Time for Spring Cleaning…

AP

I thought spring cleaning happens in the spring.  Well, for the Milwaukee Bucks it will happen this summer as they have a boat load of questions that needs answering.  For starters what will they do now that interim coach Jim Boylan is out, should they try and bring back both Monta Ellis and J.J. Redick or just keep one of them.  Match any offer that, restricted free agent, Brandon Jennings may receive.

My question for the Bucks is what brand of the basketball are they going to play? A defensive style.  A low-post style.  A run and shoot style.  They haven’t been successful trying all these styles at once, so it’s time to pick one and stick with it.  I think there is an identity crisis with this franchise and it’s been that way since the “Big Three” of Ray Allen, “Big Dog” (Glenn Robinson), and Sam Cassell left.  When those guys were here the fans knew what they were going to see on the court. 

Their frontcourt is set for the next few years having Ersan IIyasova, Mbah a Moute, Larry Sanders, and John Henson all returning.  Mike Dunleavy, a local guy, I’m sure would love to return.  With those players not much scoring will happen.  That group is more of a defensive team.  So that brings me back to my initial question what brand of basketball should fans except?  It’s more exciting to have a run and shoot style.  Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder are prime examples of identifying a brand of basketball and staying with it.  Bring in a young coach someone like Brian Shaw, current assist at Indiana, or former Bucks assist Kelvin Sampson, wouldn't be a bad move.

Land a major free agent like Josh Smith, who was rumored to be traded to Milwaukee this past season.  There are other noticeable free agents that could assist in re-branding the Bucks.  Here are my six free agents that I wouldn't be disappointed if the Bucks could acquire.

Devin Harris can run the point-guard spot.  Kyle Korver can replace J.J Redick.  Nate Robinson can come off the bench and bring scoring power.  Chris Kaman a little older yet, he’s still a strong low-post threat.  Corey Brewer another energy guy who can provide scoring off the bench.  J.J. Hickson is a solid defender.  None of those players made more than $10-million this season.  No matter how much cleaning is done it will take a year or two for it to work.  But I think fans would be happier with a team who is exciting to watch and plays hard.

This summer is vital for what the future will mean to the Milwaukee Bucks.  Ultimately, they will need a new arena to stay here and prevent Seattle from moving the Bucks there.  A solid coaching staff and a ‘team’, not a collection of random players, will bring excitement back to downtown Milwaukee and give NBA teams a stronger reason to “Fear the Deer”.

Until next time, live out your DREAMS with some Determination, put forth Real Efforts and given your Abilities; Means you will have Success.

The Best Dunks of 2012-13

Video Courtesy of NBA

With the NBA regular season over its only appropriate to revisit some of the craziest, nastiest, jaw dropping, and make you jump out your seat dunks of this year. If only these dunks were during All-Star weekend…

So sit back and enjoy the top 10 dunks of the year, courtesy of NBA.com.  And when Kobe’s dunk on TWO Brooklyn Nets players is No. 8, you know it was a ridonkulous year.   

Until next time, live out your DREAMS with some Determination, put forth Real Efforts and given your Abilities; Means you will have Success.

A Storm of a Different Sort

The forecast has a storm that’s coming, when will it hit? Where will it hit first, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association, or the NationalFootball League? How much damage will it cause?  Who has a storm kit?

The storm I’m referring to is having an active professional player “come out”. There’s never been an active player to “come out” and make it public that he is gay.  Over the past few months it’s been much discussion about players and their sexuality. Should they “come out” or not, what will be the backlash?  Just recently at the NFL Scouting Combine players were asked questions about their sexual orientation while being interviewed by teams.  Since when has the evaluation of a player’s skills become less important to his personal sexual preference and who he’s dating.

Mr. (Roger) Goodell, the NFL Commissioner, you might not want to take that path of blocking gay players from the NFL.  That will be a slippery slope.  It’s discrimination!

The questioning of a gay player, I think surfaced when the story of Notre Dame’s standout, Linebacker, Manti Te’o was questioned on being gay or not, having a real girlfriend or not.  Think about where you’re employed, does it bother or matter to you if your co-worker is homosexual? My guess is it doesn’t.  Nevertheless, there are players like the 49ers, cornerback, Chris Culliver who wouldn’t want a gay player on his team.  Note to Chris Culliver prejudice shouldn’t be tolerated.  However negative remarks make for bigger stories.

As a former athlete I wouldn’t mind one bit if I had a teammate who was gay.  As long as when we took the court he played well enough for us to win.  Who he’s dating wouldn’t be any of my business. Granted playing in college there isn’t a players’ union to support a player who comes out like in the NFL.  The President of the NFL Players Association, Domonique Foxworth, in an article in the USA Today said “standing up for anyone—in the game or not—who has been ridiculed, ostracized or rejected.  We won’t stand for that behavior in our locker rooms, on the playing field or in life.  And that’s why we hope that when the first openly gay NFL player steps forward, he will find not a wall of opposition, but a strong and caring defensive line. We’ll have his back”. 

Even with the support of a strong union whenever a professional athlete does come out, and I strongly think it will, he will face an unimaginable amount of pressure.  Can you say courageousness! He will need it.  Even with States in support of gay marriage; negative insults are still thrown around like an Aaron Rodgers touchdown…often. This storm is on the horizon, I hope we have our storm kit for damage control.

Until next time, live out your DREAMS with some Determination, put forth Real Efforts and given your Abilities; Means you will have Success. 

There’s Practice, and there’s Rutgers Practice

How many of you played sports weather it’s was basketball, football, baseball, or volleyball? Sometime practice was more intense than the game.  

When you think of practice you think of going through drills, exercising, competing against each other, right? What do you think about your coach—keeping you focused, energized, motivated and disciplines, right?

Well, what took place at Rutgers University, seen here on this videotape, was far from disciplining basketball players.  It was downright disgraceful! I wouldn't argue with you if you thought it was abuse. Mike Rice actions were Bob Knight(ish) to the tenth power!  Mike Rice now the former coach of the men’s basketball team was fired for his actions, and rightly so!  When a coach feels he must grab, push, and throw balls at players it’s gone way to far, and it’s time to end practice.

Rice has displayed this behavior in the past where he was suspended for three games, fined $75,000, and requested to complete anger management classes. However, it doesn't seem like it did any justice.  In addition to having issues with conducting practice in a sensible matter, Rice was not winning that many games.  During Rice’s tenure at Rutgers he posted a 44-51 record, not your top notch coach if you ask me. 

At this point winning doesn't matter for Rutgers University basketball program now they must do damage control and explain why Rice kept his job after they first notified of such behavior.  I would not be surprised if more of the administration received their pink slips too.

I would love to hear what those players were thinking, wouldn't you? My guess is they are thankful that Rice has finally been caught and they are no longer victims of abuse!!!

Until next time, live out your DREAMS with some Determination, put forth Real Efforts and given your Abilities; Means you will have Success.

Winning Cures Everything…

(Photo courtesy of Nike)

TigerWoods is back! (In the voice of a Nike Marketing Rep)

He’s back where WE want him (In another voice of a Nike Marketing Rep).  

Tiger reclaims the No. 1 ranking as the best golfer and once again the face of the sport.  After going through a very public and unimaginable embarrassing break-up with his former wife, losing almost every endorsement and sponsorship deal, and losing his golf game Tiger Woods is BACK!!! (In a different Nike Marketing Rep’s voice)

Or is he?

Was it really our business what Tiger Woods was doing behind his wife’s back, right or wrong, however, because he was “Tiger Woods” everything was fair grounds.  I believe if he wasn't the cream of the crop and hadn't elevated golf to a main stream audience, or made golf fashionable to African Americans they wouldn't care that his putting stroke was off.  And now they, Nike, drops a new ad with the phrase “winning takes care of everything” my question is does it?

Yes, in sports winning can ease the pain of many years of my team being awful, yes winning can stuff empty stadiums and arenas seats, and yes winning can increase the “coolness” of being from my city but of course I understand winning doesn't take care of ALL the problems in the world.  However, putting out a message “winning takes care of everything” it only contributes to the drama behind Tiger’s mishaps.  Nike clearly understands that controversy sales.  This ad will have people talking and that’s what they want.  I’m not criticizing Tiger Woods for making a remarkable comeback.  This criticism is towards those who sit around the boardroom tables looking too capitalize off his past mistakes or any high profile athletes.

I don’t see how this ad has any benefit to Tiger reclaiming his clean-cut image he once had, but then again maybe this is the new image he’s looking for.  And that is, if I swing and miss all I have to do is start winning and all is forgotten because “winning takes care of everything”.

Until next time, live out your DREAMS with some Determination, put forth Real Efforts and given your Abilities; Means you will have Success.

UCLA No Longer Shining…

Associated Press/Eric Gay

Was Ben Howland that bad of a coach, or has UCLA lost its luster of being a top coaching job to have in college basketball?  In 10 seasons, he gathered 233 victories and 107 defeats, made the NCAA Tournament seven times, and added three trips to the Final Fours from 2006-08.  What other college coach can say that, not many!

I think being at a glamorous university such as UCLA takes a coach with a big personality.  I’m not sure Ben Howland had that type of personality but, he clearly had the coaching skills to make the Bruins competitive while he was there.  So I’m not buying these rumors about having the red hot, young Virginia Commonwealth University coach Shaka Smart or the consistent Brad Stevens of Butler possibly going west to be the next UCLA coach.  Those guys are making their own strong tradition at VCU and Butler respectfully. I don’t think they need or fit UCLA star-studded world.

That’s the problem with basketball programs, football too for that matter, when they become larger than life.  Not to mention that high profile college basketball stars expect everything when they arrive and mean more than the coach. 

So it’s reported that UCLA will give Howland a $3.2 million buyout so they can search for his replacement.  I would like to know why UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero really fired Howland. My guess is Howland lost the recruiting ability to keep local California kids, or he couldn't get back to the Final Four and battle for a National Championship.

I’m not sure who will be the next coach for the Bruins since they’re not knocking at my door I wish whoever it will be good-luck because the late John Wooden isn't walking through Pauley Pavilion doors.

Until next time, live out your DREAMS with some Determination, put forth Real Efforts and given your Abilities; Means you will have Success. 

                                                                                       video courtesy of ESPN First Take  

Packers Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

It can’t be over just like that……can it?! The road seemed so promising to Super Bowl XLVII, in New Orleans, for this years’ Green Bay Packers. They defeated the Minnesota Vikings at home then made a trip out west to San Francisco to take down the 49ers however Colin Kaepernick a second year quarterback whom I may add was making his first appearance in the National Football League postseason gave them Packers a run for their money.  Then they were to seek revenge against the Seattle Seahawks or prevent the Atlanta Falcons home playoff win once again but the Packers navigation GPS veered off its path.

It’s been 14yrs since the Packers made an appearance at Candlestick Park during the playoffs they had the same painful ending. The Packers walked off bewildered, confused, and dejected.  Only that time it was at the hands of Steve Young’s pass to Terrell Owens for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.  After that heartbreaking lost the dynasty of Mike Holmgren, Reggie White, and Brett Favre was no more.  Holmgren bolted for Seattle. White retired. Favre went on to set the all-time record for most interceptions.

With last year and Saturday’s night defensives struggles I wouldn’t be shocked if whispers of defensive coordinator Dom Capers be standing in the unemployment line.  It’s frustrating as a fan to think that the Packers were Super Bowl Champions two years ago.  Now, they’re allowing, new age quarterbacks like 49ers’ Kaepernick to rush for a single game record which is 16 carries for 181 yards. Kaepernick made us forget about his early interception which was taken back for a touchdown by Packers’ Sam Shields with his marvelous performance.

Packer fans are still flabbergasted with Saturday night outcome; Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers ran ALL over the Packers en route to a lopsided victory 45-31. I did not think the Packers stood a chance for a comeback during the second half since the 49ers were scoring on every drive.  The Packers defense never seemed to make a key stop and then have the offense capitalize on it.

On a new road -

To the unexpected early offseason, the Packers have a few areas of concern with Driver, Woodson, Hawk, Finley, and Jennings being somewhere else next season. They are major contributors and all have had an impact on the success of the Packers over the years.  General Manager, Ted Thompson must work intensely to address those defensiveness issues to prevent a reoccurrence of Saturday night disappointment.  Therefore, the Packers must pack up their belongings, head home, and regroup.  Realizing another great season has come to a close much earlier than we imagined.

The consolation prize of this loss to the 49ers is that Coach Mike McCarthy and staff will coach the NFC in the, tired and un-energized, Pro Bowl for the second straight year.

Until next time, live out your DREAMS with some Determination, put forth Real Efforts and given your Abilities; Means you will have Success.