- 12:33 PM
- 11/17/24
Sorry, I should have been more specific. If a fan crosses the line with the intent to hurt a player, then I think there is an argument to be made about retaliating.
Of course, if there happens to be security around to stop this person, then all the better.
I am not advocating vigilante justice, and I am certainly not celebrating the violence (nor am I seeking to justify it).
posted by jacknose at 10:57 AM on November 22, 2004
"I can't believe the number of people on SportsFilter who believe it's acceptable for Artest to go charging six rows into the crowd throwing haymakers, hoping one of the targets is the fan who threw a beer at him."
rcade, while I do not disagree with your sentiments, it is unfair to reinterpret what really happened.
It is typical for us to view an event and then move further away from its reality in our descriptions.
If you view the tape, Artest did not go into the stands "throwing haymakers." Jackson did.
He aggressively grabbed the boy who he thought threw the drink.
(The boy later said that Artest was asking if he was the one who threw the drink at him.)
I am not excusing the action.
I am just stating what happened and what didn't happen.
I do not believe Artest threw one punch while he was in the stands.
Again, he should not have been in the stands, but it is unfair to suggest that he went "into the crowd throwing haymakers."
Here's the question:
We all agree that there is an important line that must be respected between the fans and the players.
If a fan crosses the line and goes onto the field of play, most people agree that it is okay for a player to retaliate.
We treat this line as "sacred."
But what happens when objects cross the line?
I think there must be more discussion on this kind of transgression and the proper response.
(And I am not suggesting that the proper response is to let players run into the stands.)
It is one thing to hurl verbal insults; it is quite another to hurl actual objects.
While it is reasonable for the NBA to tell its players to withstand verbal insults, is it reasonable for the NBA to tell its players to withstand objects being thrown at them?
If so, then I think there needs to be definite rules and procedures in place.
Here's a suggestion.
If a fan throws any object at a visiting player, then the visiting team is able to immediately withdraw from the field of play and the home team must forfeit the game.
It would be wrong for the NBA to require players to withstand objects being thrown at them but also insist that they continue to play in the arena.
posted by jacknose at 10:09 AM on November 22, 2004
It must be good to be a Bostonian right now (says the sad, sad Chicagoan).
posted by jacknose at 11:41 PM on October 24, 2004
Would you really do that if you had a private island?
posted by jacknose at 08:38 PM on October 20, 2004
it looks like Boozer totally screwed the Cavs. I have to agree with dusted and tieguy. $28 million is a lot of money to give up. Cavs admittedly took a chance (rolled the dice). I am sure they thought that no one else would offer Boozer 70% more money. It turns out someone did. Bad move. I wonder if Boozer will struggle in the West as a hardworking undersized PF.
posted by jacknose at 08:11 AM on July 09, 2004
Fantasy Football, I deleted your self-link, which did not add anything to your comment (in fact, it was a bit out of context). Let dusted be your Obi-Wan Kenobi. He has led you correctly. And, yes, welcome.
posted by jacknose at 07:15 PM on June 08, 2004
I was sorely disappointed when the Pacers lost, but I have to admit that I admire Pistons' relentless defense. (Or maybe I envy it.) I didn't think I would be interested in the finals, but I find myself drawn to the series because of the Pistons. With that said, I find it disturbing that the Eastern Conference is being depicted as having lousy offense, instead of having exceptional defense. During the 7th game of the Eastern Conference finals, one of the announcers said that the Lakers must be salivating over the dismal offensive display (as opposed to worrying about the stifling defense of both teams). I agree with Dumars, who was quoted in the article: "When a team doesn’t shoot well, I don’t care who you are, it’s hard to say it was the defense that did it." I suppose if the Lakers continue to shoot under 40% we will hear that they are in a slump, as opposed to crediting the defense of the Pistons.
posted by jacknose at 03:16 PM on June 08, 2004
Okay, I surrender. I like-uh thee sport you call cycling. (Or maybe I am just a sucker for corporate marketing.)
posted by jacknose at 02:15 PM on June 04, 2004
Okay, I surrender. I like-uh thee sport you call football.
posted by jacknose at 01:49 PM on June 04, 2004
[continuing the derail of my own thread] I've seen it. If rollerblade basketball does exist, it seems completely unnecessary. (Of course, most sports are unnecessary.) Rollerbladers need to either swerve around cones or play hockey. If you think about it, almost all sports could be done on rollerblades (except swimming).
posted by jacknose at 03:42 PM on January 19, 2004
A very provocative and informative article. He makes a compelling case for the limitations of globalization, while also offering insight into the world and culture of soccer. I learned quite a bit. For example, he writes: Three years ago, England, birthplace of the beautiful game, handed over its national team to a Swedish manager named Sven Goran Eriksson. It is difficult to convey just how shocked English fans felt. For much of the nation’s soccer history, beloved, quintessentially English characters had run the team. These “lads,” typically ex-players, often turned a blind eye when their squads drank lager on the eve of big games, and forgave men for lack of training so long as they spilled their guts on the field. For all their inspirational power, though, these English managers tended to lack tactical acumen. They recycled stodgy formations that encouraged the same, ineffectual mode of attack—a long ball kicked over the midfield to a lone attacker, a style that perfectly reflected stereotypes about stiff-upper-lip English resoluteness. Their lack of creativity was evident in the national trophy case. Despite England’s singular place in the game’s history, it has won a lone World Cup (in 1966, as the tournament’s host team), and not a single European championship. Is that true?
posted by jacknose at 04:12 PM on January 13, 2004
Donnie Walsh has always been known for his loyalty (see Reggie Miller, et al), which has made Pacers a reputable organization. Players dig loyalty (see the demise of Krause and the Bulls). Hopefully, Bird's actions yesterday will not sour players, namely O'Neal, toward the Pacers. I, for one, didn't mind Thomas. Of course, if Carlisle comes in and transforms the Pacers into NBA Champions, I won't complain. I'll jump on the Bird-Carlisle wagon.
posted by jacknose at 05:07 PM on August 28, 2003
Yes, boxing needs some desperate help. I think the sport needs to get back on primetime network television. I have such fond memories of watching Ali (and hearing Cosell) on television with my dad. This PPV and cable route is killing the sport. (Not to mention the fragmentation of boxing, Don King, and the lack of talent and charisma.)
posted by jacknose at 03:18 PM on June 18, 2003
name the best college player who was HOPELESS in the pros. Steve Alford. NCAA Champion. NCAA 1st Team All-American. Olympic Gold Medal Winner.
posted by jacknose at 09:53 AM on June 18, 2003
Congrats to the Spurs and Robinson. No one touch Jermaine O'Neal. He stays with the Pacers. But I agree that the Spurs should spend their money on someone else. Kidd is great, but a point guard is not a need at the moment. (Of course, the Pacers could use a point guard . . .)
posted by jacknose at 10:50 AM on June 16, 2003
And if sound isn't critical at all, would it be okay to holler at your opponent as they are returning a shot, or in the middle of their serve? Absolutely. It's a sport. Athletes should be able to concentrate through noise and other nusiances. One might argue that sound always gives information in all sports, with the exception of free throws. Maybe a baseball player can hear sound of a curve ball or adjust his defense according to the sound of a bat hitting a ball. But we shouldn't ask the fans to be silent. Football players must deal with not being able to hear the audibles of their quarterback (definitely critical information). The refs/umpire may ask the audience to quiet down, but they do not ask them to be silent. The players adjust. When I was playing tennis, I gained most of my information on possible angles and the positioning of my opponents racquet, as well as his tendencies. When I was en fuego, I could see the rotation of the ball. Of course, if you've play a lot of tennis, it is easy to determine when your opponent is slicing the ball or using heavy topspin, etc. I think it would help the game of tennis if they allowed a little bit more rowdiness. I remember that McEnroe argued for this a few years ago. Davis Cup tennis is more reflective of what tennis should be: flags waving and fans screaming.
posted by jacknose at 12:18 PM on June 12, 2003
I played competitive tennis as a junior (was ranked), but I also played basketball. I'm bothered that tennis demands silence. What sports demand silence? It is the weakness of golf and tennis that their athletes give their fans a mean stare if they are too loud or disruptive. Why shouldn't tennis fans or their female athletes be able to make some noise? Imagine how ridiculous it would be if Tim Duncan got upset tonight because the fans were too loud when he was trying to concentrate and shoot free throws. Imagine if Duncan was in tears after the game because he was booed by the fans. Enough already. Let fans be fans and let grunters be grunters!
posted by jacknose at 07:11 PM on June 11, 2003
logo for the Carolina Panthers + logo for the New England Patriots = logo for the Charlotte Bobcats
posted by jacknose at 06:51 PM on June 11, 2003
Texas has become the 4th Coast (Chicago being the Third). Beyond their contribution to the sports world, they are beginning to impress artistically, intellectually, and culturally (at least in Austin). And, of course, there's rcade.
posted by jacknose at 07:08 AM on June 11, 2003
Henin proves that tennis not all about strength. She seems frail compared to Serena, but her fluid strokes pack the same kind of heat. I would have liked to have seen Serena win nonetheless. I'm always intrigued by absolute dominance.
posted by jacknose at 04:37 PM on June 05, 2003
Nice point BobbyLove. I think it comes down to shutting Reebok and Adidas out. Nike is aware that their name recognition rode on the back of MJ. Bernreuther suggests that Nike could stop advertising and would still be fine at this point, but you only need to recall when Converse ruled the basketball universe. All it takes is a few years out of the public consciousness, and you're suddenly that shoe company that dropped the ball, hanging out with Mr. IBM and Mrs. Atari.
posted by jacknose at 04:19 PM on May 22, 2003
Golf.com also provides an Annika scorecard (actually a scorecard for all the players as well as an updated leaderboard.)
posted by jacknose at 12:05 PM on May 22, 2003
I'm being figurative, not literal, about Singh and racism. I'm suggesting that people are defining sexism in a way that simply replaces gender for race. That's a faulty way to think about sexism. I also responded to your astute comment regarding rcade's column under the column posts. I suppose the downside of FPPing columns is that you're bound to have two separate conversations.
posted by jacknose at 12:31 PM on May 19, 2003
I think therev makes a good point. Regardless of the tone of Vijay's comment, the issue is not necessarily sexist. For better or worse, there are gendered groupings/categories/spaces that exist. The real question is, what should we do about these gendered divisions? Should everything be co-ed? Is there a place in our day and age for gendered divisions (clubs, leagues, locker rooms)? If not, should men also be able to participate in women's leagues (as therev suggests)? Or will it always be about the girls playing with the boys? It may be that all sports in the future will be co-ed. That may or may not be a bad development.
posted by jacknose at 09:46 AM on May 13, 2003
The Nets look impressive. I think that they'll come out of the East and give the West a run for their money. If they face the Lakers, it should be an interesting match up: Kidd will dominate at point guard. Martin will dominate at power forward. Kobe will dominate at shooting guard. Shaq will dominate at center. So what's the better combination? Point guard/power forward or shooting guard/center? Also, who has the better supporting cast? Mutumbo has not been used much in the playoffs, but if they play the Lakers in the finals, he may have a significant role. I'm rooting for a Lakers-Nets final.
posted by jacknose at 11:22 AM on May 10, 2003
Team names are like band names. They almost always sound awkward when you first say them. But then after awhile they just stick, and you never think about them again. It's a language-thing. Take "Pearl Jam" for instance. Or "Beatles." Or "U2." Or "Coldplay." Imagine saying them for the first time. "Let's call ourselves Pearl Jam." Of course, to my ears that sounds cool. Maybe it's the randomness of band names that make them work. Maybe sports team should forget about meaning and just go for random hipness: Charlotte Nakedness Charlotte TwoFlies Charlotte Nowhere Indiana Angora Indiana Agony of Being Chicago Jellysoup
posted by jacknose at 02:38 PM on May 06, 2003
Chris Simms goes to Tampa in the third round. I think that pick has the potential to haunt other teams in the future. The Bears play it safe. I have very little to say about their draft. I'm pleased that the Colts got the best Tight End in college. Tight Ends are always overlooked (okay, no juvenile jokes), but they can make the difference in games. Dallas Clark seems like a sure thing.
posted by jacknose at 04:02 PM on April 29, 2003
I shame anyone who has the Pacers losing in the first or second round. Ufez, of course, is right. This is the time of the year that I start consuming idealistic vodka non-stop, that is, until the Pacers lose, and I find myself woefully ashamed for shaming others.
posted by jacknose at 08:08 AM on April 19, 2003
West: Spurs over Suns (in 6) Kings over Jazz (in 5) Mavs over Trailblazers (in 6) Lakers over Timberwolves (in 6) Lakers over Spurs (in 7) Kings over Mavs (in 6) Kings over Lakers (in 6) East: Magic over Piston (in 6) Nets over Bucks (in 6) Pacers over Celtics (in 5) Hornets over Sixers (in 7) Hornets over Magic (in 6) Pacers over Nets (in 7) Pacers over Hornets (in 6) Pacers over Kings (in 7) Yes, the Pacers win! The Pacers win! They redeem the last half of the season. East beats West! A round of beers for everyone! *Bryant, I almost love you. Shame on you jennyb. Shame on you.
posted by jacknose at 07:14 AM on April 18, 2003
In all seriousness, security for sporting events continues to be a nagging issue. What should security look like in the future? Fences? Moats? I don't think allowing the athletes to give fans a beating would work. In the future, you would have a mob of fans challenging teams. As well, if you're drunk, you might not mind a public beating. Outside of alcohol restriction, gun-toting umps, and fan-beatings, what are the other alternatives? Would fences, raised playing fields, or a moat-system keep you away?
posted by jacknose at 10:03 AM on April 16, 2003
What about that Saturday Morning show that was kinda like Saved by the Bell, oh yeah, Hang Time? Or how about the Harlem Globetrotter cartoon?
posted by jacknose at 03:49 PM on April 15, 2003
Could Jordan and Krause exist under the same roof?!? That's a good question. As long as Jordan had a higher position than Krause, I think they could exist together. Just to clarify, I think Krause is vilified for breaking a champion team up before their time.
posted by jacknose at 03:41 PM on April 07, 2003
It may be a silly statement, but it sounds good. But seriously, it's the "extreme end of the judging-dependent side" of skating that makes the "sport" problematic. I don't want to be a parrot and repeat what I've echoed many other times in similar threads. Regarding figure skating and wrestling, let me refer you to a column that I wrote for SportsFilter during the last Winter Olympics (yep, columns, do you remember that cool feature we added to SportsFilter many moons ago?). Here's the part I want you to pay attention to: "I cannot think of a better sport for the Olympic stage than professional wrestling. Fixed outcomes will be assumed, but we, the audience, will gladly accept the pretentiousness as long as the costumes are tight, the insults are loud, and the faux fighting is raw. Winners will be determined by television ratings."
posted by jacknose at 11:50 AM on April 01, 2003
Do you remember when Krause made his famous statement: "Organizations win championships"? In the case of Kwan, "judges win championships."
posted by jacknose at 08:27 AM on April 01, 2003
Wow, if ol' Joe played footie (and how can you deny the evidence based on the above image), then soccer certainly did rule the ancient world (at least until Joseph died).
posted by jacknose at 01:16 PM on March 27, 2003
I agree with vito. Hoop Dreams still haunts me. It was an absolute shame that it did not get nominated for the Oscars. I remember all the critics being stunned by its absence. I want to know if anyone has seen the recent "Bend it Like Beckham"? The film has gotten good reviews and I'm planning on seeing it.
posted by jacknose at 04:03 PM on March 21, 2003
When did the world go all NPR on us? I suppose it started with SNL. (Excuse my acronyms.) Thanks for the read, kirkaracha. (BTW, whenever I spell your user name, I mentally hum "ku-ku-kuracha, ku-ku-kuracha." It's annoying as hell.)
posted by jacknose at 09:23 AM on March 15, 2003
I'm sure Seau wanted out. He is on the last leg of his career, and he wants a shot at winning the Super Bowl. He does not have time to be part of a rebuilding process. I'm guessing that he demanded to be traded, and the Chargers, out of respect and a desire to build for the future, decided that it "was the best for both sides."
posted by jacknose at 09:16 AM on March 15, 2003
Don't you love my low standards? Basically, if you don't throw punches, I consider you "good people." Head-butting is fine. I did overlook the Spurs; they are an easy team to forget, especially if you follow the Eastern Conference, but once you remember them, you realize that they have a pretty formidable package. Duncan makes the difference. Still, I think the Lakers have one more good playoff run in them. No one can match Shaq and Kobe. No one. Remember the Bulls primarily won with MJ and Pippen. The Lakers' supporting players are probably equal to the Bulls'. Regarding the Kings, I've not seen any signs from Webber that he has what it takes when the game is on the line. He's great during the year and even during the playoffs. But when the pressure is on, he has a tendency to shrink. Remember last year; if it wasn't for Bibby, the last game wouldn't have been close. Bibby was the only player on the Kings willing to play.
posted by jacknose at 01:24 PM on March 10, 2003
"Saving a penalty kick" at number 9?! Isn't saving a penalty kick an absolute guessing game? What's so difficult about guessing? Listen Mr. Goalie, either dive to the right or the left, but don't do it before Mr. Kicker kicks. Lesson over.
posted by jacknose at 12:39 PM on March 10, 2003
StarFuck, I cut and pasted the rankings for you below: The 10 Hardest Things To Do In Sports 1. Hitting a baseball Considering that a major-league pitch can reaches speeds more than 95 mph, hitters have only 0.4 seconds to find the ball, decide where the ball is going and swing the bat. 2. Race car driving Skilled drivers encounter a host of problems, but rounding the corners of the track is equivalent to having three 300-pound linemen pushing you for three of the four hours it takes to conclude a race. 3. Pole Vaulting Vaulting is a matter of redirecting kinectic energy of the runner's approach speed upward, aided by a long fiberglass pole. To do it, athletes need speed for the sprint, strength for lift-off and flexibility to bend the body over the bar. 4. Hitting a long straight tee shot Driving a golf ball far and long seems to be an easy thing, until you try it; even professionals have trouble with it. Last year on the PGA tour, only two players, Tiger Woods and Chris Smith, ranked in the top ten for both driving distance and greens in regulation. 5. Returning a serve Traveling at over 130 mph, a tennis serve by today's top tennis players is traveling at 185 feet per second. At that speed, a player trying to return the serve has a half second to react and return the serve. 6. Landing a quad Executing a quad toe loop requires a skater to balance height and rotation while skating on a metal blade a quarter of an inch wide. During a successful quad jump, a skater will reach heights of 18 inches above the ice and experience 300 pounds of centrifugal force, all while spinning four times in just over .5 seconds. 7. Running a marathon Running a 26.2-mile race is physically demanding and requires a runner to be disciplined, well-trained and able to withstand pain. Runners, including elite marathoners, often suffer from nagging injuries in the lower back, knees, shins, ankles, Achilles' tendons and feet. However, most runners will say the reward of finishing a marathon justifies the pain. 8. Tour de France The Tour de France covers more than 2,500 miles in three weeks and requires a variety of cycling skills that must be performed at levels far beyond those of recreational riders. On flat stretches of the course, tour riders must maintain speeds more than 30 mph for hours on stretch. During mountain climbs, cyclists must be able to ride up mountain roads with grades as steep as 15%. 9. Saving a penalty kick On the soccer field, the goalkeeper's job is to protect a goal that is 24 feet wide and eight feet high — 192 square feet waiting to swallow a ball about 9 inches in diameter. During a penalty kick, the goalie has 0.25 seconds to move and block a ball traveling at more than 60 mph. 10. The Downhill The downhill is an 80-mph exercise in balance and control. With little protection, ski racers hurl themselves down an icy mountain course, alternately digging in their edges to carve the fastest line through turns and putting their skis flat on the snow to gain speed in the straightaways. They fight gravitational and centrifugal forces at every stage in the race.
posted by jacknose at 12:35 PM on March 10, 2003
Driving a race car at no. 2? I suppose that ranking is to make all those white folk happy. It's one thing to feel like a "300-pound lineman [is] pushing you" every time you make a turn, but once you build the strength and endurance to make those turns, then what? Okay, so you have to be able to drive with some skill at a high speed. Is that difficult? Yes. But is it the second most difficult thing to do? Hardly. I say it would be easier to teach a pole-vaulter to race a car than a race car driver to pole vault. In fact, shouldn't that be the criterion? Couldn't we make a head-to-head comparison? Would it be harder to teach a baseball player to race cars or race car driver to hit a baseball (of course at the professional levels)? Baseball wins. And so on. I also think number 4 is suspect.
posted by jacknose at 12:29 PM on March 10, 2003
Re: Artest. Yes and no (which is a good answer for everything). Much of what you hear about Artest is hype. He loses control, but he is not wild and dangerous. He rarely throws punches. Of course, I could also be delusional. I suppose his tantrums have had an impact, especially when he has to sit out during games.
posted by jacknose at 09:59 AM on March 10, 2003
PACERS: Ufez, you're killing me. I've been trying my best to ignore Pacers' slump, and what do I see first thing Monday morning on SpoFi? ...reality. No doubt, the Pacers have had a tough stretch. I'll admit that they've coasted a bit on an easy schedule. The fact is, they have trouble with better teams, especially away from home, and, for the most part, their present losing streak has been the result of playing better teams away from home. But several of the players have also had some off-court issues (relatives that died and/or are severely ill). It kills me because the Pacers are just a few games from dropping down to sixth place. SIXTH PLACE! During the off-season, the Pacers talked about moving past their struggle to break .500 and barely making the playoffs. I thought this would be the year. And now, after having won 38 games, their sinking and sucking. EAST: I think the Sixers and Nets are the biggest threats at the moment but don't count my Pacers out yet. They need to find their rhythm before the playoffs. If they do, watch out. They have solid, deep team. They're just young and are playing young, but that's no longer an adequate excuse. I'd also like to see the Wizards nab the 8th spot. That's a good reason for the Pacers not to win the Eastern Conference. MJ (w/ Stackhouse, etc.) in his final playoffs could still be dangerous. I remember Bird and Magic during their final years. They were still dangerous during the playoffs. WEST: Lakers are no doubt the team to beat. Shaq is finally back in shape. Kobe is playing like a Jedi master (Kobe Wan). Mavericks have a few more heartbreaks to go; it may be the Kings' year. If it is, the battle should be bloody.
posted by jacknose at 08:02 AM on March 10, 2003
The NBA playoffs are always more exciting than any other sports. One word: Bowling. I have to agree with Bruin; it seems like a desperate attempt to keep the Lakers in the mix as much as possible. What other reason would the NBA have to not wait until next season? Of course, it could also be the Jordan factor. If the Wizards make the playoffs, it is likely that they will not advance beyond the first round. A longer series means more Jordan. And, well, maybe that's not a bad thing. By the way, did anyone see the Jordan Extravaganza, er, I mean the All-Star game this weekend?
posted by jacknose at 03:38 PM on February 11, 2003
Fortunately, a kicker does not have to get along with everyone to still be a good kicker and, thus, beneficial to the team. If there is one isolated figure on a football team, it's the kicker. Everyone can hate him, and he can hate everyone, but as long as he kicks well for the few seconds he's on the field, and as long as the team blocks for him, then all should be fine. My guess is that sometime next season, he'll kick a winning field goal and all will be forgotten. There will be jumping and hugging and spanking and . . .
posted by jacknose at 10:44 AM on February 05, 2003
Bernie Lincicome used to be a riot for the Chicago Tribune. Since coming back to Chicago, I noticed that he no longer writes for the Tribune. He's now a columnist for the Rocky Mountain News. I don't get it. Did he get fired? Did he do a Bob Greene? How or why do you go from the Chicago Tribune to the Rocky Mountain News? Here's a Bernie Lincicome Fan Site. Maybe they'll know.
posted by jacknose at 05:29 PM on February 03, 2003
Chess is beautiful. It's the only game that doesn't involve any luck whatsoever. If you lose, it means that you were outsmarted. Period. If you win, it means that you outsmarted your opponent. Period. Name any other game or sport that does not involve any element of luck, and I'll do my best to prove you wrong.
posted by jacknose at 12:17 PM on January 31, 2003
Agreed. Bucs defense turned a formerly calm and confident Gannon into a nervous wreck. Their coverage of the receivers and constant pressure on Gannon made the MVP look like Rick Mirer. I was also happy to see the much maligned Tampa offense prove once again that their offense has improved every week. Agreed. Obvious calls were missed by the refs. Agreed. Terry Tate was brilliant.
posted by jacknose at 12:09 AM on January 27, 2003
I think LeBron is in for a rude awakening. I'm not denying that he has mad skills, but he's playing against high schoolers. What NBA pro wouldn't utterly destroy high school players? LeBron is like a 12 year-old genius. Among his peers, he shines and is hailed as brilliant. When he attends Harvard or Yale at the age of 13, he gets lost in the crowd of other brainiacs. This is why we hear so much about kid geniuses, but lose track of them when they get older. What NBA player will not want to shut LeBron down on defense? It can be done (and there have been plenty of examples of other high school players taking it to the next level) but for LeBron to imagine that he is already MJ-worthy is a big mistake.
posted by jacknose at 09:46 PM on January 24, 2003
corpse asks, "What if a man wanted to get on the LPGA tour?" I think that's a valid question. The obvious response would be "Um, I don't think so." But why? Because most people would feel that the man would have an unfair advantage. But why? Here's where it gets sticky. We are essentially saying that men are better than women. That if an outstanding woman golfer wants to play against the best golfers, she should golf with men. If Annika is good enough to play against men (again, read the subtext) then shouldn't we believe that other women could raise their game to that level? Instead of seeking "better" competition among the boys, the competition around her could rise to the level of Annika. And then one day we might say that LPGA is comparable to the PGA. (Of course, we cannot overlook the fact that men are built differently than women and, indeed, often have a physical advantage when it comes to sport.) The Williams' sisters are challenging the women around them to raise their level of tennis. If they do, the gap between men and women's tennis would no doubt decrease (if ever so slightly).
posted by jacknose at 09:36 PM on January 24, 2003
Um, until she learns how to skate when the Olympic gold is on the line, I would not declare her the "Michael Jordan of her sport." Championship athletes are expected to be at their best when the pressure is at its most unbearable. Kwan is great most of the time; but when it really matters, she falters. Jordan thrived during those times. Chris Webber is another example of a great athlete that does not have the mental fortitude to seize a high-pressure moment.
posted by jacknose at 05:36 PM on January 21, 2003
You've gotta love the playoff spirit. Brilliant work by the Philadelphia Daily News. Are there any Tampa Bay papers willing to respond in the same manner?
posted by jacknose at 12:43 PM on January 15, 2003
Double crap. He makes more than I do everytime he steps up to bat ($41,311.68 per bat).
posted by jacknose at 12:45 PM on December 17, 2002
Isaiah Thomas has jokingly, or not-so-jokingly, suggested that there shouldn't be an age-limit but a talent-limit. His view is that there are prodigies in all sectors of life; geniuses that are gifted and should not be held back. LeBron, in Isaiah's view, is a basketball genius/prodigy. He may not be a genius in other areas of life, but in basketball he is able to compete at a higher level than 99% of kids his age. So Isaiah sees no problem with LeBron entering the pros at 16 or 15, as long as he can genuinely excel at that level.
posted by jacknose at 12:49 PM on December 13, 2002
Olympic Anthem + Electric Guitar
Yep, I think my two boys are old enough (4 & 5) to get into it. We watched the swimming trials together. So their excitement should add to the festivities and competition.