Is there any naive soul out there who believes that Bonds, Sosa, and Clemens did NOT take steroids and other physical enhancement drugs? I know what the courts ruled, but check out how their bodies grew while they broke records. Seeing is believing as my Patron Saint, Thomas, used to say. For me, the decision whether these men should be in baseball's Hall of Fame is simple: You cheat, you don't get in. Period. You never get in. End of story.
As for Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, who said he's voting for them because, "If Major League Baseball took no action against a player during his career for alleged or suspected steroid/PED use, I'm not going to do so in assessing their career for the Hall of Fame." Interesting argument. Actually a Logical Fallacy. What you're saying Bob, is your going to perpetuate stupidity and culpability by adding to it. MLB was wrong back then, now you're going to be wrong.
Speaking of wrong. Isn't it time for Ndamukong Suh to get anger management counseling?
Hurrah for Rajon Rondo for defending a cheap shot on his teammate Kevin Garnett, although I'm reasonably sure Garnett might have found a way to retaliate had Kim Kardashian's ex-hubby not been ejected. What do you think?
Someone at the Seattle Times calculated what it would cost to take four people to a Dallas Cowboy game with hotdogs, Cokes, parking, and some souvenirs? $634.78. I'm assuming these are decent seats. I'm sure that you can get off cheaper if you're willing to sit in the stratosphere, which can not be better than sitting in a comfortable chair in front of your 50 inch TV with a bottle of brew and guacamole and chips.
Speaking of brew? How is it possible that anyone really buys the swill that the football game beer ads promote? Bud, Coors, Yuk. Boggles the mind and the taste buds. Ah, for a frosty mug of Anchor Steam or Nevada Pale Ale!
Wow, and I'm only on page 2 of today's sport's page.
Any bets that Rolondo McClain's career is over? After football, he might want to open up a gun shop. McClain is a member in good standing of my Knucklehead Club.
Amphetamines? Really? I'm sooo surprised that our boys in the NFL are using them. Now there's talk about Viagra our brave lads are using. You gotta be kidding! The image conjured by a field of football players who've recently swallowedd some erectile dysfunction tabs defies humor. I'd be particularly worried if I were the center, and the quarterback was, how can I say it delicately, "in a state."?
Speaking of quarterbacks, Kaepernick it is, but please don't call him Kap. There is only one Kap in Football - Joe Kapp of the University of California Bears (of The Play fame) and the Minnesota Vikings. This same guy nicknamed "Injun Joe" who said running out of bounds was for "Gringos." And threw 7 touchdown passes in one game., and who was the best street fighter I've ever seen, as some of my St. Mary's buds who tried to crash a frat. party back in 1960 and had to face an angry Kap would confirm.
As quiet as it's kept, the Memphis Grizzlies keep winning. Bravo Coach Leonel Hollins. Watch out for the Minnosota Timberwolves once Rubio is back.
Great Warrior win last night against the Nuggets. I'm completely sold on the Nugget's Faried. What a hustler. Not only does he haul in rebounds, both offensive and defensive, but he disrupts and gets his hands on balls, which often leads to turnovers. Tips that lead to turnovers or offensive/defensive rebounds should be a statistic. I think Dean Smith used to do just that.
As for Bogut. Micro-fracture is a scary word. If I were the Warriors, even as late and as weird as everything has evolved, I would have Bogut's doctor(s) and physical therapist(s) lay out for Golden State fans exactly what is going on - in medical detail, even if it reveals that Bogut will not be able to play for a couple of months. The Bogut deal is still a good one, in my mind. The Warriors are playing well. Lee, Landry, and Ezili are doing yeoman's job on the boards. What a pick up Landry has been Bravo Meyers! Ditto picking up Jack. If ONLY someone, anyone, could teach Beidrens to shoot freethrows????? I'm tossing my name in the hat. Give me one month with the kid. "Listen to your ego," my wife says. "No," I say,"I'm not kidding. I've studied the kid's form. I know exactly what's wrong. It's not psychological, it's physical."
Aren't Blogs fun?
David Stern is right. People pay good money - in this day and age, with what little entertainment money their budgets can afford - to see great basketball. I think Pop could have supported his argument had he rested only his Big Three, but by adding the young, third year Green kid, it looked more like a mind game he was playing on the Heat players and coaching staff. On the other hand, I don't think any of the fans would argue they didn't see an exciting game. I watched it and loved every minute of it. Right on Patty Mills, Aussie Galloping Gael!
With all the negative stuff happening in professional sports and that includes professional college sports, I've selected a poem about a pure sport: climbing. You hang by your fingers above nothing but death, now that's sport.
The Rock Climbers by Robert Francis
In this soft age, in my soft
middle age, the rock climbers
Who giving all to love
embrace cold cliffs
Or with spread-eagle arms
enact a crucifixion
Hanging between the falling
and the not-attaining
Observed or unobserved
by hawks and vultures-
How vaulting a humility
superb a supererogation
Craggy to break the mind
on and to cool the mind.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
A Few Comments
From the Sacramento Bee Sport's Page, November 20, 2012
Basketball
I'm not arguing that Geoff Petrie shouldn't go, but for Sacto Bee reporter AileneVoisin to write the words, "give Petrie the boot," about a man who put together one of the great sports memories in Sacramento history, lacks, to put in mildly, grace and sensitivity and, perhaps, a misunderstanding of the dynamics that govern the 21st century NBA.
So what if Geoff Petrie doesn't have the Twitter, Facebook, personality that Voisin seems to say defines good management? That sounds like good sense to me, as we are awash in such technological blather. Yada, yada, yada, who cares? The problem that faces Geoff, the one he has not addressed, which is at the core of his downfall - should it happen - has far more to do with an ownership without the financial resources to allow Geoff any flexibility to work the increasingly complicated NBA marketplace.
Sports is like any major organization in business, in politics, in education; the buck must stop at the top, the very top. Geoff is one step removed from the top of the hierarchy. Let's lay the blame where it belongs first, fix that problem, give the Maloofs "the boot," and bring in ownership with financial muscle. If Geoff can't cut it after that, then, of course, he needs to go.
Football
Colin Kaepernick is the 49ers quarterback of the future. I make this statement based less on his maginificent performance last night against the Bears, as on his personality, body language, and leadership demenor. Years and years ago, I remember when Rick Barry arrived at the Warriors training camp, a first round draft choice from the U of Miami. I'd just come off an All-Star year, and was looking forward to many more. It was not to be. It only took me a couple of pre season practices to see that Rick was the real deal, The Star, which he turned out to be. You can feel stardom as well as see it. Ask any athlete. It's not cockiness, it's a kind of electricity. I'm afraid Alex Smith is going to have to come to that realization that Colin is the man.
I've always love poems sports metaphor poems, in which sports and the true subject are intertwined.
Here's one of my favorites.
The Stadium by William Heyen
The stadium is filled
for this is the third night the moon
has not appeared as even a thin sickle.
We light the candles we were told to bring.
The diamond is lit red with torches.
Children run the bases.
A voice, as though from a tomb,
leads us to the last amen of a hymn.
Whole sections of the bleachers begin to moan.
The clergy files from the dugout
to the makeshift communion rails
that line the infield grass.
We've known, all our lives,
that we would gather here in the stadium
on just such a night,
that even the bravest among us
would weep softly in the dark aisles,
catching their difficult breath.
Basketball
I'm not arguing that Geoff Petrie shouldn't go, but for Sacto Bee reporter AileneVoisin to write the words, "give Petrie the boot," about a man who put together one of the great sports memories in Sacramento history, lacks, to put in mildly, grace and sensitivity and, perhaps, a misunderstanding of the dynamics that govern the 21st century NBA.
So what if Geoff Petrie doesn't have the Twitter, Facebook, personality that Voisin seems to say defines good management? That sounds like good sense to me, as we are awash in such technological blather. Yada, yada, yada, who cares? The problem that faces Geoff, the one he has not addressed, which is at the core of his downfall - should it happen - has far more to do with an ownership without the financial resources to allow Geoff any flexibility to work the increasingly complicated NBA marketplace.
Sports is like any major organization in business, in politics, in education; the buck must stop at the top, the very top. Geoff is one step removed from the top of the hierarchy. Let's lay the blame where it belongs first, fix that problem, give the Maloofs "the boot," and bring in ownership with financial muscle. If Geoff can't cut it after that, then, of course, he needs to go.
Football
Colin Kaepernick is the 49ers quarterback of the future. I make this statement based less on his maginificent performance last night against the Bears, as on his personality, body language, and leadership demenor. Years and years ago, I remember when Rick Barry arrived at the Warriors training camp, a first round draft choice from the U of Miami. I'd just come off an All-Star year, and was looking forward to many more. It was not to be. It only took me a couple of pre season practices to see that Rick was the real deal, The Star, which he turned out to be. You can feel stardom as well as see it. Ask any athlete. It's not cockiness, it's a kind of electricity. I'm afraid Alex Smith is going to have to come to that realization that Colin is the man.
I've always love poems sports metaphor poems, in which sports and the true subject are intertwined.
Here's one of my favorites.
The Stadium by William Heyen
The stadium is filled
for this is the third night the moon
has not appeared as even a thin sickle.
We light the candles we were told to bring.
The diamond is lit red with torches.
Children run the bases.
A voice, as though from a tomb,
leads us to the last amen of a hymn.
Whole sections of the bleachers begin to moan.
The clergy files from the dugout
to the makeshift communion rails
that line the infield grass.
We've known, all our lives,
that we would gather here in the stadium
on just such a night,
that even the bravest among us
would weep softly in the dark aisles,
catching their difficult breath.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Another Theory
If a coach wants to find out if his team is going to be competitive or not, here's what he needs to do. He must sit down with a roster of all the teams in the NBA and ask himself the following: Would he substitute four out of five of his starters for four out of five starters on the opposing teams? If he would, then he has very little chance of winning many games. Next, he must repeat the question with the following change:.Would he substitute three out of five of his starters for three of the starters on the opposing team.?If he would, he will win a few more, but not that many more. Finally, he must ask himself if he would sub two of his starters for two of the starters on opposing teams. See where I'm going? The coach should start with the very best teams in the NBA, Miami, the Thunder, etc and work his way down the list of all NBA teams. Clearly most coaches would want to have the players from Miami and Thunder on their teams. But, would the Chicago Bulls, for example, sub their four starters for the four starters on the Milwaukee Bucks? Not. Would the Boston Celtics sub two of their starters for two starters on the Warriors? On Portland?
This morning I looked at the starting five/six players for the Sacramento Kings and went through all the NBA teams. Alas, aside from DeMarcus Cousins, I would sub all the rest of the King's starters for the starters on any of the other NBA teams, and that includes Orlando, Milwaukee, Philly, and Detroit, teams that are not doing well this season. What does this say about the Kings chances of winning this season? I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see a lot of talent on the Kings, beside Cousins and the new kid Thomas, maybe as long as being on a dysfunctional team won't take its toll on him? I like Aaron Brooks, with reservations, and Isaiah with reservations. But, as I said, it didn't take a lot of thinking to sub them for other players I believe are better.
When I played witht the Warriors, I used to love to battle against Tom Heinsohn, Hall of Fame forward for the Boston Celtics. I'm married to a painter, and I told her about Heinsohn, the painter.
According to her, my one-time rival is a very good painter. Here's a poem for him and her.
Tommy Heinsohn by Tom Meschery
In Kansas City, in the Nelsen Gallery
I look at the famous nude of Helga
and think of Tommy Heinsohn,
his famous hook shot that curved
more beautifully than Helga's hip
and his right cross that left my eye
bleeding, and how later in the bar
below the Garden he told me
he painted in the Wyeth School.
I was a rookie, and thought Wyeth
was a hotel chain. Today, I write
poems and admire the back-light
in Wyeth's painting of the dog
sunning himself in the window,
two men who made such violence
together, the work of the artist.
This morning I looked at the starting five/six players for the Sacramento Kings and went through all the NBA teams. Alas, aside from DeMarcus Cousins, I would sub all the rest of the King's starters for the starters on any of the other NBA teams, and that includes Orlando, Milwaukee, Philly, and Detroit, teams that are not doing well this season. What does this say about the Kings chances of winning this season? I hope I'm wrong, but I don't see a lot of talent on the Kings, beside Cousins and the new kid Thomas, maybe as long as being on a dysfunctional team won't take its toll on him? I like Aaron Brooks, with reservations, and Isaiah with reservations. But, as I said, it didn't take a lot of thinking to sub them for other players I believe are better.
When I played witht the Warriors, I used to love to battle against Tom Heinsohn, Hall of Fame forward for the Boston Celtics. I'm married to a painter, and I told her about Heinsohn, the painter.
According to her, my one-time rival is a very good painter. Here's a poem for him and her.
Tommy Heinsohn by Tom Meschery
In Kansas City, in the Nelsen Gallery
I look at the famous nude of Helga
and think of Tommy Heinsohn,
his famous hook shot that curved
more beautifully than Helga's hip
and his right cross that left my eye
bleeding, and how later in the bar
below the Garden he told me
he painted in the Wyeth School.
I was a rookie, and thought Wyeth
was a hotel chain. Today, I write
poems and admire the back-light
in Wyeth's painting of the dog
sunning himself in the window,
two men who made such violence
together, the work of the artist.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Theory About Championship NBA Teams
In order to contend for an NBA championship a team's starting five must be composed of players who can start on the majority of teams in the NBA.
Example: Durant, Ibaka, Perkins, Westbrook, Martin, of the Oklahoma Thunder could play on the starting five on every other team in the NBA, including the Miami Heat. From the opposite perspective, Smith and Horford are the only two players on the Atlanta Hawks who could be starters on a majority of teams in the NBA.
Example: A contending team must have at least three subs who, if they were on a majority of other teams, would be starters. This is a little trickier, and I admit allows for personal evaluation. Nonetheless, I think the reasoning holds true. For example, Sefolosha, Collison, Maynor would be starters on most of the other teams in the NBA. Tell me the poor Hawks wouldn't love to have these three guys playing alongside Horford and Smith. Okay Teague is a comer, but can he shoot a three like Maynor?
Example: Let's examine the Brooklyn Nets. At the moment, the Nets have three players who would be starters on the majority of NBA teams: Lopez, Williams, Johnson. Many teams would love to have Humphries for his tough rebounding, so he's borderline according to my theory. Ditto, Williams. But not on the majority of NBA teams. See what I mean? Then, one look at the reserves and you see that there are definitely NOT three players who could start on a majority of teams.
Let's take the Lakers. Their starting five are wonderful and could be on any starting five in the NBA. Then, you look at their bench, not a one player could be a starter. Perhaps little Steve Blake. Perhaps.
All right, you take it from here. Examine the NBA rosters. Enjoy. Don't get depressed if your team doesn't have the personnel needed to get to the top of the mountain.
Here's a poem about Michael Jordan who would have been a starter on any team, any time, any place, any era:
Forty-one Seconds on a Sunday in June in Salt Lake City, Utah by Quincy Troupe
for Michael Jordan
rising up in time, michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in
space,
cocks his right arm, fires a jump shot for two, the title game on the line,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face
bore in on the basket, gaze focused, a thing of beauty, no shadow, or
trace,
no hint of fear, in this, his showplace, his ultimate place to shine,
rising up in time michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in space,
after he has moved from baseline to baseline, sideline to sidelong, his
coal-face
shining, wagging his tongue, he dribbles through chaos, snaking
serpentine,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of this face,
he bolts a flash up the court, takes off, floats in for two more in this race
for glory, it is his time, what he was put on earth for, he can see the
headline,
rising up in time, michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in
space,
inside his imagination, he feels the moment he will embrace, knows his
place
is written here, inside this quickening pace of nerves, he will define,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face,
inside this moment he will rule on his own terms, quick as a cat he
interfaces
time, victory & glory, as he crosses over his dribble he is king of this
shrine,
rising up in time, michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in
space,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face.
Example: Durant, Ibaka, Perkins, Westbrook, Martin, of the Oklahoma Thunder could play on the starting five on every other team in the NBA, including the Miami Heat. From the opposite perspective, Smith and Horford are the only two players on the Atlanta Hawks who could be starters on a majority of teams in the NBA.
Example: A contending team must have at least three subs who, if they were on a majority of other teams, would be starters. This is a little trickier, and I admit allows for personal evaluation. Nonetheless, I think the reasoning holds true. For example, Sefolosha, Collison, Maynor would be starters on most of the other teams in the NBA. Tell me the poor Hawks wouldn't love to have these three guys playing alongside Horford and Smith. Okay Teague is a comer, but can he shoot a three like Maynor?
Example: Let's examine the Brooklyn Nets. At the moment, the Nets have three players who would be starters on the majority of NBA teams: Lopez, Williams, Johnson. Many teams would love to have Humphries for his tough rebounding, so he's borderline according to my theory. Ditto, Williams. But not on the majority of NBA teams. See what I mean? Then, one look at the reserves and you see that there are definitely NOT three players who could start on a majority of teams.
Let's take the Lakers. Their starting five are wonderful and could be on any starting five in the NBA. Then, you look at their bench, not a one player could be a starter. Perhaps little Steve Blake. Perhaps.
All right, you take it from here. Examine the NBA rosters. Enjoy. Don't get depressed if your team doesn't have the personnel needed to get to the top of the mountain.
Here's a poem about Michael Jordan who would have been a starter on any team, any time, any place, any era:
Forty-one Seconds on a Sunday in June in Salt Lake City, Utah by Quincy Troupe
for Michael Jordan
rising up in time, michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in
space,
cocks his right arm, fires a jump shot for two, the title game on the line,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face
bore in on the basket, gaze focused, a thing of beauty, no shadow, or
trace,
no hint of fear, in this, his showplace, his ultimate place to shine,
rising up in time michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in space,
after he has moved from baseline to baseline, sideline to sidelong, his
coal-face
shining, wagging his tongue, he dribbles through chaos, snaking
serpentine,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of this face,
he bolts a flash up the court, takes off, floats in for two more in this race
for glory, it is his time, what he was put on earth for, he can see the
headline,
rising up in time, michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in
space,
inside his imagination, he feels the moment he will embrace, knows his
place
is written here, inside this quickening pace of nerves, he will define,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face,
inside this moment he will rule on his own terms, quick as a cat he
interfaces
time, victory & glory, as he crosses over his dribble he is king of this
shrine,
rising up in time, michael jordan hangs like an icon, suspended in
space,
his eyes two radar screens screwed like nails into the mask of his face.
Monday, November 12, 2012
What Pro Coaches Can Learn From High School English Teachers.
Actually what coaches can learn from all high school teachers, not just English teachers, but since that was what I did for 21 years after I retired from the NBA, I had to give English teachers a little love in the title. So, what can coaches learn from folks who reside in the educational trenches? Very specifically: never try to be friends with your students (read: players on your team). Coaches who try to be their players' best buddy are doomed to failure. It's extremely difficult for a coach to discipline a player if that player is a friend. Parents often learn this lesson much too late. A player who will not accept discipline from a coach does not respect that coach. Period. End of story.
Why am I blogging about this? I worry that Keith Smart, the coach of the Sacramento Kings, a really nice guy, is trying to be DeMarcus Cousins' best buddy. The recent comments Coach Smart made in the Sacramento Bee following Cousins' stupid confrontation with Sean Elliot, the color commentator of the San Antonio Spurs (by the way, one hell of an NBA star when Cousins was a baby) sound just a bit too wishy-washy to me, too apologetic, too psychological. What was all that stuff about treating Cousins like he treats his 16 year old son? What? Like he loves Cousins like his son? Cousins is not his son, and he is NOT 16 years old. He's an adult. He's a pro. His absence possibly cost the Kings a win over the Lakers. And he's suspended for another game, probably another King loss without him.
I played in the NBA for ten years and been an observer of the league all my life. There are players who never grow up. They play developmentally-arrested; they leave the league with arrested personalities. It looks like Marcus is headed in that direction. Coach Smart could do the young man a big favor by making him face up to his childish behavior. The danger, of course, is that Cousins will throw another tantrum and force the Kings to fire Smart. (As he did Paul Westphal) And, as sad as it may seem, the Kings will do it, since there is no doubt that Cousins is a rare talent. But I don't believe Coach Smart will confront the kid. I'm afraid he's going to continue to try to finesse Cousins. A very bad idea.
This is not a poem but a beginning of a song from one of my favorite bands Houston Jones. I dedicate it to DeMarcus Cousins and all young people who have a way to go before they grow up.
There is no easy life
There's only the long way around.
From the edge of the world
To the heart of a three crow town.
Why am I blogging about this? I worry that Keith Smart, the coach of the Sacramento Kings, a really nice guy, is trying to be DeMarcus Cousins' best buddy. The recent comments Coach Smart made in the Sacramento Bee following Cousins' stupid confrontation with Sean Elliot, the color commentator of the San Antonio Spurs (by the way, one hell of an NBA star when Cousins was a baby) sound just a bit too wishy-washy to me, too apologetic, too psychological. What was all that stuff about treating Cousins like he treats his 16 year old son? What? Like he loves Cousins like his son? Cousins is not his son, and he is NOT 16 years old. He's an adult. He's a pro. His absence possibly cost the Kings a win over the Lakers. And he's suspended for another game, probably another King loss without him.
I played in the NBA for ten years and been an observer of the league all my life. There are players who never grow up. They play developmentally-arrested; they leave the league with arrested personalities. It looks like Marcus is headed in that direction. Coach Smart could do the young man a big favor by making him face up to his childish behavior. The danger, of course, is that Cousins will throw another tantrum and force the Kings to fire Smart. (As he did Paul Westphal) And, as sad as it may seem, the Kings will do it, since there is no doubt that Cousins is a rare talent. But I don't believe Coach Smart will confront the kid. I'm afraid he's going to continue to try to finesse Cousins. A very bad idea.
This is not a poem but a beginning of a song from one of my favorite bands Houston Jones. I dedicate it to DeMarcus Cousins and all young people who have a way to go before they grow up.
There is no easy life
There's only the long way around.
From the edge of the world
To the heart of a three crow town.
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