Latest Fanster.com post- At ASU spring practice

Here it is:
http://smi.sh/9f4df

Latest Fanster.com post- about Amare

http://smi.sh/18683

Bracket update- Sweet 16

My latest post- on how my bracket is almost dead- is posted on fanster.com

http://smi.sh/5c700

Latest Fanster.com post- my NCAA tournament bracket

I've got a new post up...my bracket is doing well despite some big losses: http://smi.sh/755c8

ASU- Why Must You Make Me Look Stupid?

My latest on fanster.com:

http://smi.sh/2b25c

NIT Bound Devils- Still a Great season

My latest post on fanster.com: http://smi.sh/edb22

Not my words, but SO funny and true (in my eyes)

Sorry UofA peeps...I have to agree with my buddy Nate on what he wrote to one of his friends:

Always have been always will be die hard ASU. Johnny (the friend), it's easy to root for someone that always wins. Whether or not asu makes it to the dance is irrelevant to me (they bored the crap out of me this year). I am drinking a Dr Pepper daily to the fact that (Lute) Olson left UofA's basketball legacy exactly where its school's physical presence has always resided, the toilet of our great state.

I differ in that I DO care if ASU gets into the NCAA Tournament (but they do bore me when I watch them), but any chance to take a shot at Tucson is worth some web space. GO DEVILS!

Devils Small on Big Stage

My latest post is up on fanster.com about the Devils, their loss to Stanford, and their chances for the NCAA Tourney

http://phoenix.fanster.com/2010/03/11/happily-trapped-fan-devils-small-big-stage/

I am now on Fanster.com

For the few (or many) of you who have been following my blogs, I thank you dearly. I have been given the chance to contribute to the local sports site, fanster.com. I am very happy for the opportunity to have a built in audience of over 100,000 readers every month (according to its founder). So, unless I post something that is unrelated to Phoenix sports, all my posts will be there. However, I will, for those who like to use blogger, announce on facebook and on here the new post and have a link.

Here's to a new opportunity- or at least a new hobby, but hopefully an opportunity.

Here is my new site: http://fanster.com/thehappilytrappedfan

Also, I will be starting a fan page for the (Happily) Trapped Fan. Please join and recommend.

Step away from that ledge, fans

Friday was a bad day to be a fan of the Cardinals. The weird thing is that nothing that happened was surprising: Anquan Boldin's trade was two years in the making, I think everyone expected Karlos Dansby to leave, and while Antrel Rolle's signing with the Giants was surprising, the surprise was not that he signed with them, but that he (not Darren Sharper, Bob Sanders, Ed Reed, Adrian Wilson, Troy Polamalu, Nick Collins, or Brian Dawkins) is now the highest paid safety in NFL history. Combine these with Kurt Warner's retirement (which, as we remember, was not all that surprising either), and I could sense uneasiness in the Redbird Nation, as if all those years of misery were approaching again like Lost's black smoke monster (ticking sounds and everything).

I, myself, felt the uneasiness and wondered if there simply would be too many holes to fill, too many changes, too many starters and leaders gone, for the Cardinals to stay competitive. I had a night of doubt. But then, on Saturday, moments before leaving to pick up my oldest daughter from a friend's birthday party, the familiar sound of the guitar intro for Chris Cornell's "You Know My Name" (my phone's text message tone) brought great news- an ESPN breaking news text message stating that Adam Schefter is reporting, "Jets trade S Kerry Rhodes to Cardinals for 4th-rd pick in 2010 and 7th-rd pick in 2011." That moment reminded me that I was being foolish, considering I just wrote this not long ago after the breaking news of Coach Whisenhunt's new contract (in "Cards Bus Going in Right Direction"):

Right now, the team is at a turning point. It has lost its elite quarterback. It is losing one to 3 key starters on defense. It may be dealing a starter on offense. Normally, I would be back to bracing myself for meagerness. I'm not saying that won't take a step back this year. It might. But knowing that The Whiz is in the driver's seat and that the organization has packed its bags and loaded them onto his bus, I trust that joining them for the ride is going to be enjoyable on the whole for many years. I can't wait to see where the next stop is going to be.


I had momentarily (ok, maybe it was about 20 hours, but in my defense, I was spending the night and early morning at the Phoenix Zoo with my oldest and about 30 other 4th graders- it was great daddy-daughter time, but you do realize that there were another 30+ 9 and 10 year olds there, too) lost sight of the fact that these Cardinals have a plan. The Whiz knows what he is doing. Here is what he said on the trade:

"We had a good contingency plan in place if we lost Antrel and we acted quickly. We all know that the safety position was a hole we needed to fill. Kerry has the experience and ability to step in right away. He fits a lot of things that we do."

This deal looks great. Personally, I have NEVER drunk the Antrel Kool-Aid. He has been, for years, my least favorite player on the team- just ask my buddy, Nate. He can confirm this for you. When he was named to the Pro Bowl, I was dumbfounded. I am glad he's gone. I don't deny that he is exciting to watch when he gets the ball in his hands, but I never felt, as a fan, that he made much of an impact. As a cornerback (and he was expected to be dynamic- much like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie), he was a bust. He was dreadful in pass coverage. He is known as a physical player, but he never showed great tackling- acceptable, but not elite. He has been a bonehead, being called for numerous personal fouls. It has been said that he was good in the slot, but the only thing memorable he did was the one game against Cincinnati, and his interceptions were not the result of good coverage, but rather ok instincts on horrible throws right at him. I've always thought that Rolle has been simply one of the luckiest players in the NFL because, for all the things he has not done well, he happens to be remembered for scoring touchdowns. On half of his touchdowns, he got the ball and there was no one in front of him. My wife (who is beautiful, but anything BUT athletic) could have scored on those plays. When he was given punt return duties, it was downright scary. He didn't come up on kicks he should have caught and caught ones he should have let go, and did absolutely nothing special if he happened to actually get the ball in his hands (which is his supposed strength). As a safety, he wasn't bad, but I never saw anything to think that he was good. He, in my eyes, was simply serviceable as a free safety, and that status was barely for me. Rolle was one excruciating overthrow by Aaron Rodgers in overtime from being another Aaron Francisco (are you still as mad as I am about him and his play in the Super Bowl? Yeah, I thought so). Rolle got beat badly on that play.

Fortunately for him, he was considered a free agent prize. The New York Football Giants now have made Antrel Rolle the highest paid safety in league history. Does anyone else find this weird? In any case, the Cardinals now have Kerry Rhodes, and had to give up very little for him. To be fair, Rhodes does come with a fed flag. He was considered the bust of the Jets defense. He was benched for two games, although he returned later as the starter and made solid contributions to the league's #1 rated defense. It turns out that he had some differences with the new defensive coaching staff. Even so, he is the same age as Rolle, he is bigger, and while he is not known for his physicality, he is much better in coverage than Rolle. But that's not all- he is signed through 2013, and gets paid only a portion of what Rolle now makes, or even what he would have made here in Arizona. This is a GREAT thing. For less money, we get an upgrade (and on a more personal level, my TV screen may have been saved from the remote control violence that Rolle had the potential of provoking). There's no way to convince me otherwise (but I do welcome attempts).

Does this answer all the questions I have? Not yet. But one thing I do know is that, unlike in times past, these Cardinals are not just letting important talent run away. There is a vision, a plan. There is hope. So, Redbird faithful, do not fear, the Whiz is here. He is the leader of this team and will not let it take too much of a backward step, if in fact there will be a step back. If you had the urge to move toward the ledge to begin contemplating jumping again (because we all have done that before) into hopeless, faithless fandom, step back, pull up a chair, and enjoy the view and the ride. That's what I will be doing.

Would a lower seed be better for the Suns?

The Suns, with their win in Oklahoma City a little over a week ago, proved my wife wrong. She said the team would only win 34 games this season, "I guarantee it." So with each win the Suns rattle off, I get a little more satisfaction in her being wrong (married guys- you know what I mean, right? We love our leading ladies, but we also love when they don't win an argument). My prediction was much more positive- 50 wins and a 6 seed in the playoffs. As they stand presently with 38 wins and 20 games left, I may yet be the winner of the preseason predictions. In fact, they just might exceed both my predictions. Here is how the schedule looks the rest of the way:




March:

Wed 03 @ LA Clippers

Thu 04 vs Utah

Sat 06 vs Indiana

Fri 12 vs LA Lakers

Sun 14 vs New Orleans

Tue 16 vs Minnesota

Fri 19 vs Utah

Sun 21 vs Portland

Mon 22 @ Golden State

Fri 26 vs New York

Sun 28 @ Minnesota

Tue 30 @ Chicago

Wed 31 @ New Jersey

April

Fri 02 @ Detroit

Sat 03 @ Milwaukee

Wed 07 vs San Antonio

Fri 09 @ Oklahoma City

Sun 11 vs Houston

Tue 13 vs Denver

Wed 14 @ Utah



Let's break down the rest of the Suns' games- the "book it" wins, the likely losses, and then the toss-ups.



The "book it" wins:



Tonight at the Clippers, at home vs Indiana, both games vs Minnesota, at Golden State, at New Jersey, at Chicago (they won't lose that game after being embarrassed at home), and at Detroit.



The likely losses:



At home vs Lakers, at Denver (but this could be a toss-up), and at Utah.



The toss-ups:



The 2 home games vs Utah, at home vs New Orleans, at home vs Portland , at Milwaukee, at home vs San Antonio, at Oklahoma City, and at home vs Houston.



So, it would seem that there are 8 wins that the Suns should get, 3 games they should lose, and then 8 in the air. If they take care of business against the 'book it' games and split the toss-up games, right there is 50 wins. I personally believe that they split the two Utah home games, and beat New Orleans, Portland, Milwaukee, San Antonio, and Houston, ending the season with 52 wins. I also predict sneaking in one win of the three likely losses. That would be 53. That would be pretty stinking good.



53 wins would land Phoenix anywhere between the third and, in a worst-case scenario, the sixth seed, but likely the fourth or fifth seed. Definitely a good thing, especially if there is home-court advantage. Or is it?



Ok, call me crazy for that last question. Maybe too much Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Demi Lovato, and Hannah Montana in my house has messed with my judgement. Just here me out. I am thinking about the playoffs. The Suns are playing really good basketball now. If they can keep this play up, they are as good as anyone in the league. But I am thinking about the whole playoffs. As a fourth or a fifth seed, I like the chances for advancing. The problem is that the next round would be the Lakers, and then, likely, good night.



I don't know how achieveable the third seed is, but I would almost prefer even the sixth seed over the fourth seed. Now, to clarify, I want the Suns to win 53 (or more) games and end up third, but if not that, I want them to win a lot and, because of the competition in the West, to end up sixth instead of fourth or fifth. They lose home-court, but I feel confident that they make it out of the first round regardless of the opponent. But as the third or sixth seed, they would not see Los Angeles until the conference finals. Then, anything can happen (like getting swept or beating them in 6).



Right now, Phoenix can play with anyone and beat anyone on any given night, but a long series is different. But I don't fear any team except the Lakers in a long series. So, at least for me, if they can't get to the number three spot, I'd rather that they end up number six, giving them the best chance to last longer once the playoffs start. Am I crazy? Convince me that I am.

They're the Spurs. I should hate them, but...

As I sit in my recliner watching Armageddon late Saturday night (with the rest of the family sleeping- I should be, too, but I enjoy the quiet house to wind down after a busy day), I realize that I am not as jacked up for the Suns/Spurs game in the morning as I normally would be. After all, for years, the Spurs have been the enemy, the Anti-Suns, Kryptonite. Tonight, I don't feel the same. Why is that?

The first thing I wonder...is it because I have to watch the second half recorded on the DVR? (The game starts at 11, we have church at 12:30. I mean, I love the Suns and yes they have blessed me many times in my life, but they didn't grant me life, they didn't guide me to the wonderful family, and heck, they haven't even blessed me with a championship. God certainly has the upper hand. Now, if the Suns were to bless me with a championship, then maybe things would be different. KIDDING! No, my faith does come before my fandom.) No, it has nothing to do with the DVR. Many a time have I either recorded the game or watched (near religiously) my phone, hoping to get happy text updates while away from home. That has never affected my hate for the Spurs or the passion for games against San Antonio.

Next, I have to wonder, is the game any less meaningful this time around? This certainly isn't the case. Phoenix, while currently in the fifth spot for playoff seeding, only holds a three game lead over the eighth seed. The team is only a game and a half behind Utah for the fourth seed and home court in the first round. San Antonio is currently a playoff team, and the game is in San Antonio. The Suns are looking to improve their road play, being as they are still under .500 on the road. So, clearly, the game is still important.

So, then, why is it that I feel that the rivalry has waned a bit? I think that there are a couple of reasons. Now, you may disagree and passionately hate the Spurs, but I think for many of us, the hate is less than it was. The first reason is that the players we hated most are gone. Bruce Bowen will no longer be taking kick swipes at players' heels or putting feet under a jumping player to land on, nor will he be kneeing players in the special place. He won't be man-handling Steve Nash on defense so much that we think that Nash may feel a little dirty after the game. Gone also is Robert Horry with his big shots and cheap shots. Sure, we are still miffed at Michael Finley when he signed with the Spurs, leaving us feeling like the spurned teenage girl that got led on by the guy she liked, but we never really hated him. We were jealous that the other girl got (again) the guy she was chasing after. Also, true it is that Flopper  (Manu Ginobili) is still there, but he has mostly been just a shell of who he was, and we know it. As for Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, how can you really hate them? They are both nice guys and Parker is married to Eva Longoria (who wouldn't love to be him, really?). They don't trash talk, they don't cheap shot (but they do whine, but, then again, so does our own two-time MVP), but you hate to play against them (but not hate them) because they are so good against us.

Additionally, the Suns are a different team. No longer here is the chip that Raja Bell carried on his shoulder constantly. There will be no more cheap "Hack-a-Shaq", no Boris Diaw to come off the bench during an altercation, no Mike D'Antoni for Gregg Popovich to befuddle.

The biggest reason for me, though, why the hate is no longer hate is that the Spurs are no longer the nemesis. They haven't won it in a while. They have had a tough year. They are showing weaknesses. They simply are not the same Spurs I hated. They are no longer "the team to go through." They are not the obstacle in our way. Part of that is because the Suns are also not considered title contenders this year. There is not the expectation for either team to win it all this year. This takes things down a notch. There is not as much on the line, and having it all on the line is what really gets us riled up. Plus, we live in Arizona. It's really hard for us to stay mad at the world when we live in place that is just so nice to be in.

In the end, do I really want the Suns to beat the Spurs? Well, duh, I REALLY want the Suns to win every game. That never changes. However, on Sunday, while watching the first half at home and then either watching the second half recorded three hours later or just following the game tweets I get, the hate won't be there like it has been. Am I wrong and misguided? Tell me what you think.

Cards' Bus Going In Right Direction

I've always been a Cardinals fan. As a teenager, I listened to as much of the games as I could because there was no TV for us as a family on Sundays. Now that I think about it, had we watched TV, it's not like it would have mattered. I only could have watched half the games because of the blackout rule. But to be honest, it took until 1998 (the year I returned home from a religious mission to Argentina and, incidentally, the year the Cards made the playoffs and beat the Cowboys) until I felt emotionally invested in the team. I cheered, wanted them to win, but it was rarely with any faith. I always knew that it was, a) a crummy team, or b) a team that no matter what happened, would find a way to disappoint me. Every year was the same- the hope that a team with an overall lack of talent (overall because there were always some very good players) would somehow overachieve, stay healthy, and get lucky. Years of being competitive at home and awful on the road. Bad drafts or drafting players that would flourish AFTER leaving Arizona. Major injuries to key young players. Player signings motivated more for ticket sales than for performance on the field. Not paying players that deserved to be paid. In all, the team did not ever seem to have a vision or a plan of any sort.

Things have changed. Today's news of the contract extensions for Coach Ken Whisenhunt and GM Rod Graves symbolizes the completion of a team's transformation from the league's "armpit" (as said by Simeon Rice) to an actual winning football franchise. Whisenhunt is the first coach to get a contract extension since the team moved to Arizona. He becomes one of the five highest paid coaches in the league. To me, it shows that the organization has a plan, a vision, of what it wants to do and is willing to stick to it.

To be fair, the change started with Dennis Green. He drafted some quality players and began the culture change, but he could not carry it out. Also in fairness to ownership, as they claimed that if the team had a new stadium that they would be able to be more competitive because of the added revenue streams (something that I believed about as much I believe that Santonio Holmes actually got both feet down...which I don't!), they have delivered on that claim. They have shown that they are no longer complete misers, that they will spend money when it is needed. Russ Grimm was paid so he would not leave. Strength coach John Lott got paid. Kurt Warner got paid. Adrian Wilson got extended. Larry Fitzgerald got paid. Now, Coach Whiz got paid.

The extension is evidence of just how much respect Whisenhunt has earned from the organization, and that it is on board with his plan for the team. He has shown himself to be a company man, as he refused to worry about his contract status when he had more than a year left, showing his players by example to stick to the football issues until the time comes to worry about money issues. He has shown leadership skills and has brought the spirit of competition and improvement. He has drafted players with a plan for now and for the future, thinking ahead to positions in which current players may leave, in addition to getting talent that can contribute in the first year. He has changed Matt Leinart into a blue collar football worker. He has handled Anquan Boldin's outbursts with class and dignity. He took Kurt Warner and helped him resurrect his career, and was intelligent enough to adapt to the skill set of his quarterback and personnel when his personal offensive philosophy was different. He is an Arizona rock star- not in personality or in ego (Buddy Ryan/Dennis Green), but in status.

Right now, the team is at a turning point. It has lost its elite quarterback. It is losing one to 3 key starters on defense. It may be dealing a starter on offense. Normally, I would be back to bracing myself for meagerness. I'm not saying that won't take a step back this year. It might. But knowing that The Whiz is in the driver's seat and that the organization has packed its bags and loaded them onto his bus, I trust that joining them for the ride is going to be enjoyable on the whole for many years. I can't wait to see where the next stop is going to be.

Suns Win! Wife Proven Wrong!

Well, thanks to American Idol night (in my house, this is one show- along with Dancing With the Stars  and So You Think You Can Dance- the kids want to watch with us), I got to watch the first 3 quarters of the Suns game and then get tweets about the fourth quarter and watch the nba.com play-by-play transcript.  Following Paul Coro's tweets, I was bummed as the Suns were, at the time, blowing the game. The first three quarters were very entertaining and encouraging, watching Phoenix play just a step ahead of one of the hottest teams in the league.

I went to nba.com when there were only a couple of minutes left. Believe it or not, watching a written transcript of the action of a close game is every bit as exciting and nerve-wracking. Down by 5, then 3, then 2. One minute left, down two, waiting to see the result of the Thunder's next possession. Could the Suns pull it off? A stop. Two free throws, tie game. At this point, the kids were huddled around the laptop and not watching the TV (but Lost was also recording, so no go on changing channels). A stop, and a second stop after the offensive rebound, 13 seconds left. Then...YES! The Richardson floating jump shot: Made (gracias nba.com description). 104-102 with 0.7 seconds left. A missed three-pointer and it is done! The pulled it off!!

This game was important for a few reasons. First of all, it was a quality road win against a potential playoff team. With the victory, Phoenix leapfrogged the Thunder in the standing and took the 5th seed position. Goran Dragic is proving he can play in this league- 16 points, 10 assists (but 6 turnovers) looked an awful lot like a line that Steve Nash gives. The team showed that it can win without Nash, even against a quality opponent. Amar'e Stoudemire put up another great performance (30 points, 9 rebounds) and Jason Richardson shone in an opportunity to show some leadership (20 points, 13 rebounds, the tying free throws, and the game-winner). I can live with this JRich, and even pay him $14 million. The team, after blowing a 15 point lead (yes, that story again), closed the game on a 16-4 run, and got defensive stops when it counted. As Nash said the other night, "That's what you get when you play the Suns".

All of these are great. But, for me, the most important thing was that it was win number 35. Why is that important? Well, my wife is a pessimist, and that's okay. She is the type that when she is disappointed, it really gets her down. As a result, she prefers to keep expectations low, so not to be disappointed. As for me, I'm used to disappointment when it comes to our teams. I am realistic, but I prefer to be optimistic as a fan. I'd prefer to be hurt later than miserable the entire time. Before the season began, Cami (the eternally pessimistic fan) and I were talking about what we thought of the Suns going into the season. I told her- 50 wins and a 6 seed. Cami said 34 wins, "I guarantee it." She thought that either Stoudemire or Nash would go down with an injury, tanking the season. With 24 games to go, 50 wins are definitely within reach, and the Suns are now the 5 seed. More importantly, tonight's win is number 35. You know what that means, right? My wife has been proven wrong, and that is always something sweet. Thanks, Suns, for your victory and mine.

Basketball Game Lost, Saved From Ice Dancing- Only a Moral Victory

So, the TV downstairs is supposed to be 'my TV.' It is my high-def, connected to Dolby Digital surround sound TV. But if you have ever been married (and I have for almost eleven years) you know that 'my TV' really means 'my TV when it's convenient for you, dear' or 'my TV, but if I want to spend any time with you, I watch what you want.' Never mind that she has 'her TV' in our room. You guys know what I mean. Tonight was 'I'm too tired to go watch my TV, so I'll hijack yours and it's okay because we're watching something together.' Those were her actual words, just not from her mouth- but I know she thought them.

I had NBATV on to watch the Jazz/Hawks game (which based on the score must have been a good game to watch), but after dinner was over and I was washing dishes (yes, I wash the dishes in our house), I was told (without any words) "Goodbye, NBA. Hello, ski-jumping." Now, I have nothing against in particular against ski-jumping, except that it was on 'my TV' instead of Joe Johnson and Carlos Boozer. So, ski-jumping it is. It was okay, but I have no idea how scoring works. Austria wins.

Next up, aerials. This is AMAZING to watch, but I have to wonder- who ever decided that it would be a good idea to fly in the air, spin, twirl, and flip, all while wearing skis? You don't land on your skis, and you plow into snow. Last I checked, snow isn't soft. But these people take the insanity several steps past insane- they decided that it was fun (rational for adrenaline junkies), then they decided that this should be a competitive sport and then someone said: "Hey, I want to do this in the Olympics, so I can risk death regularly just in training".

At least this is watchable. I was afraid of what was to come- ice dancing. Luckily for me, before the dancing (or rather, the skating for those who weren't good enough to be figure skaters) started, my wife said she was going to bed (she pulled a 12 hour day at work). Relief!! So I go back to NBATV, and, what do you know, post-game interviews. So, since all other shows stopped running new episodes, off to MSNBC for curling. What a way to end the night- watching John Shuster say, "Sorry, guys" more than you wish to see and China hand it to the US curling team. Not a good ending, but at least I was saved from ice dancing. Am I right?

Jackie Earle Haley = Steve Nash in 2020

I will admit- I had no idea who Jackie Earle Haley was or any of his work until I started watch Fox's The Human Target with my wife (which I greatly enjoy). If you haven't watched the show before, Jackie Earle Haley is Guerrero. But, have a look- I can see Steve Nash looking just like him in ten years, growing the facial hair and wearing the John Lennon specs. What do you think?

A Letter to Tiger

Dear Mr. Woods (aka supposedly The Most Important Athlete in the World),

I am (sort of) a fan of golf, but I can't even call myself a casual fan. I follow who wins the majors and some tournaments, but I don't watch it, and, with the exception of once in my life, the only golfing I do only involves rubber-headed putters, oddly colored balls, and windmills and castles. But I did listen to your prepared statement to the world. I'm like the rest of the world; I wanted to hear what the Great Tiger Woods had to say. What were you going to say? Was Elin going to be there? When ARE you going to golf again?

After watching and listening, my first impressions are that you said all that needed to be said. You took responsibility for the things you did. You explained that you and your wife are working on things, although she was not present, which in itself says many things. You were understandably indignant when addressing how the paparazzi and the press followed your wife and kid around, and the allegations that Elin attacked you, but you should have expected this. For a person of your popularity and importance to the world, when you disappear and leave nothing in the way of facts, people are left to fill in the blanks, which includes going down inappropriate paths. It's not right, but that is how things work.

What many people have found to be the most important part of what you said is how you apologized to the fans and those who look up to you and your asking that we someday can come to believe in you. This is what got me. Everything about the way you have done things up until now tell me that you never really believed in that idea. You have had many opportunities to step up and take a stand on social issues, but didn't because you just wanted to play golf. I imagine that you knew that people looked to you as a hero because of what you have accomplished, but you never believed that it was your place.

Now, as a husband and father, I find your actions to be reprehensible, as do many. I do not blame the sponsors that dropped you. I personally believe it is bad practice in society to knowingly support those who cannot stay true to their own family. And yet, since all you are is an athlete, it is no business of mine to know what you do in your family. If you are unfaithful, it does nothing to me and my family. You owed no one other than your family and personal friends an apology. But because you are the Great Tiger Woods, The President of Golf, The Most Watched Athlete on Earth, and The Chosen One To End The War With Machines (oh, you're not that last one? Sorry), you had to so that you could move forward with your career.

This is the problem. Why are so many people looking to you to be a role model? All you have shown us, even before the public knowledge of your indiscretions, is that you win as a golfer. You have not exhibited camaraderie with your fellow golfers. You have not shown grace or classiness on the golf course. You have not shown sensitivity to social issues. You have only won, although you have done that a lot. I never would have taught my children to look up to your or believe in you. There are far too many other people that demonstrate far greater attributes than you. I don't blame you- this is not your fault, but rather an indictment on our society. We want to look to our celebrities as our examples. All you did was try to be the best golfer in the world.

Now I hope for your family's sake that you are sincere in your words and that you can find forgiveness and reconciliation. I believe that one should be able to find these things for almost all things if there is true change in acts and desires. Perhaps your apology was appropriate for a select few- for those who look to you as a model for golf. These people need to see you play, succeed, and change to show the respect that the sport deserves. As for the rest of us, just get yourself right and go play golf. That is what we need from you, more than any prepared words of apology, explanations, or anything else.

Sincerely,

All of us

What Lies Ahead for Amar'e

So it seems that, barring MAJOR changes at the eleventh hour, Amar'e Stoudemire will be a Phoenix Sun for the remainder of the season. Cleveland decided that it did not want to part with JJ Hickson and traded for Antawn Jamison instead. Miami seemingly has not offered anything that the Suns want, so we get to see the team give it a go this year. For this season, it is definitely a positive. The Suns could, if they keep up the quality play, find themselves in the playoffs with home-court advantage for at least the first series. They have shown that they can, on any given night, play and beat anyone in the NBA. But, then what? Stoudemire still can opt out of the last year of his contract, worth more than $17 million and walk away. Will Phoenix end up losing one of the most talented players in the league for nothing? Is the Suns front office that stupid?

While I have questioned the sanity and intelligence of some of the moves that the Suns have made over the past few seasons, I wouldn't think that they would let their co-best player walk away for nothing (By the way, if you ever want to feel like pulling out your hair or throwing yourself in front of an SUV on the freeway, read pages 180-182 in Bill Simmon's The Book of Basketball, where it describes some of the moves made and their ramifications). The Suns are still in good shape. They are not powerless. Here is what is likely to happen:

Stoudemire decides not to opt out of his deal

If he does this, he plays the last year of his deal and earns more than $17 million. For the Suns, he still is a valuable asset. He will be an expiring contract and still will be a top tier player. This also gives the team some more time to negotiate an extension. Reportedly, the team and Amar'e are not differing in money, but in years. This may get worked out. If not, he would likely be moved before the trading deadline next season.

Stoudemire opts out, Suns sign-and-trade

This is the more likely scenario. If he opts out, the team that can give him the most years and money is Phoenix. this is ideally what he wants. The Suns would work a deal with another team, getting players/picks that they hopefully want, and Stoudemire gets the money and security he desires.

In the end, Phoenix will work the situation to either sign him to an extension or get compensated for him. This is the type of managing that we as fans expect- actual planning. Now, what the team REALLY needs to figure out to do is to shed Jason Richardson's or Leandro Barbosa's contract to get a pick in the first round of this year's draft and to find salary relief...but mostly so we can get a draft pick. I hope that my trust in management in THIS particular issue is not misguided.

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Money or a Championship? Are We Hypocrites?

This afternoon on the Gambo and Ash show, they discussed Amar’e Stoudemire, his trade scenarios, and his contract situation. What it came down to was that Amar’e would rather play for a woeful team (such as the New Jersey Nets) and get paid $20 million more in a contract, than play for a team like Cleveland, where he could win a championship. This led to a discussion between my wife (Señora Sports) and I about athletes, money, and winning, and how we expect our athletes to be more principled than we are.

We expect more of athletes than we do of ourselves when it comes to money. We vilify those that leave looking for a bigger paycheck. We can be near pious with other people’s money. We want our athletes to take much less money than they can make in the open market so they can win, or have the chance at winning. (Now, to be clear, for purposes in this article, I will not refer to cases of players like Cardinals player Darnell Dockett or Anquan Boldin, who signed contracts that they outperformed and have no contractual way to change that. I refer to free agent players or players that have opt-out clauses in their contracts, allowing them to forfeit the money left on their deal to seek more money and/or years of security.) To be honest, could we expect ANYONE to turn down $20 million for a job (excluding moral/ethical beliefs)? Is Stoudemire less of a player because he wants to maximize his earnings? Should he take less money or even a pay cut for the possibility of winning a championship?

I am sure that there are a few players and former players that retrospectively would say that they would pay some millions of dollars (maybe even up to $10 million) to be able to have won a championship or for the guarantee of one. However, the problem is that there is NEVER a guaranteed championship. It was all but a forgone conclusion that the 2003-04 Lakers were going to win it all, giving Karl Malone and Gary Payton rings that they never before were able to get, but then a key Malone injury in the Finals contributes to the Detroit Pistons shocking he world and beating the seemingly unbeatable Lakers.

A look at the other side, and we can find a familiar face. Joe Johnson wanted to leave Phoenix, wanting to be paid more and to be the leader for the terrible Atlanta Hawks. A majority of people here were very disappointed that he would not want to come back and play with Steve Nash and the chance to win one or more titles, wondering why anyone would want to go and play for an awful team like the Hawks. Look at him now- rich, a four-time All-Star, on a team that has already been competitive in the playoffs, and is now one of the best teams in the East. AND he looks to possibly score another huge contract after this season. So, a situation that at the time looks like a bad situation, aside from pay, can turn very quickly into a winning situation.

Now, the money that athletes earn is obscenely more than a person like me makes. But in any case, I wouldn’t, in my job as a teacher, take a pay cut to be a part of a better teaching team or in a better school. Nor would I turn down a significant raise to teach with a less talented group of teachers where I would be expected to be the leader or best performer. Not now- I am raising a family. It might be a consideration once my children are grown and I have earned a level of comfort that can warrant me to consider job situation or ambience over compensation.

There is a general rule for athletes. Make as much money as you can while you are young, because no one knows how long they will be able to play. After making their money, as an older player, they THEN should seek the best opportunities to win. In sports, owners don’t owe anything to their players other than the money agreed to in a contract. Players owe nothing to their teams when contracts end. If players like our local players with ending contracts or contract outs (Amar’e Stoudemire, Brandon Webb, Karlos Dansby) think they can make more money than their teams now are willing to pay them, we should not think less of them, even if we think that their best chance of winning or contributing is here. They are just doing what most of us would do in their situation.

The Enigma That Is Amar’e

I love Amar’e. I hate Amar’e. I want to build the team around him. I want to show him the door. This is a view that many fans share. Even just moments before writing this, I am struggling with whether I want to see him traded or not.

There is no questioning his talent. He is almost without peer at his size and position in the league. He is athletic, strong, explosive, and can shoot the ball. For his career, he averages over 20 points per game and almost 9 rebounds per game, and is right at those averages for this year. Yet, what drives me (and other fans) crazy is what he doesn’t do. He is anywhere between awful and below average defensively. He doesn’t rebound a much as we all wish he did or think he should. He is dropping passes that in years past were assists for a teammate. He doesn’t appear to have the heart that others with far less talent have. He talks of wanting and deserving a maximum contract. He talks about being considered on the same level as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. Why do we as fans do this?

I recently heard a saying that I think applies to how we view Amar’e- “You’re standing too close to the forest to see the trees.” We focus so much on his faults that we forget how great he really is. We see what he could be. We want him to be Kevin Garnett or Tim Duncan, and the fact that he is anything less kills us. When reminded of his numbers, we say it is because of playing in Mike D’Antoni’s system and/or because he has Steve Nash making things easy for him. But remember the year BEFORE Steve Nash? Wait…Amar’e averaged 20 and 9. Career playoff numbers? 25 and more than 10. He is a spectacular player, if not elite, or at least in the conversation of elite.

So why would you trade a player like that, especially during the type of season the Suns are having? They are a competitive playoff team. Trading Stoudemire would likely send the team to lottery land, and, to make things worse, lottery land without the lottery pick, as Oklahoma City has their unprotected 2010 first round pick. If Phoenix keeps him, the team makes it to the playoffs, likely gets bumped in the first round, Stoudemire might opt out of the last year of his contract, and still no first round pick. It’s a tough call. Let’s look at both cases- to trade or not to trade.

The case for keeping Amar’e

As stated before, there are few players who can do what Stoudemire does. You simply cannot get equal production at his position. Only Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh would be an increase in production, as they both defend and rebound better than Amar’e. Yet trading for them does not work because Bosh, like Stoudemire has the early termination option in his contract after this season and is planning on using it. Boozer’s contract expires after this year and makes more money than Stoudemire. If you consider other upgrades at the position, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are past their prime, Zach Randolph (while he is having a superb season) is not as athletic and would not be a good fit for the up tempo Suns (even if you ignore the character issues that followed him before now), and LaMarcus Aldridge, while athletic enough, doesn’t rebound enough.

Keeping Stoudemire makes the Suns a better team. Remember last season when he was injured and how great the Suns played? Oh yeah, they didn’t. They didn’t make the playoffs and that was WITH Shaquille O’Neal. Lose Amar’e, and you have Robin Lopez and Channing Frye left to pick up the offensive slack in the frontcourt. Yes, a trade would bring back some talent, but not likely from the power forward or center positions. Keeping him means the playoffs this year and maybe next (because he may choose to play out the final year of his deal).

There is always the possibility of extending his contract. Maybe he realizes that a ‘max’ contract likely would not happen and that if it did, he would probably end up on a miserable team. An extension of, say, 3 years at $12-14 million is not bad, and he could play on competitive teams with Steve Nash passing him the ball for two of those years. Additionally, he is entering his ‘prime’ age. He can still figure out how to be better. He will likely never be known a great or even good defender, but he can improve at his rebounding and leadership, and even if he doesn’t, he would still be producing at near elite levels.

The case for trading Amar’e

Even when considering the positives of keeping Stoudemire, there are still some looming issues for the Phoenix Suns- money and no first round pick in this year’s draft. Phoenix needs to shed salary because the team would really prefer to not pay the luxury tax. Amar’e’s desires have been made clear- he wants a maximum contract. Phoenix has made it clear that they do not want to pay maximum money. The idea is, then, to get SOMETHING for him before he leaves and then the team has a void.

Steve Kerr has said that the team must look at the present but keep an eye toward the future, even if it hurts a little now. The team drafted Earl Clark, and believes that he can be a solid player, if not a star at power forward. It needs a first round pick, as this year’s draft is considered to be talented. A trade could allow for salary relief, draft picks, and/or upgrading production in other positions. The Suns could use an upgrade at small forward- not saying that Grant Hill is playing poorly, but they would need increased production from that position and center to make up the lost production at power forward.

What I think

I think that trading Amar’e is necessary. The fan base is tired of his periods of uninspired play, even if it is accompanied by offensive brilliance. In unsettled economic times for the league and lagging attendance, adding also the labor uncertainty after next season, it would be unwise to pay him what he wants to be paid. I have seen enough flashes from Earl Clark offensively to make me believe that he will be Amar’e PLUS. He can create his own shot, his outside shot is getting better, he is explosive, AND he already plays defense and can rebound. I believe he will make a difference on this team as early as next season. What gives me even more hope is that the one doubt/knock on him (his work ethic) has not been an issue. Coach Alvin Gentry said this morning just how much his effort has changed. Talent plus effort equals stardom- Clark is going to be a star. I was not a believer a month ago. I am now.

Amar’e may yet become the consistently dominant force he can become, but I do not believe that it can happen here. It will take a new fan base and a strong coach, because he really desires to be the best. So, while it may hurt this year, Amar’e needs to go, but not for just anyone. It needs to be for picks or young players that will contribute, and at least one other position needs to be upgraded, in addition to meeting salary requirements. I, as a fan, hope he can develop into that player we wish he were, just as long as he consistently ends up at home for the summer before the Suns do.

Does O-Dawg regret leaving?

2009 was a disaster for the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was supposed to be at least a competitive year. The offseason prior to the 2009 season was also a disaster for former Dback Orlando Hudson. He was coming off a career year, batting .305, but had his season cut short for the second consecutive year because of injury. He entered free agency for the first time and was expecting to cash in on a huge, multi-year contract.

As one of the elite second basemen in baseball, he was reportedly seeking a 5-year deal for around $45 million. Hudson did nothing wrong- he had earned the right to see what the market would bear. However, aside from the monster contracts that the Yankees gave to C.C. Sabathia and to Mark Texeira, there just wasn't the money for that to happen. In the end, Hudson had to settle for a one-year deal with the Dodgers worth $3.38 million, with possible incentives worth around another $4 million.

In the end, the season was a success- he played an entire season, batting .283 with 9 homeruns and 62 RBI, numbers that are right in line with what he has done in his career. He did struggle in the last month of the season, but played for the National League West champs and played in the NLCS for the chance of playing in the World Series. He reached his incentives, making his yearly earnings at around $7.5 million. However, he became a free agent again, and he was only able to obtain a one-year, $5 million deal with the Minnesota Twins.

Here's the kicker- reportedly, while with the Diamondbacks, the team offered him a four-year extension worth about $7 million annually. Hudson was unhappy with the offer, seeking the aforementioned $9 million per year and five years, and parted ways with the team after 2008. I imagine that he wishes he had taken the deal now. Two seasons, two one-year contracts, and a stagnant free agent market, and certainly not $9 million per year, and not even $7 million.

I, for one, wish Arizona could have signed him. Yes, 2009 was awful, but would it have been different with a healthy O-Dawg? I don't think he is the difference between 90 wins and 70 wins, but his stellar defense alone leads to a few wins. His leadership and energy would have changed the make up of the clubhouse, and his influence on Chris Young (whose year was TERRIBLE) could have helped him have at least an okay season. But beyond 2009, 2010 could have been special. Arizona has an improved rotation and Hudson would be an upgrade over Kelly Johnson. So, if he had stayed with Arizona, he gets paid, and the team gets a bat, defense, and leadership. 2009 may still have been lost, but he could have had money, security, AND winning.

What do you think? Does he wish he had stayed? I think it is likely.

Peyton's missed opportunity

Congratulations to the Saints!! I wasn't rooting for them, but neither was I rooting against them. But...Peyton, Peyton, Peyton. He dropped the ball.

If you look at the stats, he had a great game, but with one blemish. 333 passing yards on 31-45 attempts and a touchdown. It was the interception, though...

Now I have, as do many, a HUGE man crush on number 18. He is amazing to watch. It is football artistry. He is the smartest player on the player on the field and nothing surprises him. He eats defenses for lunch. He is already in the discussion for greatest quarterback ever, but that discussion is usually a heated argument of detractors because of playoff failures. Yes, he has a ring, but it is just one- the same amount as Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Jeff Hostetler, and Mark Rypien. A second championship, and he cements himself as a winner (multiple rings) AND incredible quarterback.

However, reality clobbered this possibility. Manning's great numbers were for naught when he threw the game deciding interception. Now, to be clear, Manning did not lose the game. Pierre Garcon's third down drop in the second quarter halted Indy's insane offensive momentum. The Colts' defense, after the one Dwight Freeney sack, didn't get close enough to even sniff Brees' deodorant, much less pressure his throws. Brees picked them apart, and tackling was an issue throughout the game. Old Man Stover missed a crucial field goal. New Orleans made in-game adjustments after a disaster of a first quarter and took control of the game with the onside kick at the start of the second half. None of this was Manning's fault.

But what he needed to do was to go and WIN the game. He needed to, for his legacy, take all of these disdvantages, and then put the team on his shoulders. He needed to march down the field, hitting pass after pass, using the clock, leading his team to the tying score with just a few seconds left. He needed a single break in overtime, and then to take the Colts down the field for the championship winning score. We needed the Manning Machine QB. Instead, we got Brett Favre- a pick-six at the worst time.

Alas, for now, Peyton Manning is still the greatest REGULAR SEASON quarterback of all time. I don't think that there is much argument there, but he could have made himself the best ever. Maybe he will yet win another Super Bowl, or even more than another, but for now, the discussion will be the same- just discussion.

Super Bowl Sunday- The Debate

The debate- Colts or Saints? Manning or Brees (Drew Breeeees!)? Pierre or Pierre? Nope- the debate I face is the same each year, regardless of the two championship opponents. This debate is that of faith or football, or in some cases, family or football. I was raised for the most part with no TV on Sundays, at the guidance of a stake president when I was quite young. Even now, just the discussion of sports, especially on Sundays, can bring disagreement when I get together with my siblings and their spouses.

Sundays are a day of worship, a day of rest, a day for family and a day for the Lord. It is a day of service for our fellow men. Football doesn't really go along with that. And yet, I'm stubborn. This Super Bowl will mark the fourth year in a row that my wife and I will get together with friends and/or family to watch the Super Bowl. We eat, cheer, and enjoy the time together. It is not spiritual, but it is not irreverent.

Here is my regret- it isn't something I can share with my whole family. My wife's family isn't huge into sports, but one thing they did on Sundays was watch TV together as a family, creating time together doing that. No, it wasn't the Super Bowl, but it was a family activity. I wish I COULD share this with my family (brothers, sisters, parents). I consider myself a faithful member of the Church and a spiritual man. The Super Bowl will not keep me away from Church meetings or from responsibilities to my family or to the Church. But I will be cheering on Peyton Manning, hoping to see him cement himself as one of the greatest ever.

Maybe my parents are right. Maybe I am not as good a man I could be if I chose to forgo football and TV on Sundays. No, it has not been said specifically that TV or sports on TV is wrong. Maybe it is. If so, I may someday make that change. Until then, Super Bowl Sunday will continue to be a chance to share time with friends and family (at least those that will share it with us).

New deal for the Sheriff? Impending Doom?

I read earlier today about how The Dbacks are in contract talks with my favorite player, Mark Reynolds. ESPN's Keith Law says that this is a risk. It could provide Reynolds with some security over multiple years and could provide the team with salary stability and possible salary savings. I would love to see this, but I fear it. Josh Byrnes has had a couple of hits and a couple of misses on his contracts. But his track record for signing pre-arbitration players to multi-year deals through arbitration years is 0 for his last 2 (see Chris Young and Chris Snyder). Webb's deal was good, but is now marred by a serious injury that could change his career. Haren's deal does not apply- it was not to lock him up through his arbitration years but to keep him from becoming a free agent. So...Byrnes has had 2 duds and a big injury in his contracts. We may have the start of a new curse...the Josh Byrnes contract curse for young players.

My point- Reynolds signs a deal, he regresses, or he has a serious injury, and we will have a trend. If he continues to improve and develops into a star, then no more sweating and no more talk of a curse. Let's hope fro the latter