Posted on February 28th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
“When you come at the king, you best not miss.” – Omar from “The Wire”
Shots at LeBron James have been plentiful during his fabled 15-year career. But they haven’t stopped him or even slowed him.
The criticism apparently just made him bigger, stronger and better. Incredibly, at the ripe age of 33, he’s as dominant as his 28-year-old self. He’s at the height of his powers – on and off the court – playing the best basketball of his life and simultaneously making the greatest impact.
February was quite the month as James made yet more history. He closed it out by becoming the first player in NBA history with more than 30,000 points, 8,000 rebounds and 8,000 assists. No one besides him ever reached 30K-7K-7K either. James averaged a triple-double in February (27-10-10), a first for him in a calendar month.
“I’m just playing some good ball, and the most consistent thing for me right now is I’m available out there on the floor for my teammates,” he told reporters Tuesday after notching 31 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists in Cleveland’s victory against Brooklyn. “They give me the room to go out and do what I need to do to help them as much as I can.”
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Posted on February 26th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
College sports’ biggest scandal shouldn’t be the FBI’s current basketball probe.
It should revolve around the NCAA rulebook, a weapon of mass of exploitation.
But don’t take my word for it. Consider Michigan hoops coach John Beilein’s comment after Saturday’s victory at Maryland, speaking about the need to educate players and their parents.
“When someone’s offering them something,” he told reporters, “whether it’s big or whether it’s small, they’ve got to say ‘No,’ to [even] a Coca-Cola if an agent’s talking to them.”
The NCAA is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Top schools exceed $100 million in revenue. Coaches, athletic directors, and agents can enjoy seven-figure incomes. Other administrators and executives can pull salaries in the high six-figures.
But give recruits a Coke and a smile?
A-ha! That’s an impermissible benefit!
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Posted on February 23rd, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published on 106.7 The Fan)
Washington resumed right where it left off before the All-Star Game break. The Wizards won Thursday for eighth time in 10 games since John Wall was sideline with a knee injury, spoiling the home debut for the revamped Cleveland Cavaliers.
Of course the Wizards aren’t a better team with Wall in street clothes. That’s a ridiculous notion. But the team definitely discovered something about itself in his absence.
They’ll have to maintain the improved level of play over the next several weeks because their schedule is unrelenting. Thursday’s game began a stretch in which 15 of 17 opponents currently are playoff teams. The gauntlet includes the Spurs (twice), Warriors, Celtics, Raptors and Timberwolves.
“The rest of the year is going to be a challenge for us,” guard Bradley Beal told reporters after he notched team-highs in points (18) and assists (9) in the 110-103 victory. “But we did a great job starting out.”
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Posted on February 22nd, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
According to a familiar school of thought, winning is everything and the only thing. You know, play to win; that’s the name of the game.
When fans spend part of their limited disposable income on tickets, the expectation is that both teams will play hard. The competition presumably will be earnest and honest, with each squad doing its best to come away with a victory.
That’s the case for players on the field, driven by pride if nothing else.
But that’s not necessarily true for executives in the front office.
Take, for instance, the Philadelphia 76ers from 2013-16. No one in uniform was intent on going 47-199 over that stretch. Getting beat night after night is no fun, even though direct deposits remain unaffected.
The players were trying, but then-GM Sam Hinkie was tanking.
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Posted on February 20th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Did you hear about the latest incident of racist expression wrapped in innocuous words?
It happened Saturday night in Chicago, where four fans thought they were clever in showering Washington forward Devante Smith-Pelly with an otherwise non-offensive chant.
“Basketball, basketball, basketball!”
That would be strange even if Smith-Pelly played for the Wizards instead of the Capitals. But aimed at a black hockey player, the taunt reeked of bigotry and prejudice, which seem to be making a comeback in public expressions at every level.
Last month during basketball games at North Arkansas College, fans reportedly made monkey noises while members of the visiting men’s and women’s teams – made up of predominantly black players – were on the free throw line. One member of the crowd mimicked crow caws, likely a reference to the South’s Jim Crow laws and definitely a derogatory phrase mentioned in the classic novel “Moby Dick.”
Earlier this month during a high school basketball game in Cincinnati, students chanted racial terms at an African-American player and a multiracial player. The former, headed to an Ivy League college in the fall, endured chants like “He can’t read!”; “He smokes crack!”; and “He’s on welfare!” The latter, whose mother is Asian, was subjected to shouts of “P.F. Chang!”; “Open your eyes!”; “A-sian!”; and “USA!”
I suppose some folks find it funny.
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Posted on February 15th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Putting aside promotions sponsored by the Department of Defense this decade – the jet flyovers, uniformed color guards, unfurled field-length flags and other armed forces’ tie-ins – the NFL has commingled with military terminology for a long time.
Deep passes are bombs. Defenses blitz the quarterback. Offenses use ground attacks to set up air attacks. The game sometimes (but always ill-advisedly) is referred to as war.
When teams “go to battle,” trust is essential. Players are counted on to show up when they’re supposed to and do what they’re supposed to. Unreliable teammates quickly fall out of favor. Steady and dependable teammates earn one of the highest compliments:
They’re the type of guy you want in your foxhole.
Washington players must wonder: Is Su’a Cravens one of those guys?
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Posted on February 13th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Cleveland might not win the O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy this season.
But the Cavaliers GM might need a spot for the NBA Executive of the Year Trophy.
In one fell swoop last week, Koby Altman transformed his bickering, lethargic and unathletic team into a jubilant, robust collection of multiskilled players who can push the pace, create their own shots and add defense to the mix.
Altman’s trade-deadline maneuvers – acquiring four players from three teams – were stunning on paper and looked better on hardwood in the revamped Cavs’ first game. Cleveland routed Boston in a nationally-televised matchup of Eastern Conference heavyweights.
The Cavs not only spoiled the mood on Paul Pierce Day, they sent a strong message to other teams: We’re back.
Never mind that LeBron James stills plays for Cleveland and at age 33 remains the game’s top player. Never mind that the Cavs entered Sunday’s contest as the East’s No. 3 seed. Never mind that the last three NBA Finals have featured Cleveland and James has played in the last seven.
Cleveland, as constructed prior to Altman’s handiwork, was a dead team walking, exhibiting little life, less energy and no hope.
“We were marching a slow death,” Altman told reporters Thursday. “We didn’t want to be a part of that.”
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Posted on February 9th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published on 106.7 The Fan)
I want Washington to slap another franchise tag on Kirk Cousins.
Because the franchise isn’t quite big enough as a laughingstock and trying to recoup value on this fiasco provides room to grow.
Because Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen don’t yet look as foolish as possible, despite what appears to be their best efforts.
Because attempting to trade Cousins after using two franchise tags on him and acquiring Alex Smith would prove how much they don’t get it.
Because we’d get a peek into their parallel universe, where management views itself as competent but all we see is cluelessness.
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Posted on February 8th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Keep it simple, yes.
But don’t be stupid.
You want a reason for the Wizards’ five-game winning streak without point guard John Wall. You want an explanation for Washington averaging 32 assists per game during the streak, eight more than its season average.
You want an answer for the squad’s dramatic rise in productivity; only one game during the run didn’t feature at least five Wizards with double-figures scoring.
I understand. But a crazy notion has bubbled underneath the surface and it must be stomped down before it grows stronger.
No, no – to the umpteenth degree – no. Wall’s absence is not a good thing.
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Posted on February 6th, 2018
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
The 2017 season was a rough one for the NFL, full of political potshots, lower TV ratings, higher fan apathy, questionable replay rulings and controversial concussion protocols.
The league needed a great Super Bowl to drown its sorrow, at least for one night, and Philadelphia and New England delivered (unless you’re an aficionado of stout defenses).
That’s not to suggest the NFL’s troubles magically disappeared in the Eagles’ 41-33 upset over the Patriots.
President Trump was at it again, releasing a pre-game message about our freedom “as we proudly stand for the National Anthem.” Protesters blocked a light-rail line to the stadium. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released Friday concluded that the league’s core audience has suffered a 9% decrease in interest since 2014.
There was no escape from familiar on-the-field woes either.
New England wideout Brandin Cooks absorbed a wicked-hard helmet-to-helmet hit early in the second quarter and didn’t return. He was diagnosed with “a head injury,” presumably a kinder-gentler euphemism for concussions. (Maybe the NFL will follow hockey’s lead and describe all future injuries as head, lower body or upper body).
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