As the Colin Kaepernick saga rages on, I've found myself distancing myself from what I consider a boring story. However, boredom has evolved into annoyance, and I guess I feel that getting my opinion on the matter off my chest will be the best way to wipe my hands of this and forget about it entirely.
With each passing week, the growing sentiment from media and fans alike is that Kaepernick is being "blacklisted" and some teams flat out refuse to sign him because of him kneeling during the national anthem to make a statement about our country's social issues and police violence. For the record, I never had a problem with what he did. I personally find the issue of police violence in this country overblown, and being that social media covers every corner of the world every second, it just appears there is more police violence today than there used to be. However, that is another debate for another time. Even if I disagree with Kaepernick's stance, police violence against innocent people is an issue nonetheless, and I have no problem with him exercising his right to do what he felt is right. I wouldn't call myself a "Kaepernick supporter" either, I was kind of ambivalent on the matter. I never really cared all that much about it to be honest.
If the owners are conspiring against him collectively, then I have a major issue with it. That's completely disgraceful, it's collusion, and they should be called out on it and there should be an investigation into the matter. It's also unlikely to be the case. What's more likely is whether it's public pressure, or personal feelings on his political beliefs, organizations are individually choosing not to sign him. Is it petty to hold someone's political beliefs, which is their right to express, against them? Absolutely. Is it what I'd consider wrong? No. Just like it was Kaepernick's right to express himself, it's the right of the owners and organizations not to want him. If I owned a business and was interviewing candidates, if one of the candidates stood for something I vehemently disagreed with, I wouldn't hire them. Even if they were fully qualified for the job. We all have principles, and the rest of the world doesn't have to agree with them, but it's our right as individuals to have those principles.
The owners are not "depriving him of the ability to work" like many have been saying. He's free to work wherever he wants, but he needs to be selected from a group of candidates for the job just like any other job. Not wanting him because of whatever perceived "risks" he comes with is no different than a team not signing a player because of an injury history. The player may be totally healthy, but there are concerns about him suffering injuries years prior. Does it suck? Of course, but that's life. If organizations feel they will lose ticket sales or ratings because of a signing, it's the prerogative of the owners to be uneasy about bringing that player in. The NFL is a business after all. Do I agree with it? No, but I think people in this country need to be more accepting of other's beliefs even if we disagree with them. Just like people who didn't agree with Kaepernick kneeling, but accepted his right to do so, I think others should be more accepting of how owners view the situation even if you disagree with it. It's hypocrisy to want rights and freedoms, but try to force people to think a certain way. It's a hive mind mentality, it's dangerous, and sets a bad precedent. "I think the most un-American thing you can say is 'You can't say that.'" said Garrison Keillor.
What I do have a problem with is certain people using Colin Kaepernick as a means to promote their agenda. I feel people are more concerned about getting their political and social agenda out there than seeing Kaepernick actually get a job, and they are using Kaepernick's situation as a slimy way to promote their agenda. I read an article earlier today that accused the NFL owners of being "Trump supporters and "racists" and the league being "anti-black." Really? You mean the league that gave convicted felon Michael Vick a second chance? Scumbag and woman-beater Greg Hardy a second chance? A league that selected Joe Mixon in the 2nd round of the NFL draft? The facts don't back up these baseless claims. Also, last time I checked, until all the owners make it publicly known who they voted for, all of it is mere speculation.
In a social media age where faux outrage is the thing, and people are constantly combing the internet for stories to stand behind to make their agendas look more legit, Colin Kaepernick's story was Christmas come early. Anyone who wanted to go on a tangent that had a deep-seated issue with the NFL and its owners now have something new to use to add fuel to the fire. I personally tend not to go on tirades against people I don't even know, but hey, that's just me.
Ultimately, it's just an unfortunate situation all around, but I stop going farther than that. Business can be cut-throat, as we all know. The NFL especially so. It's hard to take a stronger stance until there is physical and tangible proof of something unsavory and conspiratory going on. For now, the NFL world awaits the next QB to tear an ACL for the discussion to heat up again, and the outrage is on the ready.
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Until the Phils can figure out how to develop and draft talent, they'll never be in control of their own destiny
As the Phillies fall to 17-33, off to a historically bad start, one cannot help but question the future of this organization that was regarded as extremely bright a mere 3 months ago. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I have serious questions, concerns, and doubts about when the Phillies will once again become a contender.
The best organizations in baseball are built through their farm systems with homegrown talent. It's the safest and most efficient way to build a consistent contender. To stay successful and competitive, you need young cost-controlled talent waiting in the wings. It gives you options and flexibility across the board. When aging players hit the free agent market, it allows you to bring the next player up to replace them, and peace of mind that you can stay away from long-term contracts that move you closer to luxury tax territory and will likely be paying for past production. Teams with deep and talented farm systems never have to worry about being desperate. They don't have to stress about striking gold in free agency and having a 200 million dollar player buying their sales pitch over those of several other teams. They don't have to lose sleep over injuries, knowing that if a key player goes down, they can bring up talent from the minors to hold the fort until they heal up. And they also don't have to be concerned about being able to acquire a key talent at the trade deadline for a pennant run. As long as teams value your farm system highly, you will always be in the mix every July.
Unfortunately to have a great farm system, you need to both draft and develop players well. The fact is, the Phillies have not developed a star-caliber prospect since Cole Hamels in 2006. The list of failed prospects are numerous. Domonic Brown, Joe Savery, Phillippe Aumont, Freddy Galvis, J.C. Ramirez, Tyson Gillies, Darin Ruf, Jesse Biddle... and on and on. Their draft history has not been good either, to put it lightly. Since 2006 some of their recent high draft picks include: Joe Savery, Anthony Hewitt, Larry Greene Jr., Jesse Biddle, and Cornelius Randolph. You can also include J.P. Crawford, who was regarded as the Phillies' best prospects for years now, until recently falling down the list with a horrendous start to his 2017 season. The promise to this farm system is quickly fading, as with it goes the promise of the Phillies turning things around any time soon.
The problem is the Phillies have no elite talent in their farm system. They don't have any Mike Trouts, Manny Machados, Bryce Harpers, Aaron Judges or Carlos Correas. They don't have any young talents to rejuvenate both the energy of the team, and the fan interest in the team. They have no one to hang their hat on as an organization. As it appears currently, the future of this organization almost rides solely on the outcome of the 2018-19 MLB free agent class. MacPhail and Klentak have been putting money away for years to give them a chance to offer Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and others mega contracts possibly upwards of 400 million dollars. I'm not so confident in this strategy. Why would any elite players want to join a floundering organization when they can go to another major market team like the Yankees or Red Sox also willing to break the bank, and most-assuredly be willing to go over the dreaded luxury tax for such talents. The Phillies' future will hinge on the shaky ground of the mind of a free agent. Their chance to add a star will rise or fall with a simple decision.
I'm sure they'll be able to lure some players with all the money they've stockpiled, but stars win in sports, and if they strike out in free agency like their 2017 lineup is currently striking out in May, then the turning point for this organization could be pushed back for another 3-5 years or more. See, that's why the Phillies are in a bad spot. They no longer control their own destiny by being unable to draft and develop talent. And until they figure out a way to do so, their prospects of contending will be pushed back indefinitely. The Phillies would have never won a World Series if they didn't draft and develop Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley. If they don't get back to that level of drafting and developing, they won't any time soon.
I don't know how to fix it. I wish I did. I hate to use this term, but the Phillies need a culture change. Right now they mimic the tendencies of bad organizations. Even when the logic is sound, and they mean well, they still find a way to screw up. Nothing in the organization is going well right now. Usually, to turn it around it takes a major front office shakeup. Would Middleton be willing to pull the plug on MacPhail and/or Klentak? I doubt it. But they need to figure out something, because until then, and only then, the entire fate of the franchise will be riding on something totally out of their hands. Scary stuff.
The best organizations in baseball are built through their farm systems with homegrown talent. It's the safest and most efficient way to build a consistent contender. To stay successful and competitive, you need young cost-controlled talent waiting in the wings. It gives you options and flexibility across the board. When aging players hit the free agent market, it allows you to bring the next player up to replace them, and peace of mind that you can stay away from long-term contracts that move you closer to luxury tax territory and will likely be paying for past production. Teams with deep and talented farm systems never have to worry about being desperate. They don't have to stress about striking gold in free agency and having a 200 million dollar player buying their sales pitch over those of several other teams. They don't have to lose sleep over injuries, knowing that if a key player goes down, they can bring up talent from the minors to hold the fort until they heal up. And they also don't have to be concerned about being able to acquire a key talent at the trade deadline for a pennant run. As long as teams value your farm system highly, you will always be in the mix every July.
Unfortunately to have a great farm system, you need to both draft and develop players well. The fact is, the Phillies have not developed a star-caliber prospect since Cole Hamels in 2006. The list of failed prospects are numerous. Domonic Brown, Joe Savery, Phillippe Aumont, Freddy Galvis, J.C. Ramirez, Tyson Gillies, Darin Ruf, Jesse Biddle... and on and on. Their draft history has not been good either, to put it lightly. Since 2006 some of their recent high draft picks include: Joe Savery, Anthony Hewitt, Larry Greene Jr., Jesse Biddle, and Cornelius Randolph. You can also include J.P. Crawford, who was regarded as the Phillies' best prospects for years now, until recently falling down the list with a horrendous start to his 2017 season. The promise to this farm system is quickly fading, as with it goes the promise of the Phillies turning things around any time soon.
The problem is the Phillies have no elite talent in their farm system. They don't have any Mike Trouts, Manny Machados, Bryce Harpers, Aaron Judges or Carlos Correas. They don't have any young talents to rejuvenate both the energy of the team, and the fan interest in the team. They have no one to hang their hat on as an organization. As it appears currently, the future of this organization almost rides solely on the outcome of the 2018-19 MLB free agent class. MacPhail and Klentak have been putting money away for years to give them a chance to offer Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, and others mega contracts possibly upwards of 400 million dollars. I'm not so confident in this strategy. Why would any elite players want to join a floundering organization when they can go to another major market team like the Yankees or Red Sox also willing to break the bank, and most-assuredly be willing to go over the dreaded luxury tax for such talents. The Phillies' future will hinge on the shaky ground of the mind of a free agent. Their chance to add a star will rise or fall with a simple decision.
I'm sure they'll be able to lure some players with all the money they've stockpiled, but stars win in sports, and if they strike out in free agency like their 2017 lineup is currently striking out in May, then the turning point for this organization could be pushed back for another 3-5 years or more. See, that's why the Phillies are in a bad spot. They no longer control their own destiny by being unable to draft and develop talent. And until they figure out a way to do so, their prospects of contending will be pushed back indefinitely. The Phillies would have never won a World Series if they didn't draft and develop Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley. If they don't get back to that level of drafting and developing, they won't any time soon.
I don't know how to fix it. I wish I did. I hate to use this term, but the Phillies need a culture change. Right now they mimic the tendencies of bad organizations. Even when the logic is sound, and they mean well, they still find a way to screw up. Nothing in the organization is going well right now. Usually, to turn it around it takes a major front office shakeup. Would Middleton be willing to pull the plug on MacPhail and/or Klentak? I doubt it. But they need to figure out something, because until then, and only then, the entire fate of the franchise will be riding on something totally out of their hands. Scary stuff.
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Sixers NBA Draft musings and thoughts for May
On May 16th, the Sixers missed out on the grand prize of the 2017 NBA Lottery, by landing the #1 overall pick and being in the position to draft Washington's Markelle Fultz. Fultz would have been the absolute perfect fit for the Sixers. He's a great compliment skill-wise to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, and he would have conceivably given them their 3rd superstar-caliber prospect to round out their own young 'Big 3' and put the finishing touches on The Process. Alas, that did not happen, and the Sixers find themselves sitting at #3 overall, and with a plethora of options. I'll spend the rest of this post breaking down how I feel about where they are, what options they have, and where they should go from here.
To start, I think this draft class is overrated. I've heard numerous respected basketball people and pundits declare this class as the best draft class since LeBron, Wade, Melo, and Bosh in the 2003 NBA Draft. I could not disagree more. I don't even think this draft class is as good as the Wiggins, Parker, Embiid draft class of 2014. I feel this class has a lot of good talent, but not a lot of superstar talent. Markelle Fultz is the only player in this class that I feel relatively strongly about becoming that level of special. Besides him, I see a lot of talented players who have major flaws and questionable upside.
Positionally, this draft fits the Sixers needs very well. It is loaded with guards and wing players in the top 10. Unfortunately, aside from Markelle Fultz(who is likely out of reach) and Malik Monk, most of these players lack the skill the Sixers need most: shooting. Whether it be Lonzo Ball's form; Josh Jackson's hitch in his jumper; Tatum, Isaac, or Smith Jr's shooting percentage; there are questions with all of their shooting abilities. Granted, some more than others, but there are few "sure-things" as shooters in the top of this draft. This puts the Sixers in a precarious position, because they have stressed pushing more toward 'need' in current and future drafts, so ideally they'd like to come out of that 3rd pick with a player who fits their needs both positionally and in terms of skill, but that is unlikely to be the case. Do you target the player who best fills a need? Do you simply take the highest rated player even if he lacks a skill that best fits your team? The Sixers have a lot of things to figure out before June 22nd. The good news for Bryan Colangelo is thanks to the assets Sam Hinkie left behind, he has a lot of options available to him.
With there being no perfect fit at 3, the Sixers could just bite the bullet on Josh Jackson's jumper and hope they can fix the mechanics in his shot, paving the way for him to become the star-caliber scoring wing they so desperately covet. This staff has done wonders to develop the likes of TJ McConnell, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Joel Embiid, Robert Covington, among others. If they can even get Josh Jackson's 3 pointer to league average, he'd be well worth the 3rd overall selection. I think the Sixers are going to put more of an emphasis on workouts this year than they have recently and will be monitoring their shooting drills extra closely this year. I'll predict right now that regardless of his he performs in his other areas, if Josh Jackson shoots terribly in his workout with the Sixers, I don't think they are going to draft him. I'm basing that off of absolutely nothing other than a gut feeling, but with there being no far and away clear #3 pick, I can't see them picking a guy who bombed his shooting drills in his workout considering how badly this team needs shooting.
If I'm the Sixers I think the best option is a trade. So, I'll break down my thoughts on each scenario:
OPTION #1: TRADING UP
The Sixers can't afford to screw this pick up. They have to come out of draft night with a really good player. To me, there is just too much of a risk to stay at 3 and take a player who has glaring flaws. The first thing I would do would be to call Ainge in Boston and see what it would take to get up to #1 and draft Markelle Fultz. The trade scenario batted around this week is the 3rd pick, the 2018 Lakers pick, and Dario Saric for Fultz. I'd consider it. I love Dario Saric, but you can find 6th men in future. Especially if Fultz forms a star trio with Simmons and Embiid, the Sixers will become an attractive destination for those types. Knowing Ainge, he will probably ask for more than that, but that deal is where I'd draw the line in the sand. Fultz is really good, but not worth depleting your assets for.
OPTION #2: TRADING THE PICK FOR AN ESTABLISHED STAR
Next, I would call around the league and try to land a star-level guard or wing talent in a package with the #3 pick. Would the Bulls part with Jimmy Butler? Would the Pacers part with Paul George? If so, would he agree to a contract extension with the Sixers? Highly highly doubtful, but can't hurt to make the call.
OPTION #3: TRADING DOWN(BUT NOT TOO FAR)
Lastly, I'd try to trade down. Would Sacramento offer #5 and #10 for the 3rd pick? Would a team like Orlando or the Knicks offer their picks and a future unprotected 1st rounder to jump to #3? They would likely only bite if there was a player they absolutely loved at #3. If the picks are good enough, I'll take the extra picks in a move-down if there is no clear consensus at 3rd overall. With the Sacramento deal, you still get a player at 5 who is in the same tier as the player you'd get at 3, but you increase your chances of coming out of the draft with a gem by getting another pick in the top 10. In the other scenario, you drop down a few spots, still likely get a player in the same tier, while bolstering flexibility for either future trades or drafts.
Usually by draft night, I'm 100% settled on the player I want. I have a feeling this year, draft night will begin and I'll still not be sold on any one player at 3. I just hope Bryan Colangelo is creative enough to explore every available option, because coming out of that draft with a 3rd star-level player will likely and mercifully put The Process to bed for good so we can start some serious winning.
Ah, who am I kidding The Process will never die.
MY 2017 SIXERS BIG BOARD AS OF 5/24/17
1. Markelle Fultz
2. Josh Jackson
3. Dennis Smith Jr.
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Jonathan Isaac
6. Lonzo Ball
7. Malik Monk
8. De'Aaron Fox
9. Frank Ntilikina
10. Justin Jackson
To start, I think this draft class is overrated. I've heard numerous respected basketball people and pundits declare this class as the best draft class since LeBron, Wade, Melo, and Bosh in the 2003 NBA Draft. I could not disagree more. I don't even think this draft class is as good as the Wiggins, Parker, Embiid draft class of 2014. I feel this class has a lot of good talent, but not a lot of superstar talent. Markelle Fultz is the only player in this class that I feel relatively strongly about becoming that level of special. Besides him, I see a lot of talented players who have major flaws and questionable upside.
Positionally, this draft fits the Sixers needs very well. It is loaded with guards and wing players in the top 10. Unfortunately, aside from Markelle Fultz(who is likely out of reach) and Malik Monk, most of these players lack the skill the Sixers need most: shooting. Whether it be Lonzo Ball's form; Josh Jackson's hitch in his jumper; Tatum, Isaac, or Smith Jr's shooting percentage; there are questions with all of their shooting abilities. Granted, some more than others, but there are few "sure-things" as shooters in the top of this draft. This puts the Sixers in a precarious position, because they have stressed pushing more toward 'need' in current and future drafts, so ideally they'd like to come out of that 3rd pick with a player who fits their needs both positionally and in terms of skill, but that is unlikely to be the case. Do you target the player who best fills a need? Do you simply take the highest rated player even if he lacks a skill that best fits your team? The Sixers have a lot of things to figure out before June 22nd. The good news for Bryan Colangelo is thanks to the assets Sam Hinkie left behind, he has a lot of options available to him.
With there being no perfect fit at 3, the Sixers could just bite the bullet on Josh Jackson's jumper and hope they can fix the mechanics in his shot, paving the way for him to become the star-caliber scoring wing they so desperately covet. This staff has done wonders to develop the likes of TJ McConnell, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Joel Embiid, Robert Covington, among others. If they can even get Josh Jackson's 3 pointer to league average, he'd be well worth the 3rd overall selection. I think the Sixers are going to put more of an emphasis on workouts this year than they have recently and will be monitoring their shooting drills extra closely this year. I'll predict right now that regardless of his he performs in his other areas, if Josh Jackson shoots terribly in his workout with the Sixers, I don't think they are going to draft him. I'm basing that off of absolutely nothing other than a gut feeling, but with there being no far and away clear #3 pick, I can't see them picking a guy who bombed his shooting drills in his workout considering how badly this team needs shooting.
If I'm the Sixers I think the best option is a trade. So, I'll break down my thoughts on each scenario:
OPTION #1: TRADING UP
The Sixers can't afford to screw this pick up. They have to come out of draft night with a really good player. To me, there is just too much of a risk to stay at 3 and take a player who has glaring flaws. The first thing I would do would be to call Ainge in Boston and see what it would take to get up to #1 and draft Markelle Fultz. The trade scenario batted around this week is the 3rd pick, the 2018 Lakers pick, and Dario Saric for Fultz. I'd consider it. I love Dario Saric, but you can find 6th men in future. Especially if Fultz forms a star trio with Simmons and Embiid, the Sixers will become an attractive destination for those types. Knowing Ainge, he will probably ask for more than that, but that deal is where I'd draw the line in the sand. Fultz is really good, but not worth depleting your assets for.
OPTION #2: TRADING THE PICK FOR AN ESTABLISHED STAR
Next, I would call around the league and try to land a star-level guard or wing talent in a package with the #3 pick. Would the Bulls part with Jimmy Butler? Would the Pacers part with Paul George? If so, would he agree to a contract extension with the Sixers? Highly highly doubtful, but can't hurt to make the call.
OPTION #3: TRADING DOWN(BUT NOT TOO FAR)
Lastly, I'd try to trade down. Would Sacramento offer #5 and #10 for the 3rd pick? Would a team like Orlando or the Knicks offer their picks and a future unprotected 1st rounder to jump to #3? They would likely only bite if there was a player they absolutely loved at #3. If the picks are good enough, I'll take the extra picks in a move-down if there is no clear consensus at 3rd overall. With the Sacramento deal, you still get a player at 5 who is in the same tier as the player you'd get at 3, but you increase your chances of coming out of the draft with a gem by getting another pick in the top 10. In the other scenario, you drop down a few spots, still likely get a player in the same tier, while bolstering flexibility for either future trades or drafts.
Usually by draft night, I'm 100% settled on the player I want. I have a feeling this year, draft night will begin and I'll still not be sold on any one player at 3. I just hope Bryan Colangelo is creative enough to explore every available option, because coming out of that draft with a 3rd star-level player will likely and mercifully put The Process to bed for good so we can start some serious winning.
Ah, who am I kidding The Process will never die.
MY 2017 SIXERS BIG BOARD AS OF 5/24/17
1. Markelle Fultz
2. Josh Jackson
3. Dennis Smith Jr.
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Jonathan Isaac
6. Lonzo Ball
7. Malik Monk
8. De'Aaron Fox
9. Frank Ntilikina
10. Justin Jackson
Monday, May 15, 2017
Philadelphia sports has it going on, if only the fans would open their eyes to see it
If there's one thing I think all human being on the planet earth can agree with, it's that incessant whining is never not annoying. Even if someone has something legitimate to bitch about, we still don't like to hear them go on and on about it every single day for hours on end. In comes Philly sports fans circa 2017:
"When will we ever win again in Philadelphia???"
"Philly sports hasn't won a playoff round since 2012!"
"Philly sports are so bad right now!"
You hear these sentiments peppered about the Philadelphia sports airwaves and streets almost everyday. There is a film of negativity and cynicism that has coated the populace, and is suffocating our fans to the point where some reek of complete and utter desperation. It's almost like the fans have dug themselves into a hole of misery so deep, that they aren't even considering the option of trying to find a way out. Like a death row inmate in solitary confinement who has been resigned to his fate.
It's a shame our city has been overtaken by this, because there is a lot of greatness in Philadelphia right now, and if people would just muster up the strength to search for it, you'd find it's staring you right in the face. I can't remember the last time I was this excited to be a Philadelphia sports fan. Excitement is oozing out of my pores for what is to come. I have news for you, 90% of sports cities in this country would kill to have what we have right now. Philadelphia has 3 players in this city who have the kind of talent and ability to where at some point in their careers, they could be considered the best players in their entire sports. They are Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Carson Wentz.
Joel Embiid had a historic rookie campaign(albeit for only 31 games) but even so, he put up numbers that most rookies could only dream of. Historic numbers rivaling some of the NBA's all-time greats, while on a minutes restriction. It would not be ridiculous to argue that he is one of the 3 most talented big men who has ever graced the NBA. Ben Simmons is a unique talent. He handles the basketball like a shooting guard, he passes like a point guard, and he has the body of a power forward. Oh, and has the athleticism and leaping ability to compare to some of the league's best. Carson Wentz, based on certain statistical categories had one of the best rookie QB seasons in NFL history. He was surrounded by minimal talent and was impressive all the way through, especially for a guy coming out of D1AA. If not for all eyes on Dak Prescott in Dallas, who was in a much more favorable situation, more eyes would have been all over Carson Wentz's phemonal rookie season. You can make a case with all things considered, it was the best in Eagles franchise history. And to throw one more name into the mix, let's not forget Ivan Provorov, who quickly adapted to the NHL as one of the game's most promising defensemen, and has potential to be one of the very best in the league for a long time to come. The fact is, not many cities in this country have the type of elite talent waiting in the wings that our city has.
With all 4 franchises on the right track, we are set up for greatness with all of our teams for years to come. On top of it, they've been fun and competitive each night for well over a year now. The time for misery is over.
"B...b...but Embiid gets hurt!"
"B...b...but Ben Simmons' jump shot!"
"B...b...but Carson Wentz sails some passes!"
Shhhhhhhhh.
You're doing it again, Philadelphia. Harping on the negative. You can do the same thing with any rookie. I could have criticized Ryan Howard's weight, or mediocre defense at first base. I could have harped on Cole Hamels coming into the league without a monster secondary pitch after his changeup. I could have brought up Allen Iverson's porous defense over and over again. Philadelphia didn't do any of that. This city used to focus on the positives, not the negatives. I don't know what has made us into this. This city has had tough stretches before. The 70's, the early 90's. We feel defeated, and that is a shame, because you are going to miss some great stuff going on in this city, stuff that is already going on as I type this.
Philadelphia boasts to be "all about championships." Remember all the times people spoke about how getting to NFC Championship games weren't good enough? "All I want is a Superbowl!" Remember when the Sixers couldn't sell out playoff games of teams led by Andre Iguodala? "We know they aren't winning a championship anyway, so why pay money?" Now, the city's sports teams have finally collectively embraced the desire to build teams that can win titles, and we have turned our backs on them. For shame. Building championship teams takes time. You can't just snap your fingers and skip over the rebuilding process. That isn't how it works. Wouldn't you love to just start a business and skip to the part where you become a billionaire? It doesn't work that way. Building a corporate empire takes time. You build up your company bit by bit. That is how things work in the real world.
So, I have news for you Philadelphia. It's time to shake that "woe is me" attitude, and start embracing the greatness that Philly sports is evolving into. If not, then when we start averaging two parades a year for the next decade, then do all of us grateful fans a favor and stay home. Sit on your couch and whine about how "The Eagles only won the Superbowl by a field goal!" or "The Sixers only won the NBA Finals in 5 games and couldn't pull off the sweep!" Keep your whiny, miserable asses away from the rest of us, and don't bring us down.
"When will we ever win again in Philadelphia???"
"Philly sports hasn't won a playoff round since 2012!"
"Philly sports are so bad right now!"
You hear these sentiments peppered about the Philadelphia sports airwaves and streets almost everyday. There is a film of negativity and cynicism that has coated the populace, and is suffocating our fans to the point where some reek of complete and utter desperation. It's almost like the fans have dug themselves into a hole of misery so deep, that they aren't even considering the option of trying to find a way out. Like a death row inmate in solitary confinement who has been resigned to his fate.
It's a shame our city has been overtaken by this, because there is a lot of greatness in Philadelphia right now, and if people would just muster up the strength to search for it, you'd find it's staring you right in the face. I can't remember the last time I was this excited to be a Philadelphia sports fan. Excitement is oozing out of my pores for what is to come. I have news for you, 90% of sports cities in this country would kill to have what we have right now. Philadelphia has 3 players in this city who have the kind of talent and ability to where at some point in their careers, they could be considered the best players in their entire sports. They are Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Carson Wentz.
Joel Embiid had a historic rookie campaign(albeit for only 31 games) but even so, he put up numbers that most rookies could only dream of. Historic numbers rivaling some of the NBA's all-time greats, while on a minutes restriction. It would not be ridiculous to argue that he is one of the 3 most talented big men who has ever graced the NBA. Ben Simmons is a unique talent. He handles the basketball like a shooting guard, he passes like a point guard, and he has the body of a power forward. Oh, and has the athleticism and leaping ability to compare to some of the league's best. Carson Wentz, based on certain statistical categories had one of the best rookie QB seasons in NFL history. He was surrounded by minimal talent and was impressive all the way through, especially for a guy coming out of D1AA. If not for all eyes on Dak Prescott in Dallas, who was in a much more favorable situation, more eyes would have been all over Carson Wentz's phemonal rookie season. You can make a case with all things considered, it was the best in Eagles franchise history. And to throw one more name into the mix, let's not forget Ivan Provorov, who quickly adapted to the NHL as one of the game's most promising defensemen, and has potential to be one of the very best in the league for a long time to come. The fact is, not many cities in this country have the type of elite talent waiting in the wings that our city has.
With all 4 franchises on the right track, we are set up for greatness with all of our teams for years to come. On top of it, they've been fun and competitive each night for well over a year now. The time for misery is over.
"B...b...but Embiid gets hurt!"
"B...b...but Ben Simmons' jump shot!"
"B...b...but Carson Wentz sails some passes!"
Shhhhhhhhh.
You're doing it again, Philadelphia. Harping on the negative. You can do the same thing with any rookie. I could have criticized Ryan Howard's weight, or mediocre defense at first base. I could have harped on Cole Hamels coming into the league without a monster secondary pitch after his changeup. I could have brought up Allen Iverson's porous defense over and over again. Philadelphia didn't do any of that. This city used to focus on the positives, not the negatives. I don't know what has made us into this. This city has had tough stretches before. The 70's, the early 90's. We feel defeated, and that is a shame, because you are going to miss some great stuff going on in this city, stuff that is already going on as I type this.
Philadelphia boasts to be "all about championships." Remember all the times people spoke about how getting to NFC Championship games weren't good enough? "All I want is a Superbowl!" Remember when the Sixers couldn't sell out playoff games of teams led by Andre Iguodala? "We know they aren't winning a championship anyway, so why pay money?" Now, the city's sports teams have finally collectively embraced the desire to build teams that can win titles, and we have turned our backs on them. For shame. Building championship teams takes time. You can't just snap your fingers and skip over the rebuilding process. That isn't how it works. Wouldn't you love to just start a business and skip to the part where you become a billionaire? It doesn't work that way. Building a corporate empire takes time. You build up your company bit by bit. That is how things work in the real world.
So, I have news for you Philadelphia. It's time to shake that "woe is me" attitude, and start embracing the greatness that Philly sports is evolving into. If not, then when we start averaging two parades a year for the next decade, then do all of us grateful fans a favor and stay home. Sit on your couch and whine about how "The Eagles only won the Superbowl by a field goal!" or "The Sixers only won the NBA Finals in 5 games and couldn't pull off the sweep!" Keep your whiny, miserable asses away from the rest of us, and don't bring us down.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
If the opportunity for the Sixers to cash in their chips arises, it might be the time to do so
Everyone breathe easy... exhale... take that sigh of relief and relax. This nightmare-ish season, which was once so promising and exciting, is finally over. The Sixers, who owned a 10-5 record in the month of January(matching the 2015-16 entire season's win total in that month alone) somehow managed to finagle a whole lot of ping pong balls by the time this season ended. Enough to give them the 4th best odds at the #1 overall pick. Ideally, and if things go according to plan, this should be the final year of the tank. If it isn't, then it's likely Embiid got hurt again, Ben Simmons sucked, or a combination of the two. And in that scenario, the Sixers are pretty much screwed anyway.
This is a unique situation. Dare I even call it possibly a blessing in disguise? The Sixers are nowhere close to the worst team in the NBA this season. Without Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jerryd Bayless, they managed to still be competitive this season for the most part. Even against quality competiton. It wasn't until the final two weeks of the season, after losing Robert Covington to a knee injury, that the team finally buckled under their own weight. In terms of the caliber of their rosters, the Sixers are less deserving of the #1 overall pick than a lot of other teams. But here they stand, sitting comfortably with the 4th best odds, and their chances are even greater with the addition of Sacramento's pick swap. This is a situation the Sixers need to take full advantage of, because they may not find themselves in the top 10 of the NBA draft for quite some time(at least with their own draft picks anyway).
I view this upcoming draft as a "one player draft" meaning I see one potential franchise-changer. His name is Markelle Fultz, and he would be a perfect fit for the Sixers. He is a scoring guard, who doesn't need to be a distributor on offense. He can work off of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. He has the shooting ability to spread the floor, and the athleticism to attack the rim when he needs to. Fultz is the prize of this draft class. With what we all hope is a final tank "send-off season" the Sixers need to find a way to sail away with the prize of this draft class. There is always a price that is too rich, but if the Sixers come away on lottery night with, say, picks 3 and 4, or picks 4 and 5, they should do whatever they can to move up to 1 and grab Fultz. Drafting Jonathan Isaac and Malik Monk would be nice... but neither scream "superstar" to me. This may be the Sixers' last chance to draft a superstar with the assets they have, and they should make it happen should the opportunity present itself.
If the Sixers find themselves unable to land Fultz, I believe they should revisit trading for Paul George. Recently, ESPN's Zach Lowe, and Liberty Ballers reported that the Sixers expressed interest in trading for Paul George at the trade deadline, and Liberty Ballers even reported that they made a formal offer to Indiana. The problem is that Paul George isn't under contract for much longer. He can be a free agent at the end of next season. Trading away significant assets for a one year rental is bad business. However, if the Bryan Colangelo, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Dario Saric can convince George that Philly is the new "place to be" and he agrees to a contract extension, then the Sixers should cash in some of those numerous assets that have accumulated over the last 3 years. Get your superstar wing to pair with your two young budding potential superstars.
The East is very vulnerable. The Cavs suddenly look beatable. LeBron James isn't getting any younger, and with George, the Sixers would have an opportunity to climb the Easter Conference very quickly, and he's still young enough that you would have a long window to compete for a championship. The Sixers have options and that's a great thing. George Costanza once said
"Oh. It's just horse manure. Horse manure's not that bad. I don't even mind the word 'manure.' You know, it's, it's 'newer,' which is good. And a 'ma' in front of it. MA-NURE. When you consider the other choices, 'manure' is actually pretty refreshing."
When you have a negative situation, you behoove yourself to try to get something positive out of it. In a Sixers season that ended with misery, it might have just opened the door a crack for them to get one more superstar... either via the draft or trade. And they should grab onto that opportunity and hang on for dear life, and refuse to let go. It may just be the difference in building a very good team, and building a potential powerhouse.
This is a unique situation. Dare I even call it possibly a blessing in disguise? The Sixers are nowhere close to the worst team in the NBA this season. Without Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Jerryd Bayless, they managed to still be competitive this season for the most part. Even against quality competiton. It wasn't until the final two weeks of the season, after losing Robert Covington to a knee injury, that the team finally buckled under their own weight. In terms of the caliber of their rosters, the Sixers are less deserving of the #1 overall pick than a lot of other teams. But here they stand, sitting comfortably with the 4th best odds, and their chances are even greater with the addition of Sacramento's pick swap. This is a situation the Sixers need to take full advantage of, because they may not find themselves in the top 10 of the NBA draft for quite some time(at least with their own draft picks anyway).
I view this upcoming draft as a "one player draft" meaning I see one potential franchise-changer. His name is Markelle Fultz, and he would be a perfect fit for the Sixers. He is a scoring guard, who doesn't need to be a distributor on offense. He can work off of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. He has the shooting ability to spread the floor, and the athleticism to attack the rim when he needs to. Fultz is the prize of this draft class. With what we all hope is a final tank "send-off season" the Sixers need to find a way to sail away with the prize of this draft class. There is always a price that is too rich, but if the Sixers come away on lottery night with, say, picks 3 and 4, or picks 4 and 5, they should do whatever they can to move up to 1 and grab Fultz. Drafting Jonathan Isaac and Malik Monk would be nice... but neither scream "superstar" to me. This may be the Sixers' last chance to draft a superstar with the assets they have, and they should make it happen should the opportunity present itself.
If the Sixers find themselves unable to land Fultz, I believe they should revisit trading for Paul George. Recently, ESPN's Zach Lowe, and Liberty Ballers reported that the Sixers expressed interest in trading for Paul George at the trade deadline, and Liberty Ballers even reported that they made a formal offer to Indiana. The problem is that Paul George isn't under contract for much longer. He can be a free agent at the end of next season. Trading away significant assets for a one year rental is bad business. However, if the Bryan Colangelo, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Dario Saric can convince George that Philly is the new "place to be" and he agrees to a contract extension, then the Sixers should cash in some of those numerous assets that have accumulated over the last 3 years. Get your superstar wing to pair with your two young budding potential superstars.
The East is very vulnerable. The Cavs suddenly look beatable. LeBron James isn't getting any younger, and with George, the Sixers would have an opportunity to climb the Easter Conference very quickly, and he's still young enough that you would have a long window to compete for a championship. The Sixers have options and that's a great thing. George Costanza once said
"Oh. It's just horse manure. Horse manure's not that bad. I don't even mind the word 'manure.' You know, it's, it's 'newer,' which is good. And a 'ma' in front of it. MA-NURE. When you consider the other choices, 'manure' is actually pretty refreshing."
When you have a negative situation, you behoove yourself to try to get something positive out of it. In a Sixers season that ended with misery, it might have just opened the door a crack for them to get one more superstar... either via the draft or trade. And they should grab onto that opportunity and hang on for dear life, and refuse to let go. It may just be the difference in building a very good team, and building a potential powerhouse.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
The Eagles shouldn't go anywhere near Richard Sherman for what it will cost them
Eagles/Seahawks. 3:45 to go in the 2nd quarter. Eagles trail 16-7. Nelson Aghholor is wide open in the middle of the field and is hit in stride by Carson Wentz.... drop. That infamous play is one of the many strains on the 2016 season by the Eagles WRs and one that stood out as #1 to many Eagles fans. Who was the DB the much-maligned Agholor beat on the play to get so wide open? Richard Sherman. Not only did he beat him, but after the play, Sherman had to go back and pick up his jock strap before the next play. Yes, this is only one play, but it is an example of the regression the Seattle CB showed this past season, and why any Eagles fan should have concerns about acquiring him.
When you sign or trade for players in sports, you want to acquire them for what they will do, not what they did do. Richard Sherman is 29 years old, and is coming off a season where he looked very pedestrian far too often. He will have a case to make the Hall of Fame once he retires, but right now at this very second, he is no longer the best CB in the game. Not even close. Could he return to that level? Absolutely. Would I beat quality draft picks on it? Not a chance in hell. The worst thing you can do in the NFL, especially for a building team, is to forfeit your high draft picks for old(er) players coming off of down years. It's too risky, and it's just bad business. Data has shown over the years that once you hit the age of 30, your prime years are typically behind you. Sure, there are exceptions, and maybe Sherman is one of those cases, but you'd be stupid to risk giving away a young player who you control for a minimum of 5-7 years on it.
The Eagles are trying to build something special. Fans may not want to hear this, but I truly believe the best way to win a championship in sports is much akin to the original Reid and Banner model. Be highly competitive every single year, and hope one of those years you break through and the luck goes your way. "Going for it" in sports works at far less of a rate than most people think, and by breaking bank on shortsighted moves, you shrink your championship window, thus lessening the chances that you win a championship. Sherman would be the epitome of that kind of move. The Eagles need cost-controlled young players to help build a contending product for 5-10 years. Not artificially speed up the process and delude yourself into thinking you're ready to bring a Lombardi to Philly when you aren't.
There is a chance Richard Sherman will never be the same player he was ever again. There's also a chance he is. However, putting it right down the middle, at most, he probably gives you 2 years of elite play, and from then it will be all downhill. You will have sacrificed a vital building block for a 2 year sprint to the finish line, when your starting point is the Milky Way and you need to reach the Andromeda galaxy. Then, in a few years, when you see the player Seattle takes at pick #14 or pick #43 contributing for them for the next 5+ years, and Sherman is an afterthought in Philadelphia, you'll all be thinking "Man, I wish we had this guy on our team." And you could have... if you were just smart and patient.
Just say no to Richard Sherman.
When you sign or trade for players in sports, you want to acquire them for what they will do, not what they did do. Richard Sherman is 29 years old, and is coming off a season where he looked very pedestrian far too often. He will have a case to make the Hall of Fame once he retires, but right now at this very second, he is no longer the best CB in the game. Not even close. Could he return to that level? Absolutely. Would I beat quality draft picks on it? Not a chance in hell. The worst thing you can do in the NFL, especially for a building team, is to forfeit your high draft picks for old(er) players coming off of down years. It's too risky, and it's just bad business. Data has shown over the years that once you hit the age of 30, your prime years are typically behind you. Sure, there are exceptions, and maybe Sherman is one of those cases, but you'd be stupid to risk giving away a young player who you control for a minimum of 5-7 years on it.
The Eagles are trying to build something special. Fans may not want to hear this, but I truly believe the best way to win a championship in sports is much akin to the original Reid and Banner model. Be highly competitive every single year, and hope one of those years you break through and the luck goes your way. "Going for it" in sports works at far less of a rate than most people think, and by breaking bank on shortsighted moves, you shrink your championship window, thus lessening the chances that you win a championship. Sherman would be the epitome of that kind of move. The Eagles need cost-controlled young players to help build a contending product for 5-10 years. Not artificially speed up the process and delude yourself into thinking you're ready to bring a Lombardi to Philly when you aren't.
There is a chance Richard Sherman will never be the same player he was ever again. There's also a chance he is. However, putting it right down the middle, at most, he probably gives you 2 years of elite play, and from then it will be all downhill. You will have sacrificed a vital building block for a 2 year sprint to the finish line, when your starting point is the Milky Way and you need to reach the Andromeda galaxy. Then, in a few years, when you see the player Seattle takes at pick #14 or pick #43 contributing for them for the next 5+ years, and Sherman is an afterthought in Philadelphia, you'll all be thinking "Man, I wish we had this guy on our team." And you could have... if you were just smart and patient.
Just say no to Richard Sherman.
Monday, April 10, 2017
Why John Ross may project better to the NFL than any WR in his class
This isn't a golden rule, but most of the time, if you want to stand out in the NFL as an elite level WR, you need to fit one of two categories:
1. A big, physical freak of nature who can impose his will on DBs, but still has enough speed to get separation whenever he needs.
2. A blazing fast target with good hands, who is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball.
Of the 3 "big names" talked about for the Eagles at pick 14, the only one who fits either category is John Ross. Mike Williams is big and physical, but lacks the speed to get consistent separation, causing concern that he will only be a possession WR in the NFL. Corey Davis is no shrimp. He's a big WR who is "sneaky fast" and he gets YAC, but he isn't what I'd call a "freak" physically or in the speed category.
John Ross is the only one who fits the bill. He showed incredible vertical speed and big play ability in college, and was a home run threat every time he touched the ball. He backed this up at the Combine by running a record 4.22 40 time. He is the type of WR who will scare defensive coordinators, take safeties away from the middle of the field, and open up space for your running game and QB.
Having blazing speed doesn't guarantee you to be successful in the NFL. You saw this with Darrius Heyward-Bey, who has been a bust out of Maryland. Will Fuller(Philadelphia's own), another speedster, out of Notre Dame was drafted in the 1st round by the Houston Texans, and struggled as a rookie. That's not saying he can't turn into something special, but his drop issues carried over to the NFL, as he struggled with securing routine passes, much like he did in college. This is why I put the specific criteria of having "good hands" into my two categories. Typically, two things prevent athletes with that kind of speed from making it in the NFL: their hands or their brains. Minimizing drops and route running need to be done well to make that speed worthwhile, and John Ross excels at both.
Ross has been praised by draft pundits for his solid hands and route running, and I see no reason why that shouldn't carry over to the NFL. Combine that with speed, and he has all the makings of a very successful WR in the NFL, who has a floor of a long-term vertical threat, and a ceiling of a perennial Pro Bowler. Players like Odell Beckham Jr., Brandin Cooks, Mike Wallace, DeSean Jackson are all WRs with similar traits in college, who came right into the NFL and had immediate success. Not to take anything away from Corey Davis or Mike Williams. I'm quite high on both, and I currently have Corey Davis #1 in my WR rankings, mainly due to John Ross' injury questions. However, looking at how skills typically translate to he NFL, and looking at the history of WRs with athletic abilities similar to Ross, I'd say he is a good bet to be a dynamic playmaker at the NFL level, provided he can stay healthy.
At pick 14, he is worth strong consideration if I'm Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas. He could provide big plays at the Linc for many years, and give Carson Wentz a young playmaker to go with, who will be perfect playing opposite of Alshon Jeffery.
1. A big, physical freak of nature who can impose his will on DBs, but still has enough speed to get separation whenever he needs.
2. A blazing fast target with good hands, who is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball.
Of the 3 "big names" talked about for the Eagles at pick 14, the only one who fits either category is John Ross. Mike Williams is big and physical, but lacks the speed to get consistent separation, causing concern that he will only be a possession WR in the NFL. Corey Davis is no shrimp. He's a big WR who is "sneaky fast" and he gets YAC, but he isn't what I'd call a "freak" physically or in the speed category.
John Ross is the only one who fits the bill. He showed incredible vertical speed and big play ability in college, and was a home run threat every time he touched the ball. He backed this up at the Combine by running a record 4.22 40 time. He is the type of WR who will scare defensive coordinators, take safeties away from the middle of the field, and open up space for your running game and QB.
Having blazing speed doesn't guarantee you to be successful in the NFL. You saw this with Darrius Heyward-Bey, who has been a bust out of Maryland. Will Fuller(Philadelphia's own), another speedster, out of Notre Dame was drafted in the 1st round by the Houston Texans, and struggled as a rookie. That's not saying he can't turn into something special, but his drop issues carried over to the NFL, as he struggled with securing routine passes, much like he did in college. This is why I put the specific criteria of having "good hands" into my two categories. Typically, two things prevent athletes with that kind of speed from making it in the NFL: their hands or their brains. Minimizing drops and route running need to be done well to make that speed worthwhile, and John Ross excels at both.
Ross has been praised by draft pundits for his solid hands and route running, and I see no reason why that shouldn't carry over to the NFL. Combine that with speed, and he has all the makings of a very successful WR in the NFL, who has a floor of a long-term vertical threat, and a ceiling of a perennial Pro Bowler. Players like Odell Beckham Jr., Brandin Cooks, Mike Wallace, DeSean Jackson are all WRs with similar traits in college, who came right into the NFL and had immediate success. Not to take anything away from Corey Davis or Mike Williams. I'm quite high on both, and I currently have Corey Davis #1 in my WR rankings, mainly due to John Ross' injury questions. However, looking at how skills typically translate to he NFL, and looking at the history of WRs with athletic abilities similar to Ross, I'd say he is a good bet to be a dynamic playmaker at the NFL level, provided he can stay healthy.
At pick 14, he is worth strong consideration if I'm Howie Roseman and Joe Douglas. He could provide big plays at the Linc for many years, and give Carson Wentz a young playmaker to go with, who will be perfect playing opposite of Alshon Jeffery.
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