The Sports Guru

I read a great article by Peter Gammons on ESPN.com this week. Yes, that Peter Gammons, the baseball guy. He wrote a great piece about Roger Clemens, and the Rocket’s insatiable desire to be great right off the bat. While I was reading it I kept thinking about LeBron James. LeBron has the ability to be great, perhaps one of the best ever. There are nights it is plainly evident, others, well not so much. The moral of the article, while about a baseball player, can transcend baseball and apply to all sports.

To get at the level these guys reach you have to be good. Great, even. There is a wide gap between high school and college, then another gap between college and the pros. Once at the professional level everything evens out and the difference between good and great is razor thin and usually has to do with one thing - desire. If you’re going to be more than just good, you have to want to be great, no doubt,” says Bobby Cox. That’s a profound statement. How many pros in any sport have you read about no fulfilling their potential? How many guys over-achieved, seemingly overcoming the lack of physical ability to become great? God-given talent can take you only so far.

That brings me back to LeBron. The landscape in basketball is different than the other team sports. LeBron signed a $90 million contract with Nike before his High School graduation. The quest for financial reward was never part of the equation. All that there is to drive LeBron to be great is LeBron, and if he doesn’t feed off that drive it will never happen. I worry that the latter might be the case. When I watch a jovial LeBron hug and smile with Shaq after another bad Cavalier loss I wonder. I talk about that on the Cavs.com message boards and people say that LeBron isn’t the problem, 29 points, he did his job. Their right, and perhaps that is why LeBron is so happy. He is satisfied with putting up the numbers. He quest isn’t for team success, but for individual accollades.

I am not accusing LeBron of this, just using arguments that defend him against those using them. But what i see from LeBron at times makes me wonder if he has the killer instinct that a Michael Jordan, or Tiger Woods have. Tiger is good comarison, to a point. Tiger also got big bucks form endorsements before ever really making a dime on the PGA Tour. Tiger has IT though. A killer instinct, a desire to be great, to be the greatest, that drives him when the game itself becomes monotonous. Toger feeds off of those who criticize or try to bring him down. Every time Woods seems to falter, bringing out the vulchers that want to bury him, he comes back stronger than ever, reestablishing himself as the most dominant golfer ever.

Does LeBron Want It Bad Enough?

Golf is an individual sport, however, and maybe most importantly Tiger went to Stanford before turning pro. LeBron is still learning, only 2 months into his 22nd year. He is still learning the game, and learning to lead at the same time. To be a leader, however, means tough decisions have to be made, because your team is following your lead. If you laugh off losses, and excuse them every time, justifying weaknesses, your teammates are going to do the same. LeBron needs to learn that. More importantly, he needs to WANT to learn that.

“You have to think about wanting to beat the other guy,” says Clemens. “To be better than the next guy. When I knew in Boston (after his first Cy Young/MVP season) that I had to pay a price with my legs, I wasn’t thinking about my place in history, or greatness, but I had the drive to be different.

“Do I think about greatness? Not really. I want Debby and my kids to think about it. But the price, the pain, the exhaustion … it’ll all be worth it when the team I’m pitching for wins. There is no pain or workload too great to overcome the feeling of winning.”

Whether you like him or hate him, Clemons is a winner and has been his entire life. He understands what it is to be great, and more importantly doesn’t fear it. The jury on LeBron is still out, and you have to wonder, does LeBron James want to be great??

Technorati Tags: Roger Clemens, LeBron James, NBA, Cavs, baseball, basketball

NASCAR has hit middle age. If sports, like people, can have a mid-life crisis then NASCAR is right in the middle of it. After years of being a grass roots sport, mostly popular in the south, stock car racing blew up in the 90’s becoming the 2nd most popular sport in the country behind the NFL. The death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001 only did more to bolster that popularity, and NASCAR continues to break attendance and viewership records every season.

That doesn’t mean the sports hasn’t gone through it’s share of growing pains, however. Eanrhardt’s pre-mature passing had a dual-edge effect on the sport, drawing popularity while at the same time spiraling NASCAR into a leadership abyss. Earnhardt was a leader on and off the track, and younger drivers respected him enough to follow his word and suggestion. If someone stepped out of line he was there to smack them back into line. He was the protector of the NASCAR “code” and people didn’t dare cross “The Intimidator”. Earnhardt and NASCAR were synonomous with each other.

Since his death, NASCAR has struggled to find a replacement. Drivers have become more and more reckless, with altercations seemingly happening every week. Issues that would have been resolved after a wekk or so have dragged on for months and many NASCAR races have taken a pro-wrestling tone with drivers throwing objects at other drivers and wrecking them on purpose. NASCAR diehards are becoming fed up.

The sport has also suffered a bit from all the popularity. Fans that were fiercely loyal to the sport in it’s infantcy are now becoming disinterested. Many of the old racetracks that were fan-friendly have been squeezed out of the schedule, replaced by mega-tracks with mega sponsers and mega-price tags for tickets. Instead of smaller towns in the south, NASCAR frequents Chicago, LA and Vegas. The fans that were the foundation that built NASCAR have seemingly been left behind, and the experience that was more burning rubber and motor oli has been replaced by pre-race concerts and clebrity appearances.

Major sponsership for it’s series changed from Winston to Nextel, further distancing itself from it ‘good ole boy’ roots. The ‘Chase’ format used to decide it’s champion has been a downer for traditionalists, though it has significantly increased interest in the sport, especially during the final 10 races of the season.

Now, on the cusp if it’s biggest race of the season, NASCAR has decided to drp the hammer on teams trying to gain a competitive advantage. Let’s face it, talk to any NASCAR fan and they’ll say cheating has been part of the the sport forever. Like baseball, an unofficial motto has always been “If you ain’t cheating, you ain’t tryin”. It’s always been a part of the sport that NASCAR publically spoke of removing, but whose actions said otherwise. Until this year.

Cheating has always been a part of NASCAR

Already before the race serveral drivers have been spanked for various rulles violations, including Michael Waltrip, whose three car-team is part of the initial entry for Toyota into the sport. Officials found an illegal substance in the intake manifold and levied the biggest fine ever, $100,000, plus indefinte suspensions of Waltrip’s Crew Chief and Competition Manager. Four other Crew Chiefs from other teams, including Ryan Newman, have also been suspended for various violations. Even Jeff Gordon got busted, for having quarter-panels that were too low after his qualifying race win yesterday, forcing the 4-time winner to start 42nd in the 43 car field.

I am all for enforcing the rules and keeping everyone on a level playing field, but NASCAR needs to be careful that the post-race inspection doesn’t become more of the story than the race itself. Think about it, the Daytona 500 is the Super Bowl of NASCAR, it’s biggest event. What if the NFL started calling holding penalties on every play during the Super Bowl. Or if umpires in baseball started enforcing pine tar rules during the World Series. Sure, they are the rules, but the Super Bowl, or World Series, are not the time to start becoming sticklers about the rules, especially when it has been overlooked for so long. What, you think these guys just started doing some of these things this year?

If NASCAR wants to clean up it’s sport, I am all for it. I have said many times that if NASCAR really wanted to send a message, and stop all the hijinks on and off the track, they would suspend the drivers. TOny Stewart wants to have road rage at 200 miles per hour? Fine, pull Stewart out of the #20 car for a few races and see what the fans, and more importantly Home Depot has to say about that.

NASCAR just needs to be careful. Growth is great, but like anything, too much too fast can make you forget how you got there and who helped ya do it. Let’s hope NASCAR remembers it’s roots, and stops trying to cater to the “next great thing” crowd, becuase when they find that next great thing NASCAR will need the core group they seem to be racing away from.

Technorati Tags: NASCAR, Michael Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Daytona 500

Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball, America’s Pastime, is clueless. He has proven it time and time again, but this just might take the cake. Selig was asked yesterday about Barry Bonds’ assault on the All-Time Home Run record, and what baseball would do about it should the record get broken. Selig’s response was less than intelligent, saying he would handle the record the way baseball handles all records that have been broken –

“I wasn’t there when Roger Clemens won his 300th game. That’s a matter I’ll determine at some point in the future,” Selig said at a baseball luncheon hosted by Fox Sports Bay Area. “Let me say it, and I’m not going to say anymore. That’s it.”

No Bud, that’s not it. Roger Clemens 300th win??? You are comparing the Home Run Record to a pitcher winning 300 games?? I am not a stats guy, but how many guys have won 300 games? 10, 15? How many guys have hit 755 Home Runs? Exactly ONE. As Jules Winfield says in Pulp Fiction - “It ain’t the same ballpark, it ain’t the same league, it ain’t even the same sport!” Exactly right. To compare what many say is the most hallowed record in all of sports to a milestone several players have reached is an insult to the intelligence of every sports fan out there.

“If I close my eyes, Barry will go away”

This is Selig’s way. he hopes beyond hope that if he ignores something it just won’t happen. Baseball, under his watch, turned a blind eye to steroid abuse in baseball for 15 years. Selig had no problem riding on the backs of suspected juicers Sammy Sosa and Mark McGuire during the magical Summer of ‘98 when baseball replanted itself in the American conscience. Selig cultivated a culture that glorified Sosa and McGuire and forced players, Bonds among them, to go to whatever means necessary to not just be great players, but to hit home runs by the dozen. Barry Bonds was the best player in baseball before his head doubled in size. On “the clear” he might be the best ever.

Now Selig has to cash the check his regime wrote. Bonds breaking Aaron’s record is the culmination of the darkest age in baseball history. When players were cheating and everyone knew it, but chose to ignore it. Jose Canseco, Ken Caminiti, and several others felt obligated to do what ever it took to become elite, and who could blame them. The difference between a 20-80 guy and a 35-120 guy is about 5 million dollars a year, what would you do?

Selig’s biggest misstep in his comments yesterday was admitting that his friendship with Hank Aaron was playing a role in all of this -

“It is a fact Hank Aaron and I have been friends for 50 years, close friends,” Selig said. “When you’re the commissioner, you just don’t think about that. I have said before if and when Barry Bonds breaks that record it will be handled the same way that every other record in baseball that’s been broken was handled.”

Sure, he tries to deny it, but the fact that he even mentions his relationship with Aaron proves otherwise. If Selig could find a way to sabotage Bonds and his trek to 756 he would, and don’t think Bonds won’t be tested multiple times during the chase. It’s a sad state of affairs, no doubt about it. Do I want Bonds to break the record? No. he just isn’t a good guy, and Hammerin’ Hank had to go through alot more than Bonds ever did to accomplish what he did.

What I think doesn’t matter. I am not the most powerful man in baseball, with an obligation to the game, and it’s past, to honor this record, no matter who breaks it, the way it deserves to be honored, not because of who breaks it, but because of who has held it in the past. If Bud Selig cares about baseball, he’ll do the right thing, but don’t hold your breath.

Technorati Tags: Barry Bonds, Bud Selig, Major League Baseball, Home Run record, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth

***I’m sorry, I have to admit, watching Duke lose three in a row for the first time in nearly 2 decades brings a smile to my face. For most of that time I was indifferent towards Duke and Coach K. I respect his success, that he has done it the right way. I accept the fact that his system is great for college and that his players, for the most part, are disappointments in the NBA(Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer and Grant Hill aside). Then came March Madness a few years ago and all those annoying Chevy and American Express commercials featuring Mike. Talk about a recruiting advantage. Think for a moment you are the parent of a 17-year old basketball phenom. Which coach do you want responsible for your son? A guy entrusted with the marketing campaign of a large car company and huge credit card company, or a guy like Bruce Pearl who wears a bright orange jacket? That’s what I thought. From that moment on I have been doing to Anti-Duke dance at night. So far, it’s worked. Now Duke has decayed all the way down to a 5-5 team in the ACC, losing at home, no less, to Virgina Tech. Not very American Express-like of the Kster. Last night it was arch-rival North Carolina with Roy Williams, who might be the guy pitching all the gear this March, stomping the Blue Devils into submission on their home floor. Duke is in trouble, and though they’ll get into the tourney on reputation alone, it will be at the price of a better, more deserving team, mark my words.

***National Signing Day came and went, and depending on which web-site you check the winner is either USC or Florida. Pete Carroll and Urban Meyer are two of the best recruiter in the business, and it doesn’t hurt that they can sell some of the best weather in the world. For us Buckeye fans it might seem like a disappointing class, given it’s ranking between 15-20 accross the board. Not to fear, Buckeye fans, Tressel and company didn’t have alot of scholarships to work with and though they lost out on a couple of blue-chippers they have a solid class based on need rather than star power. Take this into account, the Buckeyes have yet to break the Top 10 in recruiting according to Rivals.com that past 4 years. Needless to say, the Buckeyes have enjoyed a bit of success during that time. No fear Buckeye fans, Ohio St. will be oko as long as the Great Sweater Vest is running the show.

***The Cincinnati Reds are single-handedly assuring the Cleveland Indians will have no shot to re-sign Jake Westbrook this season or C.C. Sabathia after next. After watching the Kansas City Royals throw 55 million big ones at Gil Meche, a journeyman with mediocre talent at best, the Reds did the same thing, on back to back days, no less. First it was Aaron Harang getting 36 million. Harang is a nice pitcher, but definitely no Sabathia. Then today the Reds gave Bronson Arroyo 25 million over the next two seasons. Come on, is Arroyo any better than Westbrook? The Indians, who were hoping to get Westbrook signed to an extension before the start of Spring Training have to be sweating what the price tag for a .500 pitcher has ballooned to. Not good news for Tribe fans.

$25 Million for this guy???

***Jerry Jones hired Wade Phillips to coach the Cowboys. Wade frickin’ Phillips. Let’s see….I am not a big fan of Bill Parcells, going so far as to call him the most overrated head coach in league history. That was probably a bit overstated and teams can do alot worse than the Tuna. He has the personality to take the spotlight and shine it directly on himself, allowing his players to play without the pressure. He even managed to co-exist with T.O. Now comes Phillips, not known for his personality in stints in Denver and Buffalo. What makes Jerry Jones think T.O. is going to give this guy any respect when he refused to give a guy with two rings and three Super Bowl appearances on his resume any due. Add that to the fact that Jason Garrett, with exactly 5 minutes of experience running an NFL offense will now have total control of Tony Romo and company since Phillips’ strength is defense. This just can’t end well, can it? The Cowboys have way too much talent, and the NFC is way too weak, for this team not to make a serious run next year, that is, unless the inmates run the asylum and the whole thing goes up in flames.

Technorati Tags: Cincinnati Reds, Bronson Arroyo, Jerry Jones, Wade Phillips, Dallas Cowboys, Aaron Harang, Duke, North Carolina, Coach K, Roy Williams, USC

***I have looked, and I just don’t see it.  In the “Post-Equipment Malfunction” era we live in, Dan Patrick, among others, used his radio show to prove even further he is the worst radio host in America.  Patrick made the point of saying Prince was sexually explicit during his Super Bowl perfomance.  Take a look and decide for yourselves –

After contacting CBS, and the NFL, about the issue, Patrick was told that it is “a real stretch to come to the conclusion that the figure is anything else than a guitar”.  What Patrick should know is anything, if looked at hard enough, or discussed long enough, could be considered explicit. Football in general is filled with it, if that is your sort of thing, which for Dan Patrick it must be.  No wonder Patrick, and former SportsCenter host Keith Olberman giggled everytime they talked about “Tight Ends” and “Wide Receivers”.

***Nothing annoys me more than watching NFL Network coverage of the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.  Ok, so annoying is the wrong term.  I’m jealous as hell.  Watching Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, and all the NFL stars in flowered shirts, basking in sunshine, while I am sitting in single digits does just slightly ruin my day.  Speaking of the Pro Bowl, does anyone else find it amazing that there hasn’t been a recent serious injury to a superstar in the game?  Sure, Robert Edwards of the Patriots destroyed his knee playing a rediculous touch football game on the beach, but it’s been a long while since someone was severely hurt during the actual game.  To me, I breath a small sigh of relief everytime one of the Broncos bows out.

Tough life, Rich…

***Shanny held his annual State of the Broncos pow-wow with the media yesterday, and as you might have guessed the status of Jake Plummer was a major topic of interest.  Shanahan is in the inenviable position of trying to raise the stock of a player that just 2 months ago was declared not good enough of starting behind a rookie.  ”He’s 40-18 as a starter (here) and there should be a number teams that want to look at a starter and to give him the opportunity to show what he’s capable of doing.”  In the same breath, Shanahan explained the timing of the move to Jay Cutler, “I definitely thought it was the right time when you’re averaging 17 points a game and you’re 7-4 and you’re not going anywhere in the playoffs, not with 17 points a game. We put Jay in there and we averaged 25 points a game.”  Tough spot to be in.  There will, no doubt be interest in Plummer, with a number of teams at the breaking point with their current QB situation.  A perfect spot seems to be Houston, where good buddy Gary Kubiak could utilize a player like Plummer to stablize the quarterback position, as well as be a good bridge to who-ever the Texans groom for the future.  Plummer needs to be in a situation where the expectation is the Super Bowl, like Denver.  Houston would just love to go .500.  Seems like a match made in heavon to me.

***Finally, it was reported that the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is a bit unhappy with a Snickers commercial that aired during the Super Bowl.  If you missed it, the commercial shows two mechanics eating opposite ends of a Snickers bar, Lady and the Tramp style, until their lips touch at the end.  Disgusted, the two decide they have to do “something manly” to make up for their transgression.  In the ad, the two men pull their chest hair out to feel better about themselves.  It seems the group is even more unhappy about a website that has alternate endings that the public can vote on for broadcast during the Daytona 500.  Even further, there is video of NFL players watching the video, reacting to each scenario.  What I am trying to figure out is whether GLAAD is upset becuase of the ad, or becuase it was two dirty mechanics instead of Jake Gyllenhaal from Brokeback Mountain.  They don’t seem to have an issue with that.  Anyone else offended by the ads?

Technorati Tags: Prince, Super Bowl, Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos, Snickers Ad, GLAAD