Slapped in the face, The NBA product and its Fans!

$123.22, that is the price the average NBA fan will pay for a single game. The fans pay to see the likes of Lebron James or Kyrie Irving, but these players, and many more are choosing to rest their bodies for the playoffs. Coaches, former NBA greats, and the commissioner have all chimed in about the growing problem. Charles Barkley escalated the situation when he suggested that the fans to boycott attending games. The NBA is at the point now where the regular seasons game for teams and players are telling the league and its fans that the regular season does not matter. If that is the case, then why as a fan would you spend $123.22 for a 50/50 chance to see your favorite star play? Sounds to me like a direct slap in the face to the NBA fans who pay to see these athletes at the games that they anxiously attend. 

Lebron on Resting Player 

Lebron thinks the only reason this has become such a big issue is because he is involved. In an interview last Tuesday, James said “I just know the conversation gets a little bit more talked about when I'm a part of it.” This coming off the heals of James and the “Big Three” sitting out a nationally televised game over the previous weekend and the NBA voicing its displeasure last Monday. James did have a rebuttal to all the rest talk saying “listen Popovich has been doing this for 10, 12, 15 years now, and everyone was like you know what……?  That's the smartest thing Pop has ever done.” James continued “he gives his guy a couple of games off and just like that they win 5 championships, but in our league Pop has a stature that not all coaches have, our head coach doesn't have that and he gets killed for it.” The shame of the matter is Lebron just does not see it as a non-issue, but also has stated that the season should be shorter. When that is how the face of the league feels, there is an obvious problem and the NBA acknowledges that issue. 

Charles Barkley Sounds Off

Never one to keep quiet, Charles Barkley has sounded off on the issue stating, “the league needs to look into this “resting” players, I don't remember back in my day players needing rest late in the season.” He added “I know I'm an old guy hating on the young guys but if you have bad teams in the league today that aren't going to make the playoffs resting guys, For What!” Barkley pointed out that not only is it a slap in the face to the fans, but also to the TV partners who are making it possible for these players to make 10, 20, 30 million dollars. He called on the fans to boycott attending and watching NBA games to send the players a message.  He pointed out players like Tim Duncan and Michael Jordan played in college and then had long NBA careers without breaks. Jordan's team the Hornets with Jordan philosophy on the breaks coach Steve Clifford said, “…it's easy for me not to do it, I have an owner who just doesn't believe in it, and associate coach (Patrick Ewining) that would kill me if I started doing it.”  It's easy to see where the former generation of NBA stars feels about this new age NBA basketball.  How do you feel about it? 

NBA Commissioners Thoughts

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sent a memo out to the league last Monday addressing the situation that he called a ‘significant issue’ to let teams know where the league stands on the practice. Here is what he had to say, “Decisions of this kind ... can affect fans and business partners, impact our reputation and damage the perception of our game.” Silver wrote in the memo, according to a release by The Associated Press “With so much at stake, it is simply not acceptable for governors to be uninvolved or to defer decision-making authority on these matters to others in their organizations.” “Please also be reminded that under current league rules teams are required to provide notice to the league office, their opponent and the media immediately upon a determination that a player will not participate in a game due to rest,” Silver continued. “Failure to abide by these rules will result in significant penalties.” The league has to do something, for the amount that they charge for a game and the money the TV networks are paying to broadcast these games, it is at the point a watered down product that owes it to the fans to put the stars on the floor every night. 

Written by

Carlo Guadagnino 

Edited by

Daniel Bishop M.A. 

References 

https://www.google.com/amp/www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-commissioner-adam-silver-says-players-resting-is-significant-issue/amp/

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/charles-barkley-nba-rest-041816

https://nbalead.com/2017/03/21/charles-barkley-tells-fans-to-boycott-games-to-combat-nba-players-resting/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/charlotteobserver.relaymedia.com/amp/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article140395273.html

https://www.google.com/amp/www.sportingnews.com/amp/nba/news/lebron-james-admits-nba-rest-issue-is-significant-because-hes-involved/12bx6oysbhxgq17i05j14b7yn4

How Sweet is the Madness of March!

The defending National Champion is eliminated, Lavar Ball is enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame, plus Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers have pressed every team out of the gym so far. It's that time of the year everyone, whether a sports fans or not, most will fill out brackets for money and watch for their team to get hot and make a run. The 2017 men's basketball National Tournament is the most exciting thing in sports year after year.

Down go the Champs
Wisconsin came into the tournament with a lower end seed, the Badgers were only one of two teams in the Top 25 of Big 10 teams and yet they were still slated as an 8 seed. The seeding did not matter this past Saturday, as the Badgers downed the number one seed and defending national champion Villanova. The wildcats struggled in their first-round matchup against 16 seed Mount St. Mary 76-56, that score does not accurately show the struggle but it was anything but a good performance for the defending national champ.

The Badgers felt disrespected by the selection committee and took that out on the defending champs. With 11.4 seconds left, Nigel Hayes scored the winning layup. Josh Hart had a productive 19-point day for the Wildcats, but lost the ball to Vito Brown; Brown who would hit a free throw and miss the second one final score 65-62. Head coach of the Badgers had this to say when asked about seeding, “Seeds don't matter, I told these guys regardless we have to win six games let's start with two this weekend.” I' would say so far so good with that goal.

Parents just don't Understand
Lavar Ball is just like every other parent in America, my son/daughter is the best of all time, blah blah blah. The difference between most parents and Ball is that he has been given national spotlight due to his oldest son Lorenzo Ball staring at UCLA and youngest son scoring 92 points in a high school game as a sophomore. There is a lot of talent in the family, father Ball has even said he taught the best thing you can teach in basketball, “there is no such thing as a bad shot!” This coming from the man who said he could beat Michael Jordan one on one. Ball played one season in college during the 1987-88 season for Washington State, where he averaged 2.2 points per game and basically no other stats, I do not think I should remind you of Jordan’s greatness do I? Ask Patrick Ewing and the 1982 Georgetown Hoyas. This man is everything and I mean everything that is wrong with sports today. He has taught his sons to shoot from wherever they feel on the floor, from watching the three play none of them play defense, or give a damn about their teammates, the Ball brothers are out there for themselves and that's it. I will leave this topic with this, Golden State when asked about Ball’s comments had this to say, “I think it'd be better for them if they can just play and have fun and not have to hear that every day, but whatever. It's all part of him."

Press Virginia
Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers of West Virginia or “Press Virginia” as they have become known for this year never trailed on Saturday as they downed Notre Dame 83-71. The Mountaineers came out hot and continued that throughout the game. West Virginia’s full court press really threw a wrench into the Fighting Irish offense as the relentless pressure from WVU caused uncharacteristic mental mistakes from Notre Dame. The Mountaineers now turn their sights on No. 1 seed Gonzaga, who knocked off cinderella Northwestern amidst controversy over a block and technical that changed the course of the game. This game is going to come down to can Gonzaga play tight team defense for 40 minutes and for WVU can Bob Higgins get another complete 40-minute performance on both ends of the floor from his Mountaineers. West Virginia can rattle the best of them with their press and very active “in your face” defense, while Gonzaga has the advantage in size. For me I think you will see another WVU win in, this one in a close contest WVU 77-73, Mountaineers moving on.

For basketball fans, it is the greatest time of the year, basketball everyday teams leaving everything they have on the floor and the emotional rollercoaster that is the big dance. Lavar Ball-- sit down, shut up-- and let your kids play, it is not about you and the fact that every chance you get you make it about you is just sad, stop living vicariously through your children. Lastly, when watching the tournament and watching your bracket bust always remember they do not call it March Madness for no reason. The best part of the weekend had to be Duke and the immature Grayson Allen getting axed from the tournament by The fighting Gamecocks’ of South Carolina, the Gamecocks’ first sweet 16 since 1973. Expect the unexpected, embrace the effort of the student athletes, and realize why this is the best tournament in amateur sports!

Written by
Carlo Guadagnino

Edited by
Ethan Barnes
Daniel Bishop M.A.

References
https://www.google.com/amp/s/campusinsiders.com/news/gonzaga-vs-west-virginia-prediction-game-preview-03-18-2017/amp/
https://www.google.com/amp/ftw.usatoday.com/2017/03/lavar-ball-lonzo-liangelo-lamelo-stephen-curry-michael-jordan-craziest-comments-nba-ucla/amp
https://www.google.com/amp/ftw.usatoday.com/2017/03/lavar-ball-lonzo-liangelo-lamelo-stephen-curry-michael-jordan-craziest-comments-nba-ucla/amp
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18928205/steve-kerr-golden-state-warriors-lonzo-ball-dad
https://www.google.com/amp/www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/story/no-repeat-villanova-fails-down-stretch-while-carrying-crown-031917%3Famp%3Dtrue
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/lavar-ball-1.html
https://www.google.com/amp/www.smokingmusket.com/platform/amp/2017/3/18/14967832/west-virginia-advances-to-sweet-16-with-win-over-notre-dame-83-71

It's Charlie Hustle and Shoeless Joe’s time: Enough is Enough

Twenty-seven years ago, Pete Rose was banned from baseball, a 3-time World Series champion and the all-time career hits leader still cannot be inducted into the hall of fame. With all the steroid era issues now behind Major League Baseball, the likes of Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro and Barry Bonds will be eligible for the enshrinement but a man who gambled will not be? It is time that Major League Baseball move forward with their changing stance on gambling, reinstating Pete Rose and allowing the baseball writers be the deciding factor on if Charlie Hustle gets into Cooperstown.

Major League Baseball is going to allow players like: Barry Bonds, the career Home Run leader, Roger Clemens, the oldest pitcher to even win a Cy Young (age 42), Mike Piazza, who admitted to using androstenedione, a steroid and many other who have or will become eligible in the years to come. Now, people who blatantly took a substance to cheat and give themselves an edge, will be and are eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame, but two of the greatest hitters of all time are not even able to be on the ballot, let alone get inducted. If you are going to allow the Baseball Writers Association to make the decision, they have done a decently good job with being the Gatekeepers into the Hall, ever since their beginning in the position in 1936.  Bonds, Clemens, and Sosa, who have been eligible for the past four years, have not gotten closer than 7th in voting. I think it is time Baseball let them do their jobs and decide who gets in and who does not.

For those that do not know how the MLB Hall of Fame voting works, “Only active and honorary members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, who have been active members for at least 10 years, shall be eligible to vote. They must have been active as Baseball writers and members of the Association for a period beginning at least 10 years prior to the date of election in which they are voting.” The electors can only vote for a maximum of 10 players they feel are the most deserving of election in to the Hall. They are not permitted to write in anyone's name that is not on the ballot. Voting is based on player’s record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to their teams. If this is how it works, then let the organization reinstate Pete Rose and Joe Jackson, and allowing the Baseball Writers’ Association do its job.

“Shoeless Joe Jackson”
Jackson began his baseball career in 1909. Playing with the Philadelphia Athletics, he struggled in his first couple of seasons playing in the big leagues only making 10 Major League appearances in two seasons. By 1911, he was traded to the Cleveland Naps, who later became the Indians. In 1915, the Naps became the Indians and Joe Jackson hits for .408, which to this day is still a record for a rookie season. Late in 1915, Jackson was traded to the Chicago White Sox, two years later he batted .307 in the World Series and led the White Sox to a championship over the New York Giants. Two years later in 1919, the White Sox returned to the World Series, the very series that gets Joe Jackson banned for his part with 8 other players throwing the series for money. Jackson batted .375 and had a perfect fielding percentage in the series. The following year, while dealing with the allegations, he batted .385 and led the American League in triples. He was acquitted by a jury in 1921 of any wrong doing and yet was still banned from ever having the chance to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Pete “Charlie Hustle” Rose
Charlie Hustle owns 14 Major League Baseball records, among them are Most Career Hits (4,256), only player in the history of the game to play 500 games at 5 different positions, Most Career at Bats (14,053), just to name a few. Rose also holds 12 National League Records highlighted by Most Extra Base hits by a Switch Hitter (1,041). He was a player manager from 1984-86 when he retired as a player, but remained as manager of the Reds. In 1989, then Commissioner Bart Giamatti banned Rose from baseball for life with the stipulation that he could apply for reinstatement after one year. Rose has reapplied twice, once in 1997 and most recently in 2015. Rose admitted to gambling in 2004, stating that he never bet against his teams.

It is time for Major League Baseball to change its stance on gambling. What a player does in his personal life is their business, just as long as it does not affect the on-field performance or decision-making capacities. Two of the greatest hitters of all time cannot be even voted on by the selection committee. Pete Rose, the greatest hitter of all time and Joe Jackson, arguably the third best hitter in the game's history, behind only Ty Cobb and Pete Rose. Both are banned for life from baseball due to gambling. The issue is both Rose and Jacksons stats show that gambling did not affect the passion and skill in which they played the game. Judge for yourself.

Written By:
Carlo Guadagnino

Edited By:
Daniel Bishop M.A.
Ethan Barnes


References:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2015/12/14/baseball-commissioner-rob-manfred-not-reinstate-pete-rose-cincinnati-reds/77290922/
http://www.complex.com/sports/2012/07/the-25-best-alleged-and-confirmed-steroid-users-in-baseball-history/steroids-14
http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2016.shtml
http://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/bbwaa-rules-for-election
http://www.shoelessjoejackson.com/about/biography.html
http://www.peterose.com/about/