The 10 Worst Things About Being a Cubs Fan, Part II

12 runs in the bottom of the 8th, made possible by 11 straight hits (an MLB record), and the return of Big Z. Now is a better time than ever to unleash Part II of the worst things about being a Cubs fan, Reasons 5-1. For Reasons 10-6 click here.
5) The White Sox - Cubs fans try to downplay the White Sox as much as possible. We say they're the less popular baseball team in Chicago (which is true), their ball park isn't as historic and Chicago neighborhood is shittier (also true), and we only worry about our own team, while they worry about ours (not true.)
As much as Cubs fans try to deflect attention away from the White Sox 2005 championship, we can't. Any rational fan can tell you that their performance in the 2005 playoffs was one of the best, if not the best in baseball playoff history. They plowed through the Red Sox, Angels, and Astros en route to a 12-1 playoff record, and some of the best starting pitching you will ever see.
Here's the worst part. It's been said a million times that the Cubs only have one World Series victory since 1908. Do you know how many the White Sox have? Two. It just so happens that one of those has come in the last five years, erasing almost 90 years of failure.
4) Payroll - As I've said many times before, baseball isn't fair. There's no salary cap, so its essentially designed to keep the big market, high payroll teams in contention every year, while a small market here and there makes a splash. It would be one thing to consistently lose if they were the Pirates (30th in payroll), Diamondbacks (25th), Indians (24th), or Nationals (23rd). It's quite another when the Cubs have the 3rd highest payroll in the league, just under 147 million.
Compare that to some other teams that will make the playoffs: Padres (38 million, 29th), Rangers (55 million, 27th), and Rays (71 million, 21st).
Now let's compare the Cubs to the other teams in the top 10 in payroll. 8 of the 10 teams are over .500, the Cubs and Mariners (9th) being the only two left out. 4 teams ((Yankees (1st), Phillies (4th), White Sox (7th), and Giants (10th)), all have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.
So while being a top 10 payroll doesn't guarantee playoff entry, it almost always guarantees a competitive season, and the Cubs can't even produce that this year.
3) Ticket Prices - According to Team Marketing Report, the Cubs had the third most expensive average ticket in 2009, coming in at just under 48 dollars. Not surprisingly, the Yankees and Red Sox are 1 and 2, coinciding with their payroll rank.
I know, it's Chicago, it's a big market, and Wrigley Field is a tourist attraction, so they can price the tickets as high as they want, and people will still come. It's a shame because this results in richer, less knowledgeable fans, who are there for the atmosphere and not the game. Once again, the real fans lose because they're priced out.
In college, I roomed with a Twins fan from Minnesota. He said on Wednesdays, or some other random day, you could get tickets for a dollar. A dollar! You can't even get a pack of gum for a dollar in Wrigleyville. Cubs ticket prices will always be ridiculous, but they would be a little more bearable if, like the Yankees and Red Sox, they put a winning team on the field every year.

2) 2003/Bartman - I include Bartman in the bolded not because I blame him for losing us the NLCS against Florida, but because he's the most recognizable figure in the disaster that was 2003.
The front office constructed the 2003 team around winning a title for that year. It was a make or break year and was still the best chance the Cubs have had in my lifetime to win a World Series. Top to bottom, the 2008 team was better, but the 2003 was better constructed for the playoffs for two reasons.
 1. Veteran Starting Lineup - The Cubs brought in Randall Simon and Kenny Lofton at the trade deadline to make an already old team even older. The average age of their starting lineup was 33. 33! Just think about how old that is for a playoff team. However, they could all play. They still had Sosa and Alou in the middle of the lineup, who were both declining, but still huge threats. Add in a young Aramis Ramirez, who took the middle of the lineup to another level. Lofton and Grudzielanek were both smart top of the order hitters with high on base percentages.
2. Starting Pitching -You're not going to win in the playoffs without great starting pitching and the Cubs had it. This would mark the only time that Mark Prior and Kerry Wood were healthy and on top of their game at the same time. Carlos Zambrano and Matt Clement were also also capable of shutting any lineup down. Just look at these strikeout numbers: Wood (266), Prior (245), Clement (171), and Zambrano (168). It's mind boggling that a team with 4 starting pitchers in the neighborhood of 200 strikeouts could not win a World Series.
I remember it like it was yesterday, Cubs had a 3-2 Series lead, Mark Prior was scheduled for Game 6, and Wood for Game 7. There was not one Cubs fan I knew that thought Prior and Wood would lose back to back games. Well, that's what happened, and that's why 2003 is so high on this list.
1) 101 Going on 102 Year World Series Drought - I might as well have put this one at the top, you all knew it was coming. Everyone talks about baseball records that will never be beaten. The two most common that come up are Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hit streak and Cy Young's 511 career wins. Cy Young's will never be broken, DiMaggio's maybe someday. But will the Cubs World Series drought ever be broken? It seems like a legit question because even random small market teams are competitive once in a while. Of course, this streak is still going, so we can't even place a number on it yet.
To illustrate how depressing it is to be a Cubs fan, let me say this. Everyone knows someone, or is related to someone that lived a long productive life and didn't get to see the Cubs win a World Series. My grandpa, a life long Cubs fan was born in 1918, and lived to be 87 years old. He died in late November of 2005. He hung around just long enough to see the White Sox win a World Series. If that's not depressing, I don't know what is.

The 10 Worst Things About Being A Cubs Fan, Part I

August is almost here and the Cubs are 10 games under .500. Now is about the time I start wishing I was a fan of another team, any other team. To cope with the misery that is baseball in August, I present the 10 worst things about being a Cubs fan.
10) 1:20 Games - Wrigley Field has been around since 1914, so as you may expect, the Cubs are reluctant to change. Unfortunately this has extended into the game schedule as well. Lights weren't installed in Wrigley until 1988, so the Cubs were forced to play afternoon games so they could get them in before dark. They have lights now but still the afternoon games. Unlike me, some Cubs fans are actually, you know, employed. Most people aren't free at 1:20 on Tuesday.
9) No Instant Replay - Yeah, this is another gripe about the Cubs being reluctant to change. I love Wrigley Field, and I love the fact that they've maintained its appearance even 100 years later. However, its not the most fan-friendly of ball parks out there. The old time scoreboard is certainly a throwback, but is it too much to ask to have an electric portion of the scoreboard capable of showing replays? It's never a good look when you can just stay at home and get a better sense of what's going on than when you're at the game.
8) The Fans - This point needs a bit of clarification. I feel Cubs fans are unjustly criticized most of the time, so let me start by saying, that there are a lot of great Cubs fans out there. They follow all the games, are knowledgeable, and can admit when the team sucks. This isn't about them (I include myself in that group, by the way). Here are the three types of Cubs fans I hate:
1) The "Happy to be Here" Fan. The male version of the "Happy to be Here" fan drinks as much as he can at the game. He only knows half of the players, knows nothing about the game of baseball, but roots his heart out as loudly has possible. You find a lot of these types at the bleachers. Sometimes they're funny, most of the time, just annoying.
The female version is one that treats a Cubs game like a Friday night party. You can tell they took at least three hours to get ready for the game. To accommodate them, Wrigley Field has added margaritas and vodka mixed drinks to their menu. They care a great deal about meeting people, texting and talking during an important at bat. Basically anything that doesn't involve the game. Most people, as misguided as they are, think this fan represents all Cubs fans.
2) The "I'm in the Neighborhood" Fan. Wrigley Field is located in a very rich, trendy area in the north side of Chicago. As you may expect, this area attracts quite a few 20 somethings that are living off of their parents' trust funds. They find it trendy to root for the Cubs, and since they're in the neighborhood, they go to a bunch of games. They know nothing about baseball and may not even be from Illinois or any of the other states that typically root for the Cubs. It should be known that many of these fans can also fit into category number 1.
3) The Delusional Fan. He or she thinks "This is the Year." They probably think that right now, the Cubs still have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs. It's one thing to be optimistic, it's another to be delusional. Every team has fans like this, but it's harder to justify it when your team hasn't won in 102 years.

7) Mark Prior - No player sums up the Cubs organization better than Mark Prior. He was the supposed savior of the organization who suffered a freak collision with Marcus Giles running the bases, which laid the groundwork for a career filled with shoulder injuries. Unrealized potential. Those two words sum of Prior and the Cubs perfectly. It still frustrates me to think about the type of player Prior could have become. In his short time with the Cubs he's already the best Cubs pitcher I've ever seen and will most likely be a top 3 Cubs pitcher of my lifetime.
6) Defeatist Attitude - Despite how confident, ignorant, or cocky Cubs fans appear at the surface, they are all miserable deep down. None of us have any confidence that our team can win a World Series. We may talk like we do, but deep down, we don't believe it. This was on display during Game 1 of the 2008 NLDS against the Dodgers. Despite jumping out to a 2-0 lead, Cubs fans at Wrigley didn't get excited. It was like they were waiting for something bad to happen, and the announcers noticed it.
Funny thing is, I reacted the exact same way watching the game. I was literally shaking while watching the game, waiting for something bad to happen. It was easy to criticize that crowd for not rallying behind their team, some of it was warranted, but if you're not a Cubs fan, you don't understand.
Part II coming up next.

Dez Bryant Refuses to Carry Football

Only a few days removed from refusing to carry Cowboys veteran wide receiver Roy Williams' pads as part of a rookie hazing tradition, Dez Bryant has once again refused a request. During Thursday's afternoon walk through, the rookie wide receiver refused to carry the football.
The Cowboys offense was running through plays, and quarterback Tony Romo called for a play action reverse. The play required Bryant to wait for Romo to fake the handoff to his running back, and then come through the backfield to take the handoff. Bryant refused.
"I'm not here to carry the football," Bryant said. "Tashard [Choice, Cowboys running back] can carry his own damn football."
Romo was a little puzzled by Bryant's outburst. "It honestly kind of surprised me," Romo told reporters. "Normally receivers are looking for any way they can to get involved in the offense, whether it be through the air or on the ground. Especially rookies because they aren't guaranteed a big role right off the bat."
"I wasn't brought in to carry someones football," Bryant said. "They got like three running backs here. What the hell are they here for? You're going to have three running backs and expect me to carry the football? Nah."
Bryant's reaction has prompted other players to get involved with the highly controversial subject of receivers being forced to carry footballs for the running backs.
Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin, the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year last year, felt that Bryant should pay his dues.
"Coming out of Florida, I was operating under the assumption that running backs carry the football and us receivers don't have to worry about that," Harvin said. "But they do it different up here. I paid my dues, listened to the veterans like Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, and look where it got me."
Bryant has reportedly come to terms with the Cowboys offense, and insists that his refusal was blown out of proportion.
"I wasn't aware of the tradition," Bryant said. "Had I known that it was customary for me to carry Tashard or Felix or Marion's football, I would have not made a big deal about it. No problems here, just a little mix up."
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips has denied reports that Bryant has also refused to make tackles should a defensive back intercept a pass.  

Don't Look Now, But Strasburg is Headed to the DL

I hate to say I told you so, but...well, I didn't necessarily predict a DL stint, but thought people should hold off before praising Strasburg as fervently as they have been. Although it turns out the praise to this point has been warranted.
He's struck out 75 in only 54 1/3 innings, has won five of his nine starts, and is currently sitting on a stellar 2.32 ERA. And perhaps most important, has surrendered only fifteen walks.
There's no question Strasburg is already one of the premier pitchers in baseball. His ability to throw 100 mph, coupled with nasty movement and control, make him a pitcher capable of dominating the league for the next ten years.
For reference, Carlos Marmol is unhittable. Stephen Strasburg reminds me of Marmol, except he's a starter, and has superb control of his pitches. Enough said.
Strasburg skipped his scheduled start Tuesday, and has now been placed on the 15 day DL. He experienced shoulder soreness during his bullpen session, which was later diagnosed as inflammation in his pitching shoulder, and serious enough to land him on the DL. Strasburg said he's had a history of shoulder soreness since college, and it's nothing to be alarmed about.
I don't know about that. Mark Prior was the last can't miss pitching prospect expected to dominate the league for a decade. I followed Prior very closely and remember specifically his slew of shoulder problems starting in 2006 and eventually leading to two different shoulder surgeries in 2007 and 2008.
While Prior's mechanics were considered flawless at the time, experts on pitching mechanics were forced to reexamine his delivery after witnessing his injury plagued career. They found that he put more stress on his throwing shoulder than was originally thought.
I'm no expert on pitching mechanics, but I worry the same might be true of Strasburg's delivery.
To put things in perspective, Strasburg was expected to be shut down early this year anyway. Including his time in the minors this year, Strasburg has already pitched 109 2/3 innings, equalling his total last year at San Diego State. The Nationals planned on shutting him down at the 160 IP mark.
As a sports fan, I hope this is only a blip on his career radar. Maybe he will return good as new from his DL stint and continue to dominate the league like nothing happened. However, I hope the Nationals take a closer look at his mechanics and figure out if something is wrong. The last thing the MLB needs is for its two biggest pitching prospects of the last 20 years to bow out early because of injuries.

Thoughts On The ManU - MLS All-Star Game

I think many US soccer fans felt the MLS All-Stars had something to prove during Wednesday night's match up. While the match was technically an All-Star game and didn't even involve either team's best players, it would have done wonders for US soccer to prove that they're capable of competing with the best the Premier League has to offer.
I felt the All-Stars had a chance until I looked at three things:
1) Came to the realization that they're just that, a bunch of All-Stars. They aren't used to playing together and it showed, particularly in the first half. Their passes weren't crisp, there was very little creativity, and an overall lack of chemistry and ball control from the All-Stars. Things started to come together in the second half, but by then, they had already dug themselves into a hole too deep to climb out of.
2) Manchester United has lost their last match up of their North American Tour against the Kansas City Wizards of the MLS. The Wizards are currently 4-8-4 in MLS play and would fail to qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today. You knew ManU wasn't going out like that. What better way to prove they're a superior team than to crush the best the MLS has to offer.
3) Alexi Lalas picked the All-Stars to win during the pre-game show. If you watched any of the US World Cup games, you know that Lalas was the biggest homer on the show, and picked the US to win every game. After seeing his pick, I figured the MLS would be overmatched.
By the way, Lalas was less impressive today than he had been through out the World Cup. I don't know if he purposely tuned it down, or he didn't have the patriotic fervor flowing through him, but he provided no comedy whatsoever this time around.
I was hoping to take this game to do a little scouting for the upcoming EPL season. I've never watched the EPL before so I'm completely working from scratch. It will be frustrating at first to become familiar with players, and I'm still not sure how transfers work, but I'll figure it out. Unfortunately, many of these players Manchester United featured won't be major players this upcoming season.
Federico Macheda, who appeared in five games for ManU last season, scored ManU's first two goals in the first 13 minutes. Giving up goals in the first fifteen minutes is approaching national crisis level. The epidemic has even spread to the lowly MLS. Anyway, the fact that a little used reserve can come in and light up the All-Stars proves how deep ManU is, I think, even moreso than the lack of quality in the MLS.

Also speaking to ManU's depth, it was cool to see Javier Hernandez enter the game and score in the second half for his new team. The reception he got was incredible, the second biggest behind Landon Donovan's. I loved watching Hernandez in this year's World Cup, and if he can consistently display the same skill it took for him to score his goal in today's game, he'll be fun to watch for a long time in the EPL.
Last thought is on Landon Donovan and his impending move to some club overseas. Regardless of the money involved, I think he should do it. Donovan is important to the MLS, the most important player to the MLS in fact. But he would do more for US soccer overseas. The only way MLS will truly be recognized as a legitimate league is if its players can come overseas and dominate there. MLS is currently filled with either washed up overseas players and players who aren't capable of playing overseas. It isn't until elite players in MLS can prove they belong overseas that MLS will be recognized for their talent. Unfortunately, we can't stash our talent, we have to give it away eventually.
So what did I take away from this game? Not much. I learned that a team that is familiar with each other will play better even if they don't have as much talent on the field (that point is debatable, though). Nani was the most impressive player on the pitch, and soccer isn't quite the same when nationalism isn't a huge factor. I also hate ManU a little bit more than I did Wednesday morning.

T.O. Officially A Bengal, VH1 Tandem Complete

Terrell Owens signed a one year 2 million dollar deal with another 2 million in incentives to play with Cincinnati next year. With Antonio Bryant injured, it is likely Owens will start alongside fellow VH1 reality star Chad Ochocinco.
While this combination is not as scary as it would have been five years ago, the entertainment value is perhaps twice as high. Here's what I'll be looking forward to seeing from the 1-2? 1A-1B? combination next year. None of which have anything to do with their on the field performance.
1) The Introduction - It's imperative that Cincinnati hosts a welcoming rally, a la the one given to Wade, James, and Bosh in Miami. It doesn't have to involve the fireworks and the rest of the pageantry that went into Miami's, it is Cincinnati, after all. Consider the situations, they're very similar (just play along). You have the superstar face of the franchise (Ochocinco, Wade), the ring chasing sidekick (Owens, James), and the third guy who clearly isn't as good as the first two, but things look better in threes (Bryant, Bosh).
Watching James, Wade, and Bosh strut around on stage provided enough comedy for the entire offseason. Now imagine that with players who are actually funny and have engaging personalities. This idea can't lose.
2) Carson Palmer Reality TV Show - Set it up like The Bachelor. Line up Ochocinco, Owens, Bryant, Cedric Benson, and a fifth random offensive player. Palmer has only one football and he has to choose which player he wants to give it to. This would probably work best in 15 minute special every Sunday morning as part of ESPN's NFL Countdown.
Palmer could whittle the contestants down to two and then leave it at a cliffhanger. The last player standing would be the player who the offensive game plan would revolve around that week. Just before the game, reveal that player, and see if the prediction holds up in the game.
3) Miami Heat vs. Cincinnati Bengals 3 on 3 - Ochocinco has already proposed the idea to James and Wade via Twitter. Set up a one hour special where the three players on each team can face off in both basketball and football. I'd be interested in seeing how the football portion of the show worked out. LeBron (a high school All-American wide receiver) and Wade can move pretty well laterally, and are anywhere from 2 to 4 inches taller than who ever they would be matched up against. Add that to the fact that Ochocinco would probably have to play quarterback, and the Heat would have a chance in both sports.
4) TD Celebration - It's impossible to predict some of the epic touchdown celebrations Ochocinco and Owens could come up with when they put their heads together. They would be on the level of Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David in the war room brainstorming Seinfeld episodes.
All I want to see is one or the other alley-oop the football for the other to dunk over the goal post. In fact, I expect them to create a bunch of tandem celebrations. We may be in for a new era of touchdown celebrations, depends if they actually score touchdowns.
5) The Creation of Some New Vegas Odds - I'm not a betting man, so I'm not exactly aware of the different odds that Vegas offers. However, I feel confident that there's no over/under for total team fines in one year? Or an over/under for total team penalty yards? The NFL will surely be keeping an eye out for any celebrations remotely resembling "excessive" from these two. T.O. is only making 2-4 million this year, he may need his partner in crime to donate him so money.

T-Mac Interested in Joining Bulls

Let's play a little game called "You Know You've Had a Great Offseason When..." The game is simple. Just simply fill in the blank so the statement in quotes turns out factual. I'll play first.
1) ...people are talking about the 12th man you could potentially add to your roster.
2) ...people are talking as if this 12th man could contribute 20-25 minutes a night.
3) ...the potential 12th man has had seven straight seasons averaging 24 ppg or more.
4) ...the potential 12th man has won two scoring titles, and will likely be the second or third guard off the bench.
Of course, that potential 12th man is Tracy McGrady, who was the best player in the NBA during the earlier part of this decade. He'd come at the veteran's minimum, making him a low cost, high reward option. While McGrady isn't the same player he once was, it seems like almost a no brainer to give him a chance.
Best case scenario: McGrady proves he can still score. He comes off the bench, plays about 20 minutes a game, maybe even stays on the floor during crunch time. He'll get plenty of rest and will rarely be forced to guard the opposing team's first or second option.
Worst case scenario: McGrady turns out to be washed up. He struggles with injuries and his game suffers. He gets little to no playing time and is buried on the bench. Remember even though this is a former scoring leader, his role isn't expected to be significant on this team anyway. How many teams even use their 12th man? Not many. As far as I'm concerned, anything we get out of McGrady will be a bonus.
McGrady has already referred to the Bulls as "we" while talking about them, so while not yet official, it seems like he'll be playing in Chicago next season.
McGrady played in only 30 games last season after undergoing surgery on his left knee. He averaged 8.2 and 3.3 while playing about 22 minutes a game. Although his minutes will probably be down from 22, if he contributed anything near those numbers off the bench, that would be a huge boost to a Bulls team that already is one of the deepest teams in the NBA.
This team seems to get more and more exciting each day. If this McGrady deal does happen it will be somewhat of a sad day for me. The Bulls will have filled out their 12 man roster, and I'll have nothing left to talk about until the season starts. During a one of a kind offseason, it shouldn't really be that surprising that a 2 time scoring champ signs with Chicago for the minimum.  After this offseason, nothing that happens this upcoming year will surprise me.

Thoughts on Team USA Scrimmage

Going into Saturday night's scrimmage I had no idea to expect. I had never watched one, and quite frankly, care a lot more about the NBA than international competition. Perhaps it's time to start caring a little more about international play.
The US aren't exactly juggernauts like they used to be, the rest of the world is getting better, and the superstar players are opting out, leaving room for the younger generation of stars to step in. All of these factors have lead to a much more balanced field of play.
Anyway, I had heard about Team USA scrimmages but I didn't know if the term "scrimmage" applied to the guys just fucking around out there, or actually playing within the rules, keeping track of the score, etc. Once I found out it was the latter, that peaked my interest enough to tune in.
My initial expectations of the game were somewhat similar to the McDonald's All-American game. A bunch of talented kids on the floor, some capable of playing at an elite level, but an overall sloppy game because the team's haven't had enough time to develop chemistry together.
Initial reaction to the starting lineups were that they were unfair. I mean Derrick Rose at the point, Stephen Curry at the 2 guard, and Durant at small forward. The only word you can use to describe that trio is unfair. I'm also looking forward to seeing the Rose vs. Rondo match up seeing as they're both very competitive players, don't seem like they're fond of each other, and are both playing for a spot on the team, so you know they're not going to half ass it out there.
I was really impressed by the way Rose played. His game isn't exactly tailored for Team USA's style of play, but he's good enough to adapt. You could see it in the second half, he started to drive and take over a little bit more like he's accustomed to for the Bulls. Overall, he played just under 31 minutes in the 40 minute game, scoring 15 points, dishing out 8 assists, and recording 5 steals. Most impressive number: 0 turnovers.
I love the fact that he's getting to play against the likes of Rondo, Mayo, and Westbrook. Not only playing, but dominating them. Even Rondo was getting handled pretty easily by Rose. This experience will prove invaluable heading into the 2010 season. All indications point towards him becoming the superstar point guard this year that many of us proclaimed he'd be three years ago.

The three point line is shorter in international competition so we got to see some mediocre three point shooters like Rudy Gay (last year .327, this game 3-4), and Andre Iguodala (last year .310, this game 3-3) light it up. I always wondered why some of these inferior teams were able to defeat the US in international competition. I now know it's the three point line.
The three point line equalizes the competition just as it does in the college game. Most of the upsets that occur in the NCAA tournament are the result of mid-major teams outshooting the big schools from behind the arc. I suspect it's the same in the international game, I'll be watching for that.
Kevin Durant was the typical Kevin Durant, scoring a quiet 28 points to lead all scorers. It looks so easy for him to score. Kobe is a great player, the second greatest I've ever seen, in fact. But when it comes to making scoring look easy, Durant is the only player I've seen who makes it look as easy as Jordan. Kobe takes a lot of tough shots, Durant's tough shots don't look like tough shots.
Since I'm seemingly unable to escape an NBA blog without writing something negative about someone, I won't disappoint. Today's victim is Fran Fraschilla. Fraschilla is a knowledgeable basketball mind, I just don't like the way he goes about sharing that knowledge. He really is to basketball analysts what The Game is to rappers. He thinks of all the big names he knows and name drops them sequentially through out the broadcast.
"Player X reminds me of a young Chris Gatling, who I knew well, and followed at Old Dominion since 1988." We get it, Fran. You knew all of these players as they grew up. You followed all of them. You know where each attended college, and you know if their dad's played college ball, and where. One pertinent reference is fine, but six or seven a game is too much. Give it a rest.
By the way, Kevin Durant's White Team defeated the Blue Team 114-96.

Lakers Sign Matt Barnes

The World Champion Los Angeles Lakers strike again, as they signed forward Matt Barnes to a 2 year deal worth 3.6 million Tuesday. Barnes had originally agreed to a significantly more lucrative deal with the Toronto Raptors but the Raptors did not have the funds they originally agreed to. Barnes's deal with the Raptors was reported to be a 2 years worth roughly 9 million. Toronto had already spent the bulk of their available money to sign forward Linas Kleiza.
The addition of Barnes further strengthens a Lakers team that was already a favorite to make their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance.
Barnes will be particularly useful in challenging the combination of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade defensively. The Lakers already had two capable defenders in Bryant and Artest, but Barnes could potentially give Bryant a rest on the defensive end.
With the match up nightmares the Heat are sure to create, it wouldn't be surprising to see Bryant moved to point guard, while Artest and Barnes lock down on James and Wade. Freeing Bryant from the burden of guarding one of the premier players in the league for 40 minutes a night in a long series would only help his offensive game.

The signing of Barnes will most likely end Shannon Brown's time in LA. Brown opted out of the last year of his 2 year 4.1 million dollar deal. He was scheduled to make just over 2 million this year but chose to become a free agent to secure a more lucrative deal. Brown expressed interest in staying with LA, but will now have to look elsewhere.
It remains to be seen where Brown will end up, but he likely won't command more than the 2 million he would have made this year. While I don't endorse the idea, Brown to Chicago would be an interesting fit.
He actually played six games for the Bulls in the 2007-08 season after being acquired in a trade with Cleveland. He didn't make a significant contribution then, he spent time in the D-League in fact, but Brown is a different player now. Last year with the Lakers was his first full year in an NBA uniform and the increased playing time elevated his game tremendously.
Brown's suspect defense would most likely not score him any points with new coach Tom Thibodeau, but the energy he could provide off the bench certainly makes the idea worth entertaining. Brown's outside shot would still not be considered good, but it has improved.
He works best when running the floor and driving to the basket. The combination of Watson and Brown off the bench would be fun to watch at the very least. The Bulls could offer him a 2 year contract worth around 6 million, but will probably be looking for either a more defensive minded guard/forward or another three point shooter.

Chris Paul To The Knicks? Sounds Good To Me

I've made no secret about my affinity for the NBA Eastern Conference rivalries developed in the mid 90s. If at all possible I would love to rekindle those memories in today's NBA. This of course, starts with the Bulls, Knicks, Pacers, Heat, and Magic fielding competitive teams. Bulls, Heat, and Magic currently pass the test. Pacers are not and will not be in a position to compete for a while. The only team left is the Knicks. They should be competitive. The NBA hasn't been the same since they were dominant.
They signed prized PF Amar'e Stoudemire this offseason and were hoping to land LeBron James, but we all know how that turned out. At best the current roster could compete for the 8th seed in the East playoffs. And that's a big if. New York's defense looks to be one of the worst in the league, most definitely the worst in the East.
Here comes Chris Paul to save the day. He arrives with his Superman cape that he stole from Dwight Howard. Here to rescue the Knicks from obscurity, lure Carmelo Anthony to New York to form their own Big Three with Stoudemire, and challenge the already despised Heat. Somewhat of a romantic notion, don't you think?
First of all, spare the talk about how the NBA has changed. How back in the day superstars didn't want to team up, blah, blah, blah. I was against it in the beginning too. I'm over it. This is the future of the NBA and team's are best to adapt or get left behind. If someone is firing at you with machine guns, you're not going to run at them with a knife.
Paul spread the rumor about a month ago, at Carmelo Anthony's New York wedding nonetheless, that he has dreamt of playing with Anthony and Stoudemire in New York. On paper this certainly looks like a formidable combination that would have no problem gelling on the floor. The question is with salary cap restrictions, could this even happen? If things fall into place, the answer is yes.
Paul has demanded a trade from New Orleans and has listed the Knicks as his top team of choice. If the Hornets decide to give in to Paul's demands, they'd most definitely want some talent in return. The Knicks don't have much, but New Orleans would most likely target Wilson Chandler and Danilo Galinari. Galinari will make just over 3 million this year with a player option for next year. Chandler will make just over 2 million next year. Add Eddy Curry and his 11 million dollar expiring contract, and you have roughly equal value to the 15 million Paul is scheduled to make next season.
Why would the Hornets agree to such a lopsided deal? To clear salary cap space. Curry, Chandler, and Galinari's contracts all expire after this season, so they could clear them from the books. They also have Peja Stojakovic's 15 million off the books after this season, as well as Darius Songaila's 4 million, and David West is expected to opt out of his contract, clearing another 8 million. This would allow the Hornets to clear almost 45 million leading up to the free agent class of 2011.
They could then start their rebuilding process around their second year point guard they are so high on, Darren Collison. Collison excelled in New Orleans last year filling in for an injured Chris Paul. He averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 assists a game on the season.
By getting a little creative, the Knicks could clear enough space to pursue Anthony during next year's free agency period. Anthony is not guaranteed to be on the market however, he was offered a 3 year 65 million dollar contract extension from Denver that many expect him to sign. The Knicks also have the little problem of Raymond Felton. They signed him this offseason to a 2 year 15.8 million dollar contract to be their point guard.
Someones feelings are going to get hurt. For the sake of competition and mid 90s nostalgia, I hope they're Felton's.

The Winners And Losers of the NBA Free Agency Period

You win some, you lose some, goes the popular saying. This couldn't have held more true than it has in the 2010 NBA free agency period. With all of the major moves completed, and only a few more low profile additions to complete each team's rosters, here are the top 3 winners and losers of free agency so far.

WINNERS

Miami Heat: Anytime a six seed in the playoffs gets eliminated in the first round after five games, and then becomes the Eastern Conference favorite the next year, you know they had a good offseason. "Good" would be an understatement. The Heat pulled off probably the greatest (and most interesting) offseason ever after they signed the top 3 players. In addition, they were able to lock up some nice complementary pieces such as Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem.
It remains to be seen how this team will gel, but they are already winners for a few reasons:
1) They have everybody talking about the NBA during a time where most people aren't talking about the NBA. Excitement for the upcoming season is at an all time high, and the Heat are a big part, if not the main reason for that excitement.
2) They are now the undisputed team to hate, the Yankees of the NBA, if you will. They will sell out even the cities that never sell out. It will be a huge deal when they lose. It will be a huge deal when they win. Anything less than a championship will be a disappointment. That alone will heighten the excitement of next year's playoffs.
Chicago Bulls: They went from one of the biggest losers to one of the biggest winners in a short amount of time. After failing to sign one of the premier free agents, the Bulls used their enormous amount of cap space to sign Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and CJ Watson, and there's still room for more additions.
While those names aren't as sexy as Miami's, all of their game's complement each other, which is a possible issue in Miami. Chicago was also in a different situation than Miami this offseason. They already had great young players to build around, while Miami was in the middle of an almost complete overhaul. While the Bulls won't be the favorite in the East like the would have if they added one of Miami's pieces, they are still in a great position to compete in the East. They also have a budding superstar in Derrick Rose, that some people still seem unaware of.

Joe Johnson: With all of the big names in the 2010 free agent pool, who would have thought the man to come out with the biggest contract would be Joe Johnson? Johnson signed a 6 year 120 million dollar deal to stay in Atlanta. One can only speculate what was going through their minds when offering Johnson the deal, but it's never a good thing, when nobody, not even Atlanta fans, were happy with the contract.
The only person happy is Johnson. Imagine being a 29 year old shooting guard, heading past the prime of your career and landing a deal like that, despite relatively little playoff success. His contract will surely set back the franchise for future moves, and the present doesn't look too bright either. Most people think the Hawks have already reached their ceiling and with an improved Eastern Conference, are destined for an early playoff exit.
But Joe Johnson got paid, more than anyone, and for that, he came out a huge winner. Even though he won't be winning anything this year.
Honorable mentions go to Richard Jefferson, who got a larger extension that people expected, after he decided to opt out the final year of his deal worth 15 million. And Brad Miller who will be making 5 million a year for the next 3 years.

LOSERS

Small Market Teams: Cleveland, Toronto, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix all lost players to Miami, Chicago, and New York City, all bigger markets. The MLB doesn't operate under a salary cap, so the biggest markets can lure in the biggest players all they want. While it is harder for the NBA to do this because of salary cap restrictions, if this offseason is any indication, all it takes is a little creativity.
Miami simply had to clear enough cap space, and the city pretty much sold itself. Players want to come and play in the big markets because of marketing opportunities, and for a desirable place to live. That part isn't tough to sell, it's just a matter of having the cap space to sign these players. The small market clubs are once again left in the dust by the players they drafted and allowed to make a name for themselves in their city.
New Jersey Nets: The Nets, with their tag team duo of Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov and rap mogul Jay-Z, were supposed to make a big splash in free agency this year. They had enough cap room to offer two max contracts. They also had the two promising young players in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, as well as the number 3 overall pick that they could have packaged if they wanted to make a deal for a star player.
Like the Bulls, the Nets didn't come up with any of the major free agents, and settled on Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, and drafted Derrick Favors instead. While the Bulls added complementary pieces that could start for them, the Nets added a bunch of players destined to be back ups. They got a steal in Morrow, but overpaid for Outlaw and Farmar.
They did it to themselves though. You can't blame players for not eagerly flocking to a 12 win team.

Xavier Henry: After the sharpshooter out of Kansas was drafted 12th overall by the Grizzlies it already appeared to be a rough road for him. As a shooting guard/small forward hybrid he'd be competing with O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay for minutes. Gay just signed a huge extension, and Mayo is likely to follow when the time comes. If he wanted any chance of contributing his rookie season, he's have to learn to play the point, a somewhat unfamiliar position to him.
To make matters worse, the Grizzlies have refused to pay him the 120 percent of the rookie salary scale. Almost every lottery pick receives the full 120 percent, which factors out to 2 million dollars in Henry's case. Even if a player doesn't pan out, the team loses little. On the flip side, the player is extremely cost effective should he develop into a great player.
The Grizzlies have offered somewhere between 1.3 and 1.6 million for Henry, with the remaining money coming coming from performance based incentives. While it seems good on paper, Henry obviously isn't happy that he's not getting the guaranteed money that the other rookies are. You can't blame him for that. Unfortunately for Henry, the Grizzlies hold all the cards here. They own his rights up until next year's draft. Henry wouldn't benefit at all from sitting out a year, so he will essentially be forced to agree to their terms.

Cubs Second Half Talking Points Revisited

Last week I wrote about a few things I'd be looking for in the second half of the Cubs season. As it turns out, many of these questions have already been answered. Some answers were the ones I was looking for, and others I weren't. Here's those points revisited.
Lou Piniella's Demeanor: So we've finally found how why Sweet Lou has been so calm this year. Many have suspected he's mellowing with old age, or simply taking things slower and appreciating the game more. Turns out he's appreciating retirement a little early. You can only get so frustrated watching a team that continues to fail, and Lou realizes this.
Don't act like any of you wouldn't coast through your last year on the job. Remember Thursday two weeks ago when you had that Friday off? You didn't give it your all either. Lou's doing the same thing. He just so happens to have side stepped criticism because the team's woeful record isn't the result of his managerial decisions. It's also kind of hard to criticize a guy who has managed for 23 seasons, has amassed a .519 winning percentage to date, has won three Manager of the Year Awards, and one World Series.
Carlos Silva's Record: I speculated that Silva's luck would end this second half, and unfortunately I appear to be right. Coming off his worst outing of the year against the Dodgers, Silva tried his best to match that in his first start after the All-Star break. Against the Astros, who are at the bottom of every major offensive statistical category this year, Silva needed 41 pitches just to get through the first inning. He gave up five earned runs on seven hits and two walks. His record has now dropped to 9-4 and his ERA has shot up to 3.86.
Aramis Ramirez's Run Production: Let's talk about something positive, shall we. Aramis Ramirez carried over his hot streak into the second half of the season. In the seven games since the All-Star break, Ramirez's numbers have been mind boggling: .379 BA, 5 HR, 15 RBIs. With Derrek Lee picking it up as well, one can only dream about how this season might have turned out if they had produced and remained healthy in the first half.
Marlon Byrd's Approach at the Plate: As expected, not much has changed. However, that's not a bad thing. Byrd was an All-Star after all. He's still falling behind early in counts but has shown an increased willingness to take a walk. In fact, he's walked four times in the last seven games, compared to the 14 times he walked in the first half, this can be considered progress. Byrd has been in a little bit of a funk at the plate lately though. He's batting .260 in the last seven games, but that's due mainly to a brutal Houston series where he went 2-13.
Division Record: Their struggles within the NL Central continue, as the Cubs dropped two of three to the 5th place Astros. Their season record against the Astros now sits at 3-6, and overall division record is 16-27. This doesn't bode well for their next series match up against the Cardinals.

Home Record: This is a positive if we're stretching for positives. The Cubs have won 4 of their last 7 at home, but it hardly seems satisfying when we drop two of three to the Astros. Maybe the Cubs should just start playing all of their home games at Miller Park in Milwaukee. The Cubs are 44-32 at Miller Park since its opening. That would be the type of home field advantage they need. The park is already packed with Cubs fans as it is.

Watson Gives Bulls Point Guard Depth

I must say, the news that the Bulls acquired C.J. Watson in a sign and trade with Golden State Tuesday morning surprised me. Watson was a restricted free agent this offseason and expected to resign with the Warriors. He has drawn some interest from a few teams over the years and Golden State has neglected to part with him. Why they did now, I have no idea. But I'm glad they did.
I've been lobbying for Jason Williams over the last few weeks, mainly because he was the best remaining point guard on the market, despite his age. I never thought Watson was a possibility. As an added bonus, the Bulls only had to part with a second round pick to acquire Watson, a small price to pay for an already proven NBA player. Watson's deal is reported to be a two year deal worth 6.5 million with an option for a third year. If Jordan Farmar makes 4 million a year, I'll gladly take Watson for less than that.
The 26 year old averaged 10.3 ppg and 1.6 spg playing about 28 minutes a game for Golden State. While these numbers are solid, they don't do him justice.
Watson received sporadic playing time under Don Nelson's run and gun system. Some nights he would play 40 minutes a game, and other nights, under 20.
Going through his game log, I've noticed an important number: eleven. He's had eleven games with 18 or more points, including a 40 point explosion against Sacramento. He's also had eleven games of three or more steals, including a game against Boston where he recorded 7.
While Watson won't be playing 40 minutes a game or even the 28 he averaged, he will still have an opportunity to play a huge role on this Bulls team. He'll be the Bulls main offensive threat off the bench and has the potential to steal some minutes from Ronnie Brewer at shooting guard.
While Watson would be undersized for a 2 guard, he's proven to be an above average defender, who depending on the match up could guard an undersized 2, or guard the point, while Rose moves over.
Watson has a much more polished offensive game than Brewer, so the Bulls may look to insert him if they're struggling offensively.
While this move will surely go under the radar for sports fans outside of Chicago, it could end up to be one of the biggest moves the Bulls make this offseason. Before signing Watson, the Bulls lacked a guy who was capable of providing a huge spark off the bench. They now have that guy, as well as a player who can play major minutes at the point if Derrick Rose misses extended time like he did last season.
After the signing, the Bulls have about 5 million left in salary cap space that could be used for another back up center, or another guard or small forward.

A Look Back, Part 3

He's On Fire! Chances are you've heard that phrase before in relation to someone other than Michael Jackson or a Vietnamese Buddhist monk. It's time to celebrate the game that brought that phrase into mainstream jargon: the video game NBA Jam. I'm a bit biased towards NBA Jam Tournament Edition, the follow up to NBA Jam, so that's the game I'm going to devote this blog to.
What more is there to say about NBA Jam? Everyone who's at least sixteen years of age has heard of it, even if they haven't played it. It introduced phrases such as "Boom Shaka-Laka," "He's Heating Up," and the aforementioned "He's On Fire."
The designers of the game also had the foresight to make this a realistic game....at least in the sense of streak shooting. After three made shots in a row by the same player, that player is on fire. In what in my opinion, qualifies as a genius decision, the creators decided to literally have the ball set on fire and scorch the net as it goes in.
Another gem about this game is that you can shatter the backboard glass. Basically you have to dunk a lot through the entire game, and then in the fourth quarter, a guy who is rated highly in the 'Dunk' category can shatter the glass. The cool thing about this feature is that it represents a part of the NBA at that time that is now lost. Hoops are built now to withstand even more maximum force than Shaq could provide, so unfortunately, we will no longer see anything like this.

Speaking of parts of the NBA that have been lost to history, this game is great for remembering some of those random scrubs that you haven't thought about in years. Eric Montross, anyone? How about Todd Day? Or Rony Seikaly? And the best part is, that if you go on to beat all 27 NBA teams, the roster expands and you're able to play with even more players who have faded into obscurity.
The only two glaring omissions are MJ and Shaq. Apparently their names were too expensive to be included in the game. Shaq had his own video game for the Sega Genesis, and Jordan wouldn't have been on the roster anyway for the NBA Jam T.E. version released in 1994.
A few random thoughts on this game: My favorite player to play with is Derrick Coleman. He's an absolute beast, especially for his dunks and ability to knock even the biggest guys over. Every time I play with him I think about the Hall of Famer he should have been.
In this game, Scott Skiles bears a striking resemblance to Dennis the Menace.
The best upgrade from NBA Jam to T.E. in my opinion, was the option of playing with hot spots and power up icons. The hot spots were stars on the floor with a number in it. If you made a shot from that spot on the floor, you were given points equal to the number in the star. The power up icons were different hexagons scattered across the floor. Each one stood for something such as speed, on fire, etc., which you acquired if you picked it up. It was a good way to mix the traditional game up.
It was always frustrating to play the computer in this game. You'd have to be up by at least three at the end of the game, because you know they were never going to miss that last second full court shot to win the game. I'd try to plan the last few possessions out so that I'd be able to take the last shot, whether I was winning or losing.
As a kid, I always played with the Bulls. Scottie Pippen was a great player in the game, but always seemed to miss every shot you took with him in the clutch. In an interview, NBA Jam creator Mark Turmell revealed that there was a code programmed into the game so that any Bulls player would miss a last second shot against the Pistons. He says it's only against the Pistons, I'm convinced it's against everyone. For the full interview (a really interesting read, by the way), click here.
So if you have this game stored away somewhere in your closet or attic, dust it off. It will bring you right back to your childhood. When you had less worries and more Clarence Weatherspoon in your life.

A Look Back, Part 2

I had a unique experience growing up a basketball fan in Chicago during the mid 90s. Youngsters naturally gravitate towards the best players in the NBA, and it just so happened that the best player played for my hometown team. But what made my experience truly unique is that the aforementioned best player took two years off in between championships. And it just so happens those two years were when I fully began to comprehend the game of basketball and its star players.
Jordan was gone and I was too naive to appreciate how good of a player Scottie Pippen actually was, so I gravitated towards the newest NBA sensation. No other than the point/shooting guard hybrid known as Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway.
The funny thing is, I can't recall every watching Penny play. I'm sure I did at some point, but nothing sticks out in my mind about the type of player he was. What I remember most is the the way he was marketed. Kudos to his public relations team. The fact that I can remember so much about his brand and very little about his play counts for something. Or maybe it just illustrates that I was an impressionable seven year old.
I first read about Penny in an issue of Sports Illustrated For Kids. That magazine alone deserves a blog tribute. Anyway, I always loved reading about athletes in that magazine because they always broke things down very simply for young readers. They interviewed athletes about their favorite food and movies, etc. And they always found a way to gloss over serious issues for some of these athletes growing up such poverty and managed to tell stories in a kid-friendly way.
Firstly, I liked the cover with Penny on it. It was a penny (creative, I know), with his face on it instead of Lincoln's. In the article they explained that his nickname "Penny" was in fact a misunderstanding. His grandma used to call him "pretty" and people thought she was calling him Penny, and the name stuck. His first name was also supposed to be Anthony, but who ever was writing the birth certificate misheard his mother and wrote down Anfernee. At age seven, I thought Anfernee was the coolest name ever. I have to admit, I'm more partial to Anthony nowadays.

When discussing Penny, it's impossible to forget about his sidekick Lil' Penny. Lil' Penny was the precursor to the LeBron and Kobe puppets that Nike currently advertises. The puppet was voiced by Chris Rock and looked like an exact replica of Penny himself. The commercials were engaging, funny, and smart. The puppet was really a perfect marketing strategy because it appealed to both kids and adults alike. I remember I had a Lil' Penny shirt. It was mostly white, blue letters, with the faces of Lil' Penny and Penny in black and white. I dont' remember what the shirt said. I've been searching for it, but can't find a picture on the internet.
Here's a few of the classic Lil' Penny commercials:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK88MQWsYj8 (One of the best sports commercials ever, period).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URNwiRPQf1A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMiQy4gDJE0 (This one came after Shaq left for LA, so they were trying to hype Penny up as the lone superstar in Orlando).

The last point I'd like to make is how tight the Air Penny I and II's were. The picture above is of the II's, my personal preference. They may not look like much nowadays, but I can't stress enough how popular these were back in the day. The Magic were a team growing in popularity in the mid 90s, and the Penny's with the Magic color scheme were a natural hit.
The thing that used to annoy me about those shoes is the people that wore them could never ball. Worse yet, most didn't even know who Penny Hardaway was. As a kid, there was nothing more frustrating than playing recess basketball in Payless shoes, while the kid who couldn't even make a layup had the new Air Penny II's.
Injuries derailed Penny's career, allowing fans to speculate about the type of career he could have had if he'd stayed healthy. Nonetheless, he will go down as an integral part of the 1990s NBA for the impact he created on popular culture alone. He's been in the news lately because he has said he wants to return to the Miami Heat, which inspired me to write about him in the first place. Stay retired Penny, your place in basketball history is already secure.

It's A Start...

In a series that already saw nine home runs through the first three games, it's no surprise that the Phillies and Cubs would combine for five more in Sunday's 11-6 Cubs win. The win not only secured the current series victory, but the season series victory over Philadelphia as well.
Cubs catcher Geovany Soto catapulted the power surge with a two run homer in the second inning. A two run deficit is the closest the Phillies would come all game.
Phillies starter Roy Halladay had an uncharacteristically bad outing giving up six runs, five of them earned, through six innings. After the loss, Halladay's record dropped to 10-8, despite a 2.40 ERA.
The Cubs added two more runs in the second on a Starlin Castro single and throwing error from catcher Carlos Ruiz that allowed Tyler Colvin to score from third. Colvin and Castro, batting first and second in the lineup, combined for six hits in the game.
The Phillies scored two in the fifth to dwindle the Cubs lead back to two, but Alfonso Soriano gave the Cubs the four run lead right back with a two run homer in the top of sixth. The home run was Soriano's 17th, the most on the club.
The Cubs put the game away in the seventh as Derrek Lee hit a bases clearing double in the left center gap. Soriano and Soto came through with one out RBI singles later in the inning to stretch the Cub lead to eight.
Not to be outdone in the home run department, Phillies pinch hitter Greg Dobbs hit a solo home run off of Cubs rookie right hander Andrew Cashner in the seventh. Ryan Howard and Ben Francisco followed that up with solo homers of their own in the bottom of the eighth off of Cubs left handed rookie James Russell. The three home runs proved to be too little too late for Philadelphia, who, after the loss, dropped to third in the NL East, a half a game behind the second place Mets.
Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny continued to show why he deserves a permanent spot in the rotation, pitching 6 2/3 innings giving up three runs, two of them earned. The win evened Gorzelanny's record to 5-5.
The Cubs will continue their ten game homestand Monday with a three game series against the Astros. The division rival Cardinals will come to town for a weekend series, and then the Cubs will head to Houston.
The next nine games will prove to be crucial in determining if the Cubs can contend for the division. With the July 31st trade deadline fast approaching, how the Cubs play in the next few weeks will determine whether they are buyers or sellers at the deadline.
The Cubs are currently 42-51, tied with the Brewers for third in the NL Central. 

A Look Back, Part 1

This is the first of many blog entries that are dedicated to looking back on my sports related childhood memories. The first entry will be dedicated to mini basketball hoops.
I was in Dick's Sporting Goods a few years ago looking around and noticed the mini basketball hoop they had in stock. The official name of it was SKLZ Pro Mini Hoop. I glanced at the picture on the box, and it was the closest thing I'd ever seen to a real basketball hoop. Real rim, real net, rubber ball, plastic backboard (but looks glass), and a rim with a built in spring, so it won't break off when you dunk. All inside the comfort of your own home!
It was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen. I immediately wished it had been around when I was a kid. When I was a kid, we had to replace the hoop every six months or so. It couldn't withstand a barrage of dunks and terribly missed shots off the front of the rim. Just looking at this SKLZ hoop, I could tell that it was durable, and would never need to be replaced.
A few days ago, on a whim, I decided I was going to buy this hoop. I checked on the internet and saw that the cheapest price was 22 dollars. I didn't want to wait, so I ended up paying thirty for it in the stores. I know what you're thinking. How can a grown man possibly justify spending thirty dollars on a mini basketball hoop...for himself? Well, I'm going to try.
After purchasing this mini hoop, my confidence has skyrocketed. My entire life I've wondered what it would feel like to play like Shaq or LeBron James. Now I know. Anything within five feet of the basket I make easily. I can overpower imaginary defenders and dunk with one or both hands. My left handed hook is equally as effective has my right hander. I can soar through the air, bang my head on the rim, and make ridiculous reverse layups.
But will all of this comes a drawback. A major drawback at that. I can't shoot.
That's right, I can't shoot. You know how I was talking about feeling like Shaq in the paint, well I've also been feeling like Shaq at the free throw line. The hoop is hanging from my door, and its height is even with my hands when I raise them above my head. It's hard to get any arc on the shot. So needless to say, I've been banging the majority of my shots off the front of the rim. It makes a loud noise too, so it's obvious to anyone in the house that you've not just missed, but missed badly.
Second reason why the hoop is great: I get a workout. I don't know if it's been the heat of late, or the fact that I've been taking this a little too seriously, but I've worked up a sweat playing the last few days. I can't ever remember sweating while playing on a mini hoop as a kid. This probably speaks more to my lack of conditioning, but it's never a bad thing to get some exercise, regardless of how you get it.
Exercise and increased confidence are great, but neither trumps what will surely be the biggest payoff of this hoop: it will be there when I'm watching Bulls games. One thing I never grew out of was trying to imitate athletes and great athletic plays. To this day I get incredibly excited after watching a great play and desperately go looking for an outlet to express that excitement.
I finally have that outlet. I can see it now. Next time Derrick Rose abuses a defender and floats in a tear drop, I will do the same. Next time Joakim Noah grabs a rebound, runs the floor, and finishes the fast break with a dunk, I'll do the same. I love it. No more pantomiming a ball in my hand, ticking the last seconds down in my head, only to shoot an invisible basketball that always goes in.
Now I have the actual ball, actual hoop, seconds still ticking away in my head, but now I can actually miss. Oh well, let the big kid have his fun. Thirty dollars well spent if you ask me.

Some Offseason Recommendations For the Bulls Part 2

The first installment of my Bulls recommendations consisted of Ronnie Brewer as the main priority (check), Matt Barnes as number two (still on the market), and Jordan Farmar as number three (signed with the Nets, no big deal). Brewer was a great signing for the Bulls. He'll provide the defensive presence they were looking for at the shooting guard position, and will help alleviate the hole in the lineup after the Magic matched the Bulls offer to JJ Redick.
Farmar to the Nets isn't a big blow at all. In fact, I don't think he was even on the Bulls radar. I felt he would be a good addition because he was accustomed to coming off the bench, and had big game experience. However, the Nets offered him a 3 year 12 million dollar contract, which I think is too much. A back up point guard doesn't deserve four million a year. If that's the kind of money it would have taken to lure him to Chicago, then it was a good move to let him walk to New Jersey.
Here's the updated list of Bulls priorities.

Priority Number One: Matt Barnes. I still like Barnes coming off the bench for the Bulls. He could spell Brewer at the two, but more importantly, provide a nice offensive-defensive combination with Korver backing up the 3. Again, Bulls fans have to remember that this team needs to be constructed in order to challenge the Heat. We need all the defensive stoppers we can get that are capable of guarding Wade and James. Barnes would be ideal in spelling Brewer and/or Deng on defense. Particularly Deng, because we rely more on Deng for offense. Barnes could lessen the load and allow Deng to stay fresher on the offensive end.
Depending on match ups, Barnes and Korver could provide a nice offense-defense tandem. Barnes could be inserted to match-up with a scoring threat. Korver could be inserted if the Bulls need offense and/or he has a match up that doesn't require hard nosed defense.
The only concern is the type of contract Barnes is looking for. The Magic are already way over the cap and won't be able to sign him, so it's not a matter of if, but when he will be leaving Orlando. He opted out of his contract for a reason: to get more money. Hopefully what he's asking for will be worth his role on the Bulls.

Priority Number Two: Jason Williams. The Bulls have already secured three former Jazz players, so why not two Magic players? After all, Orlando will be one of the main contenders in the East, so they might as well weaken the competition, while improving their team in the process.
This is not the Jason Williams of old. Gone are the flashy passes and boyish bowl haircut. Meet the new Jason Williams who has established himself as a solid back up point guard. Williams played some major minutes last year after Jameer Nelson's injury, but proved to be more adept at coming off the bench and providing a spark.
Williams shot the ball well from behind the arc last year, posting the highest three point percentage in his career (38 percent). But the main thing for me, he averaged 1.1 turnovers playing 21 minutes a game. That's what I want in my back up point guard. Someone who can run the offense, won't turn the ball over, and can drain the occasional open look. Williams can do all three.
The only concern is his age. He'll turn 35 next season. The good news is that his play hasn't declined over the years, just his minutes. Which is fine because he'll only be playing 12 to 15 minutes a game anyway. He made less that a million dollars last year, so he should come cheap as well. I'm thinking a one year deal, possibly two years, with a team option after the first year.

Second Half Talking Points

At the very least, I think most Cubs fans expected to be over .500 and in playoff contention at the midway point of the season. It hasn't exactly worked out that way. The question marks (starting rotation, particularly Carlos Silva, long relief, outfield production) have been the least of the Cubs concerns. Those concerns have been replaced by the offensive worries of our two best hitters, the inner workings of Zambrano's mind, and beating the Pirates. Maybe you saw Zambrano's meltdown coming, but that's about it. Here's a few things I'll be watching for in the second half.

Lou Piniella's Demeanor - Lou has looked like a broken man of late. He's gone weeks without shaving, probably without bathing too. Every time he's asked a question about why the offense is struggling he doesn't have an answer. It's like a husband who just ended his 25 year marriage, can't give you an answer why, but knows he'll be happier for it. That husband is Lou when his contract expires after this year. I doubt he even wants to be back, but if he does, the Cubs need to dramatically turn it around in the second half.
Carlos Silva's Record - I know I'm not the only one thinking that first half was a fluke. Looking at the numbers it's hard to be convinced otherwise. Silva is currently leading the team in wins (9), and ERA (3.45). As a starter for a full season, Silva career high in wins is 14, with a 3.44 ERA. That tells me it's likely going downhill from. Hopefully his last start before the break (1.1 IP, 6 ER) wasn't a precursor for the second half.
Aramis Ramirez's Run Production - His batting average, currently sitting at an anemic .207, is already a lost cause. But Ramirez still can make a huge impact on this team. After returning from his thumb injury, Ramirez has been on a tear. His July numbers (.361/4/9) are a promising start for a team that will be heavily reliant on his bat in the second half.

Marlon Byrd's Approach at the Plate - Byrd has been one of the best hitters in all of baseball this year, taking a .317 BA into the second half of the season. This is all great, except he's only walked fourteen times on the season. That's who Byrd is, he's a free swinger, who often times gets himself into 0-2 or 1-2 counts. I don't expect him to draw more walks because he goes up to the plate swinging, but it would be nice. Byrd hasn't had a prolonged slump yet this season. I'm worried when he does, he will be a huge hole in the lineup.
Division Record - The NL Central has not been good to the Cubs. They're 15-25 within their division so far. The good news: they have twelve games left against the Cardinals, and six against the league leading Reds. They also have twelve games remaining with the bottom dwelling Houston Astros. The good news is also the bad news. The Cubs have the ability to get back in the division race by beating the best and the worst the division has to offer, but they haven't proven they can beat any of these teams on a consistent basis.
Home Record - The Cubs are currently 20-23 at home, which is terrible. A sub .500 record on the road is expected, but not at home. The Cubs have a chance to improve that record, as they will start the second half with a ten game homestand. Overall, they have 38 games left at home, and 35 away (they are 19-27 on the road). How the Cubs play at home will play a big part in their success. But keep in mind that it they will be playing division leaders San Diego and Atlanta at home, as well as the Phillies and Cardinals. The second half schedule looks brutal, especially the month of August.
Prediction - 74-88, 3rd in the Central.

Changing Landscape of the NBA

The NBA is changing and I don't think for the better. It's becoming a lot like the MLB, and I don't mean that in a good way. There's no salary cap in baseball, meaning teams can sign players for as much money as they want without it counting against them. This is why teams like the Yankees and Red Sox have the best players every year, they can offer more money than anyone else. Neither team is dependent on their farm system because they can afford to sign which ever type of player they feel they need.
The NBA does have a salary cap, which is meant to uphold some sort of competitive balance. Well, all of that went out the window with the signings of Wade, Bosh, and James to Miami. The salary cap was established to award contracts based on performance. In this way, teams would be able to build around one or two stars and surround them with marginal role players.
But when superstar players take less money to play with each other, the point of the salary cap is lost. Competitive balance no longer applies when superstars team up, and good role players take less money to play with them.
Assuming this sparks a new trend, here's the real loser in this shift in paradigm: small market teams.
There's more that goes into free agency than wins and losses, dollars and cents. Players choose teams based off the appeal of the city and the availability of marketing revenue. Both factors are obviously lacking in smaller markets.
Let's take a look back at the 90s for example. In the 1990s, star players were much more likely to stick with the team that drafted them, at least through their prime years. Many star players even spent their entire careers in one city.

Names like Malone, Stockton, Miller, and Robinson all spent their entire careers with one team, in not-so-popular destinations. Take Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, and San Antonio. All small markets, not particularly popular areas to visit, with a lack of marketing opportunities. So how do these places lure free agents?
They don't. The Jazz were lucky enough to draft Malone and Stockton and then build around them. When both guys stayed, other players gravitated there to play with them. If they left, the team was screwed. Fast forward to Salt Lake City modern day. Carlos Boozer is gone, role players like Kyle Korver and most likely Ronnie Brewer are gone. Deron Williams is left by himself and will probably be packing his bags in 2012.
The same formula was true with the Spurs. They had an aging superstar in Robinson, were lucky enough to get the number one pick to draft Duncan, and absolutely stole Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the late first round and second round, respectively. Role players gravitated towards that team.
The point is that neither of these cities, and throw Indianapolis in there too has been able to recruit a high profile free agent to sign with them. Their success has been due draft picks that panned out. If those draft picks decide to leave, they're back to rebuilding.
Herein lies the problem with the "new way of doing things." If draft picks (James, Bosh) sign their rookie deals and then four year extensions, and plan on leaving if the team hasn't won yet, they are creating a very small window of opportunity. Remember, it took Jordan seven years to win a title. Small markets just can get back in the mix with big name free agent signings, losing a player of James or Bosh caliber can set a small marketfranchise back seven to ten years. We're currently seeing this in Minneapolis now that KG is gone.
Just to get it straight the highest profile players this free agency left Cleveland, Toronto, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix to go to Miami, Chicago, and New York. I'm not a travel expert, but something tells me the latter are more desirable places to visit and live. And the whole "taking less money" thing is a joke, the Miami trio will easily make up what they didn't get in contract money with endorsement opportunities.
Is there any hope for the small markets? Just maybe, and his name is Kevin Durant. While all of this was going on, Durant signed a five year extension to stay in, of all places, Oklahoma City. Don't get excited just yet though, once upon a time, LeBron James signed an extension to stay in Cleveland too.