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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Terrell Owens is one of the greatest NFL receivers ever, period.
He’s also one of the strangest NFL players ever, period.
The latter has no bearing on the former, or at least it shouldn’t. But Owens continually proves he’s in a class by himself, which will be the case during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Aug. 4.
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
In case you wondered, Bryce Harper was favored to win the All-Star Home Run Derby at +225, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddShark.com. Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber was the second choice at +333.
If you preferred an alternative source and a different presentation of odds – maybe wagers in $100 increments aren’t your thing – Bovada had Harper atop the board at 11/4, followed by Milwaukee’s Jesus Aguilar at 7/2. Schwarber trailed the field, tied with Houston third baseman Alex Bregman, arguably a bargain at 9/1.
As for the game itself, SportsInteraction.com has the American League at -140 (compared to +120 for the NL). The site also offers a plethora of propositions involving runs per inning, the score at various junctures, winning margin, etc.
Anyone who wagers on All-Star games might need an intervention.
Then again, Westgate Las Vegas offered championship odds on the 30 teams in Vegas for Summer League – from 8/1 on Phoenix to 50/1 on Denver and Minnesota.
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
At least Damon Evans knew what he was getting into when he became Maryland’s new athletic director. He was elevated to the permanent position a couple of weeks ago, having spent the previous eight months in the role on an interim basis.
He wasn’t naïve about the challenges ahead and wasn’t blindsided by repercussions from the past. But events that transpired shortly before and after his promotion probably gave him more gray hair than existed when former AD Kevin Anderson stepped away in October.
Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Jordan McNair experienced a health challenge during conditioning drills in late May and died on June 13. Evans had to address the tragedy then and he addressed it again during his introductory new conference.
“It has been a trying time,” he said. “When you deal with something as significant as a student-athlete passing away, it’s something that you just never imagine or expect to happen at your institution.”
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Bryce Harper was bound to reach the All-Star Game in the home ballpark of the franchise that drafted him. He’s one of the biggest names and most marketable stars in a sport that struggles to players with high Q-ratings and multiple advertising campaigns.
Harper’s whereabouts on July 17 were never in doubt. We just weren’t certain he’d participate in the Home Run Derby, since he skipped the last four. But with the All-Star Game in Washington for the first time since 1969, we thought Harper’s sense of history and duty would win out.
The face of the Nationals will be plastered over TV and cyberspace next week as the franchise welcomes everyone to town. Harper will have significant duties as an ambassador and in-demand target of corporate sponsors. It should be a lot of fun … until someone asks him about next season.
He opened his first spring-training interview with a threat to “walk out that door” if any reporter inquired about the 2019 season. When the New York Yankees visited Nationals Park for a series in May, their press corps danced around the prospect of pinstripes in Harper’s future while coming as close as possible.
His admiration of Mickey Mantle? His childhood affection for the Yankees? His knowledge about the Bronx Bombers’ current lineup and their longstanding policy on facial hair?
Reporters swung and missed more than Harper has done lately.
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Once again, it’s time to check off some items on my “TIDU List” – Things I Don’t Understand:
*HOW OTHER NBA TEAMS CAN EMULATE GOLDEN STATE.
The Warriors embrace Gordon Gekko’s philosophy: “Greed is good.” The record for victories in a season and a championship the next year wasn’t enough. Adding a league MVP (Kevin Durant) didn’t suffice, either. Now, after back-to-back titles, the Warriors have bolstered their portfolio with All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins. Here’s a message to envious opponents, amid complaints that Golden State is ruining the league:
Develop three home-grown All-NBA players and then we’ll listen.
*WHY THE NATIONALS CAN’T CATCH A BREAK.
Considered a virtual lock to win a third consecutive NL East title, the Nationals could miss the second wild card at this rate. Injuries and slumps keep arising at the most inopportune moments. The former caused starter Erick Fedde to exit Wednesday’s game in the second inning; the latter has led to a 6-18 record since the Capitals won the Stanley Cup.
Maybe DC’s sports curse hasn’t given up the ghost yet.
*HOW MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CAN IGNORE ITS DOLDRUMS.
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
You can’t say the NBA was hurting with LeBron James in Cleveland.
Nearly every measure was up last season, including attendance, TV ratings, merchandise, and streaming. The league dominates social media like none other. And the average franchise value is at an all-time high.
James apparently could’ve played in Memphis or Salt Lake City without losing any personal wattage or reducing his marketing value to the NBA. Lesser stars can do quite well on both counts in markets smaller than Cleveland, like Anthony Davis in New Orleans and Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee.
We’re long past the time when high profiles and national appeal were constricted outside of major metropolitan areas, particularly New York and Los Angeles. Oakland and Oklahoma City are home to some of basketball’s biggest personalities. San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard could be on that list, too, if he ever opened his mouth.
But despite the league’s ability to market players in any city, and players’ ability to promote themselves via the Internet, nothing really compares to luminaries joining the Lakers.
Hollywood has a knack for drawing the brightest stars and James is just the latest.
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
Imagine you’re Doc Rivers arriving home Tuesday night.
“Hi honey, how was work?” asks your wife, Kristen.
“Fine,” you say. “Nothing out of the ordinary … except we traded Austin.”
The Rivers’ next family reunion might be a little awkward when dad bumps into the son he coached with the Los Angeles Clippers. But the business of pro sports respects no bonds, blood or otherwise.
“We experienced a lot of success with Austin and are grateful for his contributions during his four seasons with the club,” Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in a statement. “The Clippers wish Brittany and Austin all the best in Washington.
The first father-son, coach-player relationship in NBA history has ended, highlighting the fact that Doc Rivers no longer calls the shots for the Clippers. He was relieved of those duties last summer.
Meanwhile, Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld continues at the helm in D.C., and the Austin Rivers trade joins a long list of moves that follow the same pattern: Misstep. Misstep. Recover. Repeat.
Acquiring Rivers falls between the gaps. The combo guard undeniably creates greater flexibility for a constipated roster that included Marcin Gortat, Ian Mahinmi and Jason Smith. Sending Gortat to the Clippers was a much-needed movement, but the other two blockages remain.
Unfortunately, neither Mahinmi nor Smith can adequately fill the hole at starting center; they’re borderline as effective backups.
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
The Capitals just treated us to a season like none they ever produced, creating a sense of expanded possibilities for Washington sports.
We don’t know where the Nationals will end up. But watching them proceed is tantalizing because, so far, they haven’t given us a season quite like this one either.
The Nats were terrible when they arrived 13 years ago, recording five fifth-place division finishes in their first seven seasons here. They were 16 games behind when they finished fourth (2007) and a whopping 21-1/2 games out when they took third (2011).
They haven’t been bad since then, with four NL East titles in the last six years. They entered this season as prohibitive favorites to win a third consecutive division crown, but it won’t mean much if another first-round exit follows.
That scenario has become way too common and the prospect still looms.
But nothing about the current route looks familiar yet.
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
A couple of months ago, the NFL unleashed an unprecedented amount of broadcast coverage for its annual draft, flooding the airwaves of ESPN, NFL Network, Fox and ABC, while airing every round on network TV for the first time.
Thirty-two players were selected in the first round, a process that lasted nearly four hours and got its own night. Sheesh!
Thank goodness the NBA doesn’t take the same approach. The league’s draft begins – and ends – on Thursday.
Granted, the NFL can’t wrap up matters in four hours like the NBA. Seven rounds take a lot longer than two rounds, so it’s understandable that the football draft is a multi-day event. But Roger Goodell & Co. drag out their affair in a blatant money grab.
If the NBA operated in similar fashion, its first round would consume the entire broadcast on Thursday and the show would end with a reminder: “Tune in for the second round tomorrow night!”
Instead, Commissioner Adam Silver will welcome 30 first-rounders onstage at Barclays Center, beaming along with the newly-minted millionaires who receive fully guaranteed contracts. Then, if tradition holds, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum will get his moment in the spotlight, welcoming the 30 second-rounders whose NBA fortunes are, literally, less certain.
But a copious amount of intrigue and speculation is something the two leagues have in common regarding their respective choose-em ups.
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By DERON SNYDER (as published in The Washington Times)
LeBron James is not coming to D.C.
LeBron James is not coming to D.C.
LeBron James is not coming to D.C.
Repeating the mantra over and over should protect our feelings and keep our hopes from rising. That’s the exact opposite of what happened two summers ago as native son Kevin Durant contemplated his next place of employment. Maybe he gave the Wizards a cursory glance, but they didn’t get so much as a courtesy visit.
The free-agent market doesn’t officially open until July 1, but already there’s plenty of intrigue heading into Thursday’s draft. Baseball’s hot-stove league was once the gold standard for leagues’ ability to stay in the news during their offseason. But the NBA has blown it away with a microwave version that commences immediately after the Finals.
Where is James headed? Where will Oklahoma City’s Paul George go? What will Boston do with Kyrie Irving? And the question that gained steam over the weekend: Will San Antonio trade Kawhi Leonard?
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