Is this a legitimate trick shot? I'm not sure; it looks a little fakey to me because the ball travels to the hoop so quickly, but I could be wrong. Here's the link, and here's the shot. We report, you decide.*



*Actually, I find on the web, you decide. Much like TV news, there's no actual reporting going on.

06/24/09 | Posted by Ron | Category Action Sports No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

The NHL has been kind of floundering since the lockout. It has long been knocked from its perch as America's 4th biggest sport by MMA and NASCAR, and TV ratings have been in the toilet thanks to an ill-advised move from ESPN to Versus. While attendance is still solid, modern sports leagues cannot live by gate receipts alone.

However, this season's Stanley Cup playoffs have been spectacular. Lots of exciting hockey, big names versus big names... it's been incredible, and it culminated in an improbable comeback by my favorite hockey team, The Pittsburgh Penguins, versus the premier team in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings. As we all know by now, the Pens fought back from the brink of elimination, forcing the series to a game seven, then winning it in dramatic fashion. I spent 15 minutes on Friday night screaming in celebration. What I didn't know is there were 8 million people watching with me.

While 8 million people doesn't seem like a lot, Friday's game seven was the most-watched NHL game in 36 years. Thirty-six years! As a hockey fan, I really hope some of these people stick around for the regular season, too. It seems like NBC is the perfect place for prime time hockey; I can only hope they broaden their slate a little bit and maybe launch some kind of Hockey Night in America.

To me, it seems like the perfect idea. Hockey has a pretty easily defined audience, and advertisers love that. Hockey fans are also loyal, so you know what kind of ratings you're going to get with hockey. It's also very cheap programming, and honestly, NBC's got nothing else going for it aside from The Office and the Tonight Show, so what do they have to lose? It beats the hell out of more I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

06/15/09 | Posted by Ron | Category NHL/College Hockey 1 comment | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

There are times when this procrastination thing of mine, actually works out for the best. Sometimes things just work out to where what you want to write can honestly be improved greatly...just by waiting to write it. I know you all been waiting on the second half of my LeBron/Kobe thing and well, I truly apologize for the wait. But well, a funny thing went and happened over the last few days...

The Orlando Magic found a way to crap all over Nike's commercial and Madison Avenue's wet dream Finals matchup, exploiting the Cavs as the most overhyped 66 win team in NBA history.

So yeah, regardless of whatever unfolds over the next few days...Kobe's still the top dog in the Association. HOWEVER...LeBron's going to be great in due time. How many individuals can you recall averaged a 38 PPG, 8 & 8 for a SERIES and lose in 6 games? How often can someone say 'I had 25 points, 7 boards and assists, but that was my worst game of the series'? (Oh don't worry, I intend on going off on this in a bit.) LeBron is your quintessential freak, the 'once in a lifetime' talent that simply put, everyone's out of adjectives and superlatives to describe. If the man had...

A) Killer instinct, as in that Jordanesque ability to know when to simply seize a team by its throat and squeeze until it stops moving.
B) Mid-range jumper. Jordan killed people with this after he came back from his exodus from the sport. Even beforehand, when you denied his driving lanes, he popped one open from 15-20 feet with ease. Just ask Bryon Russell.

Right now, those two things are missing from his game. Oh and one other really important thing that will stunt his progression towards the Greatness everyone sees for him.

A SUPPORTING CAST!!!

05/31/09 | Posted by Len | Category NBA No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

I've been watching a lot of the NBA Playoffs, which is crazy because I hate NBA basketball. However, one thing I do like are those new NBA "Where Amazing Happens" commercials. So when I saw this video over at Agent M's, I had to link it here.



INCREDIBLE!

05/20/09 | Posted by Ron | Category NBA No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

As we speak, Kobe Bryant's playing the game that may very well define his career. No, it's not a Finals game or anything like that, but after the past year and change he has had...you may as well say it's that urgent. LeBron James, will be watching that game since his team has more or less been off for the past week and change. They're about 48 hours or so away from finding out who stands between them and their second trip to the NBA Finals in two seasons. However, today's about Kobe. Why? Well...let's go to the very beginning shall we?

05/17/09 | Posted by Len | Category NBA 1 comment | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

Alright, I know we’ve been through this before. Favre can’t make up his mind whether he wants in or out. He has “retired” with the proficiency of a boxer, just ask Floyd Mayweather Jr. who is coming back in July. Apparently, just flat out saying you’re uninterested in your sport and want to go away until it gets interesting again, or want a bigger payday. Or in the case of Favre and this is what I think this really comes down to…

Payback. Sometimes, it’s just that simple. Brett Favre was sent packing (pardon the pun) by the franchise he helped revitalize in the mid 90s last season. Traded to the Jets for virtually nothing, so that Aaron Rodgers could get handed the keys to the car. Someone must have forgotten to run the little story by Ted Thompson on how this worked out for San Francisco in the early 90s. Sure, San Fran got one Super Bowl, but it took Jimmy Johnson retiring (George Seifert never beat Jimmy in the playoffs) for them to finally get by the Cowboys and get the “monkey” (who knew backups got those things?!) off Steve Young’s back. San Fran got rid of the man who made their franchise something in the 80s, fuck, he made them THE TEAM OF THE 80s…and haven’t been the same since. They haven’t seen an NFC Championship since 1994, haven’t advanced past the second round since that Super Bowl winning year either. Miami and Denver have had similar QB issues since their franchise QBs have retired, neither one having any legitimate success since Elway and Marino called it quits. Denver more dubiously, has seen its best QB since Elway hung it up pout his way to Chicago in return for Kyle Orton and a slew of rookies to be named later. But now, Green Bay finds itself faced with a most haunting image. Not just Favre coming back, but coming back…in Purple. Viking Purple at that. So to do as one Don King would, I’m gonna tell you why it SHOULD happen, why we should allow it to happen and why if you’re the Vikes, revolting would be greatly encouraged if at some point before training camp…Brett Favre jerseys aren’t available in Viking Purple.

05/06/09 | Posted by Len | Category NFL 1 comment | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

So the first round is in the books and well, we had a lot of shit go down that got me wanting to write. I think we saw a team collectively quit on its team at home (we saw that twice actually, one game led to tying the largest margin of victory in the postseason, the other was simply the end of one of the better teams this decade). In any event, allow yours truly to take you through each series as only I can (since the networks are too busy cramming their wet dreams down your throats)…

05/03/09 | Posted by Len | Category NBA No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

In a little under two and a half hours, the NBA Playoffs shall commence. In Part 1 of my annual playoff preview, I gave you rankings sans four teams (the Cavs, Lakers, Spurs & Rich/Creamys). In Part 2, I shall give you the remaining rankings, with the final two comprising what I think we'll see in June. So before I do that, a recap of the previous 12 teams and why I ranked them how I did.

04/18/09 | Posted by Len | Category NBA No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

In a matter of 24 hours, damn near everything changed in the East with word that KG's possibly/probably out for the rest of the postseason. All of a sudden, what was a possible Cleveland/Boston rematch now has taken on a 'pass the crown and get out of our way' feel. Something akin to Spinks/Ali when Ali was more or less on his way out, only he forgot the 'retire gracefully and save what's left of your face and all that' part. However, I don't think it's that cut and dry. Neither will be what is the traditional NBA Playoff preview from yours truly. 16 teams. 8 in each conference. I'm done reviewing series and all that, because I thought up something else overnight. I will rank the teams in descending order, from 8 to 1 for each conference. The first four will obviously be the ones that aren't around after the first two weekends of basketball.

04/17/09 | Posted by Len | Category NBA No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

First Harry Kalas passes away, then John Madden retires. Two of the more famous voices in sports are no longer speaking. Who will replace them?

The sportscasters of the previous generations were (and are) legendary, and for good reason. For example, here's Vin Scully's moving tribute to deceased Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart as transcribed by Will Leitch. It's incredible.

If I may speak for every member of the Dodger organization, our heartfelt and deepest sympathies to the mother and family of Nick Adenhart, and to every member in the Angels organization, for the untimely accident and death of young Nick last night at the tender age of twenty-two. Nick, from Maryland, had pitched six scoreless innings and was in a car with three friends, and a driver apparently went through a red light and T-boned the car, killing three of the four, including Nick, and one other member is in critical condition. And if there is one thing I’ve learned in all my years — and I haven’t learned much — but the one thing I’ve learned: Don’t even waste your time trying to figure out life.

Ground ball through for Andre Ethier, and life continues for those who still have it. And with a leadoff single, Russell Martin will be coming up.

But I would say, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a moment and say a prayer in memory for Nick, especially for his parents. What a shock to lose a twenty-two-year-old.

Andre Ethier at first base, Russell Martin the batter, James Loney on deck, and the Dodgers try to strike in the second inning against Kevin Correia.

I won't make the argument that it's not time for Madden to retire, and I'm not going to say anything bad about his replacement Cris Collinsworth. I think Cris is going to do a great job in the color role on Monday Night Football, but... where are the great voices? Who are going to be the future of the industry? Not just to keep the seats warm, but to provide the voice of a generation? Who's going to be the next Voice of God?

Maybe that's an outmoded idea. There's no voice of a generation because we're too fragmented. There are no universal moments that we can all reference. Maybe the bland people behind the microphones these days are the voice of this bland generation.

04/17/09 | Posted by Ron | Category General Sports 2 comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

It is a sad day in baseball: a legendary voice has been silenced, and a great character from days past dies unexpectedly.

First came the news that Harry Kalas, legendary Phillies broadcaster and the voice of NFL Films since 1975, had died at the age of 73 after passing out in the broadcast booth while preparing for today's Phillies-Nationals game. If you aren't familiar with the name, you do know the voice:



Then the breaking news, just as the word of Kalas' passing was being broadcast; former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark "The Bird" Fidrych had been found dead under his truck in an apparent accident at his farm in Massachusetts at the age of 54:



Younger fans may not remember Fidrych, but in 1976, he was a baseball phenomenon and national celebrity, known as much for his skill as for his bizarre behavior on the mound. No one knew what to make of him; he talked to the ball, got on his hands and knees to clear cleat marks off the mound, he believed that some balls had hits in them and would throw those balls back. But damn, could he pitch. His career, like his life, was over far too soon; injuries killed his career after only four years, but he did enough in those four years to cement his name among those of us old enough to remember those days. As someone put it earlier, "He was the Bird before there was a Larry Bird."

Rest in peace, gentlemen. Your time with us was over far too soon, and we will cherish the time we had with you.

04/13/09 | Posted by Jade | Category MLB No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

MY MIND JUST LOST ITSELF! Off the top of the backboard, off the heating duct, down the suspension line, and right into the basket! From 3/4 court, no less! I don't even think I could get the ball within a mile of the basket from there! Exclamation points! Shame the ref waves it off. I guess that counts as interference or something.

(I have to tag this post with something, so I'll tag it NCAA basketball. Right after making this shot, Billie Gillispie offered the kid a glass of whiskey and a scholarship to his next school.)

H/T: Deadspin

04/08/09 | Posted by Ron | Category NCAA Basketball No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

Dear Opie Frank,

I had hoped the day would come when simply put, I wouldn't have to write this piece. I had hoped that much like with Coughlin, you'd have me eating crow and the Nets would be back where they haven't been in seven years. The Finals. But after an abysmal blowout to the Sucks (Bucks) and then the unidentified piece of crap that was a loss to the Wolves (which may as well be an AAU team wearing NBA attire right now, coached by Kevin McHale), I have come to the following conclusion...

You gotta go.

04/03/09 | Posted by Len | Category An Open Letter To... No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

If you don't read the Wall Street Journal, you would have never learned that soccer is ruining America. There are a lot of great points in that article. However, did you know that America is also ruining football overseas? I didn't know that for sure, but I could've easily guessed it the moment Malcolm Glazer bought a team in the Premier League.

Some of the second article's points aren't fair. I mean, blaming us for stupid stadium names? In a sport where most of the jersey is dominated by advertisements? It was only a matter of time before someone decided to sell the name and have it be Old Trafford Stadium Presented By Harry Ramsden's.

04/03/09 | Posted by Ron | Category Soccer No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |

It's a sad day for Bears fans. No longer will their quarterback position be the domain of sex cannons or neckbeards. Instead they get Jay Cutler and his diabeetus. Excuse me if I shed a little tear.

I know I might be the only one, but I love Kyle Orton. He's awesome, and he's not a terrible quarterback. I may be the only one who thinks he's serviceable in the NFL, and I'm okay with that. I watched a lot of Bears games last year and he was never outright terrible. Still, I think Da Bears got fleeced by Boy Blunder in this particular trade.

Team Ditka Gets:

2009 Fifth Round draft pick

The New Team Neckbeard Gets:

2009 First Round draft pick
2009 Third Round draft pick
2010 First Round draft pick

Yes, I know Jay Cutler is the second coming of John Elway, etc., but I don't think I've seen a Bears team with a good, non-crazy quarterback in my life. Even Jim McMahon had a little maniac about him. But Jay Cutler is mostly sane, if a bit of a crybaby! Where's the fun in that?!

04/02/09 | Posted by Ron | Category NFL No comments | Permalink | No Trackbacks |