SportsNetUSA Blogs

Finally, the process has come to an end.  A negotiating process that lasted just a little over a month which ends with Lamar Odom returning to the Lakers. 
 
Its still hard to digest how this whole thing played itself out. In the end, Odom really wanted to return to the Lakers and have the possibility to play for another championship.  Of course, we all thought the Lakers were L.O’s first choice.  I don’t think anyone could have envisioned a negotiating process that lasted pretty much the entire month of July!  So why on earth did it take so long for the “inevitable” to happen? 
 
Most people feel the ball was clearly in L.O.’s court.  On the surface it appears the Lakers needed Odom far more than he needed LA.  The Champs had a very good PLAN B for the Trevor Ariza situation in Ron Artest.  But what was the alternative to not signing Odom?  Of course there’s always Ike Diogu, but then he eventually agreed to a deal with the Hornets.  Which opens up another set of questions:  if no L.O., which void do you try to fill?  Do you go after a power forward if you’re Mitch Kupchak?  Do you go with a small forward?  The fact of the matter is Lamar Odom walks into the gym and is instantly a mismatch.  Irreplaceable? Of course there were plenty of 6-10 players who can handle like a guard, shoot from the outside, and defend the majority of 3’s, 4’s and 5’s in the league on the market for the Lakers had L.O. bolted for South Beach. 
 
From the 305, there was a late push from Heat G Dwyane Wade and President Pat Riley.  The duo came here to Los Angeles to meet with Odom to assure of him of some of the things most important to him:  a starting role, more money throughout the duration of the contract, and of course, no state taxes.  Pat Riley is a huge proponent of Odom and desparately wanted to get him back in Miami. 
 
Amongst other things Odom consistently spoke about how “the strength of our team is our depth.”  That depth bolstered by Odom operating as the team’s 6th man.  Had Odom left, the depth would have been a serious question.  Ask any Laker fan out there would they have swapped Odom and Ariza in exchange for Artest prior to free agency and I’m pretty sure no one takes that ride. 
 
While the ball appeared to be in L.O.’s court, make no mistake about who’s calling the shots here in Los Angeles.  Dr. Buss didn’t budge.  There were two offers originally given, a 3-year $30 million offer and a 4-year $36 million offer, never to return again once Lamar decided to “big time” the owner.  Instead, Dr. Buss stood strong offering less, given Odom a 4-year $33 million deal with a club option for the 4th year.  Take it or leave it.  Odom, of course, takes it and returns to make the Lakers an early favorite to repeat in 2010. 
 
It appeared bleek, but both parties finished strong. What the Lakers get is a sixth man, that any club in the league, minus the Spurs, would want to have.  They also get a player that posted the 2nd highest plus-minus rating amongst all NBA players last season in Odom (+693), only behind LeBron James.  L.O. also led the playoffs with a +167 plus-minus rating in the playoffs.  Despite coming off the bench, he was the Lakers third-leading scorer in the playoffs, only behind Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. 
 
Reunited with Kobe, Phil and also childhood friend Artest, perhaps once again, we can hear Odom proclaim so well how “the strength of our team is our depth.”

23 months in prison, three years probation (FEDERAL) following release.

Fine and prison time suspended upon condition of good behavior for 4 years beginning November 2008.(Virginia).

Convicted of Federal Conspiracy in interstate commerce/aid of unlawful animal fighting Title18(USC),Section 371, Felony dog fighting

If this was one of our friends, family member or some other regular person like us they would have thrown away the key and made us do our time. There would be no suspended sentence or early release for good behavior. I can tell you, or you could probably tell me, stories of people who have done less as a criminal but spent more time in prison. Why?? They were not Michael Vick.

So I found it confusing as I sat with three bright young men and listened to two out of the three tell me that Michael Vick had paid his dues to society and that the NFL was wrongly persecuting this young man because of the one mistake he had made in his life… Wait one mistake!?!? Let’s take a look:

·         In 2001, the first whispers about Michael Vick and dog fighting were talked about in the local newspaper.

·         In 2004, two men were arrested for transporting marijuana using a truck registered to Michael Vick.

·         October 2004, an incident at Hartsfield Airport where a possible theft took place with associates of Michael Vick. Michael Vick, through his representatives, refuses to offer any assistance to any authorities.

·         In March2005, Sonya Elliot filed a lawsuit against Michael Vick because she contracted the disease genital herpes from Michael Vick. Vick had never informed her that he knowingly had the disease.

·         November 2006, after a game Vick told the Atlanta fan’s they were number 1 with each hand.

·         January 2007, Michael decided that water bottles could be used for much more than drinking water.

·         Sept 2007, while Michael was FREE on Bail, Michael failed multiple drugs test for the use of marijuana

Plus let us  look at all the charitable contributions that Michael Vick made to those young people who looked up to him and came from the same sort of economic and family situation that Michael himself came from. Michael Vick had two foundations, the Michael Vick Foundation and the Vick Foundation. The 2006 tax records for the Michael Vick foundation showed that Michael’s group supplied 100 backpacks to the poor children of Newport News and paid for an after school program but during that time it is stated that the foundation itself only used 12% of its funds for the purpose it was created for and that the other 88% was used for personal gain by the rest of the organization. Michael scheduled other charitable projects and in some cases the money went to the appropriate individuals, but all future charitable projects came to a halt or were postponed because of Michael’s behavior and actions on and off the football field.

Not only did Michael Vick take advantage of those who truly needed his help, but what about those who supported Michael Vick financial and emotionally throughout his early years? Joel Enterprises is owed more than 4.6 million dollars, almost 2 million dollars in back taxes, 3 million dollars owed to Reamon, more money owed on properties never paid for and as the bankruptcy judge said to Michael Vick “Your plan and comprehension of how to get yourself out of dept makes no sense.” So for those who thought they had helped a promising young star in the NFL they found that they had helped someone who had not thought of helping them. Let us not even cry for Nike , Coca Cola, Powerade, Kraft, Hasbro ,Rawlings, etc.

So who are the victims of a truly tragic story?? Let us get one thing straight, it is not the multi-talented, one time multi-millionaire, Michael Vick.

It is a community of loyal fans and believers that were let down by the sports hero they believed in , that young man that broke records at Warwick high school, then on to Virginia Tech where he lead the Hokies to an 11-0 season and played for the National championship against Florida State. The first African American quarterback drafted number one, a man who still to this day owns several NFL records.

It was Michael Vick that turned the table on his fans, it was Michael Vick that said to sponsors image doesn’t matter, it was Michael Vick who said Charity, uh okay, it was Michael Vick who brushed it off as only being a dog’s life. I guess it was best said by the head of PETA, “Saying sorry and getting his ball back after being caught enjoying  killing dogs in hideously cruel ways doesn’t cut it”

So for now commissioner Goodell has an obligation to all of us, to fans, to children, to those who idealize sports figures …..to paraphrase a saying “Mike if you can’t do the NFL no prime time, you should  not have done the crime.

“OLD IS HAVING LIVED OR BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR A LONG TIME” , “FAMILIAR OR KNOWN FROM THE PAST”, “HAVING HAD LONG EXPERIENCE OR PRACTICE/ UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS”.

What a beautiful thought it is getting old, you have beaten the odds, you missed that dirt nap that was scheduled for you years ago. Praise age …..Yeah I say that because I grew up with Babe Ruth(not really),Bart Star, Roberto Clemente, Arnold Palmer, Elgin Baylor, Rod Laver and so on and so forth. Yes I have been blessed to see some of the all time greats. But I can also remember watching some of the more painful experiences as a fan, watching Willie Mays falling as a “Met”, Arnold Palmer not hitting the ball much better than my golf group and seeing boxer after boxer getting beat up by bums they use to destroy.

There are the exceptions and depending on what sport it is, the exception could be larger than life as it was this year with Tom Watson and the British Open, remarkable for a man who is almost sixty.

But that was the exception. People will most likely ask me why take away a chance from an older person if they want to participate and can contribute? Again I will state that there are exceptions, our politicians are asked to start at an older age and we allow them to stay until ….bad example, Supreme court judges are in their jobs until, death …okay another bad example … the greeter at…

That’s right we view age in everyday life as “god I hope I don’t get that old” or “please, do not let me stay in that job forever”, So Brett it is time for you to go!!!!!!

That’s right ANOTHER PACKER FAN telling Brett hang it up baby it is time to be a good soldier and call it quits. No it is not that Brett will make another comeback in a different color uniform and embarrass the GREEN BAY PACKERS. It is that a great Green Bay Packer will come back and embarrass himself.

We as fans have the habit of remembering the last pitch, putt, pass, missed shot, 143 batting average, the injury that ended their old career. WE will talk about when they were younger or say things like, “five years ago he could have hit that open receiver” or “do you remember when …..”. We all do it; we remember our heroes’ youth and what they were capable of, as fans we live in the past.

Brett let us remember the gun slinging quarterback who trudged his way onto the field when the Magic Man could no longer go for the treasured Green Bay Packers. That youthful clean shaven face that showed all  your boy like qualities that you have carried thru out the game of football. Let us count the countless “No, no, don’t throw it” statements and wondered why Marc Brunnell sat on the side lines while you played. Let ME remember as a second generation Packer fan who loved Bart Starr, that now my son a third generation PACKER Fan had his hero to root for during good and bad games.  Those memories of looking at people who wore the cheese because of the Packers and you. Memories of the glory days from the past, present and past.

Brett we all have our days in the sun, for some of us it is only a second for others it is a little longer but for you it was most of your adult life and in all your glory, your splendor, your joy, your enthusiasm and love for the game it is time to say good bye. Look at what you have done, please just say goodbye.

FROM THE PACKER WEBSITE:

A certain first-ballot Hall

of Famer, Brett Favre in

2007 completed his 16th

and final season in his adopted city of Green Bay with

one of the most memorable years in his storied career…

Among the most exciting players in pro football annals

ever to line up at quarterback, Favre, with 17 NFL seasons

to his credit, stands as one of the game’s most productive

signal callers…In announcing his retirement in a formal

press conference at Lambeau Field on March 6, 2008,

Favre said, “I’ve given everything I possibly can give to

this organization, to the game of football, and I don’t

think I’ve got anything left to give, and that’s it,” and

his accomplishments certainly bear that out…He leaves

as the league’s all-time leader in virtually every significant

passing category – touchdowns (442), completions

(5,377), attempts (8,758) and yards (61,655), all previously

held by the prolific Dan Marino…With 160 victories

as quarterback, ranks first all-time, having surpassed

John Elway (148) last in 2007…Celebrated even more

than his prodigious numbers is his legendary durability…

Upon taking over the reins as the Green and Gold’s signal

caller Sept. 20, 1992, started the ensuing 253 contests

(275 including playoffs), a record for NFL quarterbacks

and, astoundingly, the second-longest recorded streak

in league annals…During 16 campaigns under center for

Green Bay, led Packers to 11 postseason appearances,

including seven division crowns, four NFC Championship

Games, two Super Bowls and a World Championship

with a victory in Super Bowl XXXI…The former Southern

Mississippi leader’s success has been partially attributed

to a commanding knowledge of his offense, astute observation

of countless defenses designed to stop him and

physical ability – especially renowned arm strength…But

his legacy transcends the passes, the touchdowns and the

statistics: the inspiring leader will go down as one of the

most beloved players of his generation…The swashbuckling

Southerner embodies the heart of America’s favorite

game…Stands as one of the most respected players

among his peers and coaches, as well.

Women’s basketball is entertaining. Women’s basketball features great athletes. Both the college and the WNBA specifically, feature different qualities that make their play respected. The differences between male players and female players as some sports fans believe are not negatives pertaining to the females. Simply because every player cannot dunk does not mean the play is sloppy, many sports fans do not acknowledge women as true basketball players and argue that their athleticism is inferior to male ball players.

We don’t compare male and female track athletes; we don’t say Jackie Joyner-Kersee is not a phenomenal athlete. So why are basketball standards different and say the WNBA is inferior? Not everyone in the NBA or on a male college team can dunk. I simply want to acknowledge and stand-up to the ridicule some of my male colleagues who disparage the women’s game and tell them; don’t be upset that a woman can outplay you. Because when you break it down, this jealousy and the patriarchal society we live, prevents us from appreciating great skills and a great game. I will point at the male fans and male sports media in particular because we are the majority that calls sports radio. I focus on basketball because first, it is probably my favorite sport and second, we are in the midst of the WNBA season. Last but not least, the women’s game simply does not get the respect it deserves and this is why.

The likes of Candace Parker, Lauren Jackson, Lisa Leslie’s basketball skills, as well as other players, put a dent in the masculine monolith of basketball. Basketball represents masculinity through semiotic imagery and well-chiseled physiques and powerful illustrations of jumping, endurance, aggressiveness, and competitiveness. These are not the classic images of a woman. Women displaying such attributes are considered a freak of nature because these are not the definitions of a “lady”. Definition of lady: “a woman who is refined and polite, of proper behavior.” The opposite of what is basketball imagery. Those attributes also hindered arguably the greatest college basketball player (male or female) ever, Cheryl Miller, in the recognition she deserved. She is considered one of the greatest women’s players but in reality, she is top 5 all-time player (male or female).

Recognition brings me to sports radio. With “knowledgeable” broadcasters such as Mychal Thompson and a whole host of other “experts”, and I use the term “knowledgeable” broadcaster for Mychal Thompson very loosely, said that a high-school varsity boy’s team could beat a professional woman’s team or the Olympic team is wrong in my opinion. He and others also say that the WNBA isn’t important and not actually legit because female players are inferior to male players and the female players need to be attractive in order to get the sport promoted. These attitudes are not from an informed perspective. Women and men are different as I stated before, we need to appreciate not degrade. Besides if we went on looks, we wouldn’t appreciate many NBA superstars. You give me a squad with Parker, Jackson, Leslie, Maya Moore, Tamika Catchings and I’ll take that team to the gym or playground and play anybody.

The WNBA and women’s college basketball in recent years has grown in popularity without much support of sports radio. It has grown because the game is not inferior nor sloppy nor lackluster. The game has grown because the players have quality skills. These athletes are not “horses” as some pundits continually regurgitate to show their misogynic attitudes, these female basketball players are ankle-breaking point-guards and in certain cases, slam dunk champs who deserve respect and appreciation for their skills

Francisco Rodriguez wants us to believe that before last year, he was just a wide eyed kid, living his dream in the majors, not a care in the world. Then big bad Reagins and Moreno took his innocence, leaving him a sobbing victim of the cruel “business side” of baseball. Come on K-Rod, you can’t possibly expect us to believe that. You have always been about the money. I truly believe that Rodriguez wanted to stay an Angel, and he may have, but there were 3 embarrassing moments for him that kept him from re-signing.

Everyone knew that the 2008 season with the Angels was Rodriguez’s last. Why? Because he said so before spring training even started! In February of 2008 he told Bill Plunkett of the O.C. Register that this was probably his last year, and to add insult to injury, he blamed the Angels. “If they wanted me here, they would have done something a long time ago.” You mean like offer a 3 year $34 million deal? Oh wait. They did offer that. That offer was shot down by Rodriguez and they went to arbitration. Rodriguez wanted $12.5 million but the Angels won and only gave him $10 million for 2008. Having the league back up the Angels was embarrassing moment #1.

When Mariano Rivera got a 3 year $45 million deal from the Yankees and Francisco Cordero (not as qualified as Rodriguez) got a 4 year $46 million deal from the Reds, Rodriguez’s eyes lit up like a police car in an L.A. riot. Cha-ching! Dolla’ dolla’ bills y’all! Rodriguez decided to spin the wheel o’ fortune known as free agency and see what came up. There is only one problem with that logic. The Yankees can afford to throw that kind of money around, especially at a homegrown talent, and the Reds, well they can’t afford it, but that team is a mess anyways. So when it came his turn to get paid, Rodriguez got no love. No one wanted to offer him the 5 year $75 million deal that he thought he deserved. The closest anyone came was the N.Y. Mets at 3 years $37 million. Kind of close to what the Angels offered, isn’t it? Finding out the Angels were right on with their offer was embarrassing moment #2

The straw that broke the camels back was actually something that Rodriguez could have controlled–his ego. He was thinking that when the offers started to roll in the Angels would realize their mistake and give him what he wanted. One thing he didn’t account for was the acquisition of Mark Teixeira at the trading dead line. That made Teixeira priority number 1, not Rodriguez. He could not believe that they would place Teixeira over him, but everyone knew that the Angels needed a bat more than a pitcher. When the Angels let him know that he made up his mind to leave, even if it was for only $3 million. “I was in their plans, but right now their priority was to sign Tex.” Having his ego punched in the face, and put in it’s place was embarrassing moment # 3.

Rodriguez is bitter at the situation, and he knows that baseball is a business at this level. When he tried to play the money game he got burned. It happens, ask Trevor Ariza, but when it does you suck it up and you let it go.

Nike’s much ballyhooed and equally lambasted SQ Sumo2 driver ($480) is leading the charge into the engineering breach, pushing the limits of golf equipment. This behemoth club’s size (460c), shape (square) and moment of inertia (or MOI; nearing 5,900 g-cm2) are all pushing the USGA’s specified limits on design.

WOW, the world of technology, the advancement of sports, bigger, better, faster. Yet does one ever wonder if it is technology that makes the athlete better or has the athlete become so good that no matter what the level of the technology he would be superior to the athletes of yesteryear?

Just think of playing football in the 1960’s, Sam Huff, Jim Brown both wearing flak jackets and the latest GPS device that measures impact on a tackle. I am sure they would get up after a rough and tumble play and start conversing about the numbers on their impact meters and how the levels exceed suggested impact levels on a open field tackle.

The talk during this last Wimbledon was how the better players in the world were reducing the size of their rackets. They were scaling back down to the days of Jimmy Connors and Arthur Ashe. Even John McEnroe has said on numerous occasions he would love to see players have to go back to the same standard size rackets that he, Connors, Laver and others in the past had to play with on a competitive level.

At our last U.S. Open in golf many questioned not the difficulty of the golf course, but the fact that the majority of professional golfers can no longer hit a 1, 2, or 3 iron if they had to save their lives. Tiger, Jack, Arnold and especially Gary Player have suggested that the USGA needs to look at where technology is taking the game of golf.

As for the great National past time, people decided to use technology, it was called medical technology (steroids) and for some reason the sport of baseball turned their back on this technology after a period of time. Many believe that this technology was delivering a cluttered message that said “how do you look at a participant in a sport and compare them to the hero’s of the past if there is not somewhat of a level playing field for comparisons.”

Yes, sport after sport accepts technology to hopefully keep the game as entertaining as it was in the past. Plus the sporting world not only wants us as viewers of athletes on the world stage, but they also want us to feel as if we could play on the world stage. So advanced technology may not be so much for the games we view as it is for what we will buy to participate.

Does that mean I am against technology for safety reason? No ….nobody wants to see an athlete get hurt. But I do not want it used to mislead our attitudes about good athletes, not great athletes. You see I came from a sports era where every quarterback could be tackled, pitchers could brush back a hitter, tennis players could play at the net and golfers needed to know how to use every club in the bag.

Remember technology is a system that provides its members with those things desired not necessarily needed.

Can you name me 5 LPGA players, besides Lorena Ochoa, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Michelle Wie or Suzann Pettersen? How’d you do? Ok, you so you got Natalie Gulbis. Don’t worry if you failed, I’m a golf fan and I have a hard time doing it. So the question becomes why can’t we name more players from the LPGA like we can from the PGA.

Let’s start with the basics: newspaper coverage, television and the Internet.When was the last time you saw a story about the LPGA on the cover of the sports page (LPGA Commissioner Bivens about to get canned doesn’t count)? People still read newspapers and if you’re not getting ink about your product, who’s going to know about it?

Secondly, television has not been kind to the LPGA.When network television does cover tournaments we get 2 hours of coverage, except for majors. The PGA gets a mandatory 3 hours on Saturday and Sundays could get as much as 5 hours for final round play. Then you have the Golf Channel, who treats the LPGA like a red headed stepchild. The LPGA gets tape-delayed coverage a lot, due to the PGA getting live coverage, for the first 2 rounds of many tournaments. Sometimes they come on after the Nationwide Tour (minor league golf).

Then you have the LPGA website! It’s hard to navigate and very primitive when it comes to today’s technology used on websites. If you want to look at a successful website for golf then borrow some ideas from pgatour.com. I would love to see the LPGA promote women’s golf better and give the great women golf players out there better exposure. Let’s hear your ideas for the LPGA

So …now the talk is Trevor Ariza may go to Cleveland. Originally Ariza agreed to sign a 5-yr/$34 million deal with the Houston Rockets. Of course any agreement made since July 1 is only verbal because players aren’t officially allowed to sign contracts until Wednesday. Technically Ariza can change his mind and sign with the Cavs or any other team for that matter. Will he do it or not, remains to be seen. But, Cavs Coach Mike Brown and GM Danny Ferry are reportedly in Los Angeles today. Are they here to meet with Ariza?

Once the process started, I believed Cleveland could definitely use a player like Ariza. Their biggest issue was their lack of height to defend the length of the Orlando Magic, namely Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. The Cavs personnel was either, quick enough but not tall enough or tall enough and not quick enough. Ben Wallace was forced to guard Lewis at times, which didn’t work at all. Of course, here in Los Angeles we all saw the defensive job Ariza was able to do on Turkoglu and Co. in the Finals.

All this may seem like Trevor is confused, which he very well may be. It is my opinion that Trevor never intended to leave Los Angeles and he wanted to remain a Laker. This is home. He starred at Westchester High School before spending a year at UCA. Ariza was basically on his last stop in the NBA when Mitch Cupcake pulled the trigger on the trade to bring him to Los Angeles. Where, coincidentally, Ariza found an NBA home, at home. The Knicks thought he was an athletic kid that would never reach his potential. While Stan Van Gundy thought, he’d never have the jump shot to be able to fit into his system. Ironically it all came together for Ariza with the Lakers where Phil Jackson allowed his athletic prowess to shine through and gave him the confidence to shoot the ball. Ariza shot and shot well, at a 47% clip in the playoffs from beyond the arc.

When it was all said in done, Ariza scoffed at the Lakers’ original offer of $5.6 million per year. What seemed to me like a negotiating ploy, as Ariza entered free agency for the 1st time of his career. In comes Ron Artest, and for roughly $400k more per year, the Lakers get a bargain on an all-star and some much needed toughness. So long Trevor Ariza.

In the process of negotiating for a couple of more bucks, it came around to bite him in the end. Ariza got bad advice. Agent David Lee said it was never about the money. But in the end it was about squeezing a couple of more bucks out of the Lakers Dynasty. Make no mistake about it. It may not seem like much, but there is a big difference between $5.6 million in L.A. and $6.6 million in Houston. First, there are no state taxes in the state of Texas. That’s a big deal. Second, the difference in the cost of homes is not even close.

As a fan of the Lakers and a fan of Ariza, I really wanted to see him stay, and thought he would. Ariza and his camp said they were disrespected by the Lakers’ original offer. Well, the Lakers could easily say the same. The Lakers are an organization that gave Ariza a chance. If Ariza didn’t perform well in a Lakers uniform, his NBA career could have easily been done. Of course, he flourished during his time in the purple and gold, became a hot commodity. In the process, perceptions were drawn that he was larger than the organization that gave him arguably his last shot. As I mentioned earlier, I really don’t think his intentions were to leave L.A. but its just one of those things. Sometimes you play the game and you get burned. It definitely seems like this is what happened here. Best wishes to him wherever he lands. While it won’t be with the Lakers, two players we know will be donning the purple and gold will be Shannon Brown, who earlier today agreed to a 2-yr deal with the club and Ron Artest wearing the #37. A number Artest says would be worn as a tribute to Michael Jackson. Thirty-seven was the number of weeks Jackson’s “Thriller” album was #1.