Posted on June 24th, 2014
By DERON SNYDER
Every 48 months, certain events produce a fever-like rise in interest among the general populace.
Olympiads create passionate enthusiasts of figure skating, swimming and track & field. Presidential elections lead to exponential increases in the number of people enthralled by politics. Leap years send people scurrying for primers on numerology and the Gregorian calendar.
And the World Cup generates extraordinary affection for soccer.
For four weeks (even with the inevitable dip when the United States is eliminated), headers, corner kicks and equalizers are mentioned in a high percentage of sports conversations. Folks who don’t know the difference between yellow cards and green cards become temporary soccer buffs every four years, like clockwork.
I am one. And I am not ashamed.
Diehard fans know the biggest international stars and the most-promising domestic players. They follow the English Premier League, the Champions League and Major League Soccer. They can hold in-depth discussion on different styles of play and tactical strategies, including the pros and cons of using solo attackers versus a duo.
That’s not the case for Johnny-come-latelies and Mary-just-got-heres. We embrace “the beautiful game” momentarily and then proceed with our soccer-free lives until the next World Cup rolls around.
But even with that lack of background and knowledge, our emotional deposits can match any true believer.
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Posted on June 19th, 2014
By DERON SNYDER
One of my best memories in more than 25 years as a journalist has nothing to do with the Super Bowls, World Series or NCAA tournaments that I’ve been privileged to cover.
It doesn’t involve the Rose, Sugar, Orange or Fiesta bowls. It isn’t the Kentucky Derby, NBA All-Star Game or PGA events with Tiger Woods. It didn’t take place at Wrigley Field, Fenway Park or Yankee Stadium.
All of those were tremendous, unforgettable experiences. But another recollection that stands out is going to Tony Gwynn’s house.
I was in San Diego on assignment for USA Today Baseball Weekly in the mid-90s. Gwynn wasn’t the subject of my story but an incredible opportunity presented itself via a friend, veteran Southern Cal journalist Brad Turner, who was at the ballpark. A San Diego State alum like Gwynn, Turner was buddies with the eight-time batting champion.
He asked if I was interested in accompanying him to Gwynn’s house that evening. Duh, of course! He got Gwynn’s OK and I was there several hours later. I met Gwynn’s lovely wife, Alicia, marveled at his impressive memorabilia collection and engaged in a leisurely conversation with one of baseball’s greatest hitters ever. It made for a nice story.
I can’t remember if he dipped tobacco that evening.
Now that he’s dead from oral cancer at 54, I wish baseball had banned the practice during his 20-year Hall of Fame career.
Baseball took small steps but came up short when it signed its current labor agreement with the players’ union in 2011. The measures were largely cosmetic, mandating that smokeless tobacco be kept out of view from fans and TV cameras. That’s why we no longer see those easy-to-distinguish cans in back pockets.
But when it came to banning the product altogether – which has been the case in the minor leagues since 1993 – the union objected. Instead, it agreed to mandatory oral exams during spring training, as well as an extensive education campaign and cessation support system.
I can imagine how some of those exams go:
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Posted on June 17th, 2014
R.C. Buford
By DERON SNYDER
In the end, R.C. Buford was way better than Pat Riley. Their matchup was more lopsided than the last three games in the NBA Finals.
Riley would win soundly in a popularity contest. Many NBA fans don’t know what Buford does for a living and most couldn’t identify him in a lineup.
He didn’t play for the legendary Adolph Rupp at Kentucky or come off the bench (and guard Jerry West in practice) for the Los Angeles Lakers. He didn’t coach the “Showtime” Lakers to four NBA titles or lead the New York Knicks to their first Finals’ in two decades.
And he certainly didn’t build the Miami Heat into a championship team, first by drafting Dwyane Wade and trading for Shaquille O’Neal, later by luring LeBron James and Chris Bosh to South Beach to join Wade.
While Riley was becoming a fashion icon and celebrity coach-turned-executive, Buford was working his way up the San Antonio Spurs organization. He went from assistant coach to head scout to director of scouting to vice president/assistant GM before being elevated to general manager in July 2002.
His handiwork was on display again Sunday night, as the Spurs routed Miami for the third consecutive game and won the club’s fifth NBA title. San Antonio outscored Miami 322-265 in the series, exposing the Heat as a surprisingly thin, limited and poorly-constructed team.
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Posted on June 12th, 2014
Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive
By DERON SNYDER
The NCAA that we’ve come to know and despise is in critical condition with a prognosis that suggests the end is near.
The equivalent of flesh-eating bacteria are close to devouring the body from within. Outside, it is suffering injury from a series of blows that ultimately could be fatal.
External attacks include the trial in Ed O’Bannon’s class-action antitrust lawsuit, which enters day four Thursday in Oakland. Just as those proceeding got underway, the NCAA announced a settlement to pay $20 million to current and former college athletes who sued in a lower-profile case involving their likenesses in video games.
Organizations such as the National College Players Association also pose great harm. The NCPA has led a series of reforms to improve student-athletes’ rights and benefits since 2001, but the biggest victory yet could be on the horizon.
Northwestern is appealing a National Labor Relations Board regional ruling that the school’s scholarship players have the right to unionize; the full NLRB will hear the appeal later this year.
Even if the full board overturns the decision – or even if a majority of the team voted not to unionize when secret ballots were cast in April – damage has been done and the issue will continue to simmer on back burners.
But the greatest threat to the NCAA as we know it could come from its own members.
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Posted on June 10th, 2014
By DERON SNYDER
Four months into his new job, commissioner Adam Silver has kept his cool a lot better than AT&T Center in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Neither Donald Sterling nor faulty a circuit breaker has cramped Silver’s style.
His first Finals news conference, prior to Game 2, was much like his first major press conference six weeks earlier. Both can serve as case studies in crisis management, handling a disgraced Los Angeles Clippers owner and fallout from San Antonio’s Game 1 victory in oppressive conditions.
The issues are no way similar in long-term impact and consequences. Donald Sterling is more like a massive hurricane compared to the solitary lightning bolt of “Heat-gate.” But they represent the biggest flashes in Silver’s brief stint and isn’t looking for new candidates anytime soon.
LeBron James’ severe cramps in the opener hijacked the Finals’ storyline for three days. “I’m glad that this isn’t single elimination,” Silver said.
“… I would say that [the lack of AC] is certainly not one of my prouder moments in my short tenure as commissioner so far, but it’s the nature of this game. There always are going to be human and mechanical errors and it’s unfortunate.”
However, all of the crazy talk about a Spurs’ conspiracy and James being a wimp didn’t topple the Clippers from atop Silver’s to-do list. The first two questions dealt with the team’s pending sale to Steve Balmer and pending litigation by Sterling. Silver responded to 22 queries overall and 14 involved the Clippers.
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Posted on June 5th, 2014
By DERON SNYDER
America loves an underdog, right?
Ha! Not in the Miami Heat’s case.
That’s right, Vegas has established the Spurs as slight betting favorites in the NBA Finals, which begin Thursday in San Antonio. But according to an ESPN poll, the entire nation outside of Florida is rooting against LeBron James & Co.
No real surprise in that finding. But I have never fully understood the copious amounts of Heat-hate or the considerable depth of those passions. They have always struck me as disproportionate reactions to whatever offense Miami committed.
I get it if you don’t love the Heat.
But loathe the Heat? Surely that’s undeserved.
We’re not talking about the Boston Celtics, New York Yankees or Dallas Cowboys, flagship franchises that earned their disfavor over several decades of prominence and dominance. The Heat is just 26 years old and didn’t reach its first Finals until 2006. Miami returned to the field in the next four seasons, making three first-round exits and missing the playoffs altogether in 2008.
Dwayne Wade was a good guy back then, catapulting into our consciousness as the unheralded star who led Marquette to the 2003 Final Four. Miami drafted him fifth overall – behind James, Darko Milicic, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh (sorry for the painful reminder, Detroit fans) – and he quickly became one of the league’s most popular players. He had the NBA’s best-selling jersey for a couple of seasons while teaming with Shaquille O’Neal for a title in 2006.
But now Wade is Robin to a Batman who’s viewed as equal parts super villain and superhero.
James is a conundrum, much like the Heat. They are arguably the league’s most disliked player and team, respectively. Judging by polls, journalists, social media, friends & family and assorted anecdotes, nothing but enmity exists for James and Miami outside of the Sunshine State.
Yet, he just topped the NBA’s most-popular jersey list for the sixth time. And the Heat just repeated as No. 1 in best-selling team merchandise.
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Posted on June 3rd, 2014
Former NBA ref Tim Donaghy
By DERON SNYDER
The term “suspension of disbelief” usually refers to works of fiction. We’re expected to shelve any concerns about the plausibility of novels, movies and plays, in order to engage with the art form and enjoy the experience.
Pro wrestling is a perfect example. Fans – at least the sane ones – accept the fact that it’s not real.
But when the subject is major sports, we must suspend a different sort of disbelief.
We thwart suggestions that proceedings aren’t on the up-and-up. We reject the notion that league officials manipulate outcomes for the sake of bigger markets and better ratings. We discount the idea that referees and umpires bend contests one way or the other for personal financial gain.
At least that’s how most of us like to consider the multibillion-dollar sports industry.
Everyone else – especially the conspiracy theorist – believes we’re incredibly naïve.
We shudder at the thought that skeptics might be right and a recent New York Times investigation makes us wonder. Thankfully, the sport in question is “only” soccer, plagued by corruption for years and not nearly as popular in the U.S. as football, baseball and basketball.
But the NYT’s detailed look at match fixing prior to the last World Cup shows how easily professional gamblers can dictate what happens if they get their hooks in people.
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Posted on May 29th, 2014
By DERON SNYDER
You couldn’t find many NBA coaches or situations less inspiring than Randy Wittman and the Wizards a year ago. They were evenly matched – inept coach and sad-sack team – a perfect combo deal to maintain the franchise’s status as national punch line.
Nothing about Wittman’s background, or the Wizards’ outlook under him, was the slightest bit promising.
His teams in Minnesota and Cleveland never finished within a whiff of .500. Even after the Wizards’ exciting playoff run this season, no one has coached as many NBA games (520) and produced a worse a record (.367 winning percentage).
Washington Bullets legend Wes Unseld is second on that list with a .369 percentage in 547 games.
Strangely, realizing that Big Wes had better results makes Wittman’s futility seem far worse.
But Wittman wasn’t relieved of his duties before this season and owner Ted Leonsis isn’t the type to do it now. Not after a 44-38 campaign that included a postseason berth, a series victory against Chicago and a strong challenge against Indianapolis. According to a report by Yahoo Sports, the Wizards are about to give Wittman a three-year extension.
You can say he earned it, much like he earned John Wall’s trust and respect. Wall could’ve soured on him after Wittman replaced Flip Saunders and went 18-31 in 2011-12 and 29-53 the next season. Few would’ve complained if Leonsis had cleaned house and installed a regime untainted by its link to the Knucklehead Era (Gilbert Arenas, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee, etc.).
Wittman isn’t the most exciting or alluring coach. He isn’t flashy or snazzy. But he eliminated the nonsense and instilled a gritty toughness, forging a team mindset that actually takes pride in defense.
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Posted on May 27th, 2014
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Halfback Ray Rice could use a lesson from Jay Z.
And the Baltimore Ravens could use tutoring from Judy Smith, the real-life Olivia Pope of “Scandal” fame.
With more of the judgment and restraint demonstrated by the rapper earlier this month, Rice could’ve avoided arrest in February for allegedly assaulting his then-fiancee. With more sage counsel and advice from a seasoned image manager, the Ravens could’ve avoided Friday’s lame brained “press conference.”
Having Rice speak for six minutes and take no questions made the entire process a farce. Putting his now-wife, Janay Rice, on the dais to portray a sense of unity, created a portrait of dysfunction instead. And in electing to apologize to the Ravens’ owner, general manger, coach, fans, vendors, waterboys, security guards and everyone who ever set foot in Baltimore EXCEPT Janay, Rice painted himself as a Grade-A butthole.
Whoever approved the travesty made matters worse for Rice, who was trampled in the court of public opinion. Team officials didn’t fare any better, coming off as nincompoops while trying to win sympathy for Rice in cyberspace.
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Posted on May 22nd, 2014
By DERON SNYDER
It’s good to be the king.
Or an NFL owner.
Your subjects toil long and hard to support your empire, under the threat of harsh discipline if they break the rules. Even the appearance of impropriety can bring ramifications. The presumption of innocence is applied at your whim and sparingly.
But what happens when you’re the king and you’re arrested for intoxicated driving and four felony counts of narcotics possession?
If you’re Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, nothing happens. As least not for two months and counting.
Since being pulled over on March 16, Irsay has conducted business as usual (aside from checking into an undisclosed rehab facility for an undisclosed stay, during which he might or might not have completed his treatment).
He took an indefinite leave of absence and skipped the owners’ meeting in Orlando a couple of weeks after his arrest. But there he was at in the Colts’ war room during the draft, heavily involved as always. There he was at the owners’ meeting in Atlanta this week, leading Indy’s bid for the 2018 Super Bowl. There he was in a media cluster, back in the middle of things after never leaving the loop.
“I’ve been clued into everything that’s been going on the last few months,” Irsay told reporters. “It’s good to be at this meeting and really try and focus on the Super Bowl bid.”
He shouldn’t have been at the meeting or in the war room. He shouldn’t have been involved in any team functions or league business. Commissioner Roger Goodell hasn’t held Irsay to the same standard applied to players, even though the standard for owners is supposed to be higher.
Read more…
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