Monday, January 30, 2017
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Los Angeles Chargers: Pure Greed and Stupidity
The San Diego Chargers are no more. 55 years of history flushed down the toilet in the latest episode of the "NFL Greed Chronicles".
I'm sure you've heard the story by now: Chargers owner Dean Spanos and the city of San Diego were unable to come into an agreement on a deal to construct a new stadium to replace the ancient Qualcomm, all because Spanos wanted public money that the city simply didn't have to fund his new stadium. When the other NFL owners were unwilling to give Spanos more free money than the $300 million the NFL already offered, he felt like he had no choice but to move to LA.
But why? Economically, Spanos could have easily ponied up the money for the stadium - the team has to pay $650 million in relocation fees - that money could have easily been used to build that stadium in San Diego. Instead, they will be second-class tenants in a stadium shared with the slimy Stan Kroenke and the Rams.
In addition to ripping out the hearts of loyal fans who have stuck with a mediocre franchise through 5 decades, there simply is no fan base in LA for the Chargers. They have no history there except one season in 1960. They will have to fight an uphill battle trying to win over fans who either
1) Aren't NFL fans (along with all the entertainment options in L.A., there's also 2 baseball teams, 2 basketball teams, a hockey team, a soccer team, and two marquee college football universities) OR
2) Are fans of other teams (namely, the Rams and Raiders, who had longer histories in the city).
Spanos is going to have to hope its the latter, as it looked bad this year even for the Rams, who had horrific attendance at the Coliseum after fans got over the initial spectacle and realized how bad that team was. The Chargers have had a better record over the past 10 years, with a couple playoff appearances, but not by much. In order to capture fans immediately, they need to start winning before the Rams can recover.
The NFL is a business run by lawyers and billionaire owners who want to make money, I understand that. But the depth to the lack of awareness about what fans will be able to take is astounding.No, Robert Kraft, there will be ZERO fans making the two hour drive to continue to root for a team that left their city to a join a rival city.
At some point, enough is enough. Yes, the NFL has the most popular sport, by far, in the country, It will remain that way for a while. But keep going down this road of pure greed - whether it be London games, Thursday Night Football, alleged expanded season/playoffs, continually plucking franchises out of cities chasing the money - and fans are going to turn off eventually.
By the way, that logo is hideous and a straight rip-off of the Dodgers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
I'm sure you've heard the story by now: Chargers owner Dean Spanos and the city of San Diego were unable to come into an agreement on a deal to construct a new stadium to replace the ancient Qualcomm, all because Spanos wanted public money that the city simply didn't have to fund his new stadium. When the other NFL owners were unwilling to give Spanos more free money than the $300 million the NFL already offered, he felt like he had no choice but to move to LA.
But why? Economically, Spanos could have easily ponied up the money for the stadium - the team has to pay $650 million in relocation fees - that money could have easily been used to build that stadium in San Diego. Instead, they will be second-class tenants in a stadium shared with the slimy Stan Kroenke and the Rams.
In addition to ripping out the hearts of loyal fans who have stuck with a mediocre franchise through 5 decades, there simply is no fan base in LA for the Chargers. They have no history there except one season in 1960. They will have to fight an uphill battle trying to win over fans who either
1) Aren't NFL fans (along with all the entertainment options in L.A., there's also 2 baseball teams, 2 basketball teams, a hockey team, a soccer team, and two marquee college football universities) OR
2) Are fans of other teams (namely, the Rams and Raiders, who had longer histories in the city).
Spanos is going to have to hope its the latter, as it looked bad this year even for the Rams, who had horrific attendance at the Coliseum after fans got over the initial spectacle and realized how bad that team was. The Chargers have had a better record over the past 10 years, with a couple playoff appearances, but not by much. In order to capture fans immediately, they need to start winning before the Rams can recover.
The NFL is a business run by lawyers and billionaire owners who want to make money, I understand that. But the depth to the lack of awareness about what fans will be able to take is astounding.No, Robert Kraft, there will be ZERO fans making the two hour drive to continue to root for a team that left their city to a join a rival city.
At some point, enough is enough. Yes, the NFL has the most popular sport, by far, in the country, It will remain that way for a while. But keep going down this road of pure greed - whether it be London games, Thursday Night Football, alleged expanded season/playoffs, continually plucking franchises out of cities chasing the money - and fans are going to turn off eventually.
By the way, that logo is hideous and a straight rip-off of the Dodgers and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
2017 NBA All-Star Voting
The NBA All-Star voting is a little different this year, with fan vote only constituting 50% of the total vote to determine the starters, and with good reason.
Kobe Bryant got a lifetime achievement award in starting last year, and the first returns had journeyman center Zaza Pachulia (due to his apparently international popularity in the country of Georgia) amongst the starters in the frontcourt for the Western Conference team.
Anyways, there's only 4 days left to vote and with that in mind, here are my picks for the All-Star starters in 2017. You can make your selections (for anyone except Pachulia) at vote.nba.com or using Twitter or Facebook with the player's name and #NBAVote.
Eastern Conference:
G Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (22.4 PPG, 7.2 APG, 4.9 RPG)
Lowry has been the best player on a Raptors team keeping pace with the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.
G Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets (23.1 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG)
Walker is playing the best basketball of his career, 4th in the league in clutch baskets, keeping Hornets afloat in Eastern Conference.
F LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (26.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 8.2 APG)
Best player in basketball, let's move on.
F Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (25.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.6 APG)
Solely the man in Chicago now, Butler has responded with career high average in points, in keeping a Bulls team competitive in East.
F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (23.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 5.6 APG)
Probably the most improved player in the game this year, he has improved his jumper while doing a little bit of everything for Milwaukee.
Western Conference
G James Harden, Houston Rockets (28.5 PPG, 11.8 APG, 8.4 RPG)
The Rockets are the biggest surprise in the NBA this year, and Harden leads the league in assists and has 11 triple doubles this year, including a ridiculous 53 pt, 17 reb, 16 ast statline.
G Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (24.7 PPG, 5.9 APG, 4.4 RPG)
OK, this should probably be Russell Westbrook if you look purely at the stats, but as a Rockets fan, in a close race between Harden and Westbrook, don't want to give Westbrook any free votes.
F Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors (26.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4.6 APG)
The most scrutinized offseason move, Durant has accommodated himself nicely in the Bay, leading the highest scoring team in the league in scoring.
F Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (24.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.1 APG)
His continual growth as a go-to offensive scorer, in addition to his great defense has the Spurs 2nd in the West.
F Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (29.1 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.2 APG)
He's putting up ridiculous numbers, despite facing double teams night in and night out, on a team that is seriously devoid of much NBA talent.
Kobe Bryant got a lifetime achievement award in starting last year, and the first returns had journeyman center Zaza Pachulia (due to his apparently international popularity in the country of Georgia) amongst the starters in the frontcourt for the Western Conference team.
Anyways, there's only 4 days left to vote and with that in mind, here are my picks for the All-Star starters in 2017. You can make your selections (for anyone except Pachulia) at vote.nba.com or using Twitter or Facebook with the player's name and #NBAVote.
Eastern Conference:
G Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors (22.4 PPG, 7.2 APG, 4.9 RPG)
Lowry has been the best player on a Raptors team keeping pace with the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.
G Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets (23.1 PPG, 5.5 APG, 4.2 RPG)
Walker is playing the best basketball of his career, 4th in the league in clutch baskets, keeping Hornets afloat in Eastern Conference.
F LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers (26.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 8.2 APG)
Best player in basketball, let's move on.
F Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls (25.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 4.6 APG)
Solely the man in Chicago now, Butler has responded with career high average in points, in keeping a Bulls team competitive in East.
F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (23.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 5.6 APG)
Probably the most improved player in the game this year, he has improved his jumper while doing a little bit of everything for Milwaukee.
Western Conference
G James Harden, Houston Rockets (28.5 PPG, 11.8 APG, 8.4 RPG)
The Rockets are the biggest surprise in the NBA this year, and Harden leads the league in assists and has 11 triple doubles this year, including a ridiculous 53 pt, 17 reb, 16 ast statline.
G Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (24.7 PPG, 5.9 APG, 4.4 RPG)
OK, this should probably be Russell Westbrook if you look purely at the stats, but as a Rockets fan, in a close race between Harden and Westbrook, don't want to give Westbrook any free votes.
F Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors (26.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 4.6 APG)
The most scrutinized offseason move, Durant has accommodated himself nicely in the Bay, leading the highest scoring team in the league in scoring.
F Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (24.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.1 APG)
His continual growth as a go-to offensive scorer, in addition to his great defense has the Spurs 2nd in the West.
F Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans (29.1 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 2.2 APG)
He's putting up ridiculous numbers, despite facing double teams night in and night out, on a team that is seriously devoid of much NBA talent.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
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