I have the day off, and I have spent the entire morning listening to the opinions of numerous people about the statements made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. I am not sure when exactly the statements he made took place, but a conversation between Sterling and his girlfriend were recorded in which he made multiple racist statements about black NBA players, and black people in general. If you want to find the audio of his statements, it is not hard to do, but what they basically did was make public the fact that he had racist feelings about African-Americans.
The story has exploded over the past few days, and the reaction of NBA players, coaches, owners, fans, and analysts have all been voiced.
The immediate reaction of the Los Angeles Clippers players was to shed their warm-ups that displayed the team name, and wear their shoot around shirts inside out before their game last night in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors. They then proceeded to lose by 21 points, and the series is now tied at two and heading back to Los Angeles. The players also declined to speak to the media about Sterling's comments, and head coach Doc Rivers was the lone member of the organization to address the media about the comments. He said that he was not involved in the decision of the Clippers' players, and was not a fan of it, but he felt that it was their right to do whatever they wanted.
What will be even more interesting to see is what the atmosphere in the Staples Center will be like for Game 5, which in terms of basketball, is a very important game. However, Sterling's racist remarks have seemingly overshadowed a very good series, and that will surely be the lead story leading into Game 5.
Obviously, there has been outrage about Sterling's remarks. People like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and even President Obama have weighed in and voiced their disapproval. James said that he would never play for Sterling, and I'm sure there are plenty of players throughout the league who feel the same way, but obviously James' statement means the most because he is the face of the league right now. While what Sterling said was clearly ignorant and dismaying, he said it, and it is now out there for the world to hear. That cannot be changed. The dilemma now is addressing what he said, and dealing with its impact on the Los Angeles Clippers, and the NBA in general.
As is the case in the world we live in, people are calling for immediate crucifixion of Sterling. Jeff Van Gundy said that every member of the Clippers roster and coaching staff should become free agents at the end of the season. Stephen A. Smith said that Sterling should be forced to sell the team to a black man. In my mind, not only are those opinions ludicrous, but they are also unrealistic.
If the players and coaches all became free agents, would their contracts be voided? If so, that would mean that they would be denied money that they rightfully earned. Then, would there even be teams who wanted to sign them? Obviously, the stars of the team like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin would be wanted, but how many other teams would be able to afford them? We don't know.
Paul and Griffin would be able to sign with other teams, but what about players like Ryan Hollins and Jared Dudley at the end of LA's bench? Who is to say that they would even be signed by another team? By making guys like them free agents, you would deny them money that they might never be able to make again, and that is completely unfair to them.
With that aside, what kind of Pandora's Box would that then open? Would an NBA owner charged with some kind of crime immediately be forced to let his entire roster go? Sterling has not even been charged with any crime, and he will not be. Would offensive statements made by an owner then qualify him to face the same punishment? It would be the beginning of an extremely slippery slope that the NBA should want no part of.
Then, let's look at Stephen A. Smith's suggestion of Sterling being forced to sell his team to a black man. I see a whole lot of flaws in this "punishment" as well. First, and most importantly, is the fact that anyone could call being forced to sell the Clippers a "punishment." Sterling bought the Clippers in 1981 for $12.5 million. $12.5 million. Right now, Sterling's estimated net worth is $1.9 billion. That means that Sterling's net worth is over 150,000 times what he bought the Clippers for. If he were to be "forced" to sell the team, it is likely that he would get upwards of $500 million for it, and that is a low estimate. That means, after buying the team for $12.5 million, his profit would be exponentially enormous. So how in the world is that a "punishment?" Plus, if Sterling were "forced" to sell the team to a black man, how would that man be viewed in not only the black community, but the American public in general. He would have just given an outright racist hundreds of millions of dollars. Is paying a known racist that much money a good way to start a tenure as a black owner? Surely not. Would that hurt Sterling's pockets? No. It would make them larger than most people could ever imagine. So again, we have a proposed "punishment" that is extremely nonsensical.
People like Sterling are concerned with only one thing; the bottom line. The ineptitude of the Clippers over the past few decades have proven that point. Even before these comments were made public, Sterling was known as a bad owner. His teams have been putrid for years, and until very recently, have been a non-factor when it comes to contention for an NBA title. However, as I just pointed out, Sterling has still profited from his initial purchase, so why then should it bother him? There are owners that genuinely care about the success of their franchise. Men like George Steinbrenner, Mark Cuban and, despite my hatred for him and his team, Jerry Jones exemplify that.
To a knowledgeable basketball fan, Sterling has been the complete opposite of that since he took control of the Clippers 33 years ago. He dabbles in the day-to-day activities of the team, but for the most part, he is only interested in how much money the team can make him. 2014 is probably the best chance that the Clippers have ever had to win an NBA title, and it is a shame that what Sterling said has overshadowed that.
Therefore, I am really not sure if there is a legitimate way to punish Sterling for making the racist remarks that he made. Can commissioner Adam Silver suspend Sterling? Sure. But what does that really do? Instead of watching Clippers games from courtside, he will watch them from the mansion that he lives in? Not much of a "punishment." Can he fine Sterling? The maximum fine that Silver and the NBA would be able to levy would be $1 million. Will that be a significant financial loss for Sterling? Surely. However, would it cripple his finances? No. I really think that it is impossible to "punish" Sterling in the short term, and if he will actually feel any sort of effect from what he said, it will not happen until years down the road.
As I have said before, Sterling is most concerned with the bottom line. While I am not sure, I am assuming that all tickets to Game 5 have already been sold. Therefore, Sterling is profiting from the game before it even happens. If fans do not show up, the team will obviously lose money from less concessions and merchandise sales, but is that loss, for one game, going to seriously affect Sterling's pockets? No, it is not. If the series between the Clippers and the Warriors goes to a Game 7, that game would be held in Los Angeles. Could fans refuse to buy tickets to that game? Absolutely. However, the monkey wrench in this all is the fact that this may actually the best Clippers team that has ever existed. Will every Clippers fan boycott a Game 7 because of what the owner of the team said? I'm sorry, but the answer to that is no. Long suffering Clippers fans have waited for this moment, and now that it is actually here, I cannot fault them for wanting to experience it.
The fans go to the games to cheer for the players, they don't go to the games to cheer for the owner of the team. The players play the games for each other, as well as for the fans. When they are on the court, I find it very hard to believe that the owner of their team is their prime motivation. The owner signs the checks, but he is not giving his blood, sweat, and tears on the court each and every day. The coach does his job with the team in mind, and by team, I don't mean owners and executives. Doc Rivers gives 100% day in and day out for his staff and his team.
The only way that Sterling can truly be hurt by his statements is through his pockets. If he remains as the owner, fans can refuse to buy tickets. Players can refuse to join his team as free agents. Businesses and companies can refuse to support him. A company named CarMax has already severed its relationship with the Clippers. Some guy named Tank (I'm sorry that I have no idea who that is) has refused to sing the national anthem at Game 5. Those are the things that will hurt Sterling. Those are the things that he is most concerned about.
We have seen men like Alex Rodriguez, Tiger Woods, and Lance Armstrong lose sponsorship deals because of their personal indiscretions, but in reality, have they actually been sincerely affected by those losses? Probably not. Now, take into account the fact that those men are millionaires. Donald Sterling is an 81-year old billionaire. Is there really a way to truly punish him in a way that will seriously hurt him? I do not think so.
So, in realistic terms, I find it hard to believe that there is any kind of sufficient "punishment" that Sterling could face. He is a racist. According to the first amendment of our Constitution, even though most may not agree with him, his feelings are completely legal. He cannot be forcibly removed from his position as owner of the Clippers unless he sells the team and makes an exponentially larger profit than he originally invested in the franchise. Sterling actually has legal grounds to sue whoever recorded his conversation with his girlfriend that exposed his feelings, because it is illegal to record a conversation without all parties knowingly being involved. Therefore, if he does decide to sue, he could make even more of a profit than he would make if he only sold the Clippers franchise.
We might not agree with Sterling, but unless I am missing something, I don't think that there is any way he would be unable to profit from whatever happens to him. In the court of public opinion, he may be forever smeared, but in terms of his money, there is little to no chance that he will take a significant hit. It might be sad, but it is true.
There are many people who have died as rich racists before, and there will be many men who will die the same way in the future. It might anger a whole lot of basketball fans in 2014, but it seems to me that it is unavoidable that Donald Sterling, whenever he does pass away, will be a clear member of that fraternity.
Daily Nets Update: The Raptors won last night to tie the series at 2, and the teams will travel to Toronto for Game 5. Obviously, it will be a huge game, and the winner will come out ecstatic, while the loser will come out in a huge hole. Hopefully, the Nets can be the ecstatic ones.
Daily Rangers Update: The Rangers got a huge win at home last night to take a 3-2 edge in the series against the Flyers. Game 6 will be tomorrow night in Philadelphia, and it sure would be nice to get a win then as opposed to going to a Game 7, where anything can happen, regardless of the location.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: After three straight wins, the DBacks blew a 5-0 lead against the Phillies on Saturday and followed that up by getting shut out yesterday. They now stand at 8-20 overall, and are a truly putrid 2-13 at home. The Rockies come to town starting tonight with Wade Miley taking the mound against Franklin Morales. At this point the motto is pretty much, "hope for the best, but expect the worst."
Monday, April 28, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Football "games" that I cannot stand
As I write this, on April 22nd, the NHL and NBA playoffs have gotten underway, and we are about a month through the Major League Baseball season. Three of our major four sports are in the spotlight, and this is really their time to shine. While the baseball season is still young, its presence still brings about daily viewing pleasure to people throughout the country. The NBA playoffs (despite the seemingly unending length) are at the forefront, and the NHL playoffs are also in full swing, and this is one of the few times that the NHL gets continual national media coverage.
Since our sports world has become one that is clearly dominated by football, this is a time that football should take a back seat to the rest of our sports. However, in some places, that just simply is not the case. If we thought that we could go more than a week without seeing any football in our national news, then we were wrong. I love the game of football, and most of the country does as well, but the fact of the matter is, this is not football season. The NFL Draft is still a month away, and then the preseason doesn't begin for three months. It is time to focus on our other sports. Yet, it just seems that we are unable to do so.
Collegiate football teams begin their offseason activities before NFL teams, and sadly, these offseason activities are more important in some places than anything else going on in the sports world. Just over the past week, the "spring games" of teams like Auburn, Oklahoma, Alabama, and others were televised, and their results were broadcast to a national audience. For those who don't understand what spring games are, I will give you a quick synopsis. They are basically glorified scrimmages that hold the attention of millions of people throughout the country.
Right now, the Oklahoma City Thunder are in the midst of a playoff run that might eventually lead them to an NBA championship. Yet, it seems like the majority of Oklahoma is more invested in the spring game of the Oklahoma Sooners than they are in the playoff run of the Thunder. In Ohio, the Columbus Blue Jackets will have a chance to even their series at two with the highly ranked Pittsburgh Penguins, but the focus is still on the spring game of the Ohio State Buckeyes. In my opinion, this is absolutely ludicrous. This is the height of the season for the Thunder. This is the height of the season for the Blue Jackets. The height of the season for the Sooners and Buckeyes is months away. Why should we place focus on scrimmages more than playoff games? If you ask me, I would be unable to come up with an answer.
Down south, I understand that things are different. In Alabama, the only thing that they have is college football. There are no major sports teams in Alabama, and therefore, college football rules. The rivalry between Auburn and Alabama dates back to long before I was born, and its flame still burns as much today as it did decades ago. Therefore, I will afford fans of the Tigers and the Crimson Tide a bit more leeway than I do for other schools, but I still cannot help but feel like these spring games are blown exponentially out of proportion.
What these games are, is basically an intrasquad scrimmage. Sometimes it is "offense vs. defense," sometimes it is "red vs. white," but no matter what, these games have zero bearing on the upcoming college season. If you thought spring training statistics meant nothing when predicting a baseball season, then multiply that belief by ten and attach it to the results of a college football spring game. The fact that tens of thousands of fans attend these games make it even more laughable. Is there really nothing better to do in Alabama than watch what is basically a team practice? Sure, it might be interesting to some to see who will replace A.J. McCarron at quarterback for the Crimson Tide. But do we need to turn out in droves to witness a portion of the battle for that position? No.
It is April right now. As sports fans, we should be focused on the NBA and NHL playoffs, as well as the MLB regular season. This is one of the few times each year that football takes a back seat, and broadcasting these spring games across the country is in complete contrast to that. We are all at fault for glorifying football to the point of sainthood, but can we please forget about it for a little while? There is a reason we have four major sports in this country, and it is time to give those "other three" sports the respect that they deserve.
Daily Rangers Update: The Rangers head to Philadelphia tonight after splitting the first two games of the series at Madison Square Garden. Winning at least one of the next two games is absolutely essential if the Rangers want to move on to the second round, so what better way to start than winning tonight?
Daily Nets Update: After taking Game One away from the Raptors on the road, the Nets are in a great position right now. At worst, the Nets will return to Brooklyn with the series tied at one game apiece. However, since the playoffs are officially underway, it is time for our veterans to step up, and Paul Pierce led the way in Game 1. A win tonight would be enormous, but even if the Nets lose, they should still be in good shape heading back to the Barclays Center.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: I'm not sure if hitting rock bottom is possible in April, but if it is, then the Diamondbacks are there. At 5-17, Arizona is clearly the worst team in baseball, and it is hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel. The offense has been at least serviceable, but the pitching, from top to bottom, has been absolutely horrendous. Arizona is already 8 games out in the division, and the promising signs are few and far between. I was close to writing a piece about how bad this team has been, but I figured that no one would really be interested in it. Either way, the DBacks face the Cubs in about two hours, and I really have no expectation aside from not getting blown out.
Since our sports world has become one that is clearly dominated by football, this is a time that football should take a back seat to the rest of our sports. However, in some places, that just simply is not the case. If we thought that we could go more than a week without seeing any football in our national news, then we were wrong. I love the game of football, and most of the country does as well, but the fact of the matter is, this is not football season. The NFL Draft is still a month away, and then the preseason doesn't begin for three months. It is time to focus on our other sports. Yet, it just seems that we are unable to do so.
Collegiate football teams begin their offseason activities before NFL teams, and sadly, these offseason activities are more important in some places than anything else going on in the sports world. Just over the past week, the "spring games" of teams like Auburn, Oklahoma, Alabama, and others were televised, and their results were broadcast to a national audience. For those who don't understand what spring games are, I will give you a quick synopsis. They are basically glorified scrimmages that hold the attention of millions of people throughout the country.
Right now, the Oklahoma City Thunder are in the midst of a playoff run that might eventually lead them to an NBA championship. Yet, it seems like the majority of Oklahoma is more invested in the spring game of the Oklahoma Sooners than they are in the playoff run of the Thunder. In Ohio, the Columbus Blue Jackets will have a chance to even their series at two with the highly ranked Pittsburgh Penguins, but the focus is still on the spring game of the Ohio State Buckeyes. In my opinion, this is absolutely ludicrous. This is the height of the season for the Thunder. This is the height of the season for the Blue Jackets. The height of the season for the Sooners and Buckeyes is months away. Why should we place focus on scrimmages more than playoff games? If you ask me, I would be unable to come up with an answer.
Down south, I understand that things are different. In Alabama, the only thing that they have is college football. There are no major sports teams in Alabama, and therefore, college football rules. The rivalry between Auburn and Alabama dates back to long before I was born, and its flame still burns as much today as it did decades ago. Therefore, I will afford fans of the Tigers and the Crimson Tide a bit more leeway than I do for other schools, but I still cannot help but feel like these spring games are blown exponentially out of proportion.
What these games are, is basically an intrasquad scrimmage. Sometimes it is "offense vs. defense," sometimes it is "red vs. white," but no matter what, these games have zero bearing on the upcoming college season. If you thought spring training statistics meant nothing when predicting a baseball season, then multiply that belief by ten and attach it to the results of a college football spring game. The fact that tens of thousands of fans attend these games make it even more laughable. Is there really nothing better to do in Alabama than watch what is basically a team practice? Sure, it might be interesting to some to see who will replace A.J. McCarron at quarterback for the Crimson Tide. But do we need to turn out in droves to witness a portion of the battle for that position? No.
It is April right now. As sports fans, we should be focused on the NBA and NHL playoffs, as well as the MLB regular season. This is one of the few times each year that football takes a back seat, and broadcasting these spring games across the country is in complete contrast to that. We are all at fault for glorifying football to the point of sainthood, but can we please forget about it for a little while? There is a reason we have four major sports in this country, and it is time to give those "other three" sports the respect that they deserve.
Daily Rangers Update: The Rangers head to Philadelphia tonight after splitting the first two games of the series at Madison Square Garden. Winning at least one of the next two games is absolutely essential if the Rangers want to move on to the second round, so what better way to start than winning tonight?
Daily Nets Update: After taking Game One away from the Raptors on the road, the Nets are in a great position right now. At worst, the Nets will return to Brooklyn with the series tied at one game apiece. However, since the playoffs are officially underway, it is time for our veterans to step up, and Paul Pierce led the way in Game 1. A win tonight would be enormous, but even if the Nets lose, they should still be in good shape heading back to the Barclays Center.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: I'm not sure if hitting rock bottom is possible in April, but if it is, then the Diamondbacks are there. At 5-17, Arizona is clearly the worst team in baseball, and it is hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel. The offense has been at least serviceable, but the pitching, from top to bottom, has been absolutely horrendous. Arizona is already 8 games out in the division, and the promising signs are few and far between. I was close to writing a piece about how bad this team has been, but I figured that no one would really be interested in it. Either way, the DBacks face the Cubs in about two hours, and I really have no expectation aside from not getting blown out.
Monday, April 14, 2014
A tradition unlike any other
There are many sports fans who feel like Opening Day is the unofficial beginning of summer, and while it does not actually begin during summer, I do believe that it at least signals that summer is not far away. The Major League Baseball season is about two weeks old, and I have been very interested in the young season so far.
Then, there are many other sports fans who feel like the unofficial beginning of summer is The Masters. After the cold winter months, seeing all of the best golfers in the world gather in Augusta, Georgia on the sprawling green course is another indication that the summer is soon to come. While I am certainly not a big fan of golf by any stretch of the imagination, I do usually at least watch the four major tournaments in parts, and The Masters is one of those tournaments. However, this past weekend, I just had hardly any interest at all in watching, and I was not the only one.
There are a lot of things that I do not like about the Augusta National Golf Club. The club only admitted its first black member after another professional golf club in Alabama (Shoal Creek) denied entry to black players, and in doing so, almost lost its chance to host the PGA Championship. Fearing similar repercussions, Augusta accepted black males into its club before they faced any significant protests from the outside world.
Augusta was however, at the middle of controversy in 2002 when their exclusion of females was brought to the forefront of the sports media world. It was not until 2012 that females were actually allowed entry into the club. I have heard many people say that the south is "behind the times," but not allowing females membership to the club until 2012 is really pathetic. I understand that these clubs have their own policies, and technically, they can run their establishments however they please. I also understand that golf is not exactly a sport that is shrouded in modernity. Many would say that golf is a game played by, and for, old white males. Therefore, combine that with the fact that we are talking about golf in Georgia, and it makes it a bit easier to see why they have such antiquated policies. The Augusta National Golf Club is different though, and there are multiple reasons for that.
There are four major PGA tournaments played each year. The Masters, The U.S. Open, The British Open, and The PGA Championship. The latter three are played in different locales each year. The only one played in the same spot every year is The Masters, and that is why Augusta is different from every other golf club in the country. Having racist and/or sexist policies might not be newsworthy, and might not really matter, for a little known golf club somewhere in middle America, but when a golf club is at the center of the PGA world for one week each year, they need to loosen up.
Despite all of these things I dislike about the club, I still usually tune in to watch at least some of The Masters, but this year I just didn't feel any compulsion to at all, and according to television ratings, there were many people around the country who felt the same way. The ratings were down by at least one million viewers per day, and this in turn caused ticket prices to drop, meaning that The Masters did not generate nearly as much money for Augusta National Golf Club as it did last year. People may try to deny the reason for this, but in my opinion, there is one main reason, and that is the absence of Tiger Woods.
I don't need to document the history of Woods' impact on the game of golf, because we all know it has been tremendous. As he has gotten older, his level of play has declined, but unlike most other professional sports, in golf, you can play well into your 40's and 50's. So, in actuality, Woods is not going anywhere, but the longer the game needs to rely on him to be the main attraction at each tournament, the worse it is for the PGA Tour.
In my opinion, Woods' best years are well behind him. He will still win tournaments in the future, but the chances of him winning any more majors seem to be shrinking by the minute. All of the sports we watch can usually be marked by some kind of esoteric era. These eras are not set concretely in terms of beginning, ending, structure, or length, but ardent sports fans can pretty much identify them in each sport.
In the NBA, we had the era of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. After that, the power shifted to the west, as we saw the Spurs and Lakers dominate for long stretches of time. And now, despite the futile denials of his detractors, we are squarely in the middle of the era of LeBron James.
In the NFL, the mid to late 1980's were dominated by the 49ers. The Cowboys followed that with a stretch of dominance, and soon after that, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the New England Patriots had a stranglehold on the league. Now, while there is no real singularly dominant team (I know, yes, my Giants have won two of the last seven Super Bowls, but their down years in between cannot really support anyone calling them a dynasty), I think many would say that we are in the middle of the era of the quarterback. Quarterbacks are getting paid the most money, they are winning Super Bowl MVP's, they are breaking records left and right, and they are the face of the league right now.
In Major League Baseball, the game was known so long as one that was best able to support "dynasties." Teams like the Cardinals, Giants, Dodgers, and Reds experienced long stretches of success, and then of course, there is the Yankees. The Yankees seemed to own the 1990's into the turn of the century, and after that "Yankee era" ended, we saw the steroid era. Home runs were flying out of ballparks on an inning-by-inning basis, and long-standing records were being shattered. What we are in right now may not be an era marked by a singular team, but in comparison to what we were used to seeing in baseball, you might be able to call it an era of parity, with recent years possibly becoming a new era of pitching.
There have been numerous World Series champions since the steroid era ended, and that is why it might be called an era of parity. The Red Sox, Cardinals, Giants, Rays, Yankees, Phillies, Rangers, and Tigers, among a few other teams, have enjoyed long runs of success recently, and most teams have enjoyed at least some success in terms of playoff participation over the past decade. Pitching has also thrived as of late, with a seemingly inane number of perfect games, no hitters, and general dominance.
However, the game of golf has been immersed in the era of Tiger Woods now for far too long. Woods won his first major (The Masters) in 1997. Since then, all of the sports I just mentioned have seen eras come and go, but golf still is clinging to the era of Tiger Woods. It is like the game is waiting for a new face to step forward and lead it, but no one has been able to do so. Have we seen flashes? Sure. Phil Mickelson is certainly a big draw, and the fact that he failed to make the cut at The Masters this year definitely did not help the television ratings. However, he just doesn't quite have the flair of Woods. Bubba Watson just won his second Masters, and he seems to be approaching the prime of his career, but the fact that I am only just mentioning his name now and he won the tournament makes it seem as though his name is inconsequential. Adam Scott? Rickie Fowler? They just don't seem to do it.
In my opinion, the closest the golf world has come to replacing Tiger Woods is Rory McIlroy. McIlroy is young and talented, and he seems to have a personality that is at least somewhat able to handle the bright lights. He has two major wins to his credit, and he has won numerous other tournaments as well. However, at this point in his career, McIlroy is still known by some more for his collapse at the 2011 Masters more than anything else. McIlroy went into the final day at the top of the leaderboard, but went on to shoot an 80 and drop into a tie for 15th place. I remember it being painful to watch on television as he struggled so badly. Two major wins are certainly great, and more than most PGA players will ever have, but no one remembers Tiger Woods for cracking under the pressure, and McIlroy still has not done enough to make us completely forget about the time he did fold when the cameras were squarely on him.
So, to sum it all up, I have to say that our society in America, as far as sports goes, is one craving the spectacular. We loved seeing baseball players hit balls farther than we could ever imagine, and pitchers throwing perfect games. We love Johnny Manziel winning the Heisman Trophy and then going out and being photographed with a bottle of champagne in each hand and a girl under each arm. We love seeing NBA players winning titles and then partying with celebrity actors and musicians. We love seeing NFL players winning the Super Bowl and then declaring "I'm going to Disney World!" Right after Bubba Watson won The Masters this year, where did he go? Disney World? A celebrity-laden party? To the front of a parade of heroes? No. He went to a waffle house. I'm sorry, but that just is not what we want to see.
So then, what is the golf world to do? Honestly, I cannot answer that question. The guys we see winning tournaments right now might be great golfers, but they are not attention grabbers. The next great, attention grabbing golfer might be right under our nose and ready to break out, or he might be a 12-year old on a public municipal golf course somewhere in South Dakota. So, maybe it is fitting that golf is a sport that is beloved and played by older men, because at this point, the game seems to be clinging to an era that has passed. The game needs someone to step up and begin a new era, and as of April 14, 2014, that has not happened. If you don't believe me, just ask ESPN, CBS, and Augusta National Golf Club. Their wallets will prove me right.
Daily Rangers Update: The playoffs will be in full swing right out of the gate on Thursday with the Flyers visiting Madison Square Garden. The NHL playoffs, more so than any other sport, are usually very wide open, and a hot streak from the team could mean we still have a lot of Rangers hockey ahead of us. Hopefully, that is the case. Let's Go Rangers!
Daily Nets Update: Even with only two games left to play in the regular season, Brooklyn's postseason road is far from clear. Chicago and Toronto are now tied at #3 and #4 in the Eastern Conference, and the team that ends the season at #4 will be the one to face the Nets in the first round. After that (hoping the Nets can pull off a win in that series), they will have to go up against (barring a major upset), the #1 team in the conference, and that spot is still undecided, as it could be either Indiana or Miami. No matter who they end up playing, I think if Brooklyn makes it out of the first round, they should consider it a good showing, but if that were to happen, things will be extremely tough in round two.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Things are not looking good in the desert. After taking two out of three from the Giants in San Francisco, the DBacks were swept at home by the Dodgers and now stand at 4-11. The Mets come to town to open a three-game series tonight, and Josh Collmenter will get the start against Zack Wheeler. Collmenter will be making his first start of the season, as the team has already decided to give up on Randall Delgado in the starting rotation. Collmenter has been superb in long relief over the past year and a half, but was not too great when he was used as a starter prior to that. Multiple starting pitchers have gotten off to fast starts in the minor leagues, and Archie Bradley is only one of them. Obviously, we still have a ton of games to play, but this has been anything but a promising start, and the young guys would be hard-pressed to actually pitch worse than our staff has thus far.
Daily Giants Update: Voluntary workouts begin in a week, and OTA's are still over a month away. Thus far, the team has seemingly tried to address their weaknesses through quantity and not quality, but it wouldn't be fair to judge the offseason before the draft, which is now less than a month away.
Then, there are many other sports fans who feel like the unofficial beginning of summer is The Masters. After the cold winter months, seeing all of the best golfers in the world gather in Augusta, Georgia on the sprawling green course is another indication that the summer is soon to come. While I am certainly not a big fan of golf by any stretch of the imagination, I do usually at least watch the four major tournaments in parts, and The Masters is one of those tournaments. However, this past weekend, I just had hardly any interest at all in watching, and I was not the only one.
There are a lot of things that I do not like about the Augusta National Golf Club. The club only admitted its first black member after another professional golf club in Alabama (Shoal Creek) denied entry to black players, and in doing so, almost lost its chance to host the PGA Championship. Fearing similar repercussions, Augusta accepted black males into its club before they faced any significant protests from the outside world.
Augusta was however, at the middle of controversy in 2002 when their exclusion of females was brought to the forefront of the sports media world. It was not until 2012 that females were actually allowed entry into the club. I have heard many people say that the south is "behind the times," but not allowing females membership to the club until 2012 is really pathetic. I understand that these clubs have their own policies, and technically, they can run their establishments however they please. I also understand that golf is not exactly a sport that is shrouded in modernity. Many would say that golf is a game played by, and for, old white males. Therefore, combine that with the fact that we are talking about golf in Georgia, and it makes it a bit easier to see why they have such antiquated policies. The Augusta National Golf Club is different though, and there are multiple reasons for that.
There are four major PGA tournaments played each year. The Masters, The U.S. Open, The British Open, and The PGA Championship. The latter three are played in different locales each year. The only one played in the same spot every year is The Masters, and that is why Augusta is different from every other golf club in the country. Having racist and/or sexist policies might not be newsworthy, and might not really matter, for a little known golf club somewhere in middle America, but when a golf club is at the center of the PGA world for one week each year, they need to loosen up.
Despite all of these things I dislike about the club, I still usually tune in to watch at least some of The Masters, but this year I just didn't feel any compulsion to at all, and according to television ratings, there were many people around the country who felt the same way. The ratings were down by at least one million viewers per day, and this in turn caused ticket prices to drop, meaning that The Masters did not generate nearly as much money for Augusta National Golf Club as it did last year. People may try to deny the reason for this, but in my opinion, there is one main reason, and that is the absence of Tiger Woods.
I don't need to document the history of Woods' impact on the game of golf, because we all know it has been tremendous. As he has gotten older, his level of play has declined, but unlike most other professional sports, in golf, you can play well into your 40's and 50's. So, in actuality, Woods is not going anywhere, but the longer the game needs to rely on him to be the main attraction at each tournament, the worse it is for the PGA Tour.
In my opinion, Woods' best years are well behind him. He will still win tournaments in the future, but the chances of him winning any more majors seem to be shrinking by the minute. All of the sports we watch can usually be marked by some kind of esoteric era. These eras are not set concretely in terms of beginning, ending, structure, or length, but ardent sports fans can pretty much identify them in each sport.
In the NBA, we had the era of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. After that, the power shifted to the west, as we saw the Spurs and Lakers dominate for long stretches of time. And now, despite the futile denials of his detractors, we are squarely in the middle of the era of LeBron James.
In the NFL, the mid to late 1980's were dominated by the 49ers. The Cowboys followed that with a stretch of dominance, and soon after that, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the New England Patriots had a stranglehold on the league. Now, while there is no real singularly dominant team (I know, yes, my Giants have won two of the last seven Super Bowls, but their down years in between cannot really support anyone calling them a dynasty), I think many would say that we are in the middle of the era of the quarterback. Quarterbacks are getting paid the most money, they are winning Super Bowl MVP's, they are breaking records left and right, and they are the face of the league right now.
In Major League Baseball, the game was known so long as one that was best able to support "dynasties." Teams like the Cardinals, Giants, Dodgers, and Reds experienced long stretches of success, and then of course, there is the Yankees. The Yankees seemed to own the 1990's into the turn of the century, and after that "Yankee era" ended, we saw the steroid era. Home runs were flying out of ballparks on an inning-by-inning basis, and long-standing records were being shattered. What we are in right now may not be an era marked by a singular team, but in comparison to what we were used to seeing in baseball, you might be able to call it an era of parity, with recent years possibly becoming a new era of pitching.
There have been numerous World Series champions since the steroid era ended, and that is why it might be called an era of parity. The Red Sox, Cardinals, Giants, Rays, Yankees, Phillies, Rangers, and Tigers, among a few other teams, have enjoyed long runs of success recently, and most teams have enjoyed at least some success in terms of playoff participation over the past decade. Pitching has also thrived as of late, with a seemingly inane number of perfect games, no hitters, and general dominance.
However, the game of golf has been immersed in the era of Tiger Woods now for far too long. Woods won his first major (The Masters) in 1997. Since then, all of the sports I just mentioned have seen eras come and go, but golf still is clinging to the era of Tiger Woods. It is like the game is waiting for a new face to step forward and lead it, but no one has been able to do so. Have we seen flashes? Sure. Phil Mickelson is certainly a big draw, and the fact that he failed to make the cut at The Masters this year definitely did not help the television ratings. However, he just doesn't quite have the flair of Woods. Bubba Watson just won his second Masters, and he seems to be approaching the prime of his career, but the fact that I am only just mentioning his name now and he won the tournament makes it seem as though his name is inconsequential. Adam Scott? Rickie Fowler? They just don't seem to do it.
In my opinion, the closest the golf world has come to replacing Tiger Woods is Rory McIlroy. McIlroy is young and talented, and he seems to have a personality that is at least somewhat able to handle the bright lights. He has two major wins to his credit, and he has won numerous other tournaments as well. However, at this point in his career, McIlroy is still known by some more for his collapse at the 2011 Masters more than anything else. McIlroy went into the final day at the top of the leaderboard, but went on to shoot an 80 and drop into a tie for 15th place. I remember it being painful to watch on television as he struggled so badly. Two major wins are certainly great, and more than most PGA players will ever have, but no one remembers Tiger Woods for cracking under the pressure, and McIlroy still has not done enough to make us completely forget about the time he did fold when the cameras were squarely on him.
So, to sum it all up, I have to say that our society in America, as far as sports goes, is one craving the spectacular. We loved seeing baseball players hit balls farther than we could ever imagine, and pitchers throwing perfect games. We love Johnny Manziel winning the Heisman Trophy and then going out and being photographed with a bottle of champagne in each hand and a girl under each arm. We love seeing NBA players winning titles and then partying with celebrity actors and musicians. We love seeing NFL players winning the Super Bowl and then declaring "I'm going to Disney World!" Right after Bubba Watson won The Masters this year, where did he go? Disney World? A celebrity-laden party? To the front of a parade of heroes? No. He went to a waffle house. I'm sorry, but that just is not what we want to see.
So then, what is the golf world to do? Honestly, I cannot answer that question. The guys we see winning tournaments right now might be great golfers, but they are not attention grabbers. The next great, attention grabbing golfer might be right under our nose and ready to break out, or he might be a 12-year old on a public municipal golf course somewhere in South Dakota. So, maybe it is fitting that golf is a sport that is beloved and played by older men, because at this point, the game seems to be clinging to an era that has passed. The game needs someone to step up and begin a new era, and as of April 14, 2014, that has not happened. If you don't believe me, just ask ESPN, CBS, and Augusta National Golf Club. Their wallets will prove me right.
Daily Rangers Update: The playoffs will be in full swing right out of the gate on Thursday with the Flyers visiting Madison Square Garden. The NHL playoffs, more so than any other sport, are usually very wide open, and a hot streak from the team could mean we still have a lot of Rangers hockey ahead of us. Hopefully, that is the case. Let's Go Rangers!
Daily Nets Update: Even with only two games left to play in the regular season, Brooklyn's postseason road is far from clear. Chicago and Toronto are now tied at #3 and #4 in the Eastern Conference, and the team that ends the season at #4 will be the one to face the Nets in the first round. After that (hoping the Nets can pull off a win in that series), they will have to go up against (barring a major upset), the #1 team in the conference, and that spot is still undecided, as it could be either Indiana or Miami. No matter who they end up playing, I think if Brooklyn makes it out of the first round, they should consider it a good showing, but if that were to happen, things will be extremely tough in round two.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Things are not looking good in the desert. After taking two out of three from the Giants in San Francisco, the DBacks were swept at home by the Dodgers and now stand at 4-11. The Mets come to town to open a three-game series tonight, and Josh Collmenter will get the start against Zack Wheeler. Collmenter will be making his first start of the season, as the team has already decided to give up on Randall Delgado in the starting rotation. Collmenter has been superb in long relief over the past year and a half, but was not too great when he was used as a starter prior to that. Multiple starting pitchers have gotten off to fast starts in the minor leagues, and Archie Bradley is only one of them. Obviously, we still have a ton of games to play, but this has been anything but a promising start, and the young guys would be hard-pressed to actually pitch worse than our staff has thus far.
Daily Giants Update: Voluntary workouts begin in a week, and OTA's are still over a month away. Thus far, the team has seemingly tried to address their weaknesses through quantity and not quality, but it wouldn't be fair to judge the offseason before the draft, which is now less than a month away.
Friday, April 11, 2014
A complicated situation
With the National Hockey League regular season winding down, teams in both the Western and Eastern Conferences are fighting for their final playoff positioning. Before this season, the NHL realigned its divisions and playoff format. The divisions did not undergo a major overhaul, but one noticeable difference was the fact that both conferences did not now include 15 teams. The Eastern Conference was made up of 16 teams (after gaining Detroit and Columbus), and the Western Conference was made up of 14 teams (after losing those two, but gaining Winnipeg). The league also went to a four-division format, instead of the six divisions that it had last season. On the surface, none of this seemed to be too significant, but once we look at the new playoff format, we see the major impact of this realignment.
In all four of our major sports, playoff formats vary. The NBA's is probably the simplest to understand, as the #1 seed in each conference plays the #8 seed, the #2 seed plays the #7 seed, and so on. The only caveat is that the winner of each division (there are three in each conference) must be among the top four seeds in the conference. That still makes winning the division guarantee home court advantage in the first round, but it still allows for a second place team in a particularly strong division to gain a seed higher than the division winner of a particularly weak division. In the second round, the winner of the #1 vs. #8 matchup plays the winner of the #4 vs. #5 matchup, and the winner of the #2 vs. #7 matchup plays the winner of the #3 vs. #6 matchup. That way, the teams with the two best records in each conference would be on track to meet in the conference finals. Very fair and reasonable.
As of last year, Major League Baseball implemented a change in its playoff system, and while it was met with some disdain, it is, in my opinion, easy to see why the league did it. Instead of having the winners of each of the three divisions, plus the team with the next best record make up the four teams in each league, a fifth team was added to the equation. Now, the teams with the fourth and fifth best records in each league play one another in a one-game "win or go home" scenario. The winner of that game then takes on the team with the best record in each league, and the remaining two division winners play each other. After those series' end, the two remaining teams in each league play one another for a shot to go to the World Series. Those who oppose this format do so because it supposedly puts the playoff hopes of four teams (two in the American League and two in the National League) on the line in one game. However, I do like this because it makes winning your division extremely important. The difference between possibly missing out on the postseason in a one-game playoff and winning the division makes each regular season game that much more important. In my mind, it works.
Things get a bit more complicated in the National Football League. With four divisions of four teams in each conference, there are a whole lot more scenarios to figure out. The league also implements a bye-system. The two division winners in each conference with the best won-loss records get the first weekend of the playoffs off to rest and recover. In a league where injuries can strike at any moment, and can ruin seasons in doing so, getting a bye in the first round of the playoffs is a huge incentive. After that, the winners of the other two divisions play the two non-division winning teams with the best record in each conference. Again, in an effort to make winning the division of extreme importance, those remaining two division winners host a first round game against one of the wild card teams, no matter the overall record of the teams. While this seems to make sense, it sometimes proves to be controversial when the winner of a particularly weak division hosts a wild card winner that could have a better record but still be forced to play a road game. Therefore, a 9-7 team from a weak division could host an 11-5 team from a strong division.
This was of particular note in 2010, when, in a terrible NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks actually won the division with a 7-9 record. It was the first time a team with a sub .500 record had won its division, and therefore, the Seahawks hosted the 11-5, defending Super Bowl Champion, New Orleans Saints. People yelled and screamed about it being unfair, but the Seahawks ended up winning that game (remember the Marshawn Lynch earthquake-inducing run). Now, homefield advantage surely played a part in Seattle's victory, and it is undeniable that they do have quite the advantage thanks to their home fans. It also appeared unfair, because the team with the home atmosphere that is probably second best in the league is the New Orleans Saints. If the game had been played in the Superdome in New Orleans, it would likely have been a much different game. However, this case is seemingly the outlier, and for the most part, the first round of the playoffs pretty much gets it right.
Next, is the NHL, and if the new divisions and unbalanced conferences might seem a bit new and take some time to get used to, just wait until we look at the format of the playoffs. The two division winners now face-off against the #7 and #8 seeds in each conference, now referred to as wild card teams. Wild card teams can come from any division, but they can finish no higher than third in their own division. The top three teams in each division are guaranteed a playoff berth, no matter their record. After that, the wild card winners are the two teams outside the top three in their own division, and those teams can come from either division. As it stands right now, the two wild card teams in the Eastern Conference would be the Philadelphia Flyers (from the Metropolitan Division) and the Detroit Red Wings (from the Atlantic Division). However, in the Western Conference, the two wild card teams would be the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars, both members of the Central Division. This follows the model of the NFL, and it allows good teams from strong divisions to be rewarded with berths in the postseason. Therefore, this means the #1 seed will still play the #8 seed, and the #2 seed will still play the #7 seed. After that, we really see the effects of the new format.
Instead of the team with the third best record in each conference playing the team with the sixth best record, the second and third place teams in each division will play one another. This actually is a disadvantage to teams who play in a strong division and do not come in first place. As it currently stands, that means the Canadiens and Lightning will play one another in the first round, and the Rangers will play the Blue Jackets, despite Montreal and Tampa Bay both having better records than New York and Columbus. Under the old format, Montreal would have home-ice advantage in the first round against Columbus, and Tampa Bay would have home-ice advantage in the first round against New York. Instead, Tampa Bay is actually being forced to go on the road in the first round, and New York is being rewarded with home-ice advantage, despite Tampa Bay's record being superior to New York's. Like the NFL, this is technically unfair, but it is not drastically unfair.
In the second round, unlike the NFL, the divisional affiliation still matters. The winners of the "wild card" matchups, in all likelihood being the division winners in each conference will then play the winner of the first round matchup from their own respective division. That means the second round is guaranteed to be a matchup of division mates, no matter their overall records in respect to their seed in the conference. The case to look at here is that of the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago currently stands in third place in the Central Division with the fourth best record in the Western Conference. In the old format, Chicago would have home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs against the team with the fifth best record in the West. Therefore, they would be guaranteed home-ice advantage in at least one round thanks to a very good regular season. However, due to this new format, Chicago could actually have to play the #2 and #3 seeds in the West, and not have home-ice advantage at all.
Right now, Chicago would play on the road in Colorado in the first round, and then, were they to win that series, they would go on the road again to play St. Louis. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks, who have a worse record than Chicago could potentially play at home in the first round and second round (if Anaheim were to be upset by the #8 seed in round one). This seems to be much more of a disadvantage to a good team in a good division like Chicago, and it makes their road to the Stanley Cup much tougher than it should be.
If this is all a bit confusing, then I have proven my point. The NHL is clearly the #4 sport based upon popularity in the four major American sports. I wrote earlier that its Winter Classic was a major attention-grabber, and has been a unquestioned success, but the new "Stadium Series" the league implemented this season took a bit of the glamour away from the Winter Classic. It seems like the league was messing with a good thing and being a bit greedy in doing so, and I tend to think similarly about this new playoff format. To those who watch intently, the NHL playoffs are extremely competitive and always fun. However, to the more casual fan, an extremely convoluted and confusing playoff format is surely not going to bring them any closer to investing more time in the game of hockey. It is easy to point the finger at commissioner Gary Bettman here, and he surely is deserving of much of the blame, but the league in general, including the owners, have not, in my mind, changed the league for the better here. Innovation and change can be for the better sometimes, but too much tinkering with a product that is lagging behind its competition can also turn out bad as well, and I don't like what the NHL has done with postseason here.
Daily Rangers Update: With only one game left to play, the Rangers seem destined to be hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the playoffs. As I just mentioned, this is actually an advantage for them, as in the old format the Rangers would be going on the road against Tampa Bay and have a potential second round matchup with the top-seeded Bruins awaiting them in round two. Instead, if they win their first round matchup with Columbus, they are still guaranteed to avoid Boston in the second round.
Daily Nets Update: The Nets have four games left to play, and they seem to be locked into the #5 spot in the Eastern Conference. Who they play in the first round is still undecided, as the Raptors and Bulls are tied at #3 and #4 in the east. Chicago will be tough, and Toronto has certainly flown under the radar despite being a very respectable 46-32. Either way, the Nets will have to go on the road to open the playoffs after the regular season ends.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Coming off a series win over the San Francisco Giants, the Diamondbacks open up a series at home tonight against the Dodgers. They still find themselves at the bottom of the National League standings, and the pitching has been very poor over the first 12 games. Losing Patrick Corbin right before the start of the season was a big blow, and the rest of the rotation has not exactly picked up the slack so far. They have been piecing together a staff with guys like Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf, and Randall Delgado has struggled mightily so far after winning a spot in the rotation out of Spring Training. We might be seeing Archie Bradley a bit sooner than expected if the rotation continues to struggle like it has thus far.
Daily Giants Update: Eli Manning underwent successful surgery on his ankle today, and he should be able to run again in six weeks. The preseason is still a long way away, but with a whole lot of questions on the offensive side of the ball, it would be nice to get the man who has never missed a start in his career back ASAP so the unit can begin to gel.
In all four of our major sports, playoff formats vary. The NBA's is probably the simplest to understand, as the #1 seed in each conference plays the #8 seed, the #2 seed plays the #7 seed, and so on. The only caveat is that the winner of each division (there are three in each conference) must be among the top four seeds in the conference. That still makes winning the division guarantee home court advantage in the first round, but it still allows for a second place team in a particularly strong division to gain a seed higher than the division winner of a particularly weak division. In the second round, the winner of the #1 vs. #8 matchup plays the winner of the #4 vs. #5 matchup, and the winner of the #2 vs. #7 matchup plays the winner of the #3 vs. #6 matchup. That way, the teams with the two best records in each conference would be on track to meet in the conference finals. Very fair and reasonable.
As of last year, Major League Baseball implemented a change in its playoff system, and while it was met with some disdain, it is, in my opinion, easy to see why the league did it. Instead of having the winners of each of the three divisions, plus the team with the next best record make up the four teams in each league, a fifth team was added to the equation. Now, the teams with the fourth and fifth best records in each league play one another in a one-game "win or go home" scenario. The winner of that game then takes on the team with the best record in each league, and the remaining two division winners play each other. After those series' end, the two remaining teams in each league play one another for a shot to go to the World Series. Those who oppose this format do so because it supposedly puts the playoff hopes of four teams (two in the American League and two in the National League) on the line in one game. However, I do like this because it makes winning your division extremely important. The difference between possibly missing out on the postseason in a one-game playoff and winning the division makes each regular season game that much more important. In my mind, it works.
Things get a bit more complicated in the National Football League. With four divisions of four teams in each conference, there are a whole lot more scenarios to figure out. The league also implements a bye-system. The two division winners in each conference with the best won-loss records get the first weekend of the playoffs off to rest and recover. In a league where injuries can strike at any moment, and can ruin seasons in doing so, getting a bye in the first round of the playoffs is a huge incentive. After that, the winners of the other two divisions play the two non-division winning teams with the best record in each conference. Again, in an effort to make winning the division of extreme importance, those remaining two division winners host a first round game against one of the wild card teams, no matter the overall record of the teams. While this seems to make sense, it sometimes proves to be controversial when the winner of a particularly weak division hosts a wild card winner that could have a better record but still be forced to play a road game. Therefore, a 9-7 team from a weak division could host an 11-5 team from a strong division.
This was of particular note in 2010, when, in a terrible NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks actually won the division with a 7-9 record. It was the first time a team with a sub .500 record had won its division, and therefore, the Seahawks hosted the 11-5, defending Super Bowl Champion, New Orleans Saints. People yelled and screamed about it being unfair, but the Seahawks ended up winning that game (remember the Marshawn Lynch earthquake-inducing run). Now, homefield advantage surely played a part in Seattle's victory, and it is undeniable that they do have quite the advantage thanks to their home fans. It also appeared unfair, because the team with the home atmosphere that is probably second best in the league is the New Orleans Saints. If the game had been played in the Superdome in New Orleans, it would likely have been a much different game. However, this case is seemingly the outlier, and for the most part, the first round of the playoffs pretty much gets it right.
Next, is the NHL, and if the new divisions and unbalanced conferences might seem a bit new and take some time to get used to, just wait until we look at the format of the playoffs. The two division winners now face-off against the #7 and #8 seeds in each conference, now referred to as wild card teams. Wild card teams can come from any division, but they can finish no higher than third in their own division. The top three teams in each division are guaranteed a playoff berth, no matter their record. After that, the wild card winners are the two teams outside the top three in their own division, and those teams can come from either division. As it stands right now, the two wild card teams in the Eastern Conference would be the Philadelphia Flyers (from the Metropolitan Division) and the Detroit Red Wings (from the Atlantic Division). However, in the Western Conference, the two wild card teams would be the Minnesota Wild and the Dallas Stars, both members of the Central Division. This follows the model of the NFL, and it allows good teams from strong divisions to be rewarded with berths in the postseason. Therefore, this means the #1 seed will still play the #8 seed, and the #2 seed will still play the #7 seed. After that, we really see the effects of the new format.
Instead of the team with the third best record in each conference playing the team with the sixth best record, the second and third place teams in each division will play one another. This actually is a disadvantage to teams who play in a strong division and do not come in first place. As it currently stands, that means the Canadiens and Lightning will play one another in the first round, and the Rangers will play the Blue Jackets, despite Montreal and Tampa Bay both having better records than New York and Columbus. Under the old format, Montreal would have home-ice advantage in the first round against Columbus, and Tampa Bay would have home-ice advantage in the first round against New York. Instead, Tampa Bay is actually being forced to go on the road in the first round, and New York is being rewarded with home-ice advantage, despite Tampa Bay's record being superior to New York's. Like the NFL, this is technically unfair, but it is not drastically unfair.
In the second round, unlike the NFL, the divisional affiliation still matters. The winners of the "wild card" matchups, in all likelihood being the division winners in each conference will then play the winner of the first round matchup from their own respective division. That means the second round is guaranteed to be a matchup of division mates, no matter their overall records in respect to their seed in the conference. The case to look at here is that of the Chicago Blackhawks. Chicago currently stands in third place in the Central Division with the fourth best record in the Western Conference. In the old format, Chicago would have home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs against the team with the fifth best record in the West. Therefore, they would be guaranteed home-ice advantage in at least one round thanks to a very good regular season. However, due to this new format, Chicago could actually have to play the #2 and #3 seeds in the West, and not have home-ice advantage at all.
Right now, Chicago would play on the road in Colorado in the first round, and then, were they to win that series, they would go on the road again to play St. Louis. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks, who have a worse record than Chicago could potentially play at home in the first round and second round (if Anaheim were to be upset by the #8 seed in round one). This seems to be much more of a disadvantage to a good team in a good division like Chicago, and it makes their road to the Stanley Cup much tougher than it should be.
If this is all a bit confusing, then I have proven my point. The NHL is clearly the #4 sport based upon popularity in the four major American sports. I wrote earlier that its Winter Classic was a major attention-grabber, and has been a unquestioned success, but the new "Stadium Series" the league implemented this season took a bit of the glamour away from the Winter Classic. It seems like the league was messing with a good thing and being a bit greedy in doing so, and I tend to think similarly about this new playoff format. To those who watch intently, the NHL playoffs are extremely competitive and always fun. However, to the more casual fan, an extremely convoluted and confusing playoff format is surely not going to bring them any closer to investing more time in the game of hockey. It is easy to point the finger at commissioner Gary Bettman here, and he surely is deserving of much of the blame, but the league in general, including the owners, have not, in my mind, changed the league for the better here. Innovation and change can be for the better sometimes, but too much tinkering with a product that is lagging behind its competition can also turn out bad as well, and I don't like what the NHL has done with postseason here.
Daily Rangers Update: With only one game left to play, the Rangers seem destined to be hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the playoffs. As I just mentioned, this is actually an advantage for them, as in the old format the Rangers would be going on the road against Tampa Bay and have a potential second round matchup with the top-seeded Bruins awaiting them in round two. Instead, if they win their first round matchup with Columbus, they are still guaranteed to avoid Boston in the second round.
Daily Nets Update: The Nets have four games left to play, and they seem to be locked into the #5 spot in the Eastern Conference. Who they play in the first round is still undecided, as the Raptors and Bulls are tied at #3 and #4 in the east. Chicago will be tough, and Toronto has certainly flown under the radar despite being a very respectable 46-32. Either way, the Nets will have to go on the road to open the playoffs after the regular season ends.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Coming off a series win over the San Francisco Giants, the Diamondbacks open up a series at home tonight against the Dodgers. They still find themselves at the bottom of the National League standings, and the pitching has been very poor over the first 12 games. Losing Patrick Corbin right before the start of the season was a big blow, and the rest of the rotation has not exactly picked up the slack so far. They have been piecing together a staff with guys like Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf, and Randall Delgado has struggled mightily so far after winning a spot in the rotation out of Spring Training. We might be seeing Archie Bradley a bit sooner than expected if the rotation continues to struggle like it has thus far.
Daily Giants Update: Eli Manning underwent successful surgery on his ankle today, and he should be able to run again in six weeks. The preseason is still a long way away, but with a whole lot of questions on the offensive side of the ball, it would be nice to get the man who has never missed a start in his career back ASAP so the unit can begin to gel.
Monday, April 7, 2014
The beginning of a possibly groundbreaking ruling
I have been meaning to write about this topic for some time now, and since NCAA president Mark Emmert addressed it at a news conference earlier today, I want to get my feelings out about the Northwestern University football players and their attempt to unionize. About two weeks ago, news broke that a group of current and former Northwestern football players, headlined by outgoing senior, and starting quarterback, Kain Colter had brought a case in front of the National Labor Relations Board, and the NLRB had ruled in favor of the players attempting to begin the process of college athletes becoming able to unionize. The potential ramifications of this verdict, as well as appeals and rulings that will unquestionably follow, could change collegiate athletics as we know them.
First off, let's start with the purpose of labor unions. Employee unions exist with the intention of allowing employees of any particular organization to protect themselves from unfair practices. Whether it be poor working conditions, subpar wages, or any other number of reasons, unions are essential to the workplace in the United States. Sports are no different. Since professional sports are workplaces, all of our major professional athletes are members of player's unions. We might not think about it much, but professional sports as we know them exist because of these unions.
Often times, the only time we think about player's unions is when the possibility of a lockout or a strike arises, and to the common sports fan, labor disputes between unions and owners are seen as petty and irrational. We see athletes getting paid a lot of money to play professionally, and think that labor unrest should be something that is easily avoidable, but that is surely not the case.
Work stoppages have occurred in all four of our major sports. The first took place in 1972, when Major League Baseball players went on strike in an effort to increase pension amounts. The strike began on April 1st and lasted until April 13th, and it ended with the players gaining a $500,000 pension increase. Had a player's union not existed, it would have been impossible for the players to get that result. There have been various work stoppages throughout the four major American sports. Many of them have not caused significant changes to the games that we see, but that has not always been the case.
In August of 1994, MLB players went on strike, with the main concern of avoiding a salary cap. The end of the 1994 season was not played, and it was the first time in 90 years that a World Series was not played. In 2004, the NHL became the first American professional sport to lose an entire season due to a labor dispute, and the main issue at hand was, just like MLB in 1994, a salary cap. The NBA and NFL have also gone through work stoppages, but neither of those leagues has ever missed more than a portion of its season, and neither of them have had to cancel its championship due to labor disputes. So, unions have certainly been essential to professional sports as we know them, and whether we like it or not, we have seen the power that player's unions can exert if they deem it necessary.
So, now it is time to spin all of this history forward and look at the case of Northwestern football. Debates have gone on for years and years about whether or not college athletes should be compensated (usually, that means financially compensated) for their services. Those in favor of the athletes say that the students are bringing in enormous profits to their universities, and the fact that they never see any of that money go into their own pockets is unjust. On the other hand, opponents of that theory will point out that the athletes are attending their schools due to a scholarship, and therefore they are being compensated with a free education that is due to their outstanding ability in whatever sport they might play.
I tend to agree with the latter point of view. A college education, no matter the school, is very expensive. If a student-athlete is admitted to a university and does not have the responsibility to pay the thousands of dollars most students would pay, they are already seeing a significant reward for their abilities before they even play their first game. However, I also see how one could argue for the players. The cost of admittance to a school is surely large, but depending upon the school that a student attends, as well as the sport that he or she plays, it could really be insignificant compared to the revenue that that student generates for the university.
An 18-year old who plays football for a Division III school, no matter his talent level, is not bringing in a profit that is anywhere close to a Division I school whose stadium holds upward of 100,000 people. That is just a fact. Many small, lower division football programs would be happy to generate $2 million in revenue over the course of an entire season. According to Forbes Magazine, Ohio State University generates about $3 million per game. Obviously, the difference is enormous. So then, since Division I schools are bringing in huge profits, should the players expect to receive more than just a scholarship? According to this Northwestern proposal, they should.
At first, it would clearly seem that this unionization attempt by the Northwestern football players was solely a money grab. However, at least at first glance, that does not appear to be the case. While I'm sure that financial compensation is a concern, the group initially based its case on the protection of players during their time at the university, as well as into the future. One of the main points of the movement was based around player safety and medical care. While a student athlete might be granted a free education due to his superior athletic ability, the group brought about the point that if that athlete were to incur any serious injury during his time at the university, it would be completely optional for the school to pay for medical expenses after the student graduated. Many sports; football being the most likely, can cause serious injuries that bring about life-changing injuries that players must deal with for years and years following their college graduation. As the law stands now, schools have absolutely no obligation to pay for medical disbursements while the player is at school, let alone after the player graduates. The medical coverage of retired NFL players was one of the main issues at the forefront of the negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA on the table at the expiration of the last Collective Bargaining Agreement, and this is basically an extension of that same concern.
Most collegiate athletes will not be able to become professional athletes, and the Northwestern appeal focused on them. We pay attention to the athletes who become superstars, but we do not remember the majority of the athletes who never become professionals. They have to find work in other fields, and if they might apply for a job with some sort of injury incurred when they were in college, they simply have to deal with it. They might have been bringing in a whole lot of money for the NCAA, but once they graduate, the NCAA has no obligation to continue to look out for their best interest.
The future of players; after their playing careers are over, is what the Northwestern football players were most ardent about.
What I have provided here is only a background of the significance of a player's union in collegiate athletics. The consequences of a ruling in favor of the Northwestern football team are seemingly unceasing, and it will take an entirely new topic for me to get into those. Until then, I think we have to look at the actions of the Northwestern football program as potentially groundbreaking, as well as something that could change the face of collegiate athletics as we know it within the next few years.
Daily Nets Update: Brooklyn seems to be locked into the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference, and that means a likely matchup with either the Bulls or Raptors in the first round of the playoffs. I have said this before, but I still realistically think that the best this team can hope for is at least a berth into the second round of the playoffs.
Daily Rangers Update: Just like the Nets, it seems like the Rangers are destined to finish either fourth or fifth in the Eastern Conference, and right now that would mean a matchup of them and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. As Ryan Callahan is now a member of the Lightning, I would honestly like to avoid cheering against him in the postseason, thanks to his time as a Ranger, it seems like that is becoming more and more of a possibility. However, the name on the front of the jersey is always more important than the name on the back, and in the NHL playoffs, anything is possible. Let's Go Rangers!
Daily Diamondbacks Update: The season has surely not gotten off to a very good start, as the team stands at 2-7. With 153 games left to play, obviously, there is still a whole lot of game to play. However, the pitching has gotten off to a terrible start. The offense has been pretty good, but without improvement from both the starting rotation and the bullpen, the Diamondbacks will be hard pressed to compete in 2014.
First off, let's start with the purpose of labor unions. Employee unions exist with the intention of allowing employees of any particular organization to protect themselves from unfair practices. Whether it be poor working conditions, subpar wages, or any other number of reasons, unions are essential to the workplace in the United States. Sports are no different. Since professional sports are workplaces, all of our major professional athletes are members of player's unions. We might not think about it much, but professional sports as we know them exist because of these unions.
Often times, the only time we think about player's unions is when the possibility of a lockout or a strike arises, and to the common sports fan, labor disputes between unions and owners are seen as petty and irrational. We see athletes getting paid a lot of money to play professionally, and think that labor unrest should be something that is easily avoidable, but that is surely not the case.
Work stoppages have occurred in all four of our major sports. The first took place in 1972, when Major League Baseball players went on strike in an effort to increase pension amounts. The strike began on April 1st and lasted until April 13th, and it ended with the players gaining a $500,000 pension increase. Had a player's union not existed, it would have been impossible for the players to get that result. There have been various work stoppages throughout the four major American sports. Many of them have not caused significant changes to the games that we see, but that has not always been the case.
In August of 1994, MLB players went on strike, with the main concern of avoiding a salary cap. The end of the 1994 season was not played, and it was the first time in 90 years that a World Series was not played. In 2004, the NHL became the first American professional sport to lose an entire season due to a labor dispute, and the main issue at hand was, just like MLB in 1994, a salary cap. The NBA and NFL have also gone through work stoppages, but neither of those leagues has ever missed more than a portion of its season, and neither of them have had to cancel its championship due to labor disputes. So, unions have certainly been essential to professional sports as we know them, and whether we like it or not, we have seen the power that player's unions can exert if they deem it necessary.
So, now it is time to spin all of this history forward and look at the case of Northwestern football. Debates have gone on for years and years about whether or not college athletes should be compensated (usually, that means financially compensated) for their services. Those in favor of the athletes say that the students are bringing in enormous profits to their universities, and the fact that they never see any of that money go into their own pockets is unjust. On the other hand, opponents of that theory will point out that the athletes are attending their schools due to a scholarship, and therefore they are being compensated with a free education that is due to their outstanding ability in whatever sport they might play.
I tend to agree with the latter point of view. A college education, no matter the school, is very expensive. If a student-athlete is admitted to a university and does not have the responsibility to pay the thousands of dollars most students would pay, they are already seeing a significant reward for their abilities before they even play their first game. However, I also see how one could argue for the players. The cost of admittance to a school is surely large, but depending upon the school that a student attends, as well as the sport that he or she plays, it could really be insignificant compared to the revenue that that student generates for the university.
An 18-year old who plays football for a Division III school, no matter his talent level, is not bringing in a profit that is anywhere close to a Division I school whose stadium holds upward of 100,000 people. That is just a fact. Many small, lower division football programs would be happy to generate $2 million in revenue over the course of an entire season. According to Forbes Magazine, Ohio State University generates about $3 million per game. Obviously, the difference is enormous. So then, since Division I schools are bringing in huge profits, should the players expect to receive more than just a scholarship? According to this Northwestern proposal, they should.
At first, it would clearly seem that this unionization attempt by the Northwestern football players was solely a money grab. However, at least at first glance, that does not appear to be the case. While I'm sure that financial compensation is a concern, the group initially based its case on the protection of players during their time at the university, as well as into the future. One of the main points of the movement was based around player safety and medical care. While a student athlete might be granted a free education due to his superior athletic ability, the group brought about the point that if that athlete were to incur any serious injury during his time at the university, it would be completely optional for the school to pay for medical expenses after the student graduated. Many sports; football being the most likely, can cause serious injuries that bring about life-changing injuries that players must deal with for years and years following their college graduation. As the law stands now, schools have absolutely no obligation to pay for medical disbursements while the player is at school, let alone after the player graduates. The medical coverage of retired NFL players was one of the main issues at the forefront of the negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA on the table at the expiration of the last Collective Bargaining Agreement, and this is basically an extension of that same concern.
Most collegiate athletes will not be able to become professional athletes, and the Northwestern appeal focused on them. We pay attention to the athletes who become superstars, but we do not remember the majority of the athletes who never become professionals. They have to find work in other fields, and if they might apply for a job with some sort of injury incurred when they were in college, they simply have to deal with it. They might have been bringing in a whole lot of money for the NCAA, but once they graduate, the NCAA has no obligation to continue to look out for their best interest.
The future of players; after their playing careers are over, is what the Northwestern football players were most ardent about.
What I have provided here is only a background of the significance of a player's union in collegiate athletics. The consequences of a ruling in favor of the Northwestern football team are seemingly unceasing, and it will take an entirely new topic for me to get into those. Until then, I think we have to look at the actions of the Northwestern football program as potentially groundbreaking, as well as something that could change the face of collegiate athletics as we know it within the next few years.
Daily Nets Update: Brooklyn seems to be locked into the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference, and that means a likely matchup with either the Bulls or Raptors in the first round of the playoffs. I have said this before, but I still realistically think that the best this team can hope for is at least a berth into the second round of the playoffs.
Daily Rangers Update: Just like the Nets, it seems like the Rangers are destined to finish either fourth or fifth in the Eastern Conference, and right now that would mean a matchup of them and the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs. As Ryan Callahan is now a member of the Lightning, I would honestly like to avoid cheering against him in the postseason, thanks to his time as a Ranger, it seems like that is becoming more and more of a possibility. However, the name on the front of the jersey is always more important than the name on the back, and in the NHL playoffs, anything is possible. Let's Go Rangers!
Daily Diamondbacks Update: The season has surely not gotten off to a very good start, as the team stands at 2-7. With 153 games left to play, obviously, there is still a whole lot of game to play. However, the pitching has gotten off to a terrible start. The offense has been pretty good, but without improvement from both the starting rotation and the bullpen, the Diamondbacks will be hard pressed to compete in 2014.
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