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NOTES ON A SCORECARD

August 31, 2010 by Leave a Comment

If Team USA didn’t realize it was going to be extremely difficult to bring home the gold medal in the 2010 FIBA World Championships, last night’s escape against Brazil should make it clear….

Down 28-22 after the first quarter, we fought back, took a late lead and then had to watch Leandro Barbosa miss two last second shots to win 70-68….

And by the way, the Brazilians played without Nene and Anderson Varejao….

I picked Brazil as my dark horse team and they didn’t disappoint….

I also like Australia, who look good so far even without Andrew Bogut. Their point guard, Paddy Mills, was a star at St. Mary’s and first round pick of the Trail Blazers last season….

I’ve always liked him and he’s playing brilliantly….

As usual, we shot too quickly, didn’t have good ball movement and struggled mightily whenever Brazil went to a zone….

The Brazilian coach, Ruben Magnano, is one of the best coaches in the world and the only coach with two wins over our Dream Team. As the coach of Argentina, he handed our NBA all-stars their first loss at the 2002 Worlds and then repeated the win in 2004, when the Argentinians won the Olympic gold medal….

Watching the game, it was vintage Magnano; spreading the floor, running pick-and-roll and keeping Team USA’s defense confused and out-of-position. He also mixed in his zone defense beautifully and we played right into his hands by firing quick shots….

When Rudy Tomjanovic was canned as Lakers coach a few years ago and it wasn’t certain Phil Jackson was going to return, I suggested Magnano as a candidate. He’d just come off a win over our Dream Team in the Olympics and with all the international players in the NBA, the game was changing….

It might not be Magnano, but the time is coming when an international coach gets his chance in the NBA….

And if some team is smart, that guy will be Magnano….

One of my favorite sporting events is the U.S. Open, which began yesterday in New York. The crowds are rowdy, the tennis is fantastic and the night matches are as good as it gets….

Quarterfinal Thursday is arguably the best night in American sports, because we get multiple matches that often go late inot the night….

Unfortunately, they make the men play the Final on Sunday afternoon, usually after a grueling semi-final on Saturday, and we rarely get both players at 100%….

The guy who plays the late match on Saturday is at a severe disadvantage, because it’s often a brutal five-setter….

Then he has to come back less than 24 hours later and is gassed and less than his best….

The solution is simple; since the best moments at the Open always happen at night, the men’s final should be played on the Monday night before the NFL season begins….

The whole world could watch, it would happen in prime time and both players would be rested and 100%….

Instead, the idiots who run the Open have the semis and finals directly against the opening weekend of college and NFL football, ensuring almost nobody will watch….

Move the tournament up a week and play the final on Monday night, with no sports competition….

Makes too much sense….

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WEEKEND NOTES

August 30, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Sitting in my living room on Saturday night, I actually considered ordering the James Toney-Randy Couture fight. Since I know James pretty well and consider him a friend, I found it fascinating he was actually going to enter the octagon to fight a UFC legend….

In a boxing ring, Couture wouldn’t last 10 seconds with Toney, but under MMA rules this looked like a complete mismatch….

Last week I predicted a first round win for Couture, based on James’ complete lack of experience. Sure, he had a puncher’s chance and would knock Randy out if he hit him on the chin; but once Courure got “Lights Out” on the ground the fight would be over….

I was also skeptical when James stated he was in “the best shape of my life” and was going to come into the octagon around 215 lbs. I’d heard this countless times over the years, but every time Toney stepped on the scale he was fat, blubbery and over 230….

So it was no suprise James waddled to the scale at 237 for the Couture fight. That sealed it for me, so I closed my wallet and turned on the USA-Croatia World Championship basketball game….

When James fought Evander Holyfield in 2003, he weighed 217 lbs. and knocked out the Real Deal in nine rounds. He was in great shape, threw combinations and dominated the fight. Had he stayed at that weight, he would have become heavyweight champion and made a lot of money….

Unfortunately, twinkies and ding dongs took precedence over training….

When I went on the web and saw Toney submitted near the three minure mark, I was suprised: Not that he lost, but that he lasted so long….

So why would James risk getting embarrassed and potentially tarnish his legacy as a great boxing champion? Simple, it was an excellent payday….

According to reports, Toney received close to $1M; which was impossible for him to pass up. At 41, he was having difficulty getting fights and needed the money….

Who among us wouldn’t have done the same thing?….

One thing which bothered me, though, were the message boards on all the MMA sites after the fight. Post after post claimed this proved MMA fighters were superior to boxers and several people ridiculed boxing and said it “wasn’t a man’s sport.”….

Wrong. All this proved was that an out-of-shape, 41-year-old former boxing champion with no wrestling or martial arts experience was no match for an elite UFC fighter….

But if you put Chuck Liddell, Couture, Tito Ortiz, Dan Henderson, Brock Lesnar or any other MMA guy in a boxing ring they’d get knocked out in less than a minute….

I respect both styles, but you can’t say one is superior to the other based on a guy fighting under the other sport’s rules….

Speaking of the World Championships, Team USA is off to an impressive start after 20+ point wins over Croatia and Slovenia. It gets a little tougher on Monday against Brazil, but the Americans caught a break when Nene was sent home with an injury….

By the way, why isn’t Sasha Vujacic playing for Slovenia?….

Co-favorite Spain was shocked by France in their opening game, losing 72-66, but bounced back Sunday with a win over New Zealand….

The French were very impressive and could win this thing if Tony Parker and Mikael Pietrus were playing. Unfortunately for Les Bleu they aren’t there and the Frenchies have little chance without them….

France’s Ian Mahinmi, the young 7′ player drafted by the Spurs a few years ago, looks really good and developed into a muscular, shot blocking, rebounding force. He also has a nice shooting touch and looks ready to help San Antonio this season….

Watching international basketball, it’s incredible to see how far these guys have come since we created the Dream Team in 1992. Back then, every game was a 40 point blowout and the opposing players would sit on the bench with cameras and take pictures of their American heroes….

Just 12 years later, our Dream Team lost to Lithuania in the opening round, were eliminated by Argentina in the semis and settled for bronze in the Athens Olympics….

Two years later our NBA superstars lost to the Greeks in the world Championship semi-finals….

Foreign teams are not afraid of us anymore and the days of them asking to pose for a picture are long gone….

And it turns out that allowing our NBA players to compete in the Olympics was a great thing, because it forced the world to get better….

Why should we send less than our best just because the international players can’t compete? The solution was they needed to get better; not us sending second rate players to make them feel good about themselves….

And now they can play on a level similar to us and it’s great for basketball….

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NOTES ON A SCORECARD

August 27, 2010 by Leave a Comment

After struggling mightlly since his return, Tiger Woods looked like the guy who has dominated golf the past decade in shooting an opening round 65 at the Barclays….

Maybe all he needed was to finalize his divorce….

Sure, he’s out $350M, but now he’s free to go out and bang all the chicks he wants; without fear of geting caught by his wife….

As Howard Stern once said “Why is divorce so expensive? Because it’s worth it.”….

We can ridicule Tiger all we want and delight in his demise, but it’s great for golf when he’s winning and the game desperately needs him….

When El Tigre is in the hunt on Sunday afternoon, I’m tuned in. When he’s not, I change the channel….

The collection of robotic, politically correct, play-for-second-place bores on the tour are killing the ratings and God bless Tiger and his return….

After being denied a boxing license in California, Antonio Margarito was approved by the Texas Athletic Commission and will face Manny Pacquiao for the 154 lb. belt on November 13 at Cowboys Stadium….

Interesting matchup, because over a year ago Freddie Roach said the following when I asked him if Pacman would ever fight Margarito at 147 lbs: “I’m brave, but not that brave,” replied Roach….

Now, almost two years later, Manny is not only getting into the ring with the Tijuana Tornado, he’s doing it at a career high 154 lbs….

Two years ago, Antonio would have been around a 5-1 favorite; now he’ll be a 5-1 dog. Funny what getting caught cheating can do to you….

Even though the fight will be at Junior Middleweight, I like Pacquiao to stop Margarito: Too quick, too young and better boxing skill….

Margarito used to be a killer, but after getting exposed for loading his gloves his career as an elite fighter are over….

With the news that the Big Ten might break into two divisions, with Michigan and Ohio St. seperated, fans for both schools are outraged that they might not continue to play every year….

My reaction: Who the hell cares? Every year the game is a colossal bore, with two slow, unathletic, conservative teams taking turns running the ball. I’ve never given a damn about this game and could care less if they never play again….

Kind of like Michigan-Notre Dame, another annual snooze-fest….

Give me USC-Oregon or Oregon-Oregon St. any day….

Hell, I’d rather watch Boise St-Hawaii….

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Notes on a Scorecard

August 26, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I know hardly anyone in America gives a damn, but I’m looking forward to the FIBA World Basketball Championships, which take place in Turkey between August 28-September 12….

We have a good young team and are favored to win, primarily because Pau Gasol will not be playing for Spain, but we’re not nearly as good as the team which won gold in the 2008 Olympics….

This time there’s no LeBron, no D-Wade and no Kobe, so we’re going to have to play flawless basketball to win….

Three or four teams have a chance to win and I believe Brazil is the darkhorse….

I enjoy the international game, with the hexagon-shaoed three-second area, fast pace and brilliant outside shooting….

It also gives me a chance to see foreign players we don’t see much here; namely Ricky Rubio of Spain….

We squeaked out an 87-86 win over Spain in an exhibition over the weekend and have one final game against Greece before the Worlds begin….

Just finished watching the USA-Greece game and we were very impressive in the 87-59 victory. One thing which stood out was the abscence of Sofiklis Shortsanitis, the “Baby Shaq” of Europe….

He did not play, which gave them no chance of winning….

I also enjoy the round-robin format, with teams breoken up into several groups of four. Everyone in the group plays each other, with the top two advancing to the Round of 16. From that point on, it’s single elimination….

I like the fact you can survive a loss and still win, because often times a loss is due to officials incompetence. If you think NBA officials are bad, wait until you see these clowns calling the games in Turkey….

Every trip down the floor is an adventure….

It’s goint to be a fun two weeks….

For some reason, Elin Nordegren found it necessary to grant People magazine an interview; in which she expressed her feelings abou tTiger and her marraige ending….

I would have kept quiet and counted my $350M, but she found it necessary to talk….

She’s never been one to seek attention, so I guess she can have this one….

Let’s hope she doesn’t start doing reality shows and makes a fool out of herself; further embarrassing her family….

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NOTES ON A SCORECARD

August 24, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I know Elin Nordegran is super hot and out of the reach of most men, but for the life of me I can’t understand why Tiger Woods married her. Unlike the rest of us schlubs, Tiger is independantly wealthy, young and world famous: Which means he can have his pick of the Elin’s of the world….

But for some reason, he decided to get married, even though he had no intention of giving up his philandering lifestyle….

I hope she was worth it, because now El Tigre is going to fork over hundreds of millions. Had he stayed single, he’d be $350 richer and not the object of scorn and ridicule….

Hopefully a lesson to all the rich, young athletes out there….

Just a year or so ago, Manny Ramirez put together one of the best second halves of a season I’d ever seen and was the toast of L.A. Everywhere you went, people were talking about “Mannywood” and he nearly got an average Dodger team into the World Series….

But after testing positive for steroids last season, he’s never been the same and virtually disappeared. It’s gotten so bad, if fact, that the rumor mill has him getting placed on waivers in a day or two….

Unfortunately, the last two seasons have exposed Manny as a product of PED’s and there’s no way he’ll get into the Hall of Fame….

Another guy feeling the effects of steroid withdrawl is Alex Rodriguez, who has been plagued by injuries and in-and-out of the line-up since admitting to using steroids….

It looks like his body is starting to break down without the help of PED’s….

I’m not much of an MMA fan, but I’ll be watching this weekend when James Toney makes his debut against Randy Couture….

On paper, you have to go with Couture, who has years of experience in this fighting style. And once he gets James on the ground, it’s all over….

Conversely, if the two boxed, Toney would end the fight in about 10 seconds….

But if any boxer can cross over and become an MMA star, it’s “Lights Out.”….

He’s one of the all-time tough guys, a master technician and unparalleled when it comes ot fighting on the inside….

Obviously, if James hits Randy on the chin the fight is over; but most likely Couture will manage to get his hands on James, take him to the floor and win….

Hopefully James is in good shape and worked hard on his grappling skills….

I’ll be pulling for James, because he’s been great to me over the years during out countless radio interviews. Yes, he’s a trash talking, mean, tough guy in the ring; but outside he’s as nice and genuine a person as I’ve ever met….

Prediction: Couture by submission in the first round….

Here’s to hoping I’m wrong….

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