Last night's Lakers loss, in which the team squandered a 19-point lead, certainly did not exemplify how defending champions are supposed to play. However, before everyone jumps to conclusions - "Lakers-haters" that includes you too - the game must be put into context.
First and foremost, the Lake Show is missing the entire cast, with injuries to starting center Andrew Bynum and back-up Theo Ratliff. What once appeared to be depth at the center position with 'Drew, Ratliff, and recent draft pick Derrick Caracter, has dwindled down to the rookie.
What if Bynum had been available in a game like this? Well, I would rather not think about it, because he would probably sustain an injury against the brutal Utah Jazz. However, a sturdy, big body like Ratliff could definitely do a better job holding his own against the likes of Al Jefferson than Caracter could. In all seriousness, though, the presence of a veteran seven-footer - either Bynum or Ratliff - in addition to Gasol would have made a tremendous difference on the boards.
Also, the Killer B's took a break. Rather than extending leads like they usually do, Phil Jackson's "Renegades" could not produce a spark off the bench. In fact, Steve Blake shot 0-7. To make matters worse, Utah's bench was feeling it, lead by a 11-0 run from Earl Watson and Ronnie Price.
It wasn't just the Lakers bench who shot poorly. Derek Fisher was 1-7 and Ron Artest was 3-8, missing a crucial three-pointer in the closing minutes. Whereas, on the other end, Deron Williams had a stellar performance and Al Jefferson hurt the Lakers in the post. Kobe Bryant is the greatest, but even the Black Mamba needs help guiding his squad to a victory. What more can you ask from a guy who scored 14 consecutive points, including a trio of three's, for the team toward the end of the game?
Perhaps most irritating were the shot-clock malfunctions in the final minutes. Trailing by 2 points, the Lakers fast-break opportunity was interrupted with 27 ticks remaining because of a shot-clock error.
"What was going on there?" Jackson asked after the game. "That stopped a break on our part. ... Fish had a nice rhythm going on a transition with a 3-point deficit, and it stops the ball and starts it out of bounds. It's not right; it's just not right."
The verdict: Don't take this game too seriously. Utah is one of the most difficult places to play in the entire league for any team. The bench was due for a bad game and with a decent, but not impressive output from the starters the team was bound to lose.
Nights like this happen - except for the shot-clock malfunctions, which were an unfortunate coincidence - and there's not really much that can be done about them. Tribulations on the road are part of a 82-game season. For the Lakers, it's just a matter of moving onto the next one: what should be an easy home victory Sunday against the Indiana Pacers.
Is Kobe Bryant promoting guns and violence? That is what the sports world is busy debating at the moment. In case you haven't heard, the Black Mamba was in an ad promoting the recently-released video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. The fact that he was holding a gun has caused quite a controversy.
Some are infuriated by a lack of response from Commissioner David Stern. Others simply feel that the most popular player in the NBA should not be smiling with an armed weapon. Whatever the case, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
However, at the end of the day, we're talking about a video game. Think of Allen Iverson's practice rant and just substitute "practice" with "video game." Why are we obsessing over the man's role in an advertisement for a friggin' video game? Are there not more important things to worry about? I guess not.
For those that think Stern should chastise Bryant, keep dreaming. If anything, Stern will kneel and kiss Kobe's feet for all the jersey sales he has racked and his impact on the league's TV ratings. Plus, the ad doesn't concern the commissioner; it is a personal endeavor on Bryant's part.
Could the ad be misconceived? Of course, but that does not mean people are going to say, "Oh, look, Kobe is shooting a gun. Guns are cool!" Bryant's involvement is only to encourage people to buy a video game - not purchase a rifle. Plus, it's not like the superstar's involvement completely changed the potential success of the video game.
Call of Duty was benefiting from heavy word-of-mouth advertisement as well as other ads without the NBA player. Upwards of six million people have bought the game thus far. Clearly, those who wanted the game were going to get their hands on it, with or without Kobe Bryant being in an advertisement.
For Bryant's sake, his life might have been easier if he had decided not to participate in the campaign. Why take a chance with your image? Then again, #24 has never been one to care what others think about him. Exhibit A: His "Hate it or Love it" campaign with Nike.
While the latest hobby may be to bash LeBron James, his Thanksgiving endeavors are admirable. In case you haven't heard, the Miami Heat star is organizing 700 Thanksgiving dinners in his native city of Akron, Ohio. Perhaps it is time to step back, take a break from our criticisms of the former Cleveland Cavalier, and appreciate his charitable efforts.
Sure, some may argue that James is simply trying to improve his image. However, if his hour-long "Decision" special and recent Nike commercial have been any indication, the man could care less about his PR.
In sports, it's too easy to fixate on players as athletes and overlook who they are as human beings. For example, the past few years, Jazz fans have consistently been hostile to their former point guard, Derek Fisher. Fisher, now a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, was forced to migrate to L.A. because of the medical facilities it offered for his daughter, Tatum, who has a form of eye cancer. It didn't matter that Fisher was taking a multi-million dollar pay-cut or that he was leaving for the sake of his child's life; people still give him a tough time in Salt Lake City.
In case you are new to the blog, I am not an avid supporter of LeBron James. There are numerous moments, and my previous posts will attest to this, where I disagree with his actions and egotistic antics. Heck, even James himself has expressed he would have done "The Decision" differently. Regardless, James deserves praise for reaching out to Akron. We're talking about the hometown "fans" that burned his jersey. His native brethren have even posted signs dubbing him "2010 NBA Traitor of the Year."
“I’ve always said when I was growing up, being in a small city like Akron, that if I ever became successful or was ever blessed enough to give back to the community, I’ll always do that,” James said before the Heat faced the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. “Especially around holiday times, when you’re supposed to be with your family.”
This time, James certainly made the right "decision."
Even in trash talking, there is a certain line that must not be crossed - a line which the Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett is apparently unaware of. As an athlete, Garnett is allowed to talk smack and rattle up opponents, even anger them if need be. However, a reference to a medical illness, especially to a disease which one is born with and basically has no control over, has no place in trash talk.
If you haven't heard yet, the Detroit Pistons' Charlie Villanueva tweeted on Tuesday: "KG called me a cancer patient, I'm pissed because, u know how many people died from cancer, and he's tossing it like it's a joke."
Garnett, in what appears to be a statement his PR staffers worked hard on, answered back with "My comment to Charlie Villanueva was in fact 'You are cancerous to your team and our league.' I would never be insensitive to the brave struggle that cancer patients endure. I have lost loved ones to this deadly disease and have a family member currently undergoing treatment. I would never say anything that distasteful. The game of life is far bigger than the game of basketball."
For the record, Villanueva suffers from Alopecia Universalis, a disease that results in hair loss on the body. Personally, I am starting to theorize that Garnett has a disease in which he cannot shut his mouth. In the 21st century, athletes are long past the "role model" responsibility. It is bad enough having Garnett romp around the court yelling, I'll bet several expletives, the entire evening. Now, he's making cancerous references too?
Let's pretend to take Garnett's word for it and say you did not mean to call Villanueva a cancer patient. Why even blurt out that he's cancerous? You obviously have eyes that can see that perhaps Villanueva may have some health issues, if you aren't already aware of it from being one of his NBA colleagues. By dubbing him "cancerous", Garnett was very likely playing off the assumed pun that Villanueva is a cancer patient, thus taking a shot at the Piston for his illness.
Surprisingly, Garnett has people in his defense. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers have backed their player, even turning the tables to criticize Villanueva for divulging the matter on Twitter.
"Both players have completely different stories," Ainge said. "One guy has a Twitter account where he blurts things out, that's the first thing. Doc said he heard what KG said and I believe Doc. Doc isn't going to say that if it's not true. I believe Doc and I believe KG."
Really, Ainge? You believe Doc Rivers? We're talking about the same coach who said this past summer that "[the Lakers] have not beaten our starting five. Our starting five against the Lakers starting five has a ring," when in reality the Lakers played without starting center Andrew Bynum against the Celtics in the 2008 Finals and starting forward Trevor Ariza was playing limited minutes due to injury. I would not trust Rivers, especially with facts.
Really, Ainge? You believe KG? Have you seen this guy during an NBA game? He just keeps mouthing away at everyone. Between elbowing and tripping players, he still has the nerve to continually verbally jab on and on. Sometimes it feels like the technical foul was made for the man and his emotions. I would not be surprised if KG actually said Villanueva was an f'ing weak cancer patient. His mouth simply knows no limits. For goodness sake, he starts fights out of nothing.
Here's the right thing to do Ainge: Instead of coming off as defensive and attacking Villanueva, you should just approach Garnett for a brief chat. Remind him that cancer is no joke. Fans may be entertained by his emotions, but at the end of the day, they also demand a degree of civility and sanity.
Garnett would most likely reassure you that he did not mean any harm by his comments, which is extremely debatable. When you make your appearance on public radio, rather than saying what you said, you should reassure fans that you've spoken with Garnett, he told you he did not have any bad intentions, and apologize if anyone misinterpreted the comment.
All I have to say is that I honestly hope Garnett is sorry. In spite of the fact that he has a cancer patient in his family, he should be aware of the struggle at hand. Indeed, "the game of life is far bigger than the game of basketball." Garnett would be best served to take his own words to heart and starting acting accordingly.
The NBA season kicked off yesterday with plenty of hype surrounding the opening day. The defending Eastern Conference champions, the Boston Celtics, won an 88-80 home victory over the Miami Heat, a team which some pundits expect to set records with a 73+ win season. On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Lakers began the evening with a ring ceremony and concluded with a 112-110 win against the Houston Rockets.
Although the games were entertaining, it's crucial to note that it was Day 1. The Heat's Big Three of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh had barely played three minutes together prior to Monday. Adjustments will be made and players' conditioning will improve - and that goes for every team. However, with that said, there were some observations to be made:
- The New Technical Foul Policy - With more discipline regulations in place for this season, some personnel complained that the modifications would have a detrimental effect. TNT commentator and former player Reggie Miller asserted that sometimes, especially in a playoff atmosphere, players just need to vent and will then proceed down the court. One can certainly understand the arguments against the rules.
Whether you agree with the new rules or not, the games did seem to go by faster. It was awfully nice the delay of players holding on to the ball and chatting with the officials. Plus, as Commissioner David Stern pointed out, a call is never changed by a player's subsequent argument. On the flip side, the conspiracy theorists may claim that it affects the referees' future calls but that's another debate. - The Big Three, Nay Miami Heat, Are Not Invincible - Despite injuries which limited the Big Three's preseason minutes together, all the off-season hype caused many to have great expectations. Last night, the trio did not deliver. Sure, James was the high man with 29 points, but that's not the area of concern. Between James and Wade, there were 14 turnovers. Additionally, Bosh only had 8 points - as many as Udonis Haslem - on 3-11 shooting. Furthermore, Wade, easing his way back from injury, was even less less efficient with 13 points while only connecting on 4-16 field goals.
Outside of the Big Three, Miami's roster is not deep at all. Joel Anthony, who started at center, and Arroyo, who started at point guard, are just not enough to support the establishment in place. It helps to have perimeter threats in Mike Miller and Eddie House, but until they mesh and play influential roles, Miami still has some work to do.
Taking into account that a) it was the first game of the season b) it was a road game c) it was against the Celtics, it's easy to justify the squad's struggles. In fact, the Heat bounced back with a win against Philadelphia today, in which Wade scored 30 points on 10-20 shooting. The point is that talk of shattering the 72-win record or the 33-game winning streak is far-fetched. - Rondo's Relevance - Once considered to be the area of concern in the Celtics' lineup, he's now arguably the best of the starting five. If you haven't noticed, when he's out there, every play goes through Rondo. On a fast break, he can outrun the opposition and take it to the cup or find Shaq for an alley-oop. In a half court set, he has an eagle's eye in finding Ray Allen on curls and delivers bulls' eye passes. Defensively, don't even think about throwing lob passes. Once it's out of your hand, it is a Rondo interception.
- Lakers 3.0 - While the media concentrated on South Beach, the Los Angeles Lakers added depth to an already stunning roster. Just when you thought general manager Mitch Kuptchak was out of tricks, he selected two of the best prospects possible in Derrick Caracter and Devin Ebanks. To replace an inconsistent Jordan Farmar and help share point guard duties with Derek Fisher, the Lakers found the perfect replacement in Steve Blake - who hit the key three-pointer to win last night's game. In the long run, Fisher won't need to overextend himself during the regular season and will be fully prepared, as he always is, to hit the big shots come playoff time.
While DJ Mbenga was a fan favorite, he simply can't get the job done remotely as well as veteran Theo Ratliff. The former All-Star will be particularly crucial during Bynum's absence and can mentor the young fella once he gets back on the court. To counter Miami's array of perimeter threats, the Lakers combated by signing the gritty Matt Barnes. Between Barnes and Blake, L.A. has also spread the floor with long-range shooters.
In spite of injuries to Bynum and Kobe Bryant, it's incredibly helpful to have the ultimate Swiss Army knife in Lamar Odom, who's in great shape after competing in the FIBA World Championships during the off-season. The new and improved Lakers also features Shannon Brown, who added an impressive perimeter touch. No longer exclusively a dunker, he is capable of knocking down mid and long-range jumpers.
Overall, this new squad is much deeper and more improved. The juxtaposition of those in search of another title along with the new acquisitions hungry for their first ring should work well to L.A.'s advantage. - Don't Rule Out the Bigs - Amidst age and injuries, many have been too quick to bet against the credibility of the Celtics' Shaquille O'Neal and the Houston Rockets' Yao Ming. Yet, as fans saw last night, O'Neal is still a Big Diesel as he finished plays around the rim. Ming, who will be limited to a maximum of 24 minutes a game, still had a presence in the paint, which is all the Rockets ask. Just having his 7'6" frame alone is intimidating. If he can make some plays too, like he did last night, well, the Rockets' circumstances are that much better.
After captivating fans with his chronicle of the United States' men's national team in the past three World Cups, "Dying Bravely" filmmaker Nick Butler has produced another great piece, "Clint Dempsey - The Fighter." In my review of Butler's previous work, I praised his excellent ability to tell a story and reveal things that a casual fan may not have known - qualities he continued to exemplify in his latest montage.
The video revolves much around the early death of Clint's sister, Jennifer, a nationally-ranked tennis star in the works as well as emphasizing Clint's resilience. There's no doubt that soccer is a physical sport, but few players, nay athletes, have taken as many hard knocks as Dempsey. Among the most intriguing parts of the video was a shot of Clint in his high school yearbook. Asked where he'd hope to be in five years, Clint answered, "Playing professional soccer in Europe." Well, let's just say the Fulham starter went on to accomplish his goal.
Interestingly enough, the production was commissioned at the request of Dempsey's brother, Ryan, who was impressed with "Dying Bravely." Since it was uploaded on October 11, it has attracted over 7,200 views and struck a chord amongst soccer fans everywhere. The video was surely well-received by Ryan, who shipped an autographed cleat and sports bag signed by Clint himself.
"I meant it to be a gift to Clint, my sister, my family, and to people out there who have run into obstacles or tragedy on their journey to achieve their own goals," said Ryan Dempsey. "I wanted something that showed how close my brother and sister were so people could better understand the motivation behind Clint's success. But I also wanted it to show moments in the games where things weren't going Clint's way in order to demonstrate what it takes to keep fighting on. It's been said that soccer mirrors life in so many ways. In my opinion that's the main theme between the two."
"Over 90 minutes, mistakes will happen. Your body will get tired or hurt. That never automatically means that the game is over. Those that want it bad enough, will shut out the pain and will forget the mistakes and will continue towards their goal. Even if you don't win or acheive your goal, you want to be able to look back and say that you didn't quit. The pain that's caused by looking back and saying 'I didn't give it all I had when i had the chance' is worse than any physical or emotional pain you'll ever feel in a game."
Overall, the video cast a unique light on Dempsey, casting him as the hard worker that he is while touching on his emotional past. Butler actually included sound bites from Clint, as well as motivational recordings from the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Billy Bob Thornton. He continued to do a brilliant job of synchronizing the music and the clips, another element which interested Dempsey.
In the end, Ryan Dempsey and this blogger left with the same thought: What an amazing video made by an equally amazing filmmaker. "I'm hopin' Nick continues with his soccer career," advised Dempsey, "but also keeps the idea in the back of his head that maybe a career in film wouldn't be a bad idea."
With all the hype surrounding South Beach, one would have thought the Miami Heat have already won a championship or two. However, truth be told, the regular season has yet to begin. Las Vegas was prompt to pick the Heat as title favorites almost immediately after "The Decision." Nevertheless, it's easy to forget that the Eastern Conference is home to several elite teams, notably the Boston Celtics, who present some daunting obstacles for LeBron James & Co.
Contrary to how it may seem, the Heat are not a complete package. Perhaps former ESPN analyst and current Fox Sports radio personality Stephen A. Smith put it best. During the Q&A session of a speaking engagement last week at Beverly Hills High School, he said:
"LeBron, D-Wade, Chris Bosh - sensational athleticism. Eddie House, Mike Miller - [who are good] shooters. Mario Chalmers, a decent point guard. They don't have a big man. They have Udonis Haslm, whose undersized. Juwan Howard, whose old and undersized. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, whose slow, big, scrubby."
"You need a couple of big men. They don't have that."
Smith would then provide a defense for the Celtics and an interesting point about their post match-up against the Lakers.
"What you have with Boston: You have Ray Allen. You have Paul Pierce. You have Rajon Rondo. Then look what they went out and did. They got Shaquille O'Neal [and] Jermaine O'Neal. They got Kendrick Perkins coming back midseason - he'll be healthy by then. You have Glen 'Big Baby' Davis, whose shorter but a big, wide body.
You've got KG, who'll be better this year because after you have micofracture surgery, they say that you actually get better as you age...So whatever we saw from KG last year, he'll be better healed this year.What you have are [several] 7-footers and a small, miniature, wide body to throw at Pau Gasol and a one-legged Andrew Bynum."
Essentially, the Boston Celtics did not mess with a recipe for success that got them to within four points of a Game 7 victory on the road. Rather, they kept their nucleus in tact and added a couple key big men. Plus, as Smith mentioned, his sources have disclosed that Rasheed Wallace may be salvaged, too. In that case, the Heat has a long way to go - at least a couple months of regular season action - before it can back up the mass of hype.
Despite the fact that December 25 is more than two months away, hype for the yule-tide Lakers-Heat showdown has already begun. For the Los Angeles Lakers, the team will want to avenge last year's epic letdown to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. On the other hand, the Miami Heat would love to see Lakers fans boo their home team and throw foam fingers on the court in the midst of a blowout.
"Last year, we fell all over ourselves," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of the Lakers' loss.
Of course, Jackson also views the game as a drag.
"This game is always a game we're not excited about," he said. "We know Christmas is a very tough day to play on. Our players, they're usually coming back from a road trip. They have families, little kids, and it's all part of the experience."
Indeed, the Lakers did not have a merry Christmas last season. However, things will likely turn out differently as the Christmas Day matchup is arguably the most anticipated regular season game in NBA history. Not only are the Lakers a better team, but they understand the significance of the game.
With that said, regular season games - even a Christmas Day battle of epic proportions - always mean less to a team coached by Jackson. Furthermore, those who see the game as a barometer between two title favorites should think again. The Lakers fall to the Cavaliers did not foreshadow anything whatsoever, as L.A. won their sixteenth franchise title, while Cleveland only managed to advance past the first round. In the end, the Lakers will surely give it their best effort, but don't take anything from the game other than a modification to the team's record.
Throughout the Los Angeles Lakers' tour of Europe, the best player was not Kobe Bryant, who shot a combined 2-19 (10.5%) in two games. Neither was it Pau Gasol, who followed up a seven-point, five-foul, four-turnover effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves by shooting seven-for-21 against Regal FC Barcelona. The best performance came from Lamar Odom, who spent the off-season helping the United States win a gold medal at the FIBA World Championship.
In spite of the team's poor play, it was easy to overlook Odom's rather remarkable statistics. Against the Timberwolves, he scored a game-high 17 points in 27 minutes. He continued to impress with 12 points and 18 rebounds in a hefty 41 minutes against FC Barcelona.
Odom's performances are especially noteworthy because he will be filling in the void left by an injured Andrew Bynum until November or December. Time and again, Odom has proved to be an extremely useful Swiss Army knife; he has always stepped up in Bynum's multiple absences in the past few years.
When Bynum suffered a knee injury in the 2007-08 season, it was Odom who plugged the hole with averages of 15.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists in the center's absence. The following season, when Bynum got injured (again) in January, Odom would go to average 16.5 points, 13.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 0.9 steals in the month of February.
The one memory that truly stands out from that season was Odom taking over in Cleveland. His 15-point third quarter leapfrogged the Lakers from down 12 to a 10 point victory. The Lakers had managed a road win against LeBron James & Co. on the shoulders of Odom.
There are many games in which fans wish to see the Odom from Quickens Loans Arena in February 2009. However, one must understand that Odom's role has never been clearly defined - just like his position. He's capable of playing virtually all five spots, but on a team with Bryant, Gasol, and Artest, among others, he can't crack the starting five.
Fans continually assert that he's inconsistent, whereas reality dictates just that. On certain nights, he doesn't need to put up more than 10 points. On other nights, he'll have no problem grabbing boards and running coast-to-coast. It's not a matter of turning his game on; it all matters on the circumstances.
For his part, Odom realizes that. He's heard the "inconsistent" label too many times to count. He simply responds by saying he's playing within his role, which changes each night. However, with Bynum out for the next two or three months and Bryant still healing from a knee injury, the Lakers must have the versatile World Championship Odom. In order to stay top dogs, the Lake Show will need the Odom from February '09 .
The NBA's general managers have cast their votes. Although the current Vegas odds have the Miami Heat winning the title, 63% of the league's general managers believe the Los Angeles Lakers will follow through on a three-peat. In contrast, only a third of GMs think the Larry O'Brien trophy is headed to South Beach.
They certainly have the resources to do so. On the sidelines, the team has Phil Jackson, who was voted best coach by 39% of GMs. In the post, they have Pau Gasol, who is tied with Dirk Nowitzki after receiving 29% of the votes. Of course, there's always Kobe Bryant. 79% voted picked Bryant as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line. Furthermore, 86% of GMs say that the Black Mamba is the best shooting guard.
Bryant was also voted second-most likely to win the MVP award with 26% of the votes. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant finished first with 67% of the executives backing him.
Other results/facts (Source: Truehoop):
* The Wizards' John Wall, this year's top overall pick, earned 68 percent of the vote as this year's likely rookie of the year. Last year's top pick, the Clippers' Blake Griffin, will also be a rookie after missing a season to injury, and received 29 percent of the vote.
* For the first time, Deron Williams (50 percent) of the Utah Jazz was voted as the top point guard in the league, overtaking the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul (36 percent).
* The Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (29 percent) and Lakers’ Pau Gasol (29 percent) finished tied as the best power forward in the league, replacing the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, who had been selected as the best at his position for the past eight years.
* The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (96 percent) was voted as the top center.
* The Heat’s James (68 percent) was named the best small forward.
* The Lakers’ Bryant (86 percent) was voted the best shooting guard. Bryant is currently the only player to have been selected as the best at his position every year of the survey.
* Thirty-nine percent of GMs believe the Heat will be the most improved team in 2010-11 while 14 percent of general managers feel the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards would be the most improved teams.
* For the ninth consecutive season, Bryant (79 percent) was also selected by GMs as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line.
* Nowitzki (57 percent) was voted the top international player.
* Durant (56 percent) was voted as the top player GMs would sign to start an NBA franchise.
* The Boston Celtics (100 percent) were unanimously picked to win the Atlantic Division, Chicago Bulls (82 percent) in the Central Division and the Miami Heat (74 percent) in the Southeast Division. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers (96 percent) were predicted to win the Pacific Division, the Dallas Mavericks (71 percent) in the Southwest Division, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (63 percent) in the Northwest Division.
* The Magic’s Dwight Howard was voted best defensive player (78 percent).
* The Bulls’ Derrick Rose was voted fastest with the ball (21 percent).
* The Suns’ Steve Nash won the vote as best passer (75 percent).
* The Clippers' Griffin tied the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook as the most likely to have a breakout season (15 percent).
* The Oklahoma City Thunder were called the most fun team to watch (52 percent).
* The Celtics’ Ray Allen was voted the best pure shooter (54 percent).
* The Utah Jazz were voted the team with the best home court advantage (46 percent).
The beauty of the Honda Superclasico is that no matter where L.A.'s teams sit in the standings, the rivalry remains. Tonight the L.A. Galaxy will play in what is considered a "road" game against Chivas USA, although the teams share the same arena, The Home Depot Center. For the Galaxy, a victory tonight is crucial in their support of the Supporter's Shield. On the contrary, Chivas USA, who is already eliminated from the playoffs, will try to earn their first victory over the Galaxy since 2007.
“These games are special in the sense that standings – where you are in the table – don’t really matter,” said Chivas USA left back Ante Jazic. “It’s just 90 minutes of battling and scrapping. We want to win this SuperClásico.”
For the Galaxy, three points would boost them back to first place in the Western Conference, as they currently trail Real Salt Lake by one point. The main objective will be to stay focused, particularly against a team like Chivas that has nothing to lose.
"With teams like this, there is nothing to lose," the Galaxy's Landon Donovan said. "We just have to make sure that they know we're the team that's headed to the playoffs."
What truly defines the Superclasico just as much as the rivalry is the atmosphere. With the match being broadcast nationally on ESPN2, this isn't just your typical MLS game.
“The atmosphere has a European flavor to it,” said Jazic. “Not just on the field, but in The Home Depot Center stands. Just the tension in the air is electric and everyone feels it. That’s special because it doesn’t happen often in MLS.”
Pride. Bad luck. Hope. Disappointment. Those are all descriptions of the past decade in U.S. Soccer. All those emotions are best captured in "Dying Bravely," an awesome chronicle of the United States' in the past three World Cups dating back to 2002.
For recent followers of the national team, the montage provides a brilliant prologue to South Africa. For long-time supporters, the video does an excellent job of recapturing the peaks and the valleys of the United States' journey.
The video also portrays recurring themes, notably the poor officiating the U.S. has suffered, in a truly fascinating way. It is lengthy in the sense that surpasses 11 minutes, but how else could one do justice to U.S. Soccer's pursuit? As Brian Strauss of AOL Fanhouse said, "It's well worth your time, and pays appropriate homage to a team well worth remembering."
The video has been posted on numerous soccer sites and even garnered a reaction from the national team's very own Stuart Holden, who commented on a soccer forum saying, "Cool video!! Thanks!"
I was so impressed with the video, I decided that to get in touch with the filmmaker. It turns out that the montage was produced by Nick Butler, a senior at Satusma High School - which is all the more impressive. Although he took breaks in between, Butler shared that he spent a month of his summer working on the montage. Personally, I wondered what motivated him to do so.
"One reason I was making videos was because I’m actually on a forum right now," Butler said. Every six or so months they do a video competition. I did one a previous year and I decided to do another one. I figured I’d do one about the USA getting in the World Cup."
After about two days, the video started attracting a plethora of views and promotion through Facebook and Twitter. Butler admits that he didn't expect his video to attract so much attention so rapidly, but he's quite pleased. Among those who noticed his video was the brother of a national team player, who has asked Butler to make a montage of his sibling. At this time, I can't disclose the specific player, but the video should be up in the next week.
Overall, the video is an amazing recollection of the United States successes and pitfalls, with a particular emphasis on the emotional aspect. Take the time to watch the montage - it's worth it.
No Thierry Henry. No problem. The New York Red Bulls strolled into Los Angeles and earned a 2-0 shutout of the Galaxy at the Home Depot Center, ending the Galaxy's three game unbeaten streak.
However, what is even more important than the final score is the atmosphere. For once, the hype surrounding a MLS game materialized. Finally, rather than feeling like a match in an inferior league, the game had a vibe filled with intensity. This is what soccer is supposed to feel like.
Being involved with sports and having lived in Los Angeles my entire life, I have seen games of all L.A. sports team besides the NHL's Kings and if you count them, the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim." From firsthand experience, I can say that, for the most part, the best atmosphere belongs to a Lakers game at Staples Center. On a night like this one, though, the L.A. Galaxy were the Lakers of the MLS - with just as much excitement in the crowd as at a Lakers game.
Sure, the Supporters' Section and Riot Squad are present at every home game. Yes, they are always quite literally drumming up support. But, unlike most MLS games, the Home Depot Center was hosting a sold-out crowd. Never mind that the L.A. Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, and the Red Bulls' Henry were missing. The 27,000 fans in attendance were hooting and hollering the entire evening.
At every game there are always passionate and knowledgeable fans asserting their thoughts (example: "C'mon so-and-so, tighten the back line"). In addition to having plenty of those types of fans in attendance, I sat next to the ultimate soccer type: a witty Englishmen, who always had something funny to say, albeit with a few curse words in between.
Among the many humorous things he shared:
"My son is better than you - and he's pretty bad"
"Forget club, you can't even ref AYSO"
To the Galaxy's goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts: "Ricketts, if I had a daughter she would marry you"
"There's a spot for you on Liverpool. You can play for England."
The Galaxy's match against the Columbus Crew on September 11 had a great vibe, too. After each and every one of the Galaxy's three goals were scored, the moments that ensued were somewhat surreal - the loud, celebratory music blasting while hugging and jumping up and down with the fans next to you.
Despite all that, though, the game versus the Red Bulls was just something else even if the Galaxy didn't score a single goal. Nothing can compare to the buzz during tonight's match; loud and continuous chants alongside the constant battering of thunder-sticks at a MLS game is a rarity - and a special treat at that.
This kind of intensity is exactly what American soccer needs. If it can continue to hype up rivalries and boast some big-name players here and there, the interest will only continue to skyrocket. It's crazy to think that about how exciting the atmosphere was when this was, in reality, just another regular season game. Imagine the intensity of a MLS Cup Final!
On Wednesday, ESPN Los Angeles' Land O'Lakers blog published an article answering the question: "Which Eastern Conference team is the Lakers' strongest challenger?" Halftime Hype will now give its' spin:
Some will say that the situation in South Beach is sunnier that Los Angeles. Their Florida counterparts in Orlando, would likely favor the Magic. Others will claim that the Boston Celtics, who should really be in the midst of their "Last Hoorah" if they weren't last season, will prevail. However, everyone agrees that those teams are the beasts of the East, the only ones who can challenge the Lakers.
To pick the Celtics as the Lakers' strongest challenger in the East would be the most conservative choice - and, at this point in time, perhaps the most realistic. As ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin said, "The C's were about half a quarter away from beating L.A. to win the championship last June and added the O'Neals in Shaquille and Jermaine."
Last time around, pundits were quick to cast off the Celtics prior to the playoffs after their dismal regular season performance. To make the same case for this season could prove to be poor judgment and turn out to be incorrect later. However, I am confident injuries will arise with this Boston squad. It will come down to how the Celtics can work around that adversity.
Despite any individual opinions of the Lebron James free-agent debacle, one must acknowledge the Miami Heat's legitimacy as a contender. Having three of the NBA's top ten players, all of whom won an Olympic gold medal together just a couple years ago, certainly puts you in the championship discussion.
Nevertheless, if the Celtics are a realistic pick on the basis that they have proven their talent, the Heat are an unrealistic choice for the same reason. Playing on an Olympic gold medal team is extremely different from an 82-game season, followed by intense playoff series. Chemistry issues may emerge. With expectations already so high, there is no margin for error. Plus, as with the Celtics, injuries are always looming. Wade is certainly familiar with the trainer's office. Bosh and James were both affected by injuries last season.
You can't bet against such a dynamic team, especially since the Lakers have had difficulty with explosive, offensive teams in the past (see: Oklahoma City Thunder and losing a 3-1 series lead to the Phoenix Suns, etc.) The big question marks for the Heat will be how the Big Three mesh as well as how much the supporting cast can contribute.
The Orlando Magic pose a threat, but, in my opinion, to a much lesser degree than either the Celtics or the Heat. They must be left in the discussion, though, in spite of Dwight Howard (enough said), an aging but still effective Vince Carter, an All-Star point guard in Jameer Nelson, sharpshooters in Rashard Lewis and J.J. Redick, not to mention the offensive-defensive threats of Mickael Pietrus and Quentin Richardson.
For the most part, the roster remains the same as in the past couple seasons. That's exactly why they are still in the discussion. The team is capable of making a deep run, but equally capable of disappointing in the playoffs.
The Verdict: Having improved from an already daunting roster last season, it will be hard for any team to challenge the Lakers. On paper, they can match up with Miami. Although the Celtics upgraded a roster that got them to within four points of a Game 7 on the road, last I checked the concept a time machine still remains a sci-fi fantasy. Orlando is dangerous, but history says to bet against them. That said, the wisest pre-season pick, with the primary criteria being experience and proven play, would have to be the Celtics.
Harold Mayne-Nicholls, left, the head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, with Sunil Gulati, president of U.S. Soccer and chairman of the USA Bid Committee. Photo by Howard Smith, ISI
Will the United States host a World Cup? A question on everyone's mind and one that will be answered on December 2. Until then, one can only hope that the FIFA Inspection Delegation was impressed by what the U.S. has to offer. As Sunil Gulati, President of U.S. Soccer, said, "“I think virtually all decisions in our lives, when there are candidates or elections, come down to the ability to convince people. This was a technical inspection tour...Clearly some people will have made decisions between now and then, or have already made decisions."
There were many highlights of the Inspection Delegation's trip to America. The Delegation arrived in New York on Labor Day afternoon, greeted by a mass of enthusiastic children, I'll bet under "The Game Is In US" banners that were hanging on 55th Street. In the evening, they were treated to a warm reception at the St. Regis Hotel, featuring New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
One of the notable stops was Cowboys Stadium, where the delegates were accompanied by Cowgirls cheerleaders, walked around the stadium, and viewed a video on the largest high-definition video screen in the world. Asked to reflect on the visit, Gulati said, "Watching the reaction of the FIFA members, I would say they were overwhelmed."
Other memorable moments included a breakfast at the White House with senior staff of the Obama administration; appearances by U.S. men's national team manager, Bob Bradley, and ESPN soccer commentator and former national team captain, John Harkes, at a visit to George Mason University's training grounds; meeting the Houston Rockets' center, Yao Ming, during the Delegation's visit to Houston.
Despite having planned "an incredibly ambitious schedule" with visits to five cities across America in three days, David Downs, the Executive Director of the USA Bid Committee, shared that the tour was often five to ten minutes ahead of schedule.
Although Harold Mayne-Nicholls, head of the FIFA Inspection Delegation, seemed mostly pleased with the inspection, he did mention concern over transportation. "There might be, on a later stage, additional needs for public transportation to cater to foreign fans," Mayne-Nicholls said.
However, Downs reassured that transportation would not be an issue. "It’s very easy, because of the capacity of our roadway system and the size of the parking lots in the stadiums, to institute shuttle bus service. My understanding is that the most recent Super Bowl, which took place in Miami at one of our stadiums, consisted of 900 shuttle buses both operating on loops from parking rides and going in and out of downtown Miami and downtown Fort Lauderdale service the capacity crowd and they were moving…30,000 people in and out of the stadium per hour, more than sufficient to handle the load of a World Cup match. So we don’t believe it will be a problem."
On the Bid Committee's side, Downs believes everything went well. Sure, it would have been great to go to a beautiful city like Seattle and watch a Sounders match, he admitted, but in spite of the time restraints, that was not possible. "The biggest regret is not so much what was specifically executed, but the fact that they were only here 3 ½ days and one of those days was a travel day."
Although the tour seems to have gone rather well, there are no guarantees for the United States. Many believe that FIFA will opt for a European nation to host the 2018 World Cup. In that case, the U.S. would be in a less competitive pool with South Korea, Qatar, Japan, and Australia for the 2022 bid. Even then, FIFA may decide to potential first-time hosts Qatar or Australia.
Nevertheless, with the United States having hosted a World Cup in 1994, a relatively recent time period, it is imperative that the Bid Committee emphasizes how much soccer has progressed in America in the last 16 years. Gulati gave his thoughts on the issue at the beginning of the tour, saying "I think some of the international community underestimates the passion for the game in the United States. When we start talking about the landscape in the U.S. they’re surprised by it. They are surprised that we have 16 teams and are growing in MLS. They are surprised that Americans were the No. 1 ticket buyers for the World Cup."
"They are surprised that you couldn’t get into bars in a lot of major cities at 10 a.m. to watch World Cup games. They’re surprised that the TV rights for the World Cup were the single largest in the world. When you look at all those things happening in a relatively short time since the 1994 World Cup, you can see the extraordinary success story. "
With the inspection over, the next phase for the Bid Committee is to prepare a presentation for FIFA, which will be shown on December 1, the day before the host nations will be declared. Downs has shared that fans can expect "big video elements" as well as some "impressive speakers." Hopefully, the United States can capitalize on its "many strengths."
The United States so-called "B-Team" won the FIBA World Basketball Championship in a 81-64 over Turkey in Istanbul on Sunday. The win gave the U.S. a berth in the 2012 London Olympics. With instant offense from the Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant, as well as the veteran leadership of the Denver Nuggets' Chauncey Billups and the Los Angeles Lakers' Lamar Odom, the United States won its first World Basketball Championship in 16 years.
Without intimidating height and any star-studded members of the 2008 Olympics Gold Medal team, many were skeptic of the United States' potential, hence the term "B-Team." In fact, only three players on the U.S. team had previously played for the national team.
The young faces, however, proved to be a nice breath of fresh air. The United States went undefeated, with only one game that came down to the wire, a 70-68 victory over Brazil. After that narrow win, Durant would go on to say, "We need this game. The atmosphere was great, Brazil did a great job, they put pressure on us. It's a learning experience for us. It's the game we needed."
From that point on, it was mostly easy sailing for the U.S. The championship game was no different. After trailing 17-14, Team USA gained control of the game. Nevertheless, Turkey is to be commended for going so far as to earn its first FIBA World Championship medal. During the past few weeks, fans rallied around the host country and the team impressed many.
USA Head Coach Mike Kryzewski praised Turkey's run, saying "I want to congratulate the Turkish team for a truly perfect tournament. They epitomized what a team should be and we had to be at our very best to beat them. It was a terrific tournament and [Istanbul was] a truly wonderful city. I’ve never seen a country celebrate a team better than Turkey. It created a great atmosphere for the tournament."
Despite being only 21 years old, Durant was undoubtedly the United States' leader. Durant, who led the NBA in scoring last season, averaged 22.8 points throughout the tournament. Additionally, he set the record for most points in a FIBA World Championship game by an American by scoring 38 points in the United States' 89-74 victory over Lithuania in the semifinal.
Odom, one of the elder statesmen on Team USA, now has extra bragging rights since he has earned a NBA and FIBA championship - in the same year. In a telephone interview with the Los Angeles Times' Broderick Turner, Odom shared his thoughts on such an honor: "The thought of being a world champion twice in one year is cool, you know? I could brag to Kobe [Bryant] and tell him this is something he doesn't got."
After winning the gold medal, the "B-Team" nickname is no longer symbolic of inferiority, but is representative of "best team."
Both stars saw action in the Galaxy's 3-1 victory on Saturday nightThe Galaxy no longer share first place, proving why they are the best team in the MLS with a 3-1 victory over the Columbus Crew on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center. Both clubs, the leaders of the Western and Eastern Conference, entered the game tied with 44 points. However, the night belonged to the Galaxy, who benefited from the return of Juninho and David Beckham.
Juninho, who had been out for personal reasons, did a brilliant job of finding his unmarked teammates. When asked about his return, manager Bruce Arena said "He’s an excellent player. We really missed him...Tonight he played well, and obviously it’s great to get him back.”
Instead of conceding early goals to the opponent, the Galaxy were the ones who came out aggressive. In the 13th minute, Edson Buddle scored from the top of the box off an assist from Landon Donovan. Buddle, who leads the league in goals scored, earned his 14th goal of the season.
Fans really knew their team was playing well when Dema Kovalenko scored, his first goal with the Galaxy. Landon Donovan threaded a pass to Kovalenko, who found the net in the 35th minute. Kovalenko, renowned for his feisty tackles, is not known as a goal-scoring threat. The assist was also Donovan's second of the game, raising his league-leading number of assists to 14.
Arena began the second half by substituting Chris Birchall for Edson Buddle. The move was solely for precautionary reasons, as Buddle was feeling cramps in his legs. "He is ready to go and will be fine," Arena reassured.
The Galaxy's offense continued, nonetheless. In the 55th minute, Galaxy midfielder Alex Cazumba lobbed a free kick from about 40 yards toward the far post, connecting with Jovan Kirovski for a header.
In the 70th minute, David Beckham, who had not played for the Galaxy this season due to a torn Achilles tendon, returned to a standing ovation. Beckham had not played a MLS game for 289 days, his last match being the MLS Cup Final on November 22, 2009. Although he proved some rust in receiving a yellow card after only four minutes, his passing was excellent as usual.
After the game, Arena dwelled on the Englishman's presence. “David’s presence helps our team in the locker room, on the training field and on game day," Arena said. "It is remarkable that he is back on the field in this short period of time. September 15th is six months, and at his age, to put in the kind of effort to come back and for the players to see that is inspirational to the team.”
Unfortunately for the team, the Galaxy would not leave with a shutout. The Crew's Andres Mendoza, who entered the game as a sub in the 63rd minute, made the most of his one-on-one with Galaxy goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts. He scored the Crew's lone goal in the 85th minute.
Buddle gave his thoughts on sole possession of the top spot. “We’ve led the league all year and we wanted to hold on to that. Who knows what the mood would have been like if we would have lost that game and let Columbus take the lead," he said. Indeed, much to the Galaxy's pleasure, nobody will ever have to know.
Beckham (pictured above) may see some playing time against the Crew on Saturday night"This for us is a championship game," the Galaxy's Landon Donovan said. “If we want to be where we want to be, we need to have home-field [advantage] throughout the playoffs in the West, and this is a team we might play in the final if we get there. This is a very, very big game for us.”
Indeed, the game features a potential MLS Cup match-up, with both teams leading their conferences - and the league - with 44 points. Although the Galaxy were once far ahead of the competition, there is now a three-way tie for first place between the Galaxy, Crew, and Real Salt Lake. However, as Donovan pointed out, a tight race to the finish might actually be a good thing.
“This is good that it’s happened this way," Donovan said. "It’s good now that we have some competition. For a long time we’ve been six, eight, 10 points ahead of everybody and it makes you relax a little bit.”
In addition to MLS Cup implications and bragging rights, the match may also mark the return of David Beckham. Beckham, who was activated from the disabled list earlier this week, has not appeared in a game for the club since last season's MLS Cup on November 22, 2009 after suffering a tear in his left Achilles tendon nearly six months ago.
“I think I could possibly be on the bench,” Beckham said Thursday.
Ultimately, whether or not Beckham plays is up to manager Bruce Arena. Unfortunately for the Galaxy and its fans, Arena did not share the same optimism as Becks. On the prospect of Beckham getting playing time: “I don’t think that’s likely," Arena said.
With or without Beckham, if the Galaxy are still after the Supporter's Shield, they must step up their game. The team's last win came nearly a month ago, a 1-0 road victory on August 14 against the New York Red Bulls, who featured their newly-minted designated player trio of Juan Pablo Angel, Thierry Henry, and Rafael Marquez.
Then again, the Galaxy are tied for best in the MLS for a reason. “We’re not playing the best right now but someone once told me the standings don’t lie,” Donovan said. “Over the course of the season, we’ve been the best team – but right now we’re not playing the best. We still feel like we’re a team that’s good enough to win.”
The committee has scheduled a jam-packed itinerary for FIFA's inspectors. Obviously, Downs mentioned, three days is not much time to showcase the entire arsenal, but there will still be plenty of attractions to impress FIFA. Throughout their inspection, the delegation will visit New York, Washington D.C., Miami, Dallas, and Houston.
If you haven't already read Halftime Hype's post about Bradley's extension, here it is.
Obviously, there are many different opinions on whether or not extending Bob Bradley's contract was the right decision. Here are some excerpts of them:
From Ives Galarcep at Fox Soccer: The harsh reality is Bradley must do better over these next four years if he is going to prove Gulati’s decision to be the right one. He must construct a team better equipped to avoid the early-game blunders that have plagued the United States. He must rebuild his defense and he must continue his search for reliable goal-scoring talent. And when 2014 comes, if Bradley is still the head coach, he must learn from the lessons learned in 2010 and use that experience to build a team capable of reaching the levels many believe the U.S. men’s national team can reach.
From an interview with Fox Soccer's Christian Miles: "I think US Soccer made a good decision by extending Bradley's contract. Bradley is a fine and capable manager who fulfilled US expectations at South Africa. However, despite my personal admiration of the current US boss, who was able to get this current crop of players to closely realize it's potential, Juergen Klinsmann would have been an excellent choice to progress US Soccer. The German has demonstrated his ability to lead a national program through his efforts four years ago, while guiding his native country to the World Cup semifinals."
I don't think it's a matter of foreign versus American, rather it's who is the best man for the job. Klinsmann is not a typical foreigner that has no existing knowledge of the working of soccer in the US. He's lived in the US for years and is familiar with soccer in this country. He has also taken a role with the LA Galaxy in the past. With an extensive US background and fresh methods that brought success to Germany, I have no doubt Klinsmann has the capability of taking US Soccer to the next level."
From Yahoo! Sports' Martin Rogers: "Whatever Bradley does between now and the next World Cup, it will never be enough for those who love to bash the United States head coach, his methods, his philosophy and his decisions.
And it needs to stop...For those who simply can’t bear the fact that Bradley remains in charge, ponder this: Perhaps your ire should be directed not at the man, but at the federation that decided to hand him the keys not once, but twice."
From Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl: "Bradley did a good job in his first four years. My skepticism over his reappointment has less to do with Bradley than with any coach in this position, even ones who got historic performances out of their teams like Lippi in 2006 or Arena in '02. The history of World Cup second acts, especially over the last 16 years, is not a particularly good one."
On Monday, the U.S. Soccer Federation finally decided on a manager, opting to extend Bob Bradley's contract through 2014. After the United States' early exit against Ghana in the past World Cup, it was unclear if he would continue to manage the national team. In the ensuing weeks, Bradley would eye possibilities in Europe and U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati would make his own assessment. Ultimately, the two sides rejoined forces.
In a conference call with members of the media today, Gulati began by saying, "I think Bob’s done a great job of putting a group of players together and not just at the World Cup, in developing that group over three and a half to four years and we’re looking forward to building on that." It seems like Gulati exemplified the famous saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Although Gulati had initially expressed disappointment after the United States was knocked out, he clarified that the disappointment was not specifically in the coaching. "the disappointment part, as I stated then, was not in the team or Bob’s efforts or winning the group, obviously, the disappointment was that we all, always want one more game."
In a nutshell, the general vibe from Gulati is that the United States reached pre-World Cup expectations and he was proud of the respect U.S. Soccer gained during Bradley's tenure. However, after winning the group and with interest in U.S. Soccer at an all-time high, he foresaw a deeper run. Obviously, the team would not subsequently receive "one more game."
Perhaps the two most important questions were 1) What was the key factor in bringing Bradley back, and 2) Did Gulati speak with other managers?
"What was the most decisive factor was experience, the record over the last four years, in games that mattered especially," Gulati said. As for exploring other candidates, Gulati would make a point of not commenting on the matter.
When asked if he, indeed, met with Jurgen Klinnsman to discuss managing the national team, Gulati would not confirm. “We’re here to talk about Bob’s appointment as national team coach. I’m not going to talk about any conversations that we may or may not have had with any other candidate. We are going to talk strictly about our national team coach... That’s all we’re going to be talking about today.”
Another thought-provoking debate is whether or not the Federation should consider hiring a foreign manager. Until things dramatically change, the best soccer is being played in Europe - meaning the world's top managers are there, too. Someone like Klinnsman, who guided Germany to third place in the 2006 World Cup, could be a tremendous asset to U.S. Soccer. Having had a greater exposure to premier leagues and teams, he may have an edge in knowing how to beat the best.
By the same token, there can be cultural barriers to hiring a foreign coach. For example, the United States is not under as much pressure as, say, Spain. The demands are simply different. Moreover, there's the question of whether or not a foreign coach could identify with U.S. players. Perhaps Ruud Gullit's stint as manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy was the best example.
In an interview after the World Cup, Landon Donovan chided in on the debate: "I'm a little skeptical of foreign coaches in our league and in U.S. Soccer just because of how different our league is and our players are than other players around the world. So in theory sometimes it sounds sexy to have a guy like Ruud Gullit or in this case, who knows?
You could bring in [Fabio] Capello and I'm not sure you would get the results you wanted because there's so much to our league and our players than people realize. So it would be a little risky to do that unless you find the right person who really cares and understands and wants to learn about our league and our players."
Interestingly enough, in the same interview, Donovan said he would also be fine if Klinnsman, whom Donovan had played for while on loan to Bayern Munich, ended up manager of the national team. Well, today the most important opinion, that of Sunil Gulati, was expressed.
“Do I think there are some natural advantages to having a coach who understands the American system? The answer is yes. That does not mean there aren't also advantages to having a coach who has coached in the Premier League, or Serie A or two World Cups or whatever else it might be."
Different candidates bring different attributes. I don't think there's any doubt that having knowledge of the American setup is a plus. I said that four years ago and I think that's the case now. That doesn't mean we wouldn't consider an international coach, it just means they'd have a different set of strengths. In this particular area it would likely be a weakness since they would not have the same experience here [in the United States].”
Bradley, who also participated in the conference call, had recently been linked to job offers in Europe. Now that he will be back for a second cycle with the national team, there are questions of staleness. After all, he's already been around for four years. Will the players still be as responsive?
Bradley addressed staleness, in part, by citing Sir Alex Ferguson as a role model. “Obviously, it’s been noted at times where I’ve said I’ve been lucky to spend some time at Manchester United. And when I see someone like Sir Alex Ferguson, how he continues to know how to keep his environment fresh and sharp, I think that is what coaching is about. Your credibility is put to the test every day as a coach, regardless of whether you’ve been on the job four years or four days. I understand that. That’s part of the profession."
With the manager situation settled, Bradley can now focus on coaching the national team, while Sunil Gulati and the Federation can work on their securing a World Cup in the United States. FIFA's inspectors will arrive in America next week.
Asked about his vision for next four years, Bradley identified an experienced nucleus, the development of young players, and play against tough competition as keys to success. Although he wouldn't set a goal for the 2014 World Cup, but mentioned that success in tournaments such as the Gold Cup and Confederations Cup are imperative.
The next games for the national team consist of a friendlies against Poland on October 9 and versus Colombia on October 12. Both games will be played in the United States. Soccer fans should be open to a surprise or two, as Bradley stated that he is eyeing younger players.
"Every fixture date gets assessed: whether there are days of training leading into the game, who the opponent is, what the schedule is for players in MLS or abroad. We put all those things together and try to find the right time and place to introduce players into the national team."
Certainly the next fixture date in October gives us opportunities. There are players out there we have watched, and we do a thorough job of keeping track of players around the world as we go through games with the idea of looking for players who we believe can be moved into our program.”
Overall, it seems like the decision to extend Bradley's contract was a good one. Gulati recognized Bradley's rather remarkable achievements, primarily the United States' victory in the Gold Cup and reaching the final of the Confederations Cup. Who knows if Klinnsman could do a better job, with the risks being much higher. Bradley provides valuable stability, which might turn out to be just what the national team needs. I guess we'll have to wait and see in the next four years.
As a head coach in the NBA, one must be extremely aware of various statistics and facts. Evidently, Doc Rivers is not. In an interview with ESPN 980, Rivers forgot a key detail or two about his match-up against the Lakers in 2008. Here's what he had to say:
"They still have not beaten our starting five. Our starting five against the Lakers starting five has a ring...We will be back strong and Perk will be there next year if there's a game seven."
Rivers has clearly forgotten that Andrew Bynum did not play in the 2008 playoffs. You read that correctly: 0 minutes. In fact, in May 2008 Bynum underwent arthroscopic surgery on his kneecap. C'mon Doc, even a quick look at Wikipedia would have revealed that. Already Doc isn't looking too sharp. Since Bynum - the Lakers' starting center - was out, Rivers is factually incorrect in his assertion that his starting five "against the Lakers starting five has a ring."
In addition, Trevor Ariza was coming off an injury at the time and only averaged 6.63 minutes throughout the '08 Finals and didn't even play the first game. To elaborate:
- Game 1: Did not play
- Game 2: 0-1 from the field, 0 points, and 2 rebounds in 7:19 minutes of playing time
- Game 3: 2-3 from the field, 0-1 for three-pointers, 4 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in 8:49 minutes of playing time
- Game 4: 2-2 from the field, 1-1 on three-pointers, 1-2 on free throws, 6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block in 8:43 minutes of playing time
- Game 5: 0 shot attempts, 0 points, 0 everything except for 1 foul in 1:15 minutes of playing time
- Game 6: 1-3 from the field, 1-2 on free throws, 0-1 for three-pointers, 3 points, 1 rebound in 9:04 minutes of playing time
Basically Ariza, who was a starter last season and showed us he's capable of scoring with a 14.9 points per game average, was virtually nonexistent. In spite of Ariza's limited minutes, the Lakers assigned Vladimir Radmanovic to guard Paul Pierce, who would later win Finals MVP at the end of the series. Congrats, Paul, you managed to do well against a guy who Lakers coach Phil Jackson dubbed a "space cadet." In Pierce's defense, he also deserved an Academy award for his brilliant acting skills in, what is fair to assume, faking an injury then coming back to score 15 points in the third quarter.
On another note, as Trey Kerby of Yahoo! Sports pointed out,"the problem with saying that is that the average age for Boston's team is measured in tree rings. And there are a lot of tree rings on the inside of those old oaks. And when there are that many rings, injuries start happening." In other words, obviously when you have older players on your team, injuries are nearly inevitable.
There's no questioning Doc Rivers as a coach or as a person. From what one sees on T.V., he seems like an intelligent and gracious man. His comment, though, was downright arrogant - and extremely incorrect.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and rapper Marshall Mathers, a.k.a Eminem, are two very different people, with the most glaring difference being their occupations. However, after listening to Eminem's tracks multiple times and keeping up with the Black Mamba, there are certain connections between Mathers' lyrics and Bryant's career. Above all, "Not Afraid" seems to best represent the Black Mamba's tenure in the Association.
Exhibit A: "Not Afraid"
- "Yeah, it's been a ride/I guess I had to go to that place to get to this one"
- "I don't give a damn/What you think, I'm doing this for me"
After the Lakers' loss to the Boston Celtics in the 2008 Finals, when former teammate Shaquille O'Neal rapped about how Bryant hadn't won a ring without the Big Fell, Bryant could have came back with a response. Instead, when pressed on the matter, he simply said "I didn't take it any kind of way whatsoever." In an article by Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, Bryant exemplifies the lyric best when he said "If I had to do it over again, I would’ve just let people talk and say what they had to say, and as time goes on, they would’ve seen what was what."
- "For better or worse/He's married to the game"
- "His gift is a curse"
During those times, Bryant can become too selfish, which is particularly bad if his shots aren't going down. Lakers fans are familiar with these nights. These are the games when he has viewers thinking "OK, he's warming up." Pretty soon, it's the end of the game, he never really warmed up, and the result, in most cases, is a loss.
This was most evident during the 2005-2006 season when he averaged a whopping 35.6 points per game, but for a Lakers squad that didn't make it past the first round. The most recent example of Bryant's determination coming up short was Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics. After the game, Bryant proved to be a great example of Eminem's lyric when he remarked, "You know, I just wanted it so bad. I wanted it so, so bad....And the more I tried to push, the more it kept getting away from me."
- "You said you was king, you lied through your teeth/For that [expletive] your feelings, instead of getting crowned you're getting capped"
- "This...black cloud still follows me around"
- "Haters can make like bees with no stingers, and drop dead"
Exhibit B: "No Love"
- "It's a little too late to say that you're sorry now/You kicked me when I was down/[Screw] what you say/You ran me into the ground"
O'Neal has moved on, even tweeting after the Finals: "Congratualtions kobe, u deserve it. You played great . Enjoy it my man enjoy it. And I know what yur sayin rt now 'Shaq how my ass taste'"However, it's quite obvious that Bryant still isn't ready to receive Shaq's olive branch. After Game 7, when asked what the championship meant individually, Bryant replied: "I just got one more than Shaq...You guys know how I am, I don't forget anything."
- "These fools can't drool or dribble a drop anymore/And you can never break my stride/You never slow the momentum at any moment I'm about to blow/You'll never take my pride/Killing the flow, slow venom and the opponent/Is getting no mercy, mark my words/Ain't letting up, relentless"
Despite the recent injuries that have slowed Bryant down, when he's hot Kobe Bryant "ain't letting up." Some may argue that LeBron James is the best scorer in the game, but let's not kid ourselves. It was Bryant who once scored 81 points, the second-highest point total in NBA history. It was also Bryant who outscored an entire team through three quarters in his 62 point game. Additionally, Eminem's reference suits Bryant, nicknamed "The Black Mamba," a reference to an extremely deadly snake.
On defense, Bryant certainly doesn't "let up." He's a 10-time All-Defensive Team selection. Enough said.
Exhibit C: "Space Bound"
- "Nobody knows me, I’m cold, walk down this road all alone/It’s no one’s fault but my own. It’s the path I’ve chosen to go"
Kobe Bryant has not been a revealing figure when it comes to his interactions with the media. His "inner circle" has dwindled throughout the years and there are very few who actually know the guy. He has typically served the media with curt answers. At the end of the day, he's the one who has decided to keep mum - and it's worked out pretty well.
Exhibit D: "Crack a Bottle"
- "It disgusts me to see the game the way that it looks/It's a must, I redeem my name and haters get mushed"