Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Final Four of the 80s Cartoon Championship
It's time for the Final Four of the 80's Cartoon Championship! Scrooge McDuck will take on He-Man and the Thunderscats will battle it out with the Joes. There is no room for pretenders at this point!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Elite Eight of the 80s Cartoon Championship
We are down to the Elite Eight and looking at an epic Thundercats-Transformers showdown, as well as He-Man taking on the Ninja Turtles. Things are about to get real! Whatever that means.
Just for fun, here is a nice list of theme songs. Don't really agree with the rankings, but I did forget how sweet Pole Position's theme was.
Duck Tales vs. Inspector Gadget
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
G.I. Joe vs. Tale Spin
Thundercats vs. Transformers
Lessons to learn from Jim Tressel
It's Sunday morning, the perfect time to learn some life lessons. So with the career of Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel going up in flames as we speak, I think there a few lessons we can learn from the nasty little situation he has put himself in.
Lesson #1 - Think twice, hit forward once.
Emails are can be very dangerous things. One click and suddenly your entire office knows you have that crush on Jessica Rabbit and you're explaining to your boss why a video of a bulldog and stuffed Pokemon going at it with love songs in the background is funny. - Trust me if they don't already find it funny, you'll never be able to explain it.
Tressel forwarded the email regarding his players without thinking of what it might mean in the grand scheme of things. He simply figured it was the easy way out of a tricky situation that he could then wash his hands of.
If only he would have taken a few moments to ponder the ripple effect. To wonder what would happen if people learned he caught a whiff of this and swept it under the rug. If he would have done that, I'm not so sure he hits send.
Lesson #2 - If you are already in trouble, you might as well just get it all out there.
When the heat is on, you are already caught, and a stiff punishment is staring you in the face, go ahead and let it all out. Go ahead and toss in the lamp you broke, the bad grade in Chemistry, and the fact you were caught skipping gym.
Every kid knows a parent can only punish you so much at one time. You can only get spanked so many times in one outting before your old man's tennis elbow kicks in, so why let him rest it? Why not drop it all on them at once, take your medicine, and avoid your folks feeling like you were trying to pull one on them?
Tressel had his chance more than once to fess up to this whole mess, but rather than dump it all out there at once he chose to stay zipped up. He chose to hold back and now he isn't confessing as much as he is being captured. His punishment, which has already grown from two to five games, will no doubt continue to progress as more details come out and more folks feel like they were taken for a ride.
Lesson #3 - The right thing in the real world, isn't always the right thing in the sports world.
Think about this for a second. If you caught your kid smoking on the corner would you rat him out to the cops? Or might you be tempted to see if his older brother, whom he looks up to, could give him a nudge in the right direction?
I'm guessing the latter and why? Because it's the right thing to do. Even though your kid is breaking the law, my money says you'd still try and curb the Camel Light habit in a way other than reporting it to officials.
Now consider this. What the Ohio State players did, wasn't illegal. Heck , it wouldn't even be a bad idea - depending on the choice of tattoos - in the regular world. But they don't live in the regular world, they live in the world of college sports and there it is considered a top-tier crime.
When we hear about these athletes and coaches getting in "trouble," let's just keep it in perspective. Generally they are simply breaking NCAA rules, which isn't good, but also weren't sent down from heaven on tablets.
Lesson #1 - Think twice, hit forward once.
Emails are can be very dangerous things. One click and suddenly your entire office knows you have that crush on Jessica Rabbit and you're explaining to your boss why a video of a bulldog and stuffed Pokemon going at it with love songs in the background is funny. - Trust me if they don't already find it funny, you'll never be able to explain it.
Tressel forwarded the email regarding his players without thinking of what it might mean in the grand scheme of things. He simply figured it was the easy way out of a tricky situation that he could then wash his hands of.
If only he would have taken a few moments to ponder the ripple effect. To wonder what would happen if people learned he caught a whiff of this and swept it under the rug. If he would have done that, I'm not so sure he hits send.
Lesson #2 - If you are already in trouble, you might as well just get it all out there.
When the heat is on, you are already caught, and a stiff punishment is staring you in the face, go ahead and let it all out. Go ahead and toss in the lamp you broke, the bad grade in Chemistry, and the fact you were caught skipping gym.
Every kid knows a parent can only punish you so much at one time. You can only get spanked so many times in one outting before your old man's tennis elbow kicks in, so why let him rest it? Why not drop it all on them at once, take your medicine, and avoid your folks feeling like you were trying to pull one on them?
Tressel had his chance more than once to fess up to this whole mess, but rather than dump it all out there at once he chose to stay zipped up. He chose to hold back and now he isn't confessing as much as he is being captured. His punishment, which has already grown from two to five games, will no doubt continue to progress as more details come out and more folks feel like they were taken for a ride.
Lesson #3 - The right thing in the real world, isn't always the right thing in the sports world.
Think about this for a second. If you caught your kid smoking on the corner would you rat him out to the cops? Or might you be tempted to see if his older brother, whom he looks up to, could give him a nudge in the right direction?
I'm guessing the latter and why? Because it's the right thing to do. Even though your kid is breaking the law, my money says you'd still try and curb the Camel Light habit in a way other than reporting it to officials.
Now consider this. What the Ohio State players did, wasn't illegal. Heck , it wouldn't even be a bad idea - depending on the choice of tattoos - in the regular world. But they don't live in the regular world, they live in the world of college sports and there it is considered a top-tier crime.
When we hear about these athletes and coaches getting in "trouble," let's just keep it in perspective. Generally they are simply breaking NCAA rules, which isn't good, but also weren't sent down from heaven on tablets.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
80's Cartoon Sweet 16! Vote now!
The Sweet 16 of the 80's Cartoon Championship
The first round is done with Voltron upsetting Count Duckula and Alvin and the Chipmunks edging out the Smurfs. The Sweet 16 features a He-Man-Ghostbusters match up that could get ugly, plus Tale Spin and the Muppet Babies going at it.
**If you need a refresher make sure to clink on the names above the ballots for the intros of each cartoon! (Mario Bros intro rap is particularly awesome, make sure to check it out!)
Inspector Gadget vs. Dungeons and Dragons
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Rescue Rangers
He-Man vs. The Real Ghostbusters
G.I. Joe vs. Garfield and Friends
Tale Spin vs. Muppet Babies
Thundercats vs. Super Mario Bros.
Alvin and the Chipmunks vs. Transformers
Office talk cheat sheet for VCU
When you go camping, suddenly everyone's an Eagle Scout. Pop the hood of a car and everybody transitions into gearhead. And when March comes around, the lunch room at work morphs into a round table of college hoops analysts.
Of course the very last thing you want to do is show up unprepared for the conversation, so when an underdog such as Virginia Commonwealth University rolls over a team like Purdue and advances to the Sweet 16, it's understandable if a little concern over your knowledge base sets in.
However never fear. The Back Porch is here to provide you with a few nuggets of information to help you navigate any tricky VCU conversations you might face.
People to know:
Jamie Skeen - 6-9, 240 lbs. - Forward - 15.2 ppg., 7.3 rpg.
- Transferred to VCU from Wake Forest following the 2008 season.
- Scored a career-high 32 points against Delaware.
- Has seven double-doubles this season.
- Has a combined seven rebounds in the Ram's past two games.
Bradford Burgess - 6-6, 225 lbs. - Guard - 14.1 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 1.1 spg.
- Was extremely hot against Purdue, scoring 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while also going 3-for-4 from behind the arc.
- Has shown the versatility to play in the post when needed.
- Went to high school less than two miles from VCU at Benedictine High School in Richmond.
Brandon Rozzell - 6-2, 182 lbs. - Guard., 11.6 ppg., 2.3 rpg., 1.4 spg.
- Had a career-high six 3-pointers against Georgetown and led the Rams in scoring with 26 points.
- Extremely athletic on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court and has been dubbed by Coach Smart as one of the "Energy Brothers."
Head Coach Shaka Smart - 33 years old - VCU head coach since 2008.
- Prior to VCU Smart was an assistant under Billy Donovan at Florida (08-09) and under Oliver Purnell at Clemson (06-08).
- Known as a great recruiter, his 10-11 incoming class at VCU is one of the most highly-touted in school history.
- In his first season at VCU he led the Rams to a 27-10 record and a CBI championship.
- Typically runs a system known "havoc" in which the Rams use a full-court press to force their opponents into playing an uptempo style of play.
A breakdown of VCU's half court offense from HoopGroup.com
On Friday night at 9:45 the Rams will face the Florida State Seminoles (23-10) in San Antonio. Here's a glance at VCU and FSU's common opponents this season.
Wake Forest
11/17 - VCU won 90-69
2/1 - FSU won 85-61
2/19 - FSU won 84-66
UNC Greensboro
11/12 - VCU won 101-86
11/14 - FSU won 97-73
* Using some of the ever-popular lunch room logic, it is also interesting to note that VCU defeated both Purdue and Wichita State as well. Though Florida State did not play either of those schools, Virginia Tech did and Florida State lost twice this season to the Hokies.
A quick argument for VCU:
- 23.1-percent of the Seminoles possession end in a turnover, which very much lends itself to the Rams style of play.
- Over the past two games the Rams have outscored Purdue and Georgetown by a combined score of 168-132.
A quick argument for FSU:
- The Rams are the 301st (32.0 rpg) school in rebounding this season, while the Noles are the 13th (39 rpg.).
- FSU has held their past two opponents, Texas A&M and Notre Dame, to shooting percentages of 31.4-percent and 30.4-percent.
Of course the very last thing you want to do is show up unprepared for the conversation, so when an underdog such as Virginia Commonwealth University rolls over a team like Purdue and advances to the Sweet 16, it's understandable if a little concern over your knowledge base sets in.
However never fear. The Back Porch is here to provide you with a few nuggets of information to help you navigate any tricky VCU conversations you might face.
People to know:
 |
| Jamie Skeen. vcuathletics.com |
- Transferred to VCU from Wake Forest following the 2008 season.
- Scored a career-high 32 points against Delaware.
- Has seven double-doubles this season.
- Has a combined seven rebounds in the Ram's past two games.
Bradford Burgess - 6-6, 225 lbs. - Guard - 14.1 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 1.1 spg.
- Was extremely hot against Purdue, scoring 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while also going 3-for-4 from behind the arc.
- Has shown the versatility to play in the post when needed.
- Went to high school less than two miles from VCU at Benedictine High School in Richmond.
Brandon Rozzell - 6-2, 182 lbs. - Guard., 11.6 ppg., 2.3 rpg., 1.4 spg.
- Had a career-high six 3-pointers against Georgetown and led the Rams in scoring with 26 points.
- Extremely athletic on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court and has been dubbed by Coach Smart as one of the "Energy Brothers."
Head Coach Shaka Smart - 33 years old - VCU head coach since 2008.
- Prior to VCU Smart was an assistant under Billy Donovan at Florida (08-09) and under Oliver Purnell at Clemson (06-08).
- Known as a great recruiter, his 10-11 incoming class at VCU is one of the most highly-touted in school history.
- In his first season at VCU he led the Rams to a 27-10 record and a CBI championship.
- Typically runs a system known "havoc" in which the Rams use a full-court press to force their opponents into playing an uptempo style of play.
A breakdown of VCU's half court offense from HoopGroup.com
On Friday night at 9:45 the Rams will face the Florida State Seminoles (23-10) in San Antonio. Here's a glance at VCU and FSU's common opponents this season.
Wake Forest
11/17 - VCU won 90-69
2/1 - FSU won 85-61
2/19 - FSU won 84-66
UNC Greensboro
11/12 - VCU won 101-86
11/14 - FSU won 97-73
* Using some of the ever-popular lunch room logic, it is also interesting to note that VCU defeated both Purdue and Wichita State as well. Though Florida State did not play either of those schools, Virginia Tech did and Florida State lost twice this season to the Hokies.
A quick argument for VCU:
- 23.1-percent of the Seminoles possession end in a turnover, which very much lends itself to the Rams style of play.
- Over the past two games the Rams have outscored Purdue and Georgetown by a combined score of 168-132.
A quick argument for FSU:
- The Rams are the 301st (32.0 rpg) school in rebounding this season, while the Noles are the 13th (39 rpg.).
- FSU has held their past two opponents, Texas A&M and Notre Dame, to shooting percentages of 31.4-percent and 30.4-percent.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
If a NIT game happens and no one is there, does it make a sound?
 |
| Streeter Lecka/Getty Photos |
You're now looking at two options. Head home, sulk in a pint of Rocky Road, and wait until year. Or put a smile on, take a ticket to whatever random Eddie Murphy-in-a-fat suit move in out right now, and make the best of the situation.
That's the same decision Virginia Tech fans faced this week, as the Hokies hosted the first round of the NIT tournament at Cassell Coliseum on Wednesday. Less than a week removed from scoring key victories in the ACC tournament and feeling like a lock for a ticket to dance in the national spotlight, the Hokies were poised to square off with the Division 1 AA Bethune-Cookman.
The initial response from many fans was to decline the invitation. Terms like "losers' bracket" and "pity tournament" were used as fans felt the Hokies had nothing to fain from participating.
A more reasonable thought came from a fan who explained that the NIT is exciting for an "up and coming team, but not for a team that feels like they should be in the NCAA tourney."
Wednesday night in Blacksburg would prove these sentiments to be less than isolated, as a mere 2,892 fans showed up, over 1,300 of which were students who got in for free.This number is considerably lower than Tech's first round attendance marks over the last three seasons.
07-08 -- 9,628 -- vs. Quinnipiac
08-09 -- 5,878 -- vs. Duquesne
09-10 -- 5,264 -- vs. Morgan State
Whether it was the lack of formidable opponent, disappointment in not making the NCAA tournament, or simply the been-there done-that feeling of a fourth straight NIT appearance, the message from fans was clear. Virginia Tech's first round NIT contest was not a priority Wednesday night.
To be honest, the fans who did make their way out Wednesday didn't exactly see an amazing contest. The Hokies (22-11) steam rolled the Wildcats (23-11), 79-54.
Virgina Tech moves on to face Witchita State, who defeated their first-round opponent Nebraska, 76-49. The game will again be held at Cassell Coliseum on Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Virginia Tech Sports Department has released that adult tickets for the contest will be $15, youth tickets will be $5, all seating in general admission, and the first 2,000 fans will receive a free Hokie basketball t-shirt. Student will be admitted for free with a valid student I.D.
So Virginia Tech fans, will you attend Sunday mornings' game? Why or why not?
Who will be the 2011 80's Cartoon Champion?
The 80's-ish Cartoon Bracket!
Grab a big bowl of cereal, a Pop Tart, two slices of toast, a banana, a glass of milk, and a class of orange juice. Now as you enjoy your 1986 complete breakfast take a few moments to help decide who will take home the championship belt and "Book it!" Pizza Hut coupon as the Back Porch 80's Cartoon Champ!
The East & South
The East Region
This region is dominated by animals who have adventures while wearing shirts with no pants. Duck Tales came in as the no. 1 overall seed and is the favorite, but don't sleep on Count Duckula. Those who know him, love him.
Duck Tales vs. Rainbow Brite
Count Duckula vs. Voltron
Inspector Gadget vs. Care Bears
Gummi Bears vs. Dungeons and Dragons
The South Region
The heavy hitters in this region do more of the group thing. The Turtles and Ghostbusters are clearly the favorites, but He-Man and Chip n' Dale really make this a tough road for anyone to go down.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Visionaries
Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers vs. Jem
He-Man vs. David the Gnome
The Real Ghostbusters vs. She-Ra
The West Region
On the surface it seems like Joe has a pretty easy road, but between Baloo and Garfield, it could be tougher than imagined. Also, don't sleep on the Muppets getting a no. 2 seed. Consistency has always been their motto.
G.I. Joe vs. Denver the Last Dinosaur
Garfield and Friends vs. Silverhawks
Tale Spin vs. Rude Dog
Muppet Babies vs. Bravestarr
The North Region
It looks like the Thundercats and Transformers are on a one-way course for an elite eight battle, but the Smurfs could derail that if they can survive Alvin and the Chipmunks. It all depends which Smurf shows up.
Thundercats vs. Snorks
Super Mario Bros. vs. M.A.S.K.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0BzBFWt8V8
Smurfs vs. Alvin and the Chipmunks
Transformers vs. Danger Mouse
If you're wondering where the My Little Ponies, Heathcliff, and others are, a NIT update will be released shortly!
Grab a big bowl of cereal, a Pop Tart, two slices of toast, a banana, a glass of milk, and a class of orange juice. Now as you enjoy your 1986 complete breakfast take a few moments to help decide who will take home the championship belt and "Book it!" Pizza Hut coupon as the Back Porch 80's Cartoon Champ!
 |
| www.ivum.com |
The East & South
The East Region
This region is dominated by animals who have adventures while wearing shirts with no pants. Duck Tales came in as the no. 1 overall seed and is the favorite, but don't sleep on Count Duckula. Those who know him, love him.
Duck Tales vs. Rainbow Brite
Count Duckula vs. Voltron
Inspector Gadget vs. Care Bears
Gummi Bears vs. Dungeons and Dragons
The South Region
The heavy hitters in this region do more of the group thing. The Turtles and Ghostbusters are clearly the favorites, but He-Man and Chip n' Dale really make this a tough road for anyone to go down.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Visionaries
Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers vs. Jem
He-Man vs. David the Gnome
The Real Ghostbusters vs. She-Ra
The West Region
On the surface it seems like Joe has a pretty easy road, but between Baloo and Garfield, it could be tougher than imagined. Also, don't sleep on the Muppets getting a no. 2 seed. Consistency has always been their motto.
G.I. Joe vs. Denver the Last Dinosaur
Garfield and Friends vs. Silverhawks
Tale Spin vs. Rude Dog
Muppet Babies vs. Bravestarr
The North Region
It looks like the Thundercats and Transformers are on a one-way course for an elite eight battle, but the Smurfs could derail that if they can survive Alvin and the Chipmunks. It all depends which Smurf shows up.
Thundercats vs. Snorks
Super Mario Bros. vs. M.A.S.K.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0BzBFWt8V8
Smurfs vs. Alvin and the Chipmunks
Transformers vs. Danger Mouse
If you're wondering where the My Little Ponies, Heathcliff, and others are, a NIT update will be released shortly!
Monday, March 14, 2011
NCAA Bracket thoughts with Jim Williams
Or we pick teams based on which mascots are coolest - that bracket will come shortly, don't worry - or simply flip coins. Either way, generally we are back to Earth by the end of the second weekend, bracket gone through the shredder, and that five bucks we dropped in the office pool long forgotten.
So this year I decided it was time to reach out a guy who has probably watched more basketball than I ever will. My 93-year-old grandad, Jim Williams.
He filled out a bracket online, well he talked I filled, computers are still a little bit sketchy to him, and then dropped a few nuggets about this year's tournament.
Want to test your knowledge against his? Fill free in The Back Porch Pick 'Em challenge!
Group ID: 60434
Password: porch
Is there a prize? Yup! The Back Porch prize pack includes Big League Chew, a Bimbo Coles trading card, and an official Travis Williams magnet! Yeah I know, I've outdone myself.
Jim's thoughts on the tourney
He likes: Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Utah State, Kentucky, Michigan State and UConn.
He dislikes: Wisconsin, UNC, Texas, and Arizona.
On Duke - "Not that good. It all depends on Nolan Smith and if he goes down, they are done." He went on to explain they have a very tough road and he thinks Tennessee could beat them in the second round.
On Ohio State - "They are really good, but their jerseys are ugly." Apparently he's not digging the gray.
On Kentucky - "Good and fast."
On UConn - "It all comes down to coaching and they've got a good one."
On Syracuse - "They'll do well. Coaching right?"
On Texas - "Two different teams. Just depends on who shows up."
On Notre Dame - "Good and I like them in the tournament." He added that he hates that.
On Virginia Tech not getting in - "Didn't think they would get in. Somebody doesn't like them, but they didn't help that by losing so much. They shouldn't accept the NIT bid because there is nothing to gain from it."
Granted Jim doesn't work for ESPN or CBS. But he's watched a lot of games, as well as claimed to have been watching a few though his eyes were shut and he was snoring. Regardless, they say there is wisdom with age and this year his bracket aims to prove it.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
How impressive is Kevin Love's streak?
Have you ever just not bought into something? Say back when Titanic took over the top spot for all time ticket sales at the box office. Did you really buy into it? Did you really believe that many people would pay to watch that flick knowing good and well the boat was going down?
Well if not then you know how I felt this week watching the of coverage surrounding the Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Love securing his 52-straight and record-setting double-double.
That's not to say I don't like Love. I think he is a very good player, but I still couldn't talk myself into being amazed by this record. So I decided to figure out why.
In pondering the reasons I doubt the majesty of this record the first reason that popped up was it's impact on the team's success. Shouldn't great individual success lead to at least decent team success?
It did for Orel Hershiser, who pitched 59.1 scoreless innings in 1988. His Dodgers went on to a 5-0 record in the month of September, along with winning the '88 World Series.
The same was true of Wayne Gretzky's 51-straight games of scoring a point, as the 1984 Edmonton Oilers took home the Stanley Cup.
And what about Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hit streak? Well 1941 Yankees went 101-54 and won the '41 World Series.
So what about Mr. Love? Since beginning his streak on November 22 Minnesota has gone 11-41 and will be watching the NBA playoffs from the same spot as I will be. The couch.
But let's take the impact of the team's success out. How exactly was K-Love able to accomplish these stats on a nightly basis? Since there are more than a few players able to get double-digit points on a regular basis let's focus on the harder stat of the two, rebounds.
As a team the Timberwolves are pulling down 45.6 rebounds per game.
Love is averaging 10 rebounds more per contest than his nearest teammate, Michael Beasley. So what you say. How can they get rebounds if Kevin is sucking them all up?
Actually Kevin's teammates are producing at nearly the same rate, if not better, than they have over the course of their careers.
10-11 Career
Michael Beasley 5.8 5.8
Darko Milicic 5.3 4.3
Anthony Tolliver 4.2 5.0
It turns out Love seems to be benefiting from playing with a group a little lacking when it comes to cleaning the glass. Think of this like fishing. There are tons of fish in the lake and apparently Kevin is the only with with a fishing rod, while Michael Beasley and company are struggling to rig up a shoelace and safety pin lure.
Since Love is afforded the opportunity to grab a ton of rebounds thanks to his lack luster teammates, would it help if his team produced more potential rebounds than most? Why yes. Yes it would.
According to Basketball-Reference.com the Timberwolves play at a pace of 96.5 possessions per game. Combine this with the fact that as a team Minnesota's field goal percentage ranks as the 28th best in the league, 43 percent, and it's easy to see the opportunities for rebounds increasing. More possessions + a poor shooting team = more rebounding opportunities on the offensive end.
So what about the defensive end? Considering the Timberwolves on average score 5.33 fewer points than their opponents, it's fair to assume there have been more than a few occasions in which the opposing team hasn't stressed taking a few chances. It's doubtful shot selection is at a premium during these times and likely the bench is seeing a little more action than normal.
Simply put, when you're feeling comfortable, you don't play as hard. You take more careless shots and you let players who aren't as good play more minutes. Put all this together and you have another pretty good recipe for loose balls.
Since we have already established Love as the Wolves only real glass-cleaning threat, it's pretty simple to see how his statistics would benefit from such a pace of play.
What about the record itself, is it historically legit?
Considering the "record" K-Love holds completely ignores ABA records prior to the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, not so much. Love's record is merely breaking Moses Malone's 1978-79 record of 51 games.
Of course the guy who jumps off the page at you is Wilt Chamberlain. Not only did Wilt outdo Love's record three times, his career averages at 30.1 ppg and 22.9 rpg. Are we really serious about putting K-Love even in the same sentence as Wilt?
Maybe you are. Maybe you are the guy who is ok with Sherk 2 ranking up there with Star Wars and E.T. when it comes to all-time movie greats. Maybe you are the guy who thinks because American Idol scored 25 million viewers that makes it a better show than 30 Rock. That's fine. But I'm not that guy. I'll take Vader over Donkey everyday and think Tracy Jordan is television gold.
Kevin Love is a good player and one of the best young stars of the league. Don't get me wrong, this is not a K-Love bash-fest. But him being a great rebounder and impressive player is just a part of the equation that has stirred up this perfect storm.
His streak of double-double is impressive and the longer it continues, the more impressive it will become. But as for it being worthy of the hype it has received, I'm just not buying it.
Well if not then you know how I felt this week watching the of coverage surrounding the Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Love securing his 52-straight and record-setting double-double.
That's not to say I don't like Love. I think he is a very good player, but I still couldn't talk myself into being amazed by this record. So I decided to figure out why.
In pondering the reasons I doubt the majesty of this record the first reason that popped up was it's impact on the team's success. Shouldn't great individual success lead to at least decent team success?
 |
| Wayne had the streak, plus that amazing feathered hair! |
The same was true of Wayne Gretzky's 51-straight games of scoring a point, as the 1984 Edmonton Oilers took home the Stanley Cup.
And what about Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hit streak? Well 1941 Yankees went 101-54 and won the '41 World Series.
So what about Mr. Love? Since beginning his streak on November 22 Minnesota has gone 11-41 and will be watching the NBA playoffs from the same spot as I will be. The couch.
But let's take the impact of the team's success out. How exactly was K-Love able to accomplish these stats on a nightly basis? Since there are more than a few players able to get double-digit points on a regular basis let's focus on the harder stat of the two, rebounds.
As a team the Timberwolves are pulling down 45.6 rebounds per game.
Actually Kevin's teammates are producing at nearly the same rate, if not better, than they have over the course of their careers.
10-11 Career
Michael Beasley 5.8 5.8
Darko Milicic 5.3 4.3
Anthony Tolliver 4.2 5.0
It turns out Love seems to be benefiting from playing with a group a little lacking when it comes to cleaning the glass. Think of this like fishing. There are tons of fish in the lake and apparently Kevin is the only with with a fishing rod, while Michael Beasley and company are struggling to rig up a shoelace and safety pin lure.
Since Love is afforded the opportunity to grab a ton of rebounds thanks to his lack luster teammates, would it help if his team produced more potential rebounds than most? Why yes. Yes it would.
According to Basketball-Reference.com the Timberwolves play at a pace of 96.5 possessions per game. Combine this with the fact that as a team Minnesota's field goal percentage ranks as the 28th best in the league, 43 percent, and it's easy to see the opportunities for rebounds increasing. More possessions + a poor shooting team = more rebounding opportunities on the offensive end.
So what about the defensive end? Considering the Timberwolves on average score 5.33 fewer points than their opponents, it's fair to assume there have been more than a few occasions in which the opposing team hasn't stressed taking a few chances. It's doubtful shot selection is at a premium during these times and likely the bench is seeing a little more action than normal.
Simply put, when you're feeling comfortable, you don't play as hard. You take more careless shots and you let players who aren't as good play more minutes. Put all this together and you have another pretty good recipe for loose balls.
Since we have already established Love as the Wolves only real glass-cleaning threat, it's pretty simple to see how his statistics would benefit from such a pace of play.
What about the record itself, is it historically legit?
Considering the "record" K-Love holds completely ignores ABA records prior to the NBA-ABA merger in 1976, not so much. Love's record is merely breaking Moses Malone's 1978-79 record of 51 games.
Of course the guy who jumps off the page at you is Wilt Chamberlain. Not only did Wilt outdo Love's record three times, his career averages at 30.1 ppg and 22.9 rpg. Are we really serious about putting K-Love even in the same sentence as Wilt?
 |
| Gold I tell you, gold! |
Kevin Love is a good player and one of the best young stars of the league. Don't get me wrong, this is not a K-Love bash-fest. But him being a great rebounder and impressive player is just a part of the equation that has stirred up this perfect storm.
His streak of double-double is impressive and the longer it continues, the more impressive it will become. But as for it being worthy of the hype it has received, I'm just not buying it.
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Back Porch Podcast!
Highs and lows from the week in sports including Jim Tressel, Stan Van Gundy, conference tournaments, and more!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Tears fall when shots don't for Miami
 |
You know there is no crying in baseball, the Rockford Peaches and Geena Davis made sure of that. But what about in the NBA? Can we cry there?
Apparently the Miami Heat feel the answer to this question is yes. Following their 87-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls head coach Erik Spoelstra let it be known tears were shed in the locker room.
This brings up two crucial questions. Why exactly are they crying and why does their coach want us to know about it?
The first answer could go a couple of different ways. It could be a sign they care. It could be that their overall passion for the game is so great, they couldn't help but burst into tears when handed yet another "L." They could just be for-the-love-of-the-game tears.
But I'm not buying that. Listen, it's the first week in March. If you are crying after a loss in March, there is a real good chance it's not just about the game you just tanked.
With Sunday's loss the Heat have now lost five of their last six games, lost all but one game against the top teams in the NBA, are 5-13 in games decided by five points or fewer, and are a collective 1 for 18 on shots taking in the final 10 seconds of a game in which they are trailing by three or fewer points.
This crying wasn't about losing. This crying was about a feeling of helplessness. That feeling you get when you're getting dumped despite buying flowers, despite being the shoulder to cry on, and depsite spending all day Saturday at some random relative's birthday party pretending to enjoy coloring with three kids you don't know and who look like they were born near a power plant. Despite your best effort, you are sinking and you have no idea what more you could do to stop it.
That is what the tears in the Miami locker room tell us about where that team is today. They built themselves up, did the whole fireworks thing, and even convinced themselves they were a lock for a title run. Now they are sinking fast and starting to feel like there is nothing they can do to stop it. Well except cry.
But should their coach have let this be known?
Probably not and he probably didn't even mean to. The more you look at his comments the more he just sounds like a guy trying to prove to the media - and maybe himself - that these guys were doing everything they could. That his team wasn't cashing it in late in games and has the passion to win.
Spoelstra didn't come across as a bad guy by doing this, but he did come across as a guy who needs some reassurance.
So why are they doing so bad?
Is it because they lack a solid point guard? Well, yes. And please don't tell me that issue is going away with Mike Bibby entering the picture. The 32-year-old is on the downside of his under six assists a game career, so I'm not exactly seeing the quality distributor these guys need there.
What about their lack of a true big man? Well it's not helping that's for sure. We knew Chris Bosh wasn't going to come in and dominate the block, but I don't think any of us knew he had the ability to completely disappear at times.
I could go on, trying to point out other troublesome areas, but I really am not sure any of those are the real issue. No I believe the real issue is that the Heat do not know who the lead actor is. They are like one of romantic comedies with 12 different story lines and six or so A to B list actors. You spend the first 90 minutes of the film trying to figure out exactly who you are supposed to be following. Are Julia Roberts and that guy from The Hangover the main characters or is it Drew Barrymore and the kid from Waiting? And what about Jamie Foxx? Is his only real role in this to have another movie scene where he reminds us he can play the piano?
It's confusing, you have no idea which person to focus on, and you end up just stumbling through the movie, missing plot points and ruining the ending.
That is how the Heat have operated up to this point. Who is going to bring the ball up? Who do we run the offense through? Who is the go-to guy in the last minute that you can count on to put the team on his shoulders and lead them to victory? No one knows. The roles aren't defined and what you are left with are haphazard end-game scenarios where everyone is looking at someone else to make the big play.
So what now?
The good news is the general public is loving this current slump, meaning the Heat are still a threat in most folks' eyes, which they should be. At 43-20 the are sitting in the third spot in the East and if just under half of those 13 losses by five or fewer points goes the other way, they are at the top of the conference. A tweak here or there and were having a totally different conversation right now.
Those tweaks however, need to come soon. The Heat are facing a week and a half where they will be visited by Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City. A grand opportunity to either shine in redemption or sulk back in shame.
And that's the thing about being a threat. When it's all said and done the threat will be known as either a warning sign of what was to come or as a Y2K-esque urban legend that only fools bought into and saved up canned goods for.
When it's all said and done, which do you think Miami will be remembered as?
Friday, March 4, 2011
A few of the best sports moments from 90's TV
 |
| Bouncemag.com |
Hanging with Mr. Cooper: Cooper plays Barkley
Mr. Cooper was a former basketball player, living in the bay area, and having wacky adventures with his two female roommates. But then the phone rang and who was it? Golden State Warriors Chris Mullen and Tim Hardaway of course! The convince Mr. Cooper try out for the Warriors and head coach Don Nelson, where he eventually gets a 10-day contract and has a show down with Charles Barkley. Granted Cooper ends up getting cut from the team, but he does get to block Sir Charles on his way out of the league.
While I couldn't find a video of this scene, I figured I would at least give you this sweet clip of his intro.
Saved by the Bell: Malibu Sands volleyball beats North Beach
What started as a scheme for Zach to get a sweet deal on Mr. Carosi's car, turned into a sports classic. Zach attempts to bring in the well over 6-foGary as a ringer, but Screech breaks his foot, forcing the team to prove they never really needed him in the first place. What a great summer!
Beverly Hills 90210: Brandon tries out for basketball
Dude is all of 5-foot-6, from Minnesota, and thinks he can make the West Beverly squad? He proved he had a nice little jumper, along with the drive to compete, but it turns out the lack of athletic ability and over abundance of hairspray made a long term career impossible. It was a solid effort though and he does talk himself up well for it.
Grandmama gives Urkel a hand
In classic TV fashion there is a 2-on-2 tournament, giving the show the ability to have sports, yet not have a full court. After Eddie ditches Steve for Kenny, Steve decides to start his own team and Grandma Winslows suggests he gets some help from a friend of hers, Grandmama Johnson. TV gold here folks!
Whats your favorite TV sports moment?
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Hokie football in a not-so-great top 10
When someone slips and falls, generally most folks are sympathetic. When the fallen person happens to be a kid who was running at the pool after catching the wrath of the life guard's whistle numerous time, the sympathy can quickly turn into the more callused you-were-warned stare.
A recent investigation and article in Sports Illustrated gives that same stare to the NCAA's top college football programs. In it the Top 25 programs are listed in order of how many players on their 2010 rosters had criminal records, along with detailing accounts of players from top programs who have remained outside of the law. Their findings concluded that seven-percent of players on teams in preseason Top 25 had been "charged with or cited for a crime."
Virginia Tech ranked as the sixth highest school in the number of players with criminal records, having 13. This comes less than a week of Hokie linebacker Lyndell Gibson being charged with a DUI and two weeks removed from Virginia Tech basketball reserve Jarell Eddie's marijuana charge.
So how much is a school responsible for investigating a student's background and what baring should that have on a potential scholarship offer?
According to the report only two schools, TCU and Oklahoma, perform regular criminal background checks prior to admittance, while Virginia Tech is the only school who performs a check after the student is admitted.
Obviously there is much concern in a small college town, such as Blacksburg, Virginia, when you start throwing around words such as, "criminal" and "background check," but what does that really mean about these players?
Is it really fair to list a student on the "criminal" record list for merely being charged, not convicted, for a crime?
Also, is there any precedence for taking in a player with a checkered past in hopes of staging a Morgan Freeman-like intervention and helping guide him to a better path? Or is this being done already? If so being at the top of the list might not be such an awful thing.
Clearly each incident is surrounded by its own unique characteristics and therefore a blanket policy would seem unfitting, but the thought of heeding caution from warning signs of the past will not be ignored.
In an off season where recruiting has been at the forefront of many coaching and personal changes it will be interesting to see what impact, if any, the report has on the program and school's policies.
A recent investigation and article in Sports Illustrated gives that same stare to the NCAA's top college football programs. In it the Top 25 programs are listed in order of how many players on their 2010 rosters had criminal records, along with detailing accounts of players from top programs who have remained outside of the law. Their findings concluded that seven-percent of players on teams in preseason Top 25 had been "charged with or cited for a crime."
Virginia Tech ranked as the sixth highest school in the number of players with criminal records, having 13. This comes less than a week of Hokie linebacker Lyndell Gibson being charged with a DUI and two weeks removed from Virginia Tech basketball reserve Jarell Eddie's marijuana charge.
So how much is a school responsible for investigating a student's background and what baring should that have on a potential scholarship offer?
According to the report only two schools, TCU and Oklahoma, perform regular criminal background checks prior to admittance, while Virginia Tech is the only school who performs a check after the student is admitted.
Obviously there is much concern in a small college town, such as Blacksburg, Virginia, when you start throwing around words such as, "criminal" and "background check," but what does that really mean about these players?
Is it really fair to list a student on the "criminal" record list for merely being charged, not convicted, for a crime?
Also, is there any precedence for taking in a player with a checkered past in hopes of staging a Morgan Freeman-like intervention and helping guide him to a better path? Or is this being done already? If so being at the top of the list might not be such an awful thing.
Clearly each incident is surrounded by its own unique characteristics and therefore a blanket policy would seem unfitting, but the thought of heeding caution from warning signs of the past will not be ignored.
In an off season where recruiting has been at the forefront of many coaching and personal changes it will be interesting to see what impact, if any, the report has on the program and school's policies.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)