When team USA’s 23-player roster was released, Hammon’s name was conspicuously absent, despite her stats being at least comparable, if not better than several players who did make the list. Hammon was also the runner-up MVP for the WNBA last season, where she plays for the San Antonio Silver Stars. When the roster size was expanded, she was later added and invited to try out for the team, hoping to make the 12-player final roster. However, Hammon declined this invitation because she had meanwhile been offered a very lucrative deal with the Russian club CSKA Moscow to play professionally during the WNBA’s offseason. This decision led to her inability to try out for the U.S. team and here’s why:

Continue reading "Gold Medal Decision"

In June 2008 the Lakers find themselves in the NBA Finals thanks to tremendous maturity from its bench, the acquisition of Pau Gasol, and vastly improved team play from Kobe Bryant. The over-wrought cliché of “Kobe is a facilitator” is annoying to hear, but rings very true. But what has changed about Kobe the person? Nothing. He’s still very eager to ream out his teammates on the court. He still exudes smugness at his press conferences (e.g. going home and drinking 20 shots to forget about the Game 4 loss). And he is still a sore loser, looking to blame everyone else, and point the finger, when things don’t go his way. Just look at how he blasted Luke Walton earlier this season after Walton failed to in-bound the ball in five seconds, not realizing the Lakers still had a timeout, resulting in a turnover and Laker loss. A true leader hides the anger until he is behind closed doors. A true MVP doesn’t ridicule and torment his teammates on the court when the cameras are running.

Continue reading "MVP or FWT Fair Weather Teammate"

Continue reading "A Sched-youll Want to Know About"

I’ve grown up with football being Sunday afternoon entertainment my whole life. But with the near-death injury of Kevin Everett, I was suddenly reminded that our entertainment comes at a price; the price being the very safety and well-being of the athletes on the field. It’s easy to be desensitized to what a sports injury really is. We hear about them all the time, and for us fans who have never played sports at the professional level, injuries are intangible entities that keep our favorite players off the field for a game or two. I will be the first to admit that I rarely think about the players’ physical well-being before, during, or after a game. Even when my favorite player misses a game due to injury, the camera cuts to them briefly on the sideline and they look so normal, that I subconsciously dismiss the reality: they are in enormous pain.

Continue reading "Its Only a Game"

Several weeks ago, I strongly suggested that the Jets should pursue Shaun Rogers to bolster their defensive line, but I must say I like the Kris Jenkins move a little more. Of course Shaun Rogers is a tremendous tackle and his strength and size are huge assets for any defensive unit. However, I like the athleticism of Jenkins to fit in better with what the Jets try to do defensively. Eric Mangini’s defensive schemes are not unlike those of his nemesis and former mentor Bill Belichick. The Jets, for the past two seasons, have done a lot of zone blitzing with their newly installed 3-4 defense and you want a mobile nose tackle who can play on the ball, off the ball, or split out to the end spot as dictated by the play-calling. I still think Rogers would have helped immensely, but considering what the Browns had to pay to get him (a third round pick and cornerback Leigh Bodden) and what the Jets shelled out for Jenkins (undisclosed draft picks), I believe Jenkins is not only the better fit for their team, but could ultimately be the better bargain.

Continue reading "Green Spendin the Green"

Continue reading "Seperation of Sports and State"

There is legitimacy to the notion that the Patriots will win the Super Bowl: their prolific offense has set numerous records this year, they are arguably the best-coached team in the NFL, they have the most mentally prepared players with previous Super Bowl experience, and their quarterback is a sure-fire hall-of-famer who already has three championships while surrounded by arguably lesser talent. Oh, and then there’s that little part about the 18-0 record during which no team has been able to beat them (not even the Giants in week 17).

Continue reading "Giant Upset"

Just by looking at his 2007 stats, it’s easy to see him as an upgrade to the Jets’ current D-line. Rogers had 39 tackles, 7 sacks, and one interception (which was returned for a touchdown). The Jets’ starting front three accounted for a mere 10.5 sacks with their nose tackle, Dewayne Robertson garnering only 4 of them. Robertson also had 57 tackles to his name; even though that’s more than Rogers, Robertson benefited from the 3-4 scheme the Jets run, while Rogers was in a 4-3 and had to split tackles with three others on the front line.

Continue reading "Mr Rogers New Neighborhood"

Continue reading "Unappealing Behavior"

I was among many who found that misty sob fest to be ridiculous, but I might be among the few who thinks it’s real… or at least T.O.’s version of real. Who knows what goes on inside that man’s head; all I do know is it’s hard to conjure up tears on cue if you’re faking it. I know he was wearing glasses so we couldn’t really see any tears, but the way he was choking up and the way he kept having to swallow back that tremble in his voice, it doesn’t get much more convincing. And what would be his reason for faking it? He’d have nothing to gain; he could have more successfully defended his quarterback with a firm voice rather than deliberately taking the waterworks route. And yet the faucet was turned on.

Continue reading "In Rod We Trust In Terrell We Cant"