Basketball’s Mount Rushmore is under construction: Who is on yours?

It has been a lot of talk about LeBron James’ “Mount Rushmore” of basketball, and after great discussion it is obviously a difficult task or basically impossible to name only four greats. Since they say that everyone is entitled to their opinion, I have decided to give it a shot! I am basing my Mt. Rushmore off of players that simply changed the game and has made an impact on and off the court.

1. Michael Jordan-It is well known in basketball that Michael Jordan is the best basketball player off all time just for the simple fact that he was a winner and his off the court marketability still impacts us today.  MJ was the type of player that would turn his weaknesses into strengths.  I was not even born when Michael Jordan and the Bulls could not get past the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs, but as a huge fan of the sport, I did my own personal research on great basketball events.  For those who do not know, Michael Jordan was getting beat up the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons due to a scheme called the “Jordan Rules”.  This meant that multiple players would be responsible to know where Michael was at all times, and if and when he drove to the basket, give him a hard foul.  So Michael Jordan being the competitor that he is, started lifting weights in the off-season to add a little bulk to his frame in order to take the punishment that the Pistons were dishing out.  As we all know he defeated the “Bad Boys” and six NBA Championships later, the rest is history. Off the court, according to Forbes Michael Jordan makes an estimated $80 million a year!  Just look around you, I can almost guarantee that you see someone wearing the Jordan brand just about everyday.  It has transcended into pop culture which is why re-releases of his shoes can sell out in hours of the stores opening.  Michael Jordan belongs on the Mount Rushmore of basketball.

2.) Erving “Magic” Johnson– The 6’9 all purpose player who was apart of the famous “Show Time Lakers” back in the 80’s.  He is predominantly known for his magician like passes that he dished out to his team mates running the open floor.  In today’s game it is very common to see a taller player who can shoot, pass, and have point guard ball handling ability but back then as crazy as it sounds; big men played in the post.  “Magic” Johnson was one of the first superstar players who could score, rebound, and of course get everyone involved by putting up high assists totals.  As a rookie in the 1980 NBA Finals, Johnson started the game at the Center position in Game 6 of the finals due to Kareem Abdul-Jabar not making the trip due to an ankle injury.  It is considered one of his most outstanding games as he poured in 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.  Needless to say, “Magic” changed the outlook of how big men approach the game by making it “cool” to be a finesse player.  In today’s game you can see the results in a Kevin Durant, or LeBron James who are taller players or big men who has an outside game.  “Magic” Johnson deserves a place on the Mt. Rushmore of basketball.

3. Shaquille O’neal-Where do I begin with Shaq?!  I believe that he was one of the the most dominating basketball players of all time. Coming out of college Shaq was a tall lanky kid who had high potential but I am not sure if people knew he would be the dominant figure that he turned out to be.  Throughout his career he made a living in the post by backing down defenders and dunking over the top of them.  O’neal had really good footwork for a man his size and could give you a quick shake of the shoulders and blow by you with one dribble for the flush.  One of my favorite movies from my childhood would have to be “Kazaam” which starred up and coming superstar Shaquille O’neal as a genie who is comes from a boom box to grant a young kid three wishes.  Off the court O’neal was solidifying his status, but on the court it was not until he joined forces with Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers as would he win three consecutive the NBA titles and cement his place in basketball history.  He would later win his fourth title when he joined Dwayne Wade on the Miami Heat and quieted the talks of him not being able to win without his sidekick Kobe Bryant.  Shaquille O’neal will definitely be a Hall of Fame in the near future and of course Mt. Rushmore.

4. Julius “Dr. J” Erving– Many people forget about the impact of “Dr. J” because he ended his career many years ago, but it was him who pretty much saved the NBA.  At the time the NBA was a league that was a predominately white league and tit was not as popular as it is today.  There was also another basketball league that was going on called the American Basketball Association (ABA) where Julius Erving first got his start.  His style of play was based on athleticism, power and finesse which was very uncommon to those watching the sport.  Basketball was played “by the book” with lay ups and jump shots.  What Dr. J brought to the game was paramount and uncommon during that era.  The dunk was one of his signatures because he could palm the ball and do whatever he wanted to in the air.  He is most remembered for his dunk from the free throw line in the dunk contest.  It is now a common finisher for those who are looking to impress the judges for the perfect score.  With his smooth and mythical persona, “Dr. J” was named by Sports Illustrated as one of the most important athletes of all time.  When the “Doctor” was in the building you knew you were going to see something that you haven’t before, making him eligible for basketball’s Mount Rushmore.

I understand that there are many players that are left out on this list but it is my opinion.  I am curious to see what lists you all come up with. Comment and let me know who you would have on your “Mount Rushmore”.

Getting Offensive: 2014 NBA All-Star game recap

I know it has been a while since I have posted a story but the hiatus is over and I am back to keeping you updated on whats going on in the world of sports.  

Last night capped off a great weekend down in New Orleans where the best and the brightest stars competed in the 63rd NBA All-Star Game.  The headliners were 10 time All-Star LeBron James for the East, and five time All-Star Kevin Durant for the West, but it was the young superstar Kyrie Irving who stole the show and walked away with MVP honors.  Irving finished the night with 31 points, 14 assists and five rebounds.  He caught fire after halftime as he racked up 24 points in the second half alone.  

There were many headlines to speak of as it was a record setting night in many categories.  For instance the most points ever scored in an NBA All Star game record was broken last night with a combined score of 318 points. The previous record was 303 points in the 1987 All Star game.  Many people are arguing that this record fell as a result of the lack of defense that is typically played during the “best pick up game” in the world.

In my humble opinion I thought that the game was very entertaining and I believe that is what people want to see.  A high scoring game with flashy passes, big time dunks from the best players in the league is whats puts fans in the stands.  Carmelo Anthony broke the record for most 3 point field goals made in an All Star game with eight and Blake Griffin was just shy of breaking Wilt Chamberlains scoring record of 42 as he scored 38 points.Even though most of Blake’s points came by dunks, his game has evolved tremendously. In the off-season he has improved on his all around game and is not solely a freak athlete who just lives above the rim.  Griffin has added a mid-range game and more polished post game which is bad news for the rest of the league.

All in all the game was a success.  It illustrated that the league does not have to worry about the up and coming talent pool after the current stars retire.  With Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Blake Griffin still “pre-prime”, there is no doubt that there is great basketball performances still to come.

ESPY’s Honest!!! Recap of the 2013 ESPY Awards

It was a night to remember where athletes and teams were in attendance to recapture sports moments from the past year.  The MC of the event was the Golden Globe award winning actor Jon Hamm who made the evening fun and comical with jokes here and there about your favorite sports figures.

Many athletes were nominated for various awards from Best Male and Female Athlete, Best Moment and Best Comeback etc..  As it can already be assumed that the Miami Heat’s LeBron James was not a stranger to taking the stage as he received three individual awards (Best Male Athlete, Best Championship Performance and Best NBA player) to go along with two other team awards. But if you were to ask him about his most memorable moment during the night, he would probably say that it was presenting the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to the veteran television broadcaster Robin Roberts.

It has been well documented that Robin Roberts has survived two life threatening illnesses of cancer as well as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).  She was given a standing ovation from the adoring crowd as she took the stage to receive her award.  Robin mentioned that she is very thankful for the love showed from friends, fans and family who expressed their support during her time of need.  It was as if the world stopped and listened to the strong woman who has taken center stage as a spokesperson for cancer survivors after making her battle public.

She went on to mention the many people who are prime examples of courage who fight against similar struggles everyday when Roberts said, “I draw strength from you, you give me the courage to face down any challenge to know that when fears knock; let faith open the door.”  It was a historic moment in her life as well as the sports world as the 20th annual ESPY awards came to a close as the Miami Heat received the Best Team Award as voted by the fans throughout the night.  Adrian Peterson walked away with a couple of awards himself (Best Comeback and Best NFL Player) among many other well deserving individuals in attendance.  We all will have to wait and see what spectacular moments will take the spotlight in the 2014 ESPY awards. 

Dwight Howard introduced as a Houston Rocket

Dwight Howard has officially signed a 4 year $88 million contract today with the Houston Rockets.  Former Rockets such as Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler gathered at the press conference in Houston in support of the newly acquired Center.

Howard answered questions from the media as he seemed excited about starting fresh with his new team.  It was widely speculated that Howard would return to the Los Angeles Lakers and sign a $118 million extension with the team, but he had other plans.  He mentioned that new teammate Chandler Parsons should receive a lot of the credit for blowing up his phone daily.

During the “wooing” of Howard by multiple NBA teams, he mentioned that he was in Aspen and prayed to God for a sign of what team to join.  Dwight went on to say that while in Aspen, he came in contact with numerous people who were from Houston encouraging him to sign with the Rockets and he took that as confirmation.

Now fast forward to present day and what does the signing of Howard mean for the Rockets and the rest of the league.  It can be argued that the Rockets are one of the favorites to be contenders this upcoming season for a NBA title, but not everyone is jumping on the bandwagon just yet.  The decision to join the Rockets was not well received by everyone as Shaq was very vocal about his feelings about Howard’s move when he said, ” We’ve all been in L.A., and not a whole lot of people can handle being under the bright lights. Everybody wants to do it, but when you get there, there are certain pressures. I think it was a safe move for him to go to a little town like Houston. That’s right, little town. I said it.” Shaq is clearly not a big fan of the move but appears not to be convinced that the Rockets are now a threat.

Time will tell if the hype is well deserved for the new-look Houston Rockets and they set out to challenge the league for basketball supremacy.  One thing that can be obvious is that they should be able to give the back-to-back champion Miami Heat trouble due to their overwhelming size on their roster.  The Rockets expect to go deeper in the playoffs next season after being eliminated in the first round by the Oklahoma City Thunder.  The 2013-2014 schedule has not yet be released but it can be assumed that everyone will be glued to television for their first game.

Tim Tebow signs with New England Patriots

Breaking News broke just shortly after 5pm eastern standard time, that Tim Tebow signed with the New England Patriots and is expected to be in mini camp on Tuesday.

The Patriots are known for their no nonsense style of organization, and it will be very interesting to watch how they will handle the media circus that follows Tebow.  After being cut this offseason by the New York Jets, it was almost certain that Tim Tebow’s NFL career was all but over as many teams were not willing to take a chance on the former Heisman winner.  Unless something tragic happens to Tom Brady, it is obvious that he will be the starting Quarterback for the Patriots going into the 2013 season, but where does that leave backup Ryan Mallett?

Tim Tebow has been scrutinized about his below average throwing arm all throughout his career and it was evident that he was not worthy of being a starter last season as he received limited snaps.  Although it is very cliche for NFL Head Coaches to say to the media that “every player has a chance to compete for the job,” backup Ryan Mallett should not have anything to worry about with Tebow now on the roster.  In 2012, he combined for a total of 39 yards off of six completions last year as a backup to Mark Sanchez.  Tebow played multiple positions in New York; even playing a bit of Special Teams as a Punt Protector.

Reports have surfaced that the Patriots have signed him strictly as a Quarterback which is his true position and this news has to be a relief to Tim.  This has to be the perfect situation for him, as he has the opportunity to learn from arguably one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history and one of the best coaches of this century.  If anyone can handle to media tirade that will take place once he arrives in Foxboro, MA for mini camp it is Bill Belichick, so he has nothing to worry about in that area.  This Breaking News has shook up the league for the time being but we will all have a front row seat for “Tebow Time” at least for the Pre-Season.  Make sure you tune in on September 12, as the New England Patriots take on the New York Jets at home for a Thursday night matchup.

 

Better shutdown corner? Revis or Sherman?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3G0WEDw_K4

The Seattle Seahawks All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman is known for getting under the skin of his opponents due to his effective trash talk on the field.  He has openly voiced his opinion as the best “Shutdown Corner” in the NFL, however some disagree with his claims.  On the other hand, Darrelle Revis has been considered the best cornerback in the game today even though he suffered a major injury that would ultimately ended his season.  After a spectacular year in 2012, does Sherman actually have the game to back up his talk?  It can be argued that people have forgotten about the seasoned veteran Revis because he missed last season, so I will compare the two DB’s best season.

According the “hawkblogger.com” this is how the two cornerbacks fared against each other in the categories below:

As you can see Revis was targeted 85 times in 2011, and only 35 times the pass was caught by the receiver.  Although Sherman was targeted more often and gave up more receptions last year, he forced more turnovers than Revis with eight interceptions in 2012.  Both players are very close statistically when you analyze the numbers presented above and it is almost like splitting hairs.  

The fact of the matter is that Darrelle Revis was injured during last season, which means that somebody must assume the throne of “Best Cornerback of the NFL” right?!  Sherman stepped up to the plate and produced on the field and backed up the smack he talks on  social media as well.  As for Revis who was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason, time will only tell if he can return to the top of his game that we are used to since he entered the league.

Will Chip Kelly’s Offense Work In the NFL?

On January 16, 2013 the Philadelphia Eagles made headlines as they signed former Oregon Ducks offensive genius Chip Kelly.  Kelly has made a name among one of college football’s top coaches because of his face paced, high octane spread offense that he created while at Oregon.  When news surfaced that he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, people began to speculate whether or not if that type of offense would work in the NFL, due to the time and preparation that opposing coaches would have to prepare for the intricate offense.

I believe the offensive scheme will work, but there will be some changes to the scheme because of the limited roster space comparative to the size at the collegiate level.  For the skeptics that believe that Chip Kelly’s offense will not work in the pros, they need to look at the productivity that Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, and the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers had as they shredded defenses throughout the 2012 season.  Just a reminder, people also believed RG III would struggle in the NFL because of his lack of experience under center during his career at Baylor.  He finished last season with Rookie of the Year Honors and a playoff birth as he used a college style offense in all but three games last year.

Chip Kelly will have his share of bumps and bruises initially as he makes the transition to the NFL, but ultimately the Philadelphia Eagles offense will be noticeably better than last years 29th ranked offense in points per game.  With new additions with to their roster, Coach Kelly and the Eagles are expected to make noise in the playoffs after being absent for the past few years.  Just sit back, and get used to watching the fastest offense in NFL history.

Is There Such Thing As Luck?!

“Shallow men believe in luck.  Strong men believe in cause and effect”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have had many discussions with people on whether or not if there is such a thing as “Luck”.  Don’t get me wrong I used to believe that luck really did exist when I was growing up, but I also believed in the Tooth Fairy & Santa Claus as well.

I strongly feel that people confuse “luck” with “chance”, and they don’t separate the two.  For instance, if someone turns around from half court and heaves the basketball towards the rim and makes it, most people would say, “that was luck!!”  I would say that they did everything correctly for the ball to go into the hoop.  Now the “chances” of that shot going in is very rare, which is where the term “luck” comes into play.

As and athlete I understand that hard work does not come easy, and those who are successful have prepared for that situation.  Michael Jordan is arguably one of the most “clutch” players in NBA history for the countless game winning shots he made in his career.  Due to the fact that he practiced those situations physically and mentally before games, the “chances” of him making the buzzer beater increase tremendously due to the preparation. 

Essentially, I argue that “luck” is a state of mind and it gives people a term to explain what just happened.  Although, there are many skeptics who still believe that there is such thing, I hope I have opened some eyes and minds to a new understanding.

What Makes Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide So Successful?

ROLL TIDE!!! It is exactly what the Crimson Tide have been doing to their competition over the past few seasons.  Nick Saban and the Alabama football team has won three championships over the past four years, and does not seem to be slowing down just yet.  Saban’s “genius” does not just take place on the field, but it is he and his staff’s diligent work off the field, that is the secret to success.

The Crimson Tide once again has the number one recruiting class for the 2013 season, as they have commits from multiple five star athletes that look to make an immediate impact on the field.  Saban has a proven method that develops great student athletes while in college, and they later produce at the professional level.  It is obvious why talented high school athletes from around the country sign with Alabama in hopes of being crowned National Champions at the end of the year.  It’s common to see a five star athlete red-shirt his first year on campus, because the talent pool of the Crimson Tide is so tremendous that he may not see any action as a true freshman.

Clearly Saban is doing something right down in Tuscaloosa that has experts wondering what is in the water down there.  Just take a look at the recruiting class over the past few seasons and it will explain the reason Alabama ranks at the top five of the National rankings every year.  The 2013 college football season will have a lot of surprises but one thing for sure is that Bama will be in the hunt for yet another National Championship at the end of the year.

Fountain of Youth

 

Tim Duncan and the veteran Spurs have had their share of playoff experience and it is very evident compared to the Grizzlies that they are being outmatched.  After having a All-Star worthy performance in the last round of the playoffs, Zach Randolph has not been as effective against the Spurs front court.  At age 37, Duncan has led his team in two consecutive overtime games to take a 3-0 advantage for the series.  After the game Timmy said that he is “just here to play basketball” and from the looks of things age really doesn’t matter to him at this point.  We will see if the Spurs can sweep the Grizz and rest their legs as they await the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals.  Lets see if Duncan can reach into his bag of tricks once again.