The Collective Bargaining Agreement: The Owners

Alright, as I have alluded to recently, the big issue surrounding the NBA that most aren't discussing (but should be) is the upcoming expiration of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).  If you don't know what it is, then Wiki provides a quick overview that anyone can understand.  The current CBA expires on June 30th.  In 2004, the NBA successfully composed a new CBA and there were no labor issues.  If you recall back to the 98-99 season, the NBA locked out till the last possible day when players and owners came to agreement and saved the, albeit shortened, season.

So why is this a big deal and why should we take a close look at it?  Well if you like watching basketball then you should care because there could be no NBA next year.  And if you don't like the NBA and prefer the NCAA, then you should care because it could mean a different shape of the college scene due to players staying longer or jumping ship to Europe.

What are the issues at contention?  Well, as is typically the case, money is the problem.  Two years ago, ten teams were forced to take a loan from the NBA in order to help with their financial situations.  Last year (I will preface this by saying I can't find the stats but I have a memory of this being the statistic) about two-thirds of the NBA teams last year broke even or lost money.  That means that only ten teams made any kind of money.  David Stern postulated in 2010 that in the next five to seven years, the NBA would lose over one billion dollars.  Just this year, the NBA was forced to purchase the New Orleans Hornets as George Shinn was forced to abandon ship as he drowned in the red numbers surrounding his organization.

The owners are pisssed.  They are the ones making the investments: the players, the stadiums, the tickets, everything.  They expect to see a return on their investments, and most just don't see that.  And a major misconception is that most of these NBA owners can afford to take the losses because they are just that wealthy.  The fact is, though, not all of these guys are billionaires who can afford to lose 50 million dollars in a year because their team can't turn a profit.

One of the biggest issues that the owners have with the current CBA is that at the end of the year, league revenue (not to be confused with individual team earnings) is split amongst the owners and players.  In the past 20 years, the split has turned from the owners receiving the majority to the players getting a 57-43 share.  As the principal investors in the league, the owners feel entitled to a bigger share of the pie.  And they may have a good point.

NBA owners also want to establish a hard salary cap.  This means that no teams would be allowed to exceed the salary cap (which is expected to drop below the 55 million it currently sits at).  What would this mean for the owners?  Shorter, less expensive contracts to players, meaning they have to spend less money.  They also hope to abolish guaranteed contracts because one player with a bad deal can cripple a team's financial situation.  One needs to look no further than Brandon Roy and his max deal which cannot be voided as an example of a player's guaranteed contract causing fiscal issues.

So what does this all boil down to?  Money.  That's it.  The owners want more of it back in these tough economic times, believing that the players receive far too much.  But what leverage do the owners have against the players?  Well for one thing, any guy who can afford to spend 400 million dollars on an NBA team probably has a few other investments up his sleeve.  In the event of a lockout, especially in the case of teams that are losing money, those owners will continue making money off other business investments which means they can continue living their normal lives.  Most NBA players do not have this luxury, especially given their tendency to spend extravagantly and not manage their money appropriately.

I'll save my predictions on what will happen for the third installment of these posts, but I'll preface it by saying the owners are in a good place right now.  Coming up later tonight or tomorrow, the players' perspective and what they hope to accomplish in the CBA negotiations.

Why The New-Look Blazers Are Like Myself

So here is the thing for those of you who don't blog: if you fall out of rhythm or you get busy with some school work, it is tough to get back into the swing of things.  That is why I have only posted three or four times in the past two weeks.  Classes, tests, papers, work, etc.  That shit piles up fast and as much as I hate it (and I know you do too), it causes me to have to put off blogging.  Which full on sucks because I have had about a million things that I wanted to talk about in the past couple of weeks.  Well since I have no tests or papers due this week (how the hell does that happen the week before spring break?), I'll try and crank these posts out like it is my job.

All of this is a lead-in for the point of this post.  Sometimes changes in the schedule happen and you're a little out of whack.  It takes some time to develop a routine that works for you and it can be frustrating most of the time.  That's what happened to me and that is what happened to the Blazers as a result of the trade deadline.

If the game last night proved anything, it is that these Blazers will have a little growing pains for the first few weeks together.  They are essentially in the process of a five player change in the rotation (six if you count Sean Marks) which is 1/3 of an NBA roster.  Pryz and Cunningham, both rotation players, are gone.  In their place comes Gerald Wallace, Brandon Roy and Marcus Camby, the latter two returning from injury.  Needless to say, that is why the Blazers looked dysfunctional last night against the Hawks.

We saw one of the reasons why this trade could backfire in the coming weeks.  With about two and a half minutes left in the first half, Aldridge picked up his third foul.  The problem was, Camby was already sitting on the bench with three fouls as well.  That left Gerald Wallace to play center, significantly out of his natural small forward position.

Now of course Camby did only play 20 minutes, his quota as allocated by Nate, but the Blazers were exposed in their first game together: attack this team in the middle, have their big men pick up a couple of fouls and trouble arises.  Hopefully the Blazers can pick up a big man on the buyout market and avoid this issue in the future, but it is one area that needs to be addressed sooner than later.

But hey, I finally addressed the issue of my schedule, right?

Trade Whirlwind Blowing

Holy crap, the NBA has gone trade happy.  Bigger than in 2008, when Jason Kidd and Shaq were dealt in the same season, 2011 has proved to be crazier than we expected.  Melo, Deron Williams, Baron Davis, and a miss-mash of has-been's and maybe-will-be's.  And there is still time left on the clock with Gerald Wallace reportedly on the block and Tayshaun Prince rumored to be on his way out of Detroit.

Now before I jump into the heart of this post, can we all just take a second and imagine how little effort Baron Davis is going to put in with the Cavs?  Baron "I can barely stay below 250 pounds when rehabbing my surgically repaired knee" Davis, arguably one of the biggest underachievers in the league on the team that more closely resembles a D League roster than an NBA one?  Oh boy, Cleveland, just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, they do.  And those two draft picks you have coming up in this draft (which could end up being the 1st and 2nd), probably won't do you any good because this draft is terrible.  When it rains, it pours.

Now, since I don't have a lot of time to write this, and I promised a close look at the collective bargaining agreement talks, I am going to make this first post about the fans.  Here is what you basically need to know for next year: there won't be a 2011-2012 season.  I don't anticipate the two sides coming to agreement to save the rest of the season as they did in 98-99.  The two stand too far apart from each other in negotiations.

And when the league does come back, expect some big changes.  I suspect that the owners will concede a few points to the players, but they'll get most of what they want.  Seeing as the owners write the checks that the players cash, they possess a great deal of leverage at the table.

My suggestion to you, the fans, would be this: you better pick a hockey team to start rooting passionately for because you won't be watching the NBA next year, nor the NFL (but that is another issue entirely).  I, personally, think I will be adopting either the Atlanta Thrashers or the Buffalo Sabres as my team.  I just haven't decided on which yet.

Coming tomorrow, or possibly tonight if I am feeling ambitious, the Collective Bargaining Agreement from the players' perspective and why they will ultimately lose out.

A throwback to better times: Weezer - The World Has Turned and Left Me Here

Good News Blazer Fans, Good For Denver Too

So here is the second half of my thoughts on the Carmelo trade.  Any time a big-name player like Carmelo Anthony is traded, it is worth noting what effects it will have on the teams involved and those that are indirectly involved, like the Blazers in this case.  But let's first start with the Nuggets.

Carmelo clearly wasn't going to resign with Denver.  Regardless of what he said in the media, he was never interested in returning.  Watching his close buddies, LeBron and Wade team up in Miami (remember, these were the big three of the Olympic team in 2008), made Carmelo jealous.  Rumors began floating around of a possible trifecta in New York of Melo, Amar'e and CP3.  They have two of the three now (with no shot at the third, sorry Knicks fans).  After watching Cleveland leave empty handed, and seeing Toronto receive only a trade exception, Denver did not want to be caught at the end of the year without getting something back for Carmelo.

Let's take a look at the haul: Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov (also known as Blake Griffin's Facial), a 2014 first round pick and conditional future picks.  That is quite a bit for only giving up, essentially, Carmelo and Billups.  They still hold on to Al Harrington's less-than-desirable contract, but they managed to shed Balkman (perpetual bench rider).  On the Nuggets end, this trade looks significantly brighter.  This year will be a bit of a loss now because it will be tough to incorporate all these new pieces in a cohesive manner.  But this does make the Nuggets a young group of athletes, although I can't comment on the cap situation as I have yet to look.

Felton and Lawson should have a UNC duke out (pun intended) for the starting point guard spot.  Afflalo has a pretty tight grip on the shooting guard spot, with the gunner JR Smith behind him.  Wilson Chandler will slide into the small forward position over Al Harrington, I expect, giving the Nuggets A LOT of size.  Danilo and Nene will round out the front line.  That leaves a bench of the point guard loser, JR Smith, Harrington, Martin and Mozgov.

Is that a championship contending team now?  Of course not and it won't be in the future either without a little help.  But it gives the Nuggets a lot of young pieces to work with and buys them some time to develop.  Depending what happens with the CBA, they may be able to package some of those young pieces together and pull a star back to Denver.  Denver comes out looking strong on this trade.  Especially considering they were supposed to be the ones negotiating with their backs against the wall.

So Blazer fans, you are probably asking yourself what this means to us?  Well it means that we will most likely finish ahead of the Nuggets in the playoff race now.  At least I would be shocked if we didn't.  It definitely means that we will finally be able to win in the Pepsi Center, where we haven't won since 2004.  And hopefully with Utah in the awkward transition of a coaching change, they too will slip.  This trade really alters the Northwest Division, giving the Blazers the opportunity to grab the 6th seed.  And while that means a first round series with Dallas, I'd still rather face Dallas than L.A. or San Antonio in the first round.

Coming up tomorrow, trade rumors and the Blazers.  And if I have time, I am going to begin a segment that will probably run three or four posts long on the NBA's upcoming labor situation, what it means to fans, players and owners.  Make sure you check back.

Immediate Carmelo Analysis

Finally, it is over.  No more Carmelo drama and the "will he / won't he" talks.  None of it.  Now we just have to deal with the insufferable New York media touting how the Knicks are back, when in fact, they may not be any better off with this trade.

Adding Carmelo gives them a huge one-two punch of scoring with Amar'e.  And of course, having Chauncy Billups will add stability to the point guard position.  But after that?  The Knicks have basically mortgaged their future.  They managed to hang on to Landry Fields, which is good.  The only problem with that is that I would rather have Chandler or Danilo before I keep Fields.  Felton was the only one that was more expendable than Fields.  The other issue with this trade is that it leaves the bench of the Knicks paper-thin.  They are going to be playing their starters 40 minutes a night, which doesn't sound too bad to most, but it adds up come playoff time.

Going into the future, the trade is incredibly short-sighted on the part of the Knicks.  Assuming there is a lockout, Melo will already have signed his three year extension and eaten up a huge chunk of the cap (whether it stays hard or soft).  That, combined with Amar'e max deal last summer, leaves the Knicks on the outside looking in on a big-name free agent like CP3 or Deron Williams, who they have long coveted.  So let's say that they want to try and trade for one of those two?  What are they going to offer?  They have no long term assets left, players or draft picks.  The Hornets aren't going to take Azuibuke, Fields and Turiaf for Chris Paul no matter how hard the New York media tries to spin it so that they will.

Lastly, does this put the Knicks on the same level as Boston, Miami, Orlando and Chicago?  Not a chance.  What does one thing those other three do better than the majority of the league?  Play defense.  All four rank in the top ten in defensive efficiency (I'm writing this in the morning and not fact-checking so I hope that is right).  The Knicks still don't play defense and they still don't have enough fire-power from start to finish to keep up with these four teams.

Don't let the New York media fool you, folks.  The trade may look and sound good because it brings in the second best pure scorer in the league and makes the Knicks "relevant" again.  But they invested their future in Carmelo and Amar'e and left themselves little room to negotiate with other teams.  I'm beginning to wonder when teams will stop just chasing after star power so much and go the route of the Spurs.  Or even take the route of the Celtics and build a real team around their stars, something that will cripple Miami and New York in the playoffs this year.

Well, I guess if nothing else, the saga is over and Blazer fans have something to cheer about.  Coming up later today, analysis on the trade from Denver's perspective and also what this means for Portland and the playoffs.

A Couple of Laughs to Start Your Weekend

Every student has had one in a class at some point: an athlete who clearly doesn't belong in the classroom amongst his peers.  Perhaps he is outstanding on Saturdays, sacking unsuspecting quarterbacks or crushing running backs in the backfield.  Maybe she is an ace softball pitcher, striking out opponents like Felix Hernandez.  Or maybe they're just an athlete part of a team nobody cares about who still reaped the benefits of college scholarships and weaseled their way into a university a little over their head.  Whatever the situation is, we've all been part of it at some point.

And when you read athletes' assingments like this, what is there to even say?  I know that most of you probably don't click on the links that I post, but I highly suggest reading this short poem written by C.J. Leslie, a power forward at NC State.  And, granted, another student could be pulling a prank, but doesn't that seem the less-likely explanation?

Going back in time a little bit, there is the famous story of Terelle Pryor, quarterback at Ohio State, forgetting to log off his computer in the lab and another student stumbling upon his work.  Pryor was writing a research paper on...research.  Again, pretty short "paper," so I highly suggest taking a look at it.  Some athletes may go on to make millions of dollars and even those that don't, many will make more than I do in life.  But at least I can always take pride in my ability to write complete sentences with proper syntax.

Fear Not Sports Fans: We're Safe From Computers

In case you missed it the past three nights, IBM participated on Jeopardy with their supercomputer, "Watson." If you want to take a more in-depth analysis of the situation, Peter Maag takes a close look at it on his blog right here.  But let me give you a quick recap: we're doomed.  Watson is only the beginning folks; next thing we know, it'll be The Matrix, but this time for real.  If technology continues to advance at the rate it does, Watson and his gang of improved computer warlords will be dictating our every action, keeping us placid with various computer drug programs.

But there is one thing they will never be able to take, no matter how hard they try.  Sports.

Let's see a computer do this.  Or how about this?  And I don't care how technologically advanced they get, they'll never learn to skate like this.

So, Peter, what the hell is your point?  My point is, while the rest of the world must fear for their jobs and futures, once again professional athletes appear safe.  Watson may be incredibly intelligent, and eventually develop even greater cognitive abilities, but it'll be years before he's moving around fluidly.  And even once that happens, think about how long it will take to build a robot with the same athleticism as Dwight Howard or Devin Hester.

My job may be at risk.  My future as a free-thinking being may be at risk.  But at least I will always be able to watch LaMarcus Aldridge bring the Rose Garden to their feet with a rim-rocking putback.  That is one thing that a computer will never be able to take away.

The ball is in your court, Peter Maag.

Ray Hits The Big 3

Alright guys, my good friend Chris Mario had the opportunity to watch Ray Allen break the all-time 3 point record on Thursday night against the Celtics.  In case you don't know, Mario idolizes Allen, so witnessing this was one of the biggest sporting moments of his life.  Here is what he thought of seeing the event.

Greetings, faithful followers of Peter Mertens. I had the privilege on Thursday night of witnessing Walter Ray Allen overtake Reggie Miller’s three point record at a home game against the Los Angeles Lakers. As a Celtics fan, it was awe-inspiring. I have been to many games at the Garden, including a game 7 conference final against the Magic, and I have never seen such a charged atmosphere in Boston.

Every time Ray touched the ball, the Garden exploded in cheers. When he broke the record, it was madness. While jumping and hugging the inebriated Asian man to my left, I realized what this record means in the grand scheme of things.

Our generation has grown up hearing about the great footprints the Celtics of old left in history. I have heard “Havlicek stole the ball!” just about every time I have seen a Celtics montage. Boston takes enormous pride in the Celtic’s legends - Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, the list goes on.

And yet, until 2008, our generation tagged along for the ride. Holding pride in the accomplishments of the old guard. We were like hopeless Notre Dame fans, shouting loud and proud about titles and records that occurred years before we were born. Enter the Celtics of new. Over the past three years I have witnessed Pierce’s comeback (I know he is a huge actor. But it was still awesome as a Boston fan), Rondo’s steal against the Magic, and the blowout in LA. And now, in person, I have seen the three-point record broken in Boston.

And so the new “Big Three” now relieves Bird, Parish, and McHale. Our generation finally has memories of great moments in Celtics history to call our own.

As a big fan of Ray, it was an honor. You are a class act and a true example of hard work paying off. Thank you for bringing greatness back to Boston.

 

Battle For Diva Supremacy

With no due respect to Lady GaGa, the music world has two women on top right now: Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.  Love them or hate them, good luck trying to not tap your toes to their beat-bouncing rhythms.  You hear their songs on the radio, in TV shows, movies, parties, everywhere.  And whether you want to admit it or not, you know the words to their songs and can't help but belt out the words to "Fireworks" or "Love Story" when they come on and you're in a group.

True, this does not mean that you have to like either one, but you can't deny their influence on the music world today.  Don't be surprised when they walk away with arms full after the Grammy's (someone will have to tell me how many each person wins, because I sure as hell won't watch) because they're dominating the music industry.

As evident by my various statuses on Facebook dedicated to the two of them, my loyalty to their music should come as no shock.  But which one reigns supreme?  Let's break this puppy down and see what each lovely lady has to offer.

Looks:  Alright, this is a tough one, I'll be honest.  And obviously I mean picking between the two of them as well as the potential of dealing with looking like a bro-tastic douche.  But it is an integral part of the battle.  Katy is much more my type of girl and she has an incredible smile.  Unfortunately for her, Taylor has mastered the seductive smile and flirty eyes.  Maybe she wears a little too much eye makeup sometimes, but she can rock it without looking like a tramp.  Not to mention, Taylor is the kind of girl you would want to bring home to your family.  Katy Perry, not so much.
Edge: Taylor Swift

Tells The Story of My Life Better:  The one thing that these two do better than any other artist is tell the story of my life.  Neither knows me, but they know me.  I could get to married to either one because they just get me.  But which one searches my soul before each lyric they write?  Katy Perry has made an incredible run lately with "Teenage Dream" and "Fireworks," as well as the past hit "Hot and Cold."  That's a pretty impressive resume.   Then I listen to "Speak Now" and "Fearless" and realize that Taylor was made for me.  I know I can only be happy with her.  Nothing more to say about that.
Edge: Taylor Swift

Best Video:  So the two videos that I am using are strictly my nominations and I am going to go with Taylor Swift - Love Story and Katy Perry - Teenage Dream.  For the record I didn't choose "California Girlz" because that is an absolutely absurd video that isn't like the rest of her productions.  It is an enigma that doesn't deserve to be associated with Katy.  Now, this one should be a no-brainer.  Katy Perry's real-life  depiction of love beats out Taylor Swift's fairy tale.  That is until Katy Perry stands behind the locker watching the guy box by himself in the gym.  Uhhh, what?  Would someone like to explain to me how that fits in with the rest of the video?  Sorry, Katy, you shot yourself in the foot on that one.  Taylor's racking up a huge lead on you right now.
Edge: Taylor Swift

Better Wife Material:  On the surface, this is an easy pick.  As I said above, based on looks, Taylor is the kind of girl you bring home to mom and dad.  But that is only if she doesn't speak.  Needless to say, the cat is out of the bag and most people know that Taylor Swift can be a bit of a bitch in real life.  That and the sometimes man-hating attitude that she expresses in her songs make me wonder if she really is wife material.  She may know the way to my heart with her words, but everyone knows actions speak louder than words.
Edge: Katy Perry

Musical Abilities:  Most people that I have talked to who have seen Taylor Swift in concert left unimpressed.  I don't doubt that she is musically talented; I just question what separates her from the pack.  Katy Perry, on the other hand, has the reputation of having an outstanding voice, whether on her albums or live.  And yes, Taylor Swift plays the guitar as well.  But she plays the guitar.  It isn't like she rips off solos or demonstrates any exceptional talent at it.  If another person were playing the guitar and Taylor was just singing, would it be any different?  Nope.
Edge: Katy Perry

Now, at this count, Taylor has a slim lead of 3-2 and Katy is making a comeback.  And that is what makes this so difficult.  As soon as one starts to take a lead, the other comes storming back.  Ultimately, this can't be settled with a breakdown of characteristics; it is simply preference.  Some are Katy fans.  Some are Taylor fans.  Most, like myself, are both.  So with great reluctance to my fellow West Coaster, I must announce my allegiance to Team Taylor.  I can only hope that Katy takes it alright.

What are your thoughts?  Do you like Katy Perry or Taylor Swift better?  Or do you have a third preference?  Or do you think I should just never write anything again because I forfeited my manhood?  Because that is about where I am right now.

Short and Sweet

Alright, I'm rolling now. I was pretty busy this past week so that's why I hadn't been posting but now I have the juices flowing and am ready to get back on track. I posted twice earlier today, and they were both medium-length posts so I will keep this one short, and add in a little music for you to enjoy while you check out the other two posts. On Friday I had the pleasure of going to the Paradise Rock Club to watch two bands, Wavves and Best Coast, play. I have posted Best Coast songs on my blog before so maybe a few of you loyal readers are familiar with them, but Wavves may be a little more of a mystery. Both were absolutely outstanding live (Wavves opened for Best Coast, but I actually thought they were better) and I highly recommend checking them out.

Also, if you don't feel like reading about sports or care to hear my thoughts, my good friend Peter Maag has a blog where he has been absolutely KILLING lately and I highly suggest that you check him out: http://44maagnum.blogspot.com/.  He writes about things that are highly more intelligent than I so be sure to see his work.

Wavves - King of the Beach

 

Best Coast - When I'm With You

LA Proving His Worth, But He Is Not An All Star

LaMarcus Aldridge has been an absolute beast lately.  As if setting a career high 40 points wasn't enough against the best team in the league, the San Antonio Spurs, he had to best himself once again and set a new career high of 42 against the best defensive efficiency team in the league, the Chicago Bulls.  Aldridge has shouldered more weight since Roy's injury than he had in his entire career before that point.  Aldridge is legitimately playing on an elite level, giving a glimmer of hope to Blazer fans about our future.

But he still isn't an all star.  Unfortunately for Aldridge, the Blazers played 26 other games with Roy before his injury and Aldridge was, well, his usual self.  And although since Roy's departure Aldridge's destruction has stretched across the league, those first 26 games count too.

Let's take a look at the three people that Aldridge deserved consideration over:

Blake Griffin:  This one is the biggest stretch of the three so I will start here.  Griffin averages more points, rebounds, has a higher PER, true shooting percentage and is capable of putting every single human on a poster at any point.  The only argument here is that he plays for a worse team.  This is true, but selecting the guys second in the league with double-doubles on a team with 19 wins is not out of the question.  Did I mention that he's a human highlight reel?  Tough case to argue for Aldridge here.

Kevin Love: Okay, so Kevin Love was the commissioner's choice to replace Yao Ming.  Kevin Love leads the league in double-doubles and has posted 38 consecutively.  He also was the first player in almost 40 years to post a 30 point and 30 rebound game, since Moses Malone.  Yes, you read that correctly.  No, he's not capable of Earth-shattering dunks and highlights like Griffin, but he's an incredibly adept player who makes few mistakes.  And, honestly, the All Star Game is about the fans, and don't you think that Love launching full-court outlet passes to Durant, Westbrook and Griffin would be fun to watch?  Me too.

Tim Duncan:  The case of Tim Duncan is weak.  It is non-existent.  As a player, Aldridge should be in the game before Duncan.  But, unfortunately, the NBA developed a habit of selecting players to All Star games as a career reward, and considering Duncan is arguably the greatest power forward ever, he fits into this category.  I am not saying I like it, because I frankly think it is foolish.  But I understand that that is just how the NBA and the coaches operate when it comes to selecting bench players.  It also doesn't hurt Duncan that the Spurs have the best record in the league currently.

Many analysts and fans claim that the Aldridge snub is terrible.  Some have ventured as far to say it is one of the worst snubs of all-time.  I can't say that I agree with this assessment though.  Aldridge is playing outstandingly, but the first two make strong claims for all star bids, and Duncan basically earned a free pass to the game (whether you agree with it or not).  I'm not too worried though; I suspect Blazer fans will see Aldridge in the game next year and many more to come.

Give Me Back The Superbowl

Yes, I watched the Superbowl on Sunday.  No, I was not happy about it and no, I didn't enjoy it.  While the game ended in exciting fashion, it never truly grabbed my attention at any point.  The game was marred with mistakes and generally unexciting football.  Watching Superbowl XLV was no more scintillating than week one of action.

And that wasn't even its biggest problem.  The problem with the Superbowl is that it has outgrown the fame that surrounds it.  Originally, the Superbowl started as a chance for the league to make a few extra dollars by extending the season and crowning a champion.  But the title of Superbowl champions, the de facto world champions, morphed into something significantly more important than the additional revenue that the game produced.  The more significant the games became, the more that the media wanted to suck from the breast of the game.

This is precisely why the Superbowl has lost its mystique in my mind.  The Superbowl is no longer about determining the best football team in the world; it is about the funniest commercials, the singer of the Star-Spangled Banner, the halftime performance and the best snack dishes that viewers can create.  Entire shows and websites are dedicated to commercials.  Recipes appear in the sports section for delicious snacks.  People wait with more angst to watch the halftime show than they do the final two minutes of the game.

The Superbowl has become a social requirement, a ritual that all "true" Americans must participate in for acceptance.  In my 100 person class this morning, fewer than ten people raised their hands to answer that they did not watch the game.  Probably 80% of people I know said they watch the game "just to see the commercials."  There was a time when the game was watched for quality, suspenseful football; now the game has mutated into simply a public spectacle.

The attention that the game receives has now pushed true football fans out of the equation.  Do game attendees even care about the Packers or the Steelers?  Could the majority of the people in that stadium name more than five players from each team?  I'm going out on a limb and saying no, judging from the raucous applause following the abysmal performance of the Black Eyed Peas.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with people liking the Black Eyed Peas.  No qualms here with people who enjoy good commercials.  When real fans can't go to the game because of ticket prices and because of the man in the Visa commercial who has been to every game (proving he clearly goes for the spectacle as I am sure that his team has not played in every single Superbowl), the spectacle must change.  The hierarchy of importance for the day has changed.  Where once football was king, the media and attention has slain him.

The game simply no longer holds the same reverence that it once did.  And it is a shame that the biggest championship of the four major sports has turned into an event, as opposed to a game.

Maybe There Is Some Hope For Oden

Aldridge has transformed himself from a soft, 18-foot jump shot machine into a full-on mega shark who smells blood in the water...or plane.  I'll be honest: I never thought the day would come.  For those of you who watched Blazer games with me last year in person or online, you know that I was ruthless with Aldridge.  I couldn't stand one more jumper, one more weak rebound, another season of 1.1 points per shot, poor post defense, etc.  Aldridge, as far as I was concerned, could have been traded for a bag of new balls, and I would've been ecstatic.

Flash forward to this year and Aldridge is making me look like a bigger fool than when I picked the Rockets to make the seven seed in the West.  Since BRoy went down indefinitely, Aldridge has stepped up and carried the Blazers.  It may have taken him 4 1/2 seasons to finally reach the level that Blazer fans claim he is capable of, but he finally made it.

For Aldridge, I always thought it was a lack of desire.  There is no doubt that he has the tools to succeed.  A silky smooth shot, strong, length, runs the floor as well as any power forward in the league.  His lack of desire held him back.  Aldridge seemed disinterested when the ball was not run through him, hoisting up long jumpers as if to punish the team for not passing him the ball.  He never asserted his strength or length in the low post.  A three rebound game became common place for a player just a hair under seven feet.

But it has all clicked together for Aldridge.  He's tearing the league up right now, posting a career high 40 points last night against the best team in the league, the Spurs.  Clearly his mentality changed somewhere along the line.  He underwent a miraculous transformation and has been scoring in the paint in droves.  The once apathetic, weak-minded Aldridge is now playing at an all-star level (whether or not he makes the game is another topic for debate).

Now, all of this got me thinking about Greg Oden, although I don't know why.  I realize that he has played in exactly one full season of the four seasons he has been in the league, suffering season-ending injuries three times.  Whether or not he comes back healthy is one nagging question for the Blazers as he becomes a restricted free agent this season.  But aside from the injury issues, the biggest problem for Oden was his mentality on the court.  He has no killer instinct, no mean streak.  Sure, he made us laugh, and he talked about wanting to win 15 championships, but even through all the injuries and the time on the court, at no point did people fear Greg.

When Shaq was young and starting fresh in the league, he made it his mission to seek and destroy all the centers in the league.  He wanted to make a name for himself immediately.  As for Greg, he was lucky if he didn't draw two fouls in the first quarter, mope through quarters two and three and then not play the fourth.  His body language indicated basketball was a chore, not an enjoyment.

Although it seems highly unlikely that at this point Greg will ever effectively establish himself in this league due to his health, stranger things have happened.  And if Aldridge somehow found a way to transform himself into a legitimate all-star, Greg may have hope yet.