Jack’s Blog

After an 82 games (not including those always exciting preseason tilts), the NBA moves into the “games that really count” portion of the schedule.  The first round used to be best-of-five but they were changed to best-of-seven for two (really one) reason(s).  The first was that best-of-seven add more games (even though it may only be one game per match up) and more games mean more money.  The other (as in redundant) reason is that, on occasion, the lower seed would win - which usually translated into fewer games - meaning less money.  And, as we’ve all come to know, if there’s one thing owners desperately care about it’s the health and well-being of the players money.

Way back when I was a youngster (as in 50 or so years ago), we knew what season it was by what professional sport was playing its games.  Baseball’s guys were called “the men of summer.”  Football was played when the leaves were turning colors, i.e. fall.  Basketball was indoors because it was in the winter.  Spring was for baseball’s spring training unless you lived in the south (or Texas or Oklahoma), in which case it was reserved for college’s spring football.

All the best bowl games were New Year’s Day and a week or so later the championship game in pro football, which became known as the Super Bowl, was played.  Now, the Super Bowl is in February (which only has 28 days so it could be in jeopardy of losing its showpiece television program).  The World Series has ended in November which means the new baseball fan will wonder if Reggie Jackson is known as Mr. October because he couldn’t deliver in the biggest games.  And while it used to be that basketball’s end meant baseball was about to begin, the NBA Finals may have to be scheduled around the major league all-star game.

Since it’s finally here, let the youngsters make believe they’re hitting the game-winner while we reflect on having done the same in our youth.  Beyond the memories, let’s just sit back and watch the world’s greatest athletes perform acts that would be difficult for viewers a foot shorter or a light year slower.  Basketball has become a combination of ballet and MMA in which there needs to be a strong emphasis of teamwork.  I’m not sure Dr. Naismith would be proud or utterly confused.

While NBA players are usually the most confident bunch in the world (next to boxers), this year (at least so far) there haven’t been too many outlandish quotes.  I saw one attributed to the Grizzlies’ Tony Allen which, undoubtedly, will be repeated thousands of times by countless others:

“We just want to take it one game at a time.”

Full disclosure: My mother’s side of our family was from Brooklyn and they first brought me to Ebbetts Field as early as 1952.  I was four years old, optimal age for brainwashing a kid.  I had to be a Dodgers fan.  Up until I was in my teens I was a pretty big one too, meaning not only did I love my Dodgers but the enemies were the crosstown teams, the one that wore pinstripes and the other that wore orange and black. Our family has lived in California since 1991, in Fresno since ‘95.  Although I could barely be considered a Dodgers fan now, I have to admit . . . I still don’t like either the Yankees nor the Giants.

There’s only one reason I’m posting this piece regarding the Giants.  Because they deserve it.  Most impressive was during the post game interviews after their four game sweep over the Detroit Tigers, each one of the San Francisco Giants displayed class, an attitude of confidence without being obnoxious - in light of the fact they just won it all.  They played the same way.  Each was asked questions that could have resulted in grunted replies or babbling instead of speaking or a lot of “ya know’s,” but they were all so humble and appreciative of their teammates.

Sure, the locker room was being spray painted with champagne.  After all, it was the World Series and some traditions die hard.  Or maybe it’s baseball.  Think of how many times baseball players, independent of what they do in the game (other than those who do something to end the game), go into self-promoting, celebratory dances or other crazy actions.  You’d be hard pressed to come up with a small number.  Compare that with the other team sports like football, basketball, hockey and soccer - sports in which the act of scoring seems to be a greater reward for the individual than it is for the team.

Listening to the Giants speak about how the other guys on the team needed to be recognized for their contributions is refreshing for a guy, admittedly, from the old school.  It is ironic because baseball is more of an individual sport than those mentioned above.  Other than, say, sacrificing or hitting behind a runner to move him a base, or backing up batted or thrown balls, pretty much the only way a baseball player can help his team is to do well himself, e.g. positive things like get a hit, steal a base, catch batted balls or stay away from negative things like making outs at bat, committing errors, getting thrown out stealing or poor baserunning.

The Giants, now the champs, could have done a little self-promoting.  None did, including Pablo Sandoval who might have been given a pass if he had (a little).  Instead, one of them, I can’t recall which, when he was asked why he thought they were able to complete the final journey, simply said:

“We all bought in.”

The San Francisco Giants went up two games to none yesterday in the World Series, shutting out the Detroit Tigers, 2-0.  When Giants’ reliever Sergio Romo, who got the save, was interviewed immediately following the game, his comment was, “I could feel everyone was with us.”  He was referring to the crowd as well as the team.  Romo did acknowledge the group in the Tigers dugout who, understandably weren’t part of the Giants’ support group.  Nearly everybody believes that to be successful, it’s infinitely easier to win when everybody pulls together.

I was watching the beginning of the game at the gym, peddling away on a recumbent bike with one of three televisions above me.  The World Series was on the TV above me.  To the left was the middle of the TVs and that station was tuned into a political station, which naturally, had people talking about the presidential race.

Behind me, on a couple treadmills, were two guys, probably in their 60s, the bigger one reacting heatedly to one of the talking points on the show.  At first I just heard him (F-bombs tend to get your attention), then saw the two of them in the giant mirror that runs the length of the wall.  The bigger man was attempting to persuade his buddy about something, I’m not sure exactly what, but it was an anti-Obama item.  Everything he talked about was what the current administration had done and how they screwed it up and then lied about it.  His friend questioned him but the bigger guy shouted him down.

On the flip side, other people I know have told me they couldn’t vote for Romney for numerous reasons.  He doesn’t look or act presidential (too stiff in social situations; what he does say sounds canned).  Because of that and his lack of foreign policy experience (even though his opponent was in the same position four years ago), they say they won’t vote for him.

An outstanding social experiment would be to have ballots that had five selections: 1) Obama, 2) Romney, 3) someone else, 4) against Obama, 5) against Romney. Right now, the pundits are saying it’s a 47-47 race and each candidate’s “people” agree with that assessment.  If the experiment were implemented, my guess would be that, discounting answer #3, the other voting percentages would not be 25% a piece.  Rather, I think 4) and 5) would dominate.

Sadly, we’ve become the Divided States of America, even though were always taught:

“United we stand, divided we fall.”

When a nearly untouchable pitcher, with a ton of rest (and a record of pitching great after a lot of rest) is pitching for the favorites in Game 1 of the World Series, the outcome usually looks bleak for his opponent.

Last night Justin Verlander was that pitcher and it seemed like he was wearing a cape to the fans at AT&T Park when he took the mound against the Giants.  The mood, at least the way it came through on TV, was less than gloomy.  Sure, there were the towels waving but it came through as, I don’t know, loosening up for Game 2.  There just wasn’t much more than a sliver of hope they could beat Verlaner.

Then Pablo Sandoval, the Panda Bear - or as Tim McCarver might have accidentally coined his new moniker, Pandoval - stepped into the batter’s box.  After starting 0-2, with two outs, things weren’t getting any rosier for the SF faithful, especially when everybody felt like Verlander was going to make Pandoval (see how catchy it is?) fish for some nasty pitch out of the strike zone.

Sandoval (let’s keep it real) is a notoriously great low ball hitter (so I’ve read - I don’t pretend to be one of those writer’s who Google gobs of information and then pound out an article like they have the knowledge of a major league scout).  Although the target was set up low and away, Verlander threw some, as it’s referred to, high stinkin’ cheddar - at 95 mph - out of the strike zone.  Sandoval swung at it anyway and it became game time! in San Francisco.

The ball went straight away - out - and the volume went up.  The Giants had a pulse after all.  As the game continued, it seemed as though the rule was only one team pulse per game.  The Tigers were like kids who woke up Xmas morning and there was nothing under the tree but floor.  If it looked like Detroit was listless after that homer, they were calling in room service orders at their hotel after Panda took Verlander out again.  Just to show it wasn’t personal against Verlander, Sandoval hit another out after Justin left the game.

Now the Giants are up 1-0 and the whole Bay area has a pulse and it’s throbbing.  It wasn’t like the fans from San Fran didn’t believe they were going to win.  It’s just that they didn’t think they were going to win yesterday.

Could it have been Justin Verlander is a fan of Joel Randymar who once said:

“The purpose of life is not to accumulate but to give.  The purpose of life is not to put people down but to lift people up.”

After the 2010 regular season, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy told Barry Zito he was leaving him off the Giants’ World Series roster.  A serious blow to a guy with a mega contract who was scapegoated ever since he put on a Giants’ uniform.

Today he’s going to start Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers and Justin Verlander.  Maybe he wishes it were 2010 all over again.  No, he doesn’t.  There are fans who would readily admit to that and that exact topic is going to be a blog in the (very) near future.

But, back to today - does anyone think that back in ‘10 Zito was waiting for just this day?  My feeling, having been around world class athletes for decades, is he’s been waiting - and preparing - for just this moment.  Granted, I worked only on the college level (and only in men’s basketball) but at many of my stops there were some brilliant performers in other sports, e.g. Reggie White, Lisa Leslie, Stephen Abas (silver medalist wrestler) and Nick Watney to name just a few. And, because human nature intrigues me, I would closely watch them.

Highly talented, extremely competitive athletes are living for just such a day as Zito is getting today.  When he performed poorly after signing a huge contract, Zito’s internal make up was questioned - in print, on the airways and, of course, in bars.  A large percentage of fans, sportswriters and sportscasters (mostly those who never played beyond high school, maybe even ever) live for those days.  Nearly all in that group are solidly behind him now (the majority will tell you they always have been).  More and more, because “haters” are in vogue, there’s a small group who still criticize him but they pretty much criticize everything and everyone other people admire.

Unless he’s completely defied the odds, the Barry Zito (re)climbing of the success ladder continues today because he worked hard, focused and did what everybody who believed in him told him to do:

“Hang in there.”

Derek Jeter is Mr. Yankee.  The organization has even referred to him as the modern day Babe Ruth.  Fans love him, women want to be with him, men want to be like him and, more importantly than all of that, he’s led his team to World Series championships.

What could possibly ruin such a marvelous relationship?  Turns out it’s time for him to sign a new contract because he’s not quite ready to retire.  Who can blame him?  His numbers were the worst of his career but he’s still better than many at his position and he’s a colossal draw.

The Yankees have made him a rich man beyond his wildest dreams and he’s added value to one of the most popular organizations in all of sports.  The Yankees have offered him 3 additional years at $15 million per year.  Jeter’s agent, Casey Close, reportedly wants $23 million a year for 4 or 5 years.  Apparently, the talks have become so contentious that the Yanks told Jeter and Close to test the open market.

Would Derek Jeter really consider finishing his career in a uniform other than the pinstripes?  Most people think not.  They believe that if ever someone was destined to play for one team throughout his career, that person is Derek Jeter.  I can still remember when Jackie Robinson quit rather than put on a uniform other than the Dodgers (especially that of the hated Giants).

It’s hard to believe to think that Jeter feels like he actually needs more than $15 million a year to live on, so could it be pride, the pride of the Yankee?  Conversely, it’s not like the Yankees can’t afford to fork out the kind of money the Jeter camp is demanding.  In my mind, the reason behind Derek Jeter vs. New York Yankees story has to do with the way sports are managed today.

His agent is the one who’s making this situation into the mess it’s become.  Casey Close probably makes 3-4% of Jeter’s contract.  The difference between $15 million and $23 million is, as incredible as it sounds, insignificant to Jeter.  Unless he’s a complete fool - and while there may be professional athletes who are sure fire bets for the Fools Hall of Fame, Derek Jeter is nowhere to be found in that category - he has more than enough money socked away that neither he, nor anyone he deeply cares about, will ever be in any type of financial bind.  And don’t think for a minute that the Yankees are hurting for dough either.

Casey Close has quite a few big money clients but . . . 3% (using the low end) of $45 million is $1.35 million, while 3% of $92 million (only 4 years at $23 mil per) is $2.76 million, or a difference of $1.41 million.  That is a significant number for a guy whose talent is squeezing negotiating teams on behalf of his clients and whose reason for being isn’t that of those he represents, e.g. World Series championships, Gold Gloves or MVP awards but, rather, the accumulation of money.  And power.  But the power comes from the money.  There’s the rumor of Close leaving Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to start up his own conglomerate.  It’s all about ego - which comes from the number of powerful clients - which means the guys who command . . . the most money).

Close is a brilliant guy who knows a strong hand when he’s holding one.  He’s made the statement that Derek Jeter’s value to the New York Yankees cannot be overstated.  Wise move.  To many, Jeter is the all-American boy and the Yankees, even to their fans, are the big bad bully.  Close is also smart enough to make sure Alex Rodriguez’s salary is brought into play.  But if A-Rod retried, or said he’d take less money (both of which are extremely doubtful), does anyone think for a (New York) minute that Close would back off his asking price?

Substituting “agent” for “umpire” in Christy Mathewson’s quote is right on the money as far as sports are viewed today:

“Many baseball fans look upon an agent as a sort of necessary evil to the luxury of baseball, like the odor that follows an automobile.”

Living in Fresno, it doesn’t take long to realize this is Giants’ Country.  And that’s during an average year.  Now that they’re one game away from winning it all, you can actually feel the energy in the entire region.

Not everyone is a San Fran fan but those who are elevate the level of excitement in such a way that it generates a positive feeling throughout the area.  Add to the fact that the Giants won their third game in the World Series on Halloween - as if the San Joaquin Valley needed another reason to wear orange and black - and people are on the verge of jubilation.

I’m from New Jersey and my mother’s side of the family was from Brooklyn.  In 1954 the New York Giants won the World Series and I can truthfully say I don’t remember that event at all - except for the catch Willie Mays made on Vic Wertz.  Even back then the replays were shown over and over.

But a year later, the Dodgers won their first World Series - when I was 7 - and I remember almost everything about it.   I grew up a staunch Dodgers fan and now I think of all the kids around that age who are Giants’ fans and the memories they’ll have (unless they pull a colossal choke).  Even the grownups are acting giddy.  Maybe it’s because, should the Giants manage one more win, they’ll be World Champs.  Their first since . . . 1954.

That is something to cheer about and with the economy in the shape it is, seeing people laugh or smile or even act foolish makes you realize what sports can do.  Sure, the Rangers’ faithful will be disappointed, but in a few days, they’ll be thinking about the wonderful ride their ballclub took them on and they’ll be happy too - although not as delirious as the Giants fans.

Winning feels so good it makes people forget about their troubles - if only for a brief period.  What sports does is brighten people’s attitudes and as Winston Churchill said:

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

How can anyone explain the Boston Celtics beating the Miami Heat (with LeBron James) one night, then losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers (without LBJ) the next?

Or the King, LeBron himself, having eight turnovers on opening night against a very good Celtics team, then following that with a nine TO effort against a bad 76ers club?

Or the New Jersey Nets, who started last year 0-18, open up with a W.  The Knicks had a better record than the Nets, but their road mark was brutal.  So they start the season on the road and walk away with a victory.

But the true sign of the apocalypse came in Game One of the World Series.  The Giants haven’t won a World Series since they moved to San Francisco and the Rangers have never even been to MLB’s version of the Big Dance.  So everyone was stoked - especially because of the starting pitchers, Cliff “Mr. Perfect” Lee and Tim “The Freak” Lincecum.  Would it be a 0-0 contest, decided by an umpire’s (bad) call?

Instead, Lincecum gave up runs in both the first and second innings - for the first time in four months - and Lee was torched for five doubles - and lost in the post season for the first time!  The Texas Rangers also showed nerves by committing four errors (the Giants had two).

Final score: 11-7, San Fran.

If  fans were disappointed, the solution is simple.  Don’t expect so much.  As Jonathan Swift said:

“Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”

The New York Yankees won this year’s World Series and did it with help from everybody in their organization (with the possible exception of George Costanza).  Included in that group are Alex Rodriguez and Joe Girardi, probably the two most popular pinatas in the Big Apple, if not the entire sports nation.

A-Rod finally buried his past postseason woes and Girardi, possibly the most criticized manager ever - who won it all, can now go to bed knowing, whether or not he was leading the highest paid, most talented baseball team in history, that no one else could have done any better than he did. 

Critics, from the broadcasters and color commentators to the journalists (both electronic and print) to the average schmuck on the street (if there’s any way for a schmuck to be average) have to now find another player and manager (or coach, depending on the sport) to berate for doing well (even great) but not winning the Big One.

The first guy I ever heard wear this crown (since my background is in college hoops) was Dean Smith who made numerous trips to the Final Four before finally winning one.  Wilt wore the player’s version for a while until he finally got one (even though there’s never been an athlete who’s caused so many rules changes in his game).  Count John Elway and Brett Favre in that group too.  Throw in Kevin Garnett too - a guy who might just win another one this year.

The title of “Best Coach to Never Have Won The Big One” (until each of them did) is a pretty exclusive group - considering that each of the following is a member.  It’s not bad company to keep: Tony LaRussa (started managing in 1979, hailed as a genius, yet didn’t win a World Championship until ten years later, Jim Leyland (started in 1986, won a title in 1997), Bill Cowher (went from 1992 until 2005 before he won a Super Bowl and retired a year later - it probably took a year for it to sink in that he’d actually won one).  Let’s also not forget Joe Torre, who, believe it or not, was in jeopardy of having the crown named after him for a while. 

On the college basketball level: Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino, Gary Williams, Jim Boeheim, Roy Williams and Bill Self are all members, one succeeding the other once his predecessor took home a National Championship.

The moral of this story comes from a recorded postgame tirade (unbeknownst to him) by Tommy Lasorda after losing a game and having his strategy questioned by sportswriters:

“This (bleepin’) job’s not that (bleepin’) easy!” Â

Reality television is the rage of the national viewing audience - and, until now, I haven’t found one that did much for me.  I’m an old-timer in that sitcoms - the good ones (Seinfeld, Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond), not the “let’s find a semi-star, throw in some bathroom humor and call it comedy” and dramas (CSI, Law & Order, House) fit my style.  Since we don’t get HBO, I’d have to wait for hotel television to watch Entourage. Believe it or not, and many who know me will not, I never saw a complete episode of The Sopranos - a fact that even astounds me.  And, of course, sporting events (lead by reporting of those events, i.e. SportsCenter) were all of interest.  College basketball, college football, the NBA Playoffs, the NFL and more and more rarely, MLB (including the World Series) - in that order - took up parts of my days, especially when I had math tests to grade.

That said, I really haven’t watched that much television, as, other than Seinfeld and SportsCenter, none of the others were on my must-see TV diet.  As I age, watching CNN and Fox News (might as well listen to both side’s propaganda) allow me to stay somewhat current.

When reality television took over the airways, the tube became less and less a part of my life.  Then something startling happened.  When I walked into the family room, younger son Alex had a show on that looked intriguing.  It was called Shaq vs.

Apparently, Shaquille O’Neal, as he nears the end of a Hall-of-Fame career, travels the country and challenges superstars from other sports to a contest - in the superstar’s sport.  To make the “playing field” somewhat level, Shaq is given an advantage.  Since this was the first time either Alex or I had seen this show, we weren’t sure if any others had been aired, but there was mention of Shaq vs. players in baseball (I do remember Albert Pujols was the baseball player and the challenge was to be a home run hitting contest), football, boxing and beach volleyball.

Last night’s challenge was swimming vs. (who else) Michael Phelps.  There were three parts: a race in which Shaq swam 25 yards (or do they use meters in this country now?) while Michael had to swim 50 yards (with Phelps getting a five-second head start), an IM relay - with Michael swimming all the legs and Shaq only swimming the anchor free style - after three of the top U.S. Olympic women swam their specialties in the butterfly, back and breast strokes and the finale - Shaq going down-and-back (50 yards meters units) while Phelps had to swim 75 (of the same unit).

Shaq took the first one, Phelps the next two.  Each was extremely close - just as the network had hoped it would be.  The bet: if Shaq prevailed, Michael Phelps had to look in the camera and say Shaq was the greatest (evidently, that’s enough of an award for The Diesel); if Michael won, Shaq had to wear a pink cap and perform synchronized swimming. Shaq’s being so uninhibited is one thing that makes the show work, e.g. he had absolutely no problem donning the pink cap and getting in the pool with the girls (although we never got to see his expertise in that event).   

While I always thought that Shaq was a little too much a showman as a basketball player (on the court and off), mugging for the camera every chance he got and being a little too much of a self-promoter, there certainly was no denying his dominance.  I recall a conversation I had with Eddie Fogler when he was coaching at South Carolina and he told me how intimidating it was watching him warm up before a game (in front of the visitor’s bench).  Years later, I met Shaq when the movie Blue Chips was filmed on the USC campus where I was working.  Having spent 30 years in D-I basketball, I’m not awed by “tall people,” but this cat is another type of animal altogether.  And finally, there was a dinner date I had with Doc Rivers (how much name-dropping can a guy do in one paragraph, for crying out loud!) in which we discussed who was the most dominant NBA player.  At the time, Doc was the head coach of the Orlando Magic.  My vote was for Shaq, claiming that as long as the basket was 10′ in the air, size was a major factor.  Doc’s choice, even back then, was a young guy named Kobe something or other.  Now I know why they call him “Doc.”

Despite the fact I always felt Shaq could have done more had he been more focused on his job than himself, that’s the exact characteristic that makes this show so successful.  It’s the hype, the trash talking (which Phelps never would participate in, irking Shaq - to the point that he commented how it was impossible to get “into his head”), the “props” he gives, and sincere admiration he has for, his competitor added to all the ancillary parts of the hour-long show that make it worthwhile viewing.  There was the trip to the Boys & Girls Club, dinner in a restaurant with a little back and forth banter and all the gyrations and off the cuff remarks Shaq makes. 

He is a born showman and not only does this show give him a stage to show off his athletic skills (which for a guy his size, are off-the-charts fabulous, but it gives him a chance to ad lib (and if it’s not ad libbed, the producers do a good job making it seem that way).  An example: when Phelps asks Shaq a technical question about swimming, the big fella retorts, “As Einstein said, ‘If you can access it, there’s no need to memorize it.’ “  An excellent comeback by a guy who’s obviously not only bigger and more highly skilled than his NBA brothers, but a heckuva lot brighter too.

The entire show was quite entertaining and with America’s fixation on its sports’ heroes, it more likely than not will catch on.  At least, it will serve as a transition job between the time Shaq decides to retire from pro hoops and join the police force (somewhere).  Many people feel Shaq is so big because no one could fit all that bluster into a normal sized body.  In terms of seeking adventure, he’s much like his mentor at LSU, another guy who knew the value of bulbluster, Dale Brown.  And like Dale, Shaq’s mantra sounds like that of a woman named Rosalyn Yalow (paraphrased in parenthses to make it more applicable to the guys):

“The excitement of learning (experimenting) separates youth from old age.  As long as you’re learning (experimenting), you’re not old.” Â