NBA All Star Weekend

The NBA staged its annual mid season party and mass gathering this past weekend in Phoenix. Arguably the most popular All Star game in professional sports, stars like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Chris Paul graced the floor, along with luminaries such as Amare Stoudamire, Yao Ming, Mo Williams, and Paul Pierce just to name a few.

Story lines were in abundance, what with Shaq dancing with the Jabbawockies, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ7KO0P5V3k , emergence of new stars (Kevin Durant and Derek Rose), and the typical no defense, offensive highlight reel game itself. Not to mention Kobe and Shaq reunited on the same team, albeit for one game, for the first time since 2004, and consequently sharing co-MVP honors. Props to the NBA for putting on such a great show, introducing HORSE, GEICO actually (What professional sporting event would be complete without corporate over saturation?), and fabricating such great story lines, yes fabricating, along with a few feel good moments for the viewers at home.

Jordin Sparks' rendition of the national anthem was spectacular, of course no Marvin Gaye, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRvVzaQ6i8A, but nonetheless an inspiring performance by the former American Idol finalist. Legendary Celtics center Bill Russell celebrated his 75th birthday, and it made for great TV seeing current Celtics All Stars Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen crowd around the Hall of Famer to wish him a happy birthday.

5'9 Nate Robinson beat 6'11 Dwight Howard in the Slam Dunk Contest, ending it with this dunk, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbiuTgleEOk, and gave hope to short people everywhere. Toronto sharpshooter Jason Kapono, heavily favored to win his third straight 3 point Shootout, sputtered early, and Miami's Daquean Cook took home the title. Derek Rose easily cruised past the competition in winning the Skills Challenge, triumphing over All Stars Devin Harris, Tony Parker, and Mo Williams. Kevin Durant dropped 46 points in the Rookie-Sophmore game, while also winning the inaugural HORSE competition by beating out rookie O.J. Mayo and Atlanta's lone All Star Joe Johnson.

Amidst the scandals and controversy around the world of sports, for one weekend in Phoenix players from different teams, conferences, and backgrounds all put aside their differences to put on a show and have a good time. Shaq ran pick and rolls with Kobe, Chris Paul dished it to Brandon Roy for the slam on a fast break, and for a few days at least, everyone forgot about the A-Rods, Michael Phelpses, and Jamal Andersons of the world, and instead watched a group of spectacular athletes and basketball players play the game at the purest level. This weekend they played a game for the sake of playing a game when winning doesn't matter, and having fun and enjoying the game of basketball reigned supreme.

From a Sports Fan's View

Being an avid sports fan, and hailing from Chicago, I am no stranger to the love/hate relationship shared between fans and their respective fan bases. But more and more it seems professional sports has failed to accommodate the fans during such trying times, and the players, whose salaries are funded by sports fans who buy their merchandise and shell out exorbitant amounts of money to see them play, have begun to turn their back on those who care the most.


Yes, being a professional athlete is a job. Not one of you would want a someone to come to your work and scream at YOU right?

But the comparisons fall on deaf ears, and rightfully so. Yes, these athletes are simply doing a job to pay the bills just like the rest of us. But unlike the rest of us, these athletes are making millions of dollars to be world famous icons for playing, essentially what is, a game. Therefore, they are subject to a higher order of behavior than the common layman.

These past few weeks in sports have been rough, what with A-Rod admitting to using steroids from 2001-2003 and Michael Phelps gasp smoking weed. But who's surprised? Gone are the days when a sports fan poured their heart and soul into a team, passing this passion onto their children, while the franchise poured itself back into the community. The legendary teams of the past no longer exist in this day and age of constant turnover, 38 coaches fired in the last 12 months, and intense scrutiny, with the Purple People Eaters, the Steel Curtain, and the Bronx Bombers all memories of "the good old days". Sure, the athletes are better, stronger, quicker, and bigger, and with the advent of the internet and cable TV, it has never been easier to follow your favorite sports team.

But seemingly every time fans put their hearts out on the line, athletes and franchises break them. The arrogance of these millionaires in snubbing the people who keep the business running boggles the mind. Favorite players? Not when your "favorite player" might admit to steroid charges or get traded the next week. Favorite teams? Sonics fans can attest to the fact that often teams are simply a few bad years and one greedy owner away from moving away. The Devil Rays go to the World Series and can't even sell out a home game? Does anyone remember that the NFC Championship game in Arizona was a local blackout until game day? The Red Sox trading away icon and future Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez. Brett Favre, Green Bay legend, playing for the JETS?

Tommy Tuberville goes 85-40, including 1 SEC title, at Auburn and he gets canned. Donovan McNabb, the face of the Philadelphia Eagles, gets benched in favor of Kevin Kolb.

In a sports climate where legends are traded away, successful, popular coaches are fired, and teams move (Cleveland, Seattle), how can a fan pour their heart into their teams?

There is something missing and we as sports fans are starting to notice. Us fans love our teams and name our children after the players. Those millionaire athletes? Well, it suffices to say that flicking off the fans(I'm looking at you Mike Vick) or beating them up(Ron Artest) isn't quite the hallmark of a grateful professional athlete.

In times such as these we need sports more than ever. These athletes do things only a fraction of the world can do physically and mentally. How many people can throw a 95 mile an hour fastball right above the waist on the outside corner, or better yet try to hit it? How many people can run a 4.4 40 yard dash and do it while 11 guys try to kill him? Excellence is celebrated and in these dire economic times, any celebration is welcome. But as fans we must ask ourselves, how much more abuse and arrogrance can we take?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKvq6FVBMBk&feature=related
Sir you've been knocked the hell out

There He Is

Everyone self respecting Falcons fan knows the name Jamal Anderson. Maybe not as the 7th round pick out of Utah in 1994, but certainly as #32, the big halfback who led the Falcons to their lone Super Bowl appearance in 1999. A career Falcon, Anderson epitomized the spirit of that '98 Atlanta team. A team of mediocre NFL starters played far over their heads in meeting John Elway and the Denver Broncos. They lost of course, but simply reaching the Super Bowl had been a shock, with the Falcons being 8 and a half point underdogs to the heavily favored Broncos. Can anyone name the starting quarterback on that Falcons team? Yes, it was Chris Chandler, who also happened to play for 5 NFL teams before joining the Falcons. With career seasons coming from just about everyone, including Jamal Anderson, these Falcons became Atlanta sports legends even in defeat.

1998 Pro Bowler. Inventor of the Dirty Bird. None of that meant much when former Falcons RB Jamal Anderson walked into the Peachtree Tavern in downtown Buckhead and walked out in handcuffs, arrested on charges of felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor marijuana charges. Of course no one is suprised. What with Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the leg while at a New York night club, steroid allegations in MLB, and a plethora of other athletes yet again proving time and time again; money doesn't buy brains. Anderson has been a mostly quiet citizen after his retirement in 2001, which will obviously help him in the case of Georgia v. Anderson. Most likely the Atlanta sports hero will recieve nothing more than a slap on the wrist and a reprimand. Maybe even a few years of probation and a mandate to take a few drug classes.

The favoritism and unfair leniency shown toward star athletes has become an absolute disgrace to the entire judicial system of this country. Everyone and their grandmama knew O.J. Simpson was guilty, but they all also knew there was no way that the Hall of Fame Bills RB was going to be convicted of first degree murder. Nobody remembers Ray Lewis was charged with double homicide during the 1999 Super Bowl, mostly because he got off on a plea bargain while two of his friends took the rap. The list goes on and on and on, and the hypocrisy of the blind justice supposedly served in our great nation becomes more and more overpowering.

Jamal Anderson is still considered innocent until proven guilty. As an American he has the right of the assumption of innocence, and we can all rest assured that the former NFL RB has top notch legal counsel at his disposal. Felony possession of cocaine in the state of Georgia carries a minimum sentence of 2 years and a maximum sentence of 15 years, however one has to have a hard time seeing Anderson serve any jail time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQViVszchAA
All I gotta say is....DAMN.

A Fraud

So Alex Rodriguez, one of the greatest pure hitters of our generation, took steroids. Which isn't the sad thing in all of this. Its that no one seems to care, or register any sort of shock or outrage. Rodriguez will likely end his career as the all time home run champ, somewhere in the neighborhood of 800 home runs. No one can dispute the skills of one Alex Rodriguez, a 40-40 man and the highest paid player in MLB, with his sweet swing and larger than life persona. While not as beloved as teammate, and Yankee captain, Derek Jeter, most casual sports fans can identify A-Rod as what he was before and remains after the news of his failed test, an excellent athlete and a player who will undoubtedly surpass Barry Bonds as home run king.

In the aftermath of the Mitchell Report, which by all intents and purposes was nothing more than a glorified witch hunt, fans have become numb. Numb to allegations of steroid use by some of the greatest players of our generation. Roger Clemens. Rafael Palmeiro. Sammy Sosa. Mark McGwire. Barry Bonds. And now Alex Rodriguez joins the list of former 1st ballot HOF locks to be convicted in the court of public opinion on counts of disgracing the game and disappointing fans everywhere. Sadly the accomplishments of those who chose to take the higher path, i.e. not take steroids, are overshadowed by an entire generation of juicers. Players that did it right, and never sacrificed their responsiblity to the fans and themselves to maintain the integrity of the game. But who are these player? Who is clean and who plays dirty? And perhaps this is the saddest conclusion of all, as no one is immune from the scrutiny.

It is no longer obvious, as pop eye arms and enlarged craniums no longer are the tell tale signs of steroid use. Jason Giambi and Mark McGwire post steroids emerged shells of their muscular selfs, and the longevity of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens well into their 40s screamed of improrities. But A-Rod? The player who scouts raved about as a high schooler, with the sweet swing and enormous potential, is the latest player to be dragged into this entire steroid mess. But who cares anymore? Who is suprised by this news when every week it seems a different player is caught in his lies? Is it so shocking to hear another great player fall into the category of "cheater" or "juicer"? And in all of this, somewhere Jose Canseco the prophet is nodding in agreement.

Some things never change

Even after the election of Barrack Obama, the first African American to hold the highest office in the land, there remains lurking reminders of the ugly history of racism and prejudices of America. Indeed our President may be black, but old habits die hard and age old prejudices and tensions remain strong.

In a small town of Benndale, Miss., at approximately 5:40 AM, high school student and heavily recruited RB Billey Joe Johnson Jr. lost his life. The George County Sheriff's department claims Johnson committed suicide in a routine traffic stop as witnessed by Deputy Joe Sullivan. The family and many friends of the promising football star not only dispute this account, but argue that Johnson was brutally murdered. In a small Southern town where tensions between blacks and whites remain dormant, but ever lurking, speculations swirl as to the true nature of Billey Joe's death. Deputy Sullivan's patrol car was not equipped with a camera, leaving the true nature of events only to the knowledge of Sullivan and Billy Joe.

The technical aspects of the case, as well as the many irregularities of the circumstances surrounding Billey Joe's death, are important in finding the truth. But the greater impact this tragic death has shown is the reality of racism and prejudice which remains even into the 21st century. Even after a historic presidential election and a Super Bowl in which a black head coach led his team to victory, there remains the ugly truth; centuries of segregation and prejudice simply does not disappear with a few court cases or "historic" events. Are we so ignorant as to assume that hate does not still permeate the minds of many? That racism is dead and we live in a color blind society? Now, that being said, the greatness of our progress in these matters was supremely demonstrated in this past Super Bowl between the Steelers and the Cardinals. Coach Mike Tomlin of the Steelers became only the second black coach to win a Super Bowl, yet this was largely unnoticed by the national media and even by the millions of viewers around the world. And this was a good thing. Why? It demonstrated that perhaps the nation had begun to move past the racial sensitivites of our past, and enter a truly color blind era in which a black CEO or even President would not cause even the slightest stir.

In a country made of immigrants in that we are all descendants of immigrants, the issue of racism remains just that, an issue. Yes, we have made great strides as a nation since the times of segregation and slavery, but true equality must be an equality in the hearts and minds of the people of all races, not simply an equality based on court cases and firsts. In many years, when we of this country who are part of the latest generation have children and grandchildren, this gneration must instill the principles of love and understanding to the later generations. Only then can this nation rise out of our ugly past and move onto a future without incidents. A future without special interest groups posturing for support in racially charged times. A future where Billey Joe Johnson is still living and running on a football field. In a sport with its athletes predominantly African American, only 3.4% of all Divison 1-A college football head coaches share the same skin color as the vast majority of their players. Perposterous? Yes. But people will say this is the way its always been and its the way it'll always be.

But why does it have to be? Most likely no one will know how Billey Joe Johnson lost his life that fateful morning, but his story has opened the sore that no one wanted to acknowledge after these historic past few months. The state of Mississippi will release its own investigation as soon as next week, and no matter what is said the tragedy of Billey Joe Johnson Jr. remains a deadly scenario waiting to be played in small towns and big cities all across this nation, unless something is done.

R.I.P. Billey Joe Johnson Jr.
(1991-2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5A564ex3Mk
The tragic story of Billey Joe

Best Game Ever?

This past Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers played Super Bowl XLIII in front of what looked a lot like Heinz Field North. As the Steelers ran out to a 7-0 lead, and the Steel Curtain D shut down the vaunted Cardinals offense, making Kurt Warner look all of his 37 years, fans across the world let out a collective groan as the heavily favored Steelers looked poise to trounce the Cinderella story Cardinals. Then it happened.

At the 1 yard line of Pittsburgh, Kurt Warner let loose a floater to back up tight end Ben Patrick who did this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9S6V71pdyg, marking his first TD catch of the season.

Patrick made an amazing catch, outdeuling a Steelers defender to make a falling catch in a big time situation. Perhaps on a normal Sunday during a normal NFL game this would've been it as far as highlights went. But this was no normal Sunday. With the Cardinals once again knocking on the door to take the lead at the end of the 3rd quarter Steeler LB James Harrison, Defensive Player of the Year, made perhaps one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl HISTORY. While it nearly killed him, and had him sucking oxygen into the next half this 100 yard interception return, the longest play in SB history, was made not because of blazing speed or lack of pursuit, but because James Harrison refused to accept anything less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9S6V71pdyg

The Steelers led 20-7 as late as the 4th quarter, but then Larry Fitzgerald went all Jerry Rice on the Steeler D going for 127 yards and 2 TDs, including this 64 yard sprint.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6Ys0iEpz8A&feature=related

For any normal Super Bowl that would have been plenty to deem the game an instant classic. But Big Ben and the Steeler offense would march down the field and with this catch, WR Santonio Holmes immortalized himself in Pittsburgh lore forever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY5O8eRr5bc&feature=related

Instant classic? Without a doubt. But what Super Bowl would be complete without an officiating controversy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS2cQnytZ90