a first round pick, Brady a sixth. Leaf was heralded coming out of college, Brady was not. Leaf never made the playoffs with the Chargers, Brady won three Super Bowls with the Patriots. Brady owns a number of postseason records, including most consecutive postseason wins and most completions in a Super Bowl. Pretty good value with the 199^th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft.

 

2. Joe Montana

Montana was drafted in the third round of the 1979 draft, which isn’t all that late, especially when compared to Brady. However, no other third round pick has ever led his team to 4 Super Bowl wins. Montana was a three-time Super Bowl MVP still remembered for his great performances in big games. Despite a successful career at Notre Dame, he received low grades from NFL scouts coming out of college. The San Francisco 49ers took him with the 82^nd pick. The highest graded quarterback in 1979? That was Jack Thompson, who lasted just 5 years in the NFL.

 

3. Terrell Davis

Davis, like Brady, was a sixth-round pick. He was taken at number 196 overall by the Denver Broncos in the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis spent his whole career with Denver, becoming their all-time leading rusher with 7,607 yards. During his rookie season, he became the lowest drafted player ever to rush for 1,000 yards. He won two Super Bowls, one Super Bowl MVP, an NFL MVP, two Offensive Player of the Year awards and was a member of the 1990s All-Decade Team.

 

4. Deacon Jones

His name may not be recognizable to younger fans, but Jones is a Hall of Fame defensive end. He was drafted in the 14^th round of the 1961 Draft with the 186^th pick, meaning he came before Davis or Brady did in their respective drafts. He has been called the “greatest defensive end of the modern era” after a career in which he totaled 226.5 sacks (or 173.5 according to Pro Football Weekly). There is no exact count because sacks were not counted as a statistic until Jones came along. He won two Defensive Player of the Year awards, made eight Pro Bowls, and was a member of the NFL’s 75^th Anniversary All-Time Team.

 

5. Zach Thomas

Thomas was taken by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1996 Draft with the 154^th pick. Coming out of Texas Tech, he was considered undersized at 5’11” so his draft-stock fell despite the fact that he was a consensus All-American. He spent 12 seasons with the Dolphins, going to seven Pro Bowls during that span. Thomas has amassed a total of 1,733 tackles in his career, more than any linebacker currently in the Hall of Fame.