Beckham in America...Does Anyone Care?

The man who has been asked to make soccer mainstream in the United States has finally come to town. Beckham arrived in the U.S. this week with his former-Spice-Girl wife Victoria, and is scheduled to play his first game this Saturday night against Scottish Champion Celtic. And while an ankle injury (50/50 change of playing) may keep him out of the game, nothing can keep him from being the talk of the town.

Beckham is a worldwide celebrity. His picture is plastered throughout magazines as if he were a Hollywood big shot. From sports to modeling, this guy just seems to dabble in everything. You can find his picture in all of the magazines because he makes them sell. His picture sells, his words sell, and his name sells. But for a soccer star to come to America to attract the less-than-pseudo fans (ignorant fans if you ask me, but then again I love the sport already) of America, now that takes real selling power.

If Beckham is able to sell soccer to the sports fan of the United States, that would certainly be something special. This is a country of high scoring sports. Basketball teams score between 90 and 100 points per game; football teams put up points in large numbers too, although maybe if soccer gave out 7 points each time a goal was scored and 3 points for every possession that couldn't score then people would like it better.

Baseball teams are building new stadiums that are more like little league fields to enable their teams to hit more homeruns, and therefore score more. All the steroids the players take certainly puts up numbers too. The NHL took scoring to a whole new level. They actually changed the rules of the sport to increase the scoring in games in an attempt to draw fans to the arenas (personally, I liked the game better before the rules changed).

Soccer is a great sport, played by more people worldwide than any other. It combines speed, skill, toughness, and overall talent more than any other sport. A soccer player may not be as strong as an NFL lineman, but every soccer player has to have a combination of all of these abilities to play…not just excel in one area. But the people of this country don’t seem to care. Their attitude is of a hungry baby. I want what I want, and I want it now! They want the power (homeruns), the speed (wide receivers), and the talent (see the buzz over Kevin Durant)…so one would think they would appreciate a sport where the players have all of those qualities instead of just one.

David Beckham is here to change those attitudes, but will anyone notice?

A Hole In What?

Did you watch him? Did he close on the back nine and wrap up the game with a masterful putt? Did the crowd roar while he celebrated with some sort of awkward fist pump and/or caddie hug? Did the ugly-ass green jacket fit perfectly yet look perfectly terrible in the way that only an ugly-ass green jacket could? Do you know who “he” is?

If you do, you’re one step ahead of me. In what will be THE single most unpopular article in the history of STH, I am now ready to publicly admit a secret I have long harbored in the deepest depths of my subconscious. This is a secret so terrifying, so embarrassing, that it would have me banished from every country club in the land and shunned by every self respecting middle to upper class citizen of America…

I hate golf.

That flushing sound you just heard was the complete decimation of my future earnings potential. Everyone knows you have to love golf to be successful…right? Or if you don’t love it, you have to at least pretend...don’t you? Isn’t the golf course “where business deals are made”? Isn’t the putting green where clients are won? Aren’t I required to have an “I’d Rather Be Golfing” t-shirt by the time I’m 42?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, I’m in for a very long and unhappy trip to middle-aged man-hood. I’m not sure when exactly it happens, but sometime during the throes of childhood every pure-blooded American male (and a surprising number of pure-blooded American females) are genetically encoded with a love for all things golf. It starts younger for some, later for others, but sometime between the keg-stands in college and that first real job, an inborn love for golf takes hold. Soon stories about wild bars and girls with “decent” faces are replaced with “great weather” and stories about handicaps, drivers, and mind blowing putts [feel free to replace my generic/imaginary boring golf drivel with your real-life boring golf drivel].

While this is obviously not an editorial calling for a new version of Golden Tee, I’ve never been one to lay down insult without reason. While you might not care and you’ll certainly disagree, allow me to present you with just a few of the reasons I look to when people ask me why I don’t golf…

1. For the Love of Nature...

I enjoy great weather as much as anyone, but when the sun peak through the clouds on a beautiful day, I think about going for a run, relaxing at the pool, or (especially in the fall) playing a game of football. For some reason the thought never enters my mind to dress up like an old man and go to a place full of actual old men who are dressed worse than I am. While I appreciate mother nature as much as the next guy, I don’t gaze upon a beautiful natural landscape and secretly hope that someone would crop the grass to half an inch, dump mountains of sand in assorted piles, and randomly place flags and small holes throughout. Golf courses might be green, but they are oddly designed and rarely do they come close to even imitating the natural beauty of the world.

2. Golfers Are Not “Athletes”!

On no…he didn’t! Sorry - it must be said. Though golf might be entertaining, challenging, and wildly competitive, golfers are “athletes” only in the way that poker players, bowlers, and NASCAR drivers are “athletes” (oops…there goes another audience). While Tiger Woods is an athletic ambassador for the game, Michelle Wie was better than you are when she was 11 and John Daly is…well...John Daly. Look around the links the next time you’re skipping work. Would you want 55 year old Eugene from accounting on your pickup basketball team? Could your great Aunt Millie run the anchor leg of a 4 x 100? Golf may be frustrating and it may make you look stupid, but it doesn’t make you an athlete.

3. All The “Cool Kids” Are Doing It…

Actually, ALL the kids are doing it. How many people do you know that DON’T golf? How many of them can walk? When the popularity of a game swells to epic proportions, the quality of that game, at all levels, is diminished. Baseball, football, basketball, and hockey avoid this pitfall because they really can’t be played consistently once one passes a certain age. This time restraint on participation adds to the ambiance and the reminiscing often associated with those sports.

In golf, there seems to be no recognizable age limit for participants, particularly amongst non-professionals. With such an absurd population of golfers, isn’t the game destined to be a bit over-hyped? Were you really aching to be the 5 millionth person to get a belt holster for your cell phone a few years back? Would you have died if your family didn’t get a mini-van in the 90’s? Have you read every Harry Potter book? Perhaps it’s my inner rebel dying to get out, but sometimes I think it’s a breath of fresh air NOT to do something that everyone else is doing.

The list could go on, but I digress. As you can see, I'm one of the few who has not been sold on the bills of goods that is golf. The next time I have a free Saturday afternoon, you might find me at the park, or perhaps with a group of friends playing a rousing game of bocce. One place you won't find me is at the country club, lacing up my sweater vest. Golf might be the way of the future, it might be a tradition of the past - but it's not a game for me.


To those who I’ve offended…you’ll get over it. In the meantime, feel free to drop a line and convince me of why I’m wrong. I might not be easily pursuaded, but I’d love to hear what you have to say.

How Sweet It Is...

As a fan of the Philadelphia 76ers, I was less than thrilled with their inability to move up in the NBA Draft Lottery this past season. I had held out hope, though our team refused to tank the way some others did (Boston, Milwaukee, etc.), that maybe Lady Luck would come our way and reward my beloved 76ers for staying true to the purity of the game. Alas, it was not to be.

As I awoke the following morning though, I was strangely happy. My team hadn’t moved up at all, but I felt this sense of satisfaction I simply couldn’t explain…until I looked over the lottery again. Every basketball fan knows this is a deep draft, but every fan also knows that if you don’t get one of the top two picks, you are missing out on something special. Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are both “can’t miss” NBA prospects.

So has anyone figured out why I was still happy even though my team had missed out? I'll end the suspense - it’s because the Celtics didn’t get a top 2 pick! I am also glad to see the Bucks didn’t get one either, because the way they tanked at the end of the year really just proves why the draft lottery needs to be changed. I have always been a purist, no matter which sport I am following, and tanking like that just makes me sick (though I did make some easy cash betting against those teams that were obviously tanking).

Anyhow, back to the Celtics horrible loss. As bad as it was knowing that my team was giving up the chance to get one of the top prospects by winning games at the end of the season, it was rewarding to know that the Celtics had tanked and still won’t get one of those players either (and I don’t want to hear Celtic fans out there whining that this should have made up for losing Tim Duncan ten years ago...get over it!).

All 76ers fans know to hate the Celtics. All those big games from the 1980s (you know, back when both teams were actually good at the same time) live on inside the hearts of both teams' fans. Losing out on the chance to move up in the lottery to take Oden or Durant was bad enough, but if the Celtics had won the lottery, that would have been 10 times worse. To see one of these top talents going to a hated rival with the chance to turn around the Celtics, while we stayed true to the game and will probably continue to suck for at least another year, would have been just too much.

So rejoice fans of Portland and Seattle. Your team has earned the chance to turn itself into an instant playoff contender with a top 2 selection in next month’s draft. Portland should be very happy to get Greg Oden (likely the top pick) to team with Brandon Roy (last season’s Rookie of the Year, shown above after the Blazers won the lottery) and LaMarcus Aldridge (the # 2 overall pick last year) for the next 8-10 years. Seattle fans know that the pick of Kevin Durant could likely save their beloved Sonics from a move to Oklahoma City or Las Vegas. The pick of Durant also might be enough to keep free-agent-to-be Lewis from leaving town. Combine those two players with Ray Allen and a decent point guard, and you could be looking at a team who will rival Phoenix for most points scored.

Philadelphia fans should rejoice as well. Sure, we lost the lottery...but so did the Celtics. It certainly sucks that we will not be getting one of those top players, but at least they will be playing out West where they can’t hurt us too much. Perhaps even more assuring is the fact that the Celtics still suck more than we do! Ah, the joy of small comforts.

Opening Day is Upon Us

Can you smell that? The beer, the peanuts…the pine tar? That’s right, it’s time for baseball season. Opening day for most teams is Monday, but the first game in the league is tomorrow night with the Cards taking on the Mets. I guess the real question though is...did you even know?

With the Madness still in full swing and the NBA playoffs right around the corner, baseball seems to take a back seat in the early months. Baseball season for most people these days starts in June or July. These people, who say they are “fans,” miss the first 2-3 months of the season (well not miss, they still have their fantasy teams I’m sure) and then follow the second half. By the time they start watching, teams have already fallen out of the playoff race. How can your season start with teams already eliminated?

The real baseball fan knows that spring training started a month ago. Pitchers and catchers reporting is a great day. It is a great day because soon to follow is the day when the rest of the players report to camp. Do you know why that day is a great day? It’s because not too long after that, the preseason games begin. I know some people frown on preseason baseball because it doesn’t matter who wins, but it’s not about that.

Both the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues are about finding the starting rotation, figuring out whom that platoon at third base is going to be, and deciding if trading that future star is really worth it for an aging veteran who just might put you over the top this year. That is why real baseball people care about preseason baseball - it sets the stage for the season and gives those psuedo-fans the time to realize the season is about to begin.

Opening Day is upon us and I for one couldn’t be happier. What other event finds more people taking off work or cutting out early than opening day in baseball? Some will tell you that’s only because they want to miss work. Maybe that’s true, but I choose to believe that at least some of those souls just really couldn’t wait for the season. They have waited since October for this and now they just can’t wait any longer. They need that first homerun, that first spectacular double play, that first save for the home team. They need the beer, the peanuts, and the pine tar. They need it all.

Opening Day is just around the weekend. Monday afternoon I will be missing work to show my support for the home team. I will be missing work to get my yearly fix of that first trip to the ballpark. And I will be missing work for the beer, the peanuts, and yes, even the pine tar. So come on, who’s with me?

Lacrosse?

Are you tired of watching college sports, knowing that the juggernaut team will always win? It’s time you started following the top division of collegiate men’s lacrosse. You may not be familiar with some of these schools being at the top of any sports list (Cornell?, Albany?), but those teams have certainly earned it so far this year. The Big Red of Cornell are currently ranked 1st in the nation. When is the last time you heard of Cornell’s football team (1-AA) or basketball team doing something great? The beauty of lacrosse is that its recent explosion in popularity has meant an explosion in talent. Everyone knows a kid that was a great basketball player. Did that kid ever do anything with his skills? There are nearly 300 Division I Men’s basketball teams, but you will probably hear of only 10 teams really competing for the championship in any given season. Lacrosse was like that in the not too distant past, but with the talent base growing, those great players can’t all attend the same few colleges. New opportunities are opening up for lesser known schools and the fans are in a postition to benefit. While the lacrosse world is still small and very interconnected, it’s never too late to jump on board.

So far, this year has seen something amazing. The #1 team has changed four consecutive weeks. The season started out with defending national champion Virginia being upset by Drexel…in Charlottesville, VA. The torch was then passed to Georgetown, but the pollsters voted Duke number one the following week. During the third week of the season, both Georgetown and Duke lost. The newest #1 team is Cornell. Albany is pushing them with victories over then #2 Johns Hopkins and then #10 Delaware. You might be thinking that at the end of the season the champion will be Hopkins, Syracuse, Duke, or Virginia, but don’t count out the new guys. Cornell lost 3 games by a total of 4 goals last year. Albany finished 8-7. However, during that season they beat national runner up Massachusetts, and hung tough with Syracuse and Hopkins.

Just because the top teams can't hang on to the top spot, that doesn't mean lacrosse is a weak game. Instead, this trend highlights a strength, specificically strength of schedule. Division I lacrosse teams pound on each other during the season, and it's a wonder they have any gas left for the playoffs. Despite not being able to take nearly any team lightly, we all love to see two heavyweights compete. The top 5 teams in the preseason poll were Virginia, Hopkins, Duke, Princeton, and Syracuse. Hopkins and Princeton have already played each other. Duke and Virginia meet later in the season in an ACC clash (and probably in the ACC tourney too). Syracuse plays Hopkins, Virginia, AND Princeton...oh, and they also play Massachusetts, Albany and Cornell. Eight of their thirteen games are against teams currently ranked, including 1, 2, and 3. Hopkins plays 10 out of 13 games against teams currently ranked. 2 of their 3 other games are against teams that were ranked at some point this season. When will you ever see those kinds of schedule in another sport? Wouldn’t you love to see a college football schedule with Ohio State playing Florida, LSU, and USC inside of a month and a half and THEN having to finish up with Michigan? You might be saying to yourself, "Nobody can go undefeated and who wants a 12-3 National Champion?" I’d take a 12-3 champion that played a tough schedule and won when it counted. Besides, Virginia went 17-0 last year with 11 games against teams that were ranked at the end of the year.

The next big lacrosse clash is Hopkins and Syracuse on St. Patty's Day, quickly followed by Duke and Cornell on the 20th. What channel you ask? Hopkins and Syracuse will probably make it on ESPNU because it’s a Saturday, but Duke and Cornell will go uncovered by TV. ESPNU carries some games on Saturdays, but without you loyal fans pushing to see this kind of action, it will be relegated behind bowling, baseball, and basketball (both men's and women's). Do you want to live in that kind of world? Besides, if you need any more encouragement to go watch some college lacrosse, there are crushing hits and mind boggling displays of athleticism each and every game. This sport has everything except your eyes. So, why aren’t YOU watching?

March Madness 2007: How to Win Your Pool(s)

The Madness is now two days old. In less than 48 hours, you’ll be spending more time checking your cell phone for scores than you will be trying to close that big deal you’ve been working on for months. March Madness comes to everyone’s favorite living room or drinking pavilion on Thursday, and we here at SixTalkingHeads are here to help you take home the money from all 27 (or more) pools you’ll be entering between now and game time. All you have to do is follow these golden rules.

Rule 1 - One of the #1 seeds will lose before the Final Four – This always happens. In fact, it's quite likely that two #1 seeds will fall before the Final Four. Since the field expanded to 64 teams, there has never been a Final Four consisting of all #1 seeds. This year’s best bets to fall are Kansas or North Carolina. Kansas could fall as early as round two, but if they move on they’ll be hard pressed to beat UCLA or Pitt in the Elite 8. North Carolina will have a tough second round match-up versus either Marquette or Michigan State. If they get past that game, their reward will be a date in the Sweet Sixteen with Texas and superstar freshman Mr. Kevin Durant. It’ll be a tough road for the Tar Heels this year.

Rule 2 – DO NOT pick a #1 or #2 seed to lose in the first round – It just doesn’t happen. #1 seeds are 88-0 since 1985 and #2 seeds are 84-4. This year’s #2 seeds are especially solid and all have something to prove. They will not lose in the first round. Do yourself a favor and don’t pick any upset of a #1 or #2 seed in the opening round..

Rule 3 – A #12 seed will beat a #5 seed in the first round – In each of the last 6 years, a #12 has beaten a #5. All 12 versus 5 games this year are very intriguing match-ups, so I certainly see this trend holding up. A great example could be Illinois versus Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech just doesn’t have the punch to counter Illinois tough defense. If Illinois can knock down some shots, they could easily advance to round two. Arkansas and Old Dominion are also legitimate threats as #12 seeds.

Rule 4 – Teams playing close to home have a HUGE advantage – This year North Carolina and Louisville open the first two rounds close to home. Pittsburgh, UCLA and Oregon all open in cities fairly close to home, or in places with great fan support. This cannot be underestimated. Fans in college basketball are a huge factor in their teams’ games, perhaps even more so than in any other sport in the country. If a team needs an x-factor, a couple thousand extra fans can be the additional weight needed to swing the momentum pendulum.

Rule 5 – Cinderella is not just a Disney movie – Cinderella is synonymous with the NCAA tournament. From Villanova in ’85 to George Mason in ’06, everyone loves an underdog. There are a few teams who could wear the glass slipper this season. Virginia Commonwealth, Winthrop, and Davidson could all ride huge waves of momentum if they can topple their higher ranked opponents (Duke, Notre Dame, and Maryland, respectively) in the opening round. They could be one hit wonders or they could ride on to the Elite 8 or better.

Rule 6 – Don’t get caught up in upsets – This is a fitting follow up to rule 5. Don’t start singing, “Cindarelly, Cindarelly” in your head. Yes, upsets will occur, but you will not win if you pick too many upsets. There are games primed for upsets such as Winthrop over Notre Dame and games that might just end up that way (Oral Roberts over Washington St?). The smart way to look at this is that higher teams will lose, but almost the entire public will chose the higher seed to win just like you did. You will not lose as much ground as you feel you did by missing the upset. The moral: pick your upsets wisely, not irrationally.

Rule 7 – Don’t underestimate teams you’ve never heard of – Yes, Oral Roberts is actually a college, not your local family dentist. George Washington is not taking on Vanderbilt all by his lonesome. These teams will play tough in the first round and could make you pay attention the rest of the way. There are also several teams that are not known for their basketball prowess, but could make some noise. For example, many people will be surprised to see Southern Illinois as a #4 seed, but they have a great shot to make a strong run to the Sweet 16 and beyond. However…

Rule 8 – Don’t fall in love with Mid-Major teams - While it is fun to root for teams like Southern Illinois or Butler, they are not the teams that will help you win. Both teams have a chance to be in the Sweet Sixteen, but don’t expect Final Four runs. The Mid-Major conferences have shown that they are starting to catch up to the bigger conferences, but they’re not quite there yet. Proceed with caution when looking at a big time school versus a mid-major such as a potential Kansas versus Southern Illinois game in the Sweet 16.

Rule 9 – Don’t forget about history – Heed the warning that “Those who don’t remember history are bound to repeat it.” Michigan State generally follows a bad tournament (2002, 2006) with a strong one (2003, 2007?). Florida usually follows a strong tournament (2000, 2006) with an early exit (2001, 2007?). Roy Williams, North Carolina’s head coach, has led multiple programs to the Final Four. Young teams often do not win championships (remember the Fab 5?) and that could spell trouble for Ohio State and Texas. UCLA knows how to win (11 titles), it’s in their blood. They could be the most dangerous #2 seed. The last team to repeat as National Champions was Duke in 1992, which spells more bad news for Florida.

Rule 10 – When in doubt, trust your gut – This year’s tournament is one of the more difficult brackets in recent memory. There are many games that could really go either way. If you think about it too much, you’ll go crazy. Don’t read too much into the comments from the experts (except us) or focus too much on obscure statistics. Sometimes you just have a hunch and you go with it. This can be your saving grace when you have to decide the winner of your UCLA versus Kansas match-up in the Elite Eight, or your North Carolina versus Texas Sweet Sixteen game. Trust your instincts, they’ll serve you well.


If you are starving for more information, here are some helpful links that could be great benefit to you in your search to bring home the big money this tournament season:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney07/index
http://teamrankings.com/ncbt/index.php
http://www.bostonsportshub.com/madness.htm

Get a bracket here
http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/brackets/viewable/2007












Good Luck!

Oh The Madness!

March is great. The weather starts getting warmer. Spring is just around the corner and leaves return to the trees, making the world looks a little less barren than it did before. Mostly though...March is about the madness.

As an avid sports fan, I follow all four major sports religiously (although the NHL is quickly losing points in my mind, but that’s a story for another time). I also follow the two big college sports with great interest. March is a great month for pro sports. NFL free agency is in full swing, the NBA is nearing the playoffs as each team makes that final push for a spot in the postseason, and baseball players are in either Florida or Arizona tuning up for the season opener.

For a few weeks at the end of the month though (and for the first weekend in April), none of the pro sports matter. They are all put on the back burner as the world turns its attention to the college hard court. For many, it’s almost as if all other sports cease to exist until that special team of the year is cutting down the nets. That, my friends, is why it is called “The Madness.”

Soon, people will be taking off work a couple Thursdays and Fridays to watch games with their friends. Saturdays and Sundays will be spent in front of the television instead of out on the town. Just think, this Thursday we will have sixteen games to watch. As if that isn’t enough (it never is), there are sixteen more the very next day! Then, over the weekend, there are eight games on Saturday and eight more on Sunday. For those of you keeping track, that makes forty-eight games in four days - and that’s just the first two rounds! We have only just begun!

As if watching the games and cheering for your team weren’t enough, the Tournament brings with it the ever popular Pick ‘em Pools. You have heard of these, yes? The idea is that you pick the winners of each game of the tournament by filling out a bracket you either cut out of the newspaper or printed off your computer; then you get points for each game picked correctly, usually with more points given for a game picked in a later round. The winner of the usually takes home a nice prize, sometimes of significant monetary value.

Later today when the tournament field is revealed, we'll all be scrambling to fill out our brackets. More gambling takes place during the NCAA Tournament than any other sporting event in the world - perhaps a reason for its popularity. The bottom line here is that it’s tournament time. The Madness is upon us! I know I couldn’t be happier.

Great Sports Debates Come from Within

For whatever reason, all great sports debates boil down to one important decision – which side are you on? An argument can be made for statistics. Championship rings can be counted again and again. Hometown heroes take top billing and you can’t even think about arguing against a player from your alma mater.

But what makes us argue so vehemently in these debates?

It all comes down to character. We fight for “our” guys. People use expressions like “my kind of guy” to finalize their decisions. It’s the character of the player that ultimately draws us in. We look at the athletes as reflections of ourselves and pick the ones we think show us the best of what we hope to embody.

Think about all the debates over the great players in the major sports. You can either be a Montana guy or an Elway guy. Hockey fans can root for Gretzky or they can root for Lemieux. America’s past time always sparks a good debate over Willie Mays or Mickey Mantle. I guess the hardwood would spawn a spirited Bird versus Magic debate, though it ultimately all comes back to Jordan.

In all of these cases you immediately know who you side with. Immediately my loyalties lie with Elway, Lemieux, Mays, and Magic and I’m sure that many of you reading this immediately called me delusional, ridiculous, or a moron. Yet, I’m also sure that many of you also agreed with me.

That’s not the point.

The point is that we argue because we want to believe that these athletes are extensions of us. I want to believe that I can rally when the chips are down like John Elway did in all those fourth quarter comebacks. I hope that if I ever have to endure hardships like Mario Lemieux, I will fight and still return at the top of my game. I wish to be as versatile, honest, and fun-loving as Magic. Finally, I aspire to live my life with the enthusiasm of Willie Mays and be as complete a person as he was a player.

Oh, and if I could be like Mike, that’d be cool too.

We all pick our heroes for a reason and what’s exciting is that we are entering a brand new century with great rivalries developing in all four of our major sports. In the NFL right now, you are either a Peyton Manning fan or you like Tom Brady. Major league baseball has Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols. The NBA will continue to bring us the saga of LeBron James versus Dwayne Wade. Lastly, the NHL has developed what could become the most enduring rivalry ever with two youngsters named Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin.

It’s a beautiful thing to know that these great debates will never die. It’s also reassuring to know that we’ll always know from which side we’ll be throwing our insults from. Just remember that when you are arguing, don’t feel so connected to your hero that you refer to yourself as a “6’5” 230 pound quarterback," with a "laser-rocket arm.”

Assuming that you like that sort of thing.

It's A Dog Eat Dog World

Last week, while the snow fell and the wind howled, I nestled up on the couch to read a good book. I intended to turn the tube on for only a minute to locate the consistently inaccurate weather forecast, but quickly became transfixed with another storm. It was the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Now I’m not usually impressed with beauty pageants, but I happened to catch the Sporting Group which presented a most gorgeous vizsla (I would choose him any day over Miss New Jersey). I had to watch and see if he won. Sadly, he placed 2nd in his group. Before I knew it, two hours had elapsed and it was time for Best in Show. So in honor of Christopher Guest I thought it best to indulge.

Here were the finalists, complete with supercilious show titles:
Working Group – Akita Redwitch Reason to Believe
Terrier Group – Dandie Dinmont Terrier Hobergays Fineus Fogg (co-owned by Bill Cosby)
Toy Group – Toy Poodle Smash JP Win a Victory
Non-Sporting Group – Standard Poodle Brighton Minimoto
Working Group – English Springer Spaniel Felicity’s Diamond Jim
Hound Group – Petits Bassets Griffons Vendeen Celestial CJ’s Jolly Fairchild
Herding Group – Bouviers des Flandres Aces Indelible Mark HT (I’m thinking of naming my first-born after this one)

Before I continue with Best in Show (I’m sure you are all bursting with anticipation), I thought I’d provide a few interesting facts about this prestigious 130 year tradition. Just to put it into perspective, this predates the invention of the light bulb and the World Series. There are over 2,500 dogs entered spanning 165 breeds and varieties from all over the world. Pennsylvania ranks third in the number of entries. With 50, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is the most entered breed at Westminster. The Labrador retriever is the #1 registered dog in the AKC, closely followed by the Yorkshire Terrier. The Basenji is the only breed that cannot bark. The Basset Hound has the largest bone structure in relation to its size. The Sussex Spaniels takes its first steps backwards. General George Custer had two Staghounds entered in the dog show in the 1880s. Last year’s winner was a bull terrier named Rufus.

Although this show and its participants are worth millions, it is not without a philanthropic side. I was very pleased to see its viewers and participants raise $1.5 million for the Humane Society. In addition, the Westminster Kennel Club sponsors the Angels on a Leash program which offers therapy dogs to pediatric patients in New York. I also must comment on the number of Humane Society commercials encouraging viewers to visit their local shelters and take home a dog-in-need instead of a purebred. These advertisements distracted me just enough so as not to view this particular dog show as a contributing factor to the puppy mill atrocities plaguing America...but we’ll save that for another blog.

Back to Best in Show. Talk about a fierce competition! The crowd seemed to overwhelmingly favor the PBGV. Despite their best attempt to sound indifferent, a slight favoritism was detected for the Akita from the announcers. After learning the toy poodle came from central PA, I abandoned my aversion of little dogs and silently rooted for her. In the end though, it was sequestered judge Dr. Robert A. Indeglia who held the pooches’ fate in his hands. The 7 dogs each had a total of 1 minute to impress him. Teeth, bone structure, and coat were inspected, followed by a 20 second trot around the arena. Gait and movement are allotted equal points. Using my untrained eye, I noticed the PVGB stalled a bit in his lap and the Dandie Dinmont appeared to nip his trainer. But the rest was a free-for-all! After a long suspense-induced pause, the English Springer Spaniel was crowned winner. What a beautiful moment. James (his nickname) truly basked in the limelight! When asked why he chose this dog over all others, the doctor boasted, “It was his personality, heart, and confirmation. He is a fabulous dog…he just had that look in his eye.” I suspect it had more to do with his trainer’s exquisite taste in fashion. After all, her cocoa-colored shimmering pleatheresque top matched James’ shiny coat perfectly.

No matter what the reason, there you have it. To all who doubt that dog shows are a sport or the participants are athletes, there is your spoken truth. A look in the eye is all is takes to make a world champion.

More Pippen? Let's Hope Not...

Scottie Pippen, one of the most overrated players ever to grace the NBA hardwood, has announced he wants to play this season for a contender. At the age of 41, Pippen feels he is very well rested and in great shape. Hmm, could that be because he hasn’t played in the league for 3 seasons? Of course he is well rested…he hasn’t done anything in years!

When he was in the league, Pippen did some things very well. There is no doubting that he played great defense. With his long arms and quick feet, he guarded everyone from point guards to power forwards. He was tenacious on the defensive end, leading to easy buckets on the other end. His offensive game though, left much to be desired.

It's not that his offensive game was terrible, he just couldn’t do anything for himself. He was the original embodiment of a point forward. He could bring the ball up, pass fairly well, and make a set jumper. Though he possessed all of those skills, it was rare to see Pippen create shots for himself. You never saw Scottie take someone off the dribble, unless there was an obvious mismatch. The only lay-ups and dunks he ever scored were either on the fast break (where no one was between him and the hoop), or on perfect feeds from Jordan.

That right there is the key…Michael Jordan. Scottie Pippen would have been something along the lines of a Bruce Bowen if it wasn’t for Michael. He is the Deion Branch of the NBA. Branch wasn’t worth much, but once he caught 11 passes in the Super Bowl from Tom Brady, he suddenly was worth a first round pick. Pippen was just an average NBA player, but because he was arguably the second best player on a team with MJ, he is suddenly thought of as a top talent.

Think of all the accolades bestowed upon Pippen just because he was on the Bulls while Jordan was there. The All-Defensive teams he made were totally legit, but the All-Star games and certainly the NBA’s Top 50 were ridiculous. Think about that, he was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. He never did anything great his whole career! His entire career was defined by Michael Jordan. How can someone be a great player if their whole playing career was reliant upon another player being present as well?

Do you remember how bad he was when Jordan retired? He was a terrible player those seasons because he didn’t have anyone to create for him. The only decent seasons he had after MJ left the game were in Portland, where other players were there to create for him. All he had to do was bring the ball up the floor, play some defense, and knock down a few open jumpers. Tell me, what about that makes a player great? Exactly…nothing!

We must give Pippen credit for his perfect choice of timing. He announced his plans to return to the NBA just a short while before the trade deadline. Oh, and it also happened to be on the eve of the All-Star break, when teams have a few days to go over their roster, figure out what they need for a playoff push, and then make a move. Brilliant! Other than attaching his career to MJ’s (nice work advisors), this is the best move of his career. Maybe that’s because he never had any of his own.

Forsberg is a Force No More

The time has come for the Flyers to trade Peter Forsberg. It has only been a year and a half, but the marriage is on the rocks. Last year when the Flyers signed Forsberg, electricity bubbled through the blood of hockey fans in this town. The NHL was returning from a year of being shut down and “puckheads” everywhere needed a reason to come back to the game. At the time, the passionate hopes of a city yearning for a championship were pinned on an orange and black jersey emblazoned with the number 21.

Unfortunately, Lord Stanley’s Cup has not made its way to Philadelphia. A major culprit in the misfortunes of the Flyers is “Peter the Great.” Hailed as possibly the best player in the league, Forsberg has rarely flashed brilliance associated with good, let alone great. Honestly, I’m not sure why such accolades have followed Forsberg. In his career, he’s had only two 100 point seasons and his career high in goals is only 30. To put that in perspective, Mike Knuble, Pavol Demitra, and Eric Daze all had career highs of 34 goals or more while scoring 30+goals more than once. It is doubtful that many have claimed any of them to be the greatest player in the world. Amazingly, only 6 other players(Sakic, Jagr, Lemieux, Thornton, Kariya, and Selanne) have scored 100 plus points in more than one season over the span of Forsberg’s career (not including this year when at least Crosby will join that club). These numbers can be inflated because it has been argued that the NHL is a little ridiculous for awarding assists to the last two players to touch the puck before the goal scorer. Can you imagine the number of assists John Stockton would have amassed if the NBA played by those rules?

An argument could be made that ailment after ailment has kept Forsberg from being an intrigal cog in the Flyers pursuit of the Cup, but the Flyers knew what they were getting when they signed him. Peter Forsberg has played in just one full season in his entire career. His second year in the league, “Forsberg the Injured” made it through an entire 82 game season. It is a little bit absurd to claim that someone is the greatest player in the league if they cannot stay on the ice. Flyers fans are also to blame. Many lined up to buy tickets and assumed that Forsberg would lead us to a world title. We purchased jerseys and cleared our calendars for June so that we could make it to the parade. We thought Bobby Clarke had redeemed himself for years of mistakes.

How foolish were we? We all lived through the Eric Lindros years. Lindros and Forsberg are essentially the same player. Their career stats are eerily similar, although Lindros has more goals and Forsberg has more assists. Both have been viewed admirably for their blends of physical play and scoring grace. Both players wore the "C" for the Flyers, perhaps one of the most sacred responsibilities in all of sports. But Lindros is viewed with dismay by many Philadelphia fans. He is seen as prima dona who wasn’t tough enough to hack it in our city. Why haven’t these same fans turned their backs on Forsberg? Is it because Forsberg was part of the trade the Flyers made to acquire Lindros? Is it because we feel he is here to atone for the trade made more than a decade ago?

For those counting at home, Lindros took us to one Stanley Cup Final. Forsberg’s total is zero and it will not change this year. Forsberg did win 2 Stanley Cups in Colorado, but he was surrounded with all-world players named Sakic, Roy, Bourque, Blake, and Foote. There is no reason for us to feel any differently towards Forsberg just because of those titles. Lindros flashed his strength, speed, and talent regularly while wearing the orange and black. Lindros also helped to make John LeClair one of the greatest goal scorers in franchise history. Forsberg, on the other hand, has rarely flashed his all-world talent in the time he has been here, and he certainly has not improved the games of anyone around him. Instead of getting us a hero, Bobby Clarke brought us another player who was on the downside of his career.

As I was working on this article, the Flyers held a press conference between the second and third periods of tonight’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Peter Forsberg has packed his bags and is now hobbling on his injured foot to the city of Nashville. The Flyers received two former first-rounder picks who are still young, along with a first and third round pick in the 2007 draft. This move will also free up some room to sign two free agents in the off-season who can be plugged into the lineup every night. Maybe this move will help the Flyers fulfill their Stanly Cup wishes in another season or two. Maybe this is the deal that will atone for trading for Eric Lindros.

The Forsberg era has ended and the results were not pretty. I’m not sad to see Peter Forsberg go because he was never the player we thought we were getting. I’m just sad we didn’t trade him to the Dallas Stars for Eric Lindros.

The Greatest Rivalry in Sports

Ladies and...well...you guys, I am here today to set the record straight. I know, some will fight me to the death on this, but I would just like to point out that it would be a losing fight for my opposition. The greatest rivalry in sports is not the Yankees/Red Sox. If you were to say that it’s OSU/Michigan football, you would be wrong again. The greatest rivalry in sports is now, and will always be, UNC/Duke on the hardwood.First things first. To have a true rivalry, there must be two teams that play each other at least once every season, that go after the same recruits/free agents every year, and, most importantly,absolutely HATE each other (the hatred has to be between the players too, not just the fans). Any fan can hate another fan, but hatred between players: that makes a rivalry.

Now, let's start with the schedule makers, the easiest ingredient in a rivalry. Any two teams in the same division in the pros and in the same conference in college (for the most part) will play each other at least once a year. The people in charge of making money should see to that. For instance, every year in Big Ten football, each team does not play every other team in the conference. Don’t ask me why, that’s an issue for another time and place. But could you ever see the television people or the conference not scheduling an OSU/UM game during the season? They don’t care if Penn State is going to play Indiana or Northwestern any given season, but every year you will see the Nittany Lions playing the Spartans of Michigan State for the Land Grant Trophy. *(quick side note, if you have a trophy that is won every game in your rivalry, it isn’t a true rivalry. The teams are playing for the trophy, not just to beat the other team.)*

Moving on to the players themselves, I think all pro sports get crossed off the application for rivalry based on the players. As a free agent in any pro sport, players will go for either the money or the chance to win a title. A former Steeler would play for the Browns or Ravens if the price was right or if one of those other teams had a better chance of contending for a Super Bowl. That doesn’t happen in college. I seriously doubt I will ever in my life see a player decide he doesn’t like the University of Texas anymore, and then transfer to Oklahoma or A&M. Pro athletes will change teams like they change their clothes, but in college, that is not how things work.

In baseball, Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon both played for the Red Sox and then moved on to the Yankees. Damon was the only one who went straight from Boston to New York though, which makes his defection even more wrong…if it was a true rivalry anyhow. Rivalries in the pros are about the fans. Red Sox fans hate Yankee fans, but the Red Sox players don’t always hate the Yankee players.

That brings me right back to the most important aspect of a rivalry, hatred. For a true rivalry to exist there must be true hatred. The fans hate the fans, the players hate the players, the parents hate the parents…alright, you get the idea. This is why, along with the factors discussed above, Duke/UNC is the best rivalry in sports. Everyone hates everyone, from the fans to the players to the people working the concession stand. Every single basket creates a rush of emotion in both fan and player. Every single loose ball could mean the difference between a win and a loss, and that shows on the faces of the coaches, players, and fans alike.

Take Wednesday night’s game for instance. When two players were on the ground wrestling for a jump ball (and I mean wrestling, not pulling at the ball), even after the ref blew the whistle to stop play, neither would let go. Why would they do that? It’s because they want that ball. They don’t want the other team to have that ball. It’s their ball, the other team had it, and now they are going to take it back! It wouldn’t surprise me to one day see UNC getting beat by 20 on its home floor and one UNC player pick up the ball and say, “I’m taking my ball and I’m going home,” just so the Blue Devils couldn’t score any more points with it.

These kids sleep outside the stadium at Duke to make sure they get the best seats; and not just overnight, some of these kids will sleep outside for weeks (during the semester). They even named the group of tents “Krzyzewskiville.” I think Will Blythe said it best in his book entitled To Hate Like This is to be Happy Forever. Blythe, a 3rd generation Tar Heel stated, “I am a sick, sick man. Not only am I consumed by hatred, I am delighted by it…”

Duke and UNC are only 8 miles apart. Imagine...the group of people you hate most as players and fans live 10 minutes down the road. They could be outside your house right now painting your door that horrible “Carolina Blue” color!

Now THAT is a rivalry.

Can We Get an Encore?

Fifteen minutes. That’s the infamously arbitrary amount of time Andy Warhol established as the measure for our exposure to the masses. We have a quarter of an hour to be remembered for a few moments longer. You can dance, sing, or act your way into our hearts like Shaquille O’Neal. Or, if you’re daring, you can lie, cheat, and homer your way into our asterisk-filled record books just like Barry Bonds. But chances are that the time will come when we stop paying attention. Half an hour later, we’ll replace the person who replaced you. After an hour, we can’t even remember why we knew your name in the first place.

But what happens to those who get shafted during their fifteen minutes? They don’t get fan mail any longer. We don’t throw parades for them. Some of them may be lucky enough to have a spot in the team record books for an obscure statistic. But most of them are forgotten. Most of them gave us hours of memories and we have chosen to repay them by showing them our backs.

I’d like to take this time to borrow Jimmy James’ “Way Back Machine” (of News Radio fame) and give a few athletes the remaining time on their fame clocks. This could end up being hours of regurgitating the names of players we hated to love or loved to hate, so instead our “Way Back Machine” will provide us a forgotten star from each major sport and two wild-card selections to give us a super 6-pack of short-changed stars.

Leading off is the representative from America’s favorite past time. Robin Yount never saw his last five minutes in the sun and that includes the extra two minutes he got for his Hall of Fame induction. A complete player who played the game the way we love to see it played, he spent all 20 of his major league seasons in Milwaukee. Yount was an everyday major leaguer at the age of 18 and began his career playing shortstop before later moving to centerfield. Some have argued that he (not Cal Ripken) was the torchbearer for shortstops such as Jeter, Rodriquez, and Tejada. Yount collected two MVP awards, led the Brewers to their only World Series appearance, and managed to hammer out over 3,000 hits. This curly-haired chap reminds us all that the Brewers were indeed a major league team at one-time.

Next is the selection from the favorite sport of our friends to the North. Ron Hextall beats his way back into the spotlight for his remaining acknowledgment. Hextall was the first NHL goaltender to ever score a goal by shooting the puck from his end into the opposing team’s net (an important distinction because former goalie Billy Smith had been credited with scoring a goal before him by being the last player from his team to touch the puck before it ended up in the opponent’s net). “Hexy” will always be remembered for his passion and the reckless abandon he had for opponent’s limbs. Every piece of equipment was a weapon in his eyes and he still holds the NHL record for penalty minutes by a goalie with 113. Aside from these obvious distinctions, Hextall won the Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender) and the Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP) in his rookie season with Philadelphia. The Conn Smythe Trophy is even more impressive considering the Flyers lost in the finals to an Edmonton Oilers' team that was loaded with talented players with names like Kurri, Coffey, Messier, and Gretzky.

The next choice brings us back to the Land of the Free and the sport started by James Naismith. Tim Hardaway played in the NBA for 15 seasons with 5 different teams and he has a few more minutes to burn. Hardaway first burst onto the scene as a point guard with the Golden State Warriors as the “T” in “Run TMC” (with Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin). It’s very rare that someone comes along with a move that gets garnished with a nickname of its own, but Timmy found a way to do it. In fact, it had two nicknames. The “UTEP Two-Step” or “Killer Crossover” was the creation of Tim Hardaway. He froze defenders consistently and knifed his way into the lane for the easy score or quick dish. He also spawned a legion of teenage imitators who probably broke their own ankles more than their opponents’ while trying to duplicate the maneuver. Statistically, Hardaway quietly averaged over 17points and 8 assists as one of the most consistent point guards of his era.

Finally, the Pigskin Deities have blessed us with enough fabulous stars to fill up every day of the year. However, one particular member of Sunday’s finest needs to be recognized for his remarkable accomplishments. Now this was not meant to be a platform for campaigning, but Art Monk deserves to be enshrined in Canton. Monk was a running back as a college player and ended his career as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time. Monk’s numbers are astonishing. He finished his career with 940 career receptions, a record which was broken by Jerry Rice in the final week of Monk’s final season (1995). A member of a fantastic receiving trio in Washington, Monk also had the single season record in receptions (106) and a record 183 consecutive games with a reception at the time of his retirement. A member of the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team, it’s time for Monk to finally have a chance to be remembered with the greatest to ever play the game.

Since this happens to be the start of Super Bowl weekend, it’s only fitting that the two wild card selections come from the world of football. First, we have the guy who made the 1985 Chicago Bears tick. Joe Montana may have been “Joe Cool,” but Jim McMahon was “Mr. Cool.” McMahon had those dark glasses only he could pull off and made the headband an “It” accessory long before most NBA ballers were out of diapers. McMahon lived his time in the sun to the fullest and rumor has it he’ll be back at it this weekend. McMahon briefly returned to our attention in 1991 while winning the Comeback Player of the Year award as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. But that was 15 years ago and it is time for another comeback of epic proportions for Jim. Here’s to hoping it happens this weekend.

Lastly, the second wild card selection has been to this weekend’s big game a few times before. Unfortunately, his Buffalo Bills always came out on the wrong end. Thurman Thomas is another bona fide Hall of Fame candidate who deserves to have a bust in Canton. Despite forgetting about his helmet in Super Bowl XXVI, Thomas always remembered to bring his A game to the field. A college teammate of Barry Sanders, Thomas made his own star in the NFL by becoming the only player in NFL history to lead the league in yards from scrimmage in four consecutive seasons. The catalyst for the dynamic Bills offense of the early 90s, Thomas revolutionized the running back position and paved the way for players like Marshall Faulk and LaDainian Tomlinson. A member of the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade team, it is time for the “Thurminator” to finally have his spot next to all the other greats.

Warhol just said we each get fifteen minutes, he didn’t say it all had to come in one shot. This weekend, when you’re hanging out with your friends, throw your lighters in the sky and ask for one more. Take a few minutes to bring these former greats back to life for a bit, because fifteen minutes is a bit too fleeting.


Disclaimer
In lieu of recent remarks made by Tim Hardaway, I would like state that Hardaway no longer deserves to be on this list. His remarks were extremely inappropriate and I no longer consider myself a Hardaway fan. I really hope that he is prepared for the extra 15 minutes he bought himself and the backlash that will go along with it.

Phirst Pitch of 2007

It was brought to my attention yesterday that there is less than one month left before pitchers and catchers start reporting to the warm regions of the country for spring training. With that realization, I decided it was time to start working on my wish list for the 2007 baseball season. Here’s what I think the upcoming baseball season should bring our way...

• I hope to see Roger Clemens sign with the Boston Red Sox. There is no better story than a ballplayer ending his career where it began. If it doesn’t happen, I hope he retires and goes into the Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay.

• I hope that Barry Bonds remains a free agent until the last day of the regular season. Then, someone can sign him as a DH for the playoffs and he can perform his October vanishing tricks. Hey Barry, maybe you will break a record…for the lowest career batting average in 30 plus playoff games.

• I hope that Bud Selig gets removed as the commissioner of baseball. Bud has made baseball the end-of-the-bat-dribbler of professional sports. The fan base is dwindling, the marketing is pathetic, and the players have lost all respectability because of baseball’s reluctance to address performance enhancement with swift and stern action.

• I hope Derek Jeter takes a year off from the game because I don’t believe in wishing injury upon others. I don’t want Jeter to play because I want the Yankees to become A-Rod’s team and win 130 games. They can still choke in the playoffs, because that’s just what they do. I’ve just had enough with the Yankees being Jeter’s team.

• I hope to see Pat Burrell have a monster year. I’m thinking he’s due to hit .320 with 40hrs and 130rbis. This guy has taken so much flack in Philly over the past few seasons and I’d like to see him shove an MVP award right down everyone’s metaphorical throat.

• I hope that Ryan Howard only gets intentionally walked once a week. It was such a disappointment that he didn’t get to swing the bat last September. He has the ability to hit 80 homeruns in a season. If he does get walked more than once a week, I would like to change my last wish and see Burrell hit .340 with 55hrs and 170rbis.

• I hope to see Ichiro Suzuki hit .400. How can you not root for this guy? He’s got one of the quickest bats ever, unbelievable body control, and outstanding speed. If anyone is going to do it, he should be the one. He can take that to the bank along with his single-season hits record and start building a real push for the Hall of Fame.

• I hope that Ken Griffey Jr plays a full season this year. Junior hasn’t played 140 plus games since 2000. The Kid had a chance to break Hank Aaron’s record, legitimately, by this point in his career. I think now all we can hope for is that he gets to 600.

• I hope that J.D Drew is the American League MVP. Drew is another guy who’s flashed his talent at us briefly each season before ending up on the DL. This year he has alot of protection in the lineup around him and the ability to stay fresh by DHing from time to time. I expect to see a monster year from the Sox new rightfielder.

• I hope that the Chicago Cubs realize that the New York Yankees formula for success does not work. Hello? Are the Cubs execs watching what is happening to the Yankees? You can’t buy a championship. Give George a call and ask him about it. He knows.

• I hope that the Washington Nationals move back to Montreal. "Expos" was a much cooler nickname. They also had those marvelous sky blue uniforms. Lastly, remember when the Expos were everyone else’s best farm team? That was awesome.

• I hope that the New York Mets finish in last place. I hope they lose 159 games. Then let them sweep their last series of the year just to show everyone that they can’t even be good at being awful. I like some of the Mets, but their fans are what really get to me. I don’t want the Mets fans to have any sort of satisfaction. Their chants of, “No more streak,” when Chase Utley had his hitting streak stopped was in very poor taste. The fans didn’t boo McGwire when he was chasing Maris in 1998. What happened to their class?

And now for my final wish…

• I’d like to see the Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Minnesota Twins in seven games for the 2007 World Series crown. I’d especially like to see Jamie Moyer pull a Jack Morris in Game 7 of the series to bring a championship to his hometown. Nothing would be sweeter.

Should all my wishes come true, I will let you all borrow my genie in a lamp for a week.

You're welcome in advance.

Peering Into Billy's Crystal Ball: A Glimpse at the Sixers 2007 Draft Options

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who is the Sixer-ist one of all? Right now, all signs point toward Kyle Korver. However, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that after the NBA Draft in June, we’ll all be lining to sing the praises of...Billy King.

Billy King has never been a hero around this area, but he’s put the 76ers in position to rebuild their franchise by obtaining several 1st round picks for the upcoming draft. Two of the picks were acquired from Denver in the Allen Iverson trade. Most of us probably rolled our eyes and said, “Great. Which Shawn Bradley look-a-like are we going to draft now?” But this upcoming draft has the potential to be the deepest and strongest draft the NBA has seen in a long time.

Here are two scenarios that could awaken a Sixers’ juggernaut which has been asleep since the days of Mo, Moses, and Dr. J.

Scenario 1

We’ll start with the penultimate situation. Greg Oden decides he doesn’t want to return to Ohio State for his sophomore season and the ping pong balls bounce Philly’s way. With the number 1 selection they should take Oden. There is no good reason not to. Everyone is aware of his potential so I’m not going to belabor the point.

With their second pick, the Sixers would currently be looking to select around the 20th slot. There are a few solid options here, but it’s imperative that the Sixers shore up their front court by taking a flyer on Glen “Big Baby” Davis, a player whose personality would be great to have around here. There’s a chance Davis may not be available come that time, so as a backup plan, King should select Nick Fazekas from Nevada because he could give us a big frontcourt teamed with Oden. Both of these players are seasoned, can score some points, and can crash the boards. With either player teamed with Oden, the Sixers front court would be set to dominate for a decade.

With their last pick in the late first round they should look for a two guard. There are two exceptional scorers who could be available here. The first is Morris Almond out of Rice. Currently he’s putting up over 31 points per game while shooting at a over 47% from beyond the arc. The second guy is Jack McClinton from Miami. This guy is built like a rock and is known for being a gym rat. He’s also scoring close to 19 points a game and shooting over 49% from downtown.

Finally, in the second round, they need to select a young point guard to learn from and replace Andre Miller for the future. In this scenario, it would great to select Mike Conley from Ohio State. He’s Oden’s best friend and it would be great to keep them united in the pros and allow them to grow together. If Conley does not come out, another excellent option is Acie Law IV from Texas A&M. He’s a solid player, good kid, and a seasoned floor general.

Scenario 2

In this case, we’ll assume that Greg Oden does not come out and the Sixers end up with the #1 selection. There are three outstanding options for the Sixers. The one I like the most is Chase Budinger from Arizona. This guy is getting rave reviews from everyone who watches him play (even Michael Jordan loves him). He’s got great size and skill for a 2 guard - he’s the reason we use terms like “uber-talented.” The first alternate would be Brandan Wright from North Carolina. He’s a solid 6’9” power forward with a fantastic NBA body. He’s got great length and an incredible wingspan. He is a difference maker on the defensive end, which is something the 76ers sorely lack. The last option is Kevin Durant. I know a lot of people love this guy and his skill set, but I don’t believe he’s a great fit for the Sixers. He’s too big to play the two, and Iguodola is set at our small forward position. Durant has the height to be a 4, but not the bulk. He’s a phenomenal talent, but let some other team figure out where he should play.

With the second selection, they should still focus on a big man to bolster the front court. One guy who I can see slipping is Spencer Hawes from Washington. He’s not flashy, but he’s a solid, old-school player who scores, rebounds, and plays defense. Fazekas and Davis are also still options at this spot. Fazekas is big enough to play center should Wright be taken to fill the power forward spot.

With the last pick in the first round, it depends on who the Sixers take with the first pick. If they take Wright, they should take McClinton or Almond. If they select Budinger early, they should target more front court help at this spot. This could be done by taking Roy Hibbert (C) from Georgetown or Jason Smith (PF) from Colorado State.

In the second round, they need to get some backcourt support. Acie Law IV again fits here. Another possible selection would be Chris Lofton from Tennessee. Lofton is a talented shooter who can also occasionally play the point position as well. He’d be a great fit for Mo Cheeks.

One More Thing

There are a few players the Sixers would be wise to stay away from. First, they would be smart to pretend that Florida has no players available in the draft. Noah is a bit of a cry baby. Horford doesn’t have the star power to support where he will be drafted and Brewer won’t be so good if he’s the #1 or 2 guy on his team. He needs some protection around him. Second, stay away from Josh McRoberts. There is a very simple reason for this: he is a Duke big man. We don’t need a Christian Laettner or Cherokee Parks retread. Finally: avoid Tyler Hansborough. This guy falls into the same category as McRoberts. They are both going to have very good college careers, but they are not guys who translate well into the pro game. If you can get them in the second round, think about doing so. But don’t use a first round pick on either.


There’s a lot that can happen between now and June, but at this point there is nothing that can cloud this crystal ball. We’ll check back in with Billy and his mirror at the end of June and see if he really is the Sixer-ist one of all.

Operation 76: Save the Franchise

I’m going to be up front with everyone. In the past 5 years, I’ve lost interest in basketball. But I’m ready to come back. I want to come back to the Sixers so badly. I just need their help.

I must say I consider myself a “Philly boy,” even though I’m from the suburbs. I like the 76ers, but ever since they lost to L.A. in the Finals, I haven’t had much interest. It briefly stumbled back when we traded for Chris Webber. However, I soon realized this was not the same Chris Webber who called a time-out against North Carolina in the NCAA championship game, even though they had no time-outs remaining.

There is one thing the Sixers can do right now to make me fall in love all over again with the game and, more importantly, their team. They can trade Allen Iverson to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Randy Foye and Eddie Griffin. Based on all the rumors swirling around, the Sixers would probably also have to take Ricky Davis and Troy Hudson in the deal to balance out the economics. I say, “Pull the trigger!” It doesn’t matter if you have to include two future first round picks to make Kevin McHale give up Randy Foye. The deal has to be made. No other deal is going to do what this deal could do for the Sixers.








Can you imagine what the Wachovia Center would look like the first night that Foye and Griffin have a home game in Sixers’ uniforms? I can...it makes me giddy. I would even go so far as to say that it makes me schoolgirl giddy. The electricity in the arena that night would be more than palpable. It would penetrate into the very being of each fan. We would all experience that certain special feeling. You know the one, it’s indescribable, yet we’ve all had it happen. Jersey sales would go through the roof as we all lined up to purchase the sparkling new threads of our hometown boys. Fans would share in the euphoria that this is the start of something good - check that - something great.

This franchise needs that kind of energy and electricity. We need to know that the franchise is paying attention to the fans, if only for this moment in time. The best part of that link between the franchise and the fans is that we will not only suddenly start returning to the arena, but we will do so with an energy that invigorates the players. Those 12 men will be able to feed off of us when they need it the most. Also, opposing players will once again be fearful of the maniacal Philadelphia fans. We will fill the seats. We will be loud and passionate and yours. I can promise you that.

Foye and Griffin could be cornerstones for the next five to ten years. Randy Foye is 23 years old. Some scouts before this year’s draft compared him to Allen Iverson. He has some similar skills, but he also has a work ethic, demeanor, and maturity that mirrors the blue collar citizens of this town. Every Philadelphia basketball fan will tell you, “He is one of us.” We remember the electricity he helped infuse into this city during Villanova’s marvelous run just a year ago. We need that type of passion and that kind of player on our team. Eddie Griffin is still only 24 years old. He’s been around the league for a number of years now and has had his share of issues, but maybe the best remedy for him is a nice trip back home. Griffin is 6’10” and extremely athletic. He has the range to occasionally step outside, he can handle the ball, he can score points, he can rebound, and perhaps most importantly, he’ll swat some shots on the defensive end. The 76ers haven’t had someone in that mold in years. Actually, the only close comparison I can think of is Tim Thomas, but even he didn’t quite have the same skills. Some might say Keith Van Horn, but he never played defense and I doubt anyone would call him “athletic.”

This could be the start of a fantastic foundation. These two players matched with Dalembert and Iguodala would strike some fear into other teams. They might not all gel together and make this season magical, but I’ll lay down some money on next season. Rodney Carney would be an excellent infusion of energy off the bench. Even throwing Ricky Davis into the mix wouldn't upset me. Davis will probably throw off some of the chemistry, but perhaps the Sixers can turn him back to the Celtics with Willie Green for Delonte West and Theo Ratliff. Wow, that would be a pretty formidable team. Picture this: West – PG, Foye – SG, Iguodala – SF, Griffin – PF, Dalembert – C, with Carney, Korver, Ratiliff, and Webber to roll out off the bench. Granted, I doubt they’d be able to make that second deal, but even having Hudson run the point for the time being with Davis/Foye splitting time at the two would be a problem that I could live with.

Now is the time. The Sixers have a huge chance to resurrect their franchise in one move. I’m really pulling for them to finally make us proud to be Sixers fans. I so desperately want them to make the right move. When they do make this move, I promise them this: We will come.

Did you forget about the NHL? Shame, Shame

Out of the four major sports in America (NFL, NHL, College Football, and College Lacrosse), none is more overlooked than hockey. Sure, you can make an argument for collegiate lacrosse, but that’s sillier than suggesting Wagner could have taken down UVA last year. Hockey remains a sport largely ignored by the American public, but don’t worry, here’s a refresher to keep you up-to-date on the beginning of the NHL season.

The Buffalo Sabres tied the NHL record for best start with 10 wins to open the season. The Minnesota Wild have 9 wins through 10 games to provide another startling record, and the Atlanta Thrashers have a 7 point lead over their division foes after just 12 games - the very division the last two Stanley Cup Champions call home. This is not your slightly older sibling’s NHL anymore. In fact, it’s probably your younger sibling’s NHL, because you gave up on hockey after the lockout, didn’t you? You want to remain in the glory days with Philly’s Legion of Doom or Tie Domi goading some player into a fight. But wait, what’s that? John LeClair is in Pittsburgh? Mikael Renberg is in the Swedish Elite League? Eric Lindros is in Dallas, playing wing? Tie Domi retired! What’s going on! You know, maybe this new NHL isn’t worth your attention. (Speaking of Dallas, why would they take the ‘C’ away from Mike Modano? Don’t worry, they didn’t give it to Lindros, they gave it to Brendan Morrow.)

Do not fear gentle reader, the new NHL has plenty of great players. However, the adjustment may take awhile. For example, Alexander Ovechkin wears #8. Not a number you would associate with great players, but he can make it his own. Sidney Crosby wears #87 on the Penguins, and his teammate Evgeni Malkin wears #71. I do not know why they wear those numbers, but I do know they can put the puck in the net. As for scoring, there should be plenty of players breaking 50 goals this year, and Americans certainly respond to gaudy numbers. We have even been blessed with international intrigue. Evgeni Malkin fled Russia this summer to come to North America and play in the NHL, his dream, but his Russian team claims he is still under contract and wants the NHL to pay big for his rights. Nice try Russia.

The scoring race, new young players, and an action packed style mark the new game. If that is not enough to grip viewers, just turn to the league’s laughing stock, the New York Islanders. They do not wear the Gorton fisherman on their jersey’s anymore, but owner Charles Wang’s personnel moves are high comedy. Early June sees Neil Smith hired as new team General Manager. July 18th, Smith is fired, and backup goaltender Garth Snow replaces him (yes, the same Garth Snow that wore giant pads on his shoulders, even though he is 6’ 3” 210 lbs). After hiring Snow, the Islanders proceeded to sign starting goaltender Rick DiPietro to a 15 year, 67 million dollar deal, lasting until he is 40 years old. Only Magic Johnson’s 25 year deal signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1981 (which would have expired this past summer) has ever been longer. “The contract is guaranteed, and DiPietro will be paid in full should he retire because of injury. If he ends his career otherwise before the deal expires, he would forfeit the remaining dollars.” Gee, I can’t imagine a goaltender retiring due to injury before the age of 40. Good job Islanders management.

Wrapping up, the NHL has plenty of engaging storylines, and you should not have difficulty picking one and following it. I suggest St. Louis Blues head coach John Davidson pulling a reverse John Madden by switching from broadcasting to the bench. One other thing for you old heads, Joe Sakic recently scored his 1,500th career point, the 11th player to reach that milestone. There is something for everyone, just watch!