Worst Persons In The World

Some weeks ago I expressed my thanks to the Tea Party for their presence which would enable the Democratic Party to retain control in November. Well, as we now know, the Republicans took control of the House, but the Democratic Party retained control of the Senate - and for that, I continue to thank the Tea Party. Were it not for some of the absolute worst possible candidates ever running under the banner of the Tea Party, the Republicans might very well have taken the Senate as well - which would not have been cool.

I mean, bottom line is that if you don't have a working knowledge of the Constitution...and have to go on television - as Christine O'Donnell did - to explain that you are not a witch, you should not be elected to the Senate. If you imply that violent action might be needed if you are not satisfied with electoral outcomes...and then say you'll make your positions on the issues known once you're elected - as Sharron Angle did - you should not be elected to the Senate. Unless they're producing a 2011 version of "Hogan's Heroes," if you dress up as a Naxi as a "bonding" activity with your son - as congressional candidate Rich Iott did - you should not be elected to the House. If you have questions about the validity of the Civil Rights Act - as Rand Paul does - you should not be elected to the Senate from Kentucky.

Obviously Kentucky needs a do-over...and really for both Senate seats. We're at war in Afghanistan, got thousands of troops yet in Iraq, unemployment is over nine percent, BP has yet to make the Gulf region whole, and so on and so on - yet Mitch McConnell publicly says that "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president."

Of course, some of us learned of the madness and lunacy of these Tea Party clowns through the efforts of Keith Olbermann, the host of "Countdown" who has been "suspended indefinitely" by MSNBC for violating NBC policy by donating to three Democratic candidates. Naturally there are people that are envisioning the possibility of MSNBC ultimately letting Keith go, which would really make as much sense - both in terms of practicality as well as public relations - as the New York Yankees choosing not to re-sign Derek Jeter due to the dip of his batting average to .270 this year. True, the Bronx Bombers have A-Rod, Mark Teixeira, the brilliant young superstar Robinson Cano and other stars, but Derek Jeter has been the face of the franchise during its' entire run of excellence since 1996. And while I believe Jeter has several good years left - although there will come a point in time when a position switch might need to be addressed -I also believe that there are some people that deserve to complete their careers with their one team...and retire when they want to, not pushed out the door as was Bernie Williams by these same Yankees some years back.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson was a Laker. Larry Bird and Bill Russell were Celtics. Derek Jeter is a Yankee and The Captain should be afforded the opportunity to complete his career on his own terms.

Not unlike the situation with the Yankees and their talent, MSNBC has other capable hosts on its' air - including, of course, the truly outstanding Rachel Maddow - but Keith Olbermann is clearly the face of that franchise, the network's highest rated host and the main reason many people - myself included - have gotten turned on to MSNBC. If I could speak to MSNBC president Phil Griffin, I would want to ask what it is that makes a suspension "indefinite."

For instance, if the always-in-control Mr. Jeter were to have an uncharacteristic run-in with an umpire which led to a suspension, the suspension would be for a specific length of time, a certain number of days or games. What does Keith have to do in order to make his NBC suspension of a finite nature?

Furthermore, there are some offenses that don't require the maximum punishment for the crime. In a basketball game, a player may mouth off to the referee and wind up getting a "technical foul." As a result of receiving the technical, he or she is neither ejected from the game at hand nor suspended from future games; it basically serves as a warning to chill - and don't let it happen again. Shouldn't giving $2400 to three candidates really be more like a technical foul kind of offense? Like "dude, we don't do that here...unlike at FOX...so don't do that again...and have a great show tonight!" But to take your main guy off the air for that...that's like Pat Riley suspending D-Wade and LeBron James - the people everyone wants to see in order to cheer or boo - for wearing the wrong color shoes. Handle your business internally and keep it moving.

I know that rules are rules and there is no point in having them if they are not to be followed, but considering the fact that FOX "News" serves as a publicity and fund-raising sub-committee for the Republican and Tea Parties, the suspension of Keith Olbermann for this petty offense makes Phil Griffin...along with Ms. Angle, Ms. O'Donnell, Ms. Palin, Senator-elect Paul, Rich Iott, and Senator Mitch McConnell...one of my own Worst People in the World.

So my suggestion is this: If Keith is not back on the air by Monday evening, shut down the MSNBC phone lines with your calls until he is restored to his position. And to Keith, one thing directly from me but probably the sentiments of many:

Come on, man. Bring back the Worst Persons segment!

Good night, and good luck.

NBA 2010-11

Back in June, after LeBron James announced that he was taking his talents to South Beach, many people would have thought that an NBA preview would begin and end with the Miami Heat. Now, three days into the season, folks may be ready to put the bubbly back in the fridge in Miami.

This is not to diss the Heat, who have, arguably, the second and third best players in the world on their roster (sorry folks, but to be the man you must beat the man - and I've got Kobe still with the crown on his head). Any team with players like D-Wade and LeBron will win an enormous amount of games on sheer talent alone. That said, there have been teams such as the Julius Erving/George McGinis/Doug Collins/World B. Free/Caldwell Jones/Darryl Dawkins/Harvey Catchings/Joe Bryant/Terry Furlow et al '76-78 Sixers - perhaps the most talented team in sports history ever to NOT win a championship - that have been loaded with talent and nonetheless came up empty.

To be honest, as talented as Miami is at the top of their roster, the jury is probably still out on the balance of the roster. It remains to be seen whether they will have enough good shooters to spread the floor enough so that Wade and James will have enough room with which to work. Failing that, the basic strategy against them would be to basically play a 2-3 zone packed into the paint, daring them all to shoot from outside...because certainly you've got a better chance with any of them from outside than with them driving to the rim.

With all this said, my picks for the divisions are as follows:

Atlantic - Boston

Central - Chicago

Southeast - Miami

Northwest - Oklahoma City

Pacific - Lakers

Southwest - San Antonio

Most improved in the East - New Jersey, with Avery Johnson at the helm. He will have them playing defense to the extent that playing the Nets will not be an automatic win at all anymore.

Most improved in the West - Either Golden State...who will obviously be hard-pressed to make their improvement translate into a playoff spot...or Oklahoma City. I see the Thunder improving simply because future MVP Kevin Durant and their young stars continue to get better. Sooner or later the championship trophy will reside there...but as for this year...

I envision a Boston-Miami final in the eastern conference, and in the still-loaded western conference, perhaps the Spurs on the veteran end of things or OKC on the youthful end may be able to deny the Lakers their opportunity to three-peat...though I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

Some Random Thoughts Across North America

During my recent whirlwind trip to Ottawa I wound up passing through Montreal for the first time since I was a teen. Montreal is a beautiful place and I hope to get back soon to see it as an adult...but unfortunately one of the things I saw there as a teen that I will not see there again is an home game of the Montreal Expos.

My first memory of the Expos is their first-ever game in 1969, as they were defeating my Mets 11-10...so I began with issues with them. That said, I loved watching games from Montreal and hearing the public address announcer speak in French and English, especially when Rusty Staub - "Le Grand Orange" - came to bat. The Expos became very good through the years, but over time attendance dwindled in this town where it's Habs and hockey first, and all else way down the line - and now the former Expos are the Washington Nationals. I guess I'm sorry in part because of the historical role the town of Montreal played in the integration of the major leagues.

After Jackie Robinson was signed by Branch Rickey, he was targeted to spend the next season in the Dodgers' farm system - and Rickey correctly selected the Montreal Royals as the ideal team in the ideal town for Robinson to join. Robinson was beloved by the fans of Montreal, and was carried around the field on their shoulders after the team won the Little World Series. Too bad MLB had to go...but to Montreal - thanks!

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Thank you to President Obama...glad we're out of Iraq...well not totally out of Iraq, but I'll take what I can get for now. When combat operations were concluded, some clowns stated that Obama needed to thank Bush, et al, for the "surge" strategy that made the draw down possible. That makes about as much sense as thanking the arsonist for calling 911.

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So people are upset that Obama checked "Black" on his census form, given that he is of a mixed background. His background is well-documented - he documented it himself within his books! - so there is no lack of knowledge of his love for his mom and his maternal grandparents. But then when I see Tea Party rally attendees' signs depicting him in an obviously racist manner and/or using the "N"-word, or hear Newt Gingrich refer to his behavior as "Kenyan," or see Republican members of Congress signing on to the "birther" madness, I'm wondering what you expect. I mean, you say and do these things which more than imply that you think he's Black...and now you're mad because he checks "Black" on the form? Gimme a break!

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Every time I see Armando Galarraga, I STILL think that the official scorer should give him an error on the play. We know he didn't make an error, but had that play been an error, Galarraga would have wound up with a no-hitter, if not the perfect game he deserved. Is it really too late to do that?

Making "The Coolest Game" Cooler

In all of the years I've written columns and blogs on sports, I have rarely
touched on the NHL.  Not that I've never watched hockey; in fact, I remember
rooting for Edmonton throughout their '80's dynasty in part because Gretzky was
just so awesome, and because they had a brother - Grant Fuhr - as their goalie.

I also was into them because they came out of the upstart WHA, which resonated
with me because I was a fan of the upstart ABA.  I found it interesting that the
most exciting player in the NHL - The Great One - came out of the WHA, and the
most exciting player (during the early '80's) in the NBA - Dr. J - came out of
the ABA.  And of course, who anywhere near New York could forget the euphoria
surrounding the Rangers' 52-year drought-ending 1994 Stanley Cup win, and the
excitement in the area as the Rangers and Knicks simultaneously played for the
championships of their respective leagues.

That being said, I never much touched on the sport within my writing. So what
leads me to do so now - in the midst of the baseball pennant races, no less? 
Well, it turns out that I had to make a trip to a seminar in Ottawa, and while
there I naturally picked up a copy of a local newspaper, the Ottawa Sun.  In it
columnist Lance Hornby's offering on prospective NHL rule-tweaking was entitled
"Three-point stance" - which led me to wonder if we were on the same wavelength. 
Turns out we weren't...Lance was discussing the concept of awarding three points
in the standings to the winning team.  My concept is off the chain - or possibly
off the wall to hockey purists...but here goes.

In a sense, my idea has its' roots in the old ABA, a league that in its' infancy
was not at all averse to trying anything to garner attention.  One such thing
was the establishment of the three-point shot.  Though ridiculed by basketball
traditionalists, the three-pointer was loved by fans and is now a vital part of
the game and its' strategy at all levels.  When a crowd sees a player prepare to
take an open three-pointer, the noise level rises in gleeful anticipation if the
shooter is on their favored team - or in fear if the shooter is an opponent. 

So my idea is for the NHL to place a semi-circle within the offensive end -
similar to the three-point line in basketball - behind which any shots on goal
would be "two-point shots." I'm sure there aren't that many goals scored from
out by the blue line, but I can also imagine the excitement as a great
slap-shooter lines up a two-point shot.  And what about the team down a goal
with a minute or so to go...now they pull the goalie to get a sixth skater on
the ice to give them a better shot at getting the tying goal, but with the
two-pointer available, they may try a couple of shots for the win.

The way I see it, the two-pointer has a lot of potential.  Gary Bettman, you've
got a NBA background...are you reading this?

Clothes Make The Man

Almost all of us have a favorite pair of jeans, of shorts, a T-shirt or sweatshirt that we love to put on as we enjoy a day of relaxation. But from an early age we are socialized to believe that there is a certain way that we dress for more upscale occasions. Sometimes we refer to that as "dressing up."

We are taught that a certain mode of dress gives one a look of greater seriousness, and as we grow up, we internalize this way of thinking. Many of us sport a different look when we attend a house of worship than we did the day before. On a first date with someone we are extremely attracted to, most attempt to wear something that they think presents them in the most appealing light to that individual. Cameras posted in human resources offices would record many men wearing suits and ties to interviews for positions that would never require such attire. I wore a suit to my son's high school graduation - held outside on a ninety-degree evening - because I'm used to wearing a suit, and I wanted to, despite the fact that it wasn't required.

That said, the suit didn't make me a different person at the graduation; I was simply wearing different clothing than I do on some other occasions. To a certain extent, this is an accurate depiction of many of the members of the Tea Party, both literally and figuratively.

One of the shows currently on Broadway is entitled "Race" - and while I admit to not having seen it as of yet, its' presence on the Great White Way is indicative of the fact that the issue of race is one that has hung over this land since 1619 and continues to do so. While some feel that the manifestation of Martin Luther King's 1963 dream was the election of Barack Obama in 2008, the issue of race has not left the building - and we have not totally entered into a "post-racial" society.

Tea Party members have demonstrated that on far too many occasions to document, from spitting on members of the Congressional Black Caucus during the health care debate, to brandishing signs featuring the "N-word" and racist depictions of President Obama, as well as bringing guns to a Washington-area rally. I certainly realize that Mr. Obama is not the first president that people have had disagreements with, and I love the fact that this nation is one in which we can air our differences with one another - but as my Aunt Sue used to say, we can disagree without being disagreeable. Many of us on the left had our differences with President George W. Bush - but our problem with him was not with the way he looked; it was with the way he led. "N-word" posters, the absurd "birthers," and so many other things make plain that their problem with Obama is the way he looks.

So when the NAACP calls the Tea Party out at its' national convention, the Tea Party - and the Republican Party - goes crazy...because our society has progressed to the point that it is no longer cool to be racist. If they are outed in their racism, they will be thought of as lacking legitimacy - so they lash out at the NAACP; however one Tea Party leader, Mark Williams, couldn't help but showing his true colors on his blog, implying that Blacks only want to hit-up hard-working people for a flat-screen TV in each room. But in the midst of reading about his remarks, I saw some screen shots of him from recent TV appearances - and he was wearing a tie or a suit and tie.

Then it hit me: Mark was dressing up. He looked to the suit to make his words legit - but I see beyond the suit he wears in 2010, and envision him in a white hood in 1950. Tea Party members that carry those signs to the rallies in 2010 may be the philosophical descendants of those carrying a noose in 1950. I would urge Tea Party members who have genuine issues with government to air them in a respectful manner - but throw those racists out on their butts. Then the rest of us might gain some respect for your movement.

The King Is Here

So will we all be perched in front of our televisions tomorrow evening to learn where The King will be making his castle for the next few years?

Yeah, we will.

All of us that consider ourselves hoop aficionados have our own theories on where LBJ will land. Some believe that, despite all of the talk about team and winning and the like, it will wind up being - in the words of the O'Jays - For The Love Of Money, and James will choose the Knicks on the strength of the potential of earning an additional eleventy bazillion dollars off the court in New York. Part two of that theory says that in addition, there is no place better in the basketball universe to be a champion than New York City.

As a native New Yorker, I agree for the most part about NYC - but would underline if you win. There have been Knick teams that the city & region have loved for their grit & tenacity - but that love didn't extend outside of the area because there was no ring. Where would 1984 Bernard King be in the eyes of the hoop world - considering he averaged almost 40 as they beat Detroit and then almost singlehandedly won three games against the Bird-led champions-to-be - if he had that one more player and was able to lead the Knicks to victory in that series? He was the most unstoppable offensive player of that era - partially shown by the fact that he made the all-star team post-injury, probably at no more than 65% of himself - but I believe the lack of a ring hurts his legacy, despite his NYC years.

Although the Knicks are iconic & the Garden is #1, I wonder how much bigger they make LeBron James. I think you can make the case that being in NY grows most players - including stars like the new Knick Amar'e - in a massive way on the marketing side...but for a Kobe or LeBron, not much. They're already there.

What guys like that do, especially in a smaller market, is grow a franchise to never-before seen heights, which is what LBJ has done in Cleveland. If he comes to NY he'll make the team better, but he can't really grow the franchise, which is already iconic though the team sucks now. The next time they win a ring, whether with LeBron James or John Doe, the star will be a legend and the rest of those players will be New York heroes forever. LeBron would retire a Knick & get his jersey hung at the top of the Garden alongside of those of Frazier, Monroe, Reed, DeBusschere, Bradley, Ewing & McGuire. After a while, the Knicks would get another superstar, and his jersey would wind up next to LeBron's.

But if he stays in Cleveland and wins, he's on a plateau all by himself. Not just one of a number of great Knicks. Not the second greatest Chicago Bull of all time...because the greatest one has been immortalized with a statue outside of the United Center. And not the guy who becomes a villain in the eyes of some by joining D-Wade in Miami...not good enough to win on his own.

I think he will stay with the Cavs.

Easy Button

When L.A. got Ron Artest I almost called David Stern to tell him to cancel the season. The Lakers had gotten a guy who's been a 20-point scorer, but more importantly a fantastic defender - who can lock-down guard 2's, 3's, 4's & possibly some PGs and smaller 5's - to take the burden of defending the superstar off of Kobe Bryant. Adding him to a championship roster seemed almost like overkill.

What were the odds that the Lakers' 2010 Finals opponent would have a player - Rajan Rondo - that neither can sufficiently guard? Bryant - who gets right in players' jocks defensively - has been playing 8-10 feet off of him. True, they'd prefer Rondo to take jumpshots as opposed to Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, or Ray Allen, but certainly part of it is that Kobe doesn't want Rondo to blow right by him.

What a difference between the traditional pick and roll and Boston's with Rondo, who often is coming off the pick and in a split second is laying it up at the rim. When he improves his "j" a little more he will be totally unguardable, possibly like Nate "Tiny" Archibald in his classic 35 point/10 assist per game season.

So now as for tonight's game 7...I'm certain that the Lakers will not be able to press the Easy Button at Staples as they did during game 6. What I would love to see is a close game in the middle of the third quarter, because my sense is that with any sense of doubt about the outcome, we will see Kobe - the Finals MVP, win, lose, or draw - in extended "old Kobe" mode. That could produce a record-setting game 7 point total - and in any case, some very entertaining play from one of the all-time greats.

Just Do It - Do You

I write now in the midst of an attempt to deal with an addiction. Perhaps, you might suggest, a twelve-step program may be of benefit, but I would then have to share that I embrace my addiction, and really don't want to have to give it up.

My son is now 17 - beyond the age of eligibility for the local recreation league - and as a result, for the first time since 1998, I am not coaching a youth baseball team...and I miss it. I would almost say that I don't know what to do with that portion of my time that would be spent on the field, but I'm afraid that my wife would then suggest various things I want no parts of, so I'll refrain from that.

Someone else might then suggest that perhaps I could find a tennis or golf or roller hockey team to help out with - and to that I would say no, the enjoyment was associated with coaching baseball in the spring and summer, basketball in the winter. Coaching those other sports...right now, that's not me, and so while I feel somewhat like a fish out of water, I just want to do me.

In general, I think that's a good way to go...which leads me to think about someone who also may have been feeling a little out of sorts of late, Tiger Woods. Now before you go on and reach out to my wife, let me emphasize that we haven't shared the same experiences of late...except for the fact that Tiger has also not been doing what he's used to doing. We have now learned that he is going to return at the Masters, and to that I say it's about time.

My personal life is not Tiger's business, and his personal life is not mine - and so I don't feel that he owes me any apologies for what goes or went on in and around his household. As long as he is in the apology/explanation/evasive modes, his name will always share sentences with words and phrases like "embattled golfer," "troubled golfer," "philanderer," etc. As long as he is in the aforementioned modes, he is away from doing what he does - which is play golf better than anyone on this planet. When he returns to the course, the way the media speaks of him will be forced to return from analysis of his personal situation to a description of the way he won the latest tournament, how many majors he has won, how many major-tournament wins behind the career record of Jack Nicklaus he currently is, and so on.

So Tiger - just do you. And then, when you have come to that conclusion, can you give a call to the President - I'd text him but I don't have his Blackberry number - and give him the same advice? Actually, I'm hoping he has already come to that conclusion, as evidenced by his recess appointments to fill positions being held up by Senate Republicans, as well as the recent passage of the health care legislation.

Mr. Obama is one who enjoys honest debate and seeks consensus, but we all now know that the agenda of the Republicans in Congress is not to engage in debate or find consensus; it is to attempte to derail anything Obama wants to get accomplished, even if these things include their ideas. There's no need to waste any more time with them until they come back with a new attitude. Take your majorities in the houses of Congress, ram through everything you can in any which way you must, and let the chips fall where they may.

Just do you.