Two Weeks Until Bears Season Opener, Where's The Excitement?

I was in Chicago Saturday afternoon, and on my way back to the train station I ran into the crowd arriving for the Bears preseason game against the Cardinals. Amongst the dark blues, oranges, whites, and ghastly pink uniforms, I noticed a change. A shift in jersey-wearing if you will.
The typical 54s, 23s, and 6s were replaced by 34s, 51s, and 89s (Walter Payton, Dick Butkus, and Mike Ditka for the youngsters and uneducated).
I began to wonder about the possible causes for the throwback uniforms and came up with a few different explanations.
1) The typical best-sellers (Urlacher, Hester, and Cutler) have been disappointing. Already on the decline, Urlacher suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1 last season and has been banged up through out the preseason as well. Memories from his Defensive MVP days of the early 2000s have long since faded away. In fact, Urlacher has been reduced to making cameos on Entourage to stay relevant.
Hester is currently a slot receiver masquerading as a number 1. No longer a threat on punt and kick returns, his value has diminished tremendously.
Despite throwing for over 3600 yards and 27 TDs, Cutler's first year in a Bears uniform was defined by his 26 INTs, many of them in the red zone. While many astute observers have noted his lack of competent receivers and offensive lineman, it doesn't diminish the fact that his decision making is questionable at best and leadership qualities are non existent.
You can't really blame fans for being ashamed of wearing any of these three players jerseys.

2) Julius Peppers is experiencing the "Jay Cutler Hangover." I'll use the "Jay Cutler Hangover" in reference to a big name offseason addition that doesn't live up to the preseason hype. Peppers was the best free agent available this offseason and he joins a talented but underachieving defensive line. By all means, some excitement (and jersey sales) should have been generated from this acquisition.
But the fans know better. They don't want to go ape-shit supporting Peppers only to find out he has a bad season next year. Cutler ruined it for him. Bears fans won't be as quick to embrace a big name who hasn't played a down for them yet.
Of course, if Peppers records four sacks in his first two games, things will change.
3) After 2004, that Jerry Azumah jersey didn't get much wear. Remember Jerry Azumah? He had one great year, made the Pro Bowl as a return specialist and quietly retired two years later. I'm not suggesting Johnny Knox will be out of the league in two years, but there are some questions about how he'll fit into the offense. While he also made the Pro Bowl last year, it's unclear what kind of role he will play in the offense this year.
With the possibility of Knox being a one year wonder, not too many people will be rocking number 13 this year. But look on the bright side, Hall of Fame center George Trafton (of the Decatur Staleys) wore number 13. So if you can get a jersey without the name on the back you'll be fine.
By my calculations, the only jerseys left are Lance Briggs, Matt Forte, and Robbie Gould (I'm filing Chester Taylor under category 2). Forte had a terrible year last year, which is attributed more to the offensive line than anything he did. This year he'll be splitting time with Taylor, so who knows how good he'll be.
Robbie Gould is a kicker. If you're wearing the jersey of a kicker that reflects poorly on yourself and your team. Under no circumstances should you be wearing a kicker's jersey. One exception: Adam Vinatieri in his New England days, and that's only because his leg clinched two Super Bowls.
That leaves Briggs. As a Bears fan, that's the only current player's jersey I would recommend. He's been the best player on defense for at least the last four years and has remained healthy. He's a lock for the Pro Bowl every year. He's been so good that most of us fans have forgotten that just three years ago he demanded a trade and said he's never play another down for the Bears again.
Combine an atrocious preseason, a division with two legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and a brutal schedule, and you have the 2010-11 Bears season that no one has high hopes for. This is the first season in the last decade I can remember where no one thinks the Bears have a chance at making the playoffs, not even their own fans.    
So where do you turn when things look hopeless? To the good ol' days. That's the attraction of wearing a Payton, Butkus, or Ditka jersey. They're Hall of Famers. They aren't going to fumble the ball, miss a tackle, or drop a pass. They aren't going to be traded or have a poor season.
They can do no wrong, a strong contrast from what is expected of the Bears this year.

EPL Week 3 - Spurs vs. Wigan, The Day After...

Is Week 3 a little too early to start looking at the standings? Probably, but that doesn't stop us hardcore fans from staring. When I look at the standing, here's what I see: Chelsea at the top (where they will be all season), and Manchester United and Arsenal tied for second with seven points each.
You'll notice the top 3 are the top three from last year. Spurs were last year's fourth place and are currently lost in the sea that is the 6 way tie for 5th place. Ok, if there's a 6 way tie, then it's too early to start looking at standings.
There's too many reasons to go into detail about why this loss hurts, so excuse me while I delve into list format.
1) Wigan looked to be the worst defensive team in the league, giving up 10 goals in their first two matches.
2) Spurs controlled 64 percent of the possession against a side that didn't even attempt an offensive attack until the last 15 minutes.
3) They were coming off a 4-0 dismantling at home that clinched a spot in the Champions League group stages.
4) They had nine more corners in the game.
5) The first 80 minutes of the game looked like a draw was the worst case scenario.
I'll stop there. It's hard to explain how quickly this game became a disappointment. I don't have TiVo or anything, but I seem to remember boos reigning down within the first 20 minutes.
The crowd in attendance and everybody watching (myself included) expected at least a 4-0 win. The scoreless tie at halftime was already a disappointing effort from Spurs.
While watching I tried to justify the performance. No big deal, Wigan is playing out of their minds defensively and we're playing sluggish offensively. We'll be able to push a goal across in the second half. It won't be the impressive score we were looking for, but it's still three points.
At the 70th minute I had come to grips with the fact that this game was going to be a scoreless tie. I wasn't happy about it, but at least we'd get a point. You can't give away points, especially at home.
Then Hugo Rodallega puts a weak shot past back up goalie Carlo Cudicini and I'm stunned that the Spurs are actually going to lose.
A couple more performances like this and I won't be directing my attention towards the top of the standings to find Spurs.    

Defoe May Not Need Surgery After All

While Jermain Defoe's possibly surgery may not be the biggest injury news of the day, that honor goes to Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg, it has certainly caught the attention of soccer fans. Two weeks ago, Defoe aggravated a groin injury he suffered during the World Cup in the first leg of Tottenham's match against Young Boys.
After scoring one of Spurs' four goals in their 4-0 blowout in the second leg, Defoe's groin apparently feels fine. It's amazing what a win and beneficial no call will do for a player's spirit.
The cynic in me believes that if this injury has nagged Defoe for the last two months, there's no reason why it's going to stop now, especially if he continues to play and put added stress on it. Ask anyone who has suffered a major injury. You have your good days and your bad days. And Defoe happens to be in that "good" stage. For now.
Many questioned why Defoe didn't have the surgery after the first Young Boys match. He sat out against Stoke, so it would have seemed like a perfect time to get it done. It turns out that Defoe was adamant about helping his team advance to the Champions League group stage. Even if he could only play 60 minutes, he wanted to contribute whatever he could.
It made sense at the time, but quite frankly, Spurs would have been just fine without Defoe. Defoe's possible surgery is expected to heal in about 4 weeks. At this point, he could have been a week and a half through the healing process.
Manager Harry Redknapp says that Defoe will play this week against Wigan, and if he feels fine then he may not need surgery. But if his groin starts to bother him again, he'll have the surgery after the game, no questions asked.
If Defoe does eventually need surgery, this is the point in the season to do it. Here's the forecast for the next four weeks. Next weekend is a bye, then West Bromwich Albion on the road, and Wolves at home. All three are winnable games even without Defoe.
The game towering above all else is Spurs first game against Werder Bremen, September 14th on the road. This will be one of the most, if not the most important game in determining whether Spurs can advance out of the group stages.
Defoe would have missed this game even if he elected to have surgery a week and a half ago. Here's to hoping he'll be able to suit up for it.
I'm no doctor, but I do know that reoccurring injuries don't often heal themselves. If there's a possible exception to this rule, I'm hoping for it now.

Champions League Draw Finally Here

At precisely 11:45 CT I was staring at my computer, steadily hitting the refresh button every 60 seconds. This is what I would call typical "Ebay Behavior." Hitting refresh every few seconds hoping for a positive development. Which inevitably leads you to question your life and priorities because all you've accomplished in the last ten minutes is staring and periodically working out your right index finger.
As I found myself engaging in Ebay Behavior at 11:45 this morning, this time it wasn't to make sure I was still the high bidder for a rare Sega Genesis game, but to see Spurs' Championship League Draw.
The sad part about this is that they could have thrown any teams in their group and I still wouldn't have known if it was a good or bad draw. That's what research is for. See, I did learn something in school.
From what I gathered, Spurs' draw could have been better, could have been worse. I know, world class digging. For the complete list of groupings, click here.
For new fans like myself, the groupings are made easy. Teams are separated into 4 pots, with 8 teams in each pot. Pot 1 is supposed to consist of the best teams, while pot 4 is the worst. Each group is made up of one team from each pot.
Without further ado, here's who Spurs (who were part of pot 3) drew.

Inter Milan (Italy, Pot 1) - Go ahead and pencil Inter Milan into the knockout stages now. Consider these factors:
1) They won the Champions League last year and return every player from their starting lineup in the championship game.
2) They have world class players Wesley Sneijder (arguably the best player in the 2010 World Cup), Julio Cesar (arguably the best goalkeeper in this tournament), Samuel Eto'o, Diego Milito, and Lucio.
There's probably a third point, but it pales in comparison to the first two. Plain and simple, Inter Milan is one of only a handful of teams that is expected to win this tournament.
In addition to their national success, Inter has dominated Italy's Serie A as of late. They've been crowned champions of Italy's premier soccer league the last five years in a row. They're also the only team in Serie A that can say they've never dropped out of the league in their 100 plus year existence.
The best Spurs can hope for is a draw at home. Either way, it should be a riveting scene when Inter visits White Hart Lane.
Inter plays in Giuseppe Meazza stadium, the largest stadium in Italy, seating around 80,000. I'm guessing that game may be a tad intimidating.
Some other interesting information I learned: don't ever shorten Inter Milan to "Milan." Milan is AC Milan's shortened name, who also happen to be Inter's biggest rival. The two side's fans are typically split along class lines, and don't much care for each other.

Werder Bremen (Germany, Pot 2) - Werder Bremen comes in as a team that finished 3rd in last year's Bundesliga, Germany's premier soccer league. Werder seem to be the wild card of this group. If they show up, they should advance, but this is not the same team as last year's third place club.
Most notably, Werder lost German World Cup standout Mesul Ozit to Real Madrid at the start of this season.
They didn't respond well, dropping their first Bundesliga game 4-1 to a TSG Hoffenheim side that finished 11th in the league last year.
Werder can hang their hat on the fact that they've finished in the top 3 of their league in 6 of the last 7 years. They will have time to adjust to life without Ozit and could very well turn it around in time for the Champions League.
The trip to Weserstadion should be a fun one. Werder's stadium is located on the bank of the Weser River and a ship's whistle sounds every time they score a goal. Hopefully that whistle won't be blowing too often in Tottenham's game though.
Spurs' match ups with Werder will likely determine the second team to come out of Group A.

FC Twente (Netherlands, Pot 4) - I've been tempted to just call them 20. You know, that's how it looks doesn't it? Ok, I have no idea how to pronounce this Dutch's teams name, in fact, I know very little about them.
They finished first in the top Dutch league Eredivisie last year. They finished second in 2009. While not thought of as a dominant league, it would be foolish to overlook this side. In 1975, they actually were the runner up in the Champions League. So there, they already have more experience than Spurs in this tournament.
Twente's De Grolsch Veste stadium's seating was doubled in the late 90s. What that tells me is they have a growing fan base that surely will be rowdy come game time. Especially against a pot 3 team they feel presents the best chance of earning three points.
Spurs haven't exactly looked good on the road this year. They fell 3-2 to Young Boys, and a bad call saved them from a draw against Stoke.
Both of these teams should have been convincing victories, even on the road. If Spurs don't start playing better away from White Hart Lane, the road game against Twente could prove to be especially costly.

We Did It! Spurs Advance To Champions League Group Play

After a less than stellar performance on the artificial turf of Stade de Suisse, Spurs came back with a vengeance to secure a 4-0 win at home. Despite the heavy rainfall and a goaltending switch after halftime, Tottenham continued to impressive through out.
Peter Crouch stole the show, scoring three goals, two off of set pieces. At the five minute mark, Crouch headed in a corner from Gareth Bale. The goal was Crouch's first of the season, and put his side at ease going forward.
Crouch scored again in the 61st minute, heading in another corner from Bale. Crouch calmly approached a penalty kick twenty minutes later and completed his hat trick by sticking the ball in the bottom left of the goal.
Striker Jermain Defoe postponed surgery to help his team advance to the group stage. He scored Spurs' second goal on a controversial non-hand ball call. Defoe received the pass off his arm, continued with the play while the defender complained, and scored with his left foot. Despite Young Boys' protests, none of the referees saw the hand ball and the goal was upheld.
Although overshadowed by Crouch's hat trick, Gareth Bale continued his excellent play. He recorded four assists in the game, and would have scored if he wasn't tackled inside the box. Bale was brought down by defender Senad Lulic, who was ejected from the game after his second yellow card.
Towards the end of the first half, Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes asked to be removed from the game after suffering a leg injury. Redknapp stuck with him through the first half before sending out Carlo Cudicini as his replacement.
Cudicini was only challenged once and made the save easily.
The announcer summed it up best when he said Spurs played with "Pride, Privilege, and Achievement." That's what I love about English announcers and England in general. Can you imagine a scenario where an American announcer would utter those three words in succession to describe a sporting event? Absolutely not. Only the English.
Spurs will find out which group they are drawn into tomorrow. I'll be anxiously awaiting, researching, and will come back tomorrow prepared to provide updates.

Making Sense Of The UEFA Champions League

I'd planned on writing about the Champions League last week but held off due to my frustration over the Spurs' result. I've talked about the learning process that comes with following a new sport or league and the Champion's League tournament is just that.
Of course, I didn't know what the Champions League was. All I knew was that it was an honor to be there and for a highly touted English Premier League team, it would be a disaster to not qualify for the group stages.
Here's what I learned. The top four teams from the EPL (based on last year's standings) qualify for tournament play. The top three (Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal) automatically qualify for the group stage. My fourth place Spurs have to earn their spot into the group stages.
It's kind of hard to explain, but there are four rounds leading up to group play. Similar to the NCAA college basketball tournament, teams are awarded placement based on performance but also the strength of the conference which they play in.
For the first three rounds, a total of 49 European clubs battled it out for 15 of the 20 spots in the fourth round, known as the playoff round. The playoff round is separated into two categories: the Champions and Non-Champions.
The Champions division consists of ten teams that advanced from the third qualifying round. All of these teams were champions of the European league which they played in. They're all matched up at random, with five teams from this division moving on to the group stages.
The Non-Champions league also consists of ten teams, five teams that advanced from the third qualifying round, and five teams from top European leagues that didn't win their league but finished high enough to qualify. Spurs fall into this category. These ten teams are also paired up at random and five of them will advance to the group stages.
The ten teams that advance from the playoff round will join the 22 automatic qualifiers to complete the 32 team field in the group stages. From here, it plays exactly like the World Cup. The teams are randomly broken down into eight 4-team groups, and the top two teams from each group advance to the knock out stages.

For their playoff round match up, Spurs drew the Young Boys from Switzerland. Young Boys were largely regarded as the worst team out of the 9 that the Spurs could have drew, despite beating Turkish squad Fenerbache 1-0 on the road to nullify their first 2-2 match up.
Riding high from their advancement, Young Boys shocked Spurs in their first match up, earning a 3-2 win at home. While they earned the victory, they gave up 2 goals in the second half, despite recording a 3-0 advantage at halftime.
This is important, because if both team's earn a victory, the tie-breaker is goals scored. If the number of goals is the same, the tie-breaker goes to the team that scored more goals on the road. If both sides are still even, it comes down to penalty kicks.
Here are the scenarios which Spurs would advance:
1) A 1-0 victory
2) A 2-1 victory
3) A victory by 2 or more goals regardless of the score
If they draw, lose, or give up 3 or more goals in a one goal victory, they will be eliminated. 
Spurs will play the second leg of their Young Boys match up tomorrow. I want this win bad. The group stage format is one of the best in all of sports, and I've been without it for a month now. Please Spurs, please, I need this, you need this. Think of the children. Better yet, think of the lucrative television deals that will follow.
It won't be easy. Spurs will be without midfielder Luca Modric. Jermain Defoe, who needs groin surgery after reaggravating an injury in the first leg, could play anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes. It is unclear whether forwards Roman Pavyluchenko or Robbie Keane will be available.

EPL Week 2 - City vs. Reds

For two teams with lofty expectations this year, it's never too early to start placing a certain amount of importance on a week two game. The fact is, each team only plays each other twice, so when two teams battling for top 4 position meet up, the match can not be understated.
Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal are the perennial favorites for top 4 position every year, leaving one spot open that both Manchester City and Liverpool look to vacate this year.
Both teams were coming off of poor showings. City was lucky enough to come away with a draw, as goalkeeper Joe Hart made four or five miraculous saves against Spurs last Sunday. Liverpool was looking to bounce back from a goalkeeping error that cost them a win over Arsenal.
Newest City addition James Milner wasted no time getting acclimated to his new club. Milner set up Gareth Barry's goal in the 13th minute with a nice delivery in front of the net. It would be City's only goal of the first half despite dominating possession.
City would strike again right after half time from a set piece. A Micah Richards header off a corner kick may or may not have been deflected into the net by Carlos Tevez. Either way, Tevez celebrated like he nudged it in, and was given credit for the goal.
Tevez would score another goal off a free kick in the 67th minute to put the match out of reach.
City looked much more impressive this week than their first. They took care of the ball much better and led a more focused offensive attack.
Liverpool, however, was out of sync the entire game. Striker Fernando Torres embodied his team's struggles. Still suffering from a groin injury from last July, Torres turned the ball over a few times and appeared slow on some of his shots and deliveries. He was hoping the club season could erase some of the memories of his poor play in South Africa, but so far he has had no such luck.
Reds mounted only one good scoring opportunity the entire game. Approaching the 60th minute, Steven Gerrard bounced a shot off the left post. Hart then successively denied Ngog and Torres to preserve the clean sheet for City.  
Even though we're only two weeks into the season, this match up provided a better sense of where second tier team such as Spurs, City, and Reds are fitting in.

Thoughts On USA-Spain Basketball Friendly

It's amazing how a little bit of international competition can get someone's nationalistic juices flowing. I've commented on this plenty of times in regards to Alexi Lalas' World Cup commentary. Today's subject will be former All-Star, and Olympic Gold Medalist Steve Smith.
I respect Smith most for his three point shooting, but now can respect the way he handled the commentary of the USA-Spain friendly. With many Americans (I'm looking at you Fran Fraschilla), questioning the US's ability to defeat some of the better European sides, it's refreshing to hear someone provide a reason why we don't dominate the competition like we used to. Here's a few explanations Smith offered:
Officiating - The international referees aren't quite as good as their American counterparts. Now that's saying something. According to Smith, the international refs miss quite a few calls, so the players will just have to get used to it. Of course, Smith is operating under the assumption that American refs don't miss quite a few calls. I'd have to disagree.
The Ball - The basketball used in international play is apparently lighter than the ball our players use in the NBA. This is a legitimate adjustment. I remember as a kid playing with a WNBA ball. It was great. I could palm it and throw it across the court. Of course, the size and weight of it did result in a few air balls. Smith attributed one of Iguodala's air balled three pointers and Billups' three pointer off the glass to the weight of the ball.
Flopping - Smith's analysis of Tyson Chandler and Lamar Odom guarding Marc Gasol was pretty comical. The gist of it was that they couldn't body him because he would just flop. They also couldn't go through a screen because the other defenders would just flop. I love this analysis because it's true. The international game is built around flopping, and unfortunately, it's carried over to the NBA.

I was looking forward to getting my first look at last year's fifth overall pick Ricky Rubio. I have to admit, I assumed Rubio was overrated because he was flashy (a la Jason Williams in the late 90s with the Kings), European, and could play despite looking like the back up point guard on the sophomore high school team.
I was flat out wrong. It actually pained me a little to see Rubio pick Rose's pocket a few times as easily as he did. I underestimated his size. For some reason, I thought he was about 5'10, 170 lbs. Turns out he's 6'3, 190 lbs. He's a much better defender than people have been giving him credit for, and with his size, can match up with any point guard in the league.
I would have liked to see what he could have done against Rondo. Anyway, I can't wait until he makes his way to the NBA. I'm officially on the bandwagon.
Fresh off of acting like an NBA superstar and threatening a hold out, Rudy Fernandez made an appearance, sporting some new blonde highlights. Here's what bothers me about Fernandez's holdout: he's not an elite player that deserves to play major minutes for a contender. Revis' hold out is at least somewhat understandable. He's the best cornerback in the league and wants to be paid for it. Besides having one good year from behind the arc, what exactly has Rudy accomplished in the NBA?
Fernandez missed four of his five shots from the field, including a shot that was blocked in the final seconds by Durant to win the game for the US. Rudy had the chance to prove to his NBA coach Nate McMillan, sitting on the opposing side, that he deserves more minutes, and made himself look worse. In fact, Fernandez's highlight of the game was an offensive rebound he came up. Seriously, besides being blocked to end the game, that's all I remember him doing.
This post wouldn't be complete without a D. Rose update. Rose really got the chance to shine at the end of the game. He drove hard to the basket and made a layup over Gasol to put the US up 84-82. He then knocked down two free throws that clinched the game. Free throw shooting was an area of concern last year from Rose, so it was good for him to sink two big ones with the game on the line.
Rose's full skill set isn't being showcased during international play like it will be in the NBA season. Rose is best when he has the ball in his hands and can either drive the lane or create the open shot. He's being asked to distribute more than he normally would, which hurts his overall performance. The end of this game was him playing like he's accustomed to.
So is Team USA only a point better than Spain? I'm obviously a little biased, but I think the US is much better than they showed today. Remember, they didn't play Rondo, Love, or Granger. While I don't think Granger would make much of a difference against Spain, I think Love and Rondo would be huge defensive assets.
I think Rondo would be the ideal candidate on our team to guard Rubio and Love could provide another big body to match up with Gasol down low.
I'd also expect the overall intensity level of the US to improve as the stakes do. The same defensive lapses and bad shot selection plagued this team the way it does with so many good NBA teams. Eventually the great teams get bored. What the US did in the opening five minutes, jumping out to a 16-3 lead, is how they should have played the entire game. Instead, they lowered their intensity after jumping back and forth between big leads, and in the end, it almost cost them.

EPL Week 2 - Stoke vs. Spurs

Saturday's match up in Brittania Stadium had all the makings of a trap game for Spurs. An inferior opponent, sandwiched in between Championship League games seemed like it would be an easy match to look over. As it turns out, Spurs were lucky to escape with the victory.
Despite Gareth Bale's two goals, a controversial disallowed goal in the remaining minutes became the highlight of the match and will only further the argument that instant replay should be utilized in the EPL.
Stoke's Jon Walters secured a header from short range that appeared to have gone over the goal line after it bounced off a defender's chest back into the field of play. I didn't have the best picture quality, but it certainly looked like the entire ball crossed the goal line. The goal would have tied the game up for a Stoke side that played much better in the second half.
Bale struck first for Spurs on a somewhat lucky goal. Peter Crouch collected Bale's rebound and weakly headed the ball to the goalkeeper. When Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen tried to clear the header, it bounced off Bale's head and found its way into the goal.
However, Bale's second goal was anything but cheap. He perfectly struck a volley from Aaron Lennon into the upper right hand corner of the net. The goal was technically one of the best we'll see all year.
In between Bale's goals, Stoke struck off a set piece. Ricardo Fuller found the ball in front of the net off of a corner and easily scored in the 25th minute.
Set pieces were a problem for Spurs the entire game. Stoke had plenty of scoring opportunities off set pieces due in combination to an inconsistent back line of defense and poor goalkeeping decisions. Spurs' performance, especially in the second half, didn't bode well for the second leg of their match up against Young Boys on Wednesday. They need to get that together or will be eliminated early from the Champions League.
Jermain Defoe missed this week's game after pulling a groin muscle while playing on the artificial turf against Young Boys. Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos, and Roman Pavyluchenko also suffered injuries in that game and were left out of the lineup for Saturday's match.
To advance in the Champions League, Spurs need to defeat Young Boys by two goals or more on Wednesday. They will need their strikers to get healthy to have a chance at advancement, but don't expect manager Harry Redknapp to rush anyone back. He knows it is a long EPL season and is intent on contending for the title.

Who's To Blame For The Rudy Fernandez Fiasco? Currently A Three Way Tie

All of us know by now that Rudy Fernandez is unhappy. We know this...But some of us didn't even know who Rudy Fernandez was before this mess. Not a good selling point for someone demanding a trade. Fernandez's agent says he his prepared to sit out the next two years until his contract runs out if Portland doesn't trade him. Fernandez says he's fed up with the NBA and wants to play in Spain again. The Blazers say he's a valuable asset and they don't want to give him away for nothing.
So which of the three parties is to blame? The answer is all of them. Here's why:
Rudy Fernandez - Apparently Fernandez is unhappy about two things in Portland. 1) He doesn't get enough playing time, and 2) when he does get playing time, he's not being utilized properly in Nate McMillan's offense. Fernandez not only thinks that he should be playing starter's minutes, but that he should be given the opportunity to create off the dribble, instead of being relied upon for just his outside shooting.
It looks like his "superstar" ego has gotten the best of him. I put the term 'superstar' in quotes, but it actually does apply to Fernandez. While playing in Spain's Liga ACB, a league many consider the second best in the world, Fernandez was regarded as the best the ACB had to offer.
There's only one problem: this isn't the ACB. Fernandez is an average NBA player who doesn't deserve to play starter's minutes or to be given free reign to do whatever he wants offensively. Fernandez can shoot, there's no question about that. However, every other aspect of his game has been questioned. He's not great defensively, he's not much of a dribbler, and despite what he thinks, has a tough time creating for himself.
It's one thing to have confidence in your abilities. It's quite another to be so delusional about your abilities that you're willing to hold out for two years.
Fernandez's Agent Andy Miller - I sympathize with Miller because he finds himself in a tough spot. In one sense, it's an agent's responsibility to protect his client's interests. It's also an agent's responsibility to make sure that his player is living up to his end of the deal.
Miller is succeeding with the former and failing at the latter. I understand that he's trying to stand behind his client and muscle the Blazers into giving Fernandez what he wants. While this is fine, it's hurting Fernandez is the long run. Sitting out for two years will do neither party any good.
If I'm Miller, here's what I do. I sit down with Fernandez and tell him to be content with his 23 minutes a game and get his three point shooting percentage back up to 40 percent.
His numbers were down last season partly because he was injured for a good portion of it. It he returns next year and plays well, he will at the very least, play himself onto a new team in two years.
If he sits, he looks like a whining distraction who's play isn't worth the hassle. Especially for a team trying to contend for a championship.
The Blazers - Portland is taking the term 'asset' a little too seriously and is asking for more than Fernandez is worth. A number of teams have given the Blazers reasonable offers and they've declined every one of them.
Chicago probably offered the best package, including James Johnson and their own 2011 first round pick (likely in the mid 20s.) The Knicks offered Wilson Chandler. The Celtics offered their 2011 first round pick (also likely in the mid to late 20s). Fernandez himself was a late round pick in in 2007.
The point is that the Blazers would not have been giving him away for nothing. They were given three reasonable offers to unload an unhappy player and they tried to come out with the better end of a deal.
Even though Fernandez seems to have no leverage in this situation, history has shown that players who want to be traded almost always get their way. It's only a matter of time before Fernandez is traded. The Blazers will be best served unloading Fernandez now because his value will only decrease if he follows through and sits.

Neymar Should Stay In Brazil

After weeks of speculation, it now appears that future Brazilian superstar forward, Neymar, will be moving on to play for Chelsea in the Premier League. Chelsea has upped their 17 million pound offer to 25 million. Neymar also seems to have warmed up to the idea of playing in England.
Besides the lure of more money, the EPL will allow Neymar to showcase his talents on the world's biggest stage. At least until 2014, anyway.
Neymar's addition will only bolster an already dominant Chelsea side that is coming off a 6-0 dismantling of West Bromwich Albion in their EPL opener. But where will Neymar fit in? Chelsea is already stacked at the forward position.
Neymar has already said he isn't open to a switch if he's going to sit on the bench for a foreign team. It would indeed be a shame to see the most exciting 18 year old player in the world wasting away on a championship team's bench.
If Neymar does move on to Chelsea, perhaps his best chance of starting would be on the right, alongside Malouda in the center, and Drogba on the left. Malouda and Drogba combined for five of Chelsea's six goals on Saturday.
The right side is currently being manned by the disgruntled and disappointing Nicolas Anelka. Anelka just found out he would be suspended for 18 international matches after an altercation with his coach while playing for the French national team in the 2010 World Cup.
Anelka has handled the situation poorly, claiming he had no intention of representing France in the future anyway. Anelka's maturity has been called into question during his club play as well. Many Chelsea fans would rejoice in his demotion to the bench.

The issue is if Neymar is ready to play in Europe at this point in his career. He's only 18 and still very small. I looked up his size: 5'9, 119 pounds. I'm bigger than him, and everyone is bigger than me. The Premier League is much more physical than the competition Neymar has been facing in Brazil.
While Neymar can surely outrun all of the slow-footed Englishmen he'll be up against, it's unclear if his body will be able to hold up during an entire EPL season.
This is why Neymar should stay in Brazil for a few more seasons. Obviously, it's difficult to pass up all that money, but his career will benefit from delaying this move. He's only 18 and still has some growing (physically and mentally) to do. There's no question that he's talented enough to play in Europe right now, but playing in Brazil will allow him to hone his skills without the 'do or die' pressure that goes hand in hand with playing for a big market team in England.
We also can't downplay the significance of adapting to a new country and culture, all while dealing with immense expectations on the pitch. Dealing with all of the extra off the field stuff comes with life experience, and Neymar doesn't have much of that yet. Coming from someone who likes this kid, and wants him to succeed, I don't think he should jump ship just yet.
If you need any further convincing, consider that Pele said that Neymar isn't ready to play in Europe yet. I can't blame you for not taking my opinion seriously, but when Pele speaks, I suggest you listen. 

EPL Season Opener - Spurs vs. City

To describe my demeanor as 'excited' for the beginning of this morning's Spurs game would be an understatement. I don't think I can adequately describe how great it feels to have a team playing that can take my mind off the Cubs. Spurs and the start of the Bears season next month should improve my mood considerably. At least I hope.
Back to the excitement. It was the type of sports related excitement I will only experience once. This will mark the first EPL season I follow. There's nothing like following a new sport or a new league for the first time. Everything is new, everything is interesting.
Of course, the unfamiliarity contributes to what amounts to 'growing pains' for a fan. For instance, I don't know each team's roster, not even Tottenham's. I have an idea of who was good last year, but I assume there will be a shakeup based on off season acquisitions.
There's also the danger of assuming what you see in one or a few games applies to the league as a whole. I experienced one of these moments during today's game. I couldn't help but notice there was only two offsides calls the entire game. During the World Cup, I'd see four or five a half. I'd have to assume the lack of offsides calls can be chalked up to each team being more familiar with each other than World Cup rosters would be.
The game was also more wide open than most World Cup games I saw. This would make sense, each World Cup game has higher stakes than the EPL season opener. While both of these observations seem to be factual, only time will tell. It's all part of the learning experience.

Speaking of learning experience, I got my first look at two great players today. The first was Joe Hart. Supposedly he will be England's goalkeeper in 2014, and from what I saw today, I see no reason to dispute that. In fact, Hart earned the draw today single-handed. Even a slightly above average goalie would have allowed at leat two goals in the first half.
Hart reminds me of Tom Brady in a way. I want to hate him, but I can't because he's just that good. Watching Hart smile before the game and while making saves made me think of how Tom Brady smiled after winning his first Super Bowl. It's just the look of those guys that make you hate them. Unless of course either plays for the team you root for.
The second player I was impressed with was Gareth Bale. As a new Spurs fan I'm ashamed that I hadn't read up on him before. Bale was the best Spurs player today, dominating the left side of the field. It's such a huge advantage to play on that side and be left footed. Of course, his dependence on his left foot may have cost Spurs the win. Bale had the best chance of the game to score in the 86th minute with a wide open net off a rebound but couldn't find the net with his right foot.

The last player I'd like to discuss is Peter Crouch. I've made fun of him in the past, but I'd like to quote Alexi Lalas from the pregame show, "[Crouch] looks like a dork out there. But you got to love him. He just scores goals."
After watching him, I do love him. His size will be invaluable this season. In the 11th minute he headed a ball to Defoe, that against a human goalie would have set up a goal. Crouch can win any ball in the air because he's bigger than everyone he'll be going up against. The front line of Crouch and Defoe work well together and have a knack for finding the net. They combined for 36 goals last season.
Hopefully the first game of the season isn't a bad omen for Spurs. Even though they drew, it feels like a loss because of all the opportunities they wasted in the first half. When you haven't won the league in 50 years, these type of games happen.

Ariza Deal Doesn't Make Sense For The Hornets

It appears the Hornets have made the same mistake the Cavaliers once did. They've catered to their superstar player with the hopes of keeping him happy and in uniform for the rest of his career. The sad reality is that, just as in Cleveland's case, this will blow up in their faces.
Chris Paul has made no secret about his desire to leave New Orleans. He said he wanted to play in New York if Carmelo ended up there, then changed his stance, and directed his attention towards Orlando.
Paul has two years left on his contract with the Hornets and a player option for a third year. In that short time frame, the Hornets can do all they want to try and build a contender around Paul, but this simple point remains: Come 2012, Paul will likely opt out of his contract and take his talents elsewhere.
After examining all aspects of this trade, the only way to justify it is if the Hornets were trying to please Paul. They added an athletic wing man who can likely compliment Paul in the uptempo fast break game. They also get rid of the rookie point guard who stepped in after Paul's injury and proved he could play just as well as Paul did. Don't underestimate this point. I doubt Paul wanted Collison around taking minutes from him. Paul and Collison are too small to start in the same back court.
Essentially, this is what the Hornets did. They gave up their most valuable player not named Paul and a solid contributor off the bench. They added 5 million to their salary cap, despite downgrading their talent. They will also be stuck with Ariza until the 2014-15 season, when he will be making 7 million a year. In the two years after Paul is likely gone, Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza will account for 20 million dollars a year. Terrible.

Even if Ariza does fit in with the offense and makes the team better, this trade still won't make sense. Ariza is not the missing piece to a playoff push. With the possibility of David West opting out of his contract next year, this looks like a bad team two years from now.
The Hornets should have traded Paul this offseason. While it hurts the team's image and makes it look like players have all the power, this would be the best thing for the Hornet's long term. They can begin to build their team around Collison. With Paul gone, Stojakovic and Songaila's contracts expiring, coupled in with West opting out, the Hornets clear 35 million from their payroll next year.
Obviously, there's some uncertainty about the CBO for next year, but the Hornets would be better off starting fresh as soon as possible, instead of suffering for two more years, only to lose Paul in the end.
Instead, the Hornets gave up their best young player, will likely miss the playoffs the next two years, and see Paul move on.
Unless if Paul signs a long term extension, what he wants shouldn't be part of the equation.

Are The Pacers Playoff Contenders?

I've made it no secret that I long for the Indiana Pacers to be successful again. Once upon a time, they had a great rivalry with the Bulls. That rivalry could potentially be rekindled in the years to come. The acquisitions of Darren Collison and James Posey not only improve the team, but make the Pacers instant playoff contenders.
The Heat, Magic, Celtics, Bulls, Bucks, and Hawks have already distinguished themselves as virtual locks for the playoffs, and to a lesser extent, the Bobcats. This leaves one spot open that Indiana has a chance of grabbing.
Let's start with Indiana's focal point--Danny Granger. Granger may be the best player in the NBA who isn't a household name. He's a 6'8 forward who can consistently hit the three, rebounds well, and has proven he can handle the scoring load for an NBA team. His time with Team USA this summer should only increase his confidence going into this season. He'll benefit from Collison more than any other Pacer.
The addition of Collison adds another scorer to the Pacers lineup. Collison filled in admirably last year for Chris Paul. So much so, it looked like the Hornets might trade the disgruntled Paul and build the team around Collison. Instead, the Pacers got a steal.
Collison can score in bunches and has shown a knack for getting to the basket. He can also hit the three. He shot 40 percent from behind the arc last year. Collison's driving ability should create open looks for shooters Granger, George, and Posey off the bench.
In order to acquire Collison, the Pacers had to part with power forward Troy Murphy. Murphy averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds a game, as the second option on offense. While Murphy will be missed, his departure allows second year forward Tyler Hansbrough to step into the starting lineup.
It's clear Indiana was looking to get younger. Swapping Murphy for Hansbrough will definitely accomplish that. Hansbrough was injured for most of last year, so this year will be critical to see how he develops as a player. If he's able to provide a decent post game, rebounding, and the occasional mid range jumper, he should fit in just fine.
At center, Roy Hibbert will get the opportunity to start. As his minutes increased last year, Hibbert appeared to be more competent offensively than most initially thought. While he'll be more valuable for his defense down low, how he fits in offensively with Hansbrough should be interesting to see.
The wild card for the Pacers this year is their first round pick Paul George. Drafted 10th overall, many think that George could be the steal of this year's draft. He played small forward in college, the position Granger already occupies, so he'll likely move over to shooting guard. Without any other viable options, it looks like George will have the opportunity to start immediately. If he can hit threes and defend like he did in college, he could be a surprise candidate for Rookie of the Year.
In addition to a young, talented starting lineup, the Pacers can bring veterans off the bench. T.J. Ford, Dahntay Jones, Brandon Rush, and James Posey all have experience as starters. The number of bench players on the Pacers roster that have started in the past speaks to their depth.
With the combination of a talented young starting lineup and veteran bench, it's not out of the question that the Pacers will challenge for the wide open 8th seed in the playoffs. 

Thoughts on US-Brazil Friendly

It's hard to continue to argue the point that Americans don't care about soccer after witnessing the New Jersey crowd during last night's US-Brazil friendly. While a good portion of the crowd was composed of Brazilians, the US support was overwhelming. Did this support have more to do with the fact they were playing Brazil, or what some perceived as a successful World Cup campaign?
It doesn't really matter either way. The important thing is that the fans showed up. The crowd was excited, knowledgeable, and passionate. The American fan base will continue to grow as the US talent on the field does.
Unfortunately, that talent paled in comparison to Brazil. The young Brazilians were reminiscent of the young kids on the basketball court who know they're way better than the older guys they're playing against. So they have fun just toying with them. That's really what this match was about.
The US came out aggressive and actually played a pretty good first 20 minutes. Brazil, on the other hand, was a little sloppy with their touches and passes. After that 20 or 25 minute mark though, Brazil stopped playing around with the US and finally started looking like the Brazil we all expected.
The positive that the US fans can take out of their initial push is that they didn't give up a goal. They probably should have gave up a few, but let's look over that.
What more is there to say about Neymar? I'm not going to lie, I had no idea who he was before this game. I found out pretty quick. Neymar reminded me of the kid in high school who listened to a bunch of punk bands you'd never heard of and spent his study hall drawing skulls on the desks. Add that to a body that I refuse to believe has eclipsed the 140 pound mark, and I learned not to judge a book by its cover.
For me, Neymar has already eclipsed any other player as the most exciting in the sport. He's fast with and without the ball. He made smart passes, knows how find the open spot on the field, and even showed he can score through the air. He'll be the best player in the 2014 World Cup. You can bet on that.
It's pretty incredible that the combination of Neymar and Pato (ages 18 and 20, respectively) scored both goals and overshadowed Robinho on the right. When Robinho is being overshadowed, you there's an incredible amount of talent on the pitch. It's unfair for one team's forward trio to have the skill set these three have.
Speaking of forwards, Jozy Altidore continues to disappoint. He came in for the second half of yesterday's game and performed in similar World Cup fashion. The problem with Altidore is that he can't dribble. His first touch is atrocious. I can't even count how many times he's received a good ball and hasn't been able to control it. Altidore will only be successful if he's free to roam without the ball, and someone can set him up to score. Unfortunately, the US does not currently have the personnel to make that happen.
Altidore is the perfect example to counteract all these people that say the US isn't a soccer power because our best athletes don't play the game. Altidore's body type most resembles the NBA and NFL players these people are clamoring to see take up soccer. Being big and strong doesn't hurt, but isn't a precursor to success in soccer--look at Neymar, who's giving up about 80 pounds to Altidore.
The highlight of the match for me was finding out that Saturday's Tottenham-Manchester City match up will be televised on ESPN2. I'm saved from watching an online stream that resembles scrambled porn--for one week at least.

Catching Up With The 21st Century (Soccer Related)

I'll be the first to admit that I'm one of the least technical savvy 23 year olds in America. I didn't get a cell phone until I was 18, an iPod when I was 19, and needed quite a bit of help to set up this blog and photo shop the picture above. I rationalize my 20th century living by saying, "I don't need 'shiny new technology X.' If I did, I'd have it." It's not until I need 'shiny technology X' that I realize I should have gotten it five years ago like everyone else.
This brings me to my next problem. As I wrote in a post about a month ago, I've decided to make the leap from mediocre MLS to the EPL. I somewhat randomly chose to root for Tottenham Hotspur. As you may have guessed, the London based club isn't televised here in Chicago.
A few days ago, on whim, I flipped over to one of the premium Fox Sports Net channels that focuses on soccer. I mean, a soccer channel, all day every day, has to show EPL games, right? It probably does. The problem is, it's not part of the cable package. I got the black screen and white box treatment. The white box asking me to call 1-800-aljdl;a for details about a package that includes this channel. Plan A to watch the Spurs was now dead. I didn't have the foresight to come up with a Plan B.
I'm not exactly in a position to be purchasing extra television channels. Even if I was, I wouldn't. I've walked over five miles home in the cold to save cab money. The point is, I needed to find a way to watch these games because just checking the scores wasn't going to cut it.

I don't know what came over me, but for some reason, I reacted how a technological savvy 23 year old in the 21st century would.

I checked the Internet! I know, what a concept.

I still treat the 2010 Internet like the 1996 Internet. I assume that every website is trying to extract money from me somehow. I also don't trust links or the way a website is advertised. I remember in the early 2000s, a bunch of websites said you could download a movie or album from them, and I never could. So I was extra skeptical about a website that said it was streaming EPL games for free.
Thankfully, over the last ten years, things have changed. Within minutes I was watching a friendly between Manchester City and Valencia. And the next day I watched Manchester United versus Chelsea. The wonderful world of international soccer had been available to me via online stream all this time and I had no idea.
The quality of the video isn't great, but for the price, it's hard to be choosy. It looks like a combination of the original Atari and any pre-2000 soccer video you'd find on YouTube. Surely, this won't help with name and face recognition, but that's what the box scores are for.
When it comes to soccer, I'm officially out of the Dark Ages. I can no longer complain about the lack of televised games, they're all here on the Internet. I feel like a load has been lifted off my shoulders.
Excuse me while I contemplate an upgrade to a flat screen plasma.

Can The Heat Win 73?

Analyst Jeff Van Gundy has made headlines recently by proclaiming that this year's Miami Heat team can challenge the Chicago Bulls' record setting 72 win 1995-96 regular season. Whether or not Van Gundy truly believes this isn't important. What is important is that Van Gundy brought up a point that no one up until now seems to be discussing.
I think most of us immediately assumed no team was challenging that record, especially one with so little cap space. That's where we're wrong. Quietly, as Van Gundy pointed out, the Heat have constructed a pretty deep team. They currently have 17 players under contract, which they will have to cut to 15 by the start of the season. 8 of those 17 are getting paid less than one million dollars this season.
Since the official roster still isn't set, and it's difficult to predict how the Heat and the 29 other teams will come together, it would be best to go about answering this question by examining some of the traits that made the 1995-96 Bulls so successful.

Chip on their shoulder. I tend to shy away from explanations like this that can't really be measured, but the "chip on their shoulder" argument clearly applied to the Bulls. You may remember Nick Anderson coming from behind and stripping the ball from Jordan (who returned midway through that season) in Game 1 of the EC Semi-Finals. The Magic would go on to win the series in six games.
Anderson and many others questioned Jordan's ability to return to his old form. Jordan and Co. returned the next year determined to prove they were still the best team in the NBA. They didn't take a game off. Hell, they rarely took a play off. The Bulls stream rolled through the regular season winning 72 games and continued their dominance into the playoffs, going 16-3 en route to NBA championship. That playoff run included a sweep of the Magic.
The Heat should have the same chip on their shoulder that the Bulls did. It's hard to imagine a more criticized team in recent memory than this year's Heat, and they haven't even played a game yet. The Big Three should be eager to prove the doubters wrong and show that three superstars can coexist. I'm sure James also would like to extract a little revenge for some of the "sidekick" insults that have been directed his way.
What better way to piss NBA fans off even more than to break the all-time season wins record? The Celtics tried in 2008 and fell short. History has shown that the first year of a potential dynasty is the year to make a run at the record. If the Heat are going to attempt a 73 win season it will be this year.
Depth. Most people, with good reason, questioned how a team would be able to compete with three maximum level contracts on the books. The easy answer is recruit role players who are willing to accept less money to play for a championship contender. The Bulls had two stars in Jordan and Pippen that they surrounded with excellent role players.
Steve Kerr and Jud Bueschler provided three point shooting off the bench. Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc provided scoring and solid defense off the bench. Dennis Rodman was a rebounding and defensive specialist, while Luc Longley, John Salley, and Bill Wennington were all big bodies that clogged the middle. With the exception of Rodman and maybe Kukoc, none of these players were household names, but were essential to the championship run.
Looking over the Heat's roster, there are some similarities to the Bulls. They also have the two superstars in James and Wade, as well as a low post scorer in Bosh (something the Bulls didn't have). They have Eddie House and Mike Miller to shoot threes. Ilgauskaus, Anthony, Pittman, and Magloire to clog up the middle and save Bosh some low post fouls.
Miami will need someone to step up and become a consistent scorer off  the bench. The Bulls had Kukoc, the Sixth Man of the Year, to provide offense off the bench. The Heat have no one near that level. However, the Heat do have the luxury of resting either LeBron or Wade at different times. They can slide in a more traditional point guard, Mike Miller at the 2 or 3, and either Wade at the 2 or James at the 3. Spoelstra has a number of players that can play multiple positions, which could potentially lessen the need for bench scoring. It will be interesting to see how Spoelstra constructs his lineups.
Defense. A lot of people forget how good the 95-96 Bulls were defensively. Their defense got overshadowed because they were the number one offense in the league that year. They were also the best defensive team in the league, giving up an average of 92 points per game.
While First Team Defensive Selections are often questionable to say the least (look at last year's First Team for an example), the Bulls have three players (Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman) selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. All three deserved that honor. To put this into perspective, you would have to go back to the 1982-83 season to find the last time three teammates made the All-Defensive First Team, when Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, and Maurice Cheeks represented the 76ers. It's only been done five times since the league began giving out the honor for the 1968-69 season. No three teammates have been selected to the First Team since the Bulls trio.
James and Wade should be First Team defenders and if they commit themselves defensively this year, they will be. However, the Heat don't have a third player that could be considered an elite defender. In fact, they have a plethora of below average defenders. Let's say, hypothetically, this is Miami's starting lineup for next year:

LeBron James - PG
Dwyane Wade - SG
Mike Miller - SF
Udonis Haslem - PF
Chris Bosh - C
Wade and James have the ability to lock down anyone, but those other three could be serious defensive liabilities. Miller's a below average defender who's there strictly for his three point shooting. While Haslem works hard, at 6'8 he's an undersized power forward. Bosh has never been known for his defense and has routinely been bossed around in the paint by larger centers. Looking at the bench, it doesn't appear that the Heat have a many defensive options they can bring in either.
Defense will be the key to a run at 73 wins. Spoelstra is praised within NBA circles for his defensive game plans. Let's see what he can do with this team.
Of course there will be some other factors that could prevent the Heat from reaching 73 wins. The Eastern Conference is much improved this year. In 1995-96 the East only had three teams who won 50 or more games. In 2010-11 that number could double. Add that to the fact that teams are bound to lose a few games to inferior competition during the regular season. The Bulls lost to the 21 win Raptors.
Another important factor will be how many games the Big Three play this year. It may not be one of their goals to win 73, or that goal may be out of reach, so the regulars could be rested towards the end of the season. This is most often the case in today's NBA, where teams who have already clinched a particular seed will begin to rest their players in the last two weeks of the season.
So can the Heat win 73? I think they can, but I'm going to say they won't. I think a win total in the mid 60s will be more likely. Ultimately, it will come down to how they play defense, whether the players want to commit to playing a full NBA season, and if they can stay injury free. A lot of things have to go right for the Heat, but if this offseason is any indication, a lot of things already have.      

Bulls Complete 12 Man Roster, Add Bogans

It was beginning to look like the Bulls would never complete their roster in time for the start of the regular season. After fervently executing free agency Plan B to the tune of six roster additions, the Bulls have been stuck at eleven men for the last two and a half weeks.
The Bulls finally put all of the rumors to rest Friday when they signed free agent shooting guard Keith Bogans to a two year deal. The deal is expected to be around 2.5 million, with only the first year guaranteed. Bogans, a nine year veteran who spent last year with San Antonio, was not the highest profile name the Bulls targeted. He does, however, provide the long range shooting off the bench the Bulls front office was looking for.
Bogans is a career 35 percent three point shooter, who averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in just under 20 minutes a game. Bogans will back up fellow free agent acquisition Ronnie Brewer at shooting guard.
Bogans was one of five players the Bulls were considering to fill their last roster spot. Free agents Eddie House (Heat) and Roger Mason Jr. (Knicks) were strong candidates until they signed with other teams. Tracy McGrady and disgruntled Portland shooting guard Rudy Fernandez were among the higher profile names floating around the rumor mill.
McGrady worked out for the Bulls but was never offered a contract. Reports suggested the Bulls front office was critical of some of the comments McGrady made to the media that seemed to suggest he was expecting a large role with the team. This theory is probably overblown. Most likely, McGrady didn't show anything in his workout that convinced the Bulls he can still be an effective NBA player.
If McGrady had a good workout he most likely would have been offered a contract. McGrady without question was the most talented player on the Bulls radar, but has been hampered by injuries the last few years. His struggles from behind the arc probably didn't help his cause either.
As of late, Rudy Fernandez's name was being linked to the Bulls quite a bit. Fernandez reportedly was unhappy with his lack of playing time last year. After the Blazers signed Wes Matthews this offseason, it looked like Fernandez's playing time was going to diminish even more.
The Bulls were interested in acquiring Fernandez in a trade with Portland, but the two sides could not agree to terms. The Blazers wanted second year power forward Taj Gibson and the Bulls' 2011 first round pick they acquired from Charlotte (a potential lottery pick). The Bulls weren't going to part with Gibson, so they offered James Johnson instead, along with either their first round pick (likely somewhere in the 20s) or a second rounder. Needless to say, the deal never got done.
While Bogans isn't as sexy of an addition as McGrady or Fernandez would have been, he should prove to be a solid back up capable of playing 15 to 20 minutes a game. The roster is now officially set for the 2010 season.
Finally, the speculation is over. The countdown to the regular season begins today. 82...

3 Reasons Why Shaq Is A Good Fit For Boston

It's official, Shaquille O'Neal has agreed to a veteran minimum contract with the Boston Celtics and is scheduled to make 1.3 million a year for the next two years. When Shaq signs, you know what that means: the Celtics are looking to make one last push at a championship.
While some have complained that Shaq has been steadily declining and will slow the tempo to unbearably slow levels, I believe Shaq will prove to be a good addition to Boston. True, this isn't the Shaq of his prime that will average 28 and 11 a game, but the Celtics don't need that. Here's three reasons why Shaq will be a good addition.
1) Shaq won't be expected to play major minutes. Some people have forgotten that the Celtics also signed Jermaine O'Neal this offseason to play center. Shaq averaged 22 minutes a game last year. He'll be expected to log about the same this year until Kendrick Perkins returns. There's no reason why he shouldn't be able to do that. Shaq put up 12 points and 6 rebounds a game during the regular season playing less minutes than he's accustomed to. While he isn't as good defensively, Shaq's offensive numbers were better than Perkins', and Perkins played an average of five more minutes a game. The O'Neal-O'Neal combination is better offensively than the Perkins-Davis combo.
2) Shaq won't have to play a full season. The biggest criticism of Shaq over the years is that he's incapable of playing a full season. He's only exceeded the 60 game mark once in the last six seasons. It's perfectly legitimate to wonder if Shaq can hold up for an entire season, but he won't have to. Perkins is out until sometime in February. It's important that Shaq is in playing shape at the beginning of the regular season and can suit up for every game until Perkins returns. Once Perkins returns, Shaq can take time off while Perkins and Jermaine O'Neal share minutes at the center position. I don't think it's too much to expect for Shaq to stay in the lineup for three months, get some rest, and be ready for the playoffs.
3) Shaq helps the Celtics half-court game. Shaq isn't going to do the Boston's fastbreak any favors, but the Celtics don't need to rely on fastbreak points to win. In fact, they're very successful when they're able to slow the pace down and let Rondo create in the half-court game. Shaq will bring an inside presence that defenders have to respect. The same can't be said of Kendrick Perkins. Now with Shaq and KG in the paint, the Celtics have two legitimate scoring threats down low. Not to mention, they're both excellent passers, so they'll be able to either set each other up or kick it out to Pierce or Allen if they're double teamed.
Taking on Shaq at his age is always a risk. Phoenix took that risk in 2008 and it paid off. Things didn't work out so well for Shaq in Cleveland. Only time will tell how Shaq is able to blend in with the Celtics. Boston fans can take solace in the fact that Shaq will not be expected to play as big of a role for their team as he was expected to in his previous destinations.   

Lamar Odom To Opt Out Of Marriage Contract

According to sources close to the situation, Lakers power forward Lamar Odom has chosen to forego the second year of his two year marriage contract with reality TV star Khloe Kardashian and become a bachelor.
In September of 2009, Odom signed a two year marriage contract with Kardashian. While his first year was guaranteed, he had a husband option for the second year, meaning he could opt out of the marriage contract after his first year and test the newly single market. While the exact numbers involved in the deal have not been disclosed, it is estimated that Odom left around 1.3 million on the table by opting out of his deal.
Odom is a member of Team USA and will be travelling to Spain and Greece later this month, and to Turkey in September. His coach Mike Krzyzewski, for one, is delighted with the news.
"Lamar has been a little sluggish in practice lately," Krzyzewski said. "I've speculated it's had something to do with his high maintenance wife and the strain of being forced to document his life on camera. I think getting out of this contract will do wonders for him as a player."
Odom's Team USA teammate Kevin Durant had advised Odom "at least two months" ago that he should consider opting out.
"I mean, we all know Khloe is the ugly one," Durant said. "Kim and Kourtney are a different story. They're hot. I can deal with that. I told him he might even be better off waiting for those two younger twins to grow up."
Khloe's sister Kim, who dated Saints running back Reggie Bush, was surprised to hear about the great contact Lamar had signed.
"I couldn't believe he was able to sign the deal that he did," Kardashian said. "That was great work by his agent. When I signed on to date Reggie my contract wasn't guaranteed. So essentially, he could dump me at any time and my contract would be terminated."
The news of the breakup seemed to affect Khloe's younger brother Rob the most. While shown on the Kardashian's reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Rob and Lamar seemed to be getting along quite well.
"I'm gonna miss him," Rob said via Twitter. "Besides Khloe, he's the closest thing to an older brother I've ever had."
Khloe could not be reached for comment, but according to an anonymous source, is "on her way to gaining a lot of that weight back."

LeBron James Should Leave Ohio Alone

Just when we thought it was over...The news that James has joined the Heat has now sunk in, Dan Gilbert's letter has been criticized almost as much as LeBron's hour long decision special, and every person who even casually follows the NBA has offered an opinion on James and Gilbert. Yet, the saga continues.
James took out a full page ad in the Akron Beacon Journal to thank the people of Akron for their support, and post photos of himself participating in various charitable events in the city. It seems like the ad was to not only remind the people of Akron of all the good times the two shared, but to notify them that he will be participating in a bike-a-thon event taking place Saturday.
I haven't seen the ad, but some may have a problem with a player taking out a full page ad to post pictures of themselves doing charity work. The motive seems unclear there. Anyway, if the ad is indeed to notify Akron that he will be participating in an event Saturday, then we can hardly criticize James for that.
There is a bit of problem though. While James thanked the city of Akron, he made no mention of Cleveland. Is he obligated to thank the city of Cleveland? No, although it would be nice after the nationally televised slap in the face. The ad also appeared in an Akron newspaper, so it only seems natural James would address Akron and not Cleveland.
The problem lies in the fact that many have interpreted this ad to be another shot at Cleveland. Rather than thank the city in which he played, he thanks his hometown, and leaves Cleveland out to dry--again. However, it should be noted James didn't mention Cleveland at all, so any perceived jab at the city is the result of the reader's interpretation.
I'm not going to speculate about James' motives, but I will say that this was bad timing, and once again, over the top. Does this guy not know how to make announcements in a normal way?
My first instinct was to think James was trying to taunt Cleveland with this ad. He didn't appreciate the way Cleveland has reacted to his decision, so he decided to disrespect them in a round-about way. But then I remembered the type of people who have been advising him.
It's conceivable to think that this was a simple thank you to the city of Akron, and had nothing to do with Cleveland. However, anyone in the right mind would realize that thanking Akron and refusing to acknowledge Cleveland, especially considering the circumstances, wouldn't come off well.
But we all thought "The Decision" wouldn't make James look good, right? James' advisers let him go through with that, so why should it be a surprise that they left him go through with this letter?
Amazingly, James was starting to catch a break because of the way Cavs owner Dan Gilbert reacted to his departure. People criticized Gilbert's letter for being immature and unprofessional. He also surely hurt the Cavs chances of landing a prized free agent in the near future, if this is how he plans to react if and when they leave.
I think people were starting to realize that James being a free agent meant just that. He was free to make whichever decision he wanted. Although the anger that came with his decision to leave Cleveland was warranted, the fact that he did was his decision, and his alone.
My recommendation to LeBron would be to leave all things Ohio alone for a while. Whether it be his opinion on the Buckeyes or a charity event he's participating in, let those things be known in the quietest way possible. James has already dug himself into a hole he can't climb out of. Anything he does or says Ohio-related will be perceived as a shot towards the Cavs and the city of Cleveland.
He'll have the opportunity to visit Cleveland on December 2nd. On that date, he can let his play do the talking.