Cleveland Born & Cleveland Bred. But Will He Stay, or Go Instead?

A few weeks back we had a very delightful conversation about LeBron James and his NBA future. With the end of the semester approaching I think it would be a tragedy if I didn't dedicate at least one blog towards this debate.

To me it seems that everyone outside the state of Ohio, is under the impression that LeBron will jump ship the first chance he gets, and run to some big market team like the Knicks or Nets. It could just be the wine and gold jaded glasses, but I don't see it happening. If LeBron stays true to his word about winning championships, and that's a big if, than NY or NJ doesn't seem like a logical fit. Both NY and NJ are years away from a championship, and maybe even the playoffs. The addition of LBJ would likely increase their chances but it still seems like an improbable feet. If you remember his first few years with the Cavaliers, they were anything but extraordinary. Some might say that was because he was young, and his skills were unrefined, or he lacked a jump shot. Well he won an MVP last year and still couldn't reach the finals! Plus I still don't think he has a jump shot, at least not the other night in Memphis...or Houston. The truth is he is an amazing player, but one player no matter who he is, is not capable of carrying an entire team to a championship.

I think that the Cavs have put LBJ in the best position possible, in order to win a Championship. I think the only placed LeBron could be, that would give him a better chance to win, is LA. But barring some kind of video game style trade that would never happen. So like I said, if he wants to win I think he's in the best place.

Another reason for him to stay is the money. Statistically speaking the Cavs have the ability offer him more money than any other team. Although he would have the opportunity to be more of a global icon in NY, they can't pay him more than the Cavs. Which brings me to another point. How much more of a global icon does he need to be? Are their basketball fans around the world saying "I would watch the NBA if only their was a 6"8' 265lb freight train of muscle, who could barrel towards the basket shaking fouls to the side and still have the ability to "throw the hamma down!" Not likely. LeBron James is an international commodity whether he is in NY or CLE or Bowling Green or Tibet. People know who he is.

I could find a thousand reasons for him to stay in Cleveland, but Knicks fans could find a thousand reasons for him to leave. The truth is I'm speaking from a completely biased point of view and have absolutely no understanding of what he will really do. I for one think he already knows where he will end up, but besides him no one does, and no one will until he makes his decision public.

Halftime Inebriation

So recently Ron Artest has been spilling his secrets to the media, and appearing halfway naked on Jimmy Kimmel. He recently admitted to alcohol use during half time of NBA games! I'm really going to make this post quick, frankly because I hate Ron Artest. The truth is, it was a stupid thing to do and a stupid thing to admit. His actions definitely hurt himself and his teammates, and probably jeopardized his teams chances to win. I think that even though these events happened in the past, that David Stern should ultimately punish Artest for his actions.

On a side note. Artest's admission to alcohol use at half time led me to another question. And I'm speaking based on assumptions here, but I can assume that someone knew about Artest's bad habit. I mean its hard to sneak a brown bag full of liquor into an NBA locker room without someone noticing. So assuming that, why didn't someone call him out on it? Why wasn't he punished by his team for his actions? Are NBA players, or athletes in general, reaching a level of superstardom where they believe themselves to be untouchable and above the rules? I think so. I don't know how else to explain it, other than Ron Artest is an idiot.

But if Artest liked to drink at half time of games, than why did he get so upset in Auburn Hills when a fan tried to give him a beer? He must be a Bacardi and Cola kind of guy.

Tiger Woods

Like most of you, I'm tired of the whole Tiger Woods Meltdown series that apparently has taken the place of Sport Center on ESPN. But I now see that Tiger's actions have started to affect his sponsorship. Although each sponsors maintains that the following decisions were made long before Tiger's indiscretions, I don't buy it. ESPN has reported that Gatorade is dropping the Tiger Woods Focus drink. Of course the company says that the decision was not based on his extra-marital affairs...I don't buy it. Secondly the Swiss watch company Tag Heuer has announced that they will be removing images of Tiger Woods face plates from a series of expensive watches. They too say it had nothing to do with Tigers affair.

To me this Tiger Woods debacle is starting to remind me of the last two seasons of Lost, I did find this stuff to be interesting. I original thought that Tiger would suffer a little bit from his actions, but never this much. This morning on ESPN I saw a graphic that showed Tiger's fan approval rating, starting from 2007. In 07 Tiger had an 83% fan approval rating. One week ago his rating was at 56%. This morning his fan approval rating was 38%!! That's unbelievable. At one point in time this guy had a higher approval rating than President Obama! I also heard that Tiger has not had a prime time ad, meaning one of the many commercials he's featured in, since Nov. 29th!

I'm honestly shocked at the impact that this situation has had on Tiger and his professional career. Although I don't agree with the actions that Tiger took, I do believe that this personal matter shouldn't affect his professional life has much as it has. But than again, he has been portrayed as a perfect family man and husband. Looks like that worked out well Tiger.

Ex-Ref Donaghy appears on "60 Minutes"

An article on ESPN describes the actions of former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, after his "60 Minutes" interview on Sunday night. Donaghy as most of you will remember was the center of controversy after his involvement with gambling was revealed, in regards to NBA games. Donaghy, who was recently freed after a 15 month prison sentence for his part in the gambling scandal, has been on the circuit since his release, trying to mark it a tell-all book. However, Donaghy had his book pulled by the publisher due to liability reasons, and it now appears that he has turned towards other means in order to regain the National spotlight.

His "60 Minute" interview revealed many details that had not previously been released by investigators, or by the NBA, and appear to add a new spin to the controversy. Henry Abbott, writer for ESPN and author of Donaghy sticks with his story, described Donaghy as appearing "vague","combatant", "indignant", and "controversial" in his interview with "60 Minutes" but despite all those ill natured tendencies, Donaghy has stuck with his story. Donaghy claims that he never altered a game in which he wagered, and that he only placed bets based on the biases of other NBA referees. Although Donaghy's book was cancelled he did offer some telling information in his "60 Minute" interview. Making accusations of referee bias and favoritism against some of the top referees in the NBA, including Joey Crawford and Steve Javie.

In my opinion whatever Donaghy does next, the damage has already been done. Although his credibility is low, he still possesses the power to destroy the reputation of NBA officials at a point where the sports popularity is at a near all time high. His unethical decision to wager on the sport in which he worked has given David Stern an extremely large obstacle to overcome. Stern's actions, in regards to officiating, in the next couple of years will determine his legacy as a successful commissioner, and the future success of the NBA.

Reaction to Ethical Issue Presentation: Legarrette Blount

On Monday Dustin gave an Ethical Issue Presentation on Oregon Running Back Legarrette Blounte. I thought he gave a really good presentation on the subject, but just wanted to reflect on a few things that were brought up during the discussion.

My initial reaction to the incident was for Blounte to be suspended indefinitely, that way Head Coach Chip Kelly could discuss his status with the University and NCAA before reaching a decision. When he decided to suspend him for the year I wasn't surprised, because I thought the punishment fit the crime. What Blounte did was inexcusable and Kelly's decision was completely within reason. Of course, Blounte has recently been reinstated by Kelly because he had met certain academic, among other things, requirements. A lot of people found this to be unfair and that Kelly should stick with the punishment he administered the first time. I however tend to agree with Kelly. If Kelly gave Blounte a list of requirements that would get him back on the field, and Blounte met them than why shouldn't he be allowed to compete? I think that some people feel Kelly went soft on Blounte but I believe that the punishment still taught him a valuable lesson and he probably deserves a second chance.

The other issue that I wanted to address is something that came up during the class discussion. I'm not sure who made the point, but someone stated that the University of Oregon should give Blount another chance because suspending him was ruining his future in the NFL. I completely disagree with that idea. As a collegiate athlete your required to behave yourself and stay out of trouble, its not the university's job to do that for you. As an athlete if you can't keep yourself out of trouble its not the university's fault if your draft status takes a hit. The university is their to help make you better as an athlete and a person, but they don't have any responsibility for your future. If I got caught cheating as a student, no one would be demanding the university give me a second chance because they're ruining my future.

In the end I think that Kelly and the University acted appropriately, in both suspending and reinstating Blounte. And I also feel that the its the responsibility of the athlete to keep themselves in a position to play, not the university, in order to compete for a chance at the next level.

Reaction to Ethical Issue: Should the media be allowed into the personal lives of athletes?

On Monday Nick and Shaun gave a presentation on the issue of media intruding into the personal lives of athletes. I thought they did a really good job of educating the class about the issue and providing some very good examples, where the media had effected the lives of professional athletes (Alex Rodriguez, Sean Avery).

When I think about the issue I only see an ethical dilemma, but not a legal issue. Although intruding into the personal lives of athletes seems like a unethical thing to do their is currently no laws to prevent the media from doing so. When an athlete is at a game, or out in public, they're fair game to the media frenzy of paparazzi's. The only legal issue that presents itself is when members of the media break the law in order to get a picture. Things like trespassing, breaking and entering, or harassing. If athletes want their privacy than they probably picked the wrong profession.

I think its unfortunate that the media has the ability, and the right, to intrude into the lives of professional athletes but I believe that its a burden that comes with the territory, so to speak. As long as the public is interested with the lives of athletes the media will continue to poke and prod into their personal lives.

Record Setting Weekend

In a weekend that seemed to be relatively uneventful, except for the 9th inning rally by those damn Yankees, a lot of players managed to earn their place in the record books.

Starting in Tennessee Chris Johnson set the franchise record for rushing yards in a single game with 228. Johnson had TD runs of 89 and 52 yards, while Jags RB Maurice-Jones Drew had TD runs of 79 and 80 yards, and the two combined to set an NFL record for 4 rushing TD of more than 50 yards in one game. The first time in NFL history

Heading further North to Giants Stadium, where the Jets and Dolphins played on Sunday, two more records were broken. My boy Teddy, Ball Game, Ginn Jr. ran his way into the NFL record books with 2 kickoff returns for TD's in the 3rd quarter. Ginn became the first player in NFL history with 2 TD's returns, of any kind, for at least 100 yards. Ginn is also 2nd in NFL history for return yards in a single game with 299. Jason Taylor also set the NFL record for fumble recoveries returned for a TD in a career, with 6.

Back to that Phils and Yankees series. Alex Rodriguez is now tied for the most RBI's in Yankee history, for a single postseason, with 15. Odds are, A rod will break that mark before the series is over. He is also only 4 RBI's behind the MLB record for RBI's in a single postseason, set by Sandy Alomar Jr.in 1997. Two other players have since reached the feet.

I could be missing a few records from the weekend, but those are the ones that I can recall from memory, and by watching Sportcenter this morning. Since we talk about the history of sport in this class, I thought it was fitting to make note of some record setting accomplishments from the weekend.