America's Pastime to Shine

Thursday night marked the end of the NBA as we know it. Being plagued by the NFL lockout for several months now has not been made any easier by the shutting down of a second major sport. Considering the underwhelming nature of the NHL off-season, essentially 75% of the world of major professional sports is out of commission. America’s “Big 4” sports have been reduced to one. With all that said, who could be better fit for handling the fate of the American sports fan this year than America’s pastime? Unless you’re like me and have also been following our women’s pursuit of the World Cup Championship in Germany, or can’t wait for the Nadal-Murray match at Wimbledon, Major League Baseball may be your only hope. Typically, the long summer season of the MLB is frowned upon as irrelevant; September marks the first “significant” baseball thrown in the eyes of many. Devout baseball fans may not have this issue, but I believe all eyes should be on the MLB this summer, especially after the series of blows dealt to other struggling leagues. Sporscenter’s extensive coverage of the two lockouts have made ESPN more depressing than late night Fox news (I know it’s 10:00 pm and yes, I know where my children are, now please tell me which household appliance can kill me) . Instead of the grief and waiting for sports that have recently disappointed us with their structural issues, here are my top five reasons why baseball should receive your attention for the foreseeable future.

5. The Philly Phatale-Some people think overwhelming favorites are boring, but I find them the most exciting teams in sports because so much can go so terribly wrong. The Phillies look like they will be able to maintain a lead in the less than spectacular NL East, but there are a few major issues that could affect their playoff push once they get to September. This is an unbelievable roster, but they have historically lacked durability in both the lineup and rotation. Utley, Rollins, and Victorino have all battled relatively recent injury problems, and Howard is a strikeout machine who needs those guys functioning around him. Oswalt recently began his stint on the Disabled List and Hamels left during his last start in the 5^th inning against the Red Sox. Each injury puts more pressure on the remaining players, which may prove to be too much for even Philly to handle.

4. The Boys are Back in Town-Like any other season, key players have gone down with some unfortunate injuries. Despite a few tough breaks, baseball has recently welcomed back key players such as Ryan Zimmerman and former MVP Joe Mauer. I continue to keep an eye on the Minnesota Twins who are, in my eyes, in contention regardless of their record. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a run to even pass the Detroit Tigers once someone breaks the news to Justin Verlander and tells him that he is in fact human. In addition to all this, Derek Jeter returns to the Yankee lineup Monday to resume his chase for his 3000^th career hit, a milestone never reached by any legend of the world’s greatest franchise. The return of some bigtime names should help and bring more attention to baseball.

3. The Trade Deadline-The classic debate begins. Who are the buyers, and who are the sellers? As the halfway point and all star festivities approach, the MLB hot stove is on full blast. The biggest acquisition of all may belong to whoever ends up with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The most interesting team on this borderline is the New York Mets. They are on the outer-most ring of contention, showing some promise lately but still a long shot to compete with the Phillies in the long run. With big contracts such as Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes, they could either trade them for the best available offer, or hang on to them and roll the dice. Through this option, they could either keep their talent or become the next Cleveland Cavaliers. New York is not a city accustomed to losing its stars, so I expect them to keep these two guys. With that said, they better be able to keep them in the future or an already shaky front office will have a lot of explaining to do.

2. The NL Central Race-Included in this dogfight is the all-important contract year for St Louis Cardinals superstar Albert Pujols, who is planning to become the league’s highest paid player but is now battling a severe arm injury that has shortened his season. The Cardinals have been alongside two worthy competitors, including the Cincinnati Reds, who have already proven that they are no one year wonder after bursting onto the scene in 2010. The last of this three headed monster is the current division leading Milwaukee Brewers, who have as good a one two punch as there is in the league with Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun who, by the way, is currently riding a twenty game hit streak. This division doesn’t usually have the national spotlight, but it is becoming possibly the most fierce playoff race in the league.

1. Classic Sox vs. Yanks-As per usual the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are atop the baseball world. For about fifteen years now, these two teams have continued to make each other better by pushing them both on and off the field. This second to none rivalry is what launched these two teams to dominate the sport in an almost unprecedented fashion. Financially, they are unbeatable, and their play isn’t far behind. The Bo-Sox beatdown of the Bronx Bombers has been almost embarrassing to New Yorkers, who still somehow find themselves with a 2.5 game lead in the AL East division, which is traditionally the best in baseball. These two teams will serve as the anchors to what will be a great collaborative effort to launch baseball from the depths of the hovering steroid scandal of years past.

During the aforementioned steroid scandal, from the hiding to the policing, Bud Selig and company managed to do nearly everything wrong. This created a cloud over the sport that has not fully cleared, even after the technical issues were made right through more strict testing. The scars haven’t gone away, and I don’t suspect they will. However, the MLB has been given an opening. A needy and desperate public has fallen into their lap, limping through the absence of both the NFL and NBA. Baseball should not only draw our attention; they should monopolize it. Granted, the NFL lockout could end any day now, so the window of opportunity could be any duration. For however long we are faced with this scenario, let’s give America’s past time its due credit for being our one giant in sports that actually has its act together. After all, for what’s listed here and much more, this summer in baseball will be a beautiful thing to watch.

USA Strikes Gold-CONCACAF Gold Cup Final

The CONCACAF Gold Cup is to soccer as the NFC West division is to the NFL. Putting some perspective on the magnitude of Saturday’s contest between the USA and Mexico helps us realize that regardless of outcome, we have a ways to go before possibly making any noise in Brazil, as the summer of 2014 tests our nation’s worth. The American soccer team can be an absolute mystery. Beating Spain in the 2009 Confederation’s Cup and giving Brazil a run for their money in the following game suggest that we are finally among the world’s best. Losing to Panama a couple of weeks ago, or being knocked out by Ghana in consecutive World Cups, suggest the exact opposite. Tomorrow’s championship is definitely an opportunity, but to what degree? While we are not the most significant country in the world rankings, I would argue that nowhere else in the world has the fate of one sport relied so heavily on one team.

The United States and Mexico have shared domination of CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football). While the world’s superpowers clearly reside in both Europe and South America, any team that dominates its respective region has its time to shine. Our confidence, chemistry, and overall prestige would benefit greatly from defeating the favored Mexican squad. Mexico is in pursuit of what would be their ninth CONCACAF championship, and their sixth capture of the Gold Cup, making them the best of the best when looking at the USA’s local competition.

While Mexico has been favored to win the 2011 championship, their five suspensions have somewhat leveled the playing field, including their starting goalie Guillermo Ochoa. The most intriguing United States storyline off the field might be head coach Bob Bradley. I would argue the best thing he brings to the team is his son, Michael, who compliments our imperfect but hustle-filled style of play. Until we work out our technical flaws, we will have to simply play with more heart than any opposing team, using what we have to our greatest ability. If that mindset won us the war that gave us our independance, it can definitely win us a World Cup in the near future. Coach Bradley has been coaching for his life, and every recent game has been at the possible cost of his job. He has been able to survive thus far, but I personally am waiting for the people in charge to find someone more worthy of what could be an incredibly successful position. My personal choice would be Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann, who actually turned down the job in 2006. Despite this, a country’s increased love of the game has its way of making things look much more appealing. I believe the success of our team will be directly proportional to the passion for the game shown by the American fans.

But what does USA soccer have to offer right now? We have a number of promising young players who will continue to improve, such as strikers Josie Altidore and Juan Agudelo. Even Freddy Adu seems to be on pace for a re-emergence; the last time he was relevant was when I was in middle school…and when he was in middle school. Lead by proven veterans Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, the USA has the proper balance of talent. What we lack is the chemistry and experience as a unit. The decisive one-touch passes used by Barcelona to decimate a stifling Manchester United defense in the UEFA Champions League final was also put on display as the Spanish national team played keep-away with the rest of the world, winning the World Cup in dramatic fashion. This cohesiveness has become necessary to any team seeking the greatest and most widely recognized prize in professional sports. Football is my favorite sport, and Superbowl champions are heroes, but World Cup champions are Gods.

Little does this team know, their level of success could either doom the sport of soccer in this country forever or send it to the Promised Land. The American fans are passionate, but the casual fan, as of right now, is fickle. Team USA led all headlines with their win over Algeria, then dropped off the face of the earth after Ghana. In Brazil, even a winless team would be the most prized possession. Condemned, yes, but still essential to their society. Landon Donovan and company have to hold the fragile attention and passion of the American fan until it is there to stay. When that will come is uncertain, my guess would be as soon as 2014 if they step up. American soccer is on the rise; we are relevant in the grand scheme of the world. Putting your children through soccer at a young age, just to at least try it out, seems to now be a parental obligation. These are good signs, but a few more are needed to reach the next level, a place with which we are currently unfamiliar. I am fortunate enough to be heading out to the west coast in a few hours; Pasadena’s Coliseum is a fitting place for what could be the turning point in the lives of the men involved. Please watch this game, enjoy my attempts to get on camera somehow and, most importantly, support a struggling sport with an incredibly bright future in this country. Together we will watch team USA’s attempt to make history for themselves, and for the future of soccer in America.

Waiting for Godot: The 2011 NBA Draft

In what was already an underwhelming talent pool, more talk surrounded possible trades of NBA veterans for picks than the actual college prospects prior to the 7:30 tip off. There is a distinct possibility that these teams may be making their decisions to no avail, and the would-be franchise players of the 2011 draft class never come. Leave it to the city of Cleveland to somehow find a bad time to end up with two of the first four picks. Despite a less than star-studded affair, there were still plenty of opportunities for teams to create interesting storylines, smart decisions and, of course, monumental mistakes. An eager New Jersey crowd didn’t have to wait long to see the first management miscue; in fact, it came in the first five minutes.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were faced with choosing between Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona small forward Derrick Williams. Many agree that Williams is the better pure player, but in a point guard driven league, Irving proved to be too much to turn down. This pick leaves me with more than a few questions about when exactly Cleveland plans on winning their next championship. Irving played only eleven of Duke’s regular season games before missing the rest of the season with a foot injury, only returning to come off the bench in the NCAA tournament. Williams, on the other hand, proved to be one of the most effective and dominant players in the tournament. A guy with his size and power simply should not be allowed to shoot over 50% from three-point range, but he did. Despite this, I do acknowledge the need for a point guard. Luckily enough, there was a national champion with freakish athletic and leadership abilities who would be available for their fourth overall pick. My plan, as fictitious General Manager of the Cavs, would have been to take Williams with the first pick, and then to take UConn point guard Kemba Walker three picks later. If you are one of the Kemba doubters due to his lack of size, Kentucky’s Brandon Knight would have sufficed with this same pick. Walker’s experience and incredible resume validates his worth in my eyes. I have always prioritized winning over wingspan, but many professionals seemed to disagree with me tonight. After selecting freshman Tristan Thompson (Texas forward), my tandem’s experience is five years of college ball to the 1.5 compiled by Irving and Thompson. Irving already has a career altering injury at age 19, wearing a special shoe for his entire career, and has not done nearly enough to suggest he is the next Derrick Rose.

Nothing highlighted the lack of depth to this year’s draft class more than the percentage of imports. Four of the first seven picks were foreign players (don’t be fooled, Enes Kanter did not play for Kentucky due to athletic ineligibility). Relying on the international market is not good for the economy, and is certainly not good for basketball. Either scenario suggests the lack of substance we have here. On the topic of these international prospects, I found the most promising to be Jan Vesely. His athleticism and leaping ability (he’s been referred to as the European Blake Griffin) translate well to the American game. He also has respectable enough range to make him a versatile weapon. Europeans typically rely on their jump shots to a fault; there’s a reason Dirk Nowitzki is the first to break into the all-time-greats conversation. Since the 2011 draft hasn’t exactly been 2003, predicting the value picks and steals isn’t something anyone is about to bet good money on. However, one move did strike me as almost too strange to be a bad one. The San Antonio Spurs traded away George Hill, who they absolutely love in the role that lets Parker and Ginobli catch a few breathers, to Indiana for their selection of Kawhi Leonard from San Diego State. As Jeff Van Gundy pointed out, the Spurs are one of those organizations that would not make such a move without knowing something that we simply do not know. From what I saw from an under the radar San Diego State season and the feeling that there’s something behind this, I’d keep an eye on Leonard potentially revitalizing the San Antonio franchise if this transaction is completed.

After watching the Morris twins being sadly taken from me, I pulled for my Knicks to take the undersized beast of a center, Kenneth Faried. You may remember him as that wall that Louisville failed to climb in the first round of last year’s tournament. Ironically enough, he was selected by the Denver Nuggets, who continue to drain talent from the Knicks franchise. Lastly, we have gone this far without rating the selection of the draft’s biggest story, Jimmer Fredette. I do not doubt his ability to play in the NBA; the only shame is he's being shipped off to Sacramento to a franchise that may belong to any given city within the next few years and is at best the third most relevant team in its state. Jimmer is the best shooter in the draft, and has an underrated ability to drive to the basket and finish well inside. It has become more popular to question his defensive ability. On a more defensive note, I watched Jason Kidd guard Lebron James for six games. As Kevin Garnett once said, “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE”.

Not With a Bang But a Whimper: NBA Finals Aftermath

"...not five, not six, not seven..." As Lebron James concluded his bold guarantee of a Heat dynasty, the Miami crowd erupted in both excitement and stunned disbelief. Winning the biggest free agent competition in professional sports history left them with understandably high expectations for what would be the most scrutinized and ultimately hated team in recent memory. Due to this, finishing second-best has made the "Big Three" and company somewhat of a disappointment thus far. On the other hand, Dirk Nowitzki and the NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks have renewed the importance of what it means to be a complete team. Their surprising victory silenced what was a gathering storm in South Beach. In a way, nothing was louder than the absent celebration of an expecting Miami fanbase. As hustle and clutch play proved to triumph over raw talent and NBA Live ratings, immediate questions arose over the future of this conflicted Miami team, and the NBA in general.

Realistically, the Miami Heat will most likely be the best team in the NBA over the next ten years or so. I see their future as pretty set in stone, forever at the doorstep of a title and fighting to push their way in while twenty nine other teams push from the other side. The plot of Comissioner David Stern's movie would be as it was this year: "Will anyone beat the Heat and if so, who will it be?" The hero will change as the villain remains the same. I speak as a bigger "Heat hater" than just about anyone outside the city of Cleveland. With this said, even I must admit that Lebron's Decision forever changed the culture of the NBA and brought the great schism between what I now call Type A and Type B teams.

Type A teams are traditional; the majority of their success is home-grown and they typically steer clear of the transaction market. Think San Antonio Spurs dynasty or, most recently, the reigning champs. Type B teams rely almost entirely on either trades or free agents to copy and paste their way to a championship. For this, think Heat, Celtics (the original Big Three concept), or what the Knicks and Nets are attempting. While some teams lie on the borderline, such as Kobe and the Lakers not winning the big one without either Shaq or Pau Gasol (both acquired from other teams), there are clearly two ways to climb to the top.

Many skeptics and disgruntled haters of Type B teams may argue that such transactions are actually bad for the league. After all, if superstars leave their teams to play together, there will most likely be less good teams. I, however, disagree with this and believe that this is the best thing for the league since Bird vs Magic. In the 1980s there were essentially two teams, yet the NBA's popularity was at its peak. As for the lack of parody and fairness, I believe that any losing team that cannot improve through the draft year after year should be ashamed of themselves. In terms of ratings, having these love/hate teams attracts people who otherwise would have no interest in the NBA. My younger sister has less interest in sports than almost anyone I know; last week she watched games five and six with me because she wanted to "watch Lebron lose". Anything that is polarizing in nature will draw more interest from the general public.

Unfortunately, I have not yet filled my quota for New York Knicks bias, so anyone who does not share my fanhood has full permission to dismiss the following. The simple fact is that when New York is better off, so is the league. I love a Memphis Grizzlies playoff run as much as the next guy, but nothing helps a league more than when the major cities rule supreme. At the end of the day, I see nothing but a bright future for the NBA. If they can fix their labor dispute, which is another issue entirely, the new culture of the league will speak for itself. Boston made the blueprint, Miami brought it into the spotlight, and New York will join the conversation, competing to be the first to perfect the art.