The Blake Beat
February 10, 2012
D7
Changes in balance of power ruining NBA x by John Beers
In a world where we, as sports fans, strive for fairness in the sports we love, the conspiracy of NBA stars to control the future of the league is destroying the game. Ever since the summer of 2007, the NBA has been dominated by the movement of its biggest stars. Starting with the blockbuster deals that brought the Celtics their new Big Three, NBA’s superstars have continued to change teams more times than Dennis Rodman changed hairstyles. As a longtime Wizards fan, I am haunted by the memories of the LeBron-James-led Cavaliers knocking my team out of the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. Since then, the local team has gone from a team struggling to get out of the first round, to struggling to reach the 20 win mark. So the idea of pitting Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in addition to King James against the Wizards’ depressingly subpar lineup is simply absurd. This superstar effect has been felt by many of the smaller market teams, as former perennial contenders like the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Hornets, Detroit Pistons and aforementioned Cavaliers have been reduced to those fighting for lottery position. In the same time, the three largest markets in the NBA (Los Angeles, Chicago and New York) have been at the center of some the biggest deals the past few years. Whether it was Carmelo Anthony forcing his way out of Denver to the Knicks or Chris Paul not going to LA to be a Laker and then still ending up in LA as a Clipper, the biggest stars have figured out how to get to the biggest cities. However, what the NBA has really lost in this shift in the landscape is the sense of loyalty that has been unique with its players for so long. For years, the NBA has been defined by their superstars being synonymous with one team. Michael Jordan was the Chicago Bulls. Magic Johnson was the Los Angeles Lakers. Larry Bird was the Boston Celtics. Now the question will be asked whether LeBron James is remembered as a Cavalier or as a member of the Heat. Will Carmelo Anthony be seen as a Nugget or Knick and Chris Paul as a Hornet or Clipper? The days of players like Tim Duncan, who was drafted and will retire as a Spur, seem to be numbered. There is still some hope for the future of the NBA. The reigning champions, the Dallas Mavericks, built their championship on the basis of life-long Maverick Dirk Nowitzki and a solid supporting cast. The lead contender in the West is the small market team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by homegrown talent Kevin Durant. However, where these teams were once the norm, their types will continue to suffer in the future, as will the NBA.
Americans missing out on European soccer’s athletic entertainment Players, passion make ‘football’ deserving of more viewership, respect x by Michael Errigo Two teams meet in a fierce bout, played on a grand stage, before two of the most passionate fan bases in the world. The world has tuned in to see the outcome of this momentous match, so why haven’t you? America has seemed to ignore what is arguably the most popular sport in the world: soccer. For reasons unbeknownst to me, this action-packed sport has not caught on in our country despite the fact that it has everything that we, sports fans, see as entertainment. It has skilled athletes, gaudy personalities, and zealous supporters. Most matches play out like a well scripted drama, with heated arguments, late game heroics, and more than
a bit of acting. Europe features the greatest leagues, teams, and players in the world. Spain’s La Liga, England’s Barclay’s Premiere League, and Italy’s Serie A are the best of the best when it comes to competitive soccer. These leagues feature the best players playing for the finest teams supported by the most passionate fans. Unfortunately, the time difference means a lot of big games are played early on Saturday mornings, so most Americans miss out on the action. There are many great players but some standout as the best in the world. FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is widely considered the best player on earth. Real Madrid’s Christiano Ronaldo, despite his vast athletic ability, earns most of his fame from women who are
enticed by his looks. Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney has become an icon in Europe as England’s native son but not many people know about him in the US. Maybe the reason some Americans dislike soccer is because they have seen the MLS, America’s sorry excuse for a soccer league. Trust me, that is not real soccer. Even with the the talent level on the rise after the league set up an academy system used to funnel the best young talent in the country to MLS teams, the league is still nothing compared to European soccer. If only more people paid attention to the league, then they would be able to sell more tickets, make more money, and attract better players. Many people just dismiss soccer
claiming they already know all about it and just do not find it interesting. I highly doubt that is the case. Seeing one World Cup match does not make you an expert at soccer. If you consider David Beckham or Landon Donavan to be amongst the best players in the world, you do not know soccer. If you play Fifa religiously but have never witnessed a real game, you do not know soccer. If you think Kaká is just another word for feces, you do not know soccer. Every nation loves soccer except for ours. Millions of people cannot be wrong. All I ask is that you give it a try. Form an educated opinion instead of an assumption. Stumble out of bed one Saturday morning and tune in to the world’s sport.
Broncos’ quarterback rises above typical sports star stereotypes Both on, off field, Tebow overcomes doubters with great leadership x by Lucas Irvin Wilt Chamberlain slept with 20,000 women. Pete Rose was banned from baseball for betting on his own team. Michael Vick abused, tortured and executed dogs. Tim Tebow goes on annual mission trips to the Philippines and is building playrooms in hospitals for sick children; his foundation supports 650 orphans. Looking beyond the Tebowmania surrounding this quarterback that has taken the league and the fourth quarter by storm to become the most exciting player
in the NFL, you see a man that serves as a model of all-around excellence in all parts of his life. Regardless of your belief system, it is refreshing to have someone that is worth respecting in a sports world filled with people who falter in their unavoidable responsibility as a role model. He is ambitious, devoted, selfless and generous; he is the kind of person that cannot possibly be that good - there has to be some flaw, some vice that he would be better without. Tebow does have one. He bites his nails. And that’s pretty much it. In the words of Urban Meyer,
Tebow’s coach at the University of Florida, “I wanted to be a skeptic, [but] everything you see is true.” After a high school practice, his coach went into his office to figure out what position to play him (he used to be a linebacker), and two and a half hours later, there was a lone person throwing passes around the empty field. Needless to say, this made a good impression on the coach. He competes to be at the best level that he possibly can, not worrying about whether he’s better than anyone else. After a one-point loss to Ole Miss in his junior year at Florida, Tebow
made a bold promise, the sort that a public figure would never want hanging over his head: “You will never see any player in the entire country play as hard as I will play the rest of this season.” Despite coach Meyer’s displeasure with the statement, they went on to win the national championship, Tebow’s second. Above all, Tebow is a leader. He realizes that he is not the most important person on the field, not the only one that matters. Everyone matters equally and must work together. He knows just what to say, knows just how to motivate people, sounding neither
patronizing nor self-important. Such a seemingly flawless person will undoubtedly lead to doubters. Tebow has been dismissed as a sloppy nonquarterback with no consistency. He’s all hype. Even John Elway, someone who knows a thing or two about overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, is among them. But Tebow took a dull 1-4 team, led them to a 6 game winning streak, a division championship, and a playoff victory. He may not yield the prettiest numbers, but he is undeniably effective and certainly someone worth emulating.
He competes to be at the best level he possibly can, not worrying about whether he’s better than anyone else.