Full Health Important In NBA Playoffs - Just Ask The Chicago Bulls

May 19, 2012 - ISBN Frank Sprankle

The drive to an NBA Championship can rely on one individual, that one superstar. Just ask the Chicago Bulls. They posted the best league record for the second straight year in a lock-out shorten 2011-12 campaign, coming-up one round short of the NBA Finals just a season ago, losing to the Miami Heat four games to one.

A definite that the expectations would become higher for the Bulls, considering they had the core players for the most part, including last season's MVP Derrick Rose and Tom Thibodeau, who captured NBA Coach of the Year Honors in his first season.

But to look at the Bulls and hopes for a championship, they rely on Rose. He has become this team's star attraction and perhaps the best point guard in the NBA. Drafted No. 1 overall by the Bulls out of Memphis, Rose a native of Chicago's south side burst on to the scene in the 2008-09 season and claimed Rookie of the Year honors.

Coming off his MVP display of a year ago, Rose missed a hand-full of games this past season, even after signing a contract extension of five years, $94.8 million. Still, the Bulls prevailed and won.

Then we came to the postseason and game one between the 76ers and Bulls in Chicago. Late in that contest, with the Bulls considerably up and with Rose on the court, the stock of contending for an NBA title went down as Rose torn his ACL that required surgery. The stock came crashing down when center Joakim Noah suffered a sprained ankle in Philadelphia during game three that kept him out of the remainder of the series that had the number eight seeded 76ers knock off the Bulls in six games.

Coming into the playoffs, the Bulls had full health then they lose Rose and then Noah. Teams that win championships need to be at full health and have the superstar active. This is what the Bulls have become..

Fourteen years have passed since the Bulls concluded their dynasty run of six titles in eight seasons, led by the competitive nature of Michael Jordan. Having experienced lean years that followed, it seems that now the Bulls have finally put together a team perhaps destined for an NBA title. But in order to accomplish the ultimate feat, full health must be achieved and that played the difference between a Bulls team that entered the playoffs with optimism among many to win the title, only to have that optimism derailed by injuries.

Luck and Griffin, One Trying To Become An Answer, The Other Trying To Fill A Legend's Void

May 5, 2012 - ISBN Frank Sprankle

The 2012 NFL Draft has past into memory. All of the discussions involving the combine and pro days now can close. This year's draft will certainly have its moments defined by the numerous trades in the first round and beyond. Notably, draft day trades that had Alabama running back Trent Richardson going to the Cleveland Browns as the third overall pick, while the Dallas Cowboys moved-up to get LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne. The trades, numerous in all to mention, marked just a few of the moves made by teams to get the players that they need.

Not a mystery heading into the draft, the locks of the top two picks, both quarterbacks as Stanford's Andrew Luck went number one overall to the Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Redskins followed suit by selecting the Heisman Trophy winning Robert Griffin III out of Baylor.

To take a look at these two drafts picks, they like the rest of all the others drafted service a purpose, to help turn around their respective team's fortunes. The Redskins posted a 5-11 mark in 2011 and have not made the postseason since 2007, the last year they broke the .500 mark. Griffin factors to become the Redskins answer in what has become a revolving door of quarterbacks lately.

Luck enters Indianapolis in a different setting. The Colts, with Peyton Manning as a spectator of course, had a revolving door of quarterbacks themselves; Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky. Not one could feel the void of the four-time NFL MVP, who helped guide the Colts to a title in Super Bowl XLI. The end result became a 2-14 season. Not since 2001 has this organization displayed a losing record.

While Manning's next issue might become a matter of the past, he too has become the past as far as his time in Indianapolis. It's Luck's turn now to attempt filling the shoes of an iconic figure, who both became number one draft picks with the Colts, with Manning the top choice in 1998.

While the attention will center on Luck, time will tell how he advances as an NFL quarterback. He enters the league with his team welcoming not just himself, but a new head coach and general manager as well.

The difference between Luck and Griffin is clear; one enters in the shadow of a legend, the other trying to become the definite answer at the quarterback spot. But for both, the NFL will become an adjustment in 2012, the inaugural season for both.

Metta World Peace Needs To Calm Down, Learn Lesson From James Harden Forearm

April 24, 2012 - ISBN Frank Sprankle

At one time he went by the name of Ronald William Artest Jr., simply known as Ron Artest, born on November 13, 1979. In the NBA since 1999, Artest would become famous for all the wrong reasons in his professional career for his role in the brawl that took place on Nov. 19, 2004 at the Palace of Auburn Hills, while a member of the Indiana Pacers. The images of that night, in a game against the Detroit Pistons, with Artest racing into the stands, resulted in what became a season-ending suspension.

Almost eight full years later and with an NBA title claimed as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, the name of Ron Arest no longer exists. Last September, he changed his name to Metta World Peace. Watching or listening to games involving the Lakers this past lockout shorten season might make one laugh a little when hearing a broadcaster mention the name Metta World Peace. Perhaps too, wondering why he changed his name in the first place.

The point of his name change aside, World Peace now faces even more negative publicity.  In the Lakers 114-106 double overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 22 at the Staples Center, World Peace delivered a vicious elbow to the head of the Thunder's James Harden. A flagrant-2 foul and for World Peace so too an ejection. Harden ended-up suffering a concussion. World Peace ended-up with a seven game suspension that will carry over into the first round of the NBA playoffs.

A deserved punishment as laid down by NBA commissioner David Stern. For that matter too, a hopeful lesson learned by World Peace, if something of a similar nature happens again, then the consequences will become more severe.

Aside for his issues of the past, World Peace, going back to his days as Ron Artest, has always established himself as a solid player, especially on defense. The Lakers need his services as they embark on what they foresee as another title run. But World Peace uses his time off the court to keep himself busy. Like many, he uses Twitter to communicate to everyone while he has also found himself in the music business too, even releasing a rap album.

World Peace does have an interesting life, as an NBA player and away from the court. However, he must stay out of trouble, for his team and for himself.

Sudden Death Overtime Helps Define What Playoff Hockey Is All About

ISBN Frank Sprankle - April 20, 2012

Describing what's witnessed in the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs year in and year out, one word comes to mind, excitement. The excitement stems from the fact that the hits are harder, the skating becomes quicker and overtime seems to become a necessity in a good number of postseason games played.

When watching playoff hockey on television only one rule remain effective, do not change the channel if the game goes to overtime, never at any point. Who knows what one could miss; let's say a game-winning goal.

The point is, one that could become an argument, playoff hockey has displayed itself as the best postseason of any sport. Baseball's postseason might have its memories, basketball might have meant that the playoffs are where individuals shine and football is one and done on way to the Super Bowl, but hockey has its intensity. Anyone can feel it, notably if attendance at a game.

But attending a game or watching it on television differs in the postseason as oppose to the regular season. In the 82-game NHL regular season, if a game ends after 60 minutes in a deadlock then a four-on-four skate for five minutes becomes required. If that does not settle the matter, a shootout is required. The practice of the shootout established itself in the NHL following the cancellation of the 2004-05 NHL season, due to the lockout. Before that, games in the regular season use to end in deadlocks and that for years did not suit the fans, especially the paying public.

Brining the shootout, which had become common in minor league play, became a must in order to help get the fans back after a season wiped away because of a work-stoppage.

The reason why the NHL lives by sudden death play in the postseason has to do with the fact that it's works well for travel purposes. If a team plays a game one night then there's the possibility of an opponent in other city the next.  Therefore with everything associated with the travel aspect, overtime just would not work in the regular season.

However, overtime works in the playoffs, just ask those that watch hockey. To an extent, it's a reminder of perhaps playing floor hockey in elementary school gym class, tie score, five minutes remaining and the teacher says "next goal wins." That's how to describe overtime in the NHL playoffs, "next goal wins."

The Words of Ozzie Guillen, Not Suiting Well With Cuban Americans

April 11, 2012 - ISBN Frank Sprankle

Just as the Miami Marlins commence the beginning of their brand new ballpark, their first year manager has to run his mouth in praising a communist dictator, and it's not even one full week into the regular season.

When the Marlins hired Ozzie Guillen, they hired a proven manager, eight seasons spent with the Chicago White Sox including a World Series title in 2005. But in his time as skipper on Chicago's south side, Guillen for the most part had the reputation of speaking his mind without thinking about the consequences.

What he told Time Magazine stepped well above the line. Guillen told the publication that he loved and respected Fidel Castro, the communist dictator of Cuba since 1959. The reason why he expressed his love and respect for Castro stems from the fact of his 53 years in power and a lot of people have wanted to kill him, but he has survived this long. The site of the current new Marlins ballpark resides in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, a region known for its Cuban American population. Some of these residents have fled Cuba, escaping Castro.

The comments of Guillen have brought about anger among Miami's Cuban population. But the Marlins organization had to wait until this became a public relations nightmare to issue discipline upon their manager. On Tuesday, they suspended him for five games. Perhaps the Marlins should have taken this appropriate course of action before it became a heated issue.

Guillen played 16 seasons in the majors as a shortstop. The majority of that time spent with the White Sox from his rookie year of 1985 to 1997. He would become that team's manager in 2004. Throughout his playing career and even into his first two seasons as a major league manager, Guillen never displayed the ego that everyone has come to know over the last six years. His character changed after winning the World Series in 2005 as White Sox manager.

What Guillen did to a fact was exercise his freedom of speech. That might be true, but the fact of the matter in this case; freedom of speech can hurt a person's reputation. No matter what anyone says, it's important to remember that the words of one can offend a few. In this case, Guillen did just that.

Why not focus on the business at hand? That business for Guillen is strictly baseball, not political issues, or it should be strictly baseball. He will have to wait five games.

Saints Punishment Sets An Example To Other NFL Teams

April 1, 2012 - ISBN Frank Sprankle

In a week that saw Peyton Manning finding a home with the Denver Broncos and in-turn Tim Tebow departing the Mile High City for the Big Apple as the back-up/wildcat quarterback of the New York Jets, factored-in with the pro days of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the punishment on the New Orleans Saints bounty program came handed down and boy did it ever. In the ?who dat' nation, it became a matter of who would have thought that?

The punishment which is perhaps difficult to understand in the end is simple to figure out. The mastermind behind the whole program, Gregg Williams has come into question on rather he will receive another paycheck within the NFL. The former Saints defensive coordinator and tagged by Jeff Fisher in the same role with the St. Louis Rams, has receive an indefinite suspension. While Sean Payton had full knowledge of all the activities and will sit out the season, perhaps the most talked about of all the suspensions is general manager Mickey Loomis's, which is the first eight games of the season. Assistant coach Joe Vitt will serve a six-game suspension. But of course the consequences don't end there, for the Saints must pay a fine of $500,000 and forfeit their second round draft picks this year and in 2013.

The fine of $500,000 perhaps not a big deal, but not having a second round draft pick this year certainly is a huge disadvantage. The Saints traded their first round pick last year in order to take Mark Ingram.

But it's the 2012 suspension of Payton without pay that has brought upon the most interest. The NFL has set the example by suspending the head coach of a team for one year in hopes that similar programs will cease and desist. After all, how does anyone not know of any locker room bounty programs occurring in secret? The only difference here, a defensive coordinator was at the head of it and his head coach had the knowledge but did not take any action.

Any further matters such as this by any player or team and what happened to the Saints could be defined as a slap on the wrist. The next time this occurs one can only wonder how severe the punishment.

The main point, the NFL led by Roger Goodell, has established an importance for safety in the league. To impose that player health comes first, it's important to look at the steps the league will take, no matter what costs. That includes a code of discipline.

The Future of The NFL In Los Angeles

February 15, 2012 - ISBN Frank Sprankle

When viewing every major market, an NFL franchise has its presence. Not to mention even some small markets with the likes of Jacksonville and Green Bay, although this Wisconsin town has the some of the richest history in professional football with a strong fan base. But even some of the smallest markets in this country can house NFL teams and 17 years have gone by since Los Angeles, the second largest city in the land, housed not only one, but two teams, only to see them leave after the 1994 season.

Hard to believe, but that's the truth. The late Al Davis brought the Raiders to Los Angeles from Oakland in 1982 and then returned to that city by the bay for the 1995 season, while at the same time, the late Georgia Frontiere relocated the Rams to the Midwest as St. Louis became the third city in the franchise's history. The Rams moved originally from Cleveland to Los Angeles before the 1946 season.

The Rams within five years of their move to the Gateway City would have a Super Bowl title. For every year in the days leading-up to the Super Bowl, the question of the NFL's return to Los Angeles comes into mention. In their state of the NFL addresses typically two days before the big game, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Paul Tagliabue before have directly spoken on the matter at hand.

When the topic of placing an NFL team in Los Angeles came-up a couple of weeks ago in Indianapolis, Goodell did state not just obvious possibility, but a new one as well. The obvious possibility involves relocating a team, which the league does not want to do in the first place. The two obvious possibilities involve relocating two instate teams with the Raiders making a return, or even the Chargers, whose inaugural year of 1960 in the AFL was spent in Los Angeles. Both of these teams currently need new stadiums, for they play in facilities that opened in the decade of the 1960s and lack the luxuries of the modern area.

The second option as stated in Indianapolis by Goodell for the first time ever involves not relocating anybody, but expansion of the league by two franchises from 32 to 34. Of course, for this to happen, not only would Los Angeles receive a team, but another market too. The question which one and could it even be beyond the United States?

Toronto, Mexico City and even London England as strange as it sounds have all shown interest in the NFL, but the league and the game have become part of what the United States is all about. Then again, adding two teams means an unbalance of the divisions in both the NFC and AFC. All eight divisions have four teams only, which means that either one of the western divisions and other one would have to add a fifth team. That creates the unbalance there. Perhaps each division should have an extra team then, but 40 teams seems too much, and to that effect 34. For what it's worth, 32 teams remains right, which means relocation for Los Angeles seems as the only option here.

The NFL does realize the importance of what a team in Los Angeles means for the league, means for the market in general. It came-up during Super Bowl week in Indianapolis two weeks ago and it's certain to once again unless a team is granted by then, will come-up Super Bowl week next year in New Orleans.