Sunday, January 31, 2010

NBA Needs To Get Back To Basics

Friday's match up between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets served as a teachable moment for Oklahoma's forward Kevin Durant.

Durant who put 30 answered points on the board lost his shoe during the game after his team had possession; suddenly, found himself having to play shoeless traveling down court to get back on defense.

Durant was able to maneuver quickly into the low-post to block Denver's lay-up- shoeless. Oklahoma closed the gap to win it over Denver, 101-84, ending Denver's nine-game streak.

Clearly, Kevin Durant, 21, is the youngest player to lead the NBA in scoring behind Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James; however, he needs a lesson on how to tie his shoes!

Maybe Durant should have taken some tips from UCLA's basketball coaching legend John Wooden's school on tying your shoes and putting your socks on properly.

Tying shoes reflects a need for the NBA to get back to basic basketball fundamentals. Players perfecting their dribbling, shooting, reading of screens and pick-n-rolls. Most of all, how to tie your sneakers.

In the words of John Wooden when his players would do something wrong, "Goodness gracious snakes alive."

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Baltimore Ravens Hire Zorn as New Quarterback Coach







Jim Zorn has officially joined the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff as a quarterback coach.


Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens management think this was the right move- wrong!

Zorn who was fired by the Redskins after a terrible 4-12 season, has found a new place to call home, but it shouldn't be in Baltimore.

Ravens' think this might be a good move, but it's a recipe for disaster?
Zorn clearly is no stranger when it comes to coaching quarterbacks as he did in the past coaching for the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks before he was hired by the Redskins.

But you have to consider his recent coaching downwinds with the Redskins. Remember the Jason Campbell connection? Of course not because the QB played terrible almost all season. But Zorn is going to help Joe Flacco's arm?

No way! What the Ravens' need to do is hire a veteran quarterback to work with their young QB's. Possibly, bring retired Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner to the job or how about Mr. Brett Favre as a coach?

Whatever the case, Baltimore needs to focus on making the team better and not worse.

This was clearly a bad move.










Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Commissioner Stern Gives A Stern Ruling On Arenas and Crittenton Gun Dispute


NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended Washington Wizards players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton for the remainder of the season.

The NBA known for its notorious brawls, recreational drug use and now firearms in the locker room- says enough, is enough!

This aggressive move will teach Mr. Arenas and Mr. Crittenton a lesson; especially, Mr. Arenas that firearms aren't a joke and mocking the situation doesn't help.

Or maybe it teach Mr. Arenas that he's not a basketball god and if you play with fire you're going to get burnt!

Burnt like the crisp core of your pay check, immaturity and relentlessness to understand the illegality and stupidity of his Wild West locker room gun draw with teammate Crittenton that now serves as a defining moment in NBA suspension history.

Arenas could possibly be traded next season or not picked up by another team because of his foolishness.

Ethically, this was the right move by the Commissioner and hopefully other athletes will get the message to not bring your guns to work!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Saints Win First Bowl Berth; Colts Edge Jets




The AFC Championship game featuring the Colts vs. the Jets was as exciting as watching the last episode of Jersey Shore.

Okay, maybe not so exciting since viewers already know what is bound to happen on the MTV reality show- but you get the point!

Coming into this game you can point out a few factors: two first-year head coaches, Rex Ryan and Jim Caldwell, the Jets have a rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez and the colts have a veteran and three-time (now four) MVP, Payton Manning.

Jets came out leading the game first-half, 17-13, and shutting down Payton Manning’s go to guys, Reggie Wayne and cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Manning took command of the game in the third quarter to the put the Colts ahead.
The 4-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon put the Colts up, 20-17. From there Indianapolis was back in the game as the Jets struggled with key player injuries and just awesome play routs by Manning.
On the NFC side, it was like a soap opera that could have ended early but didn’t as the Saints and Vikings battled into overtime.

Suddenly, the ever so popular phrase ‘Who Dat?’ doesn’t belong to Minnesota but to New Orleans for defeating the Vikings, 31-28, in OT.

This phrase could have easily belonged to the Vikings just like their infamous singing of the “Pants on the ground” song a week ago; if the coaches in the fourth quarter with 19 seconds left in regulation had went for the field goal; instead of, trying to make play for a TD that was never bound to happen!

What did happen? Vikings QB Brett Favre throws an interception in Saints territory that ends the game regulation. Saints get the first play in overtime after winning the coin toss and the victory play of Garrett Harley, who kicked a 40-yard field goal to lift the Saints to its first Super bowl berth over the Vikings, 31-28.

At least one thing is for certain, New Orleans has officially removed its name from the no bowl list as the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Cleveland Brown awaits their turn to play in Miami.

And Minnesota might need to look for a new head coach and offensive coordinator.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Tejada Returns to Baltimore Orioles: It's Deja Vu All Over Again


In the recent wake of the MLB season underway, Miguel Tejada is once again a free agent and he's heading back to Baltimore.

The six-time All Star shortshop signed a one-year deal for $6 million with the Baltimore Orioles.

Of course, that's chump change compared to Tejada's first signing with the team as a free agent back in 2003, for a six-year $72 million deal.

The shortshop only managed to play for Baltimore four years before being traded to the Houston Astros in 2007.

While playing for the Astros Tejada put-up some decent numbers, but will the 35-year old shortshop have what the Orioles need to get the job done in Birdland?

Well, that question remains for half of the Orioles roster. Hopefully, by mid-season Mr. Tejada won't cry and plead for a trade again- since he already knows the situation of the team.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Ravens' Offense Needs To Step Up



If the Baltimore Ravens want to excell past the New England Patriots and be a force in the playoffs, their offense is going to have to change its style of play.

Considerably, Raven's head coach John Harbaugh has had a pretty good strategy all season of playing quarterback Joe Flacco in the shot gun, but what about the loop holes?

Incomplete passes, fumbles, face-mask penalties and interceptions have led the Ravens to an underdog status heading into the play-offs.

Baltimore has a chance to redeem itself once again by winning Sunday's game against the Patriots.

The Ravens need to focus on a running game and play Flacco in the pocket. Flacco needs to read the opposing team's defense better, complete passes to his receivers and most of all, release the ball at a faster rate and not hold on to it like he normally does!

No doubt about it, Raven's second-string QB Troy Smith was more efficient at reading his offense; however, the contingency is to stay with Joe Flacco in the playoffs.

Maybe the Ravens' defense will have to step up again to lead a blitz New England's way; in order, for Baltimore to get a fair shot of a second division champship or Super Bowl.

Perhaps, the Ravens need to review their second-string quarterback and see if he can bring a refreshing start to the offense.