By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Surely, the finale is approaching and the credits are about to roll as “Bryce Harper’s Unfortunate Offseason” fades to black.
Expected to be a blockbuster adventure, it has been a dud of a horror flick, with Harper and agent Scott Boras as the victims and the market playing the killer.
The latest slashing was delivered Tuesday by the Colorado Rockies, who signed their All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado to an eight-year contract that averages $32.5 million per year, a position-player record. Harper and Boras had barely recovered from the wounds San Diego inflicted by signing Manny Machado for $300 million, the richest free-agent contract in major sports history.
You might recall that Harper turned down $300 million from the Nationals. That was supposed to be his floor; other teams would erect the walls and ceiling. Boras had talked up Harper’s free agency for years, amid suggestions that the slugger could become baseball’s first $400 million player.
Three spring trainings ago, Harper said “don’t sell me short” when asked about a potential $400 million deal.
It’s safe to say he’ll come up short, not even close enough to require a measurement.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
A
shoe dropped last week, after another shoe – one worn by Duke superstar Zion
Williamson – exploded in a nationally televised game with former President
Barack Obama sitting courtside.
The
equipment malfunction sent chills through the basketball world, which breathed
again when Williamson’s injury was deemed a mild knee sprain. But the incident reignited
debate on NCAA shamateurism and the NBA draft’s age requirement. Once again, reasonable
folks wondered why elite prospects aren’t eligible to be drafted right away,
instead of one year after high school.
Last
Thursday, less than 24 hours after Williamson went down, USA Today reported
that the NBA had submitted a request to the NBA Players Association to drop the
minimum draft age to 18 and effectively end the “one-and-done” era. The timing
might not have been coincidental, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver hinted last
summer that such a move might occur.
It
wasn’t too long ago that Silver favored a change in the opposite direction,
raising the minimum age from 19 to 20.
I’m
thrilled that he’s come to his senses, though not everyone is on board.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
For
those who still play and still watch – for those who remain in love with the sport,
CTE worries and all – this is a fantastic time to revel in professional football.
While
the NFL remains unquestioned as the national champion of sports and TV broadcasts,
a pair of fledgling operations have emerged. Like remora attached to a whale, the
Alliance of American Football and the XFL hope to feed off the established
league’s excess of success.
The
XFL’s yet-to-be-named Washington franchise will announce its coach and general
manager on Thursday. Pep Hamilton, who played and coached at Howard University
and has extensive NCAA and NFL experience, is reportedly the dual-role choice.
Along
with former Oklahoma Sooners coach Bob Stoops, who earlier this month was introduced
as coach/GM of the XFL’s Dallas franchise, Hamilton would be league owner Vince
McMahon’s second impressive hire.
Meanwhile,
the AAF is enjoying its head start since launching two weeks ago, a year ahead
of the reincarnated XFL’s anticipated 2020 kickoff. Familiar names such as Steve
Spurrier, Mike Singletary, and Mike Martz roam the sidelines as head coaches. But
the AAF’s biggest early impact might’ve been delivered by someone with the
least name recognition: Tom Dundon.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Like his counterpart in the NFL, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred is tasked
with taking teams’ obvious actions and pretending that something else is going
on.
Whereas Roger Goodell insists that Colin Kaepernick isn’t being blackballed
– despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary – Manfred contends that multiple
teams aren’t tanking – despite a bevy of unsigned free agents for the second
consecutive offseason.
“This
narrative that our teams aren’t trying is just not supported by the facts,”
Manfred told reporters Sunday during a news conference. “Our teams are trying.
Every single one of them wants to win. It may look a little different to
outsiders because the game has changed, [and] the way that people think about
the game, the way people think about putting a winning team together, has
changed. But that doesn’t mean they’re not trying.”
I
don’t doubt that every single team wants to win.
It’s
just far from being the No. 1 priority for most of them, especially in the
short-term.
If
winning occurs at some point, after a few years of low-priced players and barrel-scraping
payrolls, great. If not, oh well: The bottom line will remain plumb and juicy from
tens of millions in revenue-sharing dollars.
That’s
the type of “winning” that most teams prefer, regardless of win-loss records.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Sometimes
I fear we’ve permanently lost the ability to appreciate nuance, understand
relativity, and seek a middle ground. There’s little room for subtlety when
everyone is outraged and screams hot takes.
Moderation
is drowned and reasonability is strangled, leaving two camps at polar opposites
on the spectrum of extremism. Raw emotion and irrational impulses take
precedence, pushing aside sound logic and clear thinking.
Take,
for instance, the Cleveland Browns signing of halfback Kareem Hunt and the
subsequent uproar. Allow me to sum up the reaction: “Hunt physically abused a
woman! He shouldn’t be allowed to play! The Browns and the NFL don’t care about
domestic violence!”
At
the risk of being portrayed as someone who condones violence against woman, I
believe the Browns made a sound decision. I’m also on a tiny island, judging by
the predictable wave of blistering headlines.
“NFL
proves it has learned absolutely nothing.”
“Signing
Hunt shows where Cleveland’s priorities lie.”
“Hunt
to Browns shows hitting women is pardonable.”
You
get the gist. Let’s start with that last one, because it’s the most vexing and
most puzzling to me regarding Hunt’s offense and punishment.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
The
NFL was riding high entering Super Bowl 53, coming off an exciting regular
season and scintillating games in the conference championships. Scoring was up,
interest was revived, and complaints were down – not counting an egregious
missed call that renewed debate on instant replay.
Life
was good for commissioner Roger Goodell and his 32 bosses. Sunday’s matchup
featured the old, faithful New England Patriots, versus the new, exhilarating Los
Angeles Rams. One coach-quarterback combo is headed to the Hall of Fame, and the
other has been anointed football’s next great thing.
Then
the game was played.
Calling
it a letdown is too kind, too gentle.
The
teams took our anticipation and spiked it, like an offensive lineman who gets
overly excited when handed the ball after a touchdown. They took our expectancy and crushed it, like a
gunner slamming a punt returner who should’ve signaled for a fair catch They
took our longing for a fantastic finale and served up one of the dullest,
most-boring Super Bowls in recent memory.
Only
fans of the Patriots and New Orleans Saints could enjoy the 13-3 snoozer that
resulted in yet another celebration for Bill Belichick and Tom Brady.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
It
has been said that “close” only counts in horseshoes and grenades. But –
surprise, surprise – Bruce Allen thinks the term also applies to Washington’s
NFL team.
“We’ve
been in the middle of the pack the last three seasons,” the team president told
reporters Tuesday. “It means you’re close. It means you’re close to being
better.”
One
of my dear aunts was a nurse and she once explained an important distinction
regarding health. I was under the weather for a while and she asked how I felt.
“Better,” I said. She replied, “‘Better’ doesn’t mean you’re well.’”
In
Allen’s defense, Washington IS close in several ways.
It’s
one of 32 NFL franchises. It uses the same football and equipment that opponents
use. It makes a boatload of money.
Such
mistakes are part of football as two teams compete. There’s always a third team
on the field as well, its members competing against themselves in man’s never-ending
(and futile) quest for perfection.
When
Chicago’s Cody Parker missed a game-winning kick against Philadelphia two weeks
ago, he was crestfallen. He remained bent over with hands on knees for several
seconds before lineman Bobby Massie straightened him up, patted him on the
helmet and gave him a hug.
I’m
not sure which official – likely side judge Gary Cavaletto or line judge Rusty
Baynes – blew the controversial call in Sunday’s NFC championship game. But
whoever it was could use a hug, too.
Either
Cavaletto or Baynes were in the vicinity with primary responsibility to render
judgment when New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw an incomplete pass to
wide receiver Tommylee Lewis with 1:45 remaining in regulation. I imagine the culprit felt sick after seeing a
replay of Nickell Robey-Coleman’s blatant pass interference, a non-call that
arguably prevented the Saints from advancing to the Super Bowl.
Had
the obvious penalty been flagged, New Orleans could’ve drained the clock and
lined up for a game-winning, chip-shot field goal. Instead, the Los Angeles
Rams regained possession with 1:41 remaining and a timeout. They proceeded to tie
the score on Greg Zuerlein’s 48-yard field goal and win in overtime on his 57-yarder.
Afterward,
much of the conversation focused on the official(s) who failed to make a
no-brainer call. “I hope no other team has to lose a game the way we lost that one
today,” Saints coach Sean Payton said.
By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Every
now and then, the tables are reversed, the script is flipped, and an athlete
has leverage on the system.
We
see it only rarely because the system is designed to win by default. Star athletes
are guaranteed one major choice – which college they’ll attend. After that, a
decade can pass before stars are positioned for another major lifestyle decision,
free agency.
What
happens between those mile markers is typically out of a player’s control. He
has no say in which team drafts him, and no say if he’s traded away. He’s conditioned
to cash his checks and keep the system
moving.
But
every once in a while, a player takes command of his pro career from the outset.
Which brings us to Kyler Murray, who currently is showing the Oakland A’s that
he’s in charge of his destiny and they’re spectators like the rest of us.
The
Heisman Trophy-winner – and No. 9 pick in last year’s MLB draft – has thrown
his name in the NFL draft, where he could be a first-rounder. Oakland already
has paid him a $4.66 million signing bonus that he must return if he forsakes
baseball. But first-round quarterbacks can rake in much more on their rookie
contract and signing bonuses, with the added benefit of endorsement
opportunities that are nonexistent for minor-league outfielders.
According
to published reports, Murray sought $15 million from Oakland to keep him out of
the NFL draft. News that he was waffling
on his fidelity to the A’s made an SB Nation team blogger ballistic, leading her to the
unemployment line after posting shameful tweets about Murray’s future. His
decision to enter the NFL draft has many observers worked up.
Some
question the wisdom of pursuing a sport fraught with danger to life and limb.
Others counter that he should follow his heart … and the significantly larger
payday he’d receive upfront. Baseball fans are upset. Football fans are
rejoicing.
In
one corner, we have the grizzled, wise sages, a pair of passers who have been
atop their profession for nearly two decades.
In
the other corner, we have the budding, spry newcomers, two quarterbacks who had
yet to reach kindergarten 20 years ago.
Will
veterans Tom Brady and Drew Brees pass the torch in the NFL conference
championship games on Sunday? Or will they make newcomers Patrick Mahomes and
Jared Goff wait a little longer to ascend?
We
couldn’t ask for a better set of games to determine a Super Bowl that will be
tantalizing either way. We can have the geezers in a New England-New Orleans contest
featuring all-time greats. Or maybe we get the fresh princes in a Kanas
City-Los Angeles tilt, highlighting the next wave. Or it might be a mix-and-match
pairing, something old, something new.
This
much seems clear: If points are your thing, you should prepare extra popcorn.
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