Final thoughts before Game 4...

I don’t remember a time in my life as a sports fan where I’ve wanted to see a team win more than I want the Dallas Mavericks to win tonight.

I don’t want to see them win due to my devotion to Cleveland sports or because I’m still bitter about “The Decision” (although this is true), nor is it in spite of the Heat’s Big Three cutting corners in order to attain a championship or eight (also grinds my gears, though). I’m not even temporarily jumping on the Dallas bandwagon because I want to see veterans such as Dirk, Jason Kidd, and Shawn Marion finally get what they deserve. The reason that I sit here typing this inaugural blog post with butterflies in my stomach, as if I’m suiting up tonight, is because I love the NBA.

Sure, the NBA Finals is a best-of-seven series. But if the Mavs can’t pick up a win tonight in Dallas and fall behind 3-1, chances are all the collared-shirts and bandwagon frauds on South Beach will have something to celebrate by week’s end. At the same time, most tenured NBA enthusiasts will have to wipe a tear from their cheek and potentially an entire decade out of the history books for Wade, James, Bosh, and company.

If Miami does in fact take this series, it would lead the rest of the Association to go into Panic Mode; or in other words, if a team would want to contend, they’d need to stack superstars like Pat Riley managed to. The days of quiet dynasties built upon chemistry and teamwork like the recent Spurs could be long gone to superstar-laden glamour cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. A franchise that appears to be on the up-and-up like the Philadelphia 76ers could be going all for not with the inability to land “that guy” because it’s unlikely that they’ll land the #1 overall pick anytime soon. And Philadelphia doesn’t boast anything outside of the Liberty Bell or Rocky Balboa that could lure in a Dwight Howard-type free agent to turn the corner.

If the Miami Heat win game 4 and eventually the NBA Finals, David Stern might as well start contracting teams. The hopeless teams – all 24 of them. But if the Dallas Mavericks can manage to take a few more dips in the fountain of youth, take game four and some momentum back from the bad guys, then the NBA could still have breath.

Some would persecute me for saying that the NBA needs the Heat to lose in order to survive because “ratings are higher than ever,” but I’m not talking about alley-oops and television audiences. I’m talking about the National Basketball Assosciation, you know, Where Amazing Happens.

To me, amazing doesn’t happen when the two best athletes on the planet team up to run through a decade, it happens when the Detroit Pistons make a trade for a hot-headed low-post defender that helps a team of selfless role players turn the corner and win an NBA championship. Giving the most economically-struggling city in the country something to cheer about.

Amazing happens when Michael Jordan spends seven seasons trying to get past Larry Bird and Isaiah Thomas, falling short time and time again. Until finally he beat them both and then didn’t lose again until his time saving Chicago sports was through.

Amazing happens when Dirk Nowitzki and his wingman, a 38-year-old point guard who redefined his game for this very moment, represent everything that is real about sports, everything that is true, and comes back to claim a title from the Monstars.

Shame on me for getting this involved. But it goes beyond Miami vs. Dallas. It is New School vs. Old School. It is the AAU Generation vs. The Humble Veterans (and Jason Terry).

Most of all, this series is between what makes the NBA entertaining and what makes it beautiful.

Remember Us?

It has been nearly two months since either Jim Quarterly or myself took the time to annoy you readers with a blog post. We were both aware that it was in our best interest academically and financially to take a break from the 10-minute a night job of posting for our ten or so subscribers (now zero, I believe), but we never intended for our hiatus to reach such length.

I planned on taking some time off to focus on my studies and finally attaint my (parents’) dream of seeing my name on the Dean’s List. Blundo on the other hand took some time off to focus on work with aspirations of becoming Employee of the Month or something more than a cubicle-occupying, hair-gel-wearing waste of a salary. No offense, JB.

Two months later we’ve achieved a combined total of zero personal goals. In fact, we are further from them now then we have ever been.

So, here we are now, coming out of “retirement.” I won’t draw the comparison to Michael Jordan coming back in 1995 because he went on to win three more Larry O’Briens and make $70 billionish dollars. So unless Blundo and I become Greeny and Golic over night, the MJ parallel is a bit much.

To be fair I’ll rank our comeback bid between that of Michael Jordan and the recent attempt by Tiki Barber. Then again, if we do worse than Tiki we might as well move to Turkey and try to revive ourselves there (see Allen Iverson).

By now you probably realize that this post has no substance or real relevance. I’m not using this post as an opportunity to dissect the Cleveland Indians current seven-game win streak or explain how Kendrick Perkins reminds me so much of Dennis Rodman (minus some athleticism and a wedding dress).

This post is simply our “We are coming back!” rally. Think of us as superheroes and this post is our theme music. Superheroes is a bit much? Understandable. Then think of us as a 1990’s baseball all-star not named Ken Griffey, Jr. and this is our first steroid injection (see Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Pedro Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, Roger Clemens,        (your favorite player here)        , etc.). Much more realistic.

Please stay tuned. Over the next few weeks we will be covering Major League Baseball (emphasis on Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians), the NBA playoffs, and I’ll probably end up posting a 1,000,000,000,000 word NFL mock draft.

Want to read about the Bucs? Talk to Blundo. He wears a Neil
Walker jersey t-shirt to bed every night.

And the more you read and the more you tell us what you want to read, the more we will write. And we have a lot of catching up to do for time lost these last two months.

Trust me, I’d much rather blog about sports than be on Dean’s List anyway.

Excuse Me, Mario

Mario Lemieux made pretty significant news this weekend by issuing this statement in reaction to the brawls during the Penguins vs. Islanders game on Friday night:

"Hockey is a tough, physical game, and it always should be...But what happened Friday night on Long Island wasn't hockey. It was a travesty. It was painful to watch the game I love turn into a sideshow like that..The NHL had a chance to send a clear and strong message that those kinds of actions are unacceptable and embarrassing to the sport. It failed...We, as a league, must do a better job of protecting the integrity of the game and the safety of our players...We must make it clear that those kinds of actions will not be tolerated and will be met with meaningful disciplinary action.If the events relating to Friday night reflect the state of the league, I need to rethink whether I want to be a part of it."

Personally, I thought the fights were extremely entertaining and its one of the most important reasons that I even tune in to watch the NHL. However, what happened Friday definitely did cross the line of a good old-fashioned Hockey fight and turned more in to a street brawl, particularly Gilles pounding on an already injured/defenseless player.

Fights aside, my effort here is to call out the person who is truly most wrong in this situation and that is Mario Lemieux himself. How can a guy who employs a player like Matt Cooke make such a ridiculously hypocritical statement to say that what went on was ugly and shouldn't be a part of the game. Matt Cooke is considered to be one of the dirtiest players in the NHL (ask Marc Savard - I still don't think he can tie his shoes without assistance) and has been disciplined numerous times.

My biggest probelm with what Lemieux said is that he suggests potentially walking away from the NHL. If that is what he wants personally then go right ahead and leave just because your team was finally on the wrong end of one these. But Lemieux is essentially cornering the NHL and putting an already un-popular league in a bad position by having one its most prominent figures make such rediculously negative statements.

Three things: AFC South

Houston Texans

1.       Pass Defense

-          The Texans finished dead last in the league in pass defense. Unless Kurt Warner is your quarterback (see: 2008 Arizona Cardinals), having a defense that ranks last in something will not get you very far. Kareem Jackson was a rookie last season, so it is too early to give up on him at cornerback. But Glover Quin and the two Texans safeties are not exactly prime time players – or even solid players. Draft, sign, find a new scheme, do something. If the Texans plan on getting over the hump and reaching the playoffs any time soon they need to find a secondary that can challenge Peyton Manning.

2.       3-4 personnel

-          Wade Phillips is the new defensive coordinator in Houston and his first order of business was switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4. This pushes Brian Cushing into the middle with DeMeco Ryans and leaves a pretty legitimate void of talent at OLB. Could Mario Williams thrive as a pass rushing linebacker? It’s worth a try. Regardless, the Texans are a true nose and either an outside backer or five technique away from making this thing work.

3.       Realize unnecessary mediocrity

-          The Texans are the NFL’s “Can’t get over the hump” team. They are like the chubby girl that works out at the gym every day. She works out hard every day but just can’t seem to drop the access weight. There is no reason for Houston to not be noticing change. They have one of the best five players in the league at wide receiver (Andre Johnson), defensive end (Super Mario), middle linebacker (Ryans), and potentially running back (first-team All-Pro Arian Foster). Not to mention Brian Cushing and Matt Schaub are pretty good at their jobs. The Texans just need to get over it. There is no way around it. Gary Kubiak has the talent, now he just needs to find a way to finally win.

Indianapolis Mannings

1.       Protect Peyton Manning

-          Peyton Manning was throwing to a practice squad and Reggie Wayne last year. And he still did a pretty darn good job. Just think how much better he would have done had his offensive line given him the time he is used to. When Manning is protected, he sets NFL records. Easy as 1, 2, 3 – which is how many lineman Indy may need to pick up this off-season.

2.       Help Peyton Manning

-          #18 is the whole team. He is the best quarterback of all-time in my opinion. The guy has one Super Bowl because Bill Polian only built him an offense and left him high and dry in shootouts. Help the guy out. Provide depth at receiver so Blair White isn’t his #2 target come playoff time. The Super Bowl is in Indianapolis in 2012 and how perfect would it be if Peyton Manning were quarterbacking the final game. If the Colts stay healthy and block for him, that is very realistic.

3.       Find out how many more years Manning has

-          Is it too soon to fine the Aaron Rodgers to Manning’s Brett Favre? If free agency goes well (or goes at all – cough cough CBA) and the Colts fill their needs on offensive line and maybe a few guys on defense, how about drafting Ryan Mallet at 22 overall? His skill-set is perfect for a dome.

Jacksonville Jaguars

1.       Pass rush

-          The Jags have tried a few guys at defensive end such as Aaron Kampman and Derrick Harvey, but nobody has really provided that pass rush they need. Tyson Alualu performed well for them as a rookie last season, now they need to find him a running mate at defensive end. This draft class is super pass rush heavy. Ryan Kerrigan, Adrian Clayborn, or Cameron Jordan may look good at pick 16.

2.       Find a playmaker

-          Maurice Jones-Drew does it all for the Jags. How about finding somebody to take the load off of his shoulders? Plus, MJD isn't really a gamebreaker because he is always pounding the ball 20 times a game. The Jags need a playmaker, a guy that scares other teams. They don’t need to throw a boatload of money on someone, but just look for that Devin Hester or Desean Jackson. Boise State’s Titus Young should be around in round 2 or 3.

3.       Find some real estate in Los Angeles

-          LA is dying for a football franchise. The Jaguars can’t seem to sell out games. How does the Los Angeles Jaguars sound? Do you think MJD would like the change of scenery? Speculations are that if any team packs up and heads to Hollywood that it will be the Chargers, Vikings, or the Jags. San Diego is already beautiful and Minnesota loves their team. I vote the Jags.

Tennessee Titans

1.       Quarterback

-          I think letting Vince Young go was a mistake. Maybe he was a head case and maybe Jeff Fisher didn’t like him, but he was a perfect fit in Tennessee. But now that he is gone, the Titans need to fill that void fast. Sorry Rusty Smith, but the Titans need to look into Carson Palmer, Kevin Kolb, or spending the eighth pick of the draft on Blain Gabbert. They have a running back and a great young receiver. Now they just need to find a third party.

2.       Look at your division

-          The Colts only have a few more good years left with Peyton Manning, the Texans love being average, and the Jaguars can barely field a team. If there is ever a time for a team to emerge it is now for the Titans in the AFC South. They have players on this team who went 13-3 in 2008. They know how to win. Now just do it.

3.       Just play – your team is really good

-          Piggybacking on #2, the Titans can win football games. They have a 2,000 yard rusher and the best bookend tackles in the AFC. This franchise is a dream scenario for a rookie quarterback – not so good where expectations are too high but good enough where you could win right away. They started out 5-2 last year before (for no reason) becoming the most apathetic team I’ve ever seen and finishing 6-10. If they play hard and make minimal adjustments, they will win. And win often.

CBA talks not going well for NFL

NFL players' union and owners called off Thursday meetings. Sources say the sides are too far apart in reaching an agreement.


I hope everybody likes arena football...

Three things the NFC South should do...

Now that the Super Bowl has been played and each NFL organization is gearing up for another off-season, I am going to give my own take on what needs to happen from March 3^rd until kickoff of the 2011 season. I am going to post – division by division – the three things that I feel each team in the league needs to do this off-season in order to succeed in 2011 and in the future. This all of course comes with the idea that the owners and players will settle on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and NFL will resume in the fall.

You know I tend to be a little wordy at times (or all the time), which is why I’ll go four teams at a time. Today I’ll look at my first division:

NFC SOUTH:

Atlanta Falcons

1.       Safety Blanket (aka get a tight end)

-          Tony Gonzalez is on his way out and may actually just hang up his pads and announce his retirement. The Falcons have a solid running game and one of the most mistake-free quarterbacks in the business. Matt Ryan has Roddy White at wide receiver and 2010 proved that those two are a potent duo. But a quarterback who likes to control the game and hit intermediate routes to set up the home run ball needs a tight end. Find Matt Ryan a new tight end either in free agency or in the draft (most notable prospect: Notre Dame’s Kyle Rudolph) and Atlanta’s offense should click for years to come.

2.       Make that defense GREAT

-          I know that’s easier said than done. But Atlanta plays indoors and has a quarterback, running back, wide receiver combination that ranks up there with the best in the league. John Abraham showed that age isn’t a problem for him posting an All-Pro year. Coach Mike Smith needs to focus on piecing together a defense that can thrive in the Georgia Dome. Their defense was solid in 2010, but with a few big signings this off-season they can be great.

3.       Sell the city of Atlanta to free agents

-          The NBA is selling “glamour cities” to all of their free agents in recent years. Miami isn’t much of a football luxury town, Los Angeles has no team, and Chicago has tradition but the cold weather and poor playing surface won’t appeal to too many players (unless they offer money like they did Julius Peppers). Atlanta has potential to join New York as one of the NFL’s “luxury cities.” It has warm weather, southern hospitality, and a great stadium. If Arthur Blank sells the city of Atlanta and the Falcon’s potential, he could land his organization some prime free agents.

Carolina Panthers

1.       Find defensive tackles to free up Jon Beason

-           Beason is one of the five best middle linebackers in the game. But not too many people know how good Beason is because, not only the Panthers’ lack of success, but because he is very limited by guards and centers. Beason takes on an awful lot of blocks despite being the middle guy in a 4-3 scheme. Carolina needs to invest in some big boys that can take on blocks in front of Beason. I’m not saying to spend the first pick on Nick Fairley, but if no one bites in free agency, they may have to.

2.       Find a direction and go

-          The last two seasons have been somewhat confusing for the Panthers. They had no first round draft pick last April and pretty much wasted the entire 2010 season. No good came out of it. Not even any progress from Jimmy Clausen. New head coach Ron Rivera needs to find an identity in Carolina and role with it. Be a defensive team like Pittsburgh, find a quarterback to ride like Green Bay, Indianapolis, and San Diego, or be uber-conservative until you win like Atlanta and Kansas City. Just do something and build the franchise into that type of team.

3.       Make the 1^st pick a franchise move

-          This draft is really the first draft in some time without a clear-cut top guy. That stinks for Carolina because they sit at the number one spot and chances are no teams will be willing to bargain for that top pick for Nick Fairley or DaQuan Bowers. The Panthers need to think about who could be a franchise changer. Is Fairley good enough? Is a quarterback to much of a reach at #1 – especially with Clausen? Do they reach for cornerback Patrick Peterson hoping that he is the Deion Sanders-like cover guy that people are deeming him? Whatever it is – make it count. A cornerstone guy could turn this thing around. Just ask Ndamukong Suh.

New Orleans Saints

1.       Re-sign Reggie

-          Too many people have christened Reggie Bush “a bust.” No, he hasn’t exactly run for the millions of yards and returned the hundreds of kicks that he was expected to after being drafted second overall in 2006. But Reggie Bush was the player that put the Saints over the top in the playoffs of their Super Bowl year. And he is a walking mismatch. What linebacker is going to cover a player that explosive? I don’t even know too many nickels that can cover him. Reggie Bush is probably the most versatile back in the league. As much as the Saints offense helps Reggie, he helps the Saints offense.

2.       Sure up the running game

-          The fun and gun was cute for a season or two, but now the Saints need to settle down. Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush are both free agents and Chris Ivory did a good job stepping in but he is not the answer. The Saints offense line is one of the best in the business so a running game should be easy to implement. Now they just need to make an effort. How would Mark Ingram look in a Saints jersey?

3.       Malcolm Jenkins

-          Jenkins is on his way to being one of the top corners in the game – now why not make him the focal point of the defense. Sort of like Ed Reed and Charles Woodson are as defensive backs. Let Jenkins roam around and make plays. Big play safeties are coming in handy more than sideline -to-sideline linebackers and the Saints are headed in the right direction with Jenkins.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1.       Hit puberty

-          The Bucs were the youngest team in the league in 2010 (coach included). Their quarterback with Sam Bradford may be the most promising young arm in the league and they have two A-potential receivers for him as targets that graduated high school in 2006 and 2007. Not to mention the steal of the 2010 draft at running back in Lagarrette Blount.The two veteran leaders on the offense are Kellen Winslow II and Davin Joseph – both are 27 years old. When the Bucs grow into the team that they will be, look out. But for a team like this, time is the only thing that will allow it.

2.        Raheem Morris swag

-          I’m convinced that the Steelers and Jets are so successful  because they follow the lead of their coach. Raheem Morris has that same ability. The self-proclaimed “best coach in the league” needs to have his young team follow suit. Morris has a great mind and a good head on his shoulders. His head may be a little big at times, but that’s really never been a bad thing in the NFL.

3.       Find Simeon Rice 

   

-          When Tampa Bay won Super Bowl XXXVII, their defense was as complete as they come. But the driving force of it all was the pass rush that didn’t require any more than the front four. Simeon Rice and Greg Spires were the defensive ends who manhandled tackles. Simeon Rice especially took the league by storm in the 4-3 defense. His constant pressure forced MVP Rich Gannon into throwing five interceptions in the final game. Since Rice left St. Pete, the Bucs have not found a defensive end like Rice since Rice. The current team has all of the pieces in place at defensive tackle, linebacker, and in the secondary. If a big strong d-end that can rush the passer ends up in Tampa Bay, Raheem Morris will have something more to talk about.

A Note from JimQuarterly Vincent Blundo

With the Super Bowl in the books and the NFL now in virtual hibernation for the next two years, you can expect JimQuarterly specifically to start contributing more to this blog.

One thing that I’ve learned about myself is that when I lose a horse in the race, my thoughts about sports begin to run wild. You will see numerous articles on my beloved Pittsburgh Pirates, why I don’t believe the NHL is necessarily trotting out their best product (and the effect economics plays on it), what has gone wrong in the NBA, and why Sportscenter may be responsible. And is ESPN the sports equivalent to the political war machine that runs the major television networks? These among other things that are sure to be debated.