I spent a good time of my summer scouring the net for articles on the Bears, their roster, news, and etc. After 2 months, here's what I know:
The Overstated: Constantly over the year, you're going to hear about our complete implosion, going from 5-0 to losing 6 of the next 7 games. All year. You have no choice. One of the reasons for this implosion, apparently, was we weren't a team in the sense that we didn't have established leaders who stepped up to keep the morale up and help each other out. Players didn't acknowledge eachother's existence when passing eachother on campus. Coach Tedford completely focused on the offense and didn't even talk to Defense. This year, however, all of this has changed, there is great communication, and Tedford is overlooking both the offense and the defense. All the problems have been addressed, we've come out of it better than ever before, and now, all we can do is look at our prep and performance for Saturdays.
QB Situation: Riley got the nod over Longshore, though Tedford said both will play in the Michigan State game, he just doesn't know when Longshore will play exactly. My ridiculously insightful analysis tells me that Longshore will not play ONLY if Riley is doing well AND it's a close game. If it's a blowout either way, or Riley is struggling, Longshore will see time. (Just in case you didn't figure it out already)
RB and FB: Jahvid Best splitting carries with Shane Vereen for now, though there are others that may be in the mix. I'm going to let their game speak for themselves, you'll just have to find out. Let's just say that I am very excited about our running game. It could be comparable to Lynch/Forsett production wise. Fullback is Will Ta’ufo’ou.
WR Situation: Well this was a little surprise. To those who don't know (which should be no one because Cal Football is pretty damn amazing), we lost our whole receiving corps, so we are running with a very inexperienced set of new receivers: Michael Calvin, Sean Young, LaReylle Cunningham.
Michael Calvin: Redshirted as a freshman last year, but has come to play this year. He is a beast and is going to be special. Solid player, was expected to be in this lineup.
Sean Young: Stories about him scared me. He came into Cal touted as a good receiver who would be amazing. He lost himself over the next few years to last year's three receivers, and never recovered . . . until this year. I believe he has a confidence issue, and because it is essentially a fresh start this year with everyone competing, had a good camp. I am hoping for the best, but can't help but feel that if he gets outperformed during the year, he will regress, and become ineffective. We shall see.
LaReylle Cunningham: All I have heard about is that he is a solid receiver. Wasn't sure whether to expect him in the lineup or not, so all we can do is hope for the best and start judging him based on his performances on Saturday.
Shocker -- Nyan Boateng: Once a top receiving recruit at Florida, this transfer was supposed to be a great receiver. He ran into some school issues, but finally got it straight this year. He, however, did not train well during the spring, and some questioned his dedication. Apparently, however, he shaped up for the summer and was having a good camp. I expected him to be in the lineup, but was left off; once again, we will see how this all unfolds.
Bottom line: The receiving corps is basically a huge question mark. Everything looks good based on camp, but who knows what that means. It has to translate on the field in front of screaming fans. We'll just have to test it out.
O-Line: For the most part, solid and unchanged. Mike Tepper is currently injured, and we have Alex Mack's successor Chris Guarnero getting playing time right now at LT instead of C.
D-Line: Look out for Rulon Davis, an ex-marine (which means prepare for stories about this whenever we're on national television), who had a ridiculous camp and is apparently finally healthy for the first time. He looks to be a beast.
Linebackers: We have two on the preseason Butkus Award list in Worrell Williams and Zach Follett. Anthony Felder and Eddie Young finish this group of athletic and talented linebackers. There is no reason these guys should not be able to do well this year. The defense has shifted from a 4-3 to a 3-4, meaning that there is more reliance on the linebacking corps, and with this talented a unit, we should be able to meet the challenge.
Corners: Syd'quan Thompson is our senior, and is solid at corner. The other position will be fought for by Chris Conte and Darian Hagan. This too will have to be seen on the field during a game.
Kickers: David Seawright, a walkon, challenged Jordan Kay the incumbent for his job and ended up winning. We'll see how he does with pressure. If he folds, Jordan Kay isn't a bad backup.
I'd be lying to you if I told you I didn't believe that we could beat everyone in the Pac-10, except for USC. Yeah, I'm drinking gallons of kool-aid, but I see so much potential, so much positive change, and so much underrated talent that I feel like we can do well. Offensively, we are young at receiver, but we can establish our ground game behind two talented tailbacks and a veteran O-Line. The receivers will be surprise as well; they will have a lot to prove, so stars will learn to shine, and with a good running game, they will get more single coverage, which means better chances to break out and gain confidence. Contrary to what the media keeps implying, our QB situation is better than that at other schools: at least we have QB's with game experience who have proven themselves in years before instead of new QB's who may struggle. Defensively, we have many returning starters and talent, enough to make me believe this is the year we become a solid defensive team.
Prediction: 2nd in the Pac-10, 11-1. (A little bit hopeful, but hey, I wouldn't be a fan if I couldn't believe that this is our year)
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
now THATS shady
I'm watching men's gymnastics to follow the story of John Horton, who is basically the underdog in these olympics. He performs out of his mind on the high bar, something I, and many others, felt was better than the other Chinese gymnast's, but his score is just barely less.
Two other chinese gymnasts got inflated scores as well according to the commentators and some other analysts.
I am not taking anything away from the Chinese, they have worked hard; maybe it is because I don't understand how scoring works. If you actually understand how scoring works, please explain it to me. I want to convince myself that I am just another fan complaining about perfectly correct calls, and that home court advantage is NOT a little too advantageous right now, in an extra shady way . . .
Two other chinese gymnasts got inflated scores as well according to the commentators and some other analysts.
I am not taking anything away from the Chinese, they have worked hard; maybe it is because I don't understand how scoring works. If you actually understand how scoring works, please explain it to me. I want to convince myself that I am just another fan complaining about perfectly correct calls, and that home court advantage is NOT a little too advantageous right now, in an extra shady way . . .
Monday, August 18, 2008
U.S.A. vs. Germany -- The Little Things
Dwyane Wade may be a devout Christian, but he loves to gamble -- Wade hasn't been playing defense this whole tournament. Yeah he has been getting steals all over the place, but his steals are all off anticipation passes, a.k.a. gambling. If the player handling the ball fakes the pass and Wade bites, he runs way too fast (see: nickname, the flash) and has to recover. This translates to, even with his speed, a shot being fired. But hey, he's tripled up and is at a hot table, so why stop?
This will work for the rest of the tournament, and maybe for the Wade replacement, if he's good enough, in 2012. But as soon as we lose our athleticism (which, I'm convinced, is all we have as an advantage), this gambling will screw us over. But once again, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Chris Kaman/Clipper fans should be worried -- I am a diehard Clipper fan, and I have the utmost faith in Chris Kaman. I am not worried at all about his poor offensive showing today. He was double teamed, getting the ball at the wrong places, and missed stupid layups that he can work on over the rest of the offseason. Plus, he had some decent moves against Dwight Howard, who is apparently pretty good, so I've heard.
Did you see him interact with the other German players? He seemed pissed off a lot, was barking orders (not in the positive sense), and the general behavior made it seem as if he wasnt getting along with a lot of them. Yeah, compared to the level he is used to playing at, I can see him being frustrated. But, you can also put this at the level of him not understanding how to take a leadership role, him not being able to interact with a bunch of new teammates he doesn't know. Wait, this sounds familiar . . . doesn't he have tons of new teammates on the Clippers now? Isn't he supposed to step up leadership a little, seeing as hes supposed to be one of the top centers in the West (list em, you'll see what I mean)? I can see him having problems this year, him being unhappy, and tons of other things. It will be something to follow, if you're a Clipper fan . . .
Michael Redd isn't 'bang-banging'-- What happened to our sharp shooter? Even I would have hit one of those threes he took, some were wide open. His playing time is going to start dropping steadily, as Tayshaun takes his place (as noted by someone on ESPN, I forget who)
The U.S. can be beat (here's the secret formula) --Run a play (as also noted by ESPN, but something I believed as well). Thats it. Run a set play. How many plays have you seen perfectly executed by opposing teams? How many get the chance to even set up a play? If a team gets into a groove and sets up plays consistently, we may just have a match. Then again, that feat itself is looking nigh impossible at this point.
Is this the last best chance we have to win it? -- Players that I am guessing will not renew their Olympic 3-year contracts: Kobe, J-Kidd, LeBron, Wade, Melo, Dwight Howard. Now I am taking nothing away from the remaining talent, which includes two phenomenal point guards who will step up their game to ridiculous new levels by 2012, but let me re-list and rephrase the players you will potentially/probably lose: Defensive Stopper, Veteran Presence, Leader/Unguardable, Intangibles Energy, Commitment and Shooter, Beast and Beast.
Thats a lot to replace, and I don't see the incoming class having anywhere near that kind of talent and leadership enough to match it. Couple that with the ever improving FIBA players plus the potential expansion of the NBA bringing about better players overseas? We're done after this olympics, and it'll be evident when you see the players who sign the 3 year commitment contracts. They'll be good, but not great. It will take great to win after these olympics are over.
This will work for the rest of the tournament, and maybe for the Wade replacement, if he's good enough, in 2012. But as soon as we lose our athleticism (which, I'm convinced, is all we have as an advantage), this gambling will screw us over. But once again, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Chris Kaman/Clipper fans should be worried -- I am a diehard Clipper fan, and I have the utmost faith in Chris Kaman. I am not worried at all about his poor offensive showing today. He was double teamed, getting the ball at the wrong places, and missed stupid layups that he can work on over the rest of the offseason. Plus, he had some decent moves against Dwight Howard, who is apparently pretty good, so I've heard.
Did you see him interact with the other German players? He seemed pissed off a lot, was barking orders (not in the positive sense), and the general behavior made it seem as if he wasnt getting along with a lot of them. Yeah, compared to the level he is used to playing at, I can see him being frustrated. But, you can also put this at the level of him not understanding how to take a leadership role, him not being able to interact with a bunch of new teammates he doesn't know. Wait, this sounds familiar . . . doesn't he have tons of new teammates on the Clippers now? Isn't he supposed to step up leadership a little, seeing as hes supposed to be one of the top centers in the West (list em, you'll see what I mean)? I can see him having problems this year, him being unhappy, and tons of other things. It will be something to follow, if you're a Clipper fan . . .
Michael Redd isn't 'bang-banging'-- What happened to our sharp shooter? Even I would have hit one of those threes he took, some were wide open. His playing time is going to start dropping steadily, as Tayshaun takes his place (as noted by someone on ESPN, I forget who)
The U.S. can be beat (here's the secret formula) --Run a play (as also noted by ESPN, but something I believed as well). Thats it. Run a set play. How many plays have you seen perfectly executed by opposing teams? How many get the chance to even set up a play? If a team gets into a groove and sets up plays consistently, we may just have a match. Then again, that feat itself is looking nigh impossible at this point.
Is this the last best chance we have to win it? -- Players that I am guessing will not renew their Olympic 3-year contracts: Kobe, J-Kidd, LeBron, Wade, Melo, Dwight Howard. Now I am taking nothing away from the remaining talent, which includes two phenomenal point guards who will step up their game to ridiculous new levels by 2012, but let me re-list and rephrase the players you will potentially/probably lose: Defensive Stopper, Veteran Presence, Leader/Unguardable, Intangibles Energy, Commitment and Shooter, Beast and Beast.
Thats a lot to replace, and I don't see the incoming class having anywhere near that kind of talent and leadership enough to match it. Couple that with the ever improving FIBA players plus the potential expansion of the NBA bringing about better players overseas? We're done after this olympics, and it'll be evident when you see the players who sign the 3 year commitment contracts. They'll be good, but not great. It will take great to win after these olympics are over.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Worried About the Election? I Am
The American public is pretty stupid. If you're not on board with this truth, then you might as well stop reading, because you won't agree with what I'm writing.
You have all heard about the whole "more people vote for American Idol than for the elections" and "some people know the 'big mac' song but not the pledge of alleigance (supersize me)"; all this means that as a whole, we are victims of advertisement, and horrible ones at that. Just look at the mac commercials and how many of you fell for them (sorry, couldn't help myself).
We (once again, as a general whole) take in these commercials which come up at least once an hour, and slowly absorb what they say, almost to the point where we begin to associate the people in them permanently with what they are being connected to. If you saw the verizon guy in any other commercial, any other movie, or in real life, the words coming out of your mouth would proably be something along the lines of "its the verizon man!".
Now how many of you saw the recent pro-McCain commercials that compared Obama to pop-stars, Brittney Spears, Paris Hilton, etc? Now if you are educated enough, you will easily come to the conclusion that those are stupid comparisons and that you can't possibly compare them. The same, however, can't be said about the same public who voted So Real Crew ahead of Super Crew and Fanny Pack.
McCain is focusing on attacking Obama for his popularity, basically slandering, and even though they are coming out to the press saying it's only providing light hearted jokes to a serious election, that's not the intent. My fear is that Obama, with no other choice, will follow his footsteps and start attacking McCain. They've already called him the "wrinkly white-haired guy". This will start becoming the storylines, this topic will dominate commercials, and it will take away time from more pressing issues, such as reducing the national deficit, lowering gas prices, figuring out some sort of solution with the troops, things that matter, not how old McCain is, and how cool Obama is.
The public will eat up all these commercials and make their decision for president based on that. If this continues to happen, we will elect the wrong president into office. We need to focus on each of their strengths, and what they can bring in office. In office, McCain's looks aren't going to slow him down, and neither will the fact that Obama and Brad Pitt are related (true by the way). Hopefully this shapes up, because honestly, this election is going to affect me as I start becoming more independent, paying taxes, and providing for myself. I don't want a confused public determining important parts of my future.
That being said, it's time for a change.
Get your free Obama pin (no strings attached)
You have all heard about the whole "more people vote for American Idol than for the elections" and "some people know the 'big mac' song but not the pledge of alleigance (supersize me)"; all this means that as a whole, we are victims of advertisement, and horrible ones at that. Just look at the mac commercials and how many of you fell for them (sorry, couldn't help myself).
We (once again, as a general whole) take in these commercials which come up at least once an hour, and slowly absorb what they say, almost to the point where we begin to associate the people in them permanently with what they are being connected to. If you saw the verizon guy in any other commercial, any other movie, or in real life, the words coming out of your mouth would proably be something along the lines of "its the verizon man!".
Now how many of you saw the recent pro-McCain commercials that compared Obama to pop-stars, Brittney Spears, Paris Hilton, etc? Now if you are educated enough, you will easily come to the conclusion that those are stupid comparisons and that you can't possibly compare them. The same, however, can't be said about the same public who voted So Real Crew ahead of Super Crew and Fanny Pack.
McCain is focusing on attacking Obama for his popularity, basically slandering, and even though they are coming out to the press saying it's only providing light hearted jokes to a serious election, that's not the intent. My fear is that Obama, with no other choice, will follow his footsteps and start attacking McCain. They've already called him the "wrinkly white-haired guy". This will start becoming the storylines, this topic will dominate commercials, and it will take away time from more pressing issues, such as reducing the national deficit, lowering gas prices, figuring out some sort of solution with the troops, things that matter, not how old McCain is, and how cool Obama is.
The public will eat up all these commercials and make their decision for president based on that. If this continues to happen, we will elect the wrong president into office. We need to focus on each of their strengths, and what they can bring in office. In office, McCain's looks aren't going to slow him down, and neither will the fact that Obama and Brad Pitt are related (true by the way). Hopefully this shapes up, because honestly, this election is going to affect me as I start becoming more independent, paying taxes, and providing for myself. I don't want a confused public determining important parts of my future.
That being said, it's time for a change.
Get your free Obama pin (no strings attached)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Comedians
S.O.T.D.
Regulators - Warren G feat. Nate Dogg
---------------------------------------
I'm a huge fan of comedies and comedians (they're my favorite genre) but I don't actively pursue them. Lately, however, I haven't found many movies that made me laugh throughout, and most comedians I know end up pulling dirty jokes most of the time, which is funny to a certain extent, but after a while, just gets dull.
If you're with me on this one, I recommend Eddie Izzard. He has an English accent and is a little hard to understand sometimes, but his jokes are up there, and he talks about everything, with a slight focus on history, so what do you know, he's a little bit educational. He's a transvestite as well, which was a little weird to get used to for a comedian, but you get over it quickly, and every time I see him now, it's practically normal. He does cuss a lot, but its doesn't overwhelm his jokes. Here's a couple clips:
Clip 1
Clip 2
Regulators - Warren G feat. Nate Dogg
---------------------------------------
I'm a huge fan of comedies and comedians (they're my favorite genre) but I don't actively pursue them. Lately, however, I haven't found many movies that made me laugh throughout, and most comedians I know end up pulling dirty jokes most of the time, which is funny to a certain extent, but after a while, just gets dull.
If you're with me on this one, I recommend Eddie Izzard. He has an English accent and is a little hard to understand sometimes, but his jokes are up there, and he talks about everything, with a slight focus on history, so what do you know, he's a little bit educational. He's a transvestite as well, which was a little weird to get used to for a comedian, but you get over it quickly, and every time I see him now, it's practically normal. He does cuss a lot, but its doesn't overwhelm his jokes. Here's a couple clips:
Clip 1
Clip 2
Monday, August 11, 2008
The Olympics So Far . . .
I couldn't help but mention the olympics, sorry. But are you kidding me? Phelps by himself is making the olympics ridiculously amazing; not only is he winning golds, which, I must admit, might have gotten boring (everyone needs a challenge), but he is literally, as my buddy pointed out, racing against the green line and nothing else.
And he's not just barely beating it. He's smashing it. What about the one where it was close? That was an amazing swim as well, with the Americans coming back to beat the trash talking French in the 4x100 relay. This is a really special year for Phelps and American swimming in general. I also like to win, so these together make me a happy camper.
ON TOP OF THAT, even gymnastics is getting me interested. The young, untested Americans are landing jumps, doing crazy stuff, but somehow still losing to the Chinese who mess up their jumps but go crazy on their difficulty levels. It's just the height of competition on gymnastics biggest stage.
I know some people may forget the olympics after tonight (Madden is coming out), or may not like them at all, but if you appreciate sports at the smallest possible level, you need to watch at least some part of the olympics.
And he's not just barely beating it. He's smashing it. What about the one where it was close? That was an amazing swim as well, with the Americans coming back to beat the trash talking French in the 4x100 relay. This is a really special year for Phelps and American swimming in general. I also like to win, so these together make me a happy camper.
ON TOP OF THAT, even gymnastics is getting me interested. The young, untested Americans are landing jumps, doing crazy stuff, but somehow still losing to the Chinese who mess up their jumps but go crazy on their difficulty levels. It's just the height of competition on gymnastics biggest stage.
I know some people may forget the olympics after tonight (Madden is coming out), or may not like them at all, but if you appreciate sports at the smallest possible level, you need to watch at least some part of the olympics.
We're Just a Little Behind
The Wild Fans of Lithuania . . . or an example of fans of any professional soccer team in Europe.
This is why I want to someday do a tour of soccer stadiums in Europe, including Man U., Chelsea, and then a smaller club with loyal fans. I'm dead serious by the way, and I want to do it relatively soon, so lemme know, I'll involve you in plans when (might be a long while) I plan them out.
This is why I want to someday do a tour of soccer stadiums in Europe, including Man U., Chelsea, and then a smaller club with loyal fans. I'm dead serious by the way, and I want to do it relatively soon, so lemme know, I'll involve you in plans when (might be a long while) I plan them out.
College Football Rule Changes
http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2008/8/4/586707/new-rules-for-college-foot
A more than adequate post of rule changes as they are in the books, in layman's terms, and with nice pictures to go along with it.
More college football posts to come, mainly because I am ridiculously excited about Cal this year. We're waayy under the radar.
A more than adequate post of rule changes as they are in the books, in layman's terms, and with nice pictures to go along with it.
More college football posts to come, mainly because I am ridiculously excited about Cal this year. We're waayy under the radar.
Friday, August 8, 2008
The Olympics
S.O.T.D.
Everything Man - Talib Kweli
Pretty funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOiWaTSypt4
8.8.08, gotta write something about the olympics.
Taking a stand for what you believe in. One thing I will never understand is why some athletes will never take a stand on issues such as Tibet.
I am not naiive; I understand that taking a stand might cause you to lose endorsements, which, for people like LeBron James would mean losing Nike, Bubblicious, Powerade, and who knows what else. But when you are going to command 20+ million a year for your next contract, have your own company, and even after losing your nike deal, will be able to come out with your own shoes and clothing line, you do not need to worry about money. This is a worst case scenario by the way: we all know that LeBron James, no matter what stand he takes, will always have some sort of endorsement deal. Tata motors in India will take him up and pay him well if no one will, he'll be fine.
I understand the pressure in taking a stand, I just don't understand why they wouldn't support peace and happiness. Maybe they're emo or something.
I am going to tune into the olympics for a few reasons this year: I want to see USA basketball and how they face an improving world, Michael Phelps becasue apparently he's a beast, and how many people decide to take a stand.
Oh, and go India, all 4 of us or so. In I don't know what. Fine, we'll stick to the medical and engineering fields.
Everything Man - Talib Kweli
Pretty funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOiWaTSypt4
8.8.08, gotta write something about the olympics.
Taking a stand for what you believe in. One thing I will never understand is why some athletes will never take a stand on issues such as Tibet.
I am not naiive; I understand that taking a stand might cause you to lose endorsements, which, for people like LeBron James would mean losing Nike, Bubblicious, Powerade, and who knows what else. But when you are going to command 20+ million a year for your next contract, have your own company, and even after losing your nike deal, will be able to come out with your own shoes and clothing line, you do not need to worry about money. This is a worst case scenario by the way: we all know that LeBron James, no matter what stand he takes, will always have some sort of endorsement deal. Tata motors in India will take him up and pay him well if no one will, he'll be fine.
I understand the pressure in taking a stand, I just don't understand why they wouldn't support peace and happiness. Maybe they're emo or something.
I am going to tune into the olympics for a few reasons this year: I want to see USA basketball and how they face an improving world, Michael Phelps becasue apparently he's a beast, and how many people decide to take a stand.
Oh, and go India, all 4 of us or so. In I don't know what. Fine, we'll stick to the medical and engineering fields.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
We Have it Easy
Imagine you had only $20 to spend on an entire weekend. Not just for fun, but for food, shelter, everything. This article helped me realize that I have it way too easy. Read it, it's worth it, and it'll help open your eyes a little bit more.
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/michael-meet-curtis-philanthropy-gets-personal/
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/michael-meet-curtis-philanthropy-gets-personal/
Olympics BBall Schedule
For those who are interested (it's on truehoop as well) . . .
http://www.nbcolympics.com/tv_and_online_listings/zone=CT/sport=BK/index.html
http://www.nbcolympics.com/tv_and_online_listings/zone=CT/sport=BK/index.html
Gotta keep to my promises
The best project (I feel) from my me135 class (no it's not mine):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkQtDLVQ7VI
S.O.T.D.
Nas is Like - Nas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkQtDLVQ7VI
S.O.T.D.
Nas is Like - Nas
Extra 2 Cents on Yesterdays Post
To put the "remove a salary cap" idea into perspective for those who don't follow soccer, if the NBA implements this, it will become something like college football, but with a playoff system.
College football today consists of a few consistently elite teams, such as USC, Ohio State, etc., a few teams who crack the top 10 once in a while by getting out of the middle of the pack, the actual middle of the pack, and then the dregs. These elite teams tend to stay at the top years at a time, primarily because their track record allows them to recruit the best players in the nation annually.
The same would happen in the NBA. With owners like Mark Cuban who love to win and are willing to spend, all the best players would be bought up with hefty, ludicrous contracts that they would not be able to refuse. The next thing you know, the Mavs are an all star team with team chemistry and set plays (what even team USA isn't at this point. They're lacking in the set plays, but I digress). Team such as the Clippers however, with a stingy owner in Donald Sterling, would remain at the middle or lower-middle end, because they would be fine with developing young talent at a cheaper price, torturing their fan base with promises of good fortune to come in the future, and then shipping the talent off to the mavs.
There would be far fewer surprises and upsets, because even though there can be surprise teams, there is just no way they will win a league when they have to face teams so loaded with talent that they cannot lose. Sorry David, but Goliath is gonna crush you.
Personally, even though I can see this happening, I hope it doesn't. I like it that there is hope for the Clippers (my favorite team) to one day take down a powerhouse like the Spurs and reach the finals. Even though they aren't the best team, the best part of being a fan is being able to convince yourself that 'this is our year' every offseason. Without that, sports wouldn't be the same.
College football today consists of a few consistently elite teams, such as USC, Ohio State, etc., a few teams who crack the top 10 once in a while by getting out of the middle of the pack, the actual middle of the pack, and then the dregs. These elite teams tend to stay at the top years at a time, primarily because their track record allows them to recruit the best players in the nation annually.
The same would happen in the NBA. With owners like Mark Cuban who love to win and are willing to spend, all the best players would be bought up with hefty, ludicrous contracts that they would not be able to refuse. The next thing you know, the Mavs are an all star team with team chemistry and set plays (what even team USA isn't at this point. They're lacking in the set plays, but I digress). Team such as the Clippers however, with a stingy owner in Donald Sterling, would remain at the middle or lower-middle end, because they would be fine with developing young talent at a cheaper price, torturing their fan base with promises of good fortune to come in the future, and then shipping the talent off to the mavs.
There would be far fewer surprises and upsets, because even though there can be surprise teams, there is just no way they will win a league when they have to face teams so loaded with talent that they cannot lose. Sorry David, but Goliath is gonna crush you.
Personally, even though I can see this happening, I hope it doesn't. I like it that there is hope for the Clippers (my favorite team) to one day take down a powerhouse like the Spurs and reach the finals. Even though they aren't the best team, the best part of being a fan is being able to convince yourself that 'this is our year' every offseason. Without that, sports wouldn't be the same.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Basketball in the Future
Within the next 30 years, the structure of basketball is going to become more or less like soccer, something that excites me beyond reason. For those of you who don't understand the format of soccer leagues in Europe, here is a brief explanation:
Many countries in Europe have their own leagues including Engalnd (English Premiere League), Spain (La Liga ), Italy (Serie A) , and Germany (Bundesliga). Because of the large number of teams in a league, each league has divisions in which the top teams inhabit the highest division, the next set a lower division, and so on . The bottom three teams in the top league (i.e. Serie A) get relegated to the next league (i.e. Serie B), and the top three teams in the second league get pushed up into the first.
Teams play to win their league, but top teams also play in inter-league tournaments, such as the Champions League and UEFA Cup, during their season. Even if you lose your own league's championship, there may still be a chance to win some silverware.
Top quality players get transferred between leagues. For example, Ronaldinho (whom most of you should have heard of) just transferred from La Liga to Serie A.
I see the NBA slowly moving towards this point as the European leagues become more and more experienced and talented and it won't be long until they can rival the best NBA teams on a nightly basis. The NBA will always be the dominant league, but more of their dominance will lie in their history and less on their talent.
As for the draft and the salary cap restrictions, soccer players get signed by young clubs known for developing players and then get signed by the big name clubs, who always sign the good players because there are no salary cap restrictions. I don't see the NBA implementing these rules and systems anytime soon, but eventually they may cave in.
Either way, the shift towards multiple leagues of one of my favorite sports is going to take the game to a level unimaginable. I can't wait to be there when it does.
Many countries in Europe have their own leagues including Engalnd (English Premiere League), Spain (La Liga ), Italy (Serie A) , and Germany (Bundesliga). Because of the large number of teams in a league, each league has divisions in which the top teams inhabit the highest division, the next set a lower division, and so on . The bottom three teams in the top league (i.e. Serie A) get relegated to the next league (i.e. Serie B), and the top three teams in the second league get pushed up into the first.
Teams play to win their league, but top teams also play in inter-league tournaments, such as the Champions League and UEFA Cup, during their season. Even if you lose your own league's championship, there may still be a chance to win some silverware.
Top quality players get transferred between leagues. For example, Ronaldinho (whom most of you should have heard of) just transferred from La Liga to Serie A.
I see the NBA slowly moving towards this point as the European leagues become more and more experienced and talented and it won't be long until they can rival the best NBA teams on a nightly basis. The NBA will always be the dominant league, but more of their dominance will lie in their history and less on their talent.
As for the draft and the salary cap restrictions, soccer players get signed by young clubs known for developing players and then get signed by the big name clubs, who always sign the good players because there are no salary cap restrictions. I don't see the NBA implementing these rules and systems anytime soon, but eventually they may cave in.
Either way, the shift towards multiple leagues of one of my favorite sports is going to take the game to a level unimaginable. I can't wait to be there when it does.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
The amazingness that is the airport
My buddy sent this to me, decent on the unintentional comedy. Might not be to your taste if you're a Sasha Vujacic fan (a.k.a. "The Machine")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQU-xfpaYF4
Song of the day:
Worst Comes to Worst - Dilated Peoples
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Note: The following was how I felt before this past weekend, when all my flights were delayed, the food tasted crappy, and the quality of the plane wasn't anything to be proud about. Oh yeah, they 'lost my bag', found it, and now the website says they have no info on anything about it or when it's going to be returned. I flew United. You've been warned.
---
For some reason, I love airports. I love the process involved in travelling on a plane. For the individual, I get pulled in by the strategy involved with getting through security in the quickest possible manner and in figuring out the best time to leave so the wait at the gate is not too long but not too short. I'm competitive and battling against yourself is pretty fun; after all, if you lose, you only lose to yourself, but if you win, well then, you can go and buy yourself a cookie as a reward.
Looking at the bigger picture, I'm amazed by the organization and layout of each airport. The stores, the floor/carpet, the shape of the buildings, the transportation methods between terminals (bart like trains at SFO or underground tunnels at O'Hare). Personally, I found Heathrow airport in London to be a bit disappointing. After all, it's London; you'd think they would go all out and make it one of the better airports in the world. As a self proclaimed airport critic, I have to say, I wasn't impressed. On the other hand, Singapore is the best I have experienced, though I saw Dubai's long ago and do not remember much, so I can't bring that into the equation. To explain the beauty which is the Singapore airport would require an entire post to itself, so I will save it for another day.
Then comes the plane itself. I do not care for domestic flights, but flying internationally excites me for three reasons: the entertainment, the food, and the end of the flight if you are beginning your vacation. The entertainment system for these flights is bound to include a movie you have not seen before on your individual tv. If you are on singapore airlines, which I tend to travel on for trips to India, you have your selection of tons of SNES games to play for hours on end. It's just amazing what comfort you get on those planes, and it's only going to get better. As for the food, for some reason, I like it. There is no way to state it, but I like it. I am not a picky eater, usually they throw in a good desert, and it is always a balanced meal. Finally, the landing is great because you know you are getting into a new country. Different people, different clothes, different actions, and I'm guessing you're not just going to sit around and do nothing, so that in itself is exciting.
It's a weird thing about me, but what can I say, I love travelling (literally).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Song of the day:
Worst Comes to Worst - Dilated Peoples
---
Note: The following was how I felt before this past weekend, when all my flights were delayed, the food tasted crappy, and the quality of the plane wasn't anything to be proud about. Oh yeah, they 'lost my bag', found it, and now the website says they have no info on anything about it or when it's going to be returned. I flew United. You've been warned.
---
For some reason, I love airports. I love the process involved in travelling on a plane. For the individual, I get pulled in by the strategy involved with getting through security in the quickest possible manner and in figuring out the best time to leave so the wait at the gate is not too long but not too short. I'm competitive and battling against yourself is pretty fun; after all, if you lose, you only lose to yourself, but if you win, well then, you can go and buy yourself a cookie as a reward.
Looking at the bigger picture, I'm amazed by the organization and layout of each airport. The stores, the floor/carpet, the shape of the buildings, the transportation methods between terminals (bart like trains at SFO or underground tunnels at O'Hare). Personally, I found Heathrow airport in London to be a bit disappointing. After all, it's London; you'd think they would go all out and make it one of the better airports in the world. As a self proclaimed airport critic, I have to say, I wasn't impressed. On the other hand, Singapore is the best I have experienced, though I saw Dubai's long ago and do not remember much, so I can't bring that into the equation. To explain the beauty which is the Singapore airport would require an entire post to itself, so I will save it for another day.
Then comes the plane itself. I do not care for domestic flights, but flying internationally excites me for three reasons: the entertainment, the food, and the end of the flight if you are beginning your vacation. The entertainment system for these flights is bound to include a movie you have not seen before on your individual tv. If you are on singapore airlines, which I tend to travel on for trips to India, you have your selection of tons of SNES games to play for hours on end. It's just amazing what comfort you get on those planes, and it's only going to get better. As for the food, for some reason, I like it. There is no way to state it, but I like it. I am not a picky eater, usually they throw in a good desert, and it is always a balanced meal. Finally, the landing is great because you know you are getting into a new country. Different people, different clothes, different actions, and I'm guessing you're not just going to sit around and do nothing, so that in itself is exciting.
It's a weird thing about me, but what can I say, I love travelling (literally).
So this is how it's gonna work . . .
My mind wanders like no other, and I'm going to use this blog to talk about anything that makes me think, from sports to technology to grass (there'll be an ode to grass at some point and, no, not weed. I'm talking about fields of grass). If there's a song I like, I'll put it up, and if there's a worthy youtube clip I've been sent or I've found, that'll go up too.
This blog is meant to be nothing more than a distraction, something of interest to those who are bored. Some may find it insightful, others completely useless and dumb. Most of all, however, it is a place for me to record my thoughts during the day, whether it be about events that shaped me or things that I heard about during the day. Hope you enjoy, and at the least, I hope it helps you get through the work/school day, if that's when you're reading it.
This blog is meant to be nothing more than a distraction, something of interest to those who are bored. Some may find it insightful, others completely useless and dumb. Most of all, however, it is a place for me to record my thoughts during the day, whether it be about events that shaped me or things that I heard about during the day. Hope you enjoy, and at the least, I hope it helps you get through the work/school day, if that's when you're reading it.
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