Every sport league tends to have the same problem. Bad teams making it to the playoffs while good teams are at home. This year the NFC South is most likely going to have a team make the playoffs with a sub 500 record while a team in another division with a winning record won't make it. In basketball the Eastern Conference will have roughly 3-4 teams make the playoffs while in the West Conference there are arguably 10 teams that have the ability to make the playoffs. How entertaining would it be if only winning teams made the playoffs? I'm not suggesting realigning all the divisions or conferences I'm suggesting that the playoffs shouldn't allow teams with a losing record to make it.
In basketball the top 16 records make the playoffs. In football the top 12 records make it. In baseball the top 10 make it. It would make winning the divisions a bit less important, but there can be caveats placed to reward the teams with the better records like home field advantage. Teams with losing records make at least on playoff series or game unappealing. The teams with losing records don't deserve to make the playoffs year in and year out. Especially in basketball the playoffs would be much better had the Western Conference gotten the slots given to the Eastern Conference teams that had a losing record last season.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
The Real MVP
Watching football this past weekend the real MVP made his case even stronger and yet he's most likely not going to even be a thought when it comes to award time. JJ Watt had a sack, a strip fumble, a fumble recovery, and then a receiving touchdown all in one game. This isn't the first time he's done this in a game this season. Watt has 11 and a half sacks and has 4 touchdowns on the season that's unheard of for a player that plays on the defensive side of the ball. He's even returned an interception for a touchdown. The season Watt is having is definitely MVP worthy, but since he doesn't play the pretty boy position (Quarterback) the award most likely is going to go to either Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Peyton Manning. This isn't me writing about how the quarterbacks don't deserve to win the award, but explaining why Watt should win the award.
The Houston Texans are 6-6 not destined for the playoffs while Rodgers, Brady, and Manning are leading their respective teams to the playoffs and they all have the ability to make other players better, but the award is veered toward the most valued player on the team and it's a shame that it has turned into an offensive player's award. I'd love to see Watt walk away with the MVP, he's had an impact on the Texans defense that might equal the same impact that Brady and co have on the offensive side of the ball. The defensive player of the year should walk away with the MVP, but it'll forever the pretty boy's time to shine.
The Houston Texans are 6-6 not destined for the playoffs while Rodgers, Brady, and Manning are leading their respective teams to the playoffs and they all have the ability to make other players better, but the award is veered toward the most valued player on the team and it's a shame that it has turned into an offensive player's award. I'd love to see Watt walk away with the MVP, he's had an impact on the Texans defense that might equal the same impact that Brady and co have on the offensive side of the ball. The defensive player of the year should walk away with the MVP, but it'll forever the pretty boy's time to shine.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Time to Save This Kid's Career
I don't know how many posts I've written about Derrick Rose, but I think it's time that there be a change in how Rose plays the game. Coming off of two years of being a bystander and countless jokes at his (and the Bulls') expense it's time for Rose to stop putting his body through the torture that is his game. The whole "drive to the basket and get the foul" way of him playing is destroying his body and at 26 years old Rose should be able to play several games in a row. Right now Rose can't even play two games back to back without his body reacting negatively and that's when Rose has to sit for more games. Rose is too young to get the Tim Duncan treatment from coach Thibodeau. The way San Antonio coach Popovich treats the aging players on his roster is genius because they're well into their NBA careers, well into their 30's and Rose is, like I said, 26.
I understand telling Rose to reign it in is difficult because he won an MVP going 100mph and going so hard when he has the ball, but for his own sakes I'm hoping that he incorporates more of Chris Paul's game into his. Instead of being a Russell Westbrook type of point guard maybe it's time Rose dials it back, pace the floor, find his open teammates, and become more of a traditional point guard. So that he can be at his son's graduation without any soreness as Rose himself said he wants to do when he's older, he's going to have to adjust his game. Rose is not only doing himself harm he's doing the Bulls harm because the team is better when he's on the floor and with him missing every other game because of nagging injuries isn't helping. Especially when his teammates are playing through nagging injuries that has to irk fans, Thibodeau, and teammates.
I understand telling Rose to reign it in is difficult because he won an MVP going 100mph and going so hard when he has the ball, but for his own sakes I'm hoping that he incorporates more of Chris Paul's game into his. Instead of being a Russell Westbrook type of point guard maybe it's time Rose dials it back, pace the floor, find his open teammates, and become more of a traditional point guard. So that he can be at his son's graduation without any soreness as Rose himself said he wants to do when he's older, he's going to have to adjust his game. Rose is not only doing himself harm he's doing the Bulls harm because the team is better when he's on the floor and with him missing every other game because of nagging injuries isn't helping. Especially when his teammates are playing through nagging injuries that has to irk fans, Thibodeau, and teammates.
Friday, November 21, 2014
How the Mighty have Fallen..
The Los Angeles Lakers were once a proud team. Their history contains names like James Worthy, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul Jabber, and Kobe Bryant all of whom are in the Hall of Fame or Hall of Fame bound in Kobe's case. Today's Lakers are relying on "Swaggy P" who's Swaggy P you may be wondering he's a 7 year player out of the University of Southern California who's real name is Nick Young (where he got the "P" from I have no idea). The Lakers haven't had the same string of success that they enjoyed under former owner Jerry Buss during the current ownership of his son Jim Buss who hasn't shown the same value for winning that his father once had. It's a more depressing version of what's going on in the Bronx with the Steinbrenner ownership group.
While yes no team's stretch of success lasts forever these Lakers are running the chance of becoming the clowns of the Association and the once proud name of the Lakers will not be worth as much as they did before. It didn't help that the Lakers drove out Dwight Howard who could've been the next star in purple n gold. Whether that be because Dwight Howard wasn't made to play in LA or because Kobe didn't make the necessary overtures to Howard to actually get him in the fold or maybe the Lakers should've waited for Howard to be healthy. Whatever the case may be the Lakers lost out on a star player which rarely happened back in the Jerry Buss times. While the Clippers have become the bigger draw at the Staples Center the Lakers have become the little brother so to speak. I'm not asking for a change in ownership (yet), but for now the Lakers name is going to be dependent on Swaggy P and the usual shot happy Kobe.
While yes no team's stretch of success lasts forever these Lakers are running the chance of becoming the clowns of the Association and the once proud name of the Lakers will not be worth as much as they did before. It didn't help that the Lakers drove out Dwight Howard who could've been the next star in purple n gold. Whether that be because Dwight Howard wasn't made to play in LA or because Kobe didn't make the necessary overtures to Howard to actually get him in the fold or maybe the Lakers should've waited for Howard to be healthy. Whatever the case may be the Lakers lost out on a star player which rarely happened back in the Jerry Buss times. While the Clippers have become the bigger draw at the Staples Center the Lakers have become the little brother so to speak. I'm not asking for a change in ownership (yet), but for now the Lakers name is going to be dependent on Swaggy P and the usual shot happy Kobe.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Party Like It's 1985?
The Kansas City Royals have made it to the World Series for the first time since 1985 and I couldn't be happier for the fans and the players. The Royals have been the butt of many jokes over the last 29 years and all that can be forgotten once they win that elusive ring. Whether it be the Giants or the Cardinals I believe the Royals have what it takes to beat either team. That Royals' bullpen has been lock down all postseason and the small ball tactics have been beneficial towards the Royals, whether that be bunting runners over or sacrificing themselves to set up the next batter in line to have runners in scoring position or stealing bases which has been looked down upon since the number guys have called stealing bases a bad thing, but yet it all has worked for Ned Yost and the Royals.
The Royals don't have household names, the Royals aren't a big market team, the Royals win unconventionally for the AL. The biggest name on the team is probably James Shields who pitches once maybe twice in a series something that bothers "fans" who don't follow the sport, but how can you not root for the team that has gone as long as I have been alive? People need to watch this team play and appreciate what fans of the sport have been appreciating for quite a while now.
The Royals don't have household names, the Royals aren't a big market team, the Royals win unconventionally for the AL. The biggest name on the team is probably James Shields who pitches once maybe twice in a series something that bothers "fans" who don't follow the sport, but how can you not root for the team that has gone as long as I have been alive? People need to watch this team play and appreciate what fans of the sport have been appreciating for quite a while now.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Oh Man, Ray
Domestic violence is never acceptable. One person putting their hands on another should never be an option, but yet these things happen. And when these things happen in public it's even uglier. Ex-Ravens running back Ray Rice got caught on an elevator knocking out his now wife with a sneaky left hook and after he hit her she hit her head on a pole in the elevator which lead to her losing consciousness and then eventually being dragged out of the elevator by her now husband. The NFL's initial punishment for Rice was just 2 games. That was a joke of a punishment since the same NFL suspended Cleveland Browns' wide receiver Josh Gordon for a full year after he tested positive for marijuana something that is legal in two states.
ESPN and other gas bags are now going too far; asking for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's job. Did he make a mistake? Yes, he did. Did he make up for said mistake? In my eyes yes, he did. He changed the punishment for domestic violence violations to six unpaid games and eventually banished Ray Rice from playing after the Ravens released him. Those are steps that should have been done before this accident because there have been many other players with the same violation as Rice, but since there has never been a video that leaked out like this they have been able to skate without the amount of scrutiny that Rice and his wife and the NFL have been seeing in these last few days. Goodell shouldn't get fired, he made the necessary changes in punishment that players definitely need to wise up when they go to lift their hands against their mates.
ESPN and other gas bags are now going too far; asking for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's job. Did he make a mistake? Yes, he did. Did he make up for said mistake? In my eyes yes, he did. He changed the punishment for domestic violence violations to six unpaid games and eventually banished Ray Rice from playing after the Ravens released him. Those are steps that should have been done before this accident because there have been many other players with the same violation as Rice, but since there has never been a video that leaked out like this they have been able to skate without the amount of scrutiny that Rice and his wife and the NFL have been seeing in these last few days. Goodell shouldn't get fired, he made the necessary changes in punishment that players definitely need to wise up when they go to lift their hands against their mates.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Little League vs. the Majors
Now that the Little League World Series is over and the people that were caught up in the moment have a chance to now breathe let's delve into many of the comments and irrational thinking I've heard in that week. I heard things from little leaguers (one especially, but I'll get to her) should be getting paid, I heard that MLB ought to look to little league for ways to make the majors better. I heard that there was more drama in little league than there was in MLB. The biggest insult was that little leaguers should be getting paid. College sports players should be the ones getting paid; basketball and football rake in millions on top of millions in endorsements and TV deals and while head coaches are getting paid millions their star players have to scrap to eat. That's not fair. Coaches can't buy students food, rich people who donate millions to help schools can't help these starving players, yet 11 and 12 year olds deserve to get paid? I don't think so.
Who knew Mo'Ne Davis two weeks ago? Besides her friends and family no one and now she is supposed to be the eventual first female player to make it to the majors? Doubt it. Even though her goal is to become a point guard in the University of Connecticut I heard people saying that she should continue to develop and make it to the majors and a "junk ball" lefty. How many junk ball lefties are out there looking for work? And yet she's supposed to make it just because she's a female? Not that I'm knocking Mo'Ne who I hope goes on and live a fantastic life, but she's not going to be the next Jaime Moyer. And why was the little league so much more dramatic because the basic plays that are made everyday in the majors don't get made by 11 and 12 year olds who are on national TV for the first time in their lives. Little league was fun for the one week it was on TV, but now let's get back to the professionals.
Who knew Mo'Ne Davis two weeks ago? Besides her friends and family no one and now she is supposed to be the eventual first female player to make it to the majors? Doubt it. Even though her goal is to become a point guard in the University of Connecticut I heard people saying that she should continue to develop and make it to the majors and a "junk ball" lefty. How many junk ball lefties are out there looking for work? And yet she's supposed to make it just because she's a female? Not that I'm knocking Mo'Ne who I hope goes on and live a fantastic life, but she's not going to be the next Jaime Moyer. And why was the little league so much more dramatic because the basic plays that are made everyday in the majors don't get made by 11 and 12 year olds who are on national TV for the first time in their lives. Little league was fun for the one week it was on TV, but now let's get back to the professionals.
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