A rising tide...

A while back I mentioned about the importance of having a strong culture of community, which the Golden State Warriors have displayed in the midst of two-time MVP Stephen Curry's recent injury. Many pundits on television declared that they did not need him to return prematurely in their current second round series against the Portland Trailblazers, and for the most part they may be right. However, for anyone who noticed last night at the Moda Center, the return of the league's most explosive player (notice I didn't say valuable, more on that later) came back at the most opportune time, and when they needed him most.

No, not because they were down quickly to the Blazers 16-2, it was more than that. There was a sense that this Warriors team, which has had to deal with the season long burden of not only trying to defend their championship, but to win the NBA-record 73 wins, was wearing them down both physically and mentally. Even if Curry didn't score a single point (more on that later too) the fact that they saw their leader come back Willis Reed-style (Google please) was the lift they desperately needed. What occurred afterwards was one of the greatest offensive displays we've seen in NBA playoff history as Curry dropped 17 points in overtime as they won to take a 3-1 series lead. It was way more than just a sixth man performance the likes of Detlef Schrempf (Google please) has never seen, it was about how just his presence alone gave his team the boost they had been searching for. Golden State regained their championship swagger, and Curry's jaw-dropping performance simply provided evidence of such. Even Portland's owner Paul Allen was left dumbfounded. 

Many people will point to the fact that despite Curry winning a second straight MVP, that because of the players around him he isn't deserving of the award. I argue that it's because of his play making abilities that it has lifted up the performances of a Draymond Green or Klay Thompson. Some will say "What about LeBron?" While there is not a more dominating presence in the league since Jordan laced them up, James has created a culture of dependency to which everyone (including his hand picked coach) defers to him. He could not get that type of power in Miami, which is why he's trying to "win one for the 'Land." From owner to general manager to the barkeep outside of Quicken Loans Arena, they all rely on him to be their deliverer of the Larry 'O Brien Trophy. Curry, on the other hand, has been largely responsible for being the conductor of a system that breeds confidence from the 12th man on the bench that even they can play a large role in winning a title. That is what Jordan did for the Chicago Bulls, he made guys like Steve Kerr and John Paxson major players during their title runs of the 1990s. So when we talk about valuable, it's not about the individual performance, it's who is the person that has been most influential in raising the performance of everyone around them, even when they aren't there? Again, even if Stephen Curry had not registered a single point, guys like Green, Thompson and Harrison Barnes gained that extra umph needed to push themselves over the hump. 

What is your presence at your job, class, or team? Are you capable of being that person that adds value to whatever task needs to be done, or do you drain the atmosphere?

Foul? No, you're foul!

For the 3-plus decades in which I have watched all levels of basketball, there is always the perpetual question being asked: "What is a foul?" We have seen referees blow whistles on the lightest of touches, to allowing blatant discretions like the one above. We argue, "Why don't they call it by the book?" Understand first and foremost that referees, just like anyone else, are human. They make mistakes, and unlike anyone else, their mistakes are shown before millions around the world on television and online. Sports-talk radio shows banter on for days about what they believed was a missed call.

Again, by the letter of the law, it is a foul. However, the NBA came out yesterday and stated that at least 5 missed calls took place during the end of the San Antonio-Oklahoma City game on Monday night. They are correct as fouls by both teams occurred. While the tune of "well it's too late to do anything about it now" has been the prevailing mantra in the days after, what is refreshing to see is the league doing something that fans have been asking for a long time: keeping referees accountable. Recently during the first round of the playoffs Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson took it a step further:

It will be interesting to see what will happen going forward, or if Commissioner Adam Silver will begin to enforce stiffer penalties. The NFL has a system in which referees who continue to blow missed assignments are not allowed to officiate playoff games, and if the same is done in the NBA, it could see an end to what many people feel is an unfair and selective enforcement of officiating at opportune times.

Remember the outcry in the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and the Sacramento Kings in Game 6? The Lakers had an absurdly amount of free throws awarded to them in the fourth quarter, and appeared to many as if they were allowed to do more than what the Kings were in that instance. Although we forget that Sacramento still had a Game 7 (at home, btw) they could've won, to this day everyone and their mother outside of Staples Center still believes this game was rigged so that the NBA could have the LA market in the Finals.

 

Sure, there are times in which superstars are allowed to travel (Michael Jordan was notorious for getting away with three steps) and maybe can use their elbows more often than the 12th man off the bench, but to think that the league is telling their referees (who are well compensated) to throw a nationally televised game for the sake of ratings borders on the brinks of absurdity. However, after decades of people asking for the referees to be held accountable, the league has listened and are doing so. In life, we all know that mistakes will be made (Romans 3:23) but it's as they always say "The cover-up is worse than the crime." We all want to know that what we are watching and supporting is on the up-and-up, and that the standards of fairness and competency is extended to those officiating the games as much as those who are playing them.

However, I'm still convinced that the "frozen envelope" conspiracy was contrived by the Illuminati...

So you're saying there's a chance...?

They say that luck is simply when preparation meets opportunity. For years former New York Knicks great Patrick Ewing has bided his time, preparing himself as an assistant coach, most recently with the Charlotte Hornets. Despite receiving adulation for his dedication to this craft, he never could receive the opportunity to prove himself at the next level and coach his own team. News came out over the weekend that he will finally get his chance by interviewing for the Sacramento Kings position. Although we don't know whether or not the "Madison Square Guardian" will get the job, this could open the door for other owners around the league to finally take another look at Ewing.

He is a testament to perseverance, never one to make his lack of opportunities a public issue. Even when he did not even receive consideration for the vacant job with his beloved Knicks (probably because deep down Phil "Big Chief Triangle" wants the job for himself) he didn't make it about himself, he just went back to work. While the NBA coaching carousel usually becomes nothing more than retreads getting hired over and over (looking at you, Sam Mitchell!) it takes an owner or GM with the foresight to think outside the box and give guys like Ewing their opportunity to show what they are made of.

There's a prevailing thought that big guys don't make great coaches; Kevin McHale would like to have a word about that. However, in recent years we have seen coaches like former Detroit Piston great Bill Laimbeer win multiple WNBA titles, and Ewing would be a great mentor to the enigmatic DeMarcus Cousins. This isn't about an endorsement, but about providing people opportunities who are hungry to prove themselves.

Sometimes it takes a fresh vision to provide stability, and if Ewing gets the position, he could be the stability that this woebegone franchise desperately needs.

Endless debate



The media, particularly the sports media, has evolved over the years. Some question whether that evolution has been a good thing. We marveled at the brilliance of Howard Cosell calling the Muhammad Ali fights or anticipating the next "Whoa, Nellie!" from Keith Jackson on ABC's college football broadcasts. The early days of ESPN "SportsCenter" was must-see television if you wanted to capture the best of the best on a daily basis. Sports broadcasting was highlighted by some of the brightest and sometimes boldest personalities. Although Cosell was never one to shy from controversy, he had a level of respect that made him the barometer of sports-speak.

Then, somehow, things changed, and the transformation from being a voice of the show to becoming the show was complete...

 

There are several examples of athletes taking on the media, but at the end of the day the personalities behind the mic were never the story until the (staged?) fight between then LA Rams quarterback Jim Everett and noted sports talk show host Jim Rome. Now we are in an era in which people tune in  to see the people who talk about sports as much as they do the players on the field or court. Never is that more evident than every weekday morning, when barbershops and television sets tune in to see ESPN's "First Take," which is the epicenter of their "Embrace Debate" era in which we see essentially the same topics being discussed ad nauseam. The most polarizing figure of them all (and even that's debatable!) is one Skip Bayless.

 

To be honest, I've always admired his work as a journalist. He was one of the main writers who helped expose the scandals at Southern Methodist University during the infamous "Pony Express" days that led to the school eventually getting the death penalty. However, to many people he is known as the "Terrell Owens-hater" and staunch supporter of one Tim Tebow during his ascent into the NFL. Love him or hate him, he and his cohort Stephen A. Smith draws people in daily to see their views on all things sports.



I'm not a fan of "First Take." I think it's nothing more than a network's desperate attempt to tug at the heartstrings of passionate fans with contrived arguments, although they are willing to touch upon serious issues, most notably racial situations when appropriate. However, I do believe that what this and other talk shows of its ilk have accomplished is that it has forced people to take a side, which is rare in this "banana boat" era of sports. Sometimes we are afraid to take a stand on something we feel strongly about, regardless if we're right or wrong. While we may not be compensated to give our opinion like Bayless, there is a place for having healthy debates and discussions on issues not only in sports but in more important topics.

While Bayless will be leaving ESPN for FS1, I'm sure that he will continue to be polarizing to all who follow. My question is to you: to what extend are you willing to go to take an opinion, no matter what side of the fence you are on?

When culture matters...

It lasted all of 18 minutes...but it may have infinite value...

That's how long last year's and the probable favorite MVP for this year Stephen Curry appeared on the court for yesterday's playoff game against the Rockets. He had arguably his worst game of the season, and left with a sprained left knee, and as of this time he is scheduled to have an MRI, which is never good news.

Of course, the instant Twitter reaction became the land of second guessers:

"They never should've played him"
"The Rockets had no chance to win anyway, why risk it?"
"This is going to end their chances of a repeat!"

We love to live life in the rear view mirror, and hindsight is always 20/20. However, in this case, having him out there was about more than just trying to defeat a slightly lesser team in Houston. As the second half proved, this may have been a window into displaying the character of this team. The Golden State Warriors made an NBA-playoff record 21 3-pointers en route to victory, and the way they rallied around their fallen leader is more about the culture and community that this team has more than anything else.

Life is often defined by how a person deals in crisis, not when everything is clicking well. Golden State has developed a culture of unity that is able to withstand keeping on without Curry. Now although we don't know what will be the extend of his injury, or even if it will end their title run this year, I believe that they will continue to be successful because they focus on the bigger goal and work together to do so? Can you imagine the Cleveland Cavaliers holding on without LeBron James? Just look at what happened to the Oklahoma City Thunder without Kevin Durant last year. They came apart.

Bottom line: A great team is enhanced by their culture, which the San Antonio Spurs have mastered to a T. While "fans" all over are mourning the potential loss of Curry for several weeks, what we must be reminded of is that they have the structure in place to handle such a setback.

To pause and reflect

 

 

On most days I would use this platform as an opportunity to express my personal viewpoints on the impact that the decision makers have on the world of not only sports but in society.

 

Today is not that day. I was prepared to write about the recent comments on former ESPN analyst Curt Schilling, but that will have to wait for another time. Two recent tragedies have occurred within the past 12 hours that necessitated a change in plans.

 

The first one came from Southern California, where news of one Joanie Laurer, aka Chyna to wrestling fans of the late 1990s, passed away from an apparent overdose. Whether or not that is true is not the story at this time, neither are the events in the latter years of her life. I take you back to my college years which coincided with the famed "Attitude Era" of 1998 when she first made waves as the proclaimed "Ninth Wonder of the World" in the WWF. Normally my friends and I would pack the community room at Virginia Commonwealth University to see the antics of Shawn Michaels and HHH as they formed Degeneration X and took over the WWF by storm. However, our eyes would quickly be averted to the woman standing behind them, with a chiseled physique and stone-cold look.

 

Over the months and weeks of late 1997 and beyond we would marvel at how physical she would be with the other male wrestlers, even beating them on several occasions. She was nothing like the Barbie-doll types that usually would be featured on Monday Night Raw broadcasts. Chyna even won the Intercontinental title while battling Chris Jericho. As a matter of fact, we'd be surprised when she competed against the women, as if it was somehow unfair for her to even lower herself to that level.

Later she would go on to be known as "Mamacita" with Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero, and find a new level of stardom before leaving the wrestling business.

 

What made her so special and unique was that she was unlike anyone we had ever seen, or have seen since then. I don't know if she ever made peace with those in the business, but she left a lasting impression at a time when we were looking for something different. Male or female, wrestling fan or not, Chyna was truly a wonder to see.

 

The next story, while not directly sports related, hit me and I'm sure millions of others like a ton of bricks as Prince Rogers Nelson, affectionately known as simply "Prince," passed away today at the age of 57. Iconic, legendary, gifted, there aren't enough words to describe what this man did as an entertainer, actor and producer. If you grew up in the early 1980s, you watched or knew someone who had seen "Purple Rain," sang "1999" and knew what he meant "When Doves Cry."

 

Prince was known by many as an avid basketball fan in the state of Minnesota. He played for Bryant Junior High in the early 1970s as an undersized 2-guard along with his half-brother Duane before making beautiful music with his guitar on near Hendrix-levels. Even as he went on to become the second greatest musician along with Michael Jackson in the 1980s he was still a figure with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx, frequently attending their games and making his usually quiet presence known.

 

 

 

Younger generations may only remember him from the Dave Chappelle skits of 2003 with him playing basketball and offering pancakes to his defeated opponents. I will always remember him for his affectionate love of purple, the mysticism in which he performed on the keys, to the vivid imagination in which he expressed himself through his music.

 

If there is a lesson to be learned from these respective lives, it's that to enjoy the days of your life as much as possible. Live, love, and learn.



A second chance...

I was always a fan...

I used to marvel at the talent of one Stephon Marbury, and even though he spent only one season at Georgia Tech, I was one of the few who thought he was better than Allen Iverson. He had a rare combination of ball handling proficiency with scoring gifts that made him the pride of Coney Island. When he went to Minnesota I was excited at the possibility of him and Kevin Garnett being the northwest version of Shaq-Kobe. They had a phenomenal duo before they traded him to New York and he became the epicenter of the disaster that was the Isiah Thomas regime with lawsuits and poor results on the court.

However, all of that changed when "Starbury" went to China to play in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2010. Gone were the Vasoline eating videos and emerged was a man who found not only unprecedented success, but overwhelming peace, both on the court and off of it. He was recently bestowed the honor of receiving a permanent residence card, in addition to a statue and a postage stamp in his honor. Truly a remarkable turnaround!

What's so special about this is that he realized that what many of us have to in life; that sometimes it takes a great risk for a great reward. We have to step away from situations that while familiar to us and sometimes comfortable, don't provide us the peace that we need. It's stepping away from bad influences and toxic situations that only deteriorate our character in the long run. It's Abram leaving behind his family to become a father of many nations. It's that songwriter moving to California in the 70s on nothing but a tank of gas and a lot of dreams. It's the person reading this blog thinking "I need a change in my life." Marbury realized this while on the path of self-destruction, and now has a whole new outlook on life.

I was a fan of his as a teenager for what he did on the court; I am now a bigger fan for the excellence he displayed in making the right choice.