Will the Washington Redskins win a Super Bowl with Robert Griffin III?

• As long as Daniel Snyder is the owner of the Washington Redskins, I doubt that the Redskins will win the Super Bowl with Robert Griffin III.
• Even though they gave up a lot to get him, I agree with the Washington Redskins trading up to draft Robert Griffin III.
• However, after taking Robert Griffin III with the 2nd pick in the NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins drafted a quarterback, Kirk Cousins, in the 4th round.
• Further, many thought that Kirk Cousins was going to be a second round draft pick.
• The Washington Redskins once drafted Heath Schuler with the 3rd overall pick.
• In the same draft, the Washington Redskins also drafted Gus Ferotte in the 7th round.
• Eventually, Heath Schuler was deemed a bust and Gus Ferotte became the starting quarterback for the Washington Redskins.
• Now, if Robert Griffin III struggles, there will be people who immediately will call for the Redskins to play Kirk Cousins.
• Those people can point to the Heath Shuler/Gus Ferotte situation to back up why Kirk Cousins should play over Robert Griffin III.
• In other words, even though the Washington Redskins have made a tremendous investment in Robert Griffin III, the Redskins may have already undermined that investment by drafting a quarterback in the 4th Round.
• This is just an example of how the Washington Redskins have been managed under Daniel Snyder.
• Of course, just because it seems unlikely that Robert Griffin III will win a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins if Daniel Snyder is the owner, does not mean that Robert Griffin III cannot win a Super Bowl.
• Jim Plunkett won the Heisman Trophy and was the top overall pick for the New England Patriots.
• Jim Plunkett won two Super Bowls as the starting quarterback for the Raiders.

Is the 7 game suspension for Metta World Peace fair?

• Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, was suspended for 7 games due to his elbow of James Harden.
• James Harden received a concussion from the elbow and is listed as day-to-day.
• Metta World Peace has had a history of violent acts in the NBA.
• Most famously, Metta World Peace, when he was Ron Artest, had a fight in the stands with a fan.
• While I do not think he planned it, Metta World Peace’s elbow to James Harden’s head was clearly intentional.
• Metta World Peace’s elbow to James Harden’s head could have been career ending.
• I do not think that Metta World Peace is able to control his emotions.
• If the Lakers were to play the Oklahoma City Thunder, if James Harden is not playing, this would be a huge disadvantage for the Thunder.
• Even if the Lakers and Thunder don’t play, if the Thunder are eliminated because James Harden is not playing, that could be a huge advantage for the Lakers.
• Metta World Peace should have been suspended for the rest of the NBA playoffs this season.
• Also, Metta World Peace should be suspended for all regular season games next year against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• Even if Metta World Peace is not able to control himself and the suggested suspension does not act as a deterrent to Metta World Peace, surely it would be a deterrent to others.

Should Brian Dawkins make the Hall of Fame?

• Brian Dawkins should absolutely make the Hall of Fame.
• Brian Dawkins was everything a football player should be.
• He was tough.  Brian Dawkins was a hard-hitting safety who could both stop the run and deliver intimidating hits to receivers across the middle.
• Brian Dawkins could cover.  Brian Dawkins could both stop receivers and make interceptions.
• Brian Dawkins was the Philadelphia Eagles’ emotional leader and led them to 4 NFC title games and 1 Super Bowl.
• Brian Dawkins was both a leader on and off the football field.
• For some reason, there have not been that many safeties inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
• However, if Brian Dawkins does not make the Hall of Fame, there should not be a Hall of Fame.

 

Should Tony Parker from the San Antonio Spurs win the NBA MVP this season?

• As of the time of this writing, the San Antonio Spurs have the second best record in the NBA.
• The Chicago Bulls have the best record in the NBA.  However, the Chicago Bulls’ MVP candidate, Derrick Rose, has missed a bunch of games this season.
• The Bulls have managed to win a lot of games while Derrick Rose has been injured.  Meanwhile, Tony Parker has carried the San Antonio Spurs while Manu Ginobili has been out.  Therefore, Tony Parker is a better MVP candidate than Derrick Rose.
• The Miami Heat have two top 10 talents in the NBA in LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, not to mention that Chris Bosh is an All-Star talent.  Yet, the San Antonio Spurs have a better record than the Miami Heat.  Therefore, Tony Parker is a better MVP candidate than both LeBron James and Dwayne Wade.
• The Orlando Magic, led by their leader Dwight Howard, are unstable.  The San Antonio Spurs have a better record than the Orlando Magic led by their model of stability, Tony Parker.  Therefore, Tony Parker is a better MVP candidate than Dwight Howard.
• The Oklahoma City Thunder are right behind the San Antonio Spurs.  The Oklahoma City Thunder have two top ten NBA talents in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.  Up until recently, Kevin Durant was probably the leading candidate to be the NBA MVP.  However, since the San Antonio Spurs have a better record and Tony Parker does not have the luxury of playing with a top ten talent, Tony Parker is a better NBA MVP candidate than Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook.
• Kobe Bryant is playing with two All-Star seven footers with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bryant.  Tony Parker is playing with an effective, but past his prime Tim Duncan, yet the San Antonio Spurs have a better record than the Los Angeles Lakers.  Therefore, Tony Parker is a better candidate than Kobe Bryant for NBA MVP.
• Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks are having a down year and therefore Tony Parker is a better MVP candidate.
• Steve Nash, Kevin Love, Chris Paul, and Rajon Rando are having great years.  However, their teams’ records cannot compare to the San Antonio Spurs and therefore Tony Parker is a better NBA MVP candidate.
• I think Kevin Durant is going to win the NBA MVP because he is going to have the best combination of statistics and team winning.
• And while Kevin Durant is a worthy NBA MVP candidate, if the San Antonio Spurs finish with a record that is better, or even just slightly worse than the Oklahoma City Thunder, who would be a more valuable player in the NBA than Tony Parker this year.

Are the Philadelphia Phillies in danger of mssing the playoffs?

• It has been fashionable for many of the national commentators to predict that the Philadelphia Phillies will not make the playoffs this year.
• The Philadelphia Phillies lost 2 out of 3 games in the opening weekend against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• Going into the season, many people were worried that the Philadelphia Phillies would not have enough offense.
• Last year, the Philadelphia Phillies offense was inconsistent.
• For two years in a row, the Philadelphia Phillies struggled offensively in the playoffs which is why they have not been able to advance to the World Series.
• Now, the Philadelphia Phillies have lost Chase Utley and Ryan Howard for at least a significant part of the first half of the season.
• And besides that, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard’s production has steadily declined every year.
• In the first two games of the season for the Phillies, Philadelphia only scored one run in each game.
• Then, in the 3rd game, the Philadelphia Phillies managed to have an offensive “explosion” and scored 4 runs.
• The Phillies blew the second and third games and are now 1-2.
• Still, the Philadelphia Phillies have the best starting pitching in baseball.
• The starting pitching lived up to its billing in the first 3 games for the Phillies.
• Starting pitching will carry the Philadelphia Phillies a long way over a 162 game season.
• Also, the Philadelphia Phillies offense should not be as awful as it looked the first 3 games.
• The Philadelphia Phillies still have some solid offensive players:  Rollins, Victorino, Pence, Polanco, and Ruiz.
• The Philadelphia Phillies have decent platoon players in the likes of John Mayberry and Juan Pierre.
• The only really weak spot in the Philadelphia Phillies offense is their rookie second baseman, Freddy Galvis.
• Assuming that Ryan Howard and Chase Utley comeback by the all-star break, the Philadelphia Phillies offense should only get better as the season wears on.
• This year, there are 5 teams that make the playoffs.
• While anything can happen, it is hard to imagine the Philadelphia Phillies cannot get at least 1 of the 2 wild card spots with the Phillies’ starting pitching.
• And may be this year, instead of being the best team in baseball throughout the regular season, if the Phillies can improve towards the end of the season, then may be the Phillies will have the momentum to win the World Series.

What should Lou Williams say to Andre Igoudala?

• Philadelphia 76er Andre Igoudala was recently quoted in Sports Illustrated commenting about how he does not understand how his teammate, Lou Williams, with all of his offensive talent, does not play better defense.
• Who is Andre Igoudala to call out Lou Williams publicly?
• Andre Igoudala is one of the least clutch players in the NBA.
• According to the website, 82games, Andre Igoudala is the 14th least clutch player in the NBA.
• Ironically, according to 82games, Lou Williams is the 14th most clutch player in the NBA.
• Andre Igoudala only shoots 23.5% during clutch time.
• Andre Igoudala only shoots 35% from the foul line during clutch time.
• Even Dwight Howard, who teams foul on purpose near the end of the game because he is such a poor free throw shooter, shoots 44% from the foul line during clutch time.
• Lou Williams should publicly ask Andre Igoudala how he does not understand how an NBA All-Star small forward/shooting guard can be such as poor shooter and free throw shooter during clutch time.

When will golf fans stop caring about Tiger Woods?

• Admittedly, I am not a golf fan.
• However, I do not understand the extent of interest there is still in Tiger Woods.
• I understand that Tiger Woods was once the best player in golf.
• I understand that some consider Tiger Woods the greatest golfer of all-time.
• However, Tiger Woods has not been a great golfer in around 3 years.
• In addition, even when Tiger Woods was a great golfer, I always thought he had a very boring public personality.
• Now, we know that Tiger Woods is not the greatest person in the world.
• In addition to being an adulterer, Tiger Woods is arrogant towards the press and acts like a jerk on the golf course.
• Now that Tiger Woods was a non-factor at the Masters, I wonder have we reached the point where the press and golf fans will stop caring about Tiger Woods?
• I still do not think we have reached the point where people are not caring about Tiger Woods.  So what will it take for people to stop caring about Tiger Woods?
• I know I’m tired of hearing about Tiger Woods.

Should the New York Knicks hire John Calipari as their head coach for next season?

• There has been some discussion that the New York Knicks might consider hiring John Calipari as their head coach for next season.
• The theory is that James Dolan, CEO of the New York Knicks, would like to make a splash with the hiring of the next coach and John Calipari is a hot name coming off a college national championship.
• Based on James Dolan’s history, I would not put it out of the question that he would hire John Calipari as the New York Knick’s next head coach.
• There also has been some discussion that John Calipari would want to leave Kentucky to go to the NBA.
• The theory is that John Calipari would want to leave the college game before the NCAA violations catch-up with him like Pete Caroll did when he left USC for the Seattle Seahawks.
• Both UMASS and Memphis had NCAA violations from the time that John Calipari coached there.  Somehow, John Calipari was able to escape from personally being sanctioned and he was able to leave those institutions for another position so he did not have to deal with the penalties that those institutions had.
• Also, if John Calipari left Kentucky for the New York Knicks, John Calipari would sign a lucrative guaranteed contract.
• Then, after a couple of years, if the New York Knicks would fire him, John Calipari would still collect his big salary and could go back to the college game if he wanted too.
• So I understand why John Calipari would want to leave Kentucky for the New York Knicks and I understand that James Dolan would like to make a splash by hiring John Calipari.
• However, John Calipari would be a terrible choice for the New York Knicks as head coach.
• John Calipari was the head coach of the New Jersey Nets.  John Calipari was not successful.
• To have as much success as John Calipari has had on the college level, I am sure John Calipari is a good college coach.
• However, most analysts think the reason why John Calipari is so successful as a college coach is not because he is a great coach.
• Most analysts think that John Calipari is such a successful college coach because he is a great recruiter.
• John Calipari’s recruiting ability would not be a factor as the coach of the New York Knicks.
• John Calipari would not have a lot of credibility with the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudamire when trying to get them to buy into his system.
• The New York Knicks need a coach who is a proven NBA winner.
• Phil Jackson would be a great choice to be the next New York Knicks’ coach.  The question is would Phil Jackson want to leave retirement.
• Jeff Van Gundy would also be a great choice to be the head coach of the New York Knicks.  Still, does Jeff Van Gundy want to leave the comforts of the broadcasting booth?
• That’s why if Jackson and Van Gundy are not interested, I think Nate McMillan would be a great choice to be head coach of the New York Knicks.
• Although Nate McMillan has not won an NBA Championship, he has been a successful NBA head coach.
• Nate McMillan is very well-respected by NBA players.
• Of course, if he did not already have the history that he has with the New York Knicks and James Dolan, another great choice would be Larry Brown.

Did the Cincinnati Reds make a smart choice by signing Joey Votto to a ten year contract?

• The Cincinnati Reds signed Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto to a 10 year, $225 million dollar contract.
• Joey Votto is 28 years old at the time he is signing the contract with the Cincinnati Reds.
• The Cincinnati Reds are a mid-market franchise.  The Joey Votto deal is going to average $22.5 million per year.
• The odds that the Cincinnati Reds are going to feel good about the Joey Votto 10 year contract are very small at the end of this contract.
• Most likely, Joey Votto will suffer injuries during this 10 year stretch with the Cincinnati Reds.
• Most likely, Joey Votto’s skills will diminish at some point during this 10 year contract.
• Major League Baseball is full of long-term guaranteed contracts.  They almost never work out.
• The Cincinnati Reds should know that this is high risk investment more than anyone.
• The Cincinnati Reds signed Ken Griffey Jr. in 2000.
• Ken Griffey Jr. was in the discussion as possibly finishing his career as the greatest baseball player ever.
• Ken Griffey Jr. did not have any major injury issues prior to signing the 10 year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.
• After signing the contract, Ken Griffey Jr. was basically injured and had diminished skills throughout the 10 year contact.
• Partially because of the burden of Ken Griffey Jr’s contract, the Cincinnati Reds were not successful during Griffey’s contract.
• Basically, the only long-term contract that has really worked out was Derek Jeter’s 10 year contract with the New York Yankees.
• When the New York Yankees sign someone to a long-term contract, like Alex Rodriguez, and the contract does not work as planned, the Yankees have the finances to just move on and spend money.
• The Cincinnati Reds do not have the luxury of the Joey Votto contract not working out.  If Joey Votto gets hurt or has diminished skills, the Cincinnati Reds are going to have trouble competing.
• Most likely, just like the Ken Griffey Jr. contract, the Cincinnati Reds at some point are going to regret the Joey Votto contract.

 

 

How does Anthony Davis project in the NBA?

• Anthony Davis and the Kentucky Wildcats just won the NCAA Championship.
• As a freshman, Anthony Davis has won the Wooden Award and AP Player of the Year as a college freshman.
• Anthony Davis has won the defensive player of the year in college basketball.
• Anthony Davis has won the freshman player of the year in college basketball.
• Anthony Davis has won the Final Four Most Valuable Player award.
• Anthony Davis is going to be the first player selected in the NBA draft.
• In other words, how good is Anthony Davis going to be in the NBA.
• College and NBA analysts have compared Anthony Davis to some of the NBA’s all-time great.
• I have heard Anthony Davis compared to Bill Russell, Tim Duncan, Patrick Ewing, and many others.
• First, I do not see Anthony Davis being one of the all-time great centers in the NBA.
• Anthony Davis does not have the frame to be powerful enough to dominate the likes of Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Andrew Bynum, and others.
• Also, while I certainly see Anthony Davis being among the best shot blockers and rebounders in the NBA, I do not see him being a dominate defensive player.  Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzki are the same size as Anthony Davis.  I do not see Anthony Davis being able to dominate players like that on the defensive end.
• The NBA also has players who are also incredibly athletic and skillful.  I do not see Anthony Davis being able to dominate on the defensive end against guys like LeBron James, Dwayne Wayne, Russell Westbrook, and Derrick Rose.
• Patrick Ewing was as dominate defensive player that I saw in college basketball, however, in the NBA, Patrick Ewing was an effective defensive player, but not a dominant defensive player.  Patrick Ewing made the Hall of Fame because he also developed into a great offensive player in the NBA.
• So in order to be a great NBA player, Anthony Davis is going to need to be a great offensive players as well as a great defensive player.
• At this point in time, Anthony Davis does not have a go to move.
• As an offensive player, Anthony Davis looks like he is going to be an effective support NBA player.  Anthony Davis will score on alley oops, offensive rebounds, off the fast break, and stand still jump shots.
• In order for Anthony Davis to be an all-time great NBA player, Anthony Davis is going to have to develop a post-up game and/or a superior stretch four.
• Right now, I see Anthony Davis being someone like Marcus Camby and Serge Ibaka.  Marcus Camby has had a long, successful career in the NBA.  Marcus Camby has helped the New York Knicks get to an NBA Finals.  Serge Ibaka is a good complimentary player for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  With Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, Serge Ibaka can play an important role in bringing an NBA Championship to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• One thing that is interesting about Anthony Davis is that he had a tremendous growth spurt.  Prior to his growth spurt, Anthony Davis was a guard.
• So maybe Anthony Davis can grow into a player that I have not heard anyone else mention, Kevin Garnett.
• Kevin Garnett is one of the great defensive players in the NBA.  His defensive will was one of the main reasons that the Boston Celtics won an NBA title.
• Kevin Garnett has an all-around offensive game.  Kevin Garnett is effective both inside and outside although he tends to spend more time on the outside.
• I think being Kevin Garnett like is Anthony Davis’ upside.   Kevin Garnett is  a pretty good upside.
• On the downside, I think Serge Ibaka is the worst case scenario for Anthony Davis.  An effective complimentary player, but not special.
• And most likely, I think Anthony Davis will develop into Marcus Camby.  If Marcus Camby did not have injuries earlier in his career, he might have become an all-star player although I don’t think he would have been a franchise player.