Front Office Fans

Choking with excitement for "Winning Time"

2010-03-13T16:14:01Z

The ESPN "30 for 30" series has been garnering rave reviews from just about everyone. I have only seen a handful, specifically "The U" and "Jimmy the Greek" but both were outstanding and the only criticism I heard about either was that "The U" wasn't long enough. Of course that critique was from myself and other die hard Canes fans that wished the film went straight through to the 2001 National Championship team.

I'm sure I will catch most of the series over time, but there are very few storylines that I have to watch immediately upon release...but "Winning Time" which details the story of Reggie Miller and the Knicks/Pacers rivalry, has been set to record on my Tivo since I saw the first trailer.(trailer below) Because both teams have fallen so far since that marquee playoff series, people tend to forget how fierce the rivalry was and how great almost every game was between these two teams.

With the timely release of Winning Time, this seems like a perfect time to intro one of our new Project Franchise Fan Fits, which is the apparel branch of Project Franchise, so all sales go towards the purchase of a fan run minor league sports team. Buy a cool shirt and help change the face of professional sports.

Jason Kidd: The Ageless Wonder

2010-03-12T21:56:13Z

More photos » Matt York - AP

37 years old and Jason Kidd's still going strong. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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Two years ago when the Mavericks traded for Jason Kidd at the trade deadline in exchange for what was essentially 24 year old point guard, Devin Harris and first round picks in the 2009 and 2010 drafts I thought that the Nets had fleeced Dallas. I wasn't alone.

On paper it made little sense and seemed more like an act of desperation on the part of Mark Cuban trying desperately to push the Mavs over the top in trying to land a playoff berth. In doing so most believed that he had parted with a burgeoning star in Harris and was getting little more than a two-year rental from Kidd who was on the last legs of a Hall of Fame career.

Initially that assessment didn't seem far off. The Mavericks entered the 2008 NBA playoffs as the No. 7 seed and proceeded to get bounced out of the first round by the New Orleans Hornets with the enduring memory of that series of Chris Paul running circles around Kidd who looked in over his head attempting to stick with the Hornets' point guard.

Fast forward two years and Kidd looks to have found a second wind with the Mavericks emerging as championship contenders, while Harris is busy trying to prevent the Nets from the worst record in the history of the NBA. Sure Kidd has been helped with the presence of Dirk Nowitzki and the deadline acquisition of Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson and Brendan Haywood, but he is certainly the engine driving this train.

He is posting a career high true shooting percentage of 58.3 and is also shooting a career high 42.1% from three point range. He's still dishing out 9.2 assists a night and while he is no longer the lockdown defender he once was, Kidd has become an exceptional team defender.

Any doubts that remained about Kidd's ability to lead a team at his age were dispelled with his performance against the Hawks on February 26. Kidd put up 19 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds, the first player to have 15/15/15 game since 1996 when, surprise, Kidd did it at the age of 22. Before that nobody had done it since Magic Johnson in 1989.

Kidd is still not the playmaker he was in his prime, but he also doesn't need to be. He's coming to the end of a legendary career and is playing on the best team he has ever been part of.

The Mavericks probably won't win the championship once the Lakers start to care about playing again, but if you love basketball it's great to watch a player of Kidd's quality getting to play on a legitimate contender not just as a scrub off the bench, but as a leader on the court.

Here's to you Jason, 37 years old and still playing the point guard position as good as anybody in the league.

Don't hate the player, hate the owner?!

2010-03-12T02:38:29Z

More photos » Evan Vucci - AP

Daniel Snyder shaking hands with his newest multi-million dollar investment... hopefully this one pays out better than Zorn, Gibbs, Spurrier...

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Earlier this week, SB Nation's Andrew Sharp asked a simple question. What's more valuable in sports: a great owner, or a great player?

He used the example of the lowly Nets as he pondered if they would be better off getting the #1 overall pick or an insanely wealthy owner who was willing to spend dollars like they are going out of style (which I think they technically are).

It was a really good article, breaking down each major sports league - as to who was more important to a team's success, the owner or the player.

Check out the article @ http://www.sbnation.com/2010/3/11/1365424/you-choose-owner-or-draft-pick

Clearly we at Project Franchise think that its not quite that cut and dry - as we believe that it starts with the owner (and their GM/"Front Office"), but that all the money in the world wont necessarily buy a winning team... Just ask Daniel Snyder. Hopefully our team will help to show a new model, where the fans actually have a voice and can help make the best decisions for a team as a group - meaning there is really a new component in the formula, where the quality of the team will be dependent on the quality of the fans!

Poll

Whats more valuable in sports?

Don't Call it a Comeback!

2010-03-11T18:46:24Z

Look for this familiar pose come the final round of Bayhill

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It has been reported that Tiger Woods will return to the PGA Tour at the Bay Hill Invitational (Arnold Palmer's tourney) coming up in t two weeks. I am over the moon excited and cant wait to see Tiger prowling the fairways again (I have been friends with Tiger since '97 so I may be a bit biased) I hope he wins every god damn tournament that he plays in. The media has been billing this as a "comeback" but in all actuality Tiger has only missed 2 or 3 tournaments that he usually plays, so what is he actually coming back from? He is coming back from banging hella whores, I mean I guess that's something to "comeback" from, but usually in sports you are talking about a broken ankle or or a dislocated finger or some sort of tragedy - getting laid usually isn't one of them. Could you imagine hearing during a pre game show. "well it is nice to see Smith back in the lineup, this is first game back since having sex with 6 different women". All in all tiger is coming back to the Tour, but this isn't a "comeback".

Poll

Is this a true "comeback" for Tiger Woods?

Is It Time For the Celtics to Rebuild?

2010-03-10T19:12:26Z

More photos » David Zalubowski - AP

It looks like the end of the road for Boston's Big Three. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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That question may sound a little ridiculous considering that Boston is only two seasons removed from their 17th NBA title and currently sit third in the East with a 40-22 record, good for the seventh best winning percentage in the league. Clearly Boston is still one of the NBA's better teams, but if you've spent any time watching them this season it's obvious that their championship window has slammed shut.

The team has struggled against the elite teams around the league most recently getting smoked by the Cavaliers by a score of 108-88 at home, a game which included a fourth quarter 35-14 beatdown in which the Celtics looked like a D-III squad playing Kansas. They followed that up with the low point of the season losing a game at home to the league's most futile team, the New Jersey Nets.

The signs of decline have been there all season with Garnett looking like a shadow of the player he was and Ray Allen struggling to find the range that made him one of the league's most feared sharpshooters during his career. Pierce has been the most consistent performer out of the "Big Three", but has struggled with injuries, much like KG, all season long.

Allen's contract expires this summer, Pierce has a player option for $21 million he is sure to exercise for next season after which his contract expires and Garnett's contract expires the following year. With Allen's performance in perpetual decline at this point it seems unlikely the Celtics would look to re-sign him this summer.

The team's MVP this season has without a doubt been Rajon Rondo. The 23-year old point guard has become the Celtics' floor leader and is averaging 14.1 points, 9.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game. All that's stopping Rondo from taking the leap into the league's top echelon of point guards alongside Deron Williams, Chris Paul and Steve Nash is his perimeter shooting. With time on his side I'd expect him to take that step this summer.

However Rondo's emergence as the team's leader coinciding with the decline of the Celtics' aging star trio makes it even more pertinent that the Celtics resolve the uncertainty surrounding the future of the team sooner rather than later.

Rondo's age and the five-year, $55 million extension Boston gave him this past summer indicate that the team will be built around him in the future.

It is in this regard that Boston's rebuilding efforts will be intriguing to follow. They passed on the opportunity to cash in on Allen's expiring contract this summer and instead made a move for Nate Robinson and sending veteran guard Eddie House along with little used bench players Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens to the Knicks. The only rotation players the Celtics currently feature that could be used to complement Rondo in the future are starting center Kendrick Perkins and Glen "Big Baby" Davis, both players whose contracts expire following next season.

Perkins will certainly be re-signed after establishing himself as one of the league's better young centers and Davis may be brought back depending on his contract demands. Outside of these two players the roster is truly devoid of young playmakers. Can the Celtics rebuild on the fly and retain championship aspirations? It seems unlikely.

They will be picking in the mid-to-late 20's in the draft this year. This year's draft is extremely deep, but it seems unlikely that the Celtics will find a player to step in and replace Allen, one of the greatest pure shooters in the history of the league. On top of that the Celtics will still be $10 million dollars above the cap this summer, limiting them to using the mid-level exception, bi-annual exception and signing players for the league minimum.

Next season they will have the option of trading Paul Pierce's expiring contract in search of draft picks or perhaps send him to a team looking to dump a player with more years on their contract they are not interested in keeping them for. The following season they can do the same with Garnett.

As Boston's trio of stars battles through their last season together GM Danny Ainge will certainly be looking to the future with trepidation. With a roster of aging stars facing the end of their careers, a couple of young players coming into their own and bunch of role players filling out the roster Boston's rebuilding process will begin with no clear vision of what direction the team will be heading and what the future holds.

Poll

Should the Celtics look to rebuild or ride out the Big Three's last years in hopes of a ring?

Kobe In The Klutch

2010-03-10T07:52:05Z

More photos » Jim Prisching - AP

With the game on the line, there is no one else in sports we'd rather have on our team than Kobe.

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Another night, another game winner from Kobe. It's getting to become so routine that even his fading away, towards the baseline rainbow from the corner with less than 2 seconds to play doesn't seem like much of a big deal. Yes, we know he missed a game winner at the buzzer just two days ago when the Lakers lost in Orlando - but that came after he hit two clutch jumpers on the previous two possessions (including a foot on the line shot that would have tied the game had it been 2 inches further back). And that really only adds to the allure, proving that he has ice in his veins and can brick a buzzer beater one night, then come back and stick one the next.

Derek Jeter & Big Papi have had some big hits in their careers, Peyton Manning & Tom Bradyy each have a ton of late game TD drives, and LeBron and DWade have their fair share of game winners - but there is no one in sports right now who can even compare with Kobe's clutchness... well as long as a certain Tiger is still in hiding.

Poll

Is Kobe the most clutch player in sports?

Screamin' A Smith - Snitching In The Name of Journalism.

2010-03-09T07:07:49Z

More photos » Matt Slocum - AP

AI does kinda look hungover in this photo...just saying

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I am all for reporter's being 'investigative", go ahead get some scoops break some stories, shine some light on shady or illegal practices, help make the world a better place, sleep well at night. But for goddamn sakes whatever happened to leaving someone who is having a tough time alone? Screamin A Smith wrote a piece about how Allen Iverson is addicted to booze and gambling. Guess what Stephen A, you need to quit being such a mark ass snitch and mind your own biznass. Nobody likes a tattle tale and everybody hates you. Leave AI alone and let him deal with his demons on his own, you are nothing but an alarmist that is trying to advance their career off the troubles of a more talented popular person.

Poll

Do you condone stephen a's bitchassness?

An NL Central Sleeper

2010-03-08T17:25:10Z

When someone tries to make predictions for the upcoming MLB, or any sport, season, a pretty common tactic is to simply take the division winners from last year and carry them forward to the title the following year unless they've taken some big hits to their roster.

That's why not many people doubt that the Phillies should repeat in the NL East. They've kept the core of their team from 2010, upgraded their ace, and likely will see an upgrade at third base (assuming that Placido Polanco's superior hitting makes up for Pedro Feliz' lost defense). By the same logic, it's why a lot of people are counting the Angels as underdogs in the AL West. They lost Chone Figgins, who was coming off such a strong season that he finished tenth in MVP voting, their staff ace John Lackey, and, though he may be declining, a slugger in Vladmir Guerrero.

With this in mind, it seems like it would be hard to argue against the St. Louis Cardinals heading to victory in the NL Central again. They'll still have Albert Pujols, the best hitter in the sport, at the center of the lineup, backed up by the re-signing of Matt Holliday, who destroyed the NL last season. Going with this, they'll sport one of the best 1-2 punch rotations in baseball, with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainright.

The problem is, it sort of ends there. Outside of Pujols, they'll need to rely on Felipe Lopez to match his 2009 career-year, because the left half of their infield is nothing to write home about. Ryan Ludwick had a monster season two years ago, but fell down to earth in 2008. They'll have breakout candidate Colby Rasmus in CF, though outside of that, this is the team that will rely on a core of four players. They're four great, great players, without a doubt. But if any of them miss significant time due to injury or have a down-year, the Cardinals will be in jeopardy.

Luckily for the Cardinals, the NL Central is generally considered baseball's weakest division, but they do have two solid teams right behind them. The Brewers pack an offensive punch that comes close to the Cardinals offering with Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, and have quietly built up quite the defensive group with Alicides Escobar and Carlos Gomez up the middle. The Cubs, well, we know the story on the Cubs. They've got a bunch of talented players, they just need them to come together.

To me though, the real team to watch in the NL Central is going to be the Cincinnati Reds. It will take some luck going their way, but the Reds have the potential for a team that matches some of the best in baseball. Joey Votto was incredible last year after dealing with his depression and anxiety issues, and a full-season of that performance would put him in MVP discussions. Brandon Phillips is one of the best second basemen in baseball, and Scott Rolen, in addition to being one of the best defensive third basemen of all time, should bring a great batting average and decent power. The outfield will be roamed by two breakout candidates. Drew Stubbs should play great defense and should get on-base enough to show off his great speed. The highlight, though, is former top prospect Jay Bruce, who despite struggling early in his MLB career, has monstrous power potential, with Bill James even projecting 38 home runs out of the slugger with a solid batting average. There are a few weaknesses, too. Jonny Gomes, Ramon Hernandez and Orlando Cabrera are decent performers, but none can be expected to anchor a team. In the NL Central though, that's a deep-enough offense, with a chance that someone like Yonder Alonso finds a new position, like left field, and helps the team down the stretch.

There's also a chance for a great rotation to boot. Like the offense, the pitching will be lead by solid veterans in Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, though Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey are certainly big breakout candidates. If one of them reaches potenential and the other is able to reach even half of it, the Reds could be one of baseball's most solid teams, top to bottom.

Would I say that the Reds are the favorites to win the NL Central? No, not quite. It's very hard to bet against a team with so many mega-stars as the Cardinals have, and has shown the willingness to add to that core at the trade deadline. But if a few things go their way, the Reds have a chance to do a lot of damage this year and, with Aroldis Chapman now in the pipeline, be a threat for a while to come.

Poll

Who's your pick in the NL Central?

Stop being such a Rick!?!

2010-03-06T04:06:41Z

More photos » Tony Ding - AP

Michigan is mobbed by fans rushing the court after Michigan defeated No. 15 Connecticut 68-63...theses fans have no idea they have broken several of Rick Reilly's Ironclad Rules.

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It's no secret that I am not a fan of Rick Reilly's column. Each article he writes is like a 4th grade workbook exercise where you have to identify which phrases are similes and which ones are metaphors. No, I don't remember which is which, but I do see the irony that the previous sentence I wrote is one of the two. I didn't always feel this way about Reilly, I was actually a big fan of his during his earlier days on the back page of SI...but something seems to happen to sports writers after a certain amount of time in the biz. I think they become too jaded and unappreciative of their access and slowly begin to fall in love with their own font. Or maybe it's just a byproduct of overexposure...as I've often held the belief that one man can only have so many opinions...and when you are constantly forced to opine, at some point you just start flipping a coin and saying whatever crazy shit pops into your head. Much the way Peter King now fills his weekly column with equal parts NFL news, travel gripes, and nutmeg latte updates...Reilly seems like he's working from some sort of Dr. Seus-ian formula. (*Side note, if you've never read the KSK's weekly dissection of King's MMQB column you are missing the funniest read on the worldwide web. It's actually better if you're a MMQB regular so I recommend skimming the actual MMQB first then reliving the highlights on KSK.)

That intro paragraph was a long scenic route to my main point, which is that I whole heartedly disagree with Reilly's recent critique of sports fans rushing the court/field. In this piece, Reilly introduces his "ironclad unbreakable rules for rushing the court" in which he demonstrates a complete misunderstanding for what it's like to be a true fan. In Rick's words "The win clinched your spot in the tournament? Big deal. Sixty-five teams make it. It's like making the white pages. Cheer from your seat." Spoken like a true D-Bag that gets paid to opine about sports, yet doesn't appreciate how lucky he is.

According to Rick's "rules," you should not rush the court if the team you just beat was not in the top three...or if you've won a national championship within the last 20 years...and my personal favorite, you're a a University and you just beat a College. I hope the students of Devry remember this rule if they ever beat Boston College to clinch a tournament spot. The most boneheaded assertion is that if you're team won a national championship within the last 20 years, you can't rush the court...like some 19 UNLV year old freshman is going to refrain from rushing the court because UNLV won a championship before he was even born? F- that. Clearly, Rick has never had an authentic college field/court rushing experience. To be honest, neither have I, but I have at least been close (Miami over FSU football 2000) when I attempted to rush the field but was clotheslined by a short stocky female security guard-stress. The other 85,000 fans were scared off by the fact that the Orange Bowl had never lost a goalpost and 50 German Shepherds guarding the field. I imagine that the moments leading up to a real "rush" are probably the most exciting in a person's entire life. Essentially, 30,000 fans simultaneously experience the same thought process..."are we doing this? Are we really doing this? F&#k yeah we're doing this, AHHHH!" Is there anything more beautiful than jocks, nerds, goths, frat boys and band geeks all united by the same indiscernible yet clearly united purpose? It's spontaneous, you can't control it...and if you resist, you actually risk your life...much like falling out of your raft in the midst of class five rapids. (simile) Reilly's latest piece makes it obvious that he doesn't remember what it like to be a fan. Fandom isn't about logic or rules...there's nothing logical about a 300lb man spending half of his yearly salary on Jets season tickets so he can attend 8 games shirtless in sub-zero temperatures. It's about devotion, it's about emotion...and there's no thought process involved in rushing the field, it just happens and you're either with it or underneath it.

The way Rick Reilly describes it, you'd think fans were organizing court rushing via Evite. I think part of the problem is that Reilly is just desensitized by all of the amazing sporting events he attends without any real connection to the event. The other issue, is that court/field rushing in this country is primarily a college phenomenon and to truly appreciate the experience, you have to be lucky enough to be in the right school at the right time...and also have tickets to the right game. Not to mention, you're only a student for 4 years (or 8 in my case). Reilly graduated the University of Colorado in 1981 and while the Buffs have accumulated 23 National Championships...17 are from skiing, 5 are from women's cross-country (not exactly fan faves) and one from football in 1990, long after Reilly attended as a student.

Clearly Reilly doesn't get it...but we want to hear it from people that do. The opportunity to rush anything is so rare and fleeting, I say anytime more that 20 people feel moved to migrate from their seats to the hardwood or the 50...they should go for it. Screw it, I don't care if Valparaiso beats Johns Hopkins in an exhibition swimming match, if that gets your fan juices flowing ...then get in the damn pool and let the lifeguards sort it out. Hit up the comments to tell us about your best and worst field/court rushing experiences.

UPDATE:for another take on Reilly's article check out the the Smoking Musket, our friend and respected WVU Mountaineer blog, http://www.smokingmusket.com/2010/3/3/1335167/rushing-the-court

Poll

Rushing the field/court...

Maybe things are looking up for Allen Iverson...?

2010-03-05T16:13:57Z

The Iverson's in happier times. For the Iverson's happier times included oversized white t's, solo cups, and neck grabs.

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AI has had a rough go as of late, first his daughter became very ill and now his playing career seems to be all but done son. We at PF feel for AI and respect the hell out of him for his playing style and what he's done for the league. Clearly, having a sick child is nothing we'd wish on our worst enemy, and it must be a total life ruiner. Unemployment, however, is not as bad as people make it out to be, I think people tend to focus on the negatives. "Answer" (no pun intended) this - When in your life have you been able to watch the entire first Thursday and Friday of the NCAA Tournament in your life? My guess is never - unemployment 1, haters 0. But I digress, obviously there is no such thing as true happiness when one of your children is fighting for their life. But, a ray of sunshine has emerged for Allen, and that ray of sunshine came in the form of divorce papers filed by his wife. Have you ever seen this women, she is maybe a 4 on her best day and is probably a walk around 2. She definitely isn't keeping up her end of the bargain, AI deserves much better and now he will have the opportunity to have a hotter chick or chicks that can help take him take his mind off some of his troubles. Now it is time for AI to go get himself something more like Layla Kiffin and less like Layla Ali.

USA Downed 2-1 by Netherlands

2010-03-03T23:26:27Z

Team USA dropped a friendly today in Amsterdam to the Dutch national team 2-1. As a fan of the American team I wouldn't be too upset with the result, but I also wouldn't be ecstatic about the results.

During the first 60 minutes of the match, the American attack lacked any kind of sustained buildup. Often times the ball was kicked up to the front without any support available from the midfield. Landon Donovan looked particularly disinterested and outside of Michael Beasley the starting midfield's performance was nondescript.

Defensively while the U.S. didn't give up too many chances throughout the game they allowed way too much freedom to the Dutch midfield led by Wesley Sneijder. Jonathan Bornstein's foul on Sneijder in the box at the end of the first half gave the Dutch a penalty kick which Dirk Kuyt converted with ease. It's easy to blame Bornstein, but when you allow a team of the Netherlands' quality to hold on to the ball for extended periods of time eventually your defenders are going to make mistakes and you will be punished.

In the initial phases of the second half it looked as if the U.S. would continue with their listless effort, but around the 60 minute mark they came to life, particularly when DaMarcus Beasley led the counterattack along his favored left wing. His pace, ability to possess and control the ball and crossing gave the U.S. a much needed jolt as they started to put some pressure on the Dutch defense.

Unfortunately Dutch striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar's shot took a deflection off of Bornstein and went past goalkeeper Tim Howard who was left helpless as the ball looped around him to give the Dutch a two goal advantage in the 73rd minute. It was at this point that team USA started putting real pressure on the Dutch defense creating a number of set piece chances until one was finally converted by starting center back Carlos Bocanegra in the 89th minute.

Jozy Altidore created a chance and came close to drawing the match in extra time after he split two defenders and took a shot from a little over 20 yards out from goal, but the shot was stopped by Maarten Stekelenburg. It was nice to see an American player have a shot from distance, something that they don't do nearly enough.

All in all it was a good effort on a big stage in Europe, but in the end the U.S. simply lacked the ability to make the most out of their opportunities in the final third of the field and were dominated in the midfield for large parts of the match. They can take positives out of this match, like their ability to fight back in the end and give themselves a chance to draw the match, but falling behind and allowing opposing teams to dominate position is a dangerous game team USA continues to play when facing the world's best particularly on European soil.

At this point team USA's best case World Cup scenario would see them advance out of the first round and then be eliminated in the first knockout round. It's imperative that the team becomes more confident in it's ability to control the ball in the midfield and finish their chances when they present themselves. 99 days remain until the World Cup kicks off in South Africa and team USA is far from a finished product.

Poll

How did Team USA's performance against the Dutch make you feel about their World Cup hopes?

Tiger's Approval Rating In The Rough

2010-03-03T19:52:24Z

More photos » David J. Phillip - AP

"Oooooohhhhh - you thought I would let you off that easy?!?!?"

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No major surprises from today's ABC/ESPN poll getting fan's opinions of Tiger's recent press conference and his general image in the aftermath of what has to be one of the greatest falls from grace in sports history. Although it does look like he's finally beginning to dig himself out of the hole of public scrutiny and has a fighting chance to win the fans over again.

They surveyed 1,000 people and put the top answers on the board:

54% of respondents said they believed his apology was sincere
22% thought he was full of BS
39% had a "favorable" opinion of Tiger now
55% of fans area ready to "forgive" Woods
29% believe Elin should forgive her husband

While this is all a far cry from his 2008 "approval rating" of 88%, we were actually a bit surprised that the public sentiment was somewhat positive considering how low he had sank in the last few months.

Poll

As a sports fan, what's your opinion of Tiger right now?

Adios Answer

2010-03-02T22:07:15Z

Today appears to have unceremoniously been Allen Iverson's last day as a 76er which should be noted as a sad day for hoops fans everywhere - not just in Philly. Although technically his last night on the court appears to have been a 30 point loss in Chicago a couple of weeks ago where he went for 13pts and 3 assts, today AI was released from the Sixers so he could spend more time with his ailing 4 year old daughter. Barring a major injury to another aging two-guard scorer on a playoff team in the next couple of weeks, its unlikely Iverson will be re-signed and its quite possible that he has played his last game in the NBA.

AI may have changed the game more than any player since Jordan - as his unique "urban" (aka - thug) style opened the door for players like Lebron and Kobe to be international superstars covered in tatts or carrying wrap sheets. He was the first guy to wear cornrows and seriously sag his shorts. He wore a crooked pro-hat with a fur lined hoodie to most press conferences, flexed a goatee and genuinely didn't care what the suits thought about it. Most guys his size couldn't dream of getting to the NBA, let alone doing it while giving the proverbial bird to the rest of the league. But that's what fans had to love about AI - he played harder than anyone, took more abuse than anyone, and still scored at will and dominated for most of his initial 10+ years in Philly.

The pinnacle of his career came in 2001 when he took an otherwise useless Sixers squad to the NBA Finals and actually pulled off a win in LA in Game 1 - before the mighty Lakers dominated the rest of the series. In that game, he made an obscene step-back, reversed cross-over fade away from the corner that actually caused Tyrone Lue to drop to the ground... where AI graciously stepped over him on his way back up court.

The Answer always played Reebok, which was a bit of a dissapointment for Nike brand sneakerheads like myself (although his 2nd and 3rd Answer lines were pretty fresh), but that was AI - always doing stuff a little different.

He was a true NBA superstar and although he will definitely never play in another practice, he will be sorely missed for his enthusiasm and heart by hoops fans everywhere - and if he cant make it in the NBA anymore, there is always a spot for him on our team.

The Canadian Women's Hockey Team - how could they have done something so terrible?

2010-03-02T08:09:13Z

The night you win a gold medal you can do whatever the f you want (besides murder)

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Who are these people that are always bitching? Who is this invisible moral group that feel's that they should be the conscious of the world? Whoever these people are they need to just stfu, I am talking about the people that decided to rain on the parade of the Canadian Women by complaining about the nature of their on ice celebration after winning the gold medal. Who the hell cares if they drank champagne and took a couple of puffs of cigars in celebration of achieving a goal they worked for all of their lives? News Flash they are adults and most adults celebrate achievements by having a glass of champagne and having a good old time, hell, most people celebrate the end each workday of their lives by doing the exact same thing. Not to sound like Jerry Seinfeld, but, who are these people? Get real, get a life and keep your opinions to yourselves, why would you go and take away from their moment by bitching about their celebration? I truly feel bad for those women who worked their butts off their entire lives just so that someone or some group could open their stupid trap and take away from their great accomplishment. I think the whole thing reeks of sexism, I mean when that dumb oaf Mark Texeira straps on his goggles and douchely dumps champagne on Johnny Damon while A - Rod lays down on his back and catches the stream coming off his ass - nobody bitches. These women should be pissed and they should never have given these people the satisfaction of apologizing, a straight middle finger would've done just fine.

Poll

Did the Canadian Women's Hockey Team's celebration cross the line.

3/1/10 - Dance Dance Dance

2010-03-02T07:37:45Z

Ed. Note: Our Weekly Picks to kick off March have a single tie that binds, which is the corporate rental apartment building in LA that we call homebase for Project Franchise.

Dancing With The Stars: Along with Team Manny, our building also regularly plays host to the cast of ABC's DWTS. Not everyone lives here - usually its just the pro dancers and the celebs who aren't rich enough to already have an LA mansion (meaning we're gonna get Shannon Doherty, not Pamela Anderson) - but we always get a few good sightings during the season, as they tend to spend a lot of time in the gym or hanging poolside. Of course having a slew of hot dancer chicks in the building (they tend to be here year round) is obviously a good thing, but the new crop of dancers have us more excited than ever. See by the time Jerry Rice and Emmit Smith did the show, they were too famous and had made too much money to bother living in a free corporate rental - but we're not convinced Ocho Cinco is above the handout. In fact, we're quite certain he will be all for being our new BFF. In addition to Ocho, we're also looking forward to Erin Andrews taking up residence down the hall - but we will be putting tape over our peep hole, just in case there is a case of mistaken identity. And while we wouldn't normally be too excited about a male figure skater being out new neighbor, this Evan Lysacek is fresh off the gold and the past Olympians who have lived nearby (Shawn Johnson & Kristi Yamaguchi) both did pretty well on the show, so we've got to expect him to be an early favorite.

The show is definitely targeted to 55+ woman and not really in our wheelhouse, but it has become a runaway success and they have consistently gotten better and better celebrities, which is a great thing for the fans - and with Chad in the show this season (and hopefully hanging out on our couch), we may have to start watching.

With all this Ocho Cinco hype, we've designed a new t-shirt for our soon to launch line of "Fan Fits" - you can check them out at our just released online store @ http://projectfranchise.spreadshirt.com/

3/1/10 - Back To Boring Boxing

2010-03-02T07:20:37Z

Ed. Note: Our Weekly Picks to kick off March have a single tie that binds, which is the corporate rental apartment building in LA that we call homebase for Project Franchise.

Boxing Boredom - Before every big fight Manny Pacquiao loads up his entire entourage in Manila and flies them out to LA where he trains at Freddie Roach's Hollywood boxing mecca "The Wild Card". This is probably the 4th or 5th fight that Manny and his crew have spent living in our building, so we've gotten pretty used to seeing the HBO camera crew around the complex or members of the entourage dressed in hoodies, sweating it out in the sauna as they try to win the prize for "making weight" alongside the champ. On the lead-up show 24/7 they always show the hoopla surrounding a big-time Pacquiao fight and get us all types of jazzed before the main event, when his big ass van with his face on the side pulls up out front and the oversized posse loads up for the ride to Vegas. There is usually a bit of a buzz around his team and you get a sense that something big is about to go down.

But not this time. Not at all. I was in the business center today getting a fax and didn't even notice that his business manager was next to me and I hardly noticed. I realized when I got back to my desk that I didn't even know who he was fighting... but I can definitely tell you who he's not fighting. The fact that the sport of boxing lacks any type of leadership that was able to step in force Manny & Floyd to come together and agree to the testing terms and get a fight on the card is a travesty for fans. The only hope is that they both win - Floyd against Sugar Shane, and apparently Pacquiao against some guy named Joshua Clottey - and that the next time Manny's crew comes to town they are here to train for the best fight of this young century.

Usually when this bus pulls up we get excited - I doubt we'll even notice this time.

Lakers Are Contenders and Nuggets Still Have Doubters

2010-03-01T22:09:47Z

More photos » Danny Moloshok - AP

Carmelo looks a little worried about his team. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

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I hate the Lakers. I always have and always will. So you might be thinking I was pissed watching them fight back against Denver yesterday. To be honest though I was more than happy to watch them complete a successful comeback against a Nuggets team filled with guys who talk tough, but usually disappear when the chips are down.

The Lakers were able to overcome a truly horrific shooting performance by Kobe Bryant (3-17 from the field) due to contributions from Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest. It also helped that Kobe adjusted his game and summoned his inner Steve Nash and dish out 12 assists, the sign of a truly great player. Los Angeles showed why they are a championship-caliber team by overcoming a poor first half performance against a quality opponent and finding a way to win.

The Nuggets on the other hand demonstrated why many continue to view their title hopes skeptically. I know they are 6-1 so far this season against the Cavaliers, Lakers, Magic and Celtics, but the Nuggets seem to be a team designed to only play running basketball and struggle to get baskets when it slows down to a halfcourt game, which often happens in the playoffs. Yesterday was a prime example as the Nuggets failed to adjust after the Lakers slowed the game down in the second half and cut down on their turnovers.

Denver struggled to score in the second half and the primary culprit on the team was none other than Carmelo Anthony. Melo scored 21 points, though he shot 7-19 from the field and also committed 8 turnovers while only collecting one assist. For Carmelo to become a great player he must learn to change his game when things aren't working by getting teammates more involved. Kobe did and he didn't and that was a huge difference in yesterday's game.

While Anthony had a bad game it was nothing compared to Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen's performances. Both guys disappeared and let the Lakers frontcourt dominate the second half of the game. K-Mart for all of his tough guy antics, has always found a way to disappear when the big occasion arises. Just ask Nets fans about his performance in the 2003 NBA Finals. Andersen's game consists of grabbing offensive rebounds, blocking shots from the weak side and getting burned when he's forced to man up against competent big men in the post. Unfortunately for him this renders him relatively useless when facing the Lakers' potent trio of skilled big men in Gasol, Odom and Bynum.

Then we have J.R. Smith who to his credit played excellent defense on the Black Mamba, but then negated by deciding to chuck up shots that seemed to get further and further away from the hoop as the game went on. He has all the talent in the world, but seems content to turn into the next Vince Carter by jacking up inordinate amounts of three point shots rather than using his athleticism to constantly get to the rim.

Then we have Chauncey Billups. Sure Billups is a really good point guard, but why was he ever given the nickname Mr. Big Shot? Just think about it for a second. What was the last big shot that Billups hit? Yeah I came up with nothing either.

The Nuggets have been touted as a threat to the Lakers' supremacy in the West, but if I were Los Angeles I'd be more worried with the Mavericks who have looked deadly since their trade for Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. Yesterday the Lakers exhibited their championship qualities while Denver showed why they still have doubters.

Poll

Who's coming out of the West?

The Biggest Little Thumb

2010-03-01T20:06:29Z

More photos » Tony Dejak - AP

Lebron thought he had Shaq to help fight off the new Superman... back to putting Cleveland on his shoulders again.

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Shaquille O'neal injured his right thumb last week in a game against the Celtics and now is going to miss the rest of the regular season and probably the first week of the playoffs recovering from surgery. While the Cavs are still a lock for the playoffs and a run to at least the Eastern Conference semis, and probably the Conf finals, its got us very worried that the big showdown in the NBA Finals we had all been anticipating wont be happening - or at least wont be as interesting.

The storyline of Lebron James and the Cavs coming in as the dominant #1 from the East and taking on Kobe's Lakers had to have David Stern & Phil Knight salivating along with us. Add in Shaq's return to Staples (the home he claims to have built) in search of his 5th ring and it had all the makings of the first epic showdown since the Magic-Bird days of the 80's.

Particularly with the Lake-show's win yesterday over the Nuggets, their place at the top of the West looks more solid than ever (although Dallas is coming on strong). While Shaq's injury definitely doesn't rule this battle royal from taking place, but it definitely throws a wrench in the plans and must have teams like Boston and Orlando thinking that they have a shot at getting back to the Finals again this summer.

Poll

With Shaq's injury, who is most likely to be facing the Lakers in the NBA Finals?

Please Accept Our Apology, World

2010-03-01T14:46:46Z

Okay, so yesterday was a pretty good day for Canadians. But there's just no excuse for what we subjected the entire world to at the closing ceremonies when we paraded out the biggest pile of crap we could put together.

You would have thought that after Nickelback it couldn't get any worse. But then it did. Avril Lavigne. Alanis Morrissette. Simple Plan. Hedley. K-os. (Okay, K-os is actually pretty decent. But that song he played wasn't.)

I can't say enough, and I hope the world believes me, but please note that nobody over the age of fourteen in Canada actually listens to that music.

I swear, we do have some talent in this country. Would a worldwide spectacle not have been the perfect place to showcase Arcade Fire?

I held out hope that Georges St. Pierre would rush to the stage and knock out everyone of those bands, but it just wasn't meant to be.

So, please, please, accept this apology. But if the IOC never grants us another Olympic games, I certainly will understand their reasoning.

FAN-Tastic Finish in Canada

2010-03-01T01:06:39Z

More photos » Paul Battaglia - AP

I have no idea who these old guys are - but I now know enough to be sure that they were'nt the ones playing today

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Although the USA came up short in its bid for hockey gold today, the final game of this OIympics proved to be one of the most exciting sporting events in recent years, and, possibly, a watershed moment for hockey in the United States. I personally could care less about hockey and was once in Calgary during a Stanley Cup Game 7 and spent most of the evening walking around the city looking for a restaurant that was open and not just full of people watching some game I didn't understand. That night I eventually broke down and saddled up to the bar to watch the final period, but I was still not sucked in.

I've been to a couple of games in person, sitting fairly close and up in a skybox and (despite what hockey fans always tell you), did not find it to be that much better live. Even through this Olympics I probably watched more speed skating than I did hockey, but as the excitement built up for the gold-medal game showdown, I started getting pumped and even broke out the 4th of July party supplies so that I could be fully decked out in red, white and blue. My wife, a dual-citizen (born in Canada, now American), attempted to root for both before eventually deciding her heart was with her motherland. We went to a local bar for the game with a group of friends and I was actually impressed with how many others had turned out to watch - particularly considering that we are in LA, not really a big hockey town. Another strong sign of the surprising interest, was that despite the Laker's playing a tight match-up against the other Western Conf powerhouse Denver Nuggets, the hockey took up all buy one TV in the bar (and that was some small 27 inch in the corner).

The game was fun and exciting - even for a total non-fan who cant even follow the puck. And clearly the end of regulation provided as great a singular sports moment as we've seen in a couple of years. I was remarking that the last time I recall being a bar that erupted that loudly on a single play late in a game was Chalmer's shot at the end of the Kansas - Memphis NCAA hoops title. While it was unfortunate to see Canada come back and win in OT, it was such a good game that when it was over the whole bar of Americans gave a solid round of applause for the performance.

I definitely wasn't enough to get me to go looking for Kings or Ducks tickets this week - and I certainly wont be surfing around for the Versus channel anytime soon. But, if the Stanley Cup goes 7 games this year, I probably wont go out of my way to avoid it... so I guess thats a step in the right direction for the sport of hockey as it looks to attract a larger US fanbase.

Poll

Front Office Fans

Choking with excitement for "Winning Time"

Jason Kidd: The Ageless Wonder

Don't hate the player, hate the owner?!

Whats more valuable in sports?

Don't Call it a Comeback!

Is this a true "comeback" for Tiger Woods?

Is It Time For the Celtics to Rebuild?

Should the Celtics look to rebuild or ride out the Big Three's last years in hopes of a ring?

Kobe In The Klutch

Is Kobe the most clutch player in sports?

Screamin' A Smith - Snitching In The Name of Journalism.

Do you condone stephen a's bitchassness?

An NL Central Sleeper

Who's your pick in the NL Central?

Stop being such a Rick!?!

Rushing the field/court...

Maybe things are looking up for Allen Iverson...?

USA Downed 2-1 by Netherlands

How did Team USA's performance against the Dutch make you feel about their World Cup hopes?

Tiger's Approval Rating In The Rough

As a sports fan, what's your opinion of Tiger right now?

Adios Answer

The Canadian Women's Hockey Team - how could they have done something so terrible?

Did the Canadian Women's Hockey Team's celebration cross the line.

3/1/10 - Dance Dance Dance

3/1/10 - Back To Boring Boxing

Lakers Are Contenders and Nuggets Still Have Doubters

Who's coming out of the West?

The Biggest Little Thumb

With Shaq's injury, who is most likely to be facing the Lakers in the NBA Finals?

Please Accept Our Apology, World

FAN-Tastic Finish in Canada

Was this game enough to get your fan juices fired up for the rest of the NHL season?