Contenders in the East?

Today, the Boston Celtics acquired one of the best players in the NBA, Kevin Garnett, from the Minnesota Timberwolves. This past summer Danny Ainge has turned the Celtics from one of the leagues worst to a now contending team in the Eastern Conference. In addition to acquiring Garnett, the Celtics also got sharpshooter Ray Allen from the SuperSonics.

I like this deal for two reasons because 1) the Trail Blazers only have to see both Allen and Garnett only twice a year now, and 2) it is better for the league to have storied franchises in contention. The Boston Celtics are one of the most historic teams in the NBA. It was very sad to see this team be very bad these last couple of years. ( The same can be said for the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks) I believe that it is better for the league for storied franchises to be good. Fans follow the big name teams, with the Celtics suddenly good again the NBA will attract more fans. My question for the blog to comment on is it better for the league to have the storied big name franchises contending or is more exciting for new teams to win?

So long Donaghy...

Tim Donaghy is not a saint. He may be responsible for one of the worst atrocities in the history of the NBA, but his involvement shouldn’t be as much of a surprise as it seems to be. He has a documented history of scandalous events surrounding the NBA. Disputes with neighbors which the league had to get involved in, the threats of violence from Rasheed Wallace after a Blazer game, and his role in the “other” biggest atrocity in the NBA (the pacers-pistons fight); the fact that this man was rated one of the better NBA refs is a joke.

But the question I want to ask is this; is a ref really able to shave enough points to sway a game? What if the team that is supposed to win goes absolutely cold from the field? What if the team that is supposed to lose gets so hot that they can’t be stopped? I question the fact that a mobster would invest substantial amounts of money on games that weren’t entirely open to manipulation. To be successful the acts would have to be so subtle that experts didn’t notice them. The act of paying an official to shave is a disgusting attempt to diminish a great game, but in my opinion it’s not on the same level as paying a player to do the same.

This situation makes me wonder just how often this happens. Either way Donaghy needs to be made an example of. If a harsh punishment is circumvented it may open the door for many more occurrences. My opinion is people need to sleep in the bed they make, and I think Donaghy’s bed is quite uncomfortable right now. He can only hope the punishment is enforced by the league and not his new friends.

Desperate Times Call for Lazy Measures

Has anyone opened the sports page lately? Maybe frequented the most popular sports websites? How about tuned into your favorite sports talk show?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you're probably horrified beyond belief at the extensive coverage sports' recent misconduct cases are receiving. Seriously, every time I flip on the tube, pick up the sports page or tune into a sports talk radio show, I cross my fingers and pray that I will not hear the names Michael Vick or Tim Donaghy. Call me crazy, but don't ESPN and publications across the nation have any other material, because this repeating track is getting a bit old.

It may only be at the collegiate level, but I have some experience in sports media. For the most part, all levels of newpapering follow the same core principles, so I understand the excessive coverage to a degree. However, another primary rule of thumb for journalists is to search and probe for the next great story. Personally, I haven't witnessed much scouring for further details or evidence in the Vick or Donaghy cases.

Instead I've observed extended periods of journalists silently sitting on their hands, waiting for the next press release or personal statement to surface. Once NBA Commissioner David Stern speaks or Falcons' Owner Arthur Blank provides his opinion, the writers can snatch their laptops and peck away, producing another story to belabor the point that Vick's acts were heartless and Donaghy is a gambling fool.

From a fellow sports writer's perspective, these journalists and columnists should find another angle, or jump ship and cover a different story all together. It's not that difficult to explore alternatives. Actually, it's quite refreshing. These guys should give it s try, because the stereotype that sports writers are lazy and unmotivated is evolving by the minute.

Petey Baseball's New Friend

With the allegations of Tim Donaghy's involvement in helping to fix NBA games, I am surprised that Pete Rose's name has not come more into the conversation. Rose's ban from baseball (he bet on his teams games while he was manager, but says he never bet on them to lose) has made a fool of baseball's greatest hitter. But he was never proven to have fixed anything or altered the game. It is alleged that Donaghy altered outcomes of NBA games to cover gambling debts with low-level mob members.

If it hasn't happened already, the NBA needs to suspend Donaghy indefinitely. In a league where there are already cries about officiating being one-sided, swift action is needed.

If the allegations are proven false, or sufficient evidence is lacking, then Donaghy should be allowed to work again, on a probationary basis. But, if they are true, then a probe is needed to determine how far this scandal reaches. It is not yet known if other officials or players are involved.

My hope is that, if proven true, Donaghy doesn't just get off with a slap on the wrist. Plea bargaining in this case is wrong. He should not get off scott-free for throwing other involved parties under the bus.

Throw the book at him - hard.

Catastrophic Turn Of Events For NBA.

Today the NBA may have just received its biggest black eye ever. Reports have just surfaced stating an NBA referee has bet on NBA games including games that he had officiated it. Fans have always made comments that the refs throw games and that the games are "given" to certain teams. Well, now former, NBA referee Tim Donaghy may have just given substance to these arguments. The FBI is currently investigating these allegations but this is still a massive problem for the NBA. It is also under investigation if Donaghy has ties to organized crime.

This is a problem for the League that cannot just go away. This is something that could tarnish the NBA forever. If games were thrown this means that no one can truly know how credible all the games were that this ref officiated. This will most likely cause fans to be outraged, especially fans of the teams that could be found to have been harmed by this. I just can't believe how bad this can turn out for the NBA, if games were being thrown this is a serious issue and should not be hidden from the public eye.

The NBA will need to come out and apologize to the teams and fans of the league if this turns out to be true. Also they will have to now seriously look into the other referees and see if this is an ongoing issue still. I feel this is something that the NBA may never be able to recover from. There are some serious side effects that can come out of this. Also, if this is tied to organized crime, this is going to get very ugly. Hopefully the NBA will be able to sort this issue out and return the leagues image to one of a respectable sort.

More to come on this later…

NBA Summer League, Not So NBA at all...

With the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League wrapping up it has been bothering me hear from people already judging the players that participated as to how they will play in the NBA. For those that don't know the NBA summer leagues are games held in which NBA teams send rookies and players vying for a roster spot to play, showoff talent, and get ready for the upcoming season. Now with that said, it really bothers me how many people try to take these games, which are run by the NBA not actually NBA level games, and try to prove how certain players are going to dominate or struggle in the League.

For example this summer with Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, Portland and Seattle’s top draft picks, people are already trying to put too much emphasis on these players’ performances. Greg Oden has already been criticized for foul trouble and his offense, even though he was struggling through enflamed tonsils and not even able to play close to 100%, also lets not forget that this is his first time playing with NBA rules and this is the time where he is supposed to learn what an NBA foul is and isn’t. Also the refs are getting ready for the season also, so there is just a lot of work and learning going on.

There has been a load of hype around Portland and Seattle's top draft picks, but lets not already try to judge their game based on some very meaningless summer games played against some very weak competition. Lets all just wait until the actual NBA season arrives and these players actually get some real NBA experience in under their belts. You don't hear the announcers on T.V. during games talk about how that game that was played in Vegas over the summer really showed us why so and so did not do well in today’s regular season game, so why should we?

The summer leagues are great learning tools for young and unproven talents to work on the game and hopefully land a roster spot on an NBA team. So lets just let it be at that and enjoy getting to watch some of the games when the make rare appearances on FSN or NBAtv. The game is played in the winter, not the summer. Until then we will just have to wait to see how these players will actually turn out.

7/18 Facilitation – Kids in Pro Sports?

My topic for the debate on Wednesday will be focused on whether or not teens should be able to make the jump to the professional level before a year of college? Should there be a minimum age requirement enforced for all professional sports?

Background on age requirements:

Recently 16-year-old Tadd Fujikawa announced that he is forfeiting his amateur golf status to pursue a professional career in the PGA. Fujikawa did something few thought possible in January, upstaging Michelle Wie and becoming the second-youngest in PGA Tour history to make a cut. But should he be able to make the big leap in to the PGA without proving himself in college for a year or two?

The LPGA, NHL and PGA have a waiver option for athletes who are younger than 18, which enables athletes an opportunity to turn pro before the age of 18 if they fulfill certain requirements.

The NFL age requirement prohibits young football players from turning pro right after high school. The NFL and NCAA claim that the NFL age requirement protects young athletes by shielding them from physical injury and requiring them to mature emotionally and receive an education before entering the world of professional sports.

In 2005 the NBA moved the age requirement to 19, forcing kids to experience one year in college. The NBA has experienced two drafts after implementing the age requirement and it has helped better the talent of its NBA prospects.

Major League Baseball requires athletes to be 16 years of age to tryout for farm teams. And tennis has been more lenient about teen players, although they limit the number of events they can enter.

Reasons for it being unfair:

• The biggest area of concern for the college athlete is the potential for a career-ending injury occurring before they are able to cash in on the monetary value of their talents. The possibility of being hurt while playing in minor leagues or college is of great concern.

• It is a free country, and if a teen is good enough to compete at the professional level then we should let them.

Reasons for it being fair:

• College expands education and enhances both social and public relations skills, even if the athlete is in college for only a year or two. The time spent in college allows athletes to develop into a more complete player.

• Enforcing minimum age requirements for all sports will force teens to better themselves at the colligate level, therefore making them a more polished player when they turn pro.

Nathan's Debate 7/16- Dressed Up or Down?

I've decided to facilitate one of the sports-world's most controversial topics over the past couple years: the NBA Dress Code.

Briefly before the 2005-06 season, the NBA, led by Commissioner David Stern, implemented a dress code to which all players must adhere. Prior to the "business casual" dress code, players were allowed to express themselves, donning their favorite t-shirts, a variety of baseball caps, sunglasses, jeans and jewelry. The newly established put a kibosh to this self expression, and the outcry from players was widespread, permeating the entire nation. It seemed everyone had an opinion and weighed in without much coaxing.

Here are some articles that provide more in-depth information on this topic:

The official NBA Player Dress Code

Player reactions, including the likes of Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and Stephen Jackson candidly voicing their opinions

ESPN news story that gives a succinct account of the dress code

Reasons the NBA Player Dress Code is GOOD:
The NBA's blemished image (i.e. arrests, fights, Kobe's rape case) may improve
Players look more professional
To a degree, all players have a unified appearance
The Association can weed out clothing and accessories it deems inappropriate
Displays more respect for the game

Reasons the NBA Player Dress Code is BAD:
The players are all adults and should not be subject to such juvenile policies
Stern's attempt to erase the NBA's hip-hop culture could have racist undertones
Eliminating the hip-hop culture could have negative marketing implications
This policy infringes on the player's freedom of expression
According to many players, the "business casual" attire is uncomfortable