News, views and other tidbits, from around the world of sports …
With the biggest event of the North American sports’ world, taking place on Sunday afternoon , when the Denver Broncos play host to the Seattle Seahawks in Superbowl (XLVIII) . The last-minute builds up and news, has now reached fever pitch . With journalists from around the globe reporting on the event , it will be interesting to see how these individuals report the contest, the images and their take on it all. Now while, much of the NFL related news has been about rants and ravings of the Seahawks’ corner back Richard Sherman and his thoughts. From my own perspective , Sherman has simply been trying to “cash in” on the newfound notoriety , while hoping to be part of a victorious Seattle Seahawks’ team . For the NFC West based franchise, this will their second appearance in the NFL’s , biggest postseason event.
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Slideshow .
For opposing quarterbacks, Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks , their respective careers are now at their nascent , in one case and in the other , it has reached a plateau , that is likely to see Manning add to an astonishing NFL career , in terms of the accomplishments and accolades received during his fifteen-year tenure in the NFL.
Wilson will be seeking to win his first Superbowl title, after a little less than three seasons in the league . All the more astonishing, when you consider the draft class in which the young quarterback entered the NFL . . In what will be only his fifth postseason career start ,the Seahawks’ passer will be facing Peyton Manning , who will be making his twenty-third postseason start and third Superbowl appearance , having already won a title with his former team the Indianapolis Colts and also walking away with the Superbowl MVP, for good measure after that victory . This contest, even if it is likely to be played under inclement weather conditions , with the likely weather forecast suggesting game-time conditions will be contested with freezing temperatures. I would like to believe, that this match-up will be competitive and highly entertaining! ! Yet, with that in mind , I would proffer this question to Roger Goodell , did he really have to capitulate to the owners of the New York Giants and New York Jets in acquiescing to their demands in staging the Superbowl at Met Life Stadium , in East Rutherford , New Jersey, which houses both franchises, knowing that the match-up was likely to be played during icy temperatures during Winter ?
The NFL Commissioner, is proving to be an individual with even less intelligence than first thought. A case of the dog wagging its tail or someone else wagging the dog’s tail on their behalf?
Say what you will about this NBA season , but it is becoming abundantly clear , with it being formally the last month of David Stern’s three-decade long tenure as the NBA Commissioner and the league’s highest ranking executive . He leaves the league , in somewhat of a dire situation. His successor was already being groomed as heir-apparent and Adam Silver will succeed Stern as of Monday morning. The league itself is going through not growing pains, but a lack of competitiveness within the Eastern Conference and what appears to be not only dour coaching . but also the lack of a truly engaging team rivalry within the NBA, itself . Gone are the days, where a regular season showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics actually meant something . As of today, both of these heralded franchises are going through pains of their own , borne out by the respective conference and divisional records this season. Lackluster results and some truly unbearable performances and it is easy to understand why both teams are currently struggling.
For the Boston Celtics and their off-season upheavals, that led to the departures of Doc Rivers to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers , a triumvirate of players , Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce and Jason Terry being traded to the Brooklyn Nets , and what now appears to be a resurgent Nets’ team . The travails of rookie head coach Brad Stevens and this young Celtics’ team looks as if it is likely to be an arduous first season for the former Butler head coach.
For GM Danny Ainge and managing general partner , Wyc Grousbeck to now start afresh , when it might have been best to have contemplated these moves last season , when it was widely known that Rivers was not satisfied with the direction of the franchise. An influx of young talent by way of the NBA Draft over the past two seasons , and still the signs are that this will be something of a long hard slog for a coach still finding his legs in the NBA.
As losers of nine straight of their last ten contests , it would be safe to suggest that beyond non-availability of Rajon Rondo , suggestions that Danny Ainge might also seek to trade the point guard does seem somewhat speculatory in nature, as well as suicidal , in that concluding that the franchise should simply give up on the season. Granted, the fans are already disappointed with a team bearing a 15-33 record languishing at the bottom of the Atlantic Division , 10 ½ games behind divisional leaders the Toronto Raptors (24-21) . Growing pains abide , but all that is really needed , is for this group of players to find some sort of consistency , with Stevens and his coaching staff getting the best possible contribution out of his starting lineup and bench players .
A narrow one-point loss by the Boston Celtics at home to the Philadelphia 76ers , and then they face another conference rival on the 2nd February , against the Orlando Magic whom they host , before a return engagement with the 76ers at their home venue , the Wells Fargo Center , in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , on Wednesday evening .
A the leading candidate, in the MVP race , Kevin Durant has been laying siege to the NBA this season. On a tear, that has seen the player score thirty or more points for twelve straight games , along with near double-digit assists or rebounds in several of those contests , in leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the best record in the NBA. That feat of Durant’s, puts him in the rarefied air of Hall of Fame great Oscar Robertson , who himself , was also prolific scorer and player. An NBA title has so far do eluded Kevin Durant , his teammates and the team must now be seen as the prohibitive favorites to come out of the Western Conference as a likely contender for this season’s title .
If to further emphasize the growth in Kevin Durant’s game , he and his teammates were recently the guests of reigning NBA champions, the Miami Heat . That contest in some circles , may well be seen as a precursor to the title match-up this upcoming postseason , albeit , that the Indiana Pacers are no pushovers and are likely to give the Heat their biggest test of the postseason , if the two teams are indeed to revisit their budding rivalry within the Eastern Conference . The Thunder’s lopsided seventeen-point victory over Miami, led many to believe that not only has Kevin Durant been out playing LeBron James this season , but in all likelihood with his performance in that contest he has to be seen as the current frontrunner in the League MVP race. As good as Kevin Durant’s play might have been against the Miami Heat , I believe his leading the Thunder in a come from behind victory over the Atlanta Hawks was just as scintillating and quite possibly the best individual scoring feat of this NBA season and that is with due respect to the “overrated “ sixty-two point outburst recently by Carmelo Anthony , against what I deem to be a totally inept Charlotte Bobcats’ team . A team that I might add, whose defensive stature at present belies the fact that they have one playoff appearance in their current guise , but yet, there seems to be idiotic hyperbole as to the magnitude of what Anthony was able to achieve against the Bobcats. Mediocrity, can come in many forms and currently , there are no two better representatives of that, than the Charlotte Bobcats and New York Knicks within the Eastern Conference.
I will say this for Dan Gilbert and Chris Grant as the owner and general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers , both laid the groundwork in running LeBron James right out-of-town , when the player declared his free agency options ! Neither thought it appropriate, to consult with the star prior to firing Mike Brown . As the head coach of the franchise , he led the franchise to their only NBA Finals’ appearance , a series that they would subsequently lose to the San Antonio Spurs in a lopsided 4-0 loss , during which Tony Parker was named the Finals MVP . In the subsequent years after that series’ loss, things have simply spiraled out of control for the franchise , with Byron Scott’s tenure being a tumultuous one as the head coach . Brown’s firing, led to his being hired by the Los Angeles Lakers , only for his stay there to be undermined, by the simple idiocy of Mitch Kupchak and owner, Jim Buss . Brown’s successor, Mike DAntoni is currently feeling the heat , if not necessarily the wrath of the Lakers’ fans , as that franchise’s season sinks into oblivion . Mike Brown has since been rehired by the Cavaliers , but it now looks as if history might be on the brink of it repeating itself, as the franchise’s biggest asset and best player , Kyrie Irving is now said to be dissatisfied and unhappy with the current “state of affairs” Cleveland. Any idiotic hope, that there was said to be, of LeBron James returning to the Cavaliers, can be rightfully shot down. Are there still individuals who now believe that James would be willing to opt out of his contract to return to Cleveland , when he is guaranteed a max-contract simply by remaining in Miami that is likely to net him upwards of $140 million gross over six years (averaging $23 million plus a year) ?
Kyrie Irving if nothing else , is simply unhappy with the fact that the team as it is currently built does not complement his skill-set , nor does it make the Cavaliers a competitive franchise within their division or the . Eastern Conference. His reasons for shying away and not actually placating those fans who now fear the worst, seem so contrary to what has been said in private, now becomes a matter of conjecture and a great deal of speculation, while making the media simply ravenous for more concerning Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers . Though, he cannot become a free agent until 2015 , it seems highly unlikely that Chris Grant would seek a trade of Kyrie Irving, a player whose rookie scale contract is still in effect .
Coming off a thirty-one point drubbing at the hands of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden , in New York City , New York . The Cavaliers’ next game is unlikely to do them any favors , when they face the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center in Houston Texas on Saturday evening . How Mike Brown gets his players to acquit themselves in that contest , may well play a big part in possibly determining the short and long-term future of Kyrie Irving and the likelihood of his remaining with the franchise.
The NBA 2014 All Star balloting votes , have been accounted for and we now know the conference starters , as well as the reserves for the East and Western Conferences. Suffice to say, if you did not vote , then your voice was not heard . Shall we now “Rock The Vote” for next season’s event, because of the number of snubs of players, who were simply overlooked purely through favoritism in favor of those less deserving ? I’m sorry Deandre Jordan , but mine is not to reason why, as the league’s best field goal percentage shooter , you were overlooked , even if you are playing alongside Chris Paul and Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers .The teams, will be coached by Frank Vogel for the Eastern All Stars and Scott Brooks for the Western counterparts. Fan friendly, with the league’s stars making themselves accessible in the weekend’s revelry from the 14th to the 16th February , makes this break, just past the midpoint of the season , a fun time for all of the NBA’s most discerning fans alongside all of the events being staged at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans , Louisiana , and home to the New Orleans Pelicans .
All the chips seem to be falling into place , as it relates to baseball’s marquee free agents , with many of them having signed lucrative contracts , either to remain with their current teams or to move on elsewhere . Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson , formerly of the New York Yankees , have each found themselves a new home . As the drama in New York continues, with a great deal of it, now surrounding how much of an effect will the acquisition of Masahiro Tanaka have on the Yankees and their pitching lineup . Tanaka’s deal by no means the biggest signed by pitcher this off-season was enough to have even the most fiscally prudent of individuals wondering when will baseball start to take heed and reign in their obligatory team payroll commitments . In 2013 , the combined financial outlay for the starting day payrolls of the league’s thirty teams exceeded 3 billion ($3,000,000,000) for the first time in MLB history . While, Bud Selig , continues to sing his melodic refrain as to the financial expediency being shown by the teams. I can’t help but wonder, when was the last time an in-depth audit held for each of the baseball franchises !
Projected figures, for this season’s Opening Day lineups in terms of payroll obligations are likely to come close to surpassing last season’s figure of $3 billion , with once again the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees likely to share top billing at number one and two of the league’s thirty teams.
Joe Lacob and Peter Guber , the present owners of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors have shown an interest in purchasing the Oakland Athletics (A’s) , where majority stakeholder Lew Wolff and GM Billy Beane have rebuffed what is believed to be an offer topping $675 million for the ball-club . In recent years, the A’s have been successful , having made the postseason in successive years and as two-time AL West divisional champions . Unfortunately,their progress in both postseason appearances was somewhat short-lived . Manager Bob Melvin and his managerial staff have assembled a young and experienced team , which has been a revelation recent seasons. In 2014 , the A’s are likely to be seen as the preseason favorites to retain their divisional title. Given that fact, that the Houston Rangers , Los Angeles Angels , Seattle Mariners , Texas Rangers have proven to be less than adequate adversaries over the past two seasons . It begs the question, which of those teams this season will be best equipped to truly challenge Bob Melvin’s group of players ?
In recent years , Lew Wolff has struggled in his dealings with the MLB hierarchy, in seeking their assistance in obtaining a new venue . Not surprising , when you consider that Bud Selig went out of his way to aid New York Mets , New Yankees and the Miami Marlins in the furtherance of their efforts for new stadiums , which were built at an estimated of . over $2.455 billion , much of it, being the use of public funds. The A’s are now left in an unenviable position of being a competitive franchise, but playing in a now aging and archaic venue, the O Coliseum in Oakland , California ,. Stuart Sternberg as the owner of the Tampa Bay Rays should heed the problems of the A’s in their endeavors and stop trying to appease Bud Selig and his coterie of buffoons, who make up the league’s hierarchy.
The reluctance of Lew Wolff to sell the ball-club is understandable, as he now has a winning on-field product , albeit that the A’s still struggle somewhat , in terms of attendance , which remains amongst the lowest in all of Major League Baseball . Yet, I cannot help but wonder , if a new owner with greater financial resources purchased the A’s , would it not be better for the organization overall and perhaps, further aid the A’s pursuance of a new ballpark ! Both Joe Lacob and Peter Guber , have the financial resources , with their respective backgrounds. Were they make another unsolicited bid, that would prove to be successful , then Guber would have to relinquish his interest , which he currently owns in the Los Angeles Dodgers , having been one of the several partners brought in by Mark Walter and Magic Johnson , to make that now record $2.16 billion purchase of that particular ball-club .
Commissioner Bud Selig, like his NBA counterpart David Stern,will be relinquishing their respective roles before the end the 2014 calendar year. Stern will be succeeded by his immediate deputy , Adam Silver , and it remains to be seen what changes if any , are made to how the NBA is operated , and the type of product that is displayed for the fans’ consumption. The MLB hierarchy, have yet to formally announce a successor to the incumbent commissioner, but it is widely believed that Rob Manfred will succeed Bud Selig at the time of his stepping down . Joe Torre , seen as a fan favorite , perhaps isn’t seen in a friendlier light by some who are part of the MLB hierarchical structure, that also includes the owners with their voting clout.
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Picture gallery .
What other sports’ story or stories over the past week or month, have piqued your interest and what do you feel might be the outcome , given the facts as you know them to be ? By all means do leave a comment on this and anything else you believe pertinent to the subject matter .
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Picture and slideshow details below .
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(1) Peyton Manning (18) of the Denver Broncos will face opposing quarterback Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks in Sunday’s Superbowl , to be played at MetLife Stadium , in East Rutherford , New Jersey . With a national television audience expected to 90 million viewers and a global audience of 1 billion. This is likely to be one of most eagerly anticipated watched Superbowl’s in recent NFL history . Carter Evans / AP Photo ….
(2) NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is seen here holding the Lombardi Trophy which will be contested by the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks in Superbowl XLVIII (SB48) on Sunday afternoon , when the two teams meet at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. AP Photo / Neil Sharpe …
(3) Dec 30, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks corner-back Richard Sherman (25) celebrates on the field following a 20-13 victory over the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field . Sherman has been one of the most visible players during the lead-up to the Superbowl , giving countless interviews to members of the press and fans alike . The thought being , why not “cash in” when you get the chance ? Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports …..
(4) NBA Commissioner David Stern is seen here with Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls after the team’s triumph in the 1996 NBA Finals over the Seattle Supersonics in a 4-2 series’ win . In each of the Bulls’ six appearances in the Finals , Jordan would be named Finals’ MVP. Michael Jordan’s entrance into the NBA as a first round draft pick during the 1984 NBA Draft , draft pick in that now moment in which Hakeem Olajuwon was taken number one overall , only to be followed by Sam Bowie drafted out of Kentucky and taken by the Portland Trailblazers. Jordan was seen as the likely number two choice , but dropped to number three and taken by the Chicago Bulls. His relationship with David Stern and his meteoric career are seen as the organic reasons why the NBA exploded unto the scene and then to become a global phenomenon. The NBA as a commercial entity , has grown from $400 million in revenues in 1986 to become a commercial behemoth with annual revenues exceeding $ 4.8 billion . This growth has been presided over by David Stern , but the greatest contributing factor has been Michael Jordan , his iconic appeal and ability to be seen as a commercial spokesperson for numerous Fortune 500 companies . Down the years, that mantle has been passed on from Jordan to Shaquille O’Neal , to Kobe Bryant and now LeBron James of the Miami Heat . Michael Jordan today. still ranks as one of the highest paid athletes in the world , even after having retired for the final time in 2003 , playing out that final season with the Washington Wizards , a franchise , where he was a part owner at the time along with then majority stakeholder , Abe Pollin . UPI / Getty Images / Christopher Marshall …..
(5) Boston Celtics’ head coach Brad Stevens is seen here with the team’s point guard Rajon Rondo . In a season of transition after the departures of Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce and Jason Terry . GM Danny Ainge has seen fit to revamp the roster by way of the draft and trades . The team has got distinctively younger , but also showing a great deal of inexperience . With Rondo also having missed several games on the team’s schedule , their on-court issues have been magnified a great deal , shown by way the Boston Celtics’ record this season . Their next scheduled game will be against the Orlando Magic at the TD North Garden Center in Boston , Massachusetts on Sunday , 2nd February , 2014. AP Photo / Sara Glover …..
(6) Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers is seen here court-side at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland , Ohio , along with head coach Mike Brown as the two discuss a team play that was not executed to the coach’s satisfaction. With growing locker room dissension and Irving having stated that Brown has lost control of the team and the locker room morale. It would appear, r that there is likely to be some major upheaval within the roster prior to or at the trade deadline . AP Photo / Marcus Spears ….
(7) Joe Lacob and Peter Guber are the co-owners of the Golden State Warriors . The pairing in late 2013 made unsolicited bid to buy the Oakland Athletics from managing partner Lew Wolff and the syndicated group of managing partners . Guber and Lacob’s bid of $675 million was rebuffed by the front office of the A’s , who may well have felt that the billionaires’ offer , was far too low a price. For the moment , it would appear that intended buyers, are likely to regroup , rethink their strategy and perhaps come up with a revised offer for the AL team . AP Photo/ Andrew Garcia ……
(8) Oakland Athletics owner Lew Wolff, left, and General Manager Billy Beane watch their team warm up before the start of Game 1 of their American League Division Series game against the Detroit Tigers , Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich. The A’s are at present having to fend off an unsolicited bid from a prospective purchaser and it is likely that both Wolff and Beane will seek to strike a deal with Oakland Alameda County government concerning a new ballpark , something that this pairing have been working on for several years without much assistance being provided by Bud Selig or from anyone within the league’s upper hierarchy . D. Ross Cameron/Staff …….
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NFL news and news from around the league
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NBA results 30th January , 2014
This month in NBA history (January) and February
2014 NBA All Star Game and news
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MLB schedule of important dates (2014)
Still unsigned free agents as of 31st January , 2014
This date in MLB history — 1st February and 2nd February
MLB team owners and general managers
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Tophatal's Blog 
Richard Sherman will be able to cash in big time , if he and Seahawks come away with a victory on Sunday evening . ” If “ being the operative word, with this asinine decision by Goodell to grant the owners of the Jets and Giants the privilege staging the Superbowl in what will be pi#s poor conditions at game time .
There is no fool ,like an old fool . Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert is proving to be both , having yet to learn his lesson in driving LeBron James out of town . Now he may well be on the verge of doing the same thing with Kyrie Irving .
Joe Lacob and Peter Guber have a combined net worth of over $5.5 billion . One would have thought that Lew Wolff would either find it preferable to sell the A’s or offer the bidders a 50 % share in the ball club for $400 million ? That type of cash influx would greatly assist the ball-club and at least provide some clout with with Alameda County Government and the ongoing ballpark issue .
Brock Lesnar wants back into the UFC and believes that he’s good enough to regain the UFC heavyweight title . Anyone who has seen this @ss wipe (Lesnar) in the octagon , will know his ju-jitsu is piss poor and his wrestling skills are not as good as he believes it to be . Cain Velazquez would mop up Lesnar’s ass all over the octagon in a proposed title match-up , which is something that conniving scumbag of a UFC President Dana White is likely to engineer , all for the sake of money and ratings .
Lesnar got the f#ck beaten out of him in a first round loss to Alistair Overeem and then he subsequently retired . He makes a return to the WWE , calls out the guys there , as well as the top contenders within the heavyweight division of the UFC . Why do I get the impression that Lesnar has the IQ of a plank of wood ?
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“We’ve got this , as this jury is too f##king dumb , that we have pulled the wool over their eyes George ” . Zimmerman seated and his attorneys
Acquitted murderer George Zimmerman in need of money, as he owes his defense attorneys over $100,000 . Zimmerman who slayed an unarmed teenager , Trayvon Martin in what he says was an act of elf-defense, would be willing to participate in a celebrity boxing match against a named opponent . The only possible takers thus far , are rappers The Game and DMX .
Who do you think come off the better in that particular match-up ? Zimmerman , left , or rapper The Game ?
Can someone remind George Zimmerman, he cannot enter the ring with a gun in this contest ? As for his opposition , be it Game or Dark-man X , just give Zimmerman , a well-deserved beat-down and @ss kicking , so that he can disappear from the public domain !
tophatal …………..
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Goodell is a putz and obviously lacks a sense of humor but you have to admit that whole snow thing dropping from the stage at his state of the union address where he said he couldn’t control the weather was actually pretty funny.
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Chris Humpherys
It’s not just a sense of humor that Goodell lacks , but downright intelligence . It is now mind boggling to think that, owners such as Jerry Jones , Dan Snyder , Robert Kraft , Woody Johnson and Zygi Wilf voted for that bumbling @sshole to succeed Paul Tagliabue as the NFL Commissioner .
If Roger Goodell’s State of the Union (NFL) addresses are anything like Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech in-front of the Congress and the nation are anything to go by . Why the f#ck would I take an interest in what either of those two morons would have to say ?
tophatal ………….
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Richard Sherman IS one of the elite CBs in the league. Would he be as boisterous if he played, for example, on Tamp Bay? Probably not. But he’s on a global stage with the Seahawks so we hear and see more of his antics and self-promoting. But make no mistake Al, he is a hell of a player. However, as stated in my Super Bowl article, he simply cannot cover every receiver on the Broncos.
Pretty pathetic that the team in first place in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference, Toronto, is just 3 games over .500! In the Central Division the team in 2nd place, Chicago, is just at .500. FYI, there are only 4 teams in the Eastern Conf. with records at or above .500! The Western Conference is a great deal more talented and thus competitive.
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fantasyfurnace/ Hank
Richard Sherman may well be larger than life, but there is no denying that he can play and brings it , just about every game for the Seattle Seahawks . He has been one of the numerous reasons why the team has been so effective on defense .
There was a time when Raiders’ fans use to harp on about how great Nnamdi Asomugha use ae to be , as one of the best shutdown corners in the league . As great as both are said to be , they will never be as good as Rod Woodson when he played the position and that is also with respect to that ” oaf “ , Prime-time Deion Sanders .
All you need to know about the Toronto Raptors , is that there is a reason why they remain the only NBA franchise who currently resides outside the US .
The fact that they play in a very weak division , further enforces j reasons why the Eastern Conference has become and continues to be so much of an eyesore to watch .
With all of the alleged resources said to be at the Raptors’ disposal when you consider who they are owned by . It remains inconceivable that they cannot place a productive and winning product on a basketball court.
The only reason I would consider watching a game in the East , were if it said to be a contest between the Heat and the Pacers . A formality at present , as they are by far the two best teams within the conference .
tophatal ………………………
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Kudos to David Stern and his now thirty years commemorated as NBA Commissioner . Nowadays, the only thing that the league has going for it from an advantageous standpoint , has been the popularity of the NBA globally , the earning potential of the top players beyond their salaries , but the visibility of players such as LeBron James , Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant on that global scale . It was also remiss of me to exclude one other fact, the rising value of the league’s franchises .
Durant of the Thunder and James of the Heat
This season in the NBA the the MVP voting should not even be remotely close . The top two contenders , LeBron James , Kevin Durant are so far ahead of the field that it doesn’t warrant thinking about . As to who should this season’s recipient , simply look at the splits for James , his season average , individual games and by comparison do the same with Durant . Then for further reference where they stand within their respective conferences , East and West as well as the NBA as a whole .
DeAndre Jordan can play and has contributed greatly to the efforts of the Clippers this season , as can be the team’s standing within their division and conference .
The voting for the NBA All Star Game and the balloting is just as idiotic as what takes place on talent reality shows such as American Idol (AI ) and The Voice .
DeAndre Jordan gets left off the Western Conference’s roster and he this season been by far the league’s best field goal percentage shooter . The balloting should not be placed in the hands of the fans, but the players themselves , with no one player being allowed to vote onto the roster , no more two players from his own team .
tophatal ……………
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Picked Denver to win….Not much use for guys like Sherman. One should not run mouth, no matter how good they are.
AND what abut Bettis Being passed over for the 4th time fr the HOF??? Bias???
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There was a great deal of trash talking between Michael Crabtree and Richard Sherman throughout the NFC championship game . One team triumphed and the other did not . As to Sherman’s rant , he was simply letting off steam .
How is that no one seems to be questioning the fact that during an interview being conducted by Deion Sanders now working for the NFL Network , he simply , with his idiotic amateurish technique allowed Marshawn Lynch to let loose with several expletives that were was heard on air ? It took Rich Eisen , the anchor at the time , to apologize on behalf of the network , because there was simply none , forthcoming from either Sanders or Lynch , over the incident .
Frigging idiots now questioning Richard Sherman’s demeanor but they have not the fu#king intelligence to call out either Deion Sanders or Marshawn Lynch for their blatant stupidity . Simply reiterates what I know to be true , the vast majority of the fans and press simply want to see the athletes do something stupid , in order to create a feeding frenzy in terms of the news created
I agree with you on the pick , in terms of Denver winning this afternoon’s game ! The bleak conditions, if they remain as they are , may well be in their (Broncos’) favor . Game time conditions predict temperatures in the upper thirties to mid-forties .
tophatal ………….
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No game time predictions , simply hoping that the contest lives up to the pre-game hype !
tophatal …………
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Unofficially, this will be the last day for David Stern as the official head of the NBA as its top executive . However, the reins will not be handed over to Adam Silver until the 17th February , the day after the All Star festivities have come to a close .
tophatal ………….
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As successful as the Oakland A’s have been recent years as a two time AL West divisional champion and then making it to the playoffs , you simply cannot tell me that Lew Wolff and Billy Beane would not welcome the cash influx that at least $300 to $400 million would provide the organization , were they to sell perhaps a 50% share in the franchise .
Peter Guber and Joe Lacob are cash flushed and have the wherewithal to get things done . It has been an ongoing decade protracted arguments with the city of Oakland and Alameda County government concerning the A’s quite possibly getting a new ballpark . Wolff. however, has managed to make himself an owner of an MLS soccer team , the San Jose Earthquakes , probably to the annoyance of A’s fans who expected the owner to be devoting his time to the baseball franchise and their efforts in getting a new stadium .
In the decade that the A’s front office have been chasing down the political dignitaries within their locale , Bud Selig has aided three franchises in the building of three baseball stadiums at the cost of ($2.775 billion , much of it coming with the use of public funds) . I guess that the attendees at Citi-Field , Marlins’ Ballpark and Yankees Stadium can be grateful to that mindless oaf , we all know as the MLB Commissioner !
Meanwhile , Rays’ owner , Stuart Sternberg has still got his hands on his male appendage , while the cities of St Petersburg and Tampa , with idea of grandeur above their station try to retain and lure the Tampa Bay Rays .
Said to be loved by many but distrusted by even more than those who are said to be enamored with him. Florida’s Governor Rick Scott (R-Fl). He didn’t set the bar all that high in his list of achievements as the state’s governor and it is the reason , he has been judged as one of the most inept and disliked of all the governors in all fifty states.
Rays’ fans , who try to come off as being extremely intelligent , have failed to realize that Sternberg cannot afford to break the lease with the city of St Petersburg and his only options are , getting another partner with deep pockets or seeking a deal wherein breaking the lease would not be as financially punitive in terms of the legal costs and penalties . Idiot fans and on radio and sports’ television personalities within this (locale) have suggested that Stuart Sternberg can simply up and leave . Oh to be so damn stupid from the neck with that type of idiocy ! Is it any wonder why this state is frowned and looked down upon ? It is bad enough that Governor Rick Scott chimed with a suggestion that is as anal retentive as the governor himself is known to be .
Stuart Sternberg
The state of Florida has set a new low in terms the owners professional sports’ franchises within the state.
Jeff Vinik of the Lightning and other than Steven Stamkos , there is simply nothing to the team .
Stephen Ross estimated wealth $3.8 billion and $hit for brains as owner of the Miami Dolphins
Khan and his wife Ann Carlson-Khan
Shahid Khan and the Jaguars . Well, the jury is still out , but he says he will try to make the St Johns’ River less pungent with regard to its odor .
Jeffrey Loria of the Marlins remains the conniving mother-#$cker even when he owned the Montreal Expos
Sternberg remains a clueless putz , even if he did make his money on Wall St , but the only reason the Rays have turned a profit comes courtesy of the MLB hierarchy and the luxury tax
“Which team was it we’re meant to own ” ?
The sons of Malcolm Glazer , a truly peculiar trio to say the very least ”
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How frigging incompetent do you to be, to preside over two franchises, who between them are worth over $ 4billion , combined ? Man Utd have been an embarrassment this season in the Premiership and as we know Bucs’ fans feel good that the team went 4-12 , with Mike Glennon being the next guy to #hit in the trough of Bucs’ quarterbacks over the eight years .
Malcolm Glazer and his boys would make a drug cartel leader feel proud to be working alongside them . A disastrous season for the Buccaneers and their apathetic fans are now singing the praises of Lovie Smith and GM Jason Licht
Vince Viola of the Florida Panthers
Scott made the suggestion that the public and private enterprise could work together in facilitating the building of a new venue for the Rays. Perhaps, it escaped Scott’s attention , but the Marlins allegedly were on their way to doing the same thing before Bud Selig intervened , only for the city of Miami and the Miami Dade County government to be left “holding the bag” for a 575 million “white elephant” that has been barely attended by Miami Marlins’ fans since the inception of the venue and the first game played there .
The city of Miami remains under investigation by the US Justice Department with no apparent timeline as to when that investigation will actually come to a close .
tophatal
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I am not saying that “the fix is in “ , but Manning is performing like someone stole money from him . Omaha . The Broncos are getting their @sses kicked up and down the field like they stole something from a group of Girl Scouts .
tophatal ………
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I certainly do not believe that Roger Goodell thought that this Superbowl would be so lopsided a contest that allegedly had the league’s two best teams facing each other yesterday evening . Perhaps the signs were already written when the Broncos faced off against the Seahawks in week two of the preseason schedule . Seattle came away with a 40-10 victory and nothing was thought of it .
Well, Sunday evening provided us with an answer and boy what an emphatic answer it was ! Denver is nowhere as good as advertized when playing a team that is athletically gifted on both sides of the ball .
My shout-out to Richard Sherman and “Beast Mode” ! Here’s to you guys on a job well done !
NFL news and news from the NFL’s official Superbowl site
🙂
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Far East Movement feat’g Riff-Raff …. ” The Illest ”
tophatal ………………….
tophatal …………
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Pete Carroll proved to me that his earlier days in the NFL weren’t a sign of things to come , merely a learning curve for him . His days at USC (Trojans) may well be have been surrounded with a great deal of controversy , but it also came down to lax attitude of the athletics department then presided over by Mike Garrett , a complete clown if ever there was one, to ignore the evidence and rumors surrounding Reggie Bush , Tim Floyd and several other athletes during his tenure as the school’s AD.
If I am not mistaken USC and AD Pat Haden still have some legitimate grievances against the NCAA and that institution’s complete lack expediency , in dealing with the violations of the University of Miami , when you consider how egregious the actions were concerning that program even if NCAA’s investigators were said to be incompetent .
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Wow, another Super Bowl gone to waste. Certainly didn’t expect a game between the best two teams to turn out the way it did. When a defense is that good, even the best offense can’t match up.
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Blog Surface
You would be hard pressed to find anyone who would consider that game exciting other than fans of the Seattle Seahawks . The Broncos were simply blown out of the water at the very first play and never recovered at all . It was an abysmal performance by the Broncos and by Peyton Manning in particular .
For the idiot fans who find soccer boring …………. Sunday evening was a prime example why the NFL still struggles at the grassroots level to find a groundswell of support around the world .
tophatal ……………..
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Blog Suface
Well this Superbowl was officially the most watched sports’ event , postseason game and watched program in US television history . Wast it the best game in postseason history ? Hell , no !
tophatal …………..
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