Tank

This tank talk needs to stop right now.

Reggie Bush seems like the real deal, but in five years from now, will this tank talk truly be worth its words?

Houston defeated Arizona on Sunday, giving them two wins in their last fourteen games... an amazing feat, I tell you. Apparently, fans were upset that the home team won?!?! Down in Jacksonville, the Jaguars barely got by San Francisco to inch closer to their first playoff birth in seven years. Meanwhile, the twelth loss of the season gives the 49ers another chance to reunite Alex Smith with his former high school teammate. In all seriousness, it's a little maddening to read articles about how both the Texans and the Niners need to tank (or professionally forfeit, shall we say) the remainder of the season until the "Bush Bowl" on New Year's Day.

Each season at this time, when teams are so terrible that their vacations had been set by October, propaganda is thrown out for teams to intentionally, for the lack of a better term, suck. The first statements on that could be quite funny, I admit. Yet, the groundswell has turned into a flood. Newsies in both cities are asking coaches and players what would it be like to have the junior tailback in the backfield. Kevan Barlow, who for all who forgot, happens to be the starting back in San Francisco, proclaimed that he is the future of the franchise and not Bush. Why shouldn't he feel a little miffed at the suggestions that he, Frank Gore (who should be the no. 1 back) and Maurice Hicks can't get the job done? Barlow hasn't exactly shown that he could handle the job and there are some viable solutions that are proven in the league. About-to-be-canned Dom Capers pretty much said "hell no" to all the tank talk. Giants GM and former Colts GM Ernie Accorsi reminded media in the NYC area that sabotaging the season is "fan talk" and is unbecoming of a football team that would bleed itself dry for a win with all the preparation it takes to get one in the NFL.

Is this the "Tim Duncan Plan" reincarnated? If you recall, the Boston Celtics, led by former coach and GM Rick Pitino, supposedly coached and traded into a professional forfeit that would have set up Boston in the Draft Lottery to have the number one pick. Boston has still yet to win a NBA title since 1986, San Antonio has added gold three times since 1999.

It is hard to not be impressed by Bush's skills, even if is college, where poor tackling would make our parents look like All-Americans. Plus, Bush just might part of the handful of legitimately good Heisman Trophy winners of the last twenty-five years. The last running back out of college whose skills translated well into the pros was some guy out of Oklahoma State named Barry Sanders. And while sports pundits believe that his size or lack thereof (6', 200lbs.) will be his detriment to becoming an every-down player, two of the top ten running backs in the league over the last decade have the same dimensions (Tiki Barber and Warrick Dunn). Yet, there is something that holds me back from joining fellow 49ers fans. I can't seem to put my finger on it... oh, yeah, don't teams who seem to need this one savior actually need a few more good men? If your favorite FOOTBALL team is bad enough that one player can truly make a difference, then you may not be looking at the whole picture.

If you look at Houston, they have invested in a young nucleus or David Carr, Andre Johnson and the current RB, Dominack Davis. Every time Carr drops back, the paramedics actually root for the opponent to sack him so that they can rush him to a nearby hospital. Johnson was to have emerged this season, but was beset by injuries. If Carr gets rocked at every snap of the ball, it's a sure thing that Davis won't be able to get much of a running start. Skill players aren't able to display themselves without an offensive line that can block. The franchise based themselves on strength upfront. Even though they drafting Tony Boselli from Jacksonville in their expansion draft, the line had never been able to hold their QB upright (and Boselli never played a down for Houston because of injuries that led to a premature retirement).

If you look at San Francisco, there isn't much of a nucleus to look at. As the previous post may remind you, coach Mike Nolan has much to work on. Alex Smith has yet to throw a TD and has fumbles nine times to go along with ten INTs. Other than the powerful Gore, there hasn't been the running game that allows for the West Coast Offense to succeed. Brandon Lloyd's great catches prove to be for naught without the help at the other end of the field. Not to mention Eric Johnson was already out for the season, their two best linemen are on injured reserve and they have two rookies on a patchwork line. They've had injuries on the other side of the ball as well, including losses of Tony Parrish, Mike Rumph (converted to FS from CB), Ahmed Plummer, Derek Smith, Julian Peterson, etc.

Think Bush can solve all of those problems?

San Fran has been stockpiling draft picks for next season through trading Tim Rattay and Jamie Winborn during the season for undisclosed picks (adding two picks to the seven for next April) They do have cap room, despite the rumblings of the past problems with the cap due to the DeBartalo scandal. As all teams, they will be looking for line help on both sides of the ball as well as any speed at receiver. Houston, meanwhile has eight picks, including two in the third round. Though they haven't made too many moves in their brief history, they are hoping to continue to build through the draft and attract a big time free agent. Fans of both teams, including my loyal Niner self, should be just as attentive to the other picks and possible draft day manuverings as the chance of grabbing The President.

Basically, this better be a Bush that can actually perform to task. He better be for real. Yet, Gore and Bush working together? Hmmm....

Say Word?!?!: Kobe was disgusting the other night. And speaking of KB8, during the much hyped showdown in Miami on Christmas, the Lakers guard will debut his new sneakers, Zoom Kobe I on the court. It's interesting to see that Nike has been the only endorser to have "rolled the dice" with promoting anything related to Kobe Bryant. While the company signed LeBron James to that $90 million contract, they simultaneously (and somewhat quietly) signed Bryant to a five year, $45 million deal and are finally using him halfway into the deal. Not that Colorado will be the source of most of the sneaker sales, but it seems as if Nike wants to do what the NFL, EA Sports and Under Armour had done for Ray Lewis a short time ago. Put a talented player back on Madison Avenue. Advertising magnate and egomaniac Donny Douche... I mean Deutsch had said Nike was making a mistake when signing Bryant. Yet, if you look at what those companies did with Lewis after his acquittal in 2000, they had kept the linebacker to familiar territory; football and football only. Nike had started rolling out some promotions with Kobe lately, keeping it strictly on basketball, knowing that it is hard to deny the man's talent. Is it fair? That depends on if you thought he was guilty of rape or was railroaded by the judicial system.

On another note, Happy Holidays to all and I'll see you on the other side of the calendar (2006) and country (the Bay) in later days.

Utes

By the end of the 2005 NBA Draft, one movie scene from My Cousin Vinny (come on, we all saw it) repeated itself in my head over and over again:

Vinny: Is it possible that the two utes...
Judge Haller: ...Ah, the two what? Uh... uh, what was that word?
Vinny: Uh... what word?
Judge Haller: Two what?
Vinny: What?
Judge Haller: Uh... did you say "utes"?
Vinny: Yeah, two utes.
Judge Haller: What is a ute?
Vinny: Oh, excuse me, Your Honor... two youthes

The University of Utah Utes made history by producing two number one overall draft picks in the same year... Different sports, of course. Alex Smith graduated in two years and became the first pick of the 2005 NFL Draft, going to San Francisco. Australian-born Andrew Bogut traveled east of the Beehive State for Milwaukee in that aforementioned NBA Draft back in June. Both drafts may turn out to be better known for other players this season (DeMarcus Ware, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, Channing Frye, Chris Paul), yet both franchises hope these 'youthes' are centerpieces to restoring their luster.

My, do they have a long way to go.

Alex Smith inherited the greatest fall from grace in recent memory. The 49ers, once the model franchise of sports (yes, even the Yankees would bow down to the class of those Niners), finished 2-14 last season. Even the record was the least of the team's worries as they were expected to be the worst team in the NFL. The team had and still has needs at nearly every position with the exception of linebacker and strong safety, but the number one concern to most media types and many fans was at quarterback. This is a franchise, the first born pro franchise of the Bay Area, that was used to pretty good QBs from Y.A. Tittle to Joe Montana to Steve Young. Can't forget a Pro Bowler in Jeff Garcia. Sure, they had Steve Spurrier, Jim Drunkenmiller, Cade McNown, Steve Bono, Elvis Grbac and a few others who essentially didn't pan out. Smith is supposed to follow the line of success and though it is way too early to place him with the other dubious list, it is hard to dispute that he is a major work-in-progress. Rookie head coach Mike Nolan jettisoned stable, but oft-injured Tim Rattay to Tampa Bay for future draft picks. In addition to other roster moves made by management, they hope to stockpile enough help to allow Smith to overcome this difficult season. He has trouble gripping the ball, which is unusual even as college QBs switch to the larger NFL ball from the near-Nerf like NCAA pigskin. From that, he has fumbled nine times (lost 3), and add to the fact that he has yet to throw a touchdown compared to nine interceptions... this ain't Utah, no 'mo.
He was picked for three reasons: he was much more mobile than the other top QB prospect of last year, Aaron Rodgers; he graduated in two years with an economics degree, many testified to his intelligence; and Matt Leinart stayed in USC for his ringer, sorry, fifth year. The Niners hope that they can put some pieces of the puzzle together through drafting and free agency. The problem with both is that nothing is guaranteed, and with this nightmare fall from grace for the franchise, the only team that will have a greater challenge of attracting talent are the New Orleans Saints. Smith didn't have Utah alum Steve Smith when he and Urban Meyer taunted the collegiate elite, but he made do with those players. What he can do in San Francisco remains to be seen.

Andrew Bogut was heralded as the best big man in the past NBA draft. The number one pick of that draft wasn't a sure thing with most insiders, partially because Milwaukee had questions at several positions. TJ Ford's comeback was uncertain. Keeping Michael Redd was the major priority. Terry Porter was no longer the coach, and the new coach that would be hired (Terry Stotts) would have hoped to bring in players to fit a certain style. Yet, Milwaukee hadn't had a decent big man since drafting some cat names Lew Alcindor. Bogut gave scouts reminiscence of the collegiate Bill Walton with his rebounding prowess and his noteworthy passing skills. They felt that he was cocky, but tough enough to back it up. At training camp, he was solid, but needed a veteran to push him a bit. Enter Jamaal Magloire. Bogut has played at both center and at power forward, averaging 8.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and just over two assists per contest. And he has a broken nose. So far, the pundits must be happy, despite the Bucks' recent struggles. They started as one of the league's surprises at 4-1, but their poor defense has caught up to them. 12-8 in the Central Division is solid, but if they want to contend, the seven-foot Australian has to play strong defense against the likes of Jermaine O'Neal and Rasheed Wallace. There are several trading deadlines in the NBA and with the possibility that Magloire would be moved, Bogut may shift to his natural position at center--or if Joe Smith is moved, he may remain at PF for the rest of the season. The totality of his talents will be judged at season's end, but unlike his football alum in Frisco, he has a couple of pieces. Ford's comeback has been nothing short of amazing, as he is one of the top PGs in the game. Redd's jumpshot may be the success or failure of the Bucks. Bogut may be judged more as the Bucks enter the middle of the season, where rookies have to adjust to 82 games as opposed to the 35 in college or high school.
What does the team expect from Bogut? They expect him to become the best center in the Eastern Conference as he comes along. With Redd, they are looking for their own version or LeBron James/Zyrundnas Ilgauskas or an updated version of Oscar Roberston/Lew Alcindor. We shall see, of course.

A team invests in a draft pick because they played poorly the season before. Sure, each sport must have a few contenders and pretenders, but when the whipping boys are posting few wins and significant injuries, the draft pick holds the proverbial keys for the future, or in many cases over the years, the title of 'savior'. Just ask Sidney Crosby (who is the real deal, given time). Rarely does a rookie quarterback have grand success as Ben Rothlisberger has experienced and other than Magic Johnson's outstanding rookie season, NBA rookies don't lead teams to championships in their first year on the job. Could one college have hidden the keys to the successes of two professional teams? Maybe, but let the next three years decide if so.

Say What?!?!: The last newsworthy column about Darrell Russell was about his untimely death in a high-speed car crash in Los Angeles. Though he was the number 2 overall pick by Oakland in the 1997 NFL Draft, his career took horrid twist and turns. A two-time Pro Bowler in 1998 and 1999, Russell was suspended three times for violating the league's substance abuse policy and despite his talent, never overcame those struggles. Former teammates in Oakland and Washington reflected on his kind heart and kid-like nature in what seems to be an all too often sad-but-true incident in sports, as well as entertainment. I'm reminded of a similar story dealing with baseball legend Jackie Robinson. It wasn't the pioneer nor his wife that was fighting those demons, but their first son, Jackie Jr. who lost his life in a similar fashion. I bet that you could think of many examples from your own experiences or observations, but no matter what, the common thread is that usually, the person lost is hoping to turn their life around or have been on that path for just s short amount of time. You just hope that Russell and his friend and former USC teammate Michael Bastinellli (the driver), were on that path.

Part 2

I did some thinking over the weekend, prompted mostly by the rant I wrote regarding the Cowboys. I analyzed my own thoughts and came to the conclusion that I had every right in the world to be upset regarding the way the Cowboys were losing games and how the Rangers refused to help themselves, but I had no reason to be upset about what happened to the United States soccer team in the World Cup draw. I know that I have not commented about the draw in writing, but it has been on my mind ever since it happened.

First, I would like to start with the Rangers. It all began with the Josh Beckett trade debacle. At one point the trade was a certainty. All that needed to happen was the Rangers needed to include one of their two top pitching prospects, John Danks or Thomas Diamond. I don’t know why or how, but the Rangers balked at this request. Next thing you know Josh Beckett has been traded to the Red Sox. The sequence of events should infuriate all Rangers fans. Josh Beckett, a Texas native, and a pitcher who has legitimate #1 stuff was in our grasps. We could have had him, but we didn’t pull the trigger because we didn’t want to trade a prospect. I’ve always believed that any chance you get to trade an unproven commodity for a proven one, you do it. It’s not like Beckett is old. To the contrary he is only 25 years old and could have been the #1 in Texas for the next ten years. It’s unbelievable that the Rangers were unwilling to make this happen. The word ‘potential’ means one thing and one thing only: in the future, the player may (and may is the key word) turn into a future star. But there are a ton of prospects out there. If one were to listen to Peter Gammons there are 400 certain future Hall of Famers in the minor leagues (I don’t want to get started on Peter Gammons, and I think a lot of people would take it as blasphemy, but he overhypes everyone in the minors to the point that reading his opinion on minor league players is an absolute waste of time because he is not objective enough about their talents). Prospects that produce are great for a team, but a lot of times their value is at its peak when people like Gammons throw their names around as they are the reincarnation of Pedro Martinez. The bottom line is that trade needed to be made.

After the Beckett fiasco, the Rangers traded away Alfonso Soriano. I have never liked Soriano because I believe he is a terrible defensive player who sometimes refuses to hustle (on the basepaths and while playing second base). I am glad that he got traded, but he needed to be traded for a pitcher. This trade upset me because the Rangers now have six outfielders (Mench, Nix, Matthews, Jr., Delucci, Wilkerson, and Sledge) and still no pitching help. This trade, logistically, doesn’t make sense to me. It almost seems that the Rangers pulled the trigger just so they could get rid of Soriano. But why would they do this? At worst, they could have kept him, given young Ian Kinsler a chance to play at Triple-A this year (now he is going to be the starter straight from Double-A), and traded Soriano in June or July. His value would have been higher and maybe they could have forced someone’s hand and gotten pitching help.

I really truly believe that if I was the GM of the Rangers for the last 5 years, they would be in much better shape than they are in right now.

I really think there have been a lot of foolish signings this winter, starting with the Blue Jays. Everyone is giving them a ton of credit for what they did, but I just don’t buy it. They signed A.J. Burnett, a pitcher who doesn’t have a winning record to the biggest contract for a pitcher since Chan Ho Park. All Burnett has done in his career is show signs of the possibility of being a good pitcher, but he has never put it together for long stretches at a time. I wouldn’t pay him more than $7 million a year. I would pay B.J. Ryan even less. He had one good season, but a lot of people in the bullpen have one good year and struggle after that. Do people still remember Ryan Zimmerman, an All-Star closer for one year? He closed that one year and he was not heard from again. What about Jorge Julio, one of Ryan’s former teammates? Or Antonio Alfonseca? Or Tim Worrell? The list is countless. I think the chance of both Ryan and Burnett being complete busts is equal to both of them earning their contracts. To me, that’s something you can’t do. If you are going to spend that kind of money, the players are going to have to be sure things.

The other signing I didn’t understand was why the Orioles paid Ramon Hernandez $7 million a year for four years. He’s just not that good of a player. I wouldn’t pay him more than $4 million a year. What’s the difference, talent level wise, between Hernandez and Rod Barajas? I don’t see too much of a difference, but there is a significant gap in salaries. And the Orioles have Javy Lopez, who is making $8 million a year. Now they have two catchers making a combined $15 million a year, a disgruntled shortstop, and not much else.

Now, I would like to completely shift gears and write about World Cup Soccer. On Wednesday, I felt that the United States got gypped when they were not awarded one of the #1 seeds for the tournament. Mexico got a #1 seed, but the United States won the CONCACAF group that both teams were in, and the US had won the Gold Cup, the last tournament both teams were in. At this point I was hoping that the US would not end up in a group with one of the other two top ten teams in the world that were not ranked, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Then came the fateful draw that pitted the US against Italy (a #1 seed, ranked #10 in the world by FIFA), the Czech Republic (ranked #2 in the world), and Ghana (the best team in Africa). Ghana was the one non-European or South American team that some were worried about. They have not lost in over two years and have a good amount of players who play in Europe. Also, they are a really physical team. The group the US is in is deep and any of the four teams can make the quarterfinals. At first I was very upset with the draw. I even had all kinds of doomsday scenarios. But then I got to thinking, and pretty much it comes down to one thing: the US just needs to win some games. It’s that plain and simple. The Czech’s are very talented and deep, but they are old. The Italians are also very talented and deep, but they are a team that likes to make a lot of long passes and lobs, and the athleticism of the Americans enables them to be the perfect team to stop the Italians from doing so. Ghana might be the best team in Africa, but the US is just more talented. And we shouldn’t forget that the US has arguably the best goalie in the world in Casey Keller and have guys like Landon Donovan, DeMarcus Beasley, Claudio Reyna, and others who played extremely well at the last World Cup. I don’t think the results at this World Cup are going to be as dire as some think. Can the Americans win all 3 of those games? Absolutely. Will they? I hope so. But no matter what happens, crying over the pairing is not the way we should conduct ourselves. This is an opportunity to show the World we are truly for real, and I trust that the US will make that statement.

Say What?!?!: I got a chance to watch the Jermaine Taylor and Bernard Hopkins fight and I thought it was one of the worst fights I have ever seen. Nothing happened for about the first 10 rounds. I don't really know how you can possibly have a winner in that fight. Neither guy was at all hurt. I'm glad that the decision went to Taylor just because we won't have to watch those guys fight again.

The Cowboys won an exciting game this weekend and the Rangers have traded for Vincente Padilla (not huge, but at this point anything helps). So maybe things are turning around.

A Poor Taste in My Mouth

not written in a while, but there is good reason for that. Quite frankly, I have been pissed off about the way my favorite teams have conducted themselves. And I’m talking about the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers.

I do root for the Dallas Stars and they are playing great hockey, but it is hard to catch their games. It’s crazy because I get 800 channels at home, but somehow OLN is not one of them, and my cable provider chooses not to carry a hockey passage. I want to watch hockey but the opportunity is not really there.

The Cowboys have been driving me up a wall. I love Bill Parcells and I think the Cowboys play hard for him, but there are a lot of times when he chooses not to go for the knockout punch. It seems that sometimes, especially in a tight game, he just wants to keep it close and rely on the kicking game (different story I will get to soon) to win games. But we all know that you have to put teams away any chance you get. I went to USC and have watched them leave no mercy. That is the definition of a truly great team – any chance you get to end a game, you do it. There is no reason to mess around.

Now to the kicking game. For the last two years, I have been calling for Billy Cundiff’s head. He simply misses to many crucial kicks. I was very happy when he got cut during the preseason, but I was not at all pleased when Jose Cortez was brought in. He single-handedly lost two games by missing kicks against the Redskins and Seahawks, and he forced the Cowboys to go to overtime against the Giants by missing another kick. This finally cost him his job and a rookie was signed. He lasted one week, missed a kick, and was cut. He was there so briefly that I don’t even remember his name. And you know what the Cowboys did next. Well, they brought back Billy Cundiff who turned around and missed a potential game winner against Denver. The Cowboys should have 3 more wins right now and be the #1 seed going into the playoffs. Instead they are now tied for the #6 seed still trying to catch the Giants. This is a team with no confidence in the kicking game. And what’s worse is that their coach wants to rely on the kicking game. That drives me nuts. And how come, in the NFL, the Cowboys can’t get a good kicker. I love the Cowboys and still think they have a chance at the Super Bowl, but my patience is thinning.

And while we are discussing the NFL, I don’t think the Colts will end up undefeated. I think the Chargers are a great team and are my pick to knock them off. The big question, at least to me will be whether they do it during the regular season or in the playoffs. For Indy’s sake they better hope it’s during the regular season because they will still have homefield advantage in the playoffs and will not lose to them twice. But mark my words, the Chargers will win one of those games. And if it’s in the playoffs, they will end up being the Super Bowl Champions.

I have a lot more to write, but I have to run. I will finish the rest of my thoughts and write about the Rangers and the World Cup sometime this weekend.

Expect

The last day + has provided this part-time scribe with a full-time quandary.

Though I have yet to see R. Kelly's rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner at Taylor-Hopkins 2 (and yes, I was wrong, but I'm not much of a betting man to begin with), I have read and heard several varying opinions. Scoop Jackson (as usual) provided the barbershop, in-the-crib perspective that countered the supposed intent of the American anthem in sports. A song that may have not had all groups of people in mind (racially, ethnically, economically, religiously, etc.) for a country that may have had the same reflection. A song that for all the flowery descriptions admist gloom is a story that will always be played out, the original A Tree Grows in Brooklyn or "Rose That Grew from Concrete", if you will. A song that when performed is supposed to allow for all of us to unite, no matter how divided we truly are. Allowed to be interpreted and performed by different walks of life because this is to be the country for different walks of life.

Fast forward to earlier this afternoon as I am watching a recap of last night's thriller in Seattle between the Knicks and Sonics. A commercial comes up promoting the New York Rangers where a father and son wearing personalized Ranger sweaters, sitting in an empty Madison Square Garden. Now, I pay attention to ALL team and league promos. So when the father talked about the character of these surprising Broadway Blues, I nodded my head, remembering how fractured and discombobulated the franchise had been since winning it all in 1994. Yet, he said that he wants to see the team playing every second of the game and playing as one unit, playing as a team.

Two different topics, one common thread. It's something you may not see right away, but as many times in life, it takes personal travails and/or triumphs to see what you need to understand. There have been a plethora of articles and discussions in sports media of the unifier of sports, and though I appreciate the sentiments, something is left unsaid. Something always leaves me unsettled, confused and disappointed. I see that we talk a good game, but we can't play for squat. And it's not just about how many media (wo)men can't tell as slant pass from a chest pass.

Forgive the Above the Rim-He Got Game-Remember the Titans feel.

Picture this: November in New England, but still warm. Ten basketball players at a basketball court in Boston on Essex Street near South Station, playing 5-on-5 ball, game 100, switch courts at 50. On one team, you have the usual team of streetball hustlers who could have gone about making their cash through other means, but have run this game for years. Two have mouths to feed, with one teetering on the brink of losing his mind with his baby mama. One has a steady relationship, though his boys don't know that he's not with a female. The other two have their own grind; one could have gone to BC, but didn't push himself enough to do so; the other thinks he's a balling version of 50 Cent, but only has that much left in his pocket. Somehow, with all they left behind, and even with what some would call a questionable living, they are looking like Eastern Conference All-Stars against their opponents. The other five all went to high school together in the city, the school's starting five the prior two years before graduating a few month ago. Two of the kids play for their colleges, but only one makes regular apperances on his squad right now. Both are struggling adjusting to college, one trying to make the grade in class (when he actually gets the chance to go), the other adjusting to the social makeup of the school. The other three have tried their luck in community college, junior college and working fulltime. Community is actually doing okay, but knows that transferring next year won't be easy. JuCo still wants to play for a D-1 school, but his target schools are passing him up. Fulltime moved out of the house with his girl and child, and he wasn't in a great mood before he got on the court. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Community is white, fulltime is Dominican and the others are black.

100-77. $50 a piece, a discount from the guys who taught these kids how to ball.

Both teams know their teammates; strengths and weaknesses, the hot hand, when and where to move to set up a shot or box out. Even if it's the street, it's still team ball, the kind of ball we all expect to play when there are many people on the court, the field, the ice. Yet, the hustlers, at least for this game, left their travails alone and collected that cash. The young bucks tried too hard to make a play. Maybe it's that they hadn't seen each other since August, maybe it's not playing with a crowd. Each one had a moment where they scowled at each other or at some invisible bad guy. They wanted to leave their world of uncertainty for their world of basketball, but they were caught in the middle with each jumpshot. You feel this?

How do we unite when we are fractured? It's not only in the demographics that The Banner is supposed to represent. It's not only in the organizations that are deciding whether or not to interview minority candidates for head coaching positions or ownership stakes. And it's not just a dress code or World Baseball Classic. It's when our families have unresolved issues that delve deeper than the eye can see. When you argue with the (wo)man you deeply love because you are from a different background than (s)he is. When your car broke down to start the worst day of your life that was worse that last week's worst day of your life. When you have an ill relative who is reminding you to remain strong despite your worries. With all of that going on in our own lives, whether we wish to recognize them or not, it's amazing that an athlete could even show up to work with all of US scrutinizing him/her with such impersonality.

Do we go to work or school or home thinking that we must be unified with our coworkers, classmates or relatives? For the most part, no. There may be one apparent goal for a team (WIN), but there are many that are not as obvious for each player, coach, executive and fan. Well, the same goes for us non-athletes. We go to work not just for money, but mobility, for justification of our needs and possessions, for leaving an indellible mark somewhere in our worlds. School is supposed to be for education, but we all have social connections and desires to go to the next level. And we are a part of a family, reasons for them are without saying.

So why do we expect a team to play as one at all times? Well, we do pay the cable bills that allow the broadcasting, the tickets and merchandising that pay the rent for the stadium, the products that the corporate owners sell that gave way for the naming rights and/or team ownership, the attention that we have given sports since we were kids through media or through acquaintance of these athletes. So, I agree with all. Yet, life happens, and even we tend to forget that with our own lives. How can we expect a united anything when we are already divided?

By trying.

Say What?!?!: In a much, much lighter tone, I amazed that there is an actual logo for the baseball winter meetings. Yankee fans, see where your revenue sharing excesses have gone? As for an actual game, I must be the only person who believes that if Indianapolis defeats Jacksonville, there is no doubt that they will go undefeated. Sure, it is the NFL, and anything can happen, but the Jaguars have been the only team other than New England to give the Colts fits, even with little offensive prodution themselves. The Jags has been primed as a team creepin-on-the-ahhhh-come-up and have been thisclose to beating them for the last three years. If the starters are rested, there is still adequate depth, especially as it is possible that Edgerrin James may be rested until the Divisional Round. Dominic Rhodes has filled in well for James in the past and the running game can still be strong with the depth at o-line. Yet, undefeated or not, this is the year.

Jab

Raise your hand you are an owner or purveyor of EA Sports Fight Night. Well, I'm a definitely one of the millions who enjoyed what is arguably the best boxing video game ever. I admit that though I have yet to enjoy Fight Night Round 2, I am also a tad rusty on the original if I was asked to pick up the PS2 controller at this moment. As Saturday's big fight looms ever closer, I can hear the simulated trainer who goads you through the career mode.

Jab. Jab. Right uppercut. Come on, champ, push yourself! Straight. Jab. ..

The left jab and youth of Jermain Taylor versus the veteran crafted torture of Bernard Hopkins. July 16 showed that still in the art of boxing, anything can and will happen. No matter what Hopkins, undefeated for twelve years, believes about his performance in the summer, it is hard to disagree that if he had started his plan of attack earlier in the fight, the championship would have never changed camps. No matter what Taylor, a bronze medalist in the Sydney Olympics (for what the Olympics are worth these days), may believe about his performance in the previous fight, it was hard to see how much of a star he really could be for the next five to ten years. Both fighters have much more to prove than disproving the previous pay-per-punch. And not just for themselves.

The Executioner: To those who follow the fight game, there is no need to tell the story. For those who aren't very familiar... well, bless the Internet. This fight means much more than the hefty purse. When you are the best at something for over a decade, whatever it is in life, to only drop down to second fiddle, you don't just give up the perch so easily. Hopkins had been looking for a couple more fights before fufilling his promise to his late mother, to retire before his 41st birthday next month. There were several possibilities before deciding to box Taylor: Winky Wright, Antonio Tarver, even a rematch with Roy Jones Jr. which is twelve years in the making. However, he chose to defend his undisputed streak against his supposed heir-apparent.
You watched the July fight: Taylor was able to take advantage of Hopkins' "trap" early. Hopkins is notoriously a slow-starter, wanting to tire out and frustrate his opponent by clutching, holding at times and burrowing himself defensively. His inside tactics, if you will call them, begin to come about in the middle of the bout. Maybe he doesn't have the power that middleweights are supposed to possess, but think of someone poking the hell out of you for at least four three-minute intervals, inside out. In terms of what he has to prove, it is not his legitimacy as casual followers and critics lead us to believe. Despite the decline of the sports' prominence, it is hard to deny that going undefeated for twelve years in any individual sport is not worthy of a sportsman's respect. Blend Lance Armstrong's Tour de France excellence with Roger Clemens' dominance into his fifth decade on Earth and the brutality of the sport. So what's to prove: that he really isn't too old to be in this game. That his defeat was a fluke win for a young prince who isn't ready for the throne.

Bad Intentions: Little Rock, AK doesn't have professional sports, however, even the Mayor of the city recognizes that for as long as Taylor is a top fighter, he carries the pro status for the city and the entire state. The 27-year old does not have the extensive Wikipedia page that Hopkins has, but fans of the fight game are looking at him, Wright, Miguel Cotto and other non-AARP fighters to carry the game as part of the new generation of fighters. Let's not think that he was thrown to upseat Hopkins because there was that much hatred for the Philadelphia native. He was considered the heir apparent to Hopkins for the last two years, but would he actually have to face Hopkins to take the throne? Though he has had a bunch of spoon-fed advasaries, the credentials had been enough to start building a rep for the middleweight crown.
Taylor is one of those rare boxers right now that has a knockout jab. Yet, in the first fight, he only landed 14% of his breadwinners. In one of the hype shows, Taylor did admit that he could have fought a better fight: he seemingly tired himself out as the rounds drew late. He took advantage of the slow-starting, methodical fighter in front of him, enough that he compelled the judges to decide the fight. Taylor wants to prove his legitimacy as champion, but the only true means to do so is to soundly beat Hopkins. He also wants to prove that this recent shift in personality isn't just because his promoter told him to attack. The "aw shucks" persona has been scraped for antics. Imagine a wrestler on the mic for the first time that would prefer to just get in the ring rather than sway the crowd. Taylor says that he cares about the crowd as opposed to Hopkins, but is this new-found confidence going to reflect that well?

The Game: Why even talk about boxing when no one seems to care? It's because people still do. Boxing has a long-winding road that no matter what the business itself does to sabotage the sport, will always keep the game in play. It's called a carnival, a circus, a roadshow, a trainwreck waiting to happen. Yet, boxing has always depended on ying-yang fights like this. Promoters love to latch on the labels of "babyface" and "heel", good and bad, whether directly (Joe Louis vs. Max Schmelling, any of the Jack Johnson fights), indirectly through media savvy (Ray Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler, Felix Trinidad vs. Oscar De La Hoya) or carefully worded despite heavy undertones (Larry Holmes vs. Jerry Cooney). Part of the reason why the fight game has suffered because promoters continue to dominate the game without promoting the right fight. For the fan in general, they just want a good fight, and fortunately for Taylor-Hopkins, this is the case. Yet, for promoters, it's about the last few name brands in the game. Add to the fact that the heavyweight division carries the sport for better or worse, and it makes for a wild scramble to gather the right names in the lower weight classes.
The other issue with the fight game is the switch from free television to PPV. Think about how many fights you have seen in your life on free TV compared to PPV (even if you saw it a week later on cable). Ponying up $50 for a fight that can go any way is a dangerous game that the industry chose to play.
And for brevity, I won't even go into the alphabet soup "organizations". Can the new generation of boxers carry the weight of the boxing world on their shoulders or as Hopkins and business partner De La Hoya have done, will this new generation shrug? And will Congress become as remotely serious about cleaning up the industry as they have been about their involvement with baseball? We shall see.

Say What?!?!: Hopkins via unanimous decision. Although I wouldn't be surprised if he knocks Taylor out in the middle of the fight, B-Hop has yet to lose to the same opponent when fighting him twice. That does mean something for someone who has been able to fight for this long at such a high level. I do think that Taylor won't come out as aggressive in the early rounds because he wants to pace himself. This will make for a not-so-crowd pleasing rounds 1-4, however, Hopkins found a way to daze Taylor in the first fight by poking those stick-like jabs into him. Do not be shocked if you see this again. Neither man, however, should leave the fight to the judges... no fight should be fought so that three blind (wo)men determine who won.