It's tough to stay current about sports when you're coughing every two seconds, this damnable respiratory flu getting in the way of my sports. Fie! The flu ended a week ago, and like Jack Nicholson's homicidal character Jack Torrence said in The Shining, "I'm baaaaaaak!"
Current news: Pelican's DeMarcus Cousin's rupturing his Achilles' tendon makes me want to rail against the injustice of Irony, one of the principals, to my way of thinking, that governs the actions of mankind. While I always recognized Cousin's talent (He is/was a force of nature), when he was a Sacramento King, I thought he was childish, melodramatic and a bad teammate. His presence on the on the Kings was disruptive and depressing. But, in New Orleans, it seemed as if the young man was getting his act together: less conflicts with refs, more unselfish play, better attitude. Just when things were changing for the better, irony asserted its presence. Sometimes irony stinks. I wish Boogie a quick and complete recovery.
The increasing contentiousness of players towards referees in the NBA has prompted Commissioner Silver to set up a meeting during All Star break for both sides to air their grievances and suggest solutions. Five to one, it won't work. The problem rests with the NBA office. There needs to be more intense training of officials, and I'm talking INTENSE, with plenty of self criticism as Mao was won't to say from time to time. The refs need to watch tons of game film and to study the moves of players, so on the court they understand what a player is up to.
They do, they do, they really do watch film, says the league office.
Balderdash! Referees, I reasonably certain refs do not work as hard honing their refereeing skills as the players do honing their basketball skills. Here's one example of referee error that should have been fixed eons ago, but has persisted in the league, since, horrors, this old dude was playing: Lack of Consistency of Calls. Ask any player who plays or every played in the NBA if this is not true. I capitalize to show how important fixing this single problem would be toward making things better between players and refs. If all players knew how all refs were going to call specific infractions (granted you have to give refs some wiggle room), the players would be less likely to complain. For example, how the hell do refs (the league) interpret a block or a legal screen? I sure can't figure it out. In the world of NBA's pick and roll offense, this needs to be clarified if nothing else is. As far as the players go, they have GOT TO STOP whining about every single frigging call. From the Refs' point of view, its got to be like the Boy Who Cried Wolf, after a while the complaints no longer are believable. So lighten up player, vent only when it's truly called for. And what's with all the hand waving and disgusted smirks. Grow up! Okay, so I used to smirk a little when I played.
Is there a better all around power forward in the NBA than Draymond Green? Not a chance. So glad to see all four of our starters selected as All-Stars.
Speaking of All Star Games, I'm repeating a previous blog where I explained how the NBA could liven up a game that, lacking significant defense, is boring beyond belief. Here's what should happen in my humble opinion, or not so humble one: Create a four point line. Create a five point box four feet by four feet in each of the mid-court corners.
Blake Griffen trade could make the Pistons a serious Eastern Conference Finals contender this season. The Pistons have enough left after Tobias Harris and a player I like very much, Avery Bradly depart. Clippers going more to the perimeter game, that's for sure.
You have to agree with Magic Johnson that any coach, professor, administrator at Michigan State University who had the slightest knowledge of Doctor Nassar's abuse or of any other sexual abuse by any other athletic team members and associates and didn't report it need to be fired, yesterday. Hushed up since 2010, can you believe it? The state of Michigan better gird its loins for the law suits that are going to be filed against it.
Here's a poem about Magic.
Magic by Tom Meschery
It's a joy watching film of Magic dribbling
the ball or zipping a pass. I'm reminded
of the playgrounds where there was nothing
riding on our games except bragging rights,
the wind in our faces, the wind at our backs ,
sun on asphalt, sweat in our eyes,
a cold beer waiting for us. No regrets
win or loose. Before money and contracts.
I turn to my wife and say look at that smile.
Yes, she says, like a candelabra.
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Tuesday, December 26, 2017
How About Some Christmas Cheer for NFL and NBA Dance Teams?
Here we are in the Holiday Season, Christmas presents unwrapped, all of us looking forward to New Year's Eve and 2018. So how come there's nothing in the stockings of pro dance teams dancers, except tired legs for all the hard work they put in?
Hey pro owners, I'm talking NFL towel boys get get $50 grand contracts, NBA and NFL mascots get $25 to $50 grand per year, and what do the dance team ladies get? CHUMP CHANGE!
SHAME!
Here are few figures to ponder: NFL Cowboys pay their cheerleaders $150 dollars per home game and no pay for rehearsals. NBA Lakers pay their dance team $130.dollars per home game,which amounts to $5,460 thou per season, not counting playoffs and an hourly rate ($100 per hr) for other appearances. Really proud of those numbers, are you? The Indiana Pacers pay their dance team a shameful $60 bucks per home games.
As it stands now, based on what I can find out on the Internet, you're all Grinches. Straighten up and fly right. These women work their legs off. Their routines are high energy and require great physical coordination and exertion. And, although I've been critical at times about their routines, they are indeed an important part of your showtime.
If I'm wrong, owners and administrators, and you're more generous, and I hope you are, please clue me in. I'll be happy to print a retraction.
It's the holiday and flatlanders are in the mountains skiing or snowboarding. Here's a small poem I wrote about why I don't ski
Why I Don't Ski by Tom Meschery
There's way too much to do before the fun:
consider the clothes you've to to zipper into
and gloves like furry animals that weigh a ton
boots that weigh more than most first-born do,
and goggles that turn the snow to black,
and if you're smart, there's a helmet to don
in case you fall, which is inevitable
as there are snowboarders on the run
who'll cut in front of you and cheer
and less you regret, don't forget the tree
that appears out of nowhere just
as you lose control, that has your name
written on its bark like a grave stone.
Hey pro owners, I'm talking NFL towel boys get get $50 grand contracts, NBA and NFL mascots get $25 to $50 grand per year, and what do the dance team ladies get? CHUMP CHANGE!
SHAME!
Here are few figures to ponder: NFL Cowboys pay their cheerleaders $150 dollars per home game and no pay for rehearsals. NBA Lakers pay their dance team $130.dollars per home game,which amounts to $5,460 thou per season, not counting playoffs and an hourly rate ($100 per hr) for other appearances. Really proud of those numbers, are you? The Indiana Pacers pay their dance team a shameful $60 bucks per home games.
As it stands now, based on what I can find out on the Internet, you're all Grinches. Straighten up and fly right. These women work their legs off. Their routines are high energy and require great physical coordination and exertion. And, although I've been critical at times about their routines, they are indeed an important part of your showtime.
If I'm wrong, owners and administrators, and you're more generous, and I hope you are, please clue me in. I'll be happy to print a retraction.
It's the holiday and flatlanders are in the mountains skiing or snowboarding. Here's a small poem I wrote about why I don't ski
Why I Don't Ski by Tom Meschery
There's way too much to do before the fun:
consider the clothes you've to to zipper into
and gloves like furry animals that weigh a ton
boots that weigh more than most first-born do,
and goggles that turn the snow to black,
and if you're smart, there's a helmet to don
in case you fall, which is inevitable
as there are snowboarders on the run
who'll cut in front of you and cheer
and less you regret, don't forget the tree
that appears out of nowhere just
as you lose control, that has your name
written on its bark like a grave stone.
Monday, December 25, 2017
San Jose 49ers
It looks like the Bay Area's new team, The 49ers have found themselves a quarterback for the future. It is truly amazing how different the team is now with Jimmy Garoppolo at the helm. It''s as if he's been able to energize all the other players on the team to the extent that watching 49ers defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars, I wondered where the heck had they been all this time? Jimmy G's passing has opened up the running game for Hyde and Breida. The O line is suddenly impenetrable.The D, which was not that bad before the G game on board, has gone to a new level of efficiency and toughness. I've always understood how important a QB is to football, but it's hardly been more noticeable than this 49ers' transition from mediocrity to excellence. It called for some musing. (Sneaky insertion of blog lexicon)
At first, I thought to compare a QB's importance to his team to the roll of a pitcher in baseball. But, a pitcher's ability doesn't improve the hitting and fielding of the rest of his teammates. Of course, without great pitching, baseball teams don't win. Still, pitching is a group effort, unlike football where it's rare to have more than one great quarterback.
As dependent as basketball and hockey are on their super stars, success is more a matter of the fluid interaction of it's players, rather than one star's ability, no matter how great he or she is. Finally, I couldn't think of a team sport that was so dependent on one player as football is.
I had to go outside of sports to find equivalency. I thought first of principals in high schools. Having taught high school for 25 years after retiring from pro ball, I am witness to the positive top-down influence of a good principal on every aspect of the school, from teacher moral and enthusiasm, to student success, to school administration, to custodial help and school appearance, to parent/school relationships. One strong, intelligent, creative presence at the top makes all the difference.
Then I thought of the military. It's always been joked about that football and the military are analogous. (Listen to George Carlin's comedy routine on the difference between football and baseball. Hilarious.) Yes, I thought, a quarterback is like a field general in battle. General George Patton came to mind. Got to have strong,creative and skilled leadership at the helm. Marc Anthony, Napoleon, Crazy Horse, Mao, Omar Bradley.
And, before you ask, it was no mistake that I call the 49ers San Jose's team. The people of San Jose paid for their stadium, they deserve to have them. San Jose is a fine city and should not be snubbed. I say this as a City kid, who grew up with the 49ers. But fair is fair. And no, 49ers, the Warriors already have dibs on Golden State.
The Warriors gave me my Christmas present by defeating the Cavs. Once Curry and ZaZa get back and the Dubs are whole, they'll be tough to beat. But a little word of advise, the next time you play the Cavs, somebody, please know where Love is on the court. You can't give up those easy threes.
Insanity. by Tom Meschery
Standing in the pocket,
unafraid even with the 260 pound
tackle foaming at the mouth,
charging into your peripheral vision
about to break every bone
in your body, send you into
NFL concussion protocol,
possibly start you on the road
to retirement and dementia
and an early agonizing death,
you calmly let the pass fly
take the hit and smile
as the ball sails safely
into your reciever's hands.
At first, I thought to compare a QB's importance to his team to the roll of a pitcher in baseball. But, a pitcher's ability doesn't improve the hitting and fielding of the rest of his teammates. Of course, without great pitching, baseball teams don't win. Still, pitching is a group effort, unlike football where it's rare to have more than one great quarterback.
As dependent as basketball and hockey are on their super stars, success is more a matter of the fluid interaction of it's players, rather than one star's ability, no matter how great he or she is. Finally, I couldn't think of a team sport that was so dependent on one player as football is.
I had to go outside of sports to find equivalency. I thought first of principals in high schools. Having taught high school for 25 years after retiring from pro ball, I am witness to the positive top-down influence of a good principal on every aspect of the school, from teacher moral and enthusiasm, to student success, to school administration, to custodial help and school appearance, to parent/school relationships. One strong, intelligent, creative presence at the top makes all the difference.
Then I thought of the military. It's always been joked about that football and the military are analogous. (Listen to George Carlin's comedy routine on the difference between football and baseball. Hilarious.) Yes, I thought, a quarterback is like a field general in battle. General George Patton came to mind. Got to have strong,creative and skilled leadership at the helm. Marc Anthony, Napoleon, Crazy Horse, Mao, Omar Bradley.
And, before you ask, it was no mistake that I call the 49ers San Jose's team. The people of San Jose paid for their stadium, they deserve to have them. San Jose is a fine city and should not be snubbed. I say this as a City kid, who grew up with the 49ers. But fair is fair. And no, 49ers, the Warriors already have dibs on Golden State.
The Warriors gave me my Christmas present by defeating the Cavs. Once Curry and ZaZa get back and the Dubs are whole, they'll be tough to beat. But a little word of advise, the next time you play the Cavs, somebody, please know where Love is on the court. You can't give up those easy threes.
Insanity. by Tom Meschery
Standing in the pocket,
unafraid even with the 260 pound
tackle foaming at the mouth,
charging into your peripheral vision
about to break every bone
in your body, send you into
NFL concussion protocol,
possibly start you on the road
to retirement and dementia
and an early agonizing death,
you calmly let the pass fly
take the hit and smile
as the ball sails safely
into your reciever's hands.
Friday, December 22, 2017
Who Are the Future NBA Super Stars?
The NBA is full of great, super great super stars: Curry, Durant, Thompson, Green, Westbrook, George, Carmelo, Hardin, Paul, etc, etc, some of the names above and the etcs will be retiring soon, and some, like Curry and Thompson will be around longer. But, I've been thinking, who are the sure fire super stars of the recent three drafts, the ones guaranteed to take over the line light? Antetekomp, of course, but he was 2014. So was Joel Embid, if he can stay uninjured for a full season. (Think Bill Walton and his one and a half years of greatness.) Andrew Wiggins (Is he great, or does he lack fire?)
Anyway,
I went back three drafts and came to the conclusion that there are lots of GOOD future players, but few bone-fide stars. Here's how I break it down by draft year. Please feel free to weight in with your picks'
2015 GREATS: Towns and Porzingas. GOOD BUT NOT GREAT: Larry Nance, Jr. Josh Richardson, Justin Winslow.
2016 GREATS: Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, Ben Simmons with a can he ever shoot caveat. GOOD BUT NOT GREAT: Jamal Murry, Domatas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon.
2017 GREATS: Jason Tatum, Lauri Markkanen, Kyle Kuzma, Jastin Jackson (?). GOOD BUT NOT GREAT: Jordan Bell, Dillon Brooks, Frank Ntiklima, Dennis Smith Jr.. Lonzo Ball. Dennis Smith Jr may turn into a great? Lonzo Ball could also turn into a great if he ever learns how to shoot; otherwise, he'll be a Ricky Rubio type for his career. I love Ricky, but he shoots bricks.
Good in the NBA is NOT a put-down by any stretch of the imagination. Even riding the bench in the NBA is an accomplishment. But STARS must shine consistently and overtime.
Onto other subjects:
Is the Ball Daddy nuts or what? Can he pull off a prep league of high school players? Isn't the NBA D League sort of the same idea? Will people pay good money to watch a bunch of 18 year olds with "potential" to be pros? There sure haven't been enough one and dones over the years to fill the rosters of ten wannabe teams. And what about those poor "wannabe" kids who make up the rosters of this league of his, and don't make it to the NB A? Has he considered that they were probably good enough coming out of high school to attract college interest and receive scholarships and perhaps (say it isn't so) earn a degree. Those kids, those poor kids will be SOL. Daddy Ball, you sure don't see the big picture, do you?
I woke up this morning to frost outside and thought of ice skating. Very soon, the Winter Olympics.
On Cedar Lake, 1957 by Ruth F. Brin
Before our skates had touched the pond that day
We knelt to see, embedded in the ice,
A fish long dead, his frozen eye turned up;
And further on through surface clear and green
A sluggish waving weed in silent water.
But who could care for all that moved below?
Our skates are sharp, the air is bright,
The lake is wide; we swoop, we glide,
Like gulls. We fly, we fly.
Anyway,
I went back three drafts and came to the conclusion that there are lots of GOOD future players, but few bone-fide stars. Here's how I break it down by draft year. Please feel free to weight in with your picks'
2015 GREATS: Towns and Porzingas. GOOD BUT NOT GREAT: Larry Nance, Jr. Josh Richardson, Justin Winslow.
2016 GREATS: Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, Ben Simmons with a can he ever shoot caveat. GOOD BUT NOT GREAT: Jamal Murry, Domatas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon.
2017 GREATS: Jason Tatum, Lauri Markkanen, Kyle Kuzma, Jastin Jackson (?). GOOD BUT NOT GREAT: Jordan Bell, Dillon Brooks, Frank Ntiklima, Dennis Smith Jr.. Lonzo Ball. Dennis Smith Jr may turn into a great? Lonzo Ball could also turn into a great if he ever learns how to shoot; otherwise, he'll be a Ricky Rubio type for his career. I love Ricky, but he shoots bricks.
Good in the NBA is NOT a put-down by any stretch of the imagination. Even riding the bench in the NBA is an accomplishment. But STARS must shine consistently and overtime.
Onto other subjects:
Is the Ball Daddy nuts or what? Can he pull off a prep league of high school players? Isn't the NBA D League sort of the same idea? Will people pay good money to watch a bunch of 18 year olds with "potential" to be pros? There sure haven't been enough one and dones over the years to fill the rosters of ten wannabe teams. And what about those poor "wannabe" kids who make up the rosters of this league of his, and don't make it to the NB A? Has he considered that they were probably good enough coming out of high school to attract college interest and receive scholarships and perhaps (say it isn't so) earn a degree. Those kids, those poor kids will be SOL. Daddy Ball, you sure don't see the big picture, do you?
I woke up this morning to frost outside and thought of ice skating. Very soon, the Winter Olympics.
On Cedar Lake, 1957 by Ruth F. Brin
Before our skates had touched the pond that day
We knelt to see, embedded in the ice,
A fish long dead, his frozen eye turned up;
And further on through surface clear and green
A sluggish waving weed in silent water.
But who could care for all that moved below?
Our skates are sharp, the air is bright,
The lake is wide; we swoop, we glide,
Like gulls. We fly, we fly.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
The Ball Dad
Okay, I know parenting shifts from one generation to another: stricter to more lenient, moderate to indulgent, or in the case of Spain, over-indulgent - parents trying to make up for the rigid over parenting mandatory during the Franco era.
So, how does one describe the parenting of LaVar Ball, testosterone dad of Laker's Lonzo Ball and DiAngelo Ball? Ball, the parent, is going to take his son, DiAngelo out of UCLA because the university decided to suspend the young varsity basketball player and his two team mates for two months because they shoplifted while on a basketball trip to China. The boys did not shoplift a couple of porno mags, they went after some very expensive eye wear. A two month suspension doesn't sound too great a consequence for them to suffer; they are only freshman and have three more years as basketball players at UCLA.
Therein, however, is the rub. Uber Dad probably is thinking that his Uber son is a One and Done, so the kid will lose some visibility this season.
It is not about education, let's be clear about that. UCLA did not withdraw the athletes' scholarships. The young men can attend classes, and receive (say it isn't so) some knowledge. Toward a (say it isn't so) a degree in four (say it isn't so) years.
LaVar Ball, I caution you, stop with the Uber-Dad business. It is not psychologically beneficial to your sons. They should not have their lives at their age micromanaged. DiAngelo must come to grips with the fact that there are consequences for bad behavior. Your behavior is going to come back some time in the future and bite you in the buttocks, and I suspect it will be your progeny that will be doing the biting. Sorry to say that, but life bears this out.
A quick note to vote in favor of an eight-team College Football Playoff as described by writer, Chuck Culpepper of the Washington Post this morning. It's syndicated so, the teams should be in a number of papers. The teams themselves will vary season by season, it's the format that matters, and the NCAA should get off their collective duffs and put this in place. It's a total win/win scenario all around.
Perhaps one of the more meaningful poems about sports I've ever read is the following:
The Jump Shooter by Dennis Trudell
The way the ball
hung there
against the blue or purple
one night last week
across town
at the playground where
I had gone to spare
my wife
from the mood I'd swallowed
and saw in the dusk
a stranger
shooting baskets a few
years older maybe
thirty-five
and overweight a little
beer belly saw him
shooting there
and joined him didn't
ask or anything simply
went over
picked off a rebound
and hooked it back up
while he
smiled I nodded and for
ten minutes or so we
took turn
staking shots and the thin
is neither of us said
a word
and this fellow who's
too heavy now and slow
to play
for any team still had
the old touch seldom
ever missed
kept moving further out
and finally his t-shirt
a gray
and fuzzy blur I stood
under the rim could
almost hear
a high school cheer
begin and fill a gym
while wooden
bleacher rocked he made
three in a row from
twenty feet
moved back two steps
faked out a patch
of darkness
arched another one and
the way the ball
hung there
against the blue or purple
then suddenly filled
the net
made me wave goodbye
breathe deeply and begin
to whistle
as I waled back home.
So, how does one describe the parenting of LaVar Ball, testosterone dad of Laker's Lonzo Ball and DiAngelo Ball? Ball, the parent, is going to take his son, DiAngelo out of UCLA because the university decided to suspend the young varsity basketball player and his two team mates for two months because they shoplifted while on a basketball trip to China. The boys did not shoplift a couple of porno mags, they went after some very expensive eye wear. A two month suspension doesn't sound too great a consequence for them to suffer; they are only freshman and have three more years as basketball players at UCLA.
Therein, however, is the rub. Uber Dad probably is thinking that his Uber son is a One and Done, so the kid will lose some visibility this season.
It is not about education, let's be clear about that. UCLA did not withdraw the athletes' scholarships. The young men can attend classes, and receive (say it isn't so) some knowledge. Toward a (say it isn't so) a degree in four (say it isn't so) years.
LaVar Ball, I caution you, stop with the Uber-Dad business. It is not psychologically beneficial to your sons. They should not have their lives at their age micromanaged. DiAngelo must come to grips with the fact that there are consequences for bad behavior. Your behavior is going to come back some time in the future and bite you in the buttocks, and I suspect it will be your progeny that will be doing the biting. Sorry to say that, but life bears this out.
A quick note to vote in favor of an eight-team College Football Playoff as described by writer, Chuck Culpepper of the Washington Post this morning. It's syndicated so, the teams should be in a number of papers. The teams themselves will vary season by season, it's the format that matters, and the NCAA should get off their collective duffs and put this in place. It's a total win/win scenario all around.
Perhaps one of the more meaningful poems about sports I've ever read is the following:
The Jump Shooter by Dennis Trudell
The way the ball
hung there
against the blue or purple
one night last week
across town
at the playground where
I had gone to spare
my wife
from the mood I'd swallowed
and saw in the dusk
a stranger
shooting baskets a few
years older maybe
thirty-five
and overweight a little
beer belly saw him
shooting there
and joined him didn't
ask or anything simply
went over
picked off a rebound
and hooked it back up
while he
smiled I nodded and for
ten minutes or so we
took turn
staking shots and the thin
is neither of us said
a word
and this fellow who's
too heavy now and slow
to play
for any team still had
the old touch seldom
ever missed
kept moving further out
and finally his t-shirt
a gray
and fuzzy blur I stood
under the rim could
almost hear
a high school cheer
begin and fill a gym
while wooden
bleacher rocked he made
three in a row from
twenty feet
moved back two steps
faked out a patch
of darkness
arched another one and
the way the ball
hung there
against the blue or purple
then suddenly filled
the net
made me wave goodbye
breathe deeply and begin
to whistle
as I waled back home.
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