August 5th, 2009
Most football fans get ecstatic when training camp starts because that means that football is here. All of the NFL teams can be excited as hope usually springs eternal in July and August. All fans can believe that this year will be their team’s year. While everyone is optimistic about this season, they had better keep in mind that this could be the last time the NFL could be in its current form as the players’ contract is up in March and if there’s no agreement by then, the NFL could forever change for the worst.
There are so many issues on the table between the players and the owners that the very league as we know it could disappear overnight. The biggest issue at hand will be the salary cap and how the players hate it and the owners love it. Well, some owners, like Jerry Jones (Cowboys) and Daniel Synder (Redskins) do not love it, but they are still in the minority. If there is not an agreement by this spring, the 2010 season could very well not have a salary cap, which could eventually kill small market teams like Green Bay, Minnesota, or Pittsburgh.
The most pressing issue during the negotiations very well be involved the retired NFL players and their pension fund. The NFL players union have been a complete embarrassment concerning their former players and not only does the union have resistance from the owners in this issue, but the public at large thinks it is a joke that they do not watch for the former players in the NFL. So many retired players are in such distressing health, it is a flat-out travesty that they have so little money and no insurance to take care of injuries that received playing in the NFL. How former NFL player’s union president, Gene Upshaw, a former player, did not ever address this issue is one of the many mysteries and the current president, DeMaurice Smith, should rectify such an obvious oversight of the union.
Finally, the number of games will definitely be another negotiating point. Of course, the owners are trying to get some more money, but how will the players be compensated for the extra games? Going [...] Continue Reading…
on May 31st, 2009
The NBA survives and thrives in spite of David Stern; some people believe that Stern is the ultimate puppet master pulling the strings and molding the season to his liking. Stern was probably all too happy to have King James anointed this season as the Cavaliers had the best record in the league, Mike Brown was voted Coach of the Year and LeBron won MVP. We were headed to a story book finish and some would say Stern was behind the scenes directing a finale that would have LeBron winning the title over that bad, bad man named Kobe Bryant. It just wasn’t meant to be.
The Lakers will be playing for the title starting Thursday and LeBron & company are free to make those reservations to Cancun or wherever their preferred vacation spot may be. What makes this whole turn of events sweeter (to me at least) is the fact that the Cavaliers went into the Western Conference Finals undefeated in the playoffs and the Lakers beat the Nuggets who many believed were playing the best basketball in the playoffs.
Losing With Grace
When Detroit beat the Lakers for the championship I heard all kinds of people talking about Kobe on the bench crying because he was being denied his fourth ring. I mean I really got the business and when you think about it Kobe was showing what sports should be about. He still drove home in style to his mansion and his bank about was still ultra-fat, but that wasn’t enough. He was hurt because of the game. Isn’t that some unscripted emotion that we want or at least respect since it shows that a player was in it for more than the money.
Fast forward to tonight and how “King” James went out. After the Cavaliers lost – by 13 which doesn’t really express how bad the Cavaliers lost – James bolted. He did two things that showed a lack of class and sportsmanship: he didn’t shake the winning team’s hands and he didn’t meet with the media. He showered, put on some headphones and went to the team bus.
This is the player who is supposed to be the new face of the NBA, partly because so many people do not care for the best player in the league: Kobe. Is this how the NBA’s premiere star and MVP acts after being eliminated? This is the type stuff that [...] Continue Reading…
on May 27th, 2009
After the Lakers’ game 5 win, LA is one game away from a return trip to the NBA finals. Meanwhile, on the other coast, a last-second shot from LeBron James is the only thing standing between game 5 versus Orlando and a summer vacation to Cancun! Don’t you just hate it all? That was sarcasm folks.
CNNSI (online) recently featured an article asking Kobe to calm down, criticizing his facial expressions and scowls as if the writer knew who they were/are directed at. Kobe has done everything in his power to make himself an easy target, but how blatant can the media bias be? By now hasn’t Kobe shown that he is willing to do what it takes to win a championship even if that means scoring less?
Think back to the beginning of last season and try to remember if you thought the Lakers had a chance in the world to go to the finals against the Boston Celtics. If you are honest with yourself, you didn’t think it possible. But somewhere along the way, the team started to mesh and they made it back to the finals sooner than most people thought. I’m not going to lie, fleecing the Memphis Grizzlies to get Gasol didn’t hurt, but Kobe still had to adjust to a more team-oriented game.
But the man gets no credit.
LeBron isn’t supposed to be down 3-1 in the Western Conference Finals. No, surely not the annointed one, not “King James!” Say it isn’t so! Before the thought of youth as an excuse even creeps into your mind, just stop it. LeBron’s youth wasn’t an excuse for him winning the MVP, it isn’t an excuse for all the accolades as the ultimate team player to be thrown his way and it shouldn’t be an excuse for what has occured in this series.
Stan Van Gundy, the Orlando Magic head coach, has devised a game plan where James is allowed to score and score he has done. He is averaging 43.75 points per game against the Magic and only has one win to show for it. Hmm, when a certain player from LA was scoring a lot and winning a little he was bombarded with comments about not getting his teammates involved. Isn’t it ironic that someone would still criticize Kobe for the same/similar, but he isn’t scoring as much as LeBron (32.7 points per game)? Shouldn’t this critism be [...] Continue Reading…
on April 23rd, 2009
Let’s take a walk down memory lane today. By a show of hands, how many of you know a crack head or at least someone who exhibits “crackish” behavior from time to time? Yeah, me too. Well, take a look at what happens when a “crackish” person goes on a game show.
The work “wow” comes to mind doesn’t it. Raymond is “special” to say the least. For me, the highlight of the video happens about 2/3rds of the way through. They camera angle is from the side. He leans on the rail and kicks both feet up behind him. Hilarious!
Raymond, wherever you are, you are definately off the hook!
on April 21st, 2009
“Men fight wars over lust, but they make homes and families for love.”
Love and lust seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly – at least they should. Lust is all about the hormones. Without thinking, we want something and in this case it is someone of the opposite sex. There really isn’t anything wrong with that; it is natural after all. On the other hand, love is something that grabs ahold of you and can take you to another level. Love is that thing that makes your co-worker seemingly float into work and constantly have a smile on his/her face. Love is something that is hard to explain, but makes you feel so good inside. Love will make you stop thinking individually and begin to think, act and live life as a unit.
So what do men want more? What do men want first? What do men want forever?
What I Think
I feel sorry for any man or woman who hasn’t experienced both love and lust. I also feel sorry for anyone who is in a relationship and doesn’t still feel some level of both. I don’t believe in the “Love conquers all” evangelists out there. Sure, love will remain, but lust will make you do something you shouldn’t do if you aren’t careful. Lust will make you send someone home and love will have you all snuggled up all night long…if you know what I mean! If someone is in a relationship or a relationship is a possibility, one without the other is a recipe for disaster.
There are several pro athletes, actors and movies stars who have been the victim of a lustful life and love was only mentioned to seal the deal. I feel sorry for them while at the same time wondering what they are thinking. I’m sorry, but if an ugly dude is with a gorgeous woman AND that guy just so happens to have $$$$ in the bank, you can’t tell me they all have nice personalities or are so sweet. No, that is called gold-digging and the main bait is a body most men would lust after.
I’m not talking out the side of my head, I experience this every day. And I’m in a relationship/marriage so you better believe the wifey is clearly straddling the fence between love and lust. I love her to death, but I also lust after her too. I [...] Continue Reading…
on April 19th, 2009
Kobe Bryant Still Has A Stigma Attached
“But Kobe has did something that showed his true character; he’s a rat fink bastard. Apparently, while being interrogated by the cops, Kobe tells them that he knows that Shaquille has paid over a million dollars to keep women quiet. WTF?? Why did he say this? Does it have anything to do with his case??? No.”
If this did indeed happen, it was several years ago. To some it doesn’t matter how long ago this occured, Kobe broke the unwritten code and told on someone else when the spotlight was on him. Well, it wasn’t really that he told; since this was about cheating on a woman that is the biggest foul here.
The selfish label has all but dissapeared concerning Kobe on the court, but because he told on Shaq, he has lost some fans forever. One of my co-workers doesn’t want the Lakers to win due to his hatred for Kobe after “ratting” on the big fella. Most people who feel this way acknowledge Bryant’s superior skills on the court but simply can’t go along with someone after they’ve done this.
I see the point.
This Is What I Think
I remember the 1979 NCAA basketball championship for one reason: one player seemed to have so much joy on the court. It was as if everyone else was laboring while he was truly playing the game – with a smile on his face. From that point on, I have been riding with the Lakers through thick and thin.
Yes, there has seemingly been more thick than thin, but I was still a Laker fan during those years when Sedale Threat and Vlade were our “stars.” Basically, I’m a true fan. I like the 49ers too, but I’m going through a painful decade or so with them.
I said all of that to say this: I’m down with Kobe as long as he delivers on the court. If he were to leave the Lakers, he would be public enemy number one to me. As long as he is wearing the purple and gold I don’t worry about the stuff off the court.
At the end of the day (I hate that saying), we watch him play basketball. Too much pressure is put on athletes to be role models. Why? Just because someone can put a basketball into a hoop better than anyone else in the world doesn’t make them solid [...] Continue Reading…
on April 19th, 2009
This is really simple. Men and women don’t necessarily think alike – that is putting it mildly right? Besides that, we (us men) don’t always have the opportunity to voice our opinion. 
You know what I’m saying right?
This is an outlet to voice our (us men) opinion about various topics and even listen to what the women have to say. But women, we will be heard, loud and clear!
This is…What Men Really Think About…
