Don't look now Bulls fans but after 12 LONG years, we FINALLY have a hometown player to watch in the annual event the NBA calls the All-Star Game. Unlike baseball, basketball teams don't get an automatic player added to the team; they actually have to earn it (shocking, I know). Well, after the joke that was the fans voting which nearly included Tracy McGrady who has only played in 6 NBA games for a total of 46 minutes, they did vote in Allen Iverson who has played only 24 games between Memphis and the 76ers. AI was cut from the mighty (actually, they've been much better recently) Memphis Grizzlies after being not much more than major distraction for 3 games. NO teams showed any interest and he finally signed with his original team - Philadelphia 76ers. His numbers just don't compare to Joe Johnson, Rajon Rondo, or Derrick Rose yet he was inexplicably voted in by the fans ahead of each of these guys.
Each of the guys I mentioned were then voted in by the Eastern Conference coaches which obviously have a more realistic picture of the players. So THAT is how our very own Derrick Rose was voted in and will represent the Chicago Bulls as their first All-Star since Michael Jordan was the game's MVP in 1998. For you math wizards, that's 12 years since one of the most storied franchises in the NBA (6 Bulls championships is 3rd behind the Celtics and Lakers) had an All-Star. That's sad and ridiculous, BUT we're all good now folks as we now have a potential perennial All-Star in Derrick Rose.
When I read the announcement that he made it, I felt like DeNiro's character (Jimmy Conway) in "Good Fellas" when he found out Joe Pesci's character (Tommy) was going to become a mafia made man. Jimmy was very excited as if HE were being made and that's how I felt to hear "my guy" Derrick Rose was going to be an All-Star. Hopefully it ends better for Derrick as Tommy gets whacked. I'm quite sure it will.
But this is more than just one Bulls player getting to play in the All-Star Game. This is a BIG step for the franchise. Why? Because good players want to play with other good players. You've heard a lot of talk that the Knicks are trying to work it so they get 2 of the big free agents. Why? Because good players want to play with other good players and the Knicks don't have any of their own good players so they need to get two. Well, the Bulls have one of their own already AND here's the capper...all the big free agents will be playing in the All-Star Game too and most on the East team so he'll be playing WITH them...LeBron, Wade, Bosh, and Joe Johnson. That means these guys will get a chance to play WITH Derrick rather than just watch film on him. Amare is on the West too. They'll be able to talk to him and socialize with him too.
I hate to put any more pressure on this 21-year old kid, but he needs to perform pretty well in this game and be very social with these other guys. He has that "aw-shucks" attitude who doesn't seem to really believe he's as good as he is so who wouldn't want to play with a guy like that?
How much better could Bosh be with a better PG that draws double teams? He's really my guy. I've pretty much scratched Amare off my list after watching the recent Suns vs. Mavs game the other night. If you just looked at his points for the game which is pretty much all they ever show on SportsCenter, you wouldn't think he had a bad game with 22 points, but look closer. He only had one more rebound than you or me and maybe most telling, he didn't see the court in the 4th quarter; instead he was watching from the bench as his Suns turned a 6-point deficit into a 6-point win against a tough Mavs team. Charles Barkley answered THE question on the post game show - "What do you call a power forward that gets 1 rebound?"; "A small forward".
The Bulls as a team have committed to defense this year and are ranked 5th in field goal percentage against which is probably the most telling defensive stat in my opinion. Trading for a guy that has ZERO intention of playing defense would send the wrong message to the team in general. Now Bosh isn't exactly up for Defensive Player of the Year, but the guy does at least hit the boards as he's averaging 3 boards more than Amare. Can you imagine Bosh playing next to Noah for the next 5+ years along with Luol along with Derrick Rose and WHO CARES playing shooting guard? Now THAT works for me!
Anyway, more trade talk later...GOOD LUCK D-Rose!
Oh ya, I'll actually BE THERE in Dallas to root you on Derrick although you might have trouble picking me out among the record 85,000+ fans in attendance.
GO BULLS!!!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
McGwire Blew It
Well, the afternoon started well for Mark McGwire when he FINALLY admitted to doing what we all knew he was doing; steroids. Then given the opportunity to really show the world how repentant he was, he decided to back-pedal throughout the hour-long interview with Bob Costas tonight. Why Mark? You had us all and then you threw us behind your massive ego. And the big capper to hammer home that this was all about his ego and nothing else...when Bob reminded him that LaRussa pinch-hit for him in what would have been his last official time at bat in an MLB game, he waved it off saying his last official AB was an HR in a regular season game following 9/11 rationalizing it by saying most players don't play in the playoffs so those stats don't count somehow. What?!?
Hand-eye coordination, God-given talent and a little PED cocktail equals Hall-of-Fame numbers but just don't quite get you into the Hall of Fame. McGwire decided to completely discount the affects of steroids and ignore the fact his numbers dramatically went up once he started taking the steroids. He said he wished MLB had been doing steroid testing at that time and then he and Bob "wouldn't be sitting here talking today". Well, he had that right because his career would have ended much sooner without the cheating and his numbers wouldn't be worth talking about. Why call Roger Maris' widow today to apologize if you really didn't feel like you cheated? Why all the tears and choking up? It's remorse Mark for cheating...let it go man...you cheated so just admit it and be done.
Maybe he really believes his delusional "memories" otherwise known as lies, but nobody else really does. Or is he the only guy to ever take PERFORMANCE enhancing drugs and not really have them enhance his performance? If everything was on the up-and-up Mark and these drugs didn't help you cheat, then why do you feel like you have such a massive burden with this secret? Just the fact that the steroids helped you heal faster is a level of cheating by itself Mark. How did you even get the steroids? Did you have a prescription for them? He said he was "introduced" to them at his fitness club. Was that by a doctor? And then he pulled a Bonds and said he didn't remember what he did although he did "prefer the orals" over the "injectables" and he only did "low dosages" because he didn't want to look like "Arnold Schwarzenegger or Lou Ferrigno" and topped out his weight at 250 and finished each year around 235. I'm sorry, but you were at least 260 in 1998 and DID look like Arnold. Don't forget he was 6'5" and HUGE that year!
Then his lies continued to entangle him. He talked about injuries and that being the reason to start taking the steroids. Yet then he goes on to say that AFTER he started taking steroids, his injuries increased and he wasn't sure why he stayed on them. Yes, Mark you've always had bat speed as we all know you hit 49 HRs as a rookie, but there's still a tremendous leap from 49 to 70 - 40% man!
Just some miscellaneous comments/questions...
He never talked to any players about steroids ever?
Just because it makes your body feel good doesn't make it OK.
Tony LaRussa (dont' forget Tony managed the Bash Brothers in Oakland with Mark and Canseco as well as Mark in St. Louis) didn't know he and Canseco were taking steroids?
I did appreciate how he explained the behind-the-scenes negotiations regarding the congressional hearing back in 2005...apparently he negotiated with the congressmen that he wouldn't talk about the past. And he almost had me...not that I would vote for him in his HOF bid or he was really trying to get me anyway, but then he messed it all up by saying the steroids didn't help him at all and his numbers would have ended the same anyway. He sounded just all too much like Roger Clemens.
Pete Carroll also blew it and this should be separate post, but I don't have too much to say on this. So we're supposed to believe (again!) that a college coach living the dream in THE BEST setup in all of NCAA football (c'mon how hard is it to recruit a kid from Chicago to go play football in front of the USC cheerleaders in southern CA?) to go coach in Seattle for the NFL Seahawks totally out of the blue when his name wasn't on anyone's radar? And it had nothing to do with the pending allegations involving prized USC RBs Reggie Bush and more recently Joe McKnight?
The Score radio station in Chicago does a bit on Thu afternoons called "Who you crappin?" These two guys will lead the way this week; no question!
Hand-eye coordination, God-given talent and a little PED cocktail equals Hall-of-Fame numbers but just don't quite get you into the Hall of Fame. McGwire decided to completely discount the affects of steroids and ignore the fact his numbers dramatically went up once he started taking the steroids. He said he wished MLB had been doing steroid testing at that time and then he and Bob "wouldn't be sitting here talking today". Well, he had that right because his career would have ended much sooner without the cheating and his numbers wouldn't be worth talking about. Why call Roger Maris' widow today to apologize if you really didn't feel like you cheated? Why all the tears and choking up? It's remorse Mark for cheating...let it go man...you cheated so just admit it and be done.
Maybe he really believes his delusional "memories" otherwise known as lies, but nobody else really does. Or is he the only guy to ever take PERFORMANCE enhancing drugs and not really have them enhance his performance? If everything was on the up-and-up Mark and these drugs didn't help you cheat, then why do you feel like you have such a massive burden with this secret? Just the fact that the steroids helped you heal faster is a level of cheating by itself Mark. How did you even get the steroids? Did you have a prescription for them? He said he was "introduced" to them at his fitness club. Was that by a doctor? And then he pulled a Bonds and said he didn't remember what he did although he did "prefer the orals" over the "injectables" and he only did "low dosages" because he didn't want to look like "Arnold Schwarzenegger or Lou Ferrigno" and topped out his weight at 250 and finished each year around 235. I'm sorry, but you were at least 260 in 1998 and DID look like Arnold. Don't forget he was 6'5" and HUGE that year!
Then his lies continued to entangle him. He talked about injuries and that being the reason to start taking the steroids. Yet then he goes on to say that AFTER he started taking steroids, his injuries increased and he wasn't sure why he stayed on them. Yes, Mark you've always had bat speed as we all know you hit 49 HRs as a rookie, but there's still a tremendous leap from 49 to 70 - 40% man!
Just some miscellaneous comments/questions...
He never talked to any players about steroids ever?
Just because it makes your body feel good doesn't make it OK.
Tony LaRussa (dont' forget Tony managed the Bash Brothers in Oakland with Mark and Canseco as well as Mark in St. Louis) didn't know he and Canseco were taking steroids?
I did appreciate how he explained the behind-the-scenes negotiations regarding the congressional hearing back in 2005...apparently he negotiated with the congressmen that he wouldn't talk about the past. And he almost had me...not that I would vote for him in his HOF bid or he was really trying to get me anyway, but then he messed it all up by saying the steroids didn't help him at all and his numbers would have ended the same anyway. He sounded just all too much like Roger Clemens.
Pete Carroll also blew it and this should be separate post, but I don't have too much to say on this. So we're supposed to believe (again!) that a college coach living the dream in THE BEST setup in all of NCAA football (c'mon how hard is it to recruit a kid from Chicago to go play football in front of the USC cheerleaders in southern CA?) to go coach in Seattle for the NFL Seahawks totally out of the blue when his name wasn't on anyone's radar? And it had nothing to do with the pending allegations involving prized USC RBs Reggie Bush and more recently Joe McKnight?
The Score radio station in Chicago does a bit on Thu afternoons called "Who you crappin?" These two guys will lead the way this week; no question!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Why Do We Put Up With This - Part 4?
If it wasn't for the Blackhawks who may want to remove the dirty word (i.e. "Chicago") attached to their franchise with the rest of the mess surrounding the other sports teams, this could be the biggest joke of a major market sports city right now. WHAT A TOTAL MESS!
Thank goodness I didn't watch the Halas Hall Circus (I thought the circus came to town in November, not January) on TV today or listen to it live on the radio. Instead I watched and listened to the "highlights" throughout the night on the nearly non-stop coverage. The press conference at least proved a given in life...stuff runs downhill. Ted Phillips gets to stay on as worthless Team President (what exactly does this guy do?!?). Jerry Angelo sticks around as GM even though Jerry had a pretty close race in the worst GM in town contest with Jim Hendry. Continuity for the sake of continuity is just ludicrous...just ask the Lions about the Matt Millen era. Lovie sticks around AGAIN even though the Bears haven't made the playoffs since getting blown out in the Super Bowl 3 years ago. When there are only 4 teams in your division and one of them has gone 2-30 over the last 2 years, you should make the playoffs more often than 1/4 of the time. Since firing Chico Rivera (that was all Lovie) following the Super Bowl season, the Bears have really struggled defensively. Is it just the aging of the players or is it the guy calling the shots?
How about some more continuity talk? In responding to some questions about the scheme, Lovie's only response was that the Bears won and were successful with the Cover 2 scheme 3 years ago. WHAT?!? Do offenses not ever adjust Lovie? Why don't you see that the scheme isn't working any more? Did you watch the game film from the Bengals, Cardinals, Ravens, or first Vikings games where good QBs torched your D time after time? If you don't have the players and talent to pull it off, don't you have to go with something else?
It all starts at the top and I would have dumped everyone from Phillips on down. Three years of so-so football is NOT acceptable anywhere, especially in the home of the NFL's inaugural franchise. Phillips is gone for not firing Angelo who is fired for his aforementioned HORRENDOUS job. You don't think you did a very good job this year Angelo? You're right and that's the first time in a while you've been right. How much money did you give away to Orlando Pace? How about Omiyale? Both of those guys were benched during those last two games where the O actually looked like they knew what they were doing. You go out and get a "franchise QB" but then don't give him a true #1 WR to throw to? Wasn't it your idea to turn Hester into a WR and write his contract such that he only gets "paid" based on WR incentives? Congrats buddy - you're the only guy in the NFL that can stop Devin Hester. How did that Gaines Adams trade work out for us this year? After giving up a bunch of draft picks for Cutler, you have now given up our 2nd rounder for this year for a guy that saw the field for about 10% of the defensive plays if that. He finished the season with 4 tackles and 3 assists! I know you suck at drafting in the early rounds, but isn't this going a little too far? How did the lack of signing an experienced safety work out? The Saints signed Darren Sharper who led the NFL in interceptions (9) returning 3 for TDs which is the same number as Devin Hester did as a WR and helped lead the Saints to the playoffs as the #1 seed in the NFC. Now if this isn't a Jim Hendyism, I don't know what is...what are the Bears needs heading into the off-season this year? Well, O-Line and defensive secondary. Sound familiar? Weren't those their needs last year and weren't they supposedly addressed with Pace and Omiyale?
Lovie's gone because he lets his players do whatever they want with no repercussions and for his utter lack of talent evaluation. He took credit for Johnny Knox who was headed to the practice squad before Aromashodu went down with injury. Why do they rotate the returners seemingly on every kick which was a lot since the D was giving up points by the bushel full? At least he fired himself as D-coordinator although his plan seems to be to bring in another clone like he had in Babich.
So all they did was dump the majority of the offensive coaches and that's supposed to solve everything. That's the other problem...they really do think "we're close". Really? What games have you been watching boys? How many Pro Bowl players came from the Bears? Oh ya, just one...ya, you're right...we are close. What was I thinking? Supposedly THIS is Lovie's last chance...it's win or else. Or else what? They're still going to pay him his final year's salary? Unless three teams are going to make it from the historically weak NFC North, I don't see how they have any shot at making the playoffs (did you see their brutal schedule for 2010?). The Vikings will still have their D, AP and Favre so while they may not go 12-4, they're still in. And the Packers with Aaron Rodgers are getting better and better as they continue to learn their new 3-4 defensive system. By the way, do you know what pick Aaron Rodgers was in the 2005 draft? He was #24 overall and the Bears took an immature Cedric Benson at #4 that year which wasn't the biggest mistake in that draft. The 49ers took Alex Smith #1 overall which was the only other QB taken ahead of Rodgers. So no playoffs, no excuses...is Lovie back again for the final year of his contract in 2011? That's really THE question for me...if Lovie was actually finishing up his current contract instead of having 2 years remaining, would the Bears have resigned him? I just can't see how they would so then doesn't it make this decision purely based on money alone? That's tough to swallow for what they charge for tickets and with such a huge and supportive fan base for a franchise recently valued at over $1 billion.
And what the heck are the Cubs doing? Not only did they bring back their circus ring masters in Crane Kenney, Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella, they now sit around on their fat duffs watching the rival Cardinals continue to work to improve their team even though they actually made the playoffs. Did you see the mid-market Cardinals were able to sign Matt Holliday to a 7-year $120 million contract today? But wait, the Cubs did get rid of clubhouse cancer and under-achiever Milton Bradley although they did get stuck with another horrendous contract in Carlos Silva even if they did save a little money. Oh and they signed their CF of the future in Marlon Byrd if you consider a mediocre at best 32-year old CF a good thing. Apparently Hendry is NOT learning ANY lessons whatsoever that signing so-so players to extended contracts (Byrd got a 3-year deal even though it doesn't seem that any other team was remotely interested in this guy) is a bad thing.
The Bulls are who we thought they were before their somewhat miraculous 4-game winning streak which provided enough of a mirage to allow Vinny to stick around a little longer than I'd have preferred. Can ANYONE on this team step up and make an outside shot? Hinrich missed a wide open 12-footer by barely hitting the rim. If Vinny has a response as to why D-Rose was making the in-bounds pass instead of catching it, I'd like to hear it. D-Rose was the ONLY guy playing in the 4th quarter so why he was out of bounds making that important in-bounds pass is just ridiculous.
After that recent stretch of horrendous losses including a 32-point home loss to the sub-.500 Raptors (I was there!), the first road win by the Nets, and a 35-point loss to the Hawks. But those were just lead-ins to the infamous loss to the sub-.500 Kings where they blew a 35-point lead at home.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS GARBAGE?!?
Thank goodness I didn't watch the Halas Hall Circus (I thought the circus came to town in November, not January) on TV today or listen to it live on the radio. Instead I watched and listened to the "highlights" throughout the night on the nearly non-stop coverage. The press conference at least proved a given in life...stuff runs downhill. Ted Phillips gets to stay on as worthless Team President (what exactly does this guy do?!?). Jerry Angelo sticks around as GM even though Jerry had a pretty close race in the worst GM in town contest with Jim Hendry. Continuity for the sake of continuity is just ludicrous...just ask the Lions about the Matt Millen era. Lovie sticks around AGAIN even though the Bears haven't made the playoffs since getting blown out in the Super Bowl 3 years ago. When there are only 4 teams in your division and one of them has gone 2-30 over the last 2 years, you should make the playoffs more often than 1/4 of the time. Since firing Chico Rivera (that was all Lovie) following the Super Bowl season, the Bears have really struggled defensively. Is it just the aging of the players or is it the guy calling the shots?
How about some more continuity talk? In responding to some questions about the scheme, Lovie's only response was that the Bears won and were successful with the Cover 2 scheme 3 years ago. WHAT?!? Do offenses not ever adjust Lovie? Why don't you see that the scheme isn't working any more? Did you watch the game film from the Bengals, Cardinals, Ravens, or first Vikings games where good QBs torched your D time after time? If you don't have the players and talent to pull it off, don't you have to go with something else?
It all starts at the top and I would have dumped everyone from Phillips on down. Three years of so-so football is NOT acceptable anywhere, especially in the home of the NFL's inaugural franchise. Phillips is gone for not firing Angelo who is fired for his aforementioned HORRENDOUS job. You don't think you did a very good job this year Angelo? You're right and that's the first time in a while you've been right. How much money did you give away to Orlando Pace? How about Omiyale? Both of those guys were benched during those last two games where the O actually looked like they knew what they were doing. You go out and get a "franchise QB" but then don't give him a true #1 WR to throw to? Wasn't it your idea to turn Hester into a WR and write his contract such that he only gets "paid" based on WR incentives? Congrats buddy - you're the only guy in the NFL that can stop Devin Hester. How did that Gaines Adams trade work out for us this year? After giving up a bunch of draft picks for Cutler, you have now given up our 2nd rounder for this year for a guy that saw the field for about 10% of the defensive plays if that. He finished the season with 4 tackles and 3 assists! I know you suck at drafting in the early rounds, but isn't this going a little too far? How did the lack of signing an experienced safety work out? The Saints signed Darren Sharper who led the NFL in interceptions (9) returning 3 for TDs which is the same number as Devin Hester did as a WR and helped lead the Saints to the playoffs as the #1 seed in the NFC. Now if this isn't a Jim Hendyism, I don't know what is...what are the Bears needs heading into the off-season this year? Well, O-Line and defensive secondary. Sound familiar? Weren't those their needs last year and weren't they supposedly addressed with Pace and Omiyale?
Lovie's gone because he lets his players do whatever they want with no repercussions and for his utter lack of talent evaluation. He took credit for Johnny Knox who was headed to the practice squad before Aromashodu went down with injury. Why do they rotate the returners seemingly on every kick which was a lot since the D was giving up points by the bushel full? At least he fired himself as D-coordinator although his plan seems to be to bring in another clone like he had in Babich.
So all they did was dump the majority of the offensive coaches and that's supposed to solve everything. That's the other problem...they really do think "we're close". Really? What games have you been watching boys? How many Pro Bowl players came from the Bears? Oh ya, just one...ya, you're right...we are close. What was I thinking? Supposedly THIS is Lovie's last chance...it's win or else. Or else what? They're still going to pay him his final year's salary? Unless three teams are going to make it from the historically weak NFC North, I don't see how they have any shot at making the playoffs (did you see their brutal schedule for 2010?). The Vikings will still have their D, AP and Favre so while they may not go 12-4, they're still in. And the Packers with Aaron Rodgers are getting better and better as they continue to learn their new 3-4 defensive system. By the way, do you know what pick Aaron Rodgers was in the 2005 draft? He was #24 overall and the Bears took an immature Cedric Benson at #4 that year which wasn't the biggest mistake in that draft. The 49ers took Alex Smith #1 overall which was the only other QB taken ahead of Rodgers. So no playoffs, no excuses...is Lovie back again for the final year of his contract in 2011? That's really THE question for me...if Lovie was actually finishing up his current contract instead of having 2 years remaining, would the Bears have resigned him? I just can't see how they would so then doesn't it make this decision purely based on money alone? That's tough to swallow for what they charge for tickets and with such a huge and supportive fan base for a franchise recently valued at over $1 billion.
And what the heck are the Cubs doing? Not only did they bring back their circus ring masters in Crane Kenney, Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella, they now sit around on their fat duffs watching the rival Cardinals continue to work to improve their team even though they actually made the playoffs. Did you see the mid-market Cardinals were able to sign Matt Holliday to a 7-year $120 million contract today? But wait, the Cubs did get rid of clubhouse cancer and under-achiever Milton Bradley although they did get stuck with another horrendous contract in Carlos Silva even if they did save a little money. Oh and they signed their CF of the future in Marlon Byrd if you consider a mediocre at best 32-year old CF a good thing. Apparently Hendry is NOT learning ANY lessons whatsoever that signing so-so players to extended contracts (Byrd got a 3-year deal even though it doesn't seem that any other team was remotely interested in this guy) is a bad thing.
The Bulls are who we thought they were before their somewhat miraculous 4-game winning streak which provided enough of a mirage to allow Vinny to stick around a little longer than I'd have preferred. Can ANYONE on this team step up and make an outside shot? Hinrich missed a wide open 12-footer by barely hitting the rim. If Vinny has a response as to why D-Rose was making the in-bounds pass instead of catching it, I'd like to hear it. D-Rose was the ONLY guy playing in the 4th quarter so why he was out of bounds making that important in-bounds pass is just ridiculous.
After that recent stretch of horrendous losses including a 32-point home loss to the sub-.500 Raptors (I was there!), the first road win by the Nets, and a 35-point loss to the Hawks. But those were just lead-ins to the infamous loss to the sub-.500 Kings where they blew a 35-point lead at home.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS GARBAGE?!?
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