Congraulating the Ones Who Prove Us Wrong

The one thing most humans find hard to do is admit they were wrong about individual based on their ability to do something or actions they do. Those, who achieve things many people it was impossible are believe to be call haters. The term hater to me is like being called a racist these days. In the fact when people looked at the individual who they have doubts in history, especially since it is hard to know a person well. This goes for teams as well, and this past weekend me and countless of others have to admit we were wrong about few teams. 

One such team was Manchester United, as a Chelsea fan; I thought Chelsea could easily over take Man U and win the Premier League title. Then, on May 8 in the winner take all match between the teams. Chelsea lost to Manchester United (2-1). And it was a matter of time when Man U finally wraps this race up. This past Saturday Manchester United did their job by earning a draw against Blackburn and winning the Premier League title. Sunday's match against Blackpool will be nothing more than a two hour long celebration and will be fill with complaints from a few people (mostly from fans whose teams are facing relegation). Anyway, I did my job by congratulating the guys in the Red jerseys.

Being a fair sport is better than being a hater.

Among the teams, most people thought were not good enough to do something great, like the Miami Heat are on in the Eastern Conference Finals. Another team from the NBA who many people believe cannot do what they are doing is the Dallas Mavericks, who they swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the playoffs. Now, they are in the Western Conference finals and done quite well in Game 1. The San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks of the NHL are in the Western Conference Finals after years of people who watch hockey believe they are nothing more than chokers on the biggest stage. These teams are proving us wrong in the way we think of them in sports and should be congratulated and be happy for their success.   

Closer to the End of the BCS

Many people know that the postseason festival in Division I football called Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and the rest of the bowl season is close to be over, as far as most college football fans are concern. The Department of Justice sent a letter to the NCAA seeking an explanation on how the BCS does not violate anti-trust laws. Some of the questions they asked are very important since NCAA members are mostly public colleges, and universities in other words they have taxpayers’ money as part of their income.  The questions are why the leaders of these bowl games cannot make enough revenue to the point they are no longer dependent on tax payer funds, and student fees. How the money they received does is spent, is it spent legally or illegally? Lastly, why there is not a playoff? In addition, what is the cost benefit analyst of not holding a playoff in Division I football?  These are lovely questions to ask and possibly force the NCAA to somewhat change its tune on a playoff in the highest level of football, but the a few questions missing.

1.  How does an event planner that has an event at a time of year where most people spending money on gifts and travel makes almost 800,000 dollars per year? 
2.  Who is responsible for the unsold tickets to the games?

Those of the some of the questions I would ask if I was in the Department of Justice.  Well, the BCS is close to being over and playoff is coming soon.

Please Sell

To me, owning a professional sports team is like owning a vintage Ford Mustang. You have to do everything in your power to either maintain its value or make it appreciated over time. Some of the ways to do that is drive it every once in a while to show the world you have; make sure all the parts are right and the replacement part are good for the car, and do not use it as the main source of transportation. Unfortunately, some of the sports owners do not heed to this train of thought and they do not care as long as they have other people's more and power to hold cities hostage for new stadiums. The things they do are similar to the worst Mustang owner, like let, it sit there and collect dust; make poor decisions on personal, or use the team as the only source of income. These things are not acceptable, and must sell to someone who cares about team, more than just a personal ATM machine.

I know these owners have the right to use the team they own however, they want. Remember this, owning a professional sports team is more of a privilege than a right; as this privilege can be brought, but it has to be proving you can make money outside the team. The Maloof brothers for example decided to build a casino; instead of making investment elsewhere. Now they want to move the Kings to Anaheim from Sacramento, because they claim they are broke. Lucky for the people of Sacramento the Kings will stay for another year; this time should be used to find a new owner. Another example of bad ownership is Frank McCourt the co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodger; who some believe should never own the Dodgers in the first place.  One of these days, people will get tired of these shenanigans, and the owners of these types of teams will pay. So, do us the fans a favor and sell the team before it gets out of hand.

NBA Playoff Preview: Western Style

Click here for Part I

Before I begin the preview of the best conference of the NBA, let us deal with a team that is not in the playoffs. That team will be the Houston Rockets, who missed out of the playoff for the western conference; simple because there were eight better teams ahead of them. If they were in the Eastern Conference, they will be the sixth seed and playing against Boston in first round; who knows it might be Houston winning that series. Everyone knows; they will be screwed out of something at least once in their lives. With the sore loser out of the way, not let us go to the hardest and deepest conference in the NBA.

San Antonio v. Memphis:  All right, San Antonio fans you own the Los Angeles Clippers a favor for beating Memphis the other night and as a result playing Memphis in the first round. If Memphis would have won that game, the Spurs will get a tougher opponent in New Orleans Hornets. This series is youth verse experience, in which to me experience will win out, even though the experience team is dealing with injury issues. It doesn’t matter; the Spurs should win this series in five games.

Los Angeles v. New Orleans: While a match-up against San Antonio would have been much better for New Orleans than against the Lakers. The Lakers are much deeper team and more experience, and how awesome the game between Sacramento and LA the other night and the much need win they got. As they wanted no part of Portland, at least the Lakers will have a much better time this round. Lakers in five games.

Dallas v. Portland: Is it funny that so many teams were whatever it takes to avoid playing against one team. That team is Portland Trail Blazers, one reason is that this team is much better after trading for Gerald Wallace and makes it easier for Brandon Roy. As for Dallas, they are the most disrespected 50-plus win team in the league. To most, people this dangerous series, as one team being underappreciated against one being over hyped. Sadly, this is a toss-up and either team could win it but I will go with Dallas in seven grueling games.

Oklahoma City v. Denver:  This series is about two teams who change themselves after making a trade in the middle of the season and the success could be determined after the outcome of the series. Thunder top two players in Kelvin Durant and Russell Westbrook had improve since they time playing for Team USA in the World Championships, but made big strides after they traded for Kendrick Perkins. This trade had made them bigger, stronger, and tougher against teams like the Lakers, Spurs, and every team in the Eastern Conference. As for Denver, they had become a more athletic team since trading away Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. While they had shredded away their experience, this Denver team is more entertaining and has a last shooter by committee. Denver is dangerous, but Oklahoma City is a team on a mission; I am taking the Thunder in six games.

The predictions are in, and the games will start. I hope that I do better here, than I did in the NCAA Tournament. Enjoy the playoffs everyone as this could be the last NBA playoffs for quite a while.