NFL and Its Players Union At Odds On a Variety Of Issues As Lawsuits Mount
Jason Cole of Yahoo Sports examines the never ending disputes between the NFL and its Players:
ATLANTA – At a time the NFL and the Players Association normally would be enjoying a honeymoon period, their relationship appears to be about as comfortable as the Senate hearings on the Secret Service shenanigans in Cartagena.
A lot of tight lips and no smiles.
In just about every way possible, the league and the union are at odds. That includes a silly flap over whether players should wear knee and thigh pads, and grievances in response to the New Orleans Saints’ bounty scandal. On Wednesday, the union even filed a collusion claim against the league based on the belief that clubs tacitly agreed to a “secret” cap during the 2010 season.
Adding to the friction is Jonathan Vilma’s defamation lawsuit against commissioner Roger Goodell. To be clear, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith did not direct Vilma’s course of action in response to the linebacker being suspended for the 2012 campaign for his role in the Saints’ scandal. At the same time, plenty of people believe that if Smith and Goodell had a more productive relationship, this might have been avoided.
UK’s Michael Kidd Gilchrist Training Hard at NBA Pre-Draft Workouts, Checks In with Sports Media World
SLAM Online & Sports Media World’s Brendan Bowers with lottery pick MKG as he prepares for June’s NBA Draft:
Repetitive thuds of bouncing basketballs met Michael Kidd-Gilchrist last Wednesday, as he entered a Cleveland-area gym to continue his training for the NBA Draft. Wearing a grey Nike sweat suit and sandals, with a backpack slung over his right shoulder, his wide smile quickly engaged the many youthful eyes that welcomed him.
The player known throughout the basketball universe as MKG was once a McDonald’s All-American from New Jersey, then a National Champion from Kentucky, and now the strongest candidate for the team picking second overall in next month’s NBA Draft. He walked into his second workout of three for the day with the purpose of a 10-year pro, yet grounded enough to share a gym with basketball players of all ages.
As his backpack slid down over his shoulder, and a pair of Nikes he’d soon change into flopped onto the floor beside him, I walked over to say hello. I had previously assumed a player preparing for the NBA Draft would request and require a closed practice facility as he trained. In the case of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist however, I was wrong.
USA Basketball Still Loaded For London Olympics, Despite Injuries
NY Times’ Greg Bishop on Team USA’s roster uncertainties after injuries to Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard:
Despite the rash of injuries that has shrunk the pool of players for the United States men’s basketball team at the London Games, including the loss of two potential starters in Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose, USA Basketball’s chairman, Jerry Colangelo, said Monday that the pool remained deep enough and talented enough for the United States to remain the Olympic favorite.
Colangelo said this was a result of the system he had put in place and developed, along with Coach Mike Krzyzewski, since they took over the national program in 2005. There are enough talented players, Colangelo said, that the 2012 USA Basketball Select team, which was announced Monday and will practice against the Olympic team in training camp in early July, included John Wall, Kyrie Irving, DeMarcus Cousins and Jeremy Lin, the Knicks guard who was among the most discussed athletes of this sports season. That team could contend for a medal by itself.
NBA Playoffs: Tim Duncan; The Spurs Quiet Superstar
Chris Ballard of SI with a rare full interview sitdown with Spurs Tim Duncan:
“To see one Tim Duncan game is to have seen them all. You will be treated to a fusillade of bank shots, all fired with the same high, mechanical release. There will also be jump hooks, excellent post defense, effortless dissection of double teams and precise outlet passes in the mold of Walton and Unseld. The same craggy, white-haired coach will pace the sideline, frowning the same disapproving frown. Throughout, Duncan’s expression will run the gamut from stone-faced to indifferent.
On a spring night in Oakland near the end of the regular season, Duncan scored an impressive 13 points in 11 minutes against the Warriors. Even so, there were no oohs, aahs or even boos from the Warriors crowd. During player intros Duncan received the kind of polite applause you might hear at the end of a poetry reading. He could have been any opponent.
It’s a bit shocking, of course. Duncan is arguably the greatest basketball player of his generation, inarguably its most successful. Yet compared with his peers, he remains practically anonymous.
Taking A Closer Look At Texas Rangers Josh Hamilton’s Great Start
ESPN Baseball Insider Buster Olney on Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton’s torrid pace to begin the season:
“Josh Hamilton has 18 homers in the Rangers’ first 34 games, something nobody has ever done in the history of baseball. But here’s another number that is a little stunning: Hamilton has just 13 walks, with five of those being intentional.
How unusual is that 18-to-13 home run-to-walk ratio Hamilton currently has?
Well, consider the number of walks drawn by the greatest single-season home run leaders in history:
1. Barry Bonds, 2001: 73 homers, 177 walks
2. Mark McGwire, 1998: 70 homers, 162 walks
3. Sammy Sosa, 1998: 66 homers, 73 walks
4. McGwire, 1999: 65 homers, 133 walks
5. Sosa 2001: 64 homers, 116 walks
6. Sosa, 1999: 63 homers, 78 walks
7. Roger Maris, 1961: 61 homers, 94 walks
8. Babe Ruth, 1927: 60 homers, 137 walks
9. Ruth, 1921: 59 homers, 145 walks
The pitchers have always reached a tipping point in dealing with a hitter as good as Hamilton is right now, when they decide the risk of facing the hitters behind Hamilton is lower than it would be to throw a pitch to the slugger.
The Greatness Of Kobe Bryant Is Definitely A Family Affair
Lakers star Kobe Bryant’s new Sports Illustrated feature as NBA Playoffs resume:
“It is 1981, and Kobe Bryant is 3 years old. He runs to his room, grabs his Clippers jersey and yanks it over his head. Then he steps into a pair of shorts, grabs a mini-basketball and heads to the living room to watch the Clippers game on TV. When Joe Bryant steps onto the court, Kobe mimics his father’s every move. When Joe shoots a jumper, Kobe fires one at his plastic Dr. J basket. When Joe uses his guile to get to the hoop, Kobe slides by imaginary defenders, faking out the couch and the lamp. Kobe takes a seat when Joe does, grabs a towel when Joe does and, afterward, takes a shower just like Joe. Though still a toddler, Kobe already knows what he wants in life: to be just like his father. Just like his father. It is 30 years later, and we all know what became of the son.
Knicks Eliminated From Playoffs By Heat, As Off-Season Questions Remain
Sports Illustrated’s Sam Amick on the busy off-season ahead for the New York Knicks:
“Know this about the Knicks’ 2011-12 season, which ended with their loss to Miami in Game 5 on Wednesday: They gave us plenty to talk about.
In lieu of the organization’s third championship (that’s 39 consecutive years and counting without one, for the record), the entertainment value was at an all-time high even if it included some unwelcome lows. A team may never have sparked this many storylines in one season — let alone one shortened by the lockout.
There was Tyson Chandler’s arrival and Chauncey Billups’ departure. An 8-15 start. Jeremy Lin saving the day (10 wins in the next 13 games) and Linsanity spreading the globe. Carmelo Anthony as villain, then as beloved son. The power forward formerly known as Amar’e Stoudemire. Coach Mike D’Antoni taking his seven-seconds-or-less ball and going home. Mike Woodson’s strong finish.
But now that it’s all over, it’s time to discuss the most pressing questions facing the Knicks as they head into the offseason.
Roger Goodell and NFL Players; The Relationship Dynamics
ESPN’s Jeff Chadiya examines relationships that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has formed with the league’s players:
“On the Wednesday before the NFL draft, as mid-morning sunshine soaked lower Manhattan, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell strode onto a soccer field cluttered with giddy children, eager reporters and 26 draft prospects. The league had organized a football clinic as part of its “Play 60″ program, and Goodell, wearing a baggy blue sweat suit, ambled to midfield to survey the action. The commissioner was there to help future rookies sell youth fitness, but he didn’t overlook an opportunity to chat with New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who was speaking at the event. The two spoke for at least 10 minutes, talking seriously at times, joking and laughing at others and looking eerily like long-lost pals.
This didn’t seem like the no-nonsense Roger Goodell who just issued suspensions to four players — including a one-year ban for linebacker Jonathan Vilma – for their roles in the New Orleans Saints’ bounty system. It also didn’t appear that Goodell had any problems bonding with a veteran at a time when so many players despise him.
Boxing Champion Floyd Money Mayweather Is Winning His Way
Tim Keown’s ESPN The Magazine cover story on Floyd Mayweather who is still undefeated after defeating Miguel Cotto:
“THE SCENE in the parking lot of the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas has devolved into an extended documentary on the perils of celebrity. There’s a betting slip on the loose worth $80,000, earned on the merits of the Miami Heat’s first-half performance about two hours earlier on this Friday night, and the quest to find it has everything but a circus-music soundtrack.
It’s not about the money. Really, it’s not. Floyd Mayweather Jr. bets a lot, both in frequency and amount, and this betting slip is not extraordinary in any way. Just the night before, he lost $50,000 on the first half of the Thunder-Lakers game before doubling down on his beloved Thunder and winning $100,000 in the second half. This is a man who later that night will put on a pair of pants he hadn’t worn in a while and pull four grand out of a pocket the way you or I might find a five in the dryer. Trust me: Eighty grand won’t change his life.
Prized Rookie Bryce Harper Already a Big Hit For The Washington Nationals
Tyler Kepner of the New York Times on the successful debut of Nationals rookie Bryce Harper:
“Once it was Willie Mays playing stickball in Harlem. Now we have Bryce Harper playing softball by the Washington Monument.
It happened on Monday, the day before Harper’s home debut for the Washington Nationals, a mostly uneventful 5-1 loss to Arizona. Steven Marcus, a gift-planning officer for the World Wildlife Fund, was pitching at a field on the National Mall when a 19-year-old left-hander in jeans and a long sleeve T-shirt stepped to the plate.
“I said, ‘This guy looks vaguely familiar,’ with his funny haircut and all,” said Marcus, 34. “My first baseman said: ‘You might want to back up. That’s Bryce Harper.’ When he was taking that big swing, I was terrified. If he connected and that came right back at me, I’d be in a little bit of trouble.”
Harper whiffed on Marcus’s first pitch before lifting a fly ball to right. By the time Harper met reporters at Nationals Park on Tuesday, his first — very unofficial — at-bat in Washington was growing into legend.
Recapping The Winners and Losers of This Year’s NFL Draft
Yahoo Sports writer Jason Cole identifies the Winners and Losers from NFL draft day:
“Winners
• St. Louis Rams – On March 10, the Rams turned the No. 2 pick into one of the biggest hauls in NFL history by getting three first-rounders (the No. 6 overall pick this year, plus Washington’s first-round selections in 2013 and 2014) and a second-rounder this year (the No. 39 overall). On Thursday, the Rams took the No. 6 overall pick and traded it to Dallas for the No. 14 overall and the No. 45 overall. The Rams took defensive tackle Michael Brockers at No. 14 and cornerback Janoris Jenkins at No. 39 and then traded the No. 45 to Chicago for picks Nos. 50 and 150. The Rams ended up with running back Isaiah Pead and guard Rokevious Watkins with those picks. So far, the Rams have turned the rights to Griffin into Brockers, Jenkins, Pead and Watkins and still have two first-round picks left to use. Nice work.
Janoris Jenkins – Speaking of Jenkins, he was a big loser in one way: His off-field issues (two marijuana arrests and four children with three women) dropped him from a potential top-six pick to No. 39. That cost him roughly $3 million on his first contract. But Jenkins did land in a great spot. He has a chance to walk in and be a star right away for the Rams and coach Jeff Fisher should have a better understanding of how to deal with Jenkins after the “Pacman” Jones experience in Tennessee.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger – Roethlisberger has been sacked at least 40 times in five of the past six seasons. It would likely be all six for six if not for his four-game suspension to start 2010 (he was sacked 32 times in 12 games that year). The big problem for most of that stretch has been the offensive line’s absurdly awful play. The Steelers worked hard to address that by taking Stanford guard David DeCastro in the first round at No. 24 overall and then Ohio State offensive tackle Mike Adams in the second round. Read the rest of this entry
LeBron James Wins Another MVP Award, But A Title His Top Priority
Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins’ feature on LeBron James who remains focused on winning his first NBA title:
“LeBron James sinks into a restaurant booth on the first floor of the Westin in Jersey City, N.J., and orders a chamomile tea. The sun is setting on a Saturday in the middle of April, and through the windows he can see cars snaking toward the Holland Tunnel, beckoned by the lights of New York City. “For me,” says James, “this is chillin’ time.” It is the travel day between two back-to-backs, four games in four cities, and he is swaddled in black sweats and a red Heat baseball cap with a flat black brim. His voice is hoarse but he says he doesn’t have a sore throat. He prepares the tea as if it is a science project, lifting a small jar of honey and slowly pouring it into a teaspoon he holds over the mug, until the honey is about to overflow. He lowers the spoon and gently stirs, then squeezes three lemon wedges into the tea and sucks the rinds. It is suggested that lemons are bad for his teeth. “That’s OK,” James says, easing his massive shoulders against the back of the booth. “My teeth are already terrible.” He smiles wide enough to reveal almost every one. Tranquil moments are few in the chaotic life of LeBron James.
Evaluating The NBA Draft Decisions Of 2012′s Underclassmen
CBS Sports examines the decisions to enter the NBA draft or remain in school by this year’s underclassmen:
“We now know, barring any late-month surprises, which underclassmen are staying and which are headed to the pros. Those decisions have been made.
But who was wise? And who was not? Which school benefitted? And which program got burned?
These are the questions worth addressing as we start to turn our attention to the NBA Draft and 2012-13 season. So my colleague Jeff Goodman and I try to address most of them, and here’s what we came up with.
Player sure to be a star
Anthony Davis (Kentucky) — He’s the clear-cut No. 1 pick in June’s NBA Draft and should be, barring a set of Greg Oden-like injuries, a franchise player and perennial All-Star. He can impact the game on both ends of the court, and it’s just a matter of time before he’s a dominant player in the NBA.
Top H.S Hoop Recruits Shabazz Muhammad Heading To UCLA and Nerlens Noel Picks Kentucky
Sports Illustrated’s Rob Dauster on the college commitments of top prospects Muhammad and Noel:
“Wednesday was so much more than just the first day of college basketball’s spring signing period. With the nation’s top two recruits — Shabazz Muhammad and Nerlens Noel — announcing where they intend to spend their likely one-and-done seasons, every 2012-13 projection hung in the balance. Muhammad surprised no one by committing to and signing with UCLA, while Noel kept Georgetown and Kentucky fans waiting before revealing a ‘UK’ symbol shaved into the back of his trademark flat-top.
Here are five quick thoughts on their commitments:
1. Is this recruiting class fool’s gold for Ben Howland? UCLA coach Ben Howland needed this recruiting class desperately. After spending the last four seasons proving nothing more than his inability to build on the success of three straight Final Four trips from 2006-08, Howland watched as his second NIT-bound campaign in the last three years was punctuated by a story from Sports Illustrated that highlighted everything negative happening in the program. The notion that drew the most criticism was the accusation that Howland allowed Reeves Nelson to deliberately injure fellow team members without repercussion. As poorly as that reflects on the program, it looks even worse for Howland.
The fact that the ninth-year coach even managed to keep his job centered not only on his three consecutive Final Fours, but, perhaps more pressingly, on the idea that Howland could lure two of the top three national recruits in Muhammad and Kyle Anderson. Read the rest of this entry
Blazers Jamal Crawford’s SLAM Feature; Opens Up About His Role During Portland’s Hectic Season
Blazers guard Jamal Crawford talks to Sports Media World for SLAM feature on his whirlwind first season in Portland:
By Brendan Bowers:
In one day the Portland Trail Blazers traded Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby, released Greg Oden and fired Head Coach Nate McMillan. Talk about a whirlwind. Jamal Crawford spoke to SLAMonline about his reaction to those moves, his emotions that day, and his professional approach to basketball that he leaned on amidst rumors that he’d be traded too. He also described his extensive foundation work in the Northwest, talked about connecting with Blazers fans through Twitter, as well as offering an update on how his close friend Brandon Roy is doing these days off the court.
SLAM: Dating back to free agency, and the beginning of the season, what were some of the biggest factors for you in choosing to sign with Portland in the first place?
Jamal Crawford: Well for me personally, Brandon Roy is one of my best friends. With them losing him, I thought it made sense because they were losing wing scoring, and I felt like they had everything else to compete. They had a defensive philosophy, they had Coach McMillan, they had an All-Star in LaMarcus Aldridge, they also had bigs that were pick-and-pop guys, and pick-and-roll guys as well, and so I just thought it made sense.
I felt like this was a Playoff team, and a team that I could help go further. Then we started off the season 7-2, so there was a lot of progress, and everyone was like, “Wow.” Even for me, it was kind of surprising because I didn’t know this would take off so fast with a short training camp, guys getting in late, signing Ray Felton, me coming in here as well. I thought it would take a little bit longer as far as time to adjust.
We got off to such a fast start though that our fall has been dramatic, I think we’re right underneath .500 right now. If we’d started off the season .500, people would be like well you lost Brandon Roy, and Greg Oden’s still hurt; there would have been lower expectations possibly. But we started off so fast that it put a lot of pressure on us, and now we’re just trying to fight to get into the Playoffs.
