Back in the Saddle…Again

First of all, I'd like to apologize to all of the readers for my prolonged absence. My second year of law school needed a solid start and all of my creative energies went into writing papers, doing re-writes and re-writes on the re-writes…get it right? So now that the first semester has ended and I have some time to work on my personal projects, I am back and will be providing my weird and sometimes mundane take on the sports world and how it relates to the American and global social atmosphere. I will try to stay on point and be concise since this is my first article back after a long layoff, so bear with me and enjoy. Once again, for those who have read these articles, I thank you greatly.

One of the more popular subjects that has been harped on, twittered about and blogged upon continually is the state of the 2009 New England Patriots. For those of you who follow me on facebook, I've tried to be short in discussing the matters concerning this team whether it be my premature prediction of a Bills victory in the season opener, the gloating high points of a 59-0 drubbing of Titans squad that looked to have no business on a Madden controller, much less an NFL field, the painful loss that made me eerily think back to how teams who played the Pats in 2007 (except the Giants of course), felt when they were spanked by the Saints and lastly, the disappointing 22-21 loss to the Dolphins (which I predicted, right Brian?) that had me feeling like I was watching the Patriots of 1992. The simple fact of the matter is that the team is in a 'rebuilding on the fly' mode where the best hope is a well coached team, despite its obvious holes in veteran leadership and experience on defense can be buttressed by a very good offense, can grow together as the season wore on and make some noise in the playoffs.

However, it seems as if that plan has gone hung-kung phooey because the team started out fairly well but cannot not finish games early, which leads to late game collapses (which teams with young defenses often are a victim of). Now with the news about former Pats Defensive Lineman Richard Seymour reportedly receiving texts from his ex-teammates about how he 'is missed' and 'the team could use him', and Defensive End Adalius Thomas popping off in the media about how he was treated after he was sent home after arriving late to a meeting, it looks like the fans of other less celebrated NFL teams smell blood in the water similar to how we all smelled the blood of those declining Dallas Cowboys teams of the 90's. We remember those days right? The cocaine, the hookers, the DUI's and poorly coached teams that barely resembled that dominating ones that won Super Bowls essentially with ease. There are four points that need to be considered when looking at the present state of the Patriots which can provide optimism or worry among the Patriot faithful.

1) With Scott Pioli in Kansas City, will Bill Belichick revert to the Cleveland Browns version of himself?: Let's make one thing clear here. Pioli was the only guy in the organization that could say no to Bill. Period. When Bill thought of impulsive ways to motivate his team or shape it in his philosophical image, Pioli could offer counterpoints to those thoughts and use his vested authority to veto certain moves pertaining to the roster. With players sniping him in press, will Belichick turn into the 'your our guy this week, but you will sit for the next five weeks even though your replacement is not as good as you' coach that practically turned the Browns upside down in the latter stages of the team's existence in Cleveland? (that's right people, the Browns we see in the NFL today are not those Browns…that team is in Baltimore.)

2) Can the younger players become championship caliber pieces of a championship team?: Let's be honest.The Pats have screwed up most of their drafts over the past 4-5 years. There are underachievers such as '06 first rounder Laurence Maroney and there are also shining spots such as '07 first rounder Brandon Meriwether and '08 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in Jerod Mayo. However, the team has done poorly in the areas where all good teams make their bread and save money: the middle rounds. So in the '09 Draft, the Patriots wheeled and got four second round players that could provide the bedrock of their defense in the future in Pat Chung, Darius Butler and Ron Brace along with an anchor on the offensive line in Sebastian Vollmer. They also acquired other lower round picks and dealt them into next year's draft.

We also cannot forget their find in the 7^th round this year in former University of Toledo quarterback, turned NFL wide receiver, Julian Edelman. In referencing the Richard Seymour trade this off-season, the Pats acquired a 1^st round pick in 2011 from the Oakland Raiders for a soon to be free agent defensive lineman that was going to be expensive and is also on the back-end of his career. The 2011 pick is premised around the possibility that there will be a new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place between the NFLPA and the NFL owners, which will institute more prohibitive salary controls for newer players in the league. In other words, as long as Oakland keeps disfunctioning, the Pats may have recent Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram in uniform in 2011 (provided there is no owner's lockout). I look at it this way: if a good coach has good players, it makes for a good team. So yes, the Patriots have the tools to develop young talent into championship caliber players.

3) Is Tom Brady still an elite quarterback?: As I sit back and watch Brady eyeball Wes Welker and Randy Moss the same way Drew Bledsoe did Ben Coates and Terry Glenn, I get a little concerned. However, since Brady is not easily rattled as Bledsoe and Welker and Moss are exceptional athletes, I can go to bed every night knowing Brady will give my fantasy team crazy points week to week and plus he…wait…sorry. Got into fantasy mode there. I have always stated that it is best to have an ACL injury earlier in a career than later because that type of injury is 2-3 years in terms of recovery time (getting back to normal). At Brady's age, his timing, aptitude and feel for the game may be eroded by the time he fully recovers from this injury, thereby making him a more susceptible to other injuries. Hopefully as a professional, he will not rest on his laurels and continue to get healthier, but the odds are against a consistent pre-injury Brady showing up again. The Pats have also failed to develop a backup before Matt Cassel was traded to Kansas City. Hey, if Tim Tebow or Sam Bradford is on the board when the Pats pick in '09, is it a bad investment?

4) Will the players begin to tune Belichick out?: I would like to say no because he along with other good coaches and administrators have put in place a culture that cultivates hard work and dedication to developing one's craft. However, Seymour made a good point when he alluded to Belichick perhaps relying on schemes over personnel. It is like asking what comes first, the chicken or the egg? If the scheme is designed around exploiting weaknesses in an opposing teams strategy, can anyone be plugged into the scheme and thus keep it successful? Or does a scheme's quality trace back to exceptional cerebral and athletic individuals who can make the scheme more effective based on their football IQ? Athletes can change games, but players make plays in my opinion. And when they feel expendable, it generally does not equate to a good relationship with a coach.

Although I agree with Seymour's assessment, one must take into account the financial ramifications of having superior athletes on the field; is the cost worth what they bring or can a lower profile player with similar traits bring the same thing to the field? It is obvious that Thomas did not turn out to be an adequate replacement for Mike Vrabel and there has been nobody that has even come close to the qualities the since departed Asante Samuel brought to the team at cornerback. With turnover in personnel comes turnover in personalities…it is a way of life. One player would willingly follow the coach over cliff while the next guy would question the logic of doing so. This will be the challenge for the coaching staff and scouting department…finding guys who fit into the culture of the organization seamlessly and will trust in what they are told to do. If this team cannot get more of these types of players, the Patriots will sink into mediocrity in the NFL.

Now to the juicy stuff for all you TMZ'ers and Bossipers…Tiger Woods and the bevy of mistresses who thought he presented too GRRRRR-EAT!!! of an opportunity to pass up and not get rich off of. He did the right thing in taking time out of the public eye to handle his family issues. Many people vilify this man for a human mistake based on what he supposedly represented: a squeaky clean image that made him accountable and held to a higher standard than the rest of us. I believe that is crap…a big, hot, steaming load of it. The kind that looks like chocolate soft serve ice cream. Why? Well, let's just say that his sponsors wanted to portray him in that manner in order to shill their shoddy, overrated cars, razor blades and sugary sports drinks. That's their job…to make him look so good, that an average couch jockey would say "hey, if Tiger uses Gillette Escalade Gator-juice, I guess it is a good product".

At no time did Woods come out and spout the ramblings of a bootleg preacher with a flask of scotch in his jacket pocket and Hustler magazines in the glove box of his car. He played the game. He changed the game. He won. He made a boat-load of money. Maybe all of the acrimony has more to with that than his extra-marital affairs. History tells us anybody who has done any of the above things just mentioned in any realm of society experiences a large share of jealousy and envy. So when they slip up…just like that couch jockey who forgot to pick up his wife from work because he was watching the Spice Channel commonly does, he is exempted from a normal person's status and automatically given a higher standard of conduct. Give me a break.

I just wonder what the sponsors for all those PGA events are going to do now that they have little to no prospects of relying on the spotlight Woods brings to their events. Perhaps a bailout of more than a few after next year may be in the works? I believe they will monitor the next season closely in order to find out what Woods' worth is to the Tour, then make the cut & run decision.

This is my section called WHY? (Please play Jadakiss' 'Why' when reading this):

1) Why did Iverson go back to the Sixers of all teams? He could have waited until March and signed with a contender, got his ring and retired to his vast Newport News Iverson Compound.

2) Why does the NCAA resemble pro sports more and more every day? With the way things are currently constituted, those players will need to be paid soon. Think of it…a player generates millions for the school and in return is given a $100,000 scholarship. He also goes out in public and sees people wearing jerseys bearing his number and doesn't get a piece of each sale. Someone needs to challenge the NCAA not on the court, but in court.

3) Why is Brian Kelly not coaching the University of Cincinnati football team in the Sugar Bowl after accepting the head coaching gig at Notre Dame? This guy led a group of young men to the cusp of a national title only to abandon them because he wanted to coach one of the most overrated, over-scrutinized, living in the past, hasn't been relevant since I was a child a** school. His former players openly criticized his decision to jump ship even after he told them a week before that he was going nowhere. Hey Coach, good way to teach young men about character, honesty and commitment. Why not accept the job after the game? Show some class. I hope he falls on his face just like his predecessors at that crap program. The New York Yankees of college football. Can a student please bring suit soon against the NCAA in order to prevent this kind of behavior?

4) Why is Shaquille O'Neal on the Cavaliers? The team obviously flows better offensively without him on the floor. Man, if they do not win the 'ship this year, I will lament O'Neal's legacy if he does not grab his '32' Vitamin Water, put Icy Hot on his head and call a press conference to announce his retirement. I am so tired of seeing these past their prime players who used to be great, living off of their legacy in order to stay in the spotlight. They end up hindering their teams because the game has passed them by; just ask James Worthy, Patrick Ewing, Shawn Kemp and even Michael Jordan. Yeah, I said it. Jordan. Stop drinking the media Kool-Aid…did ANYONE think those Jordan-led Washington Wizards were going to contend for a title? 'Nuff Said.

5) Why is Danica Patrick relevant? Win a race in a legit manner and maybe she can be a headliner. Is sports (although I highly question the qualifications of NASCAR as a sport, but oh well) about winning or gender equality? I can get a 6'11'' woman who can run fast and shoot a mean jump shot…does that mean she can play in the NBA? All I am saying is that is sports business, it's about winning and the only reason why Patrick has sponsors is because they want to be on the ground floor if and when she wins a race so they can clean up in profits. It reminds me of insurance…it only matters if I get sick or get into an auto accident. So I just pay and pay…all the while nothing happens. Know what normal people call that? A scam. She's got to win and win soon in order to validate all of the camera time and money she gets as the fraudulent 'barrier breaker' of car racing.

6) Why does anyone think the USA will truly make noise in Soccer's World Cup? There is a clear distinction between the US and most of the other countries who are elite when it comes to soccer (except Canada maybe)…the sport's culture on the national scene. For years the MLS has tried to pry its league into the national consciousness, but to no avail. They tried washed up international stars, too young for primetime stars and the tying up of the league's fortunes to oh yeah, another washed up international soccer star. Sorry. The international players are tougher, faster, more athletic and hungrier than players born and raised in the US…it's obvious. Many of the international players grew up in squalor and used rocks or other apparatus to play the game. They played on dirt and had to work their way up in status through the country's cut-throat training programs. Here, mom drops them off at practice and picks them up. They play on Field Turf spread fields and with regulation equipment. Who would you take to the World Cup? The kid with nothing to lose or the pedigreed kid that has had everything granted to them?

I will be writing again soon, now that I have the time. Once again feel free to leave comments on alphaleticarticles@gmail.com or on this page. Big shouts to Boston College facing USC in the Emerald Bowl. Even though the school is too cheap to send the band out there with you guys, I hope you guys score early and often so the administration feels like chumps for choosing the money they'll get from the bowl over the essence of college football…the band.

Free Agency Isn't That Free...Sometimes

Hello, readers. As popular media continues to hit the public with notifications of the deaths of well known individuals, I have a few words about the latest to pass: Steve McNair. This has all the earmarkings of one of those 'If I can't have you, nobody will' love affair endings. I always thought that many athletes led lives where they had a public front complete with wife and kids but privately enjoyed the spoils of their status fueled by alcohol, drugs, fast cars and many mistresses. It made me think a little deeper and I realized that this is something prevalent throughout all aspects of society, so why would it not affect the relatively small pool of individuals blessed with extreme wealth? When we read newspapers about a husband that killed a wife (or vice versa) over infidelities or a spurned lover that had promises made that were not kept who decided to make the decision easier for both parties, we become a bit desenitized by it.


That is why when the news reported that McNair had been shot four times and the other party, presumably, his scorned lover having a single gunshot wound to the side of her head, I came to the conclusion that this was an affair that extended well beyond a 'booty call' or 'part time lover' exploit. (Click here to see pics of McNair and Shahel Kazemi parasailing 0n vacation) This killing was up close and personal similar to the manner in which ex-pro footballer Rae Carruth ordered and witnessed the fatal driveby shooting of the mother of his yet to be born child back in 1999. In the larger scope of things, there are many commonalities that stem from this situation which pervade our world: children who are left fatherless, women who have lost a husband (or provider), promises made that were not kept, secrecy revealed, mistrust surfaced and houses divided...sounds like America in a nutshell huh?


Now, as Snoop Dogg would say, 'back to the lecture at hand'. As many of you know, free agency season has decended upon the NBA. Many teams that are looking for that missing piece of a championship puzzle will overpay a competent to effective player in order to outbid other potential suitors in order get to the NBA Finals. There is much logic that goes into this as a team that makes the playoffs makes more money because they are alloted more home games in which to sell not only tickets, but concession items (beer, hotdogs, banners) and it helps corporate sponsors continue engaging potential customers for their business.


The average lousy team, lets say, the Los Angeles Clippers, rarely sell out any of their alloted 41 home games during the regular season and are always in the Lottery (ie, the air ball generated chance game as to who will have the No. 1 pick in the annual college draft). If it wasn't for revenue sharing among all of the teams in the NBA, the Clips would have closed shop years ago. However, with the NBA having to cut back the purse strings a bit in the wake of the global economic crisis, many teams that have good players but are not good enough for the playoffs are looking to move on a free agent player that could push them towards the goal at hand. The only problem is that free agents (especially veterans) are not really willing to go to mediocre teams; they want a chance to win championships with teams that need a missing piece. Bad teams such as the Clippers not only garnered the No. 1 pick this year in Blake Griffin, they are sadly suffering from the free agency debacle from 2008 win which they signed an obviously declining player in Baron Davis to a large contract in hopes of luring another free agent, Elton Brand to the team. However, Brand reneged on his promise to sign with the Clips and signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.


Now the Clippers are stuck in between phases...do they carry the large Davis contract and try to bolster the team through free agency? Do they trade Davis or another veteran player to another team in order to begin the rebuilding phase with Griffin? With teams not willing to spend the motherlode until 2010 (Lebron James, Dwayne Wade etc.), not many are willing to take on any more large contracts and the free agents they do sign, they give them what is called the mid-level exception, which gives a player approximately $5-6 million per year. Davis for instance, who signed a 5 year, $65 million contract last year and proceeded to have his worst statistical season, prevents teams from taking on such a high salary commitment. The Clips did manage to move PF Zach Randolph's contract off the books this season by trading him to the Memphis Grizzlies, so they may have room next season to go after one of the prized free agents of 2010. The only problem here is that it takes a person to have an incredibly diarreah-like brain fart to sign with them as the team has a history of woeful mismanagment. Therefore, the Clips will have to cross their fingers and hope the team they have presently constituted can be good enough for a playoff run as the money is needed...and the sponsors are praying. However, if a washed up Billy Crystal is the Clips' biggest fan, I feel for the fans and sponsors.


As you can see, free agnecy carries many financial ramifications for a team. There are also risks for the players. A great number of fans continue to ramble on about how players make too much money and they don't care about the game. Well, if these fans were offered 120% more money to jump ship from their present job to a competitor, would they do it? Well...the first thought is yes until one thinks about the monumental life shift that will take place; from a family man's viewpoint, if one already has a fair amount of money saved up, the kids are happy in school where they are and the wife is content why would one leave? From a single man's perspective, however if he has established a place on the social scene, has business interests in the area and is settled in a nice home, why leave? So many factors go into a decision involving a long distance move for a job; a plant manager for GM faced with relocating from Michigan to Alabama is posed the same question. Will you fit in the social scene? Will the kids get the same level of education? Will you be able to establish businesses in this new area? What about race relations?


A good case in point lies with former Orlando Magic F and new Toronto Raptor Hedo Turkoglu. He opted out of his contract with the Magic in order to broker a more lucrative deal with them; however, the Magic decided to trade for Nets F Vince Carter and Turkoglu had to shop his wares on the open market. Shortly after free agency commenced, reports stated that he was set to sign with the Portland Trailblazers, but he about faced and signed with the Raptors. Oh...typical athlete, he just got more money from the Raptors right? Fortunately, that answer is wrong and it is wrong for all the right reasons. When he and his family visited Portland, he did not feel it was a good fit on a social level; the money was right and the team was perfect, but he did not feel he could be the best player he could be without his life off the court in being in order. There was little to no Turkish community and he wanted to be around cultural hub...Toronto, being on the east coast and closer to Turkey was a good fit. He could take direct flights from Canada to his native land and the city offered an international flavor that made him and his family (namely, the wife) happy. In other words, he followed his heart and good sense when he made the move, not just the money...even though the Raptors will still be a crappy team.


Quick trivia question (the winner gets a $5 gift certificate to Dunkin Donuts): Who was the first quarterback taken in the famed 1983 NFL Draft and who was the team that drafted him?


A. Tony Eason
B. Dan Marino
C. Peyton Manning
D. John Elway
*Please respond via aphaleticarticles@gmail.com

Mike & My Youth

Welcome back readers. I have decided to write a quick blog before the 2009 NBA Draft which should be taking place within the next hour or so. However, I must depart from sports for a minute and share my thoughts about the pop icon of the true '80's babies', Michael Jackson, who passed on today. I send condolences to his family and loved ones and I ask the fans who are reading this just go to youtube.com, put on the MP3, spin that CD or go waaaaay back in the day and run that cassette tape.

While on the subject, it made me think not only of my mortality, but also conjured up some of the memories from the past. Yes, I had the Thriller album poster on the wall and begged my mother for jheri curls as a snot nose. I remember the MTV world premier of the 'Thriller' video which was one of the most entertaining videos I've ever seen...to this day (pop stars of today, please take note). The thoughts of Mike defined my youth in many ways from the little kid listening to 'Off The Wall' to the 'Thrilller' era to my teenage years when I grew out of his sound. I am not stunned about this by any stretch because death is a part of life and is never a matter of if, but when for ALL OF US. Enjoy the memories and the music and in celebrating his life, you are indeed celebrating yours as well because many of us grew up with him. I started thinking about all of the things that went on in my life during this time...Jessie Jackson's run for the Presidency, space shuttle Challenger's explosion, the U.S.'s invasion of Grenada, a young hip hop culture emerging, Nancy Reagan's hollow 'Just Say No' campaign, the nasty rumor about 'killer clowns' that drive a white van and hunt kids during Holloween, the Iran Contra Affair, Larry v. Magic, heck, the New England Patriots were in the Super Bowl back in these days... As you can see, the music of Jackson binds into the memories of my youth. For instance, when the 'Thriller' single first dropped, my family was coincidentally on the way to Gary, Indiana (Mike's hometown), for the funeral of my uncle. I had the Fisher Price recorder (stop laughing), pressed to rear speakers of the car and made sure to tape the song as it played at least three times an hour on the radio.

Another quick memory from back in the day: I remember being the chubby 9 year old wearing the tight 'mom chosen' Sears & Roebuck brand 'Husky' jeans with holes in the knees patched up, running around Parkside Christian Academy on a rampage. In my 3rd grade class, there was a kid named 'Reggie' who was a quiet, constructive type of fellow who was the class representative for Michael Jackson. He would wear the high water, leather pants with white socks and well polished penny loafers. He even had the well sought after 'Beat It' and 'Thriller' leather jackets and was sporting white tee shirts before they became very popular. Whereas me and the rest guys, we weren't so fortunate; remember 'Members Only' folks? Zips, the suede Ralph Sampson Pumas w/ fat New York laces, Kangaroos and Izod shirts before they became $100? How about Nike when they were sold at Stride Rite before a gangly kid from North Carolina changed the way the youth viewed footwear? Shoot, I thought argyle was a brand name when I was young...yeah, that's how in touch with style my mother was back in the day. Anyways, Reggie's biggest talent however was his propensity of drawing photos of Mike ALL THE TIME. He studied his 'swag' and drew pictures from the Grammy Award ceremony photos, Mike's public appearances to his album covers. So what he always drew Mike with a huge square head and the body of a toothpick? Thinking back, it kind of looked like a cross between Razor Ramon and one of the Olsen twins. We would even have competitions in class as to who was the best singer: Michael Jackson or Prince? Yeah, these were the times that defined my youth.

Sadly, the Mike I grew up with, which captivated my generation, is not the same as the Mike we've seen over the past 15-20 years. Age had changed his appearance and his view of music/entertainment while many of us children that listened to him became hardened adults...some even fragile in response to the rapid changes of our world. Despite this, I have learned to accept that I too am no longer that young kid that was mezmorized by Mike's talent; my music tastes grew over the years and I am unable to think as I did when I was younger. All I can do now is enjoy the memories and think when Wu-Tang Clan, w/ Gladys Knight sample of course, asked 'Can It Be That It Was All So Simple Then?' it meant more than just the passage of time, it meant that our lives weren't so compartmentalized and complex; and if it was, did we stress it the same we do as adults? It just so happened that Mike provided the soundtrack for many people during that time. But alas, change is a part of life as much as death. It took me a time to realize this and whatever happened in Mike's personal life in recent times will not tarnish my memories of his music...it defined many aspects of the times I 'came up' in.

I hope. Somewhere. Today. At this time. Reggie is a healthy adult and happy with his life. I hope he understands that I along with all of our classmates are thankful he was able to show his love of Mike to all of us. I also hope that he is still not drawing those distorted Mike pics. It is truly sad that young people can so effortlessly show adoration with such genuine fervor while adults seem only to ride with what is the most popular opinion...in a very disingenuous manner. With that, I say to all of his fans, only YOU can keep him alive. I hope you use it as a porthole to examine your lives and understand the unique journey that life gives us all. Play that music and enjoy not only his talent, but your life.

***I will have exciting news available to all members of the AlphaleticArticles blog community soon. It will involve prizes, raffles and good times, so stay posted.

30 Days to Nowhere

Today's trivia question: Who was the last NBA player to average a triple double for an entire season?

I was just thinking about time…about a month to be exact. Like, in a month's time, I will be mentally preparing to go back to Houston and commence my second year of law school. It seemed like it took me a month to write a 'simple' summary judgment during my first year and yes, in the span of one month, I will STILL be sleeping on an army cot in my father's basement with two psychopathic cats. Within this seemingly short (or long, depending on your situation) amount of time, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will have probably flip flopped first place in of the American League East Division multiple times and several NBA players will have found a new place to call home complete with a trophy wife and a 'why should I work hard anymore, I've hit the jackpot' attitude via the spending frenzy that is free agency. Heck, within a month NFL players will be prepping for training camp, Iranians will still be protesting the recent presidential 'election' and we won't know truly, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop. Wonder where I'm going with this huh? Well, in order to get some perspective on my thought process, it may be in your best interest to read my entry, Mike's Con-Vicktion Should Be Change. In that article, I referenced the unusually long jail term (a year and change plus probation plus the complete destruction of his financial viability) former NFL quarterback Michael Vick had to serve in Federal Prison for animal cruelty.

According to various media outlets, NFL wide receiver Donte Stallworth has reached a plea agreement in regards to the vehicular manslaughter charges levied against him in connection with the death of 59 year old father and husband, Mario Reyes on March 14^th. The plea agreement details his punishment for driving while drunk (double Florida's legal limit) and speeding on a Miami street, which is 30 days in jail, 10 years probation and he had to pay the family restitution for the death of Reyes. Now, I am all for good lawyering, but come on now. Vick was practically put under the jail and his life spread eagle for the American public to spit at him and scrutinize his very being. His employer (the NFL) turned its back, the team he played for, the Atlanta Falcons, bid him adieu, the legal system bankrupted him and finally, his creditors decided to cut bait and go after everything he owned. Makes me wonder…dogs and humans. Man's best friend verses a man who was quite possibly a friend to many other people including his family. Federal time for a dog and a short stint in State prison for a human. Is something wrong here? Is this a money issue or is this a dangerous precedent that can trickle down throughout the legal system allowing others to serve the same amount of time for a similar crime? In my opinion, it is a combination of both. Stallworth says in an official statement, "I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy" and further states "I will bear this burden for the rest of my life." It is fitting that he says that he will bear that cross for his entire life, but so will the family of Reyes. In Vick's case, what heirs or family members of the dogs he participated in killing will suffer?

Animal cruelty is a part of all of our lives at some point or another. Whether one participates in legal abuse such as horse racing (which only is legitimized by widespread coverage in the media and mummified millionaire horse owners who throw insane amount of money behind the process of breeding a quality 'stud', those who wear leather or fur clothing, sleep on goose down pillows, eat animal flesh as a part of their diet or love the feel of ivory on their skin as jewelry are connected to cruelty. However, there is commerce circulates behind those various industries and the infrastructure of our economy cannot sustain itself without it…so if dog fighting is not something that can line the pockets of the same elements that dictate the economy, go get Vick, lock him up and destroy his life!

I guess it is an entirely different story when we talk about the killing of another person. It is understandable if someone dies in an accident. It is not understandable when one drinks alcohol until legal inebriation, decides to cruise the streets of Miami at dawn beyond the speed limit and kills another human being. I cannot see the justification for how 30 days in jail and 10 years of probation (with a couple of bucks thrown in for the family to boot) can adequately replace a life of a man. In 'Mike's Con-Vicktion', I touched upon the fact that a dog does not have the capabilities to change the world. If that dog did gain this ability (we'll call him Underdog), it was from the training of a human. The value of a human is immeasurable as one can invent an apparatus that can change other's lives. One has the potential to cure disease, build shelters for others and provide peace and security for those around them. These are things that dogs cannot provide humans unless a dog carries a gene that can cure cancer or be the base for an HIV serum; a dog can only find shelter in what they may dig for themselves or what they find pre-existing in nature. Now dogs can provide security…however, it is only through the hand of a human being. There is no reason Stallworth would serve less jail time than Vick except the possibility that either Reyes' life is looked at as less than a dog, Stallworth greased palms in various places, he had a pit bull (pardon the expression) for a lawyer or maybe a combination of all three elements. Now, I am not saying that Vick should not have been punished at all; I do however believe a more reasonable sentence…like 30 days and probation, seems more appropriate.

Roger Goodell, the commissioner of the NFL has a sterling opportunity to make his league come across a sterling example of management of its 'citizens', the players. Goodell can hand down a punishment that is even more severe than that of Florida courts and will be able to say the league is more intolerant of crimes by its employees than the States are of its citizens if the viability of the league wanes in the eyes of the government (see Major League Baseball Senate Hearings). The Stallworth punishment not only sets forth a slippery slope for high profile individuals but also citizens such as myself…wait…can I pay a family a large sum of money to make them go away? Would his lawyer even talk to me without my father putting up his house (with cot included) as a retainer? Better yet, I would probably be shuttled from my 2000 Mitsubishi Galant straight to prison. I admire the fact that Stallworth owned up to the killing and didn't come up with a 'Juiced-Up' story about how he didn't do it (listening O.J.?), as he comes across as a responsible person. However, in this case, when gets to prison, being a nice guy with a heart of gold will only get him so far. There are going to be guys in the prison he will be incarcerated with that were locked up for a long stretch due to a similar crime, who may resent him. I guess that's what Protective Custody is for eh? At any rate, I hope Vick has his chance to play professional football again. He was the big name in an investigation that included numerous people who were engaged in the same activity. Stallworth acted alone. I still wish him well, but it painfully apparent that a dog's life is worth years while Reyes' life was only worth 30 days. Something needs to change.

The answer to today's question: Oscar 'The Big O' Robertson, who during the 1961-62 regular season averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game.

Coaching With The Best…Well, Until It Counts

Trivia Question and of course, the winner gets nothing: Who was the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns in 1995?

You know, I'd bet some of you would call me a soothsayer or maybe even psychic if Blogger hadn't messed up two days ago. I wrote a very interesting piece about the blunders of certain coaches and how they seem to doom the teams and sometimes the organizations they work with. I discussed Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy's stupid decision to bench point guard Rafer Alston in the second half of Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers due to Alston merely barking back at him during a time out…a very under-represented turning point of the series that is hardly discussed by the major media outlets. It seems that Shaquille O'Neal was right about Van Gundy as being 'the master of panic'. I wrote in that post about how the Lakers will come into Game 5 and apply the same pressure as they did in the second half of Game 4 and we can all sit back and watch the Magic fold up shop and show us all what a real 'magic' disappearing act is supposed to look like. But painfully, it was all for naught and many of you are sitting back saying…Phillip is so full of sh**, whereas I sit back and yell out…DAMN YOU BLOGGER, DAMN YOU!!! Yeah, it may be time to hasten my process of converting this to a full-fledged website and call it a day. But then I think, 'when you are living in the basement of your father's house, sleeping on an army cot and working an internship with no pay within an economic meltdown, it's best to count your blessings and keep writing.' With that, I will…while damning blogger for taking away a potential moment of glory.

Moving on, I wrote about several coaches from several different professional sports leagues that have been notorious for not getting their teams to the top despite their all world coaching credentials and supposed reputation. But before I get into that, I'd like to take some time to congratulate the target of many black women's ire, one Kobe Bryant for winning his fourth NBA title this evening. I wish I could say that he had to work for it in the Finals (which he would have had to if the Cavaliers had been the opponent) but nonetheless, he is writing a nice piece of history for himself. Also, the walking mummy himself, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, won his NBA record 10^th title as a head coach. Now, I respect all that he's done as a coach but…something is telling me that he does not deserve as much due as he is taking from the ABC's and ESPN's of the world. He never really had to put together a really good team himself; he merely had a all world superstar player guzzle his tall, heaping glass of Zen Kool-Aid and put him in a domineering position within a team full of capable role players who are scared to death to let him down…or else be banished to the Sacramento Kings, Oklahoma City Thunder or whatever garbage pail team is out there.

The Lakers, if all stays relatively the same, you know, with Kobe diagramming the plays, Jim Cleamons falling asleep behind the bench, Kurt Rambis trying to look cool in search of his first head coaching job (despite his former appearance) and a hungry group of former first round draft pick flame outs (Adam Morrison and Shannon Brown) on the bench, big things may be on the horizon. As for Orlando, I am not sure the outlook is so rosy. Van Gundy is fast developing a reputation of not being able to push his teams over the top through expert coaching. This is the same guy who coached the 2006 Miami Heat for half the season and general manager Pat Riley, sensing that the moment and stage was too big for Van Gundy to handle (or too big for Riley not be in the spotlight) took over as head coach and pushed them past the soft butt Dallas Mavericks to win the NBA Finals. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds in the following season, but keep this in mind: Dwight Howard has already criticized the coaching of the team and if he and other players feel that Van Gundy's personality will only allow the team to go so far, expect the pink slip to arrive soon after a slow start to the 2009-10 NBA regular season.

Watching 'The Master' Van Gundy conjures up many memories of all of my favorite whipping boy coaches who even when given teams ripe for winning a title, failed to deliver. The first head coach would be former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Now don't get me wrong, Marty was a great coach who inspired his teams to perform beautifully…until when it counted the most. If it wasn't for poor Marty of the NFL's greatest comebacks (or collapses) would not have happened. Anybody remember Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway's famous 'Drive' in the 1986 AFC Championship Game against Marty's Cleveland Browns? Before this game, he delivered a stirring speech to the players that inspires me to laugh off of a chair…it's called 'The Gleam' please click here for a sample of the audio. If anyone had a chance to see the footage of this on the field speech, or has a chance to look it up, please look at the players faces as he speaks…you can see several of them saying 'what the f*** is coach talking about?' 'He never gave a speech like this before any other game this season and he waits until now to give it?' 'What the heck is a gleam anyways?' Well, whatever the gleam was, it obviously was firmly seated on the opponent's side of the field and enabled them to not only pull off 'The Drive' but also helped them win the game in overtime on the strength of a Rich Karlis kick that was obviously wide left and no good click here to view. Marty's wizardry (another Magic reference, ha-ha) didn't stop there either. He coached the dominating and top seeded Kansas City Chiefs team to a quick exit in their first playoff game in 1995 at home no less, and against a lesser opponent. Apparently, place kicker Lin Elliot, who missed three attempts in the game, didn't feel 'the gleam'. New England Patriots fans may remember the 15-1 San Diego Chargers team in 2006-07 that hosted a playoff game against a wild card Patriots team that had no business winning…until Marty's team lost 'the gleam' and the game…again. Sadly, Marty was forced out of the Chargers organization after this game and in my opinion, is stuck with the stigma of being a horrible big game coach…which is something I feel Stan Van Gundy is well on his way to becoming.

I also touched upon another coach whose resume out performed his coaching ability, NHL coach/general manager/president/PR nightmare, Mike Keenan. When I researched him on Wikipedia.org of all places, this one of the opening headlines in his profile states 'His inability to maintain working relationships with players and team organizations has resulted in a lack of long term coaching positions. His coaching resume includes abrupt terminations or resignations from coaching or general manager positions, sometimes at bafflingly inopportune, or peak, moments of his career.' Keenan alienated many of his best players during his NHL odyssey and amazingly his teams accomplished what happens when any polarizing coaching personality does when they leave a team, they got better. Want proof? The Florida Panthers were 5-8-2 in 2003-04 when he was fired and after the 2004-05 lockout season, the team finished with a 37-34 record in the 2005-06 season. Okay, maybe a reach. How about the 1996-97 St. Louis Blues who sported a 15-17-1 record when he left and rallied to make the playoffs with a 36-35-11record. More you ask? How about the 2000-01 Boston Bruins? He led the team to a 33-26-7 non playoff record that season before abruptly resigning. In the 2002-03 season, the team posted a 43-24-6 record which was good enough for a playoff appearance. He was recently fired by the Calgary Flames after the 2008-09 season, when the team lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year. So according to the percentages, I expect the Flames to be right in the thick of things next season especially in light of a potentially large free agent market due to the projected lowering of the salary cap for NHL teams next season (more on that at another time). Now, Keenan did win a Stanley Cup, coaching the 1994 New York Rangers to the title, but I attribute most of the credit to a great all around playoff performance by Mark Messier.

Answer to today's trivia. Remember, the winner gets nothing: Vinny Testaverde. Kudos to those who got it right. Now a follow up question: who was his back up?

A)Todd Philcox
B) Eric Zier
C) Brady Quinn

Please send your answers by either responding with a comment or send an email to alphaleticarticles@gmail.com

What Happened To the NBA's Last Great White 'Nopes'?

Quick Trivia: What movie featured this line: "That is genuine Alpaca...you blot that s**t"
The winner gets nothing...

Ahh...kicking back and watching the NBA Finals...the television/media's annual worship of the individual over the team. Last year it was Kevin Garnett and his long, winding road towards his first title. Great ratings. The constant vignettes and camera shots and his hugging the Larry O'Brien Trophy in hopes that he will become 'certified'. Now that the NBA has been deprived of it's LeBron-Kobe Finals, it appears that this year will be the Kobe Love Fest. His search for individual vindication as his career is entering into the winter years is becoming the story de jure of the day. 'He never needed Shaq' the Kobe apologists will say when or if he wins his fourth ring. Great ratings. The San Antonio Spurs have been consistently good over a decade now with a constant nucleus and interchangeable parts during a crippling salary cap era in the NBA. Team basketball greatness to behold right? Well, not according to the viewers. Yes, we are in the front row of the Kobe Bryant NBA (not basketball) Hall of Fame, 'we forgive you for tarnishing us, now pass the baton to LeBron' ceremony. It is wierd to see this, but Bryant's road to this point has been rocky to say the least. Throughout all of his accomplishments, there have been...rocky roads.

Yeah, we can say that Kobe has experienced his fair share of individual disappointments...the failure to successfully cheat on his wife in Colorado, the failure to keep his mouth shut about other people's personal lives (Shaq's hush money...shhh) and the failure to get the young center Andrew Bynum out of LA and into Minnesota in exchange for Garnett and another championship ring. Now, I am not being judgmental because I have failed in many areas of my life and disappointed many...shoot, I dropped out of high school at one time, took the 10-year plan for college, failed to read 'Wuthering Heights' in the 10th grade then got caught with Cliff Notes by the teacher, and if you ask the City of Boston, I've failed to pay more than a few parking tickets (and no, there is no hush money for you). If you ask Kobe, he will emphatically say that Phillip will NEVER have the kind of money Kobe has earned in only ONE year of his employment in the NBA during Phillip's life and promptly tell all of us to put that in our collective glass pipes and smoke it...while wearing Nikes and eating Nutella for desert after downing a McDonald's value meal.

However, Kobe and I are not the only ones to have failed at something in life. Look at the NBA for instance. The league has been searching high, wide, far and long for the replacement for Larry Bird as the league's 'Great White Hope'. The NBA has cycled through numerous names; some we know and other we don't...players such as Keith Van Horne, Micheal Smith, Bobby Hurley, ALL of the Barry Brothers, Shawn Bradley, Wally Szerbiak and Ashton...ahem, Kyle Korver. That is just a minor sampling and if any of the readers know of more, please let me know. But back to the subject at hand; I was watching the opposing benches during the game tonight and noticed two players who many think of as disappointments on the bench of both the Magic and the Lakers. I noticed the NBA's last two incarnations of the 'Hope' in Adam Morrison of the Lakers (in civvies, no less) and Orlando's J.J. Reddick still riding the bench and playing wide-open look, 'garbage time' during blow outs or just playing because nobody else is effective. Back in 2006, David Stern and the NBA could not have imagined something like scene we saw on the bench of both teams in the NBA Finals. Look at the draft reports of Reddick and Morrison respectively:

Reddick: Reddick’s unbelievable range and scoring ability will definitely intrigue most NBA teams. However, he will need help to get his shot off in the NBA where he will be guarded by much larger and athletic men. Will struggle defending NBA guards due to his size and lack of NBA-level quickness. Still, will be very valuable to a team running him off of picks (like Detroit’s Richard Hamilton) or a team with an inside presence that is doubled down on frequently (leaving J.J. open behind the arc).

Morrison: Watching him play in a setting like this, it’s hard not to come away with the feeling that his impact in the NBA will be almost immediate. Granted he lands on the right team (Toronto, Charlotte or Portland, for example), he has to be considered the early favorite for Rookie of the Year honors. That isn’t saying that he doesn’t still have room to continue to grow as a player and improve upon his weaknesses, though, as a new dimension to his slashing game will be opened up as he improves on his strength through work in the weight room.

As you can see, Reddick was obviously lesser thought of by the NBA scouts, but nonetheless, he was not a Euro-Import that was drafted rather high. He was a home grown talent like Morrison and both were the faces of their respective high profile college programs. Morrison was drafted 3rd overall by the Charlotte Bobcats, a move that signified Michael Jordan's first draft pick as an executive of the Bobcats...now remember, this is the guy that drafted Kwame Brown for the Washington Wizards...not exactly a good track record. Morrison tore his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his right knee prior to the 2007 season after a fair, but underwhelming rookie season. Morrison was subsequently traded during the 2008-09 regular season along with another first round flame out in Shannon Brown for Vladimir Radmonovich.

We no longer see the cool 'stache or the moppy hairdo that enthralled America during his college career; just a shaved head and leisure suit, wandering around during timeouts with nobody to talk to. Meanwhile, Reddick drafted with the 11th pick of the 2006 NBA Draft struggled just to get on the floor during his first season. He even blogged about his frustrations and requested that his agent seek a trade...and here he is (upper left), on the bench during the Finals wearing that cool Magic warmup jacket sitting with Tony Battie, who last saw his heyday with the 2002 Boston Celtics. Yeah...quite the investment eh?

It can be construed as disappointing seeing these guys tonight given that many people thought that at least one of these two players would be superstars in the NBA. Apparently I am not the only person who thinks of these two when watching the Finals either. I was researching the Internet on this Finals subplot between two overly hyped friends and found this excerpt on a HoopsHype.com forum: That's right people. The most wished-for matchup of our lives has finally come to life. Mr. JJ "All-time ACC" Reddick is going to battle against Adam "I swear I was great in College" Morrison in what will be a series for decades to come. I can't believe it's finally here. I'm so anxious to see which superstar will outshine the other and lift their team to that sweet smell of victory. To read the rest, click here .

It is a sad tale to have watched unfold as even I thought Morrison would at least be a functional player by this time; however in basketball, ACL injuries can be a tricky issue based on the movements a player must make on the court. I still believe that Morrison can be a good player as long as he is in Phil Jackson's 'triangle offense' and he can be a good spot up shooter and maybe even do some slashing and penetrating. As far as Reddick...hmm. I am not sure where he will be in the future. He just doesn't seem like an NBA player that can be effective outside of his comfort zone. Are these players disappointments? It depends on who you ask. I never really expected much from either of the guys as Morrison never consistently faced top shelf competition in college playing with Gonzaga whereas Reddick's weaknesses were well disguised by a veteran coaching staff at Duke University. I'm not saying these guys can be the next coming of Woody Harrelson's character in 'White Men Can't Jump' either. They need to be professionals in the truest sense and find a role. Role players come in all colors, sizes and mentalities. Ever hear of guys such as Scott Wedman, Andrew Toney, Steve Kerr or Vinnie Johnson? These guys were too limited to be starters on good teams but found solid roles on championship teams. This is where Morrison and Reddick must start.

There is no doubt in my mind that the NBA was seeking to expand its audience on the backs of both Reddick and Morrison and now it seems all for naught. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Dwayne Wade are the present and future faces of the league. There is no Larry Bird, John Stockton, Tom Chambers, Kevin McHale or even a Jack Sikma to speak of nowadays although we do have a declining Steve Nash who won two consecutive NBA MVP awards. I am not writing this trying to play a shallow race card at all; I am merely pointing out how anytime a white American basketball player excels on the collegiate level and is considered draft worthy by the NBA and its media affiliates, there is a well spring of support pushing them into the national consciousness. It is not fair to the players and it is equally embarrassing for the league when we see the state of its former darlings in a suit on the bench or jacking up 3's with 2 minutes left on the wrong end of a blowout. I guess that's life and sports eh? Nevertheless, I wish both men success in their careers and maybe one day, they will make their mark on the league.

Today's answer of the trivia question is: American Gangster! A great line by Denzel Washington in that movie. By the way, did you know that his son, RB John David Washington was an undrafted free agent signee by the St. Louis Rams in 2008?

Mike's Con-Vicktion Should Be Change

I am sitting here mentally refreshing myself from a very hard first year of law school. Just thinking about how much home has changed…or did I? I think about all of the things that made Boston, MA also made me and at times, I reflected the worst of my hometown while at other times, I displayed many of the positive things. The whole goal in life is to get better and recover from the mistakes we made and if we do something well, to continue doing it. I was far from a choir boy in my formative years and I still made some serious gaffes in my young adult years. However, through it all, I maintained a positive view of the future and took the words of the more experienced elders to heart. Believe it or not, I ended up in the place where I always wanted to be: law school. I also have put forth the dedication of providing readers with informative nuggets of my personal insight on the world of sports. To all of my readers, you are an inspiration for me to continue to do this and get better at it the more I put my fingertips to the keys. Despite the challenges to my will this past law school year, I believe I have come to realize what is important to me and how I can utilize my newfound knowledge of the law for the betterment of not only myself, but the community at large.

While on the subject of my personal growth, I cannot gloss over the hot button topic of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick and his journey back to his profession despite public outcries to bar him from his chief source of employment. Yes, what he participated in was egregious to say the least and his actions in regards to his forthrightness in response to questions of his knowledge of dog-fighting on his private property did not inspire faith in his character. As a result of his actions, he spent over a year in federal prison, which in my opinion was way too excessive. Leonard Little, a defensive lineman for the St. Louis Rams killed a woman in a car accident years ago and did less time in prison than Vick. Former NFL running back Lamar Smith (pictured on far left) was impaired while driving which led to an accident and the permanent paralysis of a teammate, yet he was allowed to come back to the NFL and play another day after serving time in prison. In 1984, former NHL player Craig Mac Tavish (pictured on the left) was involved in a fatal car accident after leaving a Boston area nightclub that killed a woman. He spent a year in prison and was allowed to return to the league and play with the Edmonton Oilers. Now, I understand the PETA side of the argument in regards to Vick, which predicates its argument on the cruelty of defenseless animals and making an example of those who participate in such activities. It is no question that Vick became the face of animal cruelty, but is this enough to keep him from earning a living? Does the public at large have the right to deprive one of pursuing their happiness even after he has served his debt to society in prison?

I firmly believe that the life of a human being is worth more than an animal based on the one thing that separates us: the potential to change the world. Any individual has the potential to alter the lives of others at any time while animals, which can provide happiness and are sources of unconditional love on a level that even humans at times cannot match, still cannot change the world. Why would anyone feel that Vick should be deprived of his right to make a living based on his mistakes in regards to dogs while others who kill humans can return to society and take advantage of gainful employment? Some may say he can work as a painter or in construction; he can bag groceries or drive trucks across the United States right? However, why should he be forced to do so? Is making money based on a physical talent punishable a privilege that should be taken away based on mistakes not related to what one does in their line of work? An elementary teacher who gets caught in a sex sting operation with a school aged child being used as bait is understandably a good reason to keep that individual out of the classroom; but what does dog fighting or killing dogs have to do with playing quarterback in the NFL? Are people of the belief that because he made a large amount of money playing professionally, he should be punished by not being able to do so based on his mistakes? If so, that is a poor reason. If these people understand anything about the elements that make this country different from others is one always has a chance to redeem themselves; they have a change to make something out of nothing and can change their lives based on the work they do for themselves and others. Although there are portions of American society that take on the distinctions of a caste system, the positive elements of the Constitution still lay out a classical view of American life…life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. It is not meant to be construed as life and liberty if the public at large allows and pursuit of happiness being conditional on how one is perceived.

I see our society moving towards a culture of taking away rather than providing…we are living in tough times where funding towards education, retirement and care for the mentally/physically impaired are being cut by governmental entities in all states and federal levels. It is not a good precedent to bar a person no matter what their socioeconomic or celebrity status from being able to earn money based on their talents. Michael Vick needs to play football as that is his skill, just as another person is a horseshoe maker and another is an auto mechanic. It is not fair, nor feasible to force him to do something else based on his mistakes. There also appears to be a little jealously abound because there are many of us who will never make the money Vick has made in a year during their lifetimes who love to see another knocked off the pedestal of wealth and cast down into the tax brackets of the ‘commoner’.

I believe that a trash collector who is convicted of a death of another human being or animal should not be forced to sweep floors in a warehouse after serving his time in prison and has adequately showed his/her positive changes. I hope Vick has a chance to resume his career in the NFL and has made the necessary improvements as a man in order to ensure he does not put himself in a similar position in the future. I would hope that any of my law school colleagues, if they make mistakes in their professional career that are not serious enough to disbar them will have the opportunity to redeem themselves. That is what it is all about…that is what’s fair. Good luck Mike.