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(04/24/13 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the second time in five years, an Indiana Pacer has won the Most Improved Player Award.This time, Paul George brought home the trophy after he helped the Pacers to the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.George stepped up this season after replacing the 2008-09 most improved player Danny Granger at small forward, averaging 17.4 points per game.But unlike Granger, George has the raw talent and promise to lead this Indiana team to a championship sometime in the future.While it can be pretty much agreed that the Heat will reach the Finals for the third straight season, the Pacers could very well be the team to play them in the conference finals, with George being their go-to guy.In his first playoff game, George posted a triple-double, the first of his postseason career.But George is not ready to be compared with the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant.George is just 22 years old, 23 on May 2, and has shown flashes of dominant play throughout the season.He’s also shown some negatives, too, as evidenced by his regular season shooting percentage of just 41.9 percent.But I’m willing to give him a break because he shot 44 percent or better in each of his first two seasons, and he wasn’t the go-to player at that point.The main thing George will have to focus on is building muscle and being able to get to the rim at will.He has too much skill around the rim to compete with consistently, but he doesn’t have the strength to force himself through bigger defenders and finish plays the way James can.We know he already has the jump shot. George finished 10th in the league in three-pointers made this season, hitting 170 shots from beyond the arc.We also know he can captivate the crowd with a huge breakaway dunk, as evidenced in the dunk contest last year.But when he drives, he’s a little more reluctant to take contact than the average superstar.He needs to build up muscle because he has so much ability to make plays at the rim that most other players can’t.Anyone can have raw talent and be a star, but the ability to make plays that no one else can makes you a superstar.That’s what Paul George has to be in order for the Pacers to win a title.The Heat will be their most difficult opponent in the coming years. That’s the team for which the Pacers will have to prepare the most, because odds are, if you don’t beat the Heat, you aren’t winning the championship.For George to be able to do that, he needs to put in the work and learn during these next couple years as his stock rises.James wasn’t able to win a championship until his mental state improved, and he knew what it took.George doesn’t know what that takes yet, but he is only 22, and it’s extremely rare to see that young of a star lead his team to a title.Still, George is coming up through the ranks, and the 2013 Most Improved Player will only continue to get better.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(04/17/13 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Any time of year seems like a good time to talk about everybody’s favorite NFL comedy: the New York Jets.Recently, the Jets have been in trade talks with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to trade away Darrelle Revis, arguably their best player.It seems like everything the Jets do would be a classic sketch on “Saturday Night Live.”Let me take over as GM and make some moves that will maybe take this team out of oblivion and back into the playoffs.First and foremost, get rid of all the quarterbacks.The Jets missed out on expendable quarterbacks such as Alex Smith, Matt Flynn, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Kevin Kolb.Instead, they signed David Garrard, an injury-prone quarterback who hasn’t started in a few years.On top of that, both Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow are on the roster.At this point in the off-season there’s nothing the Jets can do in terms of getting a new quarterback. The NFL Draft would be their last chance, but this draft showcases overrated quarterbacks, and the Jets would be wiser using their ninth overall pick on another position.Second, use that draft pick for a pass rusher.Rex Ryan’s defenses don’t work without great pass rushing. The Jets haven’t had much of that, despite the big names on the roster.LSU defensive end Barkevious Mingo appears to be the best option. Adding him to the fray could make their defensive front great for many years after the Jets used their last two first-round picks on linemen Muhammad Wilkerson and Quinton Coples.Both players were the top two on the team in sacks in 2012.Third, do not trade Darrelle Revis.While Revis has become expendable, and he seems to want to re-negotiate his contract every season, he is the best player on the team and not worth a first-round pick.This draft class is the worst class in a while, and I wouldn’t bank on finding a suitable replacement for Revis at the 13th pick, which is what Tampa Bay is willing to give up.The Jets have Antonio Cromartie, who shines as the No. 1 cornerback, but the depth at that position has disappeared after a below-average season from Kyle Wilson and the loss of Marquise Cole after the 2011 season.And while we don’t know how Revis will heal from his ACL surgery, I believe the risk of keeping him is better than trading him.Finally, I rebuild with Rex Ryan as head coach.The Sanchez-Ryan era should be finished, but the Jets are in need of a minor rebuild.The idea is to get rid of the sideshow. Ryan seems dedicated to making the overall team better, and the best way to do that is to find a new quarterback, not a new coach.We’ve seen Ryan have success as the Jets coach after taking his team to the Conference Championship in each of his first two seasons.He’s gotten off track since then, but that success can be recreated.The defense is very good and the special teams are consistently among the best in the league, but it’s the offense that ruined games for the Jets last year.New offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg is a good fit for this offense.He will open up the playbook and let whoever the quarterback may be throw more passes downfield instead of consistently running six-yard slant patterns.With all this being said, the Jets are likely to be among the league’s worst next season.The ultimate fix is to get rid of the owner, but that doesn’t seem to be happening any time soon.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(04/03/13 3:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While everyone was getting caught up in the Miami Heat’s unbelievable streak, there had been a more impressive one going on in hockey.The Pittsburgh Penguins just had their 15-game win streak snapped in a 4-1 loss to Buffalo last night. The streak was just two short of the NHL record the franchise set in the 1992-93 season.It’s hard to compare win streaks in two different sports, and 27 is a lot more than 15. But there are plenty of factors that go into the Penguins streak that makes it more impressive.First, take into account how many one-goal games the Penguins have been a part of.In their 15-game streak, nine of those games were decided by a single goal, and there were two other games where the Penguins added an empty-net goal to win by two.I believe it is much more difficult to win a close hockey game than a close basketball game. Goals are a lot harder to come by than baskets.Second, consider how hard it is to build a hockey streak.It may seem as though hockey streaks are just like any other, but the truth is they aren’t.All it takes to end a win streak in the NHL is one bad performance from your goalie.Now, the Penguins did allow three or more goals in their first four games of the streak, but since then they haven’t allowed more than two goals in a single game.On top of that, starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was injured a few games ago, and backup Tomas Vokoun has not allowed a goal since he replaced Fleury.Third, the Penguins are getting help from everywhere.While the Heat’s streak was centered around the play of LeBron and Wade, the Penguins haven’t had a single player score for them or come up big for them.In the Penguins’ last game, Sidney Crosby went down with an injury, but it was Matt Cooke and James Neal stepping up in his absence and providing goals.Pittsburgh has even missed other big names such as Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang for different stretches of this streak.Fourth, I consider the NHL schedule the Penguins have taken part of to be more grueling than that of the Heat.Pittsburgh has had to play seven games against the top six teams in the Eastern Conference and 15 games overall in 29 days.It’s difficult to be sharp night in, night out when you play so many games in such a short amount of time.Now, this is not at all a knock on the Heat. They pulled off something we may not see again for 30 years.Then again, the Penguins are doing that, too.Their 17-game streak from 20 years ago has held up as the all-time NHL record. That was a team that saw Jaromir Jagr score 94 points and finish fifth in points among his teammates.That team was legendary.Maybe this Penguins team is the same way.But the one thing that the ’92-’93 Penguins didn’t do was win the Stanley Cup.The one thing in common with this year’s Heat and Penguins: both these streaks will mean nothing if they don’t finish the season as champions.
(03/27/13 2:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Odds are, your bracket is demolished thanks to Florida Gulf Coast, Harvard or Wichita State.It happens every year. Upsets are just a part of the NCAA Tournament, and most would say these upsets were a little more surprising than in years past.I don’t believe that’s the case. I’ll examine why it isn’t a surprise to see some of these upsets.Exhibit A: Florida Gulf Coast, a 15 seed who just two years ago was not eligible for the Big Dance and six years ago didn’t even have a basketball program.Led by senior guard Sherwood Brown, FGCU has become the first 15 seed to advance to the Sweet 16.They have to be considered a surprise because of their seeding and short program history, but they’re a legitimate force in this tournament.FGCU didn’t get lucky in either of their tournament wins. In fact, they outplayed both No. 2 Georgetown and No. 7 San Diego State.Why? This team moves the ball as well as any team left in the tournament. They never had to solely rely on Brown to stay in the game the way Lehigh University did last year when they needed superhuman efforts from C.J. McCollum to win big games.While Brown was on the bench against SDSU in the second half, FGCU extended the lead and continued piling on when Brown came back.And while I believe Friday will mark the end of the road for the underdogs, don’t expect them to just lie down against Florida.Exhibit B: La Salle, one of six 13 seeds in history to make the Sweet 16, is a shock to most.La Salle defeated No. 13 Boise State in a play-in game, and No. 4 Kansas State and No. 12 Ole Miss on a buzzer-beater, reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since the tournament field expanded.Not only have they made it to the Sweet 16, but they also got a gift with No. 1 Gonzaga falling in the second round, allowing La Salle to play No. 9 Wichita State.How? They have a high scoring back court and excellent shooters who have shot better than their opponents.They haven’t been rotating many players either, which is usually a recipe for success in the tournament.Truthfully, they got fortunate with their matchups. KSU was an overrated four seed that had a new coach, and Ole Miss was a team that relied too heavily on its top player.Regardless, La Salle has earned their spot in the Sweet 16.Exhibit C: Oregon, a 12 seed that was way under-seeded this year.There’s a perfectly logical explanation as to why Oregon made their way past No. 5 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Saint Louis.While there may have been more talent on both teams they played, the games were being played in San Jose, which isn’t all that far from Eugene.That doesn’t take away from the talent that Oregon has, but don’t expect them to make it past No. 1 Louisville in Indianapolis on Friday.Harvard’s win as a 14 seed against No. 3 New Mexico may have been a fluke, considering how they played against No. 6 Arizona in the second round.Either way, their upset was legitimate, and it was nice to see them get their first tournament win ever.Moving forward, the tournament may still have some surprises, but to those of us whose brackets are not covered in red ink, let’s hope the upsets don’t continue.
(03/20/13 3:09am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The NFL is getting closer and closer to being called the No Fun League for good.A new proposal is in place for the owners to vote on that prohibits a running back from leading with the crown of his helmet outside the tackle box.All-time rushing leader Emmitt Smith and Chicago Bears halfback Matt Forte have already spoken out against this change.Now it’s my turn.I realize this is an effort to make the game safer, but it’s another failed concept.Running backs, who are usually smaller than the defenders that are trying to tackle them, almost need to duck their head and lead with the crown of their helmet when they’re bracing for a hit. It’s instinctive for them.In addition, this rule would be difficult to adjust to for most ball carriers.Take someone like Marshawn Lynch, one of the bigger and more powerful backs in the NFL.He makes a living off barreling over defenders, because he doesn’t have the speed of a Forte or Chris Johnson.Now you’re going to tell him that when he gets the ball on a pitch play, and he’s being trapped in the backfield, that he can’t try and break the tackle the best way he knows how?The NFL insists that this rule would not kick in as commonly as we would think.Nevertheless, there are backs who make a living off breaking tackles, and most runs involve the lowering of the helmet.But the bigger issue is that Roger Goodell and a bunch of other people who never played a down of football are trying to convince everyone that a violent sport can be made non-violent and keep the same level of popularity.It simply cannot be done.The best remedy for this issue is to just make people more aware that football is a violent game.There are measures the NFL can go to in order to protect players, but not by rule changes that clearly show a bias towards the league’s glamour players.All the new quarterback rules were only put in place because Bernard Pollard landed on Tom Brady’s leg wrong a few seasons ago.The defenseless receiver rules began taking flight after DeSean Jackson took a shot in the middle of the field from Dunta Robinson a couple years ago.Because there have been recent cases of defensive players saying they’re being unfairly treated with these rules, the new running back proposal is up for a vote.There’s a reason Goodell has a 61 percent disapproval rating among NFL players.But if Goodell’s main concern is player safety, there are other options than changing the rules and making current NFL players adapt to these absurd policies.Linebacker James Harrison, Goodell’s biggest critic, said back in October that he puts extra padding in his helmet after suffering “double-digit” concussions.He claims he hasn’t had any blackouts since adding the extra pound of padding and feels that every player in the NFL should wear them.Harrison has also been fined several times and has been suspended for what the NFL deems are illegal hits.I’m with Harrison completely.He found something that he claims is effective, but the NFL has yet to look into making the extra padding mandatory.I also trust NFL players more than NFL executives in terms of how to keep players safe, because they’re the ones on the field taking the hits and making the plays.It’s easy to look down from a box and say that all illegal hits are avoidable, but the truth, as told by NFL players, is that these hits, while unfortunate, are inevitable.So moving forward, I hope this new rule is not put in place and the owners stand against Goodell instead of letting him be their figurehead and acting as his puppets.It’s time to face facts and admit that football is dangerous, but there are better ways to make the game safer while keeping the revenue coming in.These new rule changes are not the answer.
(03/06/13 3:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Let’s shelve our NBA alliances for a moment and recognize the greatest player in the game.LeBron James may just be the most hated athlete in sports, which is unfortunate because he’s playing better than any athlete in any sport right now.I admit it, I hated James when he announced on his own prime-time ESPN show that he was leaving the city he built for South Beach, Fla.I felt the pain of the Cavaliers fans who saw their franchise walk away.And I understand if the city of Cleveland keeps this grudge against James forever, but it’s time for the rest of us to pay him our respects — he deserves it.No other player in history went on the streak James did, scoring 30 or more points while shooting 60 percent or better in six straight games.Sure, that’s a small sample size, but just by looking at his stats this year, it isn’t hard to tell what type of season James is having.He’s shooting a career-high 56.3 percent and 40.7 percent from three-point range.Of any other of the top five scorers, Kevin Durant is closest to James in field goal percentage at 50.9 percent.But James’ greatness goes beyond scoring.James is averaging 8.2 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.His defensive game gets better every year, and he’s already made the last four NBA All-Defensive First Teams.And this type of season will not just assure James of a fifth award in that category, but a fourth league MVP as well.But the individual stats and accolades aren’t what make him the greatest player in the game.James is now the leader of the defending champion Miami Heat.When James first came to Miami, Dwyane Wade was still the leader of the team, as Wade had already won a championship with the Heat. He was the veteran in Miami — he earned the Heat fans’ respect.Last season, Wade realized James was starting to surpass him significantly talent-wise and was mentally ready to lead a team to a championship.So Wade passed the torch, and James became the unquestioned leader on the team.And then they won a championship.It’s said that an athlete’s prime comes around age 26, when the level of athleticism and maturity meet.James is 28, well into his prime.Instead of comparing his prime to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Magic Johnson, we should all admire how great he really is.No player in history has ever been as athletic as James is right now. A player of James’ size, strength and speed doesn’t seem human, let alone fair on a basketball court.His desire to win basketball games is infectious, and he is now able to almost will his team to victory.And yes, he made many mistakes in the past, letting his ego get out of control.That’s the old James.Now James is mature. Now James understands the work that goes in to winning a championship.The new James is well on his way to forging an NBA legacy that could give him a place on the among the all-time basketball greats. Now James has earned our respects, and we would be crazy to ignore his ability because we’re still mad about “The Decision.”So watch James now, because a player like this may not come again for a long time.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(02/27/13 5:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Cinderella stories always capture the hearts of a nation.From George Mason basketball in 2006 to the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays, Cinderella stories are inspiring to those who feel like they need to overcome major obstacles to achieve something special.Last year, the MLB had a few of those teams: the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals shocked everybody by making the playoffs.Unfortunately, none of them finished off their Cinderella campaign with a World Series title.That’s just the way it goes in baseball. The richest teams win.This year, Washington still has a good-looking club that didn’t experience much turnover in the offseason.While the same can be said for Oakland and Baltimore, don’t expect them to repeat this season with a playoff appearance.The unfortunate fact is that low payroll teams have a difficult time keeping up with the likes of the Yankees, Phillies and Tigers.With the Angels and Dodgers spending more money than we all knew they had this off-season to pick up some of the best names in baseball, it’s even more unlikely that we will see a Cinderella story.Thinking back to the 2008 Rays, their story was so shocking considering they had never finished a season over .500 before making the World Series that year.But that was also a year we saw the Yankees miss the playoffs, a rarity for them.So the next year, the Yankees swept the free agent market and picked up Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.They won the World Series that year.So every Cinderella story usually comes back the next year and isn’t such a powerhouse. The Rays missed the playoffs in 2009.Eventually, the lack of superstars will catch up to teams like the Rays.During the last four years, the Rays have lost most of their starters from the 2008 team, simply because they couldn’t afford them.That becomes the problem for all small market teams. Oakland saw great success in the early 2000s, but they never made a World Series and saw all their best talents leave.It seems as though the only way to succeed as a small market is to draft well and raise your farm system well.Then you need the right manager and hope all the talent your organization has bred for years comes to fruition at the right time.The current Baltimore team may have found a solid manager in Buck Showalter, but its window of opportunity may have already passed.The Yankees are still the kings of the division, the Rays have stayed successful and the Blue Jays must have broken into Canada’s central bank to nab a bunch of all-stars in trades that cost them virtually nothing.And you can’t be a small market team gone big.The Miami Marlins tried by getting a ton of talent in the offseason a year ago to help fill their new, very expensive stadium.After finishing behind the Mets for a last place finish in their division, they shipped all their talent out.Now, they have to expect 100 losses for a few consecutive seasons.And we have to expect that the Angels and Dodgers will come back this year to make the playoffs, potentially knocking out Baltimore or Washington from the playoff picture.If anyone is going to be a Cinderella this year, it’s either the Royals or the Pirates.But even then, there are five better teams in each league that will likely put their Cinderella campaigns to an end.That’s the way of the MLB, and it isn’t going to change any time soon.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(02/21/13 4:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The NBA All-Star game has come and gone, and again we saw a relatively weak dunk contest.Sure, Terrance Ross got me on my feet applauding his best Vince Carter impersonation, but it was not enough to steal the show.I don’t have a problem seeing players like Jeremy Evans, Gerald Green and James White in the competition, knowing they are all high-flyers.But I think I speak for everyone when I say enough of the sideshow that is the dunk contest — put some stars in the event.This is my official request to soon-to-be Commissioner Adam Silver to put LeBron James, Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard in the dunk contest next year.Think about a dunk contest with the NBA’s biggest, brightest stars.No one would leave disappointed after seeing the best dunks from the best NBA players.On top of James, Griffin and Howard, this year’s winner Ross should be a part of it again with a chance to repeat as champion.The other two participants should be chosen by the fans from a short list.On that list, I would put Andre Iguodala, JaVale McGee, Paul George, DeMar DeRozan and Rudy Gay.I believe a dunk contest with six of those players would not only be the highest rated dunk contest ever, but the overall best contest we’ve ever seen.Think about the creativity these guys can show off.We’ve already seen Griffin jump over a car and Howard put on a Superman cape and slam the ball in 5 feet away from the rim.They probably won’t top that, but those are two of the best dunks in terms of creativity, execution and memorability in the last 10 years.While this year showed plenty of dunking ability, it lacked the superstar aspect it has needed.Years have gone by since the first utterances of James being in the dunk contest, and it still hasn’t happened.Enough is enough.The 3-point contest usually knows how to recruit the stars of the game.This year, we saw participants like Kyrie Irving and Paul George, two up-and-coming superstars in the NBA.And think about when the stars do participate in the dunk contest.We’ve seen some of the most memorable dunks from the likes of Michael Jordan, Vince Carter and Dominique Wilkins.That should trigger a trend of superstars being the face of the only skills competition the fans truly care about.So I’m calling out James, Howard, Griffin and any other superstar who wants to throw down some of the most unforgettable dunks in history to put their names into the hat for next year’s competition.It would get every casual fan excited for a showcase like no other.On top of that, it would be more of a spectacle than the All-Star Game itself.If this happens, next year’s dunk contest will put this year’s contest to shame and raise the bar for years to come.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(02/13/13 4:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There’s been a lot of criticism of the New Orleans Hornets’ name change, effective next season.I’ll take it one step further and say forget about the name change — get rid of the franchise.The NBA is crowded. It’s not a secret. But instead of doing anything about it, Commissioner David Stern has decided to keep a relatively unpopular team in a struggling city.And I don’t just hope the Pelicans never take flight, but I would like to see the Bobcats fold as well.Believe me, I have nothing against these two teams. I feel that the best interest of the NBA is to contract, and someone has to go.The reasons I think it has to be New Orleans and Charlotte are because they are in opposite conferences, struggling in attendance and overall failing franchises.The truth is, I don’t mind if the NBA cuts down from 30 to 24 teams.The league needs contraction. There are too many mediocre teams and players in the NBA.Think back to when there were about 16 teams in the league, and super teams were common.Every team had multiple star players, and the average players could only hope to sit on the bench.Today, you still see super teams. You also see teams that have nothing.Kemba Walker is the Bobcat’s star player.Don’t get me wrong. Walker is a very good player, but consider an average team like the Trail Blazers. Walker wouldn’t start on that team and would be their fourth-best player.Now imagine if six teams were to drop out of the league. For argument’s sake, we’ll say the Hornets, Bobcats, Bucks, Timberwolves, Cavaliers and Kings were all nixed from the NBA.You’d see many more star combinations with scenarios like Kevin Love playing with James Harden in Houston and Kyrie Irving teaming up with Al Jefferson in Utah.Imagine if teams like that were the worst teams in basketball.The level of competition and high level of play in every game would be a win for the league and the fans.And think about free agency.When LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Rudy Gay and Dirk Nowitzki were all free agents in 2010, there were only a few teams in play for all of them.Those teams were all big market teams.LeBron left a small market in Cleveland because the team couldn’t win a championship.The small market teams always have that problem.Orlando had to trade Dwight Howard, and Toronto has had to trade stars like Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, and then Chris Bosh left for Miami.The fact is that big name players don’t want to play in small markets — unless they’re winners.Usually, they aren’t.The recent championship winners include the Heat, Mavericks, Lakers, Celtics, Spurs and Pistons.Since 1999, these are the teams that have lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Only San Antonio can be considered a small market team, and even then they’ve won the title four times in the last 14 years.It would be a shame to lose some fan bases, but the best solution for the NBA remains contraction.
(02/06/13 3:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When you turn on ESPN and there’s basketball coverage, odds are the network is talking about the Lakers, Thunder, Heat or Knicks.It’s all Kobe Bryant this, LeBron James that.Then they say it’s the scoreboard and the standings that matter the most.If that’s the case, it’s about time to finally show the San Antonio Spurs some love.Yet again, the Spurs are at the top of the Western Conference, and the NBA, with a 38-11 record and an astonishing 22-2 record at home.But no matter where you look, they aren’t being talked about as a title contender.Why? Why is it that teams that aren’t even in the playoff picture are getting more coverage than the Spurs?Maybe it’s just the lost art and lost appreciation of basketball fundamentals.It’s no secret the Spurs aren’t the most exciting team to watch. Their superstars aren’t flashy, their role players don’t make any statements and their coach keeps everything as low key as he can.But it doesn’t seem to matter who’s on the court for them — they understand the most important thing is winning.Right now, both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, two of their three leading scorers, have been injured for some time.Still, the Spurs are in the middle of a 10-game winning streak and have quickly jumped one and a half games ahead of the Thunder.It’s because this team is the best coached team in the NBA, and Gregg Popovich is the most underrated coach in basketball.How else can a team that has no superstars and no appeal be the best team in the NBA?Every NBA team has talent, but it’s how you use that talent that matters.Popovich has taken players such as Boris Diaw, Danny Green and Stephen Jackson, three players whose careers were going downhill, and he made them all significant parts of the team.He’s helped scout players like Ginobili and Tony Parker, players that didn’t get much attention early in their careers.Popovich turned them into champions.So it’s time to show the Spurs the respect they deserve.They have won four championships since 1999, and they were never flashy and never had a single player they had to solely rely on.They have had the best record in basketball the last two seasons.In addition to all of this, the Spurs have been perhaps the classiest franchise in any sport during the last 15 years, which is something to be admired.As far as their championship chances go, who’s to say they aren’t the favorites at this point?The defending champion, Heat, has been a terrible rebounding team all year, and as of now they’re just an average road team.The Thunder has had a great year, but who knows how big of a difference Kevin Martin will make compared to James Harden after the two were traded for each other in the offseason?The Knicks, Bulls and Clippers are all question marks at this point as well.But there isn’t a question that San Antonio has gone much more under the radar than any of these teams.So let’s give the Spurs the respect they deserve — as title contenders.
(02/01/13 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>We already know the marquee names in Super Bowl XLVII.Lewis, Rice, Reed and Suggs on the Ravens side and Kaepernick, Gore, Willis and Smith for the 49ers.But the Super Bowl, and football in general, has never been about individual talent.Usually, it’s a lesser-known player that makes the biggest plays.David Tyree, Dexter Jackson and Tracy Porter have all played this role in recent Super Bowls.So who will do it this year?There’s no way of knowing who that player will be until Sunday, but here are a few players on each team to look out for.Baltimore’s defense is stacked with a set of dominant linebackers and arguably the best safety in the league, but the work of two players has been overlooked.Cornerbacks Corey Graham and Cary Williams have been crucial members of a defense that went through a lot of injuries during the regular season.With top cornerback Lardarius Webb out for the season, Graham and Williams were called upon to carry the torch and they have filled in beautifully.Williams was already set to be the second cornerback after starting every game in 2011, whereas Graham was not supposed to be a major part of this team.And while the regular season provided its fair share of success to both, the playoffs have treated the cornerbacks very well.Both Graham and Williams have two interceptions each, including Graham’s overtime interception against Peyton Manning and the Broncos, which led to a Ravens win.The defenses will likely decide this game, but that doesn’t mean the Ravens can’t get a game changer on offense.Their offensive X-Factor is wide receiver Torrey Smith.Yes, Smith is already a major part of the Ravens offense, but in a game where the defenses are the story, this game could easily come down to one possession.And with Smith’s speed, he has the ability to have the biggest play of the game just by beating his man.On top of that, Flacco has one of the most accurate deep passes in the NFL, making it that much more difficult to defend Smith.For San Francisco, the defense is loaded.Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Ahmad Brooks are enough proof that the 49ers have the most deadly front seven in football.But the forgotten man in their defense is always Justin Smith.Justin will work with Aldon on the left side of the Ravens’ offensive line, and the chemistry that the two have allow Aldon to be effective.The two like to rotate along the offensive line, which consistently frees Aldon up to give him a clear path at the quarterback.Every team in the NFL runs that play, but the 49ers are so effective doing it that it usually requires extra help from the offensive line.Offensively, the self-acclaimed best wide receiver in the game could be the biggest surprise in this game.Randy Moss recently claimed he was better than Jerry Rice, who won three Super Bowls with the 49ers. Moss has never won one.Now, with the focus in the passing game on Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, Moss has the opportunity to step up and play a major role for San Francisco.Any way you look at this game though, these teams are pound for pound for positions. We should be watching an excellent game Sunday.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(01/24/13 5:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Who would have thought that halfway through the NBA season the Los Angeles Lakers would be a mediocre, inconsistent, hollow shell of the championship team they were just three seasons ago?At 17-25, 12th in the Western Conference, the Lakers’ playoff hopes are slowly diminishing.How can this happen? The team has 33 combined All-Star appearances between its starters and a two-time All-Star in Antawn Jamison coming off the bench.The answer is not in the players — it’s in the coaching.Head Coach Mike D’Antoni, who was hired shortly after the Lakers fired Mike Brown through five games, has gone 12-19 since taking over.With the type of talent he has, this is an unacceptable benchmark.The first half of D’Antoni’s tenure with L.A. was filled with criticism over Dwight Howard’s free throw percentage and a promise that the Lakers would be elite when Steve Nash came back from injury.Since Nash came back, the team has continued to fall in the standings and recently went on their longest losing streak in almost a decade.So the appropriate response for the Lakers is to fire D’Antoni and put all their chips into bringing back Phil Jackson.When the Lakers were 1-4 and looking for a new coach, Jackson’s name was thrown into the ring. He was widely considered the favorite to land the job, but the Lakers went over his head and hired D’Antoni.Despite the Lakers pulling that type of move, I believe Jackson still wants the job.It’s just a matter of the Lakers admitting they made a mistake by bringing D’Antoni in.The NHL’s New Jersey Devils had a similar situation two years ago when its head coach Jacques Lemaire retired.They brought in John MacLean and assembled a star-studded lineup in time for the 2010-11 season.But they got off to a pitiful start and fired MacLean a little before the halfway point and convinced Lemaire to come out of retirement and coach the team.Because there was a familiarity and sense of respect for the coach in the locker room, the Devils turned its season around and got back into the playoff race.Though the team ultimately missed the playoffs, it salvaged something out of it season and gave fans hope.The difference between the 2010-11 Devils and this season’s Lakers is that the Devils dug themselves an inescapable hole that they could not climb out of.L.A. is only three and a half games out of a playoff spot. The team is still in the running to sneak in as a seven or eight seed.But L.A. has to act now.There are too many good teams in the West and if they don’t start making their run now, it may never happen, and the Lakers could, dare I say it, miss the playoffs.Phil Jackson may be the only ticket there, and they would be wise to pick up the phone and give him another call. — zstavis@indiana.edu
(01/16/13 6:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If Colin Kaepernick was not a household name already, he should be now.Kaepernick took over as quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers after starter Alex Smith suffered a concussion.Despite Smith getting healthy after sitting out just one game, Coach Jim Harbaugh had a difficult decision to make.Would he go back to Smith, who was having a very solid season, or would he go with the second-year quarterback who had one big game?Fast forward to today. The 49ers are in the NFC Championship Game for the second consecutive season, but this time, it’s with Kaepernick under center.Harbaugh decided Kaepernick was the man who would bring San Francisco a Super Bowl championship.I completely agree.Before the season started, I believed even with Smith at quarterback, the 49ers would be the Super Bowl champions.That stance has not changed since Kaepernick took over — in fact, I feel more confident now more than ever about that prediction.Smith was just a solid quarterback who San Francisco was relying on, not to be a top quarterback — instead he was just supposed to not make mistakes.Unlike Smith, Kaepernick is a game-changer.We saw what he’s capable of against Green Bay in the divisional round of the playoffs. Kaepernick set a record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a playoff game, scoring four total touchdowns in the process.He isn’t even a liability. He’s only thrown four interceptions since taking over the starting job midway through the season.As much as I’m a fan of Kaepernick, it doesn’t hurt him that his offensive line is among the best in football.In fact, they are the primary reason the 49ers will win the Super Bowl.When they win battles in the trenches, Kaepernick gets time in the pocket and he and running back Frank Gore get rushing lanes.But Kaepernick still gives San Francisco the best chance to win. He’s a threat in every area. He’s improved greatly on short and intermediate pass routes, but he has one thing Smith doesn’t: an accurate deep ball.Because of that, the playbook overflows with options offensively, as if it already didn’t.The 49ers line up in many different formations, so they’re already a mystery to the defense.But when Kaepernick is the one taking snaps, defenses always have to be on its toes.Quarterback draws, option plays and play-action deep passes all become realistic options San Francisco can find success with.In comparison to the remaining playoff teams, San Francisco has the deepest offensive playbook.They may not have as much talent on the offensive side as the Patriots, Ravens and Falcons do, but I believe they do have the most difficult offense to defend.En route to the Super Bowl, San Francisco will have to beat Atlanta in the Georgia Dome, no easy task, but we just saw Seattle nearly pull it off.Then in the Super Bowl, they could have a rematch with the Patriots, a game they won a few weeks ago, or Harbaugh could face his brother and the Ravens.Either way, as long as Kaepernick is the quarterback, I don’t see this team falling short this year.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(01/08/13 10:50pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The home run king with an asterisk and the most dominant pitcher of the 1990s on steroids are finally up for the Hall of Fame.Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens will leave their fates in the hands of Hall of Fame voters today as the 2013 class will be announced.While both players’ statistics are clearly worthy of being displayed in Cooperstown, N.Y., both players tested positive for Human Growth Hormone (HGH) during their playing careers.It doesn’t help that former stars and steroids users such as Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire have been denied access to the Hall Of Fame, and I believe Clemens should also be rejected.Bonds, to me, is a different story.Yes, Bonds used steroids, and yes, his numbers are more inflated than they should be, but this is a player whose career was already Hall of Fame-worthy.Qualifications for the Hall are usually numbers-based. Five hundred home runs or 300 wins as a pitcher is an all-but automatic pass to Cooperstown.The use of steroids to reach those numbers will undoubtedly tamper the system.But Bonds was on pace to get 500 home runs without the use of HGH.The use of performance enhancers only spiked his home run total to an unprecedented 762.But there are key differences between Bonds and other steroid users.Bonds had the best eye at the plate I have ever seen in my lifetime.Even before his first usage of steroids in 1998, Bonds led the league in walks three times. He is still the all-time leader in bases on balls.He was even walked intentionally more than any other hitter for seven consecutive years before he began using steroids.That’s the type of respect he earned as a hitter.Additionally, Bonds had a naturally great swing, one of the best I’ve ever seen.So as his career went on, his strikeout totals would sink. In fact, he only struck out more than 100 times in a season once: his rookie year.But of course, there are the perjury charges and lawsuits, which will also play a role in whether Bonds will make the Hall.To me, it should not be an issue.Pete Rose was one of the greatest hitters to ever play the game. He broke a record that was considered untouchable when he passed Ty Cobb in career hits.But you won’t find Rose’s name anywhere near baseball or the Hall of Fame, because he was banned for gambling on the game.Rose retired in 1986, and 27 years later, he still is nowhere to be found in Cooperstown.It’s ludicrous. The all-time hits and home runs leaders both have a chance to never be in the baseball Hall of Fame.And yes, Bonds lied to Congress, and performance enhancers made his home run numbers what they were, but for close to a decade before steroids, he was one of the brightest stars and best hitters in baseball.He was in the top 10 in wins above replacement for 11 years before his first use. He had three MVP awards before then.It’s fair to throw out his numbers after 1998, but I believe it is unfair to keep him out of the Hall of Fame.
(01/07/13 4:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a painful 113-day lockout, the NHL and its players have agreed to a deal to bring the game back for a 50-game season.While it’s a relief to many that hockey is finally back, the aftermath of the lockout should not be forgotten.Hockey was still gone for three months. Many vendors and workers suffered at the expense of the owners’ and the players’ inability to reach an agreement.And the fans should not necessarily be thankful either.Of course, in time, the fans will forget there was even a work stoppage because there will be a season. However, it must be understood that this is the third work stoppage under Commissioner Gary Bettman.We were dangerously close to a canceled season, and Bettman did what he could to ensure hockey would not be back until next season.He was prepared to cancel the season next week, which all but forced the owners and players to meet to save the season.Of course, the NHL had the same type of work stoppage in the 1994-95 season, which was also shortened to 48 games, as well as the lockout of 2004-05, which resulted in a lost season.So let’s pay homage to the owners and players, knowing they went over Bettman’s head to bring us a season.The regular season will start Jan. 15 and run until April 13, followed by the playoffs.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(12/10/12 4:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior goalkeeper Luis Soffner took a deflected ball off the crossbar with less than two minutes to go and cleared the ball back to midfield.Georgetown never got another chance.IU won its eighth men’s soccer title, its first with third-year IU Coach Todd Yeagley.It was surely unexpected. IU came into the tournament as the No. 16 seed, and many thought it would lose in its third-round match against No. 1 Notre Dame.Instead, IU defied the odds and hit its stride at the perfect time.Mr. November and junior midfielder Nikita Kotlov had a huge tournament as well as the lone goal in the championship game against Georgetown, but it was Soffner who won this championship for IU.Soffner put up near-record numbers in the tournament, allowing just two goals in IU’s five tournament games.Soffner didn’t allow a goal in IU’s final three games against North Carolina, Creighton and, of course, Georgetown.He faced just two shots on goal in the title game, but many more chances had to be denied by Soffner.In the first half, Soffner stopped two point-blank opportunities and stood tall on multiple cross attempts.In the second half, Soffner constantly positioned himself perfectly, stopping any should-be opportunities for the Hoyas.The scariest moment came in the last couple of minutes, when a loose ball was deflected away from Soffner, hit the crossbar innocently and popped back out, where Soffner safely grabbed it and punted it away.But it seemed as though the shutout was destiny for Soffner. He was strong all year. His stats were among the best in the country.Amazingly, Soffner ended his career at IU with a shutout streak that lasted more than 318 minutes, dating back to IU’s second tournament game.Of course, he wasn’t the only one responsible for this championship.Kotlov scored five goals in the tournament for IU after scoring just four times in the regular season and Big Ten Tournament.Sophomore forward Eriq Zavaleta might not have had the biggest impact in the tournament, but his play during the regular season was enough to keep IU respectable offensively.Even freshman forward Femi Hollinger-Janzen got in on the offense, scoring the lone goal in a lopsided IU performance against Creighton in the semi-final.Defensively, senior defender Caleb Konstanski and sophomore midfielder Kerel Bradford played above their expectations, stepping in as Soffner’s biggest helpers.A lot of credit should be given to the coaching staff, as well. They asked IU’s forwards and midfielders to be aggressive, and they got more than what they bargained for.IU played most of its game against Creighton with possession of the ball in the offensive third because of the aggressive challenges.Junior midfielder A.J. Corrado, known for his passing skills, spearheaded the aggressive play with two great opportunities in the College Cup off of takeaways.Though IU only scored one goal in each of the team’s final three games, they did everything they needed to bring home the championship.The quest for eight is finished.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(12/06/12 2:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Mr. November is a term that was given to baseball player Derek Jeter for his dominance in the playoffs in the early part of his career.To a lesser extent, junior midfielder Nikita Kotlov has also earned that nickname.After struggling through a large stretch of the regular season, Kotlov has turned on the jets and given IU the extra spark it needed.And it couldn’t have come at a better time.IU is in the College Cup for the first time since it won its last title in 2004, and Kotlov is a big reason why.In three tournament games, Kotlov has scored four goals and two assists, doubling his production from the entire season preceding the tournament.He put up three of those goals in IU’s second round matchup against Xavier, propelling his team to a 4-1 win. He then put up a goal and an assist against No. 1 Notre Dame in their third round matchup.This is a far cry from his early season production or lack thereof.Kotlov had nine goals last year after coming off the bench in most of those games.This was the year he needed to step up and be IU’s second option behind striker Eriq Zavaleta.Instead, Kotlov started off his first dozen games without a goal.IU’s identity was not so elite. At that point, the only hope for the team rested with Zavaleta and goaltender Luis Soffner.Production from other players was at a standstill, and IU desperately needed its second option to pick it up.And then it happened.Kotlov broke through with his first goal after about seven weeks of the season passed by in a tying effort against Louisville on Oct. 10.Still, IU went just 2-3-2 in between Kotlov’s first goal against Louisville and IU’s Big Ten Tournament loss to Michigan State on Nov. 7.They needed more from their second option.Once the tournament started for IU against Xavier on Nov. 18, Kotlov was ready to break through.With his four goals and two assists in the tournament thus far, Kotlov has been directly involved in six of IU’s seven tournament goals.In the regular season, IU scored 32 goals, six of which involved Kotlov directly.On top of that, Kotlov has been getting more and more chances because he’s putting the ball on net.In the regular season, Kotlov attempted 38 shots, 14 of which were on net.In the tournament, Kotlov has put six of his 11 shots on net and has proved that good things can happen when you put the ball on goal.This is what we should expect from Kotlov.In 2011, he only had one goal through his first dozen games before scoring eight times in the final eight games of the season.Kotlov and company will play Creighton on Friday in their semifinal matchup.If IU wins, the team will play the winner of the Maryland-Georgetown game in the finals.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(11/29/12 3:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There was once a time when college sports were about the student athletes, and recruiting was a simpler process. Conferences were formed based on geography and rivalries.That’s no longer the case.The addition of Maryland and Rutgers last week to the Big Ten helped fuel this epidemic that has plagued college athletics for the last couple years.Geography and the sanctity of tradition no longer run universities. Instead, money and television contracts have become the way of the world.Think about the way conference realignment has played out. Some of the moves make sense, such as Nebraska to the Big Ten and Missouri to the SEC.But with Boise State and San Diego State joining the Big East, you have to see that money runs the game.The Big Ten is a strong conference, and it would make sense that Maryland and Rutgers want to be part of it. And it’s somewhat obvious why the Big Ten wants them, too.The Big Ten Network is a national channel primarily owned by Fox, giving them the most exposure year-round with all sports.Bringing two East Coast schools into the conference naturally should expand the brand, and the Big Ten Network is expected to pander to mid-Atlantic viewers now.Now that the 14-team conference is still referred to as the Big Ten, it is geographically stretching, and profits will continue to rise.But not for the universities’ academic programs, who could use the money to make improvements to the institutions and the overall quality for their students and student athletes. Instead, the money goes straight to the athletic departments.In fact, the athletic departments are the only ones benefitting.Most student athletes will graduate and continue their careers in a different field.Imagine a tennis player at Boise State who has to use time for travel so he can go head-to-head in a match against another tennis player that goes to South Florida in Tampa, Fla. His time to study shrinks because of this, and it could surely result in a substantial drop-off in student athletes earning degrees.Additionally, coaches will have a tougher time recruiting.It used to be the case that a state like New Jersey would have a lot of Big East teams. Now that the most major New Jersey school has moved to the Big Ten, this has potentially erased that pipeline for Big East schools.The fans will also suffer.Going to road games has been much easier in the past because conference rivals have been so close geographically. What happens now when fans in Syracuse, N.Y., want to see their team play on the road but can’t make the trip to Florida State because it’s too far away?On top of that, fans are the ones that pay for the TV networks, which essentially fund the University presidents and athletic department heads.Those are the only people benefitting from this. The NCAA chooses not to step in, giving the university presidents the opportunity to do anything they want in terms of conference affiliation.They don’t care about the well-being of the people this directly affects fans, coaches and student athletes. As long as their pockets are a little bit fatter, they believe they’ve done the right thing.Purity is now gone in college sports.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(11/15/12 3:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The 2011-12 basketball campaign was all about the revival of IU basketball, from then-junior forward Christian Watford’s shot to the team’s Sweet 16 appearance.That took a lot of attention off an abysmal season from the women’s basketball team.Last year, IU went an all-too-forgettable 6-24 with a 1-16 record in conference play, losing by double digits 18 times.The season was such a failure that former IU Coach Felisha Legette-Jack was fired after her sixth season.More optimism surrounds the team’s direction this year after the hiring of current IU Coach Curt Miller.Miller comes into his first season at IU with an impressive 258-92 career record, making him the 16th winningest coach of all time in terms of winning percentage.This was a big hire by IU Athletics Director Fred Glass. The women’s basketball program was falling apart after three straight seasons without even making a WNIT appearance.Miller was the right choice. This team needs to be competitive again, and Miller is the one to bring respectability back to the team, just like he did for Bowling Green. In his tenure, Bowling Green won eight straight regular season conference titles during 2005-12 and made a Sweet 16 appearance during a 31-4 campaign in 2006-07.The Hoosiers should consider themselves lucky that Miller fell into their hands.His contract at Bowling Green had a “dream clause” that allowed Miller to void his contract and go to a select few schools. IU was on this short list.Now, it’s time Miller turns this IU team into a “dream team.”However, we shouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves. IU knows better than anyone that a rebuilding process can take some time.While Miller doesn’t quite have the appeal of IU Coach Tom Crean, he will make this a better program and will take them out of the conference cellar.At Bowling Green, he turned a mediocre team into a winning team in just three seasons, so it’s natural to allot him the same benchmark here at IU.Miller reached his initial milestone with a 63-62 win against Murray State on Monday.There will be more milestones in the future, but it is a relief the Miller era has begun.His winning ways reflect in his first recruiting class at IU.Miller brought in Indiana native Carmela Roeschlein, the Clay City High School all-time leading scorer and four-time all-conference guard.Joining Roeschlein in the backcourt is Nicole Bell and Brionna Arnold. Bell was the Southwest Ohio Player of the Year in 2012, and Arnold was a Hoosier Basketball Top 100 Senior last year and went 95-8 during her four years at Ben Davis High School.Forward Jocelyn Mousty was brought in to help make IU’s paint presence. Mousty averaged a double-double in her senior season.The final recruit is a redshirt freshman brought by Miller from Bowling Green. You could say Kaila Hulls is where she belongs after suffering an ACL injury last year.Her older brother, Jordan, is a starting guard for the men’s basketball team. Like her brother, Hulls is an excellent 3-point shooter.With these recruits, Miller is off on the right foot and, in a rather short matter of time, should bring this program back to the NCAA Tournament.— zstavis@indiana.edu
(10/25/12 4:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The women’s soccer team is approaching the Big Ten Tournament, trying to shake off its mid-season slump.The Hoosiers are 9-8-1 on the season, but they haven’t quite hit their stride.The offense has been provided this season through the likes of senior forward Orianica Velasquez and junior midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy with seven goals each. Junior goaltender Shannon Flower has improved this year, lowering her goals against average by more than half a goal.But something is still missing.Perhaps a major issue is the difference between playing at home and playing on the road.The Hoosiers are 7-3-0 at home while they’re just 2-5-1 in games played away from Bloomington.Usually in sports, the formula to winning on the road involves your superstars. At home, it’s easy to feed off the energy from your fans, and secondary players usually up their game, too.But on the road, Velasquez and Nouanesengsy have not been able to find success.During their eight road games, the two leading goal scorers have tallied just two goals, one for each in a losing effort to No. 4 Penn State.In fact, the Hoosiers have been shut out four times on the road this year and only once at home.Because Velasquez’s statistics haven’t improved much from year to year, the Hoosiers need to look toward another striker.Sophomore Abby Smith could be that person. During seven shots on goal this year, four have reached the back of the net. Three were game-winning goals.That shows the late-game ability of Smith, who is likely going to challenge Nouanesengsy for the scoring title next year.But it is conceivable that the Hoosiers will end up winning the Big Ten tournament next week.Why? The Big Ten tournament is taking place in Bloomington.That’s right, the Hoosier faithful will have a chance to cheer their team on without having to leave town.While the Hoosiers do just have a 4-6-0 record in the Big Ten, they’ve won three of their last four games and have been getting production from everyone on their home field.But as of right now, this Hoosier team is too average.Almost all of their statistics corroborate that. During the season, Indiana has scored just four more goals than it has allowed, and has tallied 19 shots less than its opponents.Even saves, corner kicks and fouls tallied by the Hoosiers and their opponents are basically the same.So as IU comes closer to the Big Ten tournament, which starts next week, there will need to be a few changes.It helps that the tournament will take place in their home stadium, but the fact is that each player will need to step up. Velasquez is playing the last games of her IU career, and she and her teammates will all need to be on top of their games in order to take home a Big Ten title.— zstavis@indiana.edu