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(08/11/11 3:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There was a time in the recent past when Tiger Woods’ presence at a major championship would cause even his stiffest competition to shake in his spikes. Dressed in his traditional red on Sundays, there was always a sense of finality — as in, we’re about to witness history because all these other poor souls have no chance. It was the most intimidating scene in sports, similar to Michael Jordan preening around a basketball court or Muhammad Ali entering the ring. Tiger could hit a tiny white ball better than anyone on the planet, but that wasn’t as impressive as the aura he created. Before an iron was struck, Woods was in every golfer’s head. But as he arrived at the Atlanta Athletic Club for “Glory’s Last Shot,” it’s clear that Tiger Woods has reached uncharted territory. For the first time, it felt like he had no shot. Sure, given his disintegrating personal life and troublesome injuries, it’s been a while since Woods was anything close to a certainty. But even at his least prepared, there was a lingering notion that maybe he would contend, at least.Not anymore. The guy who used to play Jedi mind tricks on major championship fields is now a prisoner of his own subconscious. The legendary Bobby Jones said, “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course... the space between your ears.”I vaguely remember the first time I heard those prophetic words of wisdom. My grandfather, who was my golf-watching companion, was a sucker for these kinds of witticisms or anecdotes. So naturally he repeated Jones’ quote at some point.It turns out the old men were right. Physical ability and skill will only get you so far in golf. The ability to shrug off the self-doubt that creeps in and a mentally strong makeup is essential to success.At his best, Woods has proven he has physical gifts that make the ordinary weekend hacker drool. But as supremely talented as he is, he’s a 14-time major champion because of the bulletproof competitive psyche he had created. Since the fallout from his much-publicized scandal, it’s like someone has taken out a 2-iron and unleashed several whacks at Woods’ confidence. There are still moments when it appears he can summon his championship form,but these are brief respites for a man dealing with self-doubt on a golf course for the first time. You can see it sneak in when he three-putts or skulls a simple chip around a green. These were things that a focused, mentally strong Tiger Woods would seldom do. Woods promises he isn’t just some “other guy” and insists he can win every time he enters a tournament. For the time being, his words are hollow. In fact, they are downright unbelievable. His career revival may come at some point down the road, but it won’t be this weekend. It’s not because his swing is slightly off plane, or his putting stroke needs to be fixed. No, Tiger, it’s all in your head. — sealogan@indiana.edu
(08/08/11 12:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Well, Randy Moss, if you’re actually calling it quits, it’s been real.It still remains a big “if” because there’s a popular notion that Moss’ sudden retirement was a bargaining ploy to create leverage so he can eventually sign on with a contender.Say what you will about Moss — and there is plenty to say — but it’s hard to criticize his candor. For better or worse, he has never shied away from telling you what’s on his mind.That’s why it’s hard to just dismiss his fleeting farewell as some form of manipulation. It’s really an indication that, at the moment, he feels like a jilted lover whose rocky past has finally become too tiring for potential suitors.For many, though, Moss was never someone that could be fully embraced because his imperfections were too glaring. Others with similar athletic prowess have been canonized, but Moss was too human to ever warrant widespread appeal.This combined with a career that, given his amazing athletic gifts, certainly didn’t reach its ceiling will cause him to be unfairly judged.Since he often displayed a wide range of authentic emotions, it’s become quite difficult to contextualize who Randy Moss was as a player and what he meant to the NFL.Was he simply someone who didn’t care? Did he love football? Did you consider him thought-provoking or mercurial?The answer to those questions usually depended on the day. His physical gifts might have been otherworldly, but Moss’ persona closely mirrored reality.It’s fitting Shaquille O’Neal, another superstar whose career left something to be desired, retired right before Moss.It’s safe to say Shaq will be remembered more favorably because of his relationship with the media.When things were going wrong, O’Neal expressed his displeasure loudly and outwardly, but he always seemed more self-aware than the flighty Moss.But as time has passed, I’ve had a complete reversal on this. Shaq might have been smarter with how he dealt with the media, but Moss was just as self-aware. He just didn’t really give a crap what people thought.Sure, he wanted people to know how good he was. But perception wasn’t as important to him.Whereas Shaq was more like Snoop Dogg, ever the self promoter, Moss was Tupac. He was extremely talented, brooding and seemingly dangerous.Others might have been driven by external forces — fans, media, money — but Randy always seemed to do what made Randy happy.He even, quite famously, paid his league-mandated fines with straight cash, but this seems difficult for me to believe.Whenever I think of Moss running simple errands, I’m instantly reminded of the scene from “The Big Lebowski” where “The Dude” writes a check for a carton of milk.Couldn’t you see Moss walking into a store wearing a ratty bathrobe, cheap sunglasses, holding a joint and writing a check for a loaf of bread?The Freak abides, man.Moss’ contemporaries, Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, have tried to convince the public they are “reality” TV stars — and I use reality loosely.But they weren’t quite as talented and never will be as “real” as Randy Moss is. Almost everything that Owens does feels like it’s been preordained by Drew Rosenhaus and fed to him line-by-line.Ochocinco, on the other hand, ever hungry to increase his fame, has created a character that operates in his own social media-heavy world.None of this was ever a part of Randy Moss’ world. That’s not to say he wasn’t a difficult person.He bitched and moaned. He joked and celebrated. When he brought his A-game, he could beat any defensive back on the planet, but he was just as likely to take a few plays off.Just as it is in real life, Moss always seemed to be close to some unobtainable thing on the horizon — something that was being untapped.He left us wanting more.
(08/01/11 12:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In case you haven’t heard, “The Movement” is coming. The self-given moniker represents the impending arrival of Indiana’s hyped 2012 basketball recruiting class and its desire to revive the once-proud program. But, quite surprisingly, “The Movement” has now been extended to the traditionally underwhelming football program, which just pulled a major recruiting upset. Spurning offers from college football’s bluebloods, Gunner Kiel, the Columbus East High School star and No. 1 quarterback recruit in the country, committed to IU.It’s an unprecedented coup for a program that is perpetually trying to turn it around, and it only adds to the momentum IU athletics has established this past year. Expectations will surely increase — and deservedly so — but fans should proceed with prudence. Celebrate the fact the basketball and football teams are on the right track, but be cautiously optimistic about on-field success. I know this is the wet blanket approach, but talent doesn’t always ensure winning. There are too many other ingredients in the formula for success. This isn’t to downplay the possible ramifications of Kiel’s signing. Maybe this actually is the first fallen domino in a series of events that propels the program. After all, serious college football success tends to come out of nowhere. Check where the University of Oregon and Boise State University were two decades ago. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves and buy those tickets to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena just yet. Kiel, by all accounts, is a can’t-miss prospect, but he won’t be able to win by himself. And even though Kevin Wilson has proven he can recruit, it may take several classes to restock the historically dismal defense. A good contemporary comparison could be Jake Locker. He arrived at the University of Washington as one of the top quarterback recruits in the country and left with just 16 wins and one bowl appearance, a win in the 2010 Holiday Bowl. Those are pretty low numbers for a four-year starter; and I’d imagine if Kiel has a similar career arc, he’ll have not met expectations, even if he becomes a first-round pick. As Kiel is preparing to take the reins at Memorial Stadium, “The Movement” will also begin to take shape across the parking lot. In this case, though, a lack of help shouldn’t be a problem. The 2012 class has been hyped as Indiana’s modern-day answer to the “Fab Five,” sans the supposed political incorrectness. By the time they reach campus, there could even be a much-heralded sixth member. Again, though, a supreme collection of talent doesn’t always equal championships. As a friend pointed out during the NBA playoffs, there could be interesting parallels between IU’s 2012 class and the Miami Heat’s “Big Three.” It’s hard to argue Miami didn’t have three of the four best individual players in the NBA Finals, but they were clearly outclassed. A combination of arrogance — both actual and perceived — and unrealistic expectations masked the real problem: The Heat was still too individualistic. Conceivably, something similar could happen to Indiana’s future teams. It may be difficult to collectivize all that talent into a coherent unit. They’ll probably figure it out and may even become a perennial championship contender, but fans shouldn’t celebrate like it’s already happened.In 15 months, “The Movement” will have its coming out party at Hoosier Hysteria, which could be reminiscent of the Heat’s ill-fated welcome party. Surely, the same “yes we did” attitude may exist amongst the Hoosier fan base. When Kiel and the 2012 basketball recruiting class arrive, they must avoid being weighed down by lofty expectations. These guys won’t be able to hide. “The Movement” will be televised. It’ll be brought to you by Rotel and Barbasol seven days a week on the Big Ten Network.It could end up being a test in patience. For now, though, credit needs to be given to Fred Glass, Tom Crean and Kevin Wilson for creating some definite momentum. For an athletics department coming off a tough stretch, the next few years could be quite the ride. Regardless of the outcome, though, fans should proceed cautiously. — sealogan@indiana.edu
(07/24/11 9:59pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Every family seems to have those two relatives whose differing political beliefs spark a never-ending debate.After a while, though, the content of their arguments blur together and become utterly forgettable.A realization then arises that the two are just fundamentally different. The NFL lockout is hardly different.For all intents and purposes, the NFL — and by extension its owners — is our crackpot uncle, and the NFL Players Association is our eccentric second cousin.Their conflicting fundamental desires are noticeable, but the issues they’re currently fighting over are meaningless.Without the cancellation of any regular-season games, we’ll only end up remembering that the two sides were able to coexist. As time passes, the memory of this summer’s lockout will fade.It’s been clear from the outset that losing real games was a perceived threat, not an actual one. When the owners decided to lockout players at the expiration of the last collective bargaining agreement, it wasn’t because the league’s system was broken; it was to try and strong-arm them.They likely thought, once they established the upper-hand, they would be able to sneak a few extra items into the new CBA. It would be like squeezing the last bit of juice out of an orange.But the owners were never going to surrender a chance to cash in on regular-season games. They’re too lucrative to use as bargaining chips for secondary demands.Amidst the increasingly cordial negotiations, with an agreement appearing imminent, 31 of the league’s owners ratified a new deal Thursday.Once the immediate euphoric response settled, it became clear that celebrations were a bit premature.Commissioner Roger Goodell’s press conference was reminiscent of President George W. Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech on the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2003.But in the less important context of professional football, Goodell’s speech will hardly resonate historically because the NFLPA wants to play just as much as the owners do.Even if their initial public reaction to the NFL’s deal was lukewarm, they’re in the same boat as the owners and are expected to vote to approve the deal on Monday.Starting the season on time outweighs any low-level demands they may want to continue to bargain for.For those of you who’ve been wrapped up in this summer’s labor negotiations, you’ll likely find the resolution somewhat unsatisfying. You see, the NFL lockout was nothing more than a low-stakes poker game with each side trying to coerce the other into throwing a few extra chips into the pot.Both sides might have suckered you in with issues like revenue sharing, decertification or salary cap limitations, but neither wants to try to fix an unbroken system.The league is wildly successful because of guys like former commissioner Pete Rozelle, who saw what the NFL could be and executed his vision.With the help of some compelling characters, it’s become the ultimate television experience — undoubtedly aided by teams having just one game a week.The NFL taps into all of our visceral urges, which makes it a pretty easy sell. As a result, owners and players have reaped the benefits and will continue to do so when the new 10-year agreement is put in place.There seems to be a growing cross-section of unsatisfied NFL fans that feel they’re owed an apology, even when nothing significant has been missed.A common retort is that they’re sick of billionaires fighting with millionaires, which probably was only buoyed by each side’s bluffing.It’s all really silly, though. Both sides are just taking advantage of a capitalistic system that rewards them for delivering an in-demand product.No, greed isn’t necessarily good, but it should be expected. If people are so put off, they should abstain from anything NFL related.I know I’m not bothered enough to stop watching. When we eventually look back at this upcoming season, it’s hard to believe the lockout will end up being part of the narrative.At a future Thanksgiving gathering, after the obligatory political debate and Detroit Lions loss, a younger relative may ask, “What was the 2011 NFL lockout like?”You’ll probably answer, “What lockout?”
(07/20/11 11:27pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If you’re a sports fan and a social media regular, you surely got caught in last week’s Bruce Feldman Twitter storm.For nearly a day, Feldman, an ESPN college football reporter, became an internet martyr, whose supposed suspension represented all that’s wrong with ESPN.ESPN followed on Friday with a short response saying he had not been suspended.Determining whether he was will probably be an unrewarding venture into semantics. Clearly, though, the fiasco reinforced some of the biggest dangers in our new journalistic world.A few years ago, with the support of ESPN brass, Feldman agreed to write a book with then-Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach who later sued ESPN for defamation, saying their coverage of his treatment of Adam James, son of ESPN analyst Craig James, was damaging.With the release of “Swing Your Sword,” approaching, ESPN executives were likely taken aback by some of the book’s content.Last week, the sports blog, “Sports By Brooks,” reported that ESPN had suspended Feldman indefinitely for his involvement with the book.Brooks’ report used an unidentified source and did not quote someone from ESPN. Readers should have been more cautious.Twitter has made news consumption both rewarding and dangerous. I cannot blame anyone for getting caught up in the #freebruce charge because I was right there with you. The acts of solidarity displayed by fellow journalists were refreshing.The situation also showed the hazards of social media fervor. We live in a world where protests are waged with hashtags instead of picket signs. Once a 140-character message goes viral, it can be the word of record. It’s created a reckless environment, especially when things aren’t refuted quickly.This is where ESPN completely missed the ball. The network could have quickly exonerated Feldman, but instead let nearly a day pass, allowing the situation to fester. It appears the network is tacitly supporting Craig James. For a company as large as ESPN, there should be an expectation that conflicts will arise between the business and news sides of the operation. But ESPN should allocate its immense pool of resources to defend its star journalists like Feldman. They shouldn’t support James at the expense of someone who has more to offer to the company. Even after the initial outpouring of support, Feldman will have to deal with the lingering effects of the mini-drama. Questions about his ability to cover certain teams and coaches will arise.At this point, it is obvious and understandable that ESPN is wary of the release of “Swing Your Sword.” There will be information that — regardless of its validity — will be damning to the network’s operations.What I don’t understand is why there wasn’t a quicker defense of Feldman. It reeks of a situation where loyalty to an ex-jock outweighed that of a talented journalist. For that, we’re all losers.— sealogan@indiana.edu
(07/18/11 12:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>One of the beautiful things about the game of golf is that it’s not ageist. Even as knees begin to creak and backs begin to ache, fathers can still tee it up with their sons.It’s fitting, then, at golf’s oldest major championship the old guys always contend. Across the pond, golfers must tackle the delightful eccentricities of links golf. High winds, summer squalls, penal bunkers and massive undulations create an environment where the game is played on the ground.If you bomb it through the air, your ball is at the wind’s mercy. Sometimes you just have to hit and hope.The patience and imagination required allows older players to contend past their physical primes.At Royal St. George’s, the leaderboard was littered with some of golf’s graybeards. With golf’s young guns recently hogging the spotlight, some seasoned vets stole the show.Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, 42, led the charge. The easy-going Northern Irishmen displayed the deft touch that is necessary to take home the Claret Jug.Surely, the silver-haired Clarke will enjoy a Guinness or two from his new silver trophy.The Open Championship, at times, can seem mystical in the way that it can create storylines out of weathered journeymen. In 2003, the last time the British Open was played at Royal St. George’s, Thomas Bjorn solidified his place in the championship’s lore.With a two-shot lead with three holes to play in the final round, Bjorn melted down, leaving several shots in a greenside bunker at the 16th hole.Perhaps burdened by his collapse, Bjorn hadn’t contended at the British Open again until this year’s impressive performance where he finished fourth.Then there’s old Tom Watson. Just when you think he’s written the final chapter of his legendary career, the wizard does it again.To pundits and fans alike, Watson is the greatest links player of the modern era. What he lacks in raw power, he makes up for in guile.Conventional wisdom would lead you to believe Watson is too old to still chase championship dreams. But the game of golf isn’t conventional; it’s fickle.There are so many moving parts that can make success elusive. A perfectly crafted swing can leave as soon as it came. One bounce can decide a golfer’s fate and decide a tournament’s outcome.That’s exactly what happened to Watson at Turnberry in 2009 where he lost in a playoff to Stewart Cink. This time around, at 61-years-old, he continued to defy logic. After recording a spectacular hole-in-one Friday, Old Tom outlasted horrific conditions to card a two-over, 72 in the third round and finish the tournament at six-over for 22nd place.If the sideways rain hadn’t subsided and the leaders faced similar conditions, he would have been right in the thick of it. Sure, he didn’t hoist the Claret Jug for a record-tying sixth time, but he once again proved that age is just a number.With a timeless swing and a mastery of links golf’s subtleties, he’s still able to keep his competitive fire burning.Certainly a different golfer with the same initials took note: Tiger Woods. His lifelong quest to top Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major championships has flat-lined because of pain. Maybe the old guys, many of whom have experienced similar professional rough patches, will inspire him to conjure up some old magic.Perhaps it will happen at the Open Championship where experience isn’t a hindrance, but an asset.Even as the faces change, the quirks of golf’s oldest major championship remain. During the beautiful British summertime, there’s usually enough daylight to play late into the evening.As the typically ominous, late-afternoon storms dissipate, a breathtaking scene unfolds. The sun begins to set over whichever windswept links course is playing host, just as it has for centuries.For golfers entering the twilight of their careers, the British Open offers a few final chances to shine.
(07/13/11 11:07pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Kelvin Sampson.For Indiana basketball fans, those seemingly innocuous words are two of the dirtiest you could utter, on par with any four-letter epithet.As he left behind what amounted to a college basketball disaster zone, many hoped he would become a pariah forced into exile.I hate to break it to you Hoosier fans, but Sampson still matters.In fact, he’s become a trailblazer whose odd path has shown the NBA should be the ultimate proving ground for a basketball coach.To college basketball supporters, Sampson’s hiring as the Houston Rockets’ lead assistant coach Tuesday may seem shocking. This was the guy who had been labeled a “liar” and a “cheat.”In NBA circles, though, the stigma hasn’t carried over and rightfully so. For now, he’s judged solely by his ability to coach winning basketball.If you’re able to get past the posturing, it’s clear to see major college basketball and the NBA are defined by the same driving forces: winning and making money.The NCAA would like you to believe winning is trumped by the sanctity of the student-athlete and the value of an education.Truthfully, it’s an entity that’s been corrupted by television money.The NBA, however, doesn’t have a similar identity problem. It knows what it’s all about. For someone like Sampson, who had to deal with some frustrating minutiae at the college level, this was probably refreshing.His transgressions at Oklahoma and IU may have been construed as negligent, but they were fueled by a desire to succeed.You don’t make impermissible phone calls because of an incessant need to break the rules; you do it because you think it will help you win.Big-time college coaches — Sampson included — are the product of a system that blindly promotes winning and does so under a set of antiquated rules.Last summer when Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was seriously considering an offer to become the Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coach, it felt forced.Even with the possibility of LeBron James returning, it initially felt like a move just for the sake of change.With the proper hindsight, Izzo’s drawn out decision-making process makes more sense.While you have a better chance of becoming an icon at a major college program, there’s too much “other” stuff that goes along with it.College coaches have become more like CEO’s who must keep a watchful eye on their players and navigate the shark-infested recruiting world.Sampson’s relatively quick re-emergence should serve as a guide for other ostracized, big-name coaches.With his fate still in the NCAA’s hands, Bruce Pearl should pay serious attention to Sampson’s career arc.The former Tennessee head coach and backyard barbecue connoisseur will likely be given a similar five-year show-cause, which will prevent him from latching on with another Division I program during that period.If I were Pearl, I wouldn’t even consider returning to the college ranks. Sampson has already laid out the perfect model: hire a great agent — look at the buzz Sampson has had — who will get your name out, cut your teeth as an assistant coach and try to land a head coaching job.Like it or not, Sampson will get a shot as an NBA head coach. The past few years he’s proved he’s savvy enough to figure out the way things work in the league. In Houston, he’ll be able to prepare for the future and fulfill his competitive desires. Coaches driven by the same aspirations should try to take their talents to the NBA.
(07/10/11 11:06pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>One of life’s toughest challenges is coming to grips with the end of something special. This past winter, when Derek Jeter was negotiating his new contract, the Yankees were prepared for this sobering reality. Their hard-line financial stance was a clear indication that they thought Jeter had little left in the tank.Even though he was coming off an underwhelming statistical season, the Yankees’ attitude seemed callous. After all, this was the captain, the cog of New York’s beloved “Core Four.” To the innocent bystander, Jeter still looks and sounds the same, which made a bounce-back season seem plausible. At the season’s halfway point, it’s clear he’s not the same, though. When October rolls around, Mr. November seriously needs to contemplate retirement. It’s not a knock on his diminishing skills; it’s just the nature of the baseball world. At 37 years old, and without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs, Jeter is nearing the end. Truth be told, I’ve never been fond of the Yankees. Through the years, their “evil empire” has stretched down to New York’s sixth borough, South Florida, where I grew up surrounded by insufferable Yankee fans. With that said, I’ve always respected Jeter. How could you not?Purely from a baseball sense, “The Captain” has been the personification of cool. Whenever the Yankees were locked in a tight postseason game, Jeter would saunter to the batter’s box and calmly dig in, as if he had ice water in his veins.Almost on cue, he would rip a pitch into the gap and help New York take control. With No. 2 at bat, clutch hitting became an expectation, a sure sign of his greatness. And while sabermetricians have his criticized his defense, some of Jeter’s finest moments have come in the field. For an athlete who has been fully indoctrinated in the narcissistic Yankee way, Jeter has always carried himself with a level of self-awareness that teammate/foil Alex Rodriguez — until recently — always lacked. Even with the weight of the Big Apple on his shoulders, he’s never buckled. That’s what has made this season almost unbearable. Clearly, Jeter is a shell of his former self. His .270 batting average, which skyrocketed after his record-breaking performance on Saturday, matches his 2010 average and is still the lowest for any full season of his 16-year career. If he gets out soon, Jeter can avoid becoming one of those “guys who held on too long.” Of course it didn’t ruin his sparkling legacy, but I always tend to think of Willie Mays, who at the end was stumbling around Shea Stadium’s outfield. Jeter’s not there yet, at least. Surely, there are some who see the captain’s storybook weekend as a sign of things to come. To me, it resembled one of those 40-point games Michael Jordan had in Washington, a fleeting moment of greatness for a falling star. For my generation, it will be difficult to let go of Derek Jeter. His career arc has coincided with our coming of age. By giving up on his career, it almost feels as if we’re reluctantly accepting entry into the real world. It’s tough. His inconsistencies this season have me stammering and spouting clichés, as if I was at the end of any fading romance. Derek, we need to talk. It’s not you, it’s me. Well, to be honest we’re both getting older, and it’s time for some new experiences. It’s time to call it quits.
(07/06/11 10:01pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>NBA fans, are you ready to party like it’s 1998-99? With last week’s expiration of the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the owners have locked out their players and cemented 2011 as the summer of labor strife. The NBA’s work stoppage, however, won’t be like the walk in the park we’ve witnessed with the NFL lockout; this will be a prolonged struggle. Unlike the NFL, there are some fundamental issues that need to be resolved. The NBA, unlike the NFL and NHL, uses a “soft” salary cap. This allows teams, with the use of designated exceptions, to exceed the cap. Because of their fiscal recklessness, owners want to shift towards a hard cap. During the league’s proposed 10-year deal, the salary cap would be raised to $62 million, assuring more financial certainty. Essentially they’re conceding they need to be kept in check to promote a more balanced, competitive league. Sounds pretty good, right? Not to the players. They’ve clearly benefited from the “soft” cap system that’s been in place since the 1984-85 season. All of the exceptions — like the mid-level and Larry Bird — have allowed owners to line player’s pockets. When the league was amending its last CBA modification in 2005, it introduced what came to be known as the “Allan Houston rule.” This allowed owners to wipe one contract off the books so they didn’t have to pay the luxury tax penalty for exceeding the cap. In the same vain, NBA owners are looking to get rid of guaranteed contracts like the NFL’s current system. Both proposals are laughable. They’re like giving an owner a “Get Out of Jail Free Card” and discouraging financial responsibility. During initial negotiations with its player’s association, the NBA has stated that 22 of 30 teams are losing money. Where does that money go when it comes in? Currently, the players enjoy a 57 percent cut of basketball related income. While they’ve offered to take a significant cut, the union is going to need to settle around 50-50. It puts more money back in the owners’ hands. Here’s the tricky part. The league’s current TV deal expires in 2016, and players won’t want to commit to a new CBA that overlaps. With so many issues swirling around, things are about to get real.
(06/29/11 11:00pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There seems to be an unsurprising correlation between a nation’s political power and its sports prowess. It makes perfect sense that given a larger pool of resources and manpower, a nation would be athletically dominant. The United States has been no exception. For the better part of a century, we’ve pretty much kicked butt. That’s what makes the Williams sisters’ simultaneous Wimbledon exits so jarring. It’s not really the fact they lost, but what has been realized in the aftermath. Globalization has loosened America’s vice grip on the international sports scene. When they are at their best, Serena and Venus are the class of the women’s game, a near-perfect blend of speed and power. For years, even when they’ve been apathetic, they’ve been the country’s best tennis bet. At times, they have been criticized — and rightfully so — for focusing too much on topics with little importance. This hasn’t been a problem lately, though. As they’ve crept closer to tennis mortality, the sisters have become more dedicated, spending more time fretting over fitness than fashion. What they were dealing with at the All England Club was a laundry list of lingering injuries. Their inability to shake off the rust was not earth-shattering, but the void their early departures created was. It’s only the third time in the Open era since 1968 that an American woman failed to reach Wimbledon’s quarterfinals. But they continue to be the only hope for American women’s tennis, and help doesn’t appear to be on the way. It hasn’t been much better for the United States over on the men’s draw. Mardy Fish, the lone American to make the quarterfinals, has yet to reach a major final and will need to run through a few legends to get there this time.Over the past decade, Andy Roddick, the 2003 U.S. Open champion, has been the United States’ most consistent championship threat. But as of late, tennis’ A-Rod has been wildly inconsistent with more than a few early-round flameouts. An American tradition that was buoyed by Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras has slowly evaporated into thin air. So what gives? Why can’t the U.S. seem to find fresh faces to compete with tennis’ best?It’s easy to point to the sport’s lack of sex appeal. Very few of our young athletes are going to choose tennis instead of football. But I think it cuts a little deeper than that. As our world has become more connected, it’s become easier for athletes to emerge from untraditional locales. It’s fitting that this generation’s best player, Roger Federer, hails from tiny Switzerland, a nation known for its political neutrality and not its rich sports legacy. Even with the USTA throwing its weight around to “save” American tennis, it faces a radically different landscape, one that’s become undeniably global. Potential that might have been previously untapped now has the opportunity to be realized.We live in a world where the U.S. men’s soccer team still can’t close out matches, golf’s past five major champions are non-American and the reigning NBA Finals MVP is German. Even last week’s NBA Draft had an overwhelming international flair. After an early run on European players, I started wondering if they had moved the draft from Newark to Sarajevo. There were some mitigating factors — the impending lockout and a weak college class — but it’s becoming safer to pick international players.Perhaps we’re witnessing some kind of anomaly and Americans will quickly reestablish dominance.But as globalization increases, the success gap in international sports seems to be narrowing.