Monday, May 31, 2010

2010 NBA Finals Preview


Charles Klein

So it is Boston and Los Angeles playing each other for the twelth time in NBA history and for once, anyway, we didn't really see this coming. The Celtics were too old and battered and could not seem to hold a lead during the regular season. Kevin Garnett was a shadow of the player he used to be and Rasheed Wallace had failed miserably as a free agent signing.

We all expected the Lakers to get to the finals. They were clearly the best team in the Western Conference for most of the season. And Kobe Bryant appeared to be in Jordan-esque form all season, hitting buzzer beater after buzzer beater, including one against Boston earlier in the year. The Lakers added Ron Artest and re-signed the Candyman Lamar Odom last offseason, putting together the most balanced team in the NBA. Couple that with the talenst of one Phil Jackson and presto! You have a winner.

As it turns out, the playoff Celtics are much better than the regular season Celtics. Point guard Rajon Rondo has taken the final step towards super stardom with his play in the playoffs. breaking ankles left and right. Kendrick Perkins has shown everyone that he has some serious skills on the defensive end, even if he lacks the height of players like Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum.

And the Boston Three-Party have all reawakened from the dead to push this Celtics team just four wins away from another NBA Championship. Paul Pierce was other-worldly in Game 6 versus the Magic and Ray Allen stepped up big at a crucial part of the game to hit a few big threes to end any Magic momentum. Kevin Garnett was even sinking his classic 15-19 footers, extending the defense and providing great spacing for Rondo to drive to the basket.

I am picking the Celtics to win this series based on a few key matchups. The most obvious one is Rajon Rondo versus Derek Fisher. Now while most Lakers fans and pundits stick by the aging Fisher, it has been proven during these playoffs that when matched up with a younger and speedier point guard Fisher has a very hard time dealing. As Russell Westbrook showed in the opening round, a young dynamic point guard can be the key that unlocks the Lakers defense.

The next one is in the front court. I am not convinced at all that Pau Gasol has managed to toughen up during the two seasons in between the last time these two teams met in the Finals. Gasol has yet to be matched up with a center with the physicality of Perkins during the playoffs and I do not think he will be ready to handle Perkins down low. Glen 'Uno-Uno' Davis has improved tremendously since 2008 and can provide adequate cover on Lamar Odom as well as Ron Artest. It will be intriguing to see how the two notorious bigs (Rasheed Wallace and Ron Artest) battle it out to see who can get further under the other's skin.

And finally, the Celtics bench is just better. As Nate Robinson proved the other night, he is capable of coming off the bench and winning a game. The Lakers just do not have that type of gamebreaker on their bench. Robinson could prove to be a major player in these finals, especially if he is matched up against Jordan Farmar. While Odom might be one of the best sixth men in the business, the Lakers depth does not extend far from him. Robinson, Wallace, Davis and even Daniels are better than Vujacic, Walton, Farmar, Powell and Brown.

While Kobe Bryant's play during the playoffs has been nothing short of spectacular, I do not think that him by himself will be enough to win the series. The Celtics have proven to be kryptonite for more than a few teams, and the way they are currently constructed lends one to believe that they will be more than a match for the Lake Show. The Celtics have proven during the playoffs that they are more than capable of winning on the road. None of the teams the Lakers have faced up until this point have showed that they are able to duplicate their home form at Staples Center.

Celtics in seven. I know it is unpopular, but I expect the Celtics to be celebrating another NBA Championship, right in the heart of Los Angeles.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Five Reasons To Be Excited About Team USA

Charles Klein

The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa is only twelve days away, which means it is just about time for America to pretend it cares about soccer for a month. And yet this year the build-up to the World Cup feels a bit different here in the states. I think that finally there is a good bit of deserved optimism around the national team and the evolution of soccer in the United States since 2006 has definitely piqued the interest of even the casual sports fan.

With that, the 4-1-1 On Sports gives you five (count 'em) reasons to be excited about the U.S. Men's National Team.

1. The United States finally has an easy group. In pretty much every World Cup in which Sam's Army has played they have been placed in a group of death. In 2006 the U.S. played in a group with Italy (the eventual winners), the Czech Republic and Ghana. All three teams are in the top 30 FIFA rankings. In 2002 the USMNT was in a group with tournament hosts South Korea, Portugal and Poland. At that time they were the beneficiaries of an under performing world power and reached the knockout stages.

This year the boys in red, white and blue lucked out by being placed in a group with Algeria and Slovenia. Obviously England is the favorite to win Group C, but the Americans ought to be favored against both of the other members of their group. Neither Algeria nor Slovenia have many players who play in the top leagues and I doubt either will carry on their run of play into the competition. While both knocked out major powers from their respective continents (Egypt and Russia, respectively), Team USA ought to have enough firepower to deal with both of them.

2. Team USA have Clint Dempsey. For whatever reason this season at Fulham, Dempsey seemed to score almost every crucial goal for the Cottagers. Goals like the one he scored against Juventus (see below) can make anyone forget about the failed promise of Freddy Adu. Whether he is stationed on the left side of midfield or up front, Dempsey is the goal threat the USA need to produce in order to advance in this tournament.


3. The Maturation of Jozy Altidore. Say whatever you like about his play at Hull City last season, but this boy scores goals galore for the national team. Perhaps the American version of Lukas Podolski, Altidore seems to always shine in the colours of Team USA. Altidore's play at the Confederations Cup (particularly against Spain) showed that he has all the necessary tools to be a successful center forward. Altidore will likely play in tandem with either Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez or Landon Donovan up top for the USA and expect him to put a few in the ol' onion bag before this competition is over.

4. Tim Howard. Quite simply, the one thing that the United States seems to continue to supply to our brothers across the pond is quality goalkeepers. All three of Team USA's goalkeepers ply their trade in England (Marcus Hahneman at Wolverhampton, Brad Guzan at Aston Villa and Tim Howard at Everton) and each have become better for it. And perhaps no one has improved more for Team USA than Howard since he departed MLS for Manchester United back in 2003. While Howard was not able to stick at United, he has shined at Everton. And if Team USA expect to go far in this tournament, they will need Tim Howard at his best, which I fully expect him to be. 

5. THEY BEAT SPAIN! As much as Team USA's detractors like to write off the side's success in South Africa last summer, the way this team came together after a disappointing start cannot be ignored. Michael Wilbon (a.k.a. the dumbest analyst currently employed by ESPN not named Joe Morgan) said that Team USA mostly succeeded because it was facing every other nation's JV team, when that was simply not the case. Spain had all of their best players on their Confederation's Cup roster (names like Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Villa, Fernando Torres, Iker Casillas and Cesc Fabregas all come to mind) and were unable to deny a determined Team USA. The United States was up 3-0 against Brazil in the final, only for Brazil's best center forward since Ronaldo's pomp (a.k.a Luis Fabiano) did them in. 

Brothers, countrymen, lend me your ears. Our team actually has a shot to do well at this year's World Cup. Certainly Team USA lacks the star power of sides like England, Brazil, Argentina, Spain etc. but what it lacks in individual parts is made up by the team concept instilled by manager Bob Bradley. While they are not the favorites to win it all, it is definitely reasonable to believe that this team can make it to the knockout rounds of the World Cup. Most importantly, this team has demonstrated that when it plays together it can beat anyone in the world.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Douglas Fister: The Untold Story


Charles Klein

Much of the talk around baseball has been about the rise of Ubaldo Jimenez and the continued dominance of Tim Lincecum. And the only young pitcher on anyone's mind these days is David Price. But one pitcher continues to evade the limelight. His name is Doug Fister.

Sure, he probably is not the most sought after pitcher in your fantasy baseball league. And he certainly does not dazzle you with his strikeout numbers or his stuff. His last name even probably throws you off a little. But it suits him just fine.

Believe it or not, on May 25 Fister is third in Major League Baseball in ERA. His 2.03 earned run average is the best in the American League. And it is not due to a low number of innings-pitched. Fister is 24th in the Majors in IP, having tossed 62 innings thus far.

Doug Fister has proven this year that it is more than just whether or not a pitcher strikes out a ton of batters that determines his effectiveness. His game has been more about pounding the strike zone and forcing hitters to put the ball in play. Fister has only allowed ten walks in 62 innings-pitched and ranks second in major league baseball behind Ubaldo Jimenez in WHIP (walks hits per innings-pitched).

And if Fister pitched for a team with a better offense he could be leading the league in wins. Unfortunately for him, the Mariners have been more than aenemic offensively. He has only won three games on the year, but all of his other statistics present a strong argument in his favor that he has been one of the best pitchers in the league so far this season.

While I do not think that Fister is a legitimate Cy Young candidate at this point, he might just become one by the end of the year. What he lacks in style he certainly makes up for in substance. And the Mariners have assuredly enjoyed that.

So while everyone else focuses on David Price and Jaime Garcia, we Pacific Northwesterners will enjoy watching Doug Fister continue this amazing run of form.

Erik who?

Super Bowl 48 In New Jersey: It Makes Too Much Cents


Charles Klein

The National Football League announced that Super Bowl 48 will be held at Meadowlands, becoming the first cold weather outdoor stadium to host the biggest event in American sports. Meadowlands Stadium defeated Tampa, Florida on a simple majority after four rounds of voting at the NFL Owner's Meeting in Irving, Texas.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called the vote "a historic event for the league."

Organizers of the 2014 bid expect the Super Bowl to generate $550 million for the local economy. While neither the Giants nor the Jets will directly benefit from hosting the event at their grand-spanking new $1.6 billion spaceship, they will be given 109 of the 219 suites to distribute to season ticket holders.


Hosting the Super Bowl will also make selling the naming rights to the stadium much easier. Analysts expect the naming rights to go for around $500 million.

Meadowlands Stadium holds 82,500 seats at capacity and the Giants and Jets will split 6.2% of the ticket allotment given by the league. Typically host cities receive 5% and in the case of Super Bowl 48, Giants and Jets fans will each receive 3.1% of the tickets, which is about 2,557.5 tickets per team.

The organizers also noted that they intend upon integrating the Super Bowl with other yearly events hosted in New York City, such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and Fashion Week.

Perhaps the New York/New Jersey bid was made easier by the presence Tampa native Dick Vitale, who in his city's video presentation implored voters to "Vote for Tampa, bay-bee!"

Of course all of this will just add to the city's flawed perception of being the birthplace of all things wonderful in America. The self-styled exceptionalism professed by New Yorkers will only become more nauseating as 2014 grows ever closer. And naturally, we will all have to listen to them claim that both of their teams will play in that game. I don't think either will, but that's for another post at another time.

The game being held in an "inclement" climate will open the door for the game to be held in other stadiums that are as deserving as Meadowlands Stadium to what is certainly the highest grossing event in American sports. Cities like Seattle, Boston, Kansas City, Washington, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will now all be able to have a shot at repeating a similar feat to the one accomplised by the organizers from New York.

After electing a crackpot governor and losing out on the John Wall sweepstakes, the state of New Jersey really needed a pick-me-up. And this Super Bowl will go down like a gin & tonic.

I wanna be a part of it, New York, New Jersey...

Sunday, May 23, 2010

The Washington Wizards Hit The NBA Jackpot


Jossif Ezekilov

The Wizards got the No.1 pick…now what? 

Tuesday night proved to be a historical one for the Washington Wizards, as they took the No.1 pick in this year’s draft with the fifth best lottery chance at 10.3%. The consensus even before the draft lottery was that Kentucky’s John Wall is a lock for the top pick in the draft. However, there is one problem with the Wizards drafting arguably the most hyped prospect since Lebron James. The problem stands at 6 foot 3 inches tall, and just recently was released out of a halfway house following a gun possession conviction.
Yes the problem is Gilbert Arenas. You know, the guy who has had three knee surgeries in two and a half years. The guy whose gun toting antics became the tip of the horrendous iceberg that was the 2009-2010 season for the Wizards, a season that was initially touted as the one which the Wizards, and Arenas, would come back to the NBA forefront. The guy who is still owed a whopping $80 million dollars. And, worst of all for the Wizards, Arenas is the guy who is currently slotted at the same position as John Wall.

The Wizards are clearly in rebuilding mode. They traded away three of their best players (Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood) for young prospects and cap space, and are also looking to be at least secondary players (they have the cap space for at least one major contract) in what will be the biggest free agency in NBA history. The No.1 pick is the best tool a rebuilding team can have in its arsenal, and Wall looks to be the type of player a team drafts to be the new face of their franchise, much like Derrick Rose for the Bulls, Tyreke Evans for the Kings, or Brandon Jennings for the Bucks, but with the potential to be greater than all of them. Unfortunately, the guy who the Wizards formerly designated to be their franchise star is perched at the starting PG spot, the spot Wall is also vying for.

There are several scenarios that could play out here. The Wizards could just look in another direction, going with either Ohio State’s Evan Turner or Wall’s teammate Demarcus Cousins. The New Jersey Nets mentioned that they would also scout these and other players if they were to get the first pick. Turner or Cousins would fit well in the Wizards rotation, but they are not what anybody in Washington really wants right now. The Wizards want someone to fill the seats of the Verizon Center back up, someone to draw national attention, and the attention of another big time player they could sign. Furthermore, Wizards fans want the best player right now, someone who will provide immediate results. The 2001 drafting of Kwame Brown, arguably the worst pick in NBA history, is still a fresh memory in DC. Given this, the Wizards front office basically has their necks on the line with this pick. If they draft someone else, and they don’t pan out (especially if Wall shines on another team), heads will roll, and the attendance at Wizards games could drop to New Jersey Nets-like levels. Nothing against any other player in the draft, and there are some great prospects out there, but John Wall is clearly the safest pick for the Wizards right now.

Another scenario would be to start both Wall and Arenas in the backcourt. This seems like the win-win type of situation. Arenas is a shoot first guard and his game has always been closer to a shooting guard than a point guard’s. Wall could still be the point guard, run the offense, and have the same effect for the franchise discussed above. However, Arenas is again the problem here. He has not only always been a shoot first, but a “me first” type of player. From the outset of his stint in Washington, he has always been self-centered and egotistical. The Wizards organization compounded this by giving him the green light to be the franchise star and, despite rebukes from former coaches and teammates, Gilbert Arenas was allowed to do whatever Gilbert Arenas wanted to do. Will this attitude somehow magically change once the Wizards draft Wall and he has to share the spotlight in Washington? Is Arenas himself a changed man after spending a month in a halfway house? Somehow, I think not. Arenas still counts on being the go-to man for the Wizards. He has always thrived in that role, his narcissism always the driving force behind “Agent Zero”. He has never played second fiddle, and probably doesn’t understand the concept.

A switch to the two guard spot also means a total reworking of his game: playing more without the ball, shooting more effectively, being a bigger presence on defense etc. This has never been something that Arenas has cared to do. Sure, one can point to Steven Jackson and how he remade his game to better compliment his teammates in Charlotte once he was traded there. But that doesn’t apply to the case of Arenas. Arenas would be staying in his own comfort zone in DC, with little incentive to improve, other than through his own volition. Certainly, a soft-spoken coach like Flip Saunders will not be able to prod Arenas into cooperation, unlike Larry Brown, whose hard-ass tactics got Jackson to accept Charlotte’s program.
However, even if Gilbert Arenas did all of it, let go of egoism, accepted the changes, remade his game, allowed John Wall to the shining face of the franchise, while he played the role of supporting veteran, his effectiveness is still called into question because of the multiple knee surgeries. Even when Arenas played last season, he was clearly not up to the level that he was a few years ago. His shooting percentages were down, he missed layups, he was slow to get back on defense etc. It looked as if the surgeries had taken their toll on Arenas, and that is something the Wizards have to start thinking about.

The best solution for the Wizards and for Arenas is to trade him. A change of scene would be best for both parties involved. The Wizards would be free to make Wall their franchise player with no reservations, while Arenas could go to a team contending for the playoffs and make them better. The problem here is in Arenas’  massive $80 million dollar contract. Not many teams that have the cap space for that type of contract want to spend it on a player who has had off court troubles and multiple surgeries, particularly when there are so many big names on the free agent market. However, if Ernie Grunfeld is really the great GM he thinks he is, he would do everything in his power to make it happen, despite his initial statements Arenas will be a Wizard next year. Arenas, on his part, should welcome such a trade because, despite everything that has happened, Arenas loves the game and he wants to win. He has the potential to be for another team what Steven Jackson was for the Bobcats last season, the player that takes a team from mediocre to pretty good, or even better. If Arenas is the changed man that he says he is, this is what he would want.

 The No.1 pick is a great turn of events for the beleaguered Wizards franchise. It gives them the chance to turn things around, and to select a new franchise player. But first, they need to figure out what to do with their old franchise player. 

And they need to do it soon; June 24th is not a long ways away.

The Beantown Beatdown


Charles Klein

The Boston Celtics continue to write their own version of the Superman comic book series, one in which they, as Lex Luther, emerge victorious over an uninspiring and nonplussed red caped crusader. The Beantown Beatdown, as it has been referred to in the press this morning, showed that it matters not the number of a team's seed, but it's strength of will and character that sets it apart from the rest.

Doc Rivers' Celtics were utterly and absolutely dominant in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals out-hustling and out-scoring the Orlando Magic 94-71. Glen 'Big Baby/Uno Uno' Davis led all Celtics with 17 points and six rebounds as the Big Three of Garnett, Pierce and Allen did not have to do a whole lot to carry the C's to a 3-0 series lead.

And when Rajon Rondo is making plays like this, the Celtics are incredibly hard to stop.


And this Ray Allen dunk encapsulates this game perfectly.


The Orland Magic simply handed the win to the Boston Celtics on a silver platter. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy must have felt like the wolf in the story of the three little pigs, huffing and puffing trying to blow down a brick house as his team tuned him out and showed absolutely no desire to win. 
Jalen Rose decided to refer to Dwight Howard as Clark Kent for the rest of this series. And for the first time, I find myself in agreement with the man from Michigan. Howard has done absolutely nothing in this series to deserve his nickname (aside from his 30 point performance in Game 2). He is Superman in the dunk contests but has been Clark Kent when it matters. And I highly doubt that he will do anything to change that in Game 4.

The Celtics deserve all the credit for the way they have played against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. Rajon (Ray-jon or Rah-jon) Rondo has been absolutely dynamite at the point the past few months, showing everyone that while he may still lack an outside jumper he can get through any defense.

Rasheed Wallace has proven that he is not the total waste of life that Bill Simmons wrote about on April 7th.
He has gotten under the skin of the Orlando Magic players and has managed to shoot well from beyond the arc, hitting two of three in last night's victory. Kendrick Perkins has played so well defensively that he looks more like the defensive player of the year than the guy he's been tasked with guarding.

Daily Fail: Americans Covering European Football


Charles Klein

As I am sure you are now well aware of, the UEFA Champions League Final was held yesterday, with Inter Milan defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu in Spain. And you can read all about it here. What I found frustrating yesterday whilst watching the match was not necessarily the pace at which the game was played, but more of how it was covered.

While as an American fan of European football it was brilliant to be able to watch the match on network television in the United States (for the first time in the U.S.) and not on my computer, it was absolutely miserable to watch Curt Menefee attempt to host a pre-game, half-time and post-game show.

Like the guy involved in a conversation in which he understands very little of what is being discussed, he always sought to bring the discussion back to something he understood in a very Uncle Vernon type way. Meanwhile Bruce Arena and Eric Wynalda offered very little in the way of "expert" commentary for those who were not watching the Champions League for the first time.

Back to Menefee for a quick second. When one is determining the ideal qualities of a host, pronouncing the names of the players correctly ranks as one of the essential things he must do well. It is not like Menefee was tasked with hosting a match between two teams with names which were difficult to pronounce. More to the point, if they are difficult, he ought to have prepared better and learned how to say names like Eto'o and Demichelis. And in the opening segment of FOX's coverage he continually raised his hand and gesticulated with his thumb exactly where one might find two teams playing soccer. Perhaps Mr. Menefee ought to take up the profession of guest services.

One of the more irritating things about watching an American crew covering a match is their assumption that everyone watching has never seen or heard of soccer. Menfee & Co. continually referred to the final as the "Super Bowl of Soccer" when in actuality, it is not. There is no Super Bowl in Europe. While the site may change every year like it does for the Super Bowl, that is where the similarities begin and end.

And they kept calling it "the beautiful game" as if by mere repetition they might have been able to convince those non-believers that soccer really is a great spectator sport.

I do not think all Americans are simpletons when it comes to an understanding of soccer. There is a large contingent within the United States who understands most of the in's and out's of the game and knows who most of the great players are. Until FOX/ESPN learns that they ought to cater more to the knowledgeable fan than the clueless one, they will never get it right.

All of this rambling about how poor the coverage of the game was without even talking about a certain Andy Gray. I will leave him and Mr. Tyler for another post.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Inter Milan Are European Champions


Charles Klein

In a game that could not be described as anything other than a perfect lullaby for all neutral fans, Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu last night. I felt well ready for a solid nap when it was all over.

A double for Diego Milito insured a treble for Inter Milan. Both of Milito's goals provided a stern examination of Bayern's soft core of Daniel Van Buyten and Martin Demichelis. Neither Bayern centerback was capable of winning the ball off of Inter's attacking quadruple of Wesley Sneijder, Samuel Eto'o, Goran Pandev and Milito.

Milito's first goal was straight out of the training ground. Inter keeper Julio Cesar hoofed a goal kick about 75 yards up the gleaming Santiago Bernabeu pitch, which was taken down perfectly by Milito, who played his header straight into the feet of Sneijder. The Dutchmen placed an inch-perfect through ball for Milito, who displayed both patience and class by feinting and then firing past a helpless Hans-Jorg Butt to send Inter into the ascendency.

And his second goal was rather reminiscent of the first. Milito again, plowing a lone furrow up front for Inter, expertly fielded a clearance out of Inter's defensive third and delicately held up play and allowed his teammates to get forward to assist in the counter-attack. Milito then received the ball on the edge of Bayern's 18 yard box, delightfully wrong-footing Van Buyten and shooting yet another delicious finish past Butt and sealing the win for Inter.

Inter's defense maintained a vice-like grip on the proceedings, as Bayern found it impossible to play a cutting pass or fire a long distance shot against Cesar. With the exception of Arjen Robben, the Bayern attack lacked any real spark or threat on goal. Thomas Muller had a chance to even the score within the first minute of the second half, finding Cesar's legs instead of the back of the Inter net. From then on, minus one creative attempt made by Robben to bend one past Cesar, Bayern were absolutely toothless in front of goal.

Credit Jose Mourinho for having his side prepared for the Bayern onslaught, which had felled defensive sides the likes of Manchester United, Juventus, Olympique Lyonnais and Fiorentina on their way to the final. Franck Ribery was a big miss for Louis Van Gaal's side as Hamit Altintop looked thoroughly out of place on the left side of midfield.

Ribery, out due to a red card in the previous stage of the competition, could only watch and wonder what difference he could have made versus a side who looked thoroughly determined to prevent Bayern from doing absolutely anything inside their 18-yard box.

Every time either Robben or Phillip Lahm attempted to penetrate on the left-hand side they found their way blocked by Christian Chivu, Esteban Cambiasso and Lucio. On the rare occasions that either of them got free, both scuffed their crosses or found no one in the box, as I think everyone in the red and white stripes of Bayern were rooted to the spot with shock that a ball could even enter the Inter box.

Inter Milan were deserved Champions on a beautiful Spanish evening in Madrid. While their display may have lacked the constant flair of Barcelona or the buccaneering spirit of Manchester United, their defensive play and fantastic counter-attacks were more than enough to give them that for which they came.

And now it appears that Inter manager Jose Mourinho will be leaving the club to take over at Real Madrid. While Mourinho has yet to sign a contract at the Bernabeu, it is common knowledge that Madrid supremo Florentino Perez is keen on installing the 'Special One' as the manager to take down Barcelona in La Liga and reestablish Real's former dominance of Europe.

Whatever happens in the future, the blue and black section of Milan have every right to celebrate the end to a fantastic season in which they won every competition in which they competed. Champions of Italy, winners of the Copa Italia and now the Kings of Europe. What a season.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Daily Fail: Diego Maradona Goes Randy Moss On A Cameraman


Charles Klein

When I read this, I had to read it again to make sure Goal.com was not pulling my leg. Having been duped by that site before, I was awfully suspicious of the following headline: "Diego Maradona Runs Over Cameraman And Then Curses The Man For Being In His Way." I mean really, just too ridiculous to be true? But then I watched this:


If anyone wanted to believe that God was a spiteful and angry man intent upon punishing those who got in His way, your God would be Diego Maradona. I just wonder if by mid-July Lio Messi will curse Maradona for getting in his way (yet again) of winning a World Cup. But that's a post for another time.

What's painfully (no pun intended) clear here is that Argentina has plenty to worry about ahead of the World Cup. Should Maradona commit more acts of recklessness, it will be his team and his country that will suffer. Say what you want about Dunga, but he has at least won Brazil a major trophy and has managed not to run over cameramen.

Ubaldo Jimenez Is A Legitmate Ace


Charles Klein

Today is "Respect Day" here on the blog. As you will notice in later posts, today is the day I have set aside to write a few articles about players or teams that I have simply not given the credit they deserve. Ubaldo Jimenez is one such player.

When he tossed the first no-hitter of the year, I discounted the accomplishment by noting that he gave up four or five walks and that pretty much anyone can throw a no-hitter these days. Which is, to some extent, true. But as Jay-Z rapped, men lie, women lie, numbers don't.

Jimenez is 8-1 this season, the Major's first eight game winner, with an ERA of 0.99 in 63.1 innings-pitched. Opponents are hitting at a .171 clip off the Rockies 26 year-old right hander. Pretty fantastic if you asked me. Especially considering that his home stadium is Coors Field.

So Rockies fans, I would like to apologize for writing off your boy. Ubaldo Jimenez, if the balloting took place today, would win the NL Cy Young Award in a landslide.

Monday, May 17, 2010

2010 NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics = Kryptonite


Charles Klein

After celebrating The Fall of LeBron James with the populaces of Boston, Chicago and New York I watched the Boston Celtics take apart another young superstar: Dwight Howard. The game was not close until the Celtics almost blew it in the fourth quarter, but the final score of 92-88 should not lead one into believing that these two teams were on the same court Sunday afternoon.

My two favorite Boston Celtics, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, scored over 20 points and in conjunction with Kevin Garnett proved that Boston's 'Big Three' were better than Orlando's. Pierce and Allen combined for 47 of Boston's 92 points and were 4-7 from beyond the arc.

What's more, Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace and Glen 'Big Baby/Uno-Uno' Davis managed to frustrate the living crap out of Dwight Howard, forcing him into foul trouble and seven turnovers. 'Superman' combined poor discipline with a poor night by his standards, scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 boards. If he wants to be thought of as one of the best players in the league, Howard needs to stop being an immature seven foot tall baby and just play the physical game we all know he can.

When Vince Carter, the man Howard has referred to as 'Half man, half retired' easily outscores the Magic center, the team has problems. Carter scored 23, Jameer Nelson had 20, but Rashard Lewis only scored six points and generally appeared lost on the floor.

While the Magic were lauded for their depth during the season, their bench play was not enough to overtake the 'old, past their prime' Celtics. Rajon Rondo, MVP of the first two rounds of the playoffs for the Celtics, had an off game and yet the Magic could not take advantage.

As much as Bill Simmons slagged off Rasheed Wallace during the season, 'Sheed has been really cutting the check lately in Boston. The former Jail Blazer and Piston scored 13 points yesterday and was 2-5 from three. And it is his in-your-face demeanor that has usually dogged Wallace throughout his NBA career that has proven to be a major weapon in the Celtics arsenal against Howard.

The Celtics do not really have a player to match up with Howard. And I thought that would be a major advantage for the Magic in this series (as most people thought before Game 1). But until Dwight Howard 'gets it' the Celtics will be more than happy to advance to another NBA Finals.

At least yesterday, as Lazlo Bane sings, Dwight Howard aka 'foul on me' aka 'Superman', was nothing resembling that red caped crusader.

Caps Splash The Cash On Niklas Backstrom


Charlie Klein

The Washington Capitals announced today that they have signed star center Niklas Backstrom to a ten-year, $67 million dollar contract extension. Backstrom, 22, will remain with the team as they attempt to build for another Stanely Cup push in the 2010/2011 season.

According to the Washington Post's Tarik El-Bashir Backstrom's money per season increases over time, from six million in the first four seasons to eight million in the final year of the contract, at which point Backstrom will be 32.

Backstrom's contract extension is part of the larger committment by the franchise to keep their young talent at Verizon Center. Alexander Ovechkin, the left wing on Backstrom's line, still has 11 years remaining on his 13-year, $124 million deal.

It is a dramatic pay rise for Backstrom, but it is a deserved one. The Swedish playmaker notched 101 points playing with Ovechkin and Mike Knuble, who compared Backstrom to Peter Forsberg during the season. Knuble had a fantastic season playing with Backstrom and Ovechkin, scoring 29 goals in his first season with the Capitals.

How this contract impacts the Capitals' attempt to re-sign Alexander Semin remains to be seen. Given that the NHL is a salary cap league, it will be difficult for the Capitals to justify having three players paid around seven million dollars a season for the next five seasons at least.

Ultimately I expect the Caps to hang onto Semin through the last year of his deal and hope that they can entice him to stay for less money. I don't think Semin will be able to resist an opportunity to shine independent of the other Russian (Ovechkin) on his own with a bigger pay check. Unless the Capitals get a ridiculous trade offer from a desperate team, Semin will finish 2010/2011 as a Cap.

Whatever happens with the Semin situation, the Capitals have set themselves up to have one of the best lines in the NHL for the next ten years by locking up Niklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Boston Three-party? Better make room for one more.


Charlie Klein

Who has been the best player in the NBA Playoffs this season? I'll give you a hint, it rhymes with LeBron. It is none other than Rajon Rondo. The 'forgotten man' of Boston's Three-party of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, Rondo has made his presence felt to both the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Plays like this one in Game 4 are the reason why the 2010 NBA Playoffs have become Rajon Rondo's coming out party.


While I am aware that Rondo is not everyone's favorite point guard in the NBA (Deron Williams), he is fast becoming the best. It is truly rare to see a point guard put up the overall numbers that Rondo has averaged in the playoffs thus far. He has averaged 17.7 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game and 11 assists, demanding the attention of everyone around the league.

Kendrick Perkins, another standout player for the Celtics in the playoffs, had this to say of his teammate:
"I think right now, he’s the best player on our team,” Perkins said. “Without Rondo, nothing goes. Pretty much we’ve got to play him the whole game because he just runs the whole team. Without him, we’d be dead."
If Boston Police find the slain carcass of the Cavaliers 2009/2010 season somewhere outside TD Banknorth Garden, they will only have one suspect. And his name? Rajon Rondo.

Remember Kids, It's All About LeBron...


Charlie Klein

Perhaps one of the more nauseating aspects of my day (aside from watching Brandon League give up a grand slam to Luke Scott in the 8th inning of the Mariners game today) was watching the amount of coverage LeBron James was getting on his own. Now I am aware that he is the best player in basketball and his team is in the playoffs (yadda yadda yadda), but come on already, enough is enough!

One of my favourite aspects of the coverage is the angle taken by some which pities the plight Cleveland currently finds itself in: their hometown superstar is on the verge of leaving for brighter lights and bigger checks. This storyline is constantly played up in the media, as it is a very familiar story not unique to LeBron and Cleveland. Most people bemoan the fact that small market teams have to give up their best players within three or four years of having them. And yet Cleveland has had LeBron for seven seasons now. That's a pretty long time for a relationship to exist with a player of LeBron's caliber and a city like Cleveland.

So I do not exactly feel sorry for the city of Cleveland. You've had your chance with LeBron for seven seasons now and have not been able to get the job done. It's like a guy who is a 5 dating a girl who is a 10. If he has not managed to seal the deal in seven years, it is time for the 10 to move on to someone more on her level. And it is the same with Cleveland and LeBron.

The fact that people in Cleveland are giving a strong amount of credence to the idea that LeBron has quit on his teammates to make his departure easier shows the defeatist mentality of the city itself. Over the course of their seven year relationship, Cleveland and the Cavaliers organization has given LeBron very little with which to work. Mo Williams, Antwoine Jamison, Zyndrunas Ilgauskas, Delonte West, the list goes on. The only reason anyone knows who most of these guys are is because they happen to play with LeBron.

It's just like HBO's series Entourage, "Lebrontourage" as one Cleveland sports site refers to it. You have Eric Murphy, Vince's hard-working friend-turned-manager whose main source of success and fame is Vince (Cavaliers coach Mike Brown), Vince's childhood buddy Turtle (Mo Williams) and Johnny Drama, the past-his-prime actor (Shaquille O'Neal). And for everyone outside of Cleveland, watching the Cavaliers fail once again in the playoffs is almost just as funny as Entourage.

Cleveland fans, it won't be long before photoshop isn't the only thing that produces images like this...


If Cleveland fans want to keep LeBron in their city, perhaps they ought to take the Say Anything approach. 



And their season is not even over (yet). Imagine how much fun this summer is going to be!

Change Kansas City Can Believe In?


Charlie Klein

The Kansas City Royals fired manager Trey Hillman today following the team's dismal start to the 2010 season. Hillman was 152-207 as the Royals manager in two plus seasons in charge of the ball club. The Royals have hired former Milwaukee Brewers manager Ned Yost to replace Hillman.

The Royals are not exactly off to a roaring start. The team is 12-23 and last in the AL Central. What's more, their 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke is 1-4 in seven starts this season with a 2.73 ERA. And Greinke's one win came today versus their fellow bottom feeders the Cleveland Indians.

Personally, I think that Hillman ought to feel a little hard-done-by. Considering the fact that the Royals have not experienced any sort of success in the franchise's despairing history, the Kansas City Royals Wikipedia page breaks it down as 1995-2001 "The Decline" and 2002-20006 as "Rock Bottom." Considering that the Royals successes are a nice April in 2003 and believe it or not, a World Championship in 1985, it seems slightly ridiculous to expect any tangible change to the end product simply by swapping out a manager.

The Royals are 25th in the Majors in runs scored, 17th in home runs, sixth in team batting average, 28th in team ERA and 25th in team strikeouts. So it's not all doom and gloom. The team has managed to hit at a decent clip and some of their younger players are showing some promise. What remains indisputably awful about this team is their awe inspiring ability to blow leads or give up runs late in games. And for me, Trey Hillman is not necessarily at fault for the fact that Robinson Tejeda's 5.57 ERA in 21 innings pitched or for the fact that Rick Ankiel, their 2.75 million dollar a year free agent signing, is again on the disabled list.

This team's inability to win games on any sort of consistent basis runs deeper than a manager. It stems from the mentality of management and of the Royals ownership. The Royals have been on the receiving end of MLB's revenue sharing deal and yet have refused to invest it in the ball club. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Royals were one of three teams to receive a $30 million payout from the league for their troubles.

Royals Owner David Glass, the former President and Chief Executive of Wal-Mart, has been running this team in similar fashion. In the same way that Wal-Mart underpays its employees and cuts its prices to create bigger profit margins, the Royals have consistently failed to put their money where their young talent is (Johnny Damon, Carlos Beltran among others). And unlike Wal-Mart, there are not many smiley faces in Kaufmann Stadium these days.

If the Royals want to return to winning baseball, they need to experience change from the top. The culture of that organization prevents anyone in Kansas City from expecting their team to win baseball games. By signing the 35-going on-50 Jason Kendall to be their everyday catcher in the offseason the management group indicated to its fans that they harbored zero intentions of competing this season.

The team needs an ownership group which understands that there is a difference between making smart investments and being just plain thrifty. While the renovations done to Kaufmann and the Greinke contract extension are positive signs for Royals fans, those actions remain the exception and not the rule in Kansas City.

Their fans deserve so much more than to continue to watch team after team just stink it up. And firing Trey Hillman, the Royals' seventh manager in 13 seasons will do little to change anything. Good luck Ned Yoast, you are going to need it (and much much more) to succeed in one of baseball's stinkiest stink holes.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

I've Got New York In My Mind...


Charlie Klein

Last night, LeBron James looked like a player who had already cleared out his locker for the season. While the rest of his team were running pick and roll after pick and roll, he was standing on the other side of the court bent over clutching the bottoms of his shorts. While Anderson Varejao, Antwoine Jamison, Mo Williams, Shaq and Delonte West were attempting to win a basketball game, James was a complete afterthought.

James has cited a bum elbow as his reason for the decrease in his numbers from the regular season. Which would be all well and good were it not for the performance he turned in Game 3. James lit up the Cavaliers, playing 39 minutes scoring 38 points with 2 blocks, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. So we all know he has it in him to produce. And then in the most important game of the season (up to that point) LeBron went 3-14 from the field, only scoring 15 points with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Good numbers for your third best player, but certainly not for your best.

One of the funniest things to observe in the sports media today is the total hypocrisy that surrounds their assessments of the Cleveland Cavaliers. We heard all season the the Cavs were the best team in basketball and that LeBron and his supporting cast were finally poised to hand Cleveland its first title in four decades. And now that they are down 3-2 to a veteran savvy Boston Celtics we hear a completely different story, that goes something a little like this:

LeBron's supporting cast is trash. There is no one on that team that is even within the same universe as this guy. Now that is generally true of the league and so such an assessment may seem a bit harsh. But let's put it this way: there is no one else on that Cavaliers team who is capable of carrying them when LeBron is not playing well. Jamison is not going to give you a triple-double or anything close to it, William's shooting has been to erratic and he himself has proven that he does not have the heart necessary to succeed in the playoffs. Varejao is an overpaid Sideshow Bob and Delonte West cannot string together nights of consistent shooting.

This Cavs team would be in the lottery were it not for LeBron. Speaking of lotteries, it appears that the New York Knicks are about to hit the jackpot this summer. These improvised lyrics came to mind watching the play of Prince James last night:

"In my mind I'm goin' to New York
Can't you see the all the money
Can't you just feel the lights shine
Maybe just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to New York in my mind"

For me it is obvious that he has mentally checked out of Cleveland. All of the be a God to your hometown by staying is a load of tosh in my mind. Being the Jesus of Cleveland sports just has not panned out. People may have knocked Joakim Noah when he came out and spoke poorly of Cleveland, but his comments are not too far off the mark.  
"I don't know about Cleveland, man, there is nothing going on. It's bad, man."
Buzz Bissinger, a sportswriter who knows a thing or two about LeBron, had this to say about James' future.
"I am not privy to any special information, but my gut tells me he will leave the Cavaliers whether they win the NBA championship or not. He has aspirations beyond basketball. He wants to be a billion dollar athlete. He likes challenges and bright lights. There is nothing like New York and the goal of making the Knicks champions again is an incredible one. So I say he goes to the Knicks, IF THEY GET THE RIGHT SUPPORTING CAST. And as you know that's a big "if" when it comes to the Knicks. LeBron would own New York in a way that no athlete has ever owned it, except maybe for Reggie Jackson after game six of the 1977 World Series when he hit three home runs, and as we know the love affair did not last forever. It would be exciting as hell to watch and I think LeBron would luxuriate in it. But as you say he also loves Ohio, so it is going to be a very difficult decision and I don't think he has come close to making it yet. And remember, the most important value in LeBron's life is loyalty. Still, I say he goes."
And I could not agree more. Colin Cowherd on his radio show this morning said that from what he hears from his sources, LeBron would net an additional $20 million from being a New York Knick, just in terms of sponsorships and endorsements alone. He also argued (and I agree especially in the context of the NBA) that unless you live in one of the "it" cities in America, you can forget about your team winning titles on a consistent basis.

For a star player like LeBron James, Cleveland simply is not big enough for what he wants to be and do. Bringing a championship to Cleveland will be a "heart-warming" story, but bringing the Knicks back to prominence would be ones that sports writers will write about for generations. As much as it sickens me to think of New York adding one more star player to its list of residents, nothing has really ever made more sense than for LeBron James to play there. And if the Knicks get Chris Bosh to play with him, look out.

I would just caution Knicks fans that it may not happen and if it does, it is not a lock that you will win a title with LeBron. In his seven seasons in the NBA, James has proven that he alone is not enough to win a title. And you cannot just blame his lack of a ring on his supporting cast (who were good enough to earn home court throughout the playoffs the past two seasons). A team that wins 60+ games does not immediately start playing like one that won 20. I still have serious questions of whether or not LeBron has what it takes to win a title. Does he have that Kobe-like passion to win? After watching Game 5 it certainly does not look like it.

What does it say about the Jesus Christ of basketball if it is his supporting cast that truly decides whether or not he can win a title? I think people just prefer to lay the blame on everyone else but LeBron. If Knicks fans think they can just ignore this aspect of Lebron's game (or lackthereof), they are horribly mistaken. 

For now Knicks fans can only dream about what LeBron would look like wearing the No. 6 in Knickerbockers white, blue and orange. But those dreams just might become reality in a few months time.

Men Of A Certain Age


Charlie Klein

This spring in Seattle, Washington an experiment began. The scientists hypothesized that if they were to construct a team built around defense and pitching, that the wins would simply roll in the way snow slides down a mountain in an avalanche. They also hypothesized that their new emphasis on speed and getting on base would make up for the team's lack of power.

A month and a half into this procedure, a few things have become fairly obvious. One, the team cannot score runs. The Mariners are second to last in runs scored, last in homeruns and third to last in batting average. And that is with Ichiro Suzuki hitting .330. Chone Figgins' batting average does little to suggest why the Mariners thought it wise to pay him nine million a season. Milton Bradley, when in the lineup, has offered very little and Jose Lopez's continued inability to be selective at the plate has continued to cost the team runs.

Two, the principle designated hitters on this roster do not hit. One cannot afford to be punting offense from a position in which one cannot get anything else from. Mike Sweeney and Ken Griffey Jr. are too old and far past their primes. Like Ray Romano on his new show on TNT, Men Of A Certain Age, Griffey and Sweeney are better served remeniscing over beers at F.X. Mcrory's watching the Mariners on television than in the M's lineup.

I think by now everyone is familiar with 'The Nap Heard 'Round The World.' Whether or not it is actually true is one thing, but what it says about a team currently in a state of flux is that they are not together as a unit. More importantly, that grandfatherly presence of Griffey for the younger players on the roster appears to be nonexistent. If you love your grandfather, you don't go run and tell grandma that he's asleep in the recliner (which by the way Griffey has at his locker, I've seen it, and it's something he's had for most of his career).

As one of his staunchest supporters around, it must come as a shock to read me blasting him, but it is time for him to hang it up. I love the guy to death, but it is time for him to stop damaging his reputation in the one part of the baseball world where many thought that feat unimaginable.

Griffey, let us Seattle fans remember you for your courage and unbelievable talent and not for the 40+ man napping in a lazy boy. For most Mariners fans my age, watching Griffey now feels the same as how Mr. Fredrickson feels when he realizes his boyhood hero Herman Muntz is really a poaching douche bag.

I feel similarly about Mike Sweeney. There are few men in baseball who are as good a guy as Sweeney is. He wrote and signed letters for my graduating class at elementary school in Kansas. My father and I met his dad at Camden Yards for Orioles Opening Day in 1999. But it is time to face facts. The man cannot hit anymore. He cannot field anymore. So why is he on this team? It would be different if the roster had 40 spots and not 25. Then the Mariners could mask the aging legs of Sweeney and Griffey. But in a group of 25, they stick out like a boiler on a pre-pubescent nerd's face.

When Ryan Langerhans has outproduced both of your team's DH's in a few games, it is time for change. Michael Saunders has in his brief call-up demonstrated that he has the ability to play the field well and can hit Major League pitching. Langerhans has been hitting well and provides the manager a lot more options than Sweeney and Griffey do. When Milton Bradley returns to the roster M's management will be forced to make a difficult decision. The right one would be to designate Mike Sweeney for assignment, and quitely ask Griffey to think about a phased withdrawal. Like how the United States handled the War In Iraq, the Mariners must be careful in keeping Griffey and the fan base happy. Nothing will make Mariners fans feel better than to watch their team win and Griffey go out in style. If he's still on this roster by the end of June, it will be time for a new exit strategy.

I fully expect GM Jack Zduriencik to make a few moves to improve this team. While their record does not show it, the pitching the Mariners have recieved from all five of their starters has been outstanding. With Erik Bedard set to throw a simulated game today or tomorrow (weather permitting), things will only improve in that department. One has to expect Figgins and Lopez to hit better based on prior statistics, and maybe, just maybe, Milton Bradley returns and offers this team something as a DH. Most of the pieces for an AL West division winner are there, it is just going to take a few tough and smart people making the decisions necessary to unlock that potential.

OH and Russell Branyan hit two homeruns last night.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Manchester United Tour 2010: The Boys Are Coming Back To Town



Charlie Klein

Manchester United Football Club announced that it will be spending part of its summer holiday in North America culminating in a match versus the MLS All-Stars in Houston on July 28. United will open their preseason play against Celtic in Toronto, Ontario. They will also play the Philadelphia Union and the Kansas City Wizards.

As part of United's deal with Chivas Guadalajara to sign Javier Hernandez, the Red Devils will play a match in Mexico to conclude their stay in North America.

This will be United's first trip to the United States since 2004, three English Premier League titles, two Champions League final appearances, two league cups and a Club World Cup championship later. One of the most successful teams in Europe for the past five years, Manchester United will certainly draw large crowds and make the MLS teams a large amount of money.

I myself will be traveling to see them play either in Philadelphia or in Kansas City. I became a United fan when they came to Seattle in 2003. And after the exposure that the game will get during the World Cup in South Africa, it will be fantastic for America to witness some of the best players in the world in person.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Liverpool & The End of the 'Top Four'


Charlie Klein 

Almost a year ago exactly fellow scribe Justin Thrift and I debated the merits of the English Premier League. He argued that the fact that the top four positions in the league had been held by the same four teams since 2005 made the league predictable. And he was quite right predictable. That is, until this season.

The championship will be won with the least number of points since the 2002/2003 season in which Manchester United won it with 83 points. And for the first time since 2005 the Premier League will have a new edition to its top four. Tottenham Hotspur or Manchester City will play Champions League football next season. We have witnessed a renaissance within the Premier League. And it has been beautiful to watch.

Speaking of beautiful, last week's Chelsea versus Liverpool match at Anfield was one of the more disappointing matches I've seen for some time. As a foreigner, I've been led to believe by the English press that Anfield is supposed to have one of the best atmospheres in European football. Last weekend one could hear a pin drop even in the Kop End as Chelsea's supporters provided all of the noise. On that day at least, the eleven Liverpool players walked alone at Anfield.

Liverpool fans ought to be embarrassed with themselves. I have heard many LFC supporters claim that they have the best support of any team in England. That clearly is not the case. Just like their team, they have absolutely no class or pride. Having finally lost their shot at fourth this season, both fans and team alike gave  up on the remainder of the 2009/2010 season.

I do not think I saw a single Liverpool player run hard for that entire match. They were perfectly happy to sit in their own end and hope by some sort of luck (the likes of which they had not enjoyed at all this season) that Chelsea might fail to score. And this did not happen. Steven Gerrard gave Didier Drogba the pass of the season, and the big Ivorian could do nothing but put Chelsea up for good.

Liverpool have a lot of work to do if they have any ambitions of playing Champions League football in the next few years. Everyone (myself included) believed that it would be Arsenal that would suffer the greatest from Manchester City's new ownership, but it has been Rafa Benitez and not Arsene Wenger who has suffered a tumble out of the Champions League. While his French giggle annoys me to no end, Wenger deserves a bit of credit for leading a group of young players to third place in the league.

One of the funniest events of last summer's transfer window was the utter jubilation on the part of Liverpool fans after their club handed Rafa Benitez an undeserved three year extension. I was not the only one to find Liverpool's second place finish and 86 points last season a bit over embellished. They had been out of the title race last season for some time and gained ground on United once United had established a firm grip on the trophy.

With the renewed faith in Liverpool's chances of winning their first ever Premier League trophy, Benitez did very little to improve the squad. Alberto Aquilani, his 20 million euro signing, has played a minimal role in this year's campaign. For Liverpool to have any chance at Champions League qualification next season, Benitez or whoever is in charge has to invest heavily in the club.

Last season was an aberration. This team has gone on with only two world class players (Torres and Gerrard), who both could depart this summer or next if the situation at the club does not improve. The amount of money that Benitez has squandered on players who were not worth it is starting to come back to haunt the club. Benitez spent 34 million pounds on two players who have combined for 42 appearances in all competitions. Some return on an investment if you asked me.

With the richest family in the world backing Manchester City and the newfound success of Tottenham Hotspur, I would not bet on Liverpool making it back into the top four for the next few seasons. But hey, at least they'll never walk alone right?

Liverpool's loss will be Tottenham or City's benefit. And that will make for one hell of a match tomorrow. If pressed to pick one team over the other, I would have to go with Manchester City. As much as it pains me to say it, I think they have enough attacking talent to cover for the loss of Shay Given in net. If the Aston Villa game is anything to go off of, City have more than the required talent to beat Tottenham tomorrow. I will, however, be sitting at my computer tomorrow hoping that Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has one more rabbit to pull out of that magic hat of his. If that man could lead Portsmouth to an FA Cup trophy, he can do anything.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

2010 NBA Playoffs: First Cut Is The Deepest



Jossif Ezekilov


One of the more exciting series of an NBA first round that has been fun to watch has been between the Lakers and the Thunder. That series ended last night with a tip-in by Lakers center Pau Gasol with half a second left in the game. It was a heartbreaking loss for a team that played the defending champions so well. The Lakers move to the second round to face the Utah Jazz, and some questions linger about their ability to get back to the Finals this year.


Going into the playoffs, I don’t think many of the playoffs anyone believed the Thunder would pull a Warriors a-la 2007 but I don’t think the Thunder were underestimated either. After all, they won 50 games as a Western Conference team, they were the most improved team this year, and they boasted the Coach of the Year and the league’s highest scorer. I thought the Thunder could very well take it to a Game 7, but alas Pau Gasol had other plans.


The Thunder put in a strong performance for a team that boasted only one player (Nenad Krstic) in their main rotation with any significant playoff experience. Russell Westbrook played quite well. Kevin Durantlooked nervous and erratic at times, but no one can debate that he put in his all at both ends. Ron Artest just did the job he was hired to do, and KD just couldn’t spread the ball when he got trapped, one of the only knocks on his game.


The Thunder put in a good effort, and the Lakers showed they were the better team, but they also showed that they are not a sure-fire bet to waltz into the Finals. This is a team that looks bruised up and already looking weary. They are going into a series against the Utah Jazz, who know how to bruise and tire down a team in the playoffs. I don’t know if LA fans are worried, but they should be.
It starts and ends with Kobe Bryant for the Lakers and the guy is injured. Currently playing with a bruised knee elbow, a finger that never healed, and a full regular season of fatigue, Kobe’s game has been off this series, as he is shooting just above 40% FG. He is the go-to guy for Los Angeles and he needs to produce more for them. He got away with some sub-par performances because the Lakers front court was just too much for OKC to handle. That’s not going to be the case in Utah because the Jazz, despite their own injuries, have more experienced and better scoring big men in Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap. Kobe will need to be Kobe from here on out for the Lakers to advance, and that’s will be very tough down the stretch with all his injuries.


There are several other players that look like they’re playing hurt.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

The Race For The Triple Crown: Homeboykris


Charlie Klein

I am not a big horse racing type of chap. I find myself more interested in the names of the horses than what they actually do on the track. It is not because I am a big animal rights person, I just do not really care. But since I now have a blog and people sometimes read it, I feel obligated to nominate a horse that this blog will root for, pray for and follow until the Belmont Stakes are done.

The 4-1-1 On Sports will hitch its collective wagon to the one, the only, Homeboykris. Currently at 50 to 1, Homeboykris is the underdog horse we can all get behind, mainly because his name is just that cool. Homeboykris goes hard for all of the people out there in the struggle. We all have homeboys, we are all someone else's homeboy, so we may as well cheer on our fellow home slice in the Run for the Roses.

Homeboykris, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you (woo woo woo).

The Death Of The Washington Capitals


Charlie Klein

As a resident of Washington, DC for the past year, I hopped on the Capitals bandwagon. Truth be told, they were the first professional hockey team I ever rooted for when I moved to Annapolis in 1997. And the Capitals were good then. They had Peter Bondra, an electric scorer, Adam Oates, a plucky scoring captain, a rushing defenseman, Sergei Gonchar, and Joe Juneau. Not to mention Olaf Kolzig, who became a cult figure in Washington for his fantastic saves. And in spite of having set up a strong roster which made numerous playoff appearances, the Caps could never win a Stanley Cup.

Let's fastforward to today. Capitals General Manager George McPhee has established a similar group of players. Alexander Ovechkin is in the Peter Bondra mold (except much more talented), Niklas Backstrom fits the Adam Oates type (except again, more talented) Mike Green is the new Gonchar, Alex Semin is the new  Juneau, and Semyon Varlamov is the new Kolzig. And again, the Stanley Cup seems to just elude them.

The Capitals have followed the exact same model to rebuild this team and find themselves in the same position they were in the late '90s: in need of a clutch goaltender and a big defenseman. The series against Montreal proved that the Capitals need a full-time dependable goaltender with playoff experience. Varlamov is too young to be expected to dazzle on a continued basis in the playoffs. Jose Theodore is way too inconsistent and lacks the grace under pressure necessary to succeed in winning time.

Looking at the free agent goaltenders there do not appear to be many great options available to McPhee. Theodore is a unrestricted free agent and he ought not return to the Verizon Center if there is any shred of intelligence in the Capitals organization. Yes, he won a lot of games during the season, when the free-scoring Capitals led the league in goals per game, but when it mattered most in Game 2 he allowed two goals on two shots.

The Capitals first round opponent, the Montreal Canadiens, have two decent options in net that are both free agents in one form or another this offseason. Carey Price is an unrestericted free agent and Jaroslav Halak (who has been garnering some Conn Smythe talk with his performances) is a restricted free agent. The biggest mistake the Canadiens have made in the past decade has been not pairing Price with a veteran goaltender to show him the ropes and help him mature. Price still plays like a rookie and is prone to fits of immaturity (the slash on Backstrom at the end of Game 4) but if paired with the right backup he could flourish. The Capitals should make a strong push for Halak, but ultimately I think that the Canadiens will do their best to match any offer.

The two free agent goaltenders worthy of a starting spot in the NHL are Evgeni Nabokov and Dan Ellis. Nabokov minds the net of the number one seed in the Western Conference and, like Theodore, benefited from a strong offense. He is, unlike Theodore, capable of more consistently strong play. The main question with Nabokov is whether or not he has the necessary bottle to succeed in the NHL Playoffs. If the Sharks get past the Red Wings and into the Conference Finals, he may have done enough to cement himself as one of the top free agents this offseason. The Sharks are quite high on their young backup Thomas Greiss, 24, and might opt to use the six million currently invested in Nabokov in another area.

Nabokov is a good fit for the Capitals. There are quite a few Russian players already on the roster (Ovechkin, Semin etc.) and he could mentor the next possibly great Russian goaltender (Semyon Varlamov). Whats more, he is already in his prime and has the necessary playoff experience for the Capitals to go far in the Playoffs.

Dan Ellis should be the Caps plan b if they lose out on Nabokov. Currently the Nashville Predators backup, Ellis has been a spectator for much of the season as Pekka Rinne shined in net for the Preds. And after the Predators signed Rinne to a two year, $6.8 million extension, I fully expect Ellis to resign somewhere else. In the 2007/2008 season, Ellis had a GAA of 2.34 in 44 games played. He has never had the opportunity to be the number one guy, as the Predators went with a two-goalie system for most of the past few seasons. He has the necessary talent to be a number one goaltender, he just needs his opportunity.

The market for NHL defensemen this offseason is much better than the one for goaltenders. Marquee names like Niklas Lidstrom, Scott Niedermayer, Sergei Gonchar and Anton Volchenkov are all out of deals at the end of this season. I fully expect Lidstrom to re-sign with the Red Wings, the idea of him playing in any other uniform just does not seem right. And Niedermayer will probably stay in Anaheim unless some team blows him out of the water. I do not think that Niedermayer is a great fit for the Capitals at what I would expect him to cost. They already have enough rushing defensemen (particularly Mike Green and John Carlson) that Niedermayer's presence would perhaps become too much of a good thing. If he came in and was just a cheap mentor for the young defensemen currently with the Capitals it would be one thing, but if he costs anywhere near what he is making this year ($6 million) it will not happen.

The idea of Sergei Gonchar possibly returning to Washington almost sounds comical. He is constantly roasted by the Verizon Center crowd who still have not forgiven him for leaving the Capitals. What's more, he is not the big physical presence needed on the blue line. I expect the Capitals to make a strong push for the Ottawa Senators D-man Anton Volchenkov. Looking at Volchenkov's stats will not send you into fits of ecstasy, but his defensive play and work ethic ought to make him pretty popular amongst teams looking to strengthen their defensive corps. Volchenkov is gritty, blocks shots, and kills penalties. And that is exactly the kind of defensman the Capitals need. Volchenkov would be the peanut butter to Mike Green's jelly.

The Capitals could also add in conjunction with Volchenkov a player like Daniel Hamhuis of Nashville, Henrik Tallinder of the Buffalo Sabres or Jordan Leopold of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Either way, defense is an absolute necessity for them this offseason.

George McPhee & Co. need to get down to business this offseason. Moreover, as much as dazzling offense may fill the seats and help raise ticket prices at Verizon, it will not be enough to etch Alexander Ovechkin's name onto the Stanley Cup. This is a young team so the ticking time bomb of old age is not exactly about to explode, but the Capitals window of opportunity gets narrower and narrower every year they neglect their need to add more defense to the roster. Until they do, it will be more first and second round exits.