unorthodox sports opinion

Would The Real Mr. Ron Artest Please Stand Up

2012-04-23T20:26:00.002-07:00

Dear Mr. Ron Artest,

I am writing in regards to acquire some information about yesterday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. After watching the entire game this afternoon on my DVR and after analyzing the video of your actions I have just one single question to ask you. What in God's name were you thinking? Did you learn nothing from the events that unfolded at the Palace in Auburn Hills that night in 2004? The fact that you changed your name to "Metta World Peace" didn't fool me one bit and I hope this facade that you have been putting on for the last several years does not go unnoticed by the NBA disciplinary committee. There is no excuse for what you did to James Harden and don't believe for a second that the NBA or James Harden for that matter believe a word of your public apology. I was sick to my stomach when you said you had no idea of what had happened. I don't know what Harden did to you in a previous life, but there was nothing harmful that Harden had done to you before the altercation occurred. Your actions were driven by malicious intent and there is no excuse for what you did. Now wait, before you get all upset and attempt to destroy the screen on your laptop, please take a moment to hear me out and maybe I can help you change your life.

Do you remember who made this statement, "Changing my name was meant to inspire and bring youth together all around the world,"? Yes Ron, that was you last year in a radio interview describing how your conversion to Buddhism had given you a new lease on life and inspired you to change the lives of others. How do you think your actions were viewed by the youth you were trying to reach when you changed your name? Is this an action that will bring the youth of the world together in order to find peace? Or the actions of a man who honestly doesn't care about anyone but himself? Your first name, Metta means, "loving kindness and friendliness towards all". Are these the actions of a kindly and friendly individual? More importantly, are these the actions that will inspire your four children to be advocates for peace? I'm sorry but I believe not. The actions you displayed last night were selfish and if this was China you could be facing the death penalty.

Now, I'll agree with you on one thing. Your actions in 2004 were a retaliation in defense to protect yourself from physical harm and the only person to blame were those who attempted to cause you harm in Detroit. But this Ron, this was you attempting to cause bodily harm to someone else. I have no idea what the repercussions will be by the NBA disciplinary committee, but if I were in charge, I'd have you suspended for the remainder of the season. However, whatever those repercussions may be, here is a quote from Edmund Burke that you should hold dear for your future, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing". If you truly want to be an advocate for peace, then it's time to start being peaceful yourself. The people closest to you have stated in the past and in light of the recent events that you are a wonderful person and a great human being. It is clear that they believe in you, but the question is, do you believe in yourself?

Do you believe that you have it in you to be an agent for change and inspire the youth of the world to be peaceful? If you do then it is time to start acting like it. I understand that being a professional athlete demands a physical presence and often times requires that one play rough in order to be successful, especially for one of the best defenders to ever play the game. But, actions like those that occurred yesterday oversteps the boundary between being physical and down right dirty. My recommendation to you is that you find that zen or enlightened place inside of you and follow the teachings of your new found Buddhist faith. Lao Tzu once said, "The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step". Change your life for your own personal well being and begin by admitting you made a mistake and apologize to Harden for intentionally trying to hurt him. This is your "single" step. Maybe then, and only then, will you be able to be an advocate for world peace because as of right now you are the complete opposite.

Thank you and happy trails, wherever they may lead you in your next phase of life and remember, it was Buddha himself who said, "You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger."

El Classico 2012: 5.0

2012-04-23T10:00:00.000-07:00

After all was said and done last night in the Camp Nou, Real Madrid reigned victorious with a 2-1 win over FC Barcelona. The game was not near as entertaining as some of their past classicos this season, but it was a game with plenty of implications for both sides and one team completed it's mission for the 2012 La Liga season. Barcelona came into the match as the usual favorites but were trailing the first place Blancos by four points. With this defeat, they now find themselves seven points behind with only four weeks remaining in La Liga. Realistically, Barcelona would need Madrid to lose at least three of those four in order to have a chance to win the league. Ideally, the world knows that this is an unrealistic scenario and was even stated by Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola in his post game interview when he congratulated Jose Mourinho and Madrid for their achievement this year.

The game's scenario could not have been set up any more better than this. Madrid entered the match knowing that a victory would practically seal the league championship while a win for Barcelona would edge them to within a point of the league leading Blancos. As the game began, one could feel the energy in the Camp Nou even for those watching on the tele or even listening on the radio. On this day, the world had come to a complete stop to witness one of the most spectacular events in the sport.

The match was off to a quick start as Ronaldo had an early chance at goal in the third minute with a header off the corner kick from Di Maria, but was foiled by Victor Valdez who made a tremendous save. Minutes later, Iker Casillas was forced to come all the way to the top his penalty box to make his own save on Barcelona defender Dani Alves who was on a clear clean breakaway. With less than ten minutes played, the stadium in Barcelona was electrifying as fans stayed on their feet. It was only in the sixteenth minute that Madrid broke the ice by scoring first off of a Di Maria corner kick. Di Maria Placed the ball well and into the far post to an ever ready Pepe whom headed the ball at Valdez's feet. Valdez made a spectacular save but could not hold onto the ball as German international Sami Khedira swept the ball into the net from under the feet of Carlos Puyol.

The ever present Lionel Messi was his brilliant self early on as he made the most unlikely of passes to both Xavi and Iniesta who missed near chances to score. But as the first half progressed it was easy to notice that the groin injury he suffered in the previous match against Chelsea FC was progressing and slowing him down. To make matters worse, Madrid midfielder Pepe was a constant aggravation for Messi. Like clockwork, Pepe smothered Messi every time he recieved the ball. Additionally, the Madrid defense constantly stood their ground throughout the match and with the help of three midfielders constantly pushed Barcelona's passes to the outside. This seemed to be a new tactic for Mourinho's side which frustrated the Barcelona attack who love to advance the ball through the middle of the field. Their frustration was clearly visible as Barcelona had made 230 passes by the thirtieth minute of the match.

The second half started off with little entertainment as their was a lack luster effort from both offenses. In the sixtieth minute, Guardiola attempted to liven up his squad by replacing fan favorite, Xavi with Chilean international Alexis Sanchez, and it worked. Less than a minute after entering the match, Sanchez scored off a rebound Casillas couldn't hold on to. Minutes later, Madrid responded as defender Arbelloa cut short a pass by Barca and advanced the ball to Mesut Ozil who in turn made a tremendous pass to Ronaldo. Ronaldo cradled the pass as he beat the Barcelona defense in a flash and finished by beating Valdez short side. Madrid would hold onto the lead and finish the game victoriously by playing disciplined defense and continuing to attack.

With the fifth Classico in the books and Madrid taking a dominant lead in La Liga, Madrid had finally beat Barcelona in league play for the first time in four years. Now that the league title is practically in the books, both squads will be focusing on their upcoming Champions League matches this week. As both head home down by a goal in aggregate to their opponents, soccer fans across the globe are praying that both Barca and Madrid overcome to meet again for the sixth time this year in the Champions league final. One could only imagine how these players feel after playing four matches in less than ten days respectively. The lactic acid in their legs must be spent and no one knows how much is actually left in the tank of tired players such as Messi and Ronaldo. With little rest remaining and the 2012 soccer season coming to an end, lets hope that these two magnificent teams meet again in the worlds greatest stage. The Champions league finals!

2012 UEFA Champions League Semifinals First Leg

2012-04-18T21:13:00.001-07:00

Now that the first leg of the champions league semifinals are in the books, its time to review the first two matches. For those who haven't followed, the two favorites, Real Madrid and Barcelona FC, have lost their respected away games in the first leg. Now both teams are headed to their home stadiums with their finals hopes and reputations on the line.

Madrid, who is playing a strong German side in Bayern Munich, fell 2 to 1 in the Allianz Arena in Munich, Bavaria. Coming into the game, Madrid was viewed as the favorites to make it to the finals out of this match-up. Bayern proved everyone wrong by scoring in a last minute effort by Mario Gomez Garcia to take the lead and are now headed to the Stadio Santiago Bernabeu with control of the aggregate. Some view the first Bayern goal as offsides, but I would have to say that it was an honest judgement call by the referee as an attacker screened Madrid keeper Iker Cassilas while the shot was taken from outside the penalty box by Franck Ribery. The obstructing forward never touched the ball and it was clear that it was an attempt at goal by Ribery and not an intended pass. For the Madridistas, the one positive that was taken away from this first match was their away goal scored by German international Mesut Ozil. The goal away from home gives Madrid the advantage in the wake of a tie in the aggregate. This means that the Merengues can walk away with a 1-0 victory next week and advance to the finals. Bayern is a very competitive side with great talent such as Ribery, Gomez, and Arjen Robben. Madrid needs to respect this talent next week and embrace Jose Mourinho's ten man behind the ball coaching style. To beat Bayern in the upcoming match they will need to defend using their midfield and counter attack as one.

In the other semi-final match-up of FC Barcelona and London club FC Chelsea, I believe we witnessed the beginning of the greatest upset of the Champions league thus far. Playing at home and looking for revenge for a poorly officiated game that cost Chelsea a finals spot in 2009, Chelsea managed to score the only goal of the match right before the end of the first half off the foot of Didier Drogba. Although the match only witnessed the one goal, it was an entertaining event with the weather playing in favor of the home squad as it poured down on Stamford Bridge. Barcelona played its usual slow paced, ticky tacky pass game and early on had two clear chances to score by Alexis Sanchez and Lionel Messi that resulted in misses off the crossbar. Additionally, Petr Chech played phenomenal in between the posts for Chelsea making several spectacular saves to keep Barcelona off the scoreboard. The Chelsea defense played a solid match and held their line with major contributions from Ramires and Raul Meireles. For Chelsea fans, their all-time favorite Drogba hands down was man of the match. He was all over the field as he cleared headers out of his own defensive area while defending Barcelona corner kicks and was a constant threat on the attack. There were several moments in the match were he had clear breakaways towards the Barca goal only to foiled by his own mistakes or Carlos Puyol's masterful defense. None the less, he played phenomenal today. Lionel Messi on the other hand was a factor for Barca early on but became irrelevant after what appeared to be an injury near the end of the first half when he slipped on the moist pitch and pulled his groin. Regardless of their chances on goal, Barca attempted their traditional style of play and it failed against Chelsea. If they hope to move onto the final they will need to reevaluate their method and make changes in order to challenge Chelsea's disciplined defense. Their typical method of attacking through the middle of the opponents third of the pitch may need to be replaced with the traditional crosses from the left and right wings into the penalty box. They attempted this a few times towards the end of the match but failed as it is a style of play they seem to be unfamiliar with.

After watching and breaking down both matches it was clear to see that both Madrid and Barcelona were not focused on winning their away matches. It seemed if they were both satisfied with tying their away matches to save resources for their home legs next week or possibly another match not related to the Champions League. Madrid kept Marcelo on the bench until the 69th' minute and Kaka didn't even receive and opportunity to touch the pitch. Barcelona looked sluggish and out of place. Although all the normal pieces of the puzzle started the match, they did not seem to really challenge a Chelsea squad who just two months ago was viewed as dead in water in all competitions after firing their head coach Andres Villas Boas and replacing him with assistant Roberto Di Matteo. The same Chelsea team who barely escaped elimination at the hands of a talented Benfica squad in the quarterfinals.

What I believe to be the truth is that both Madrid and Barca are mentally preparing for and focused on their La Liga Classico this upcoming weekend that may decide who wins La Liga this season. The Spanish Classico tends to be a demanding and brutal event for the players as the world witnessed five last year alone. With four already in the books this season and a fifth upcoming this Saturday, soccer fans across the globe are hoping to witness a sixth if both squads manage to reach the Champions League finals on May 19th. Although Bayern would love to play a championship finals in their home stadium of Allianz Arena, the soccer world is demanding another Classico in the greatest stage of European soccer. I believe that Barca and Madrid will both find themselves in the final as the ability for their respected opponents to win in the Bernabeu and Camp Nou are unlikely. This is the beauty of football at its best and the world will be watching as two of the worlds greatest and most prestigious teams play three dramatic matches in less than eight days. For those who are not dedicated soccer fanatics, pay attention this Saturday and the following Tuesday and Wednesday. If you do, I promise you will become hooked like an addict and love every minute of this jogo bonito!

Pros of the New NHL Re-alignment

2011-12-07T07:45:00.001-08:00

What The New NHL Re-alignment means for the future of the NHL

Now that the NHL board of directors has completed their agreement to re-align the conferences for next season, many people have begun to choose sides on whether or not this was a good move for the league. If you are as much of a hockey fanatic as I am then there are many reasons for why the approval of the re-alignment proposal is great for the future of the NHL. The new four conference alignment will not only balance out an already uneven schedule, but it will create new rivalries and expand those that already exist. Further, it will allow individual teams to cut expenses and create better opportunities for the league’s future.

Although all the stipulations and rules have yet to be laid out in full, the conferences will look like this. Conference A will included; The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, and Vancouver. Conference B will include; Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, and Winnipeg. These two conferences are composed of eight teams each and are based on the west coast and mid-west respectively. Teams in these two conferences will be meeting each other five or six times a year with an annual rotation composing of thirty-eight inter-conference games. The remainder of their schedules will be balanced into two home and away games with the twenty-two remaining teams in the league. Conference C will consist of teams based on the east coast including Boston, Buffalo, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Florida, and Tampa Bay, while conference D will be composed of Atlantic based teams Carolina, New Jersey, both New York teams, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Washington. Since both of these conferences are made of seven teams each, the teams will play within their conferences six times, three home and three away, for a total of 36 games. The remainder of their schedules will be home and away series against the remainder of the league.

This new alignment keeps the old rivalries such as those seen in the current Northeastern division alive while proposing even more competitive matches to be seen in the playoffs. Let us take a moment to analyze the situation of the proposed conference C. Keeping in mind that all the teams of the old Northeastern division will be competing in this new conference, new rivalries such as the one created in last season’s eastern conference finals between the Bruins and the Lighting will generate greater fan interest. Also, since the top four teams in each division will playing each other in the first two rounds of the playoffs in order to win their respective divisions, the sky is the limit for how the competition will improve and increase the hockey fan base. Once there is a winner for all four conferences, these teams will play in the NHL semi-finals either reseeded by their point totals or some other format. I believe that the league should propose a draw for the semi-finals and not base it on their point’s totals since each team has earned their position through rigorous competition. It may be a rip-off of how they do things in European soccer, but I believe it would keep fans on the edge of their seats while anticipating who their beloved teams will play next. Imagine for a second that it’s the night after the conference winners have been decided and the league holds a live televised event to draw the final two competitions before the Stanley Cup finals. The reaction to the events could bring forward new proposals and new ideas for how and where such an event should be held.

Along with the added benefits of this new alignment for the fans; the players and organizations will benefit as well. Since the new alignment is set up geographically, players will spend less time traveling especially through different time zones. With more games played within their conferences, players will be allowed to rest more considering that those back-to-back home and away games are phased out of the regular season schedule. Player morale will increase since they’ll be closer to home which allows for more personal time with their families. Further, the conference playoffs will keep these teams in the same geographic area for the first two rounds of the playoffs. As these teams face-off more often, the competition level between each of them will increase as they gain more knowledge of how the other plays. Organizations themselves will benefit as well since reduced traveling time will mean less paid expenses for the players and staff members. The possibility of generating more revenues while reducing costs, will also allow teams to spend more on players in the future. An even better possibility is that these reduced costs could be passed on to the fans in terms of reduced ticket prices.

The league itself will benefit if revenues increase throughout the league especially if small market teams such as Florida begin to see success. With the possibility of the league expanding to 32 teams within the next few years, the re-alignment couldn’t have come at a better time. If the league awards a franchise to Hamilton, Ontario or even a second franchise in Toronto they will most likely be added to conference C creating further rivalries. Also, if Quebec is awarded a team they will most likely be added to conference D causing all of the conferences and their schedules to become evenly balanced. We’ve always known that hockey teams belong in Canada and these proposals will generate further corporate influence for investment in those regions.

I believe that Gary Bettman and the NHL board of governors are truly on to something here as they begin to evaluate the potential of their league. After many of years of trying to play “catch up” with the NBA, the governors have finally made a proposal that allows the league to create its own identity. By creating their own brand image for the league instead of following how other leagues format themselves, the NHL can open endless possibilities. When comparing how other professional sports leagues have differentiated themselves from competitors we can look at the MLS and how many times they’ve re-aligned and changed playoff formats in their short lifespan. It has worked for them as revenues continue to increase and as they are given consideration as one of the major sports leagues in the U.S. Since the end of the lockout, the NHL has done well to increase interest in the sport. Now let’s hope they continue their efforts and do not retract what they’ve accomplished so far.

Please feel free to join the conversation on the subject and share your own opinions about what the re-alignment means to you as a fan.

Messi versus Ronaldo

2011-04-20T21:38:00.000-07:00

Messi VS. Ronaldo 2011 Part 3

In the wake of today's Copa del Rey final, many questions have surrounded Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo about who truly is the best futebol player in the world. With Ronaldo notching the only goal in the Merengues victory over Barcelona, Ronaldo appeared to have been the better player today. As far as the league title is concerned, Messi leads with 30 goals while Ronaldo trails him by one. Still the argument continues about which player is at his best and which is more valuable to his team. With both players trying to escape the shadows of their respected federation's predecessors, Diego Maradona & Luis Figo, both will make their attempts at etching their name in futebol history. With three classicos already in the books and two more awaiting in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, these two men will leave the soccer world biting their nails until the very last minute. The truth is, should the soccer world continue to ask which player is the best, or should they await and see the value that these two young players will bring to world's favorite game. Simply put, the answer is that neither is better, rather combined these players are the best in the world.

The argument for Messi can be viewed in the form that he is a versatile player who is practically unstoppable when in the attacking third. Born with a soccer ball at his feet, his quickness and small stature allows him to lurk around in the penalty box while leaving his opposing defender in the dust immediately after his first touch. His style is a perfect match for Barcelona's tacky passing schemes that lead to over the top passes into the opponents penalty area. Messi has an unbelievable knack for goal and his amazing moves keep defenders on their heels and fans breathless. With his boyish looks and good guy persona, he has become the poster boy for FIFA's vision of a soccer ambassador to the youth of the world. At the tender age of twenty-three he has accomplished so much whether on the field or off and will continue to keep the world shocked for years to come.

In the case of Christiano Ronaldo, it can be said that he is the complete opposite of Messi. Although he possesses a significant amount of speed, he is more poised and saves his speed and moves for the last moment touch towards goal while specializing in free kicks. Unlike Messi, he barely ever attacks straight onto goal but chooses instead to pick his shots wisely and at times from angles other players would never attempt. Furthermore, standing at 6'1", he is a constant aerial threat on corner kicks and horizontal crosses into the box. He has proven that he can score with almost any body part whether it's his foot, head, knee, chest or back. Ronaldo has taken over as the world's greatest free kick taker since David Beckham's demise to the MLS and he's proven his talent at this aspect of the game over and over again. These kicks that bend, take-off from a low altitude to high altitude in a matter of milliseconds, and have serious backspin are seemingly unstoppable for opposing keepers. Due to his bad boy image and entrepreneurial ambitions, he is viewed as the epitome of what FIFA's high ranking officials despise and a perfect opposite of Messi's character in the eyes of Sepp Blatter.

When examining both player's talents and contribution to this beautiful sport, we can say that these young talents will continue to leave us in shock and awe for the next eight to ten years at least. With the European Championship coming up in the summer of 2012 and Copa America in summer 2011, these two will be showcasing their talents at the international level. What this will bring to the sport, only these two men momentarily know. Whatever aspirations they may have at being the best will be seen around the world and with another World Cup awaiting in the midst the world will be waiting patiently to see if one or the other will bring the most coveted trophy in the world home to their respected country. While some worry about which talent is the best, I worry more about who will be the ones to replace this combination of incredible talent and continue soccer's amazing legacy once they are gone.