Jack’s Blog

Fan is short for fanatic.  It’s just that a fanatic gets fanatical about his or her team when the team is down as well as when it’s winning.  And that fanaticism can take on the form of sarcasm, negativity and disgust if losing persists - even if injuries turn a slim chance into a nonexistent one.  In the case of the Los Angeles Lakers, their fans should have their “fan licenses” revoked after the way they acted toward their team - or what was left of it - the past few games.

If any Lakers fan is asked to name the greatest player in the NBA, every last one of them will (still) yell, “Kobe!“  So, when your team loses its best player - who happens to be the best player in the NBA (according to you) - wouldn’t you think it would be normal (even for fanatics) - to tone down their expectations?  At least a little?  One of them was heard (on the air in Fresno) answering that question by exclaiming, “Maybe, but this is the Lakers.“  Meaning what?  That there’s a proclamation issued that your team is bequeathed wins?

First of all, before they lost Bryant, the Lakers were a seven seed matched up against the two seed.  The two seed that just happened to be the San Antonio Spurs, a team that’s used to post season pressure, having won its share of championships in the past, and a team that has a coach in Gregg Popovich who many think is the best in the business.  In addition to having the great Kobe MIA for the remainder of the year, Los Angeles had Steve Nash as its point guard.  He would have been the perfect lead guard had he not gotten hurt.  Some fans felt that it was a mistake to obtain Nash because it was inevitable he was going to get hurt - with his age and history of injuries.  Nevertheless, these fans still expected Nash to lead the team to a World Championship.  But, alas, Nash got hurt and wasn’t available last night.

Steve Blake is, ideally, the back up to Nash, so with Nash out, Lakers fans felt he was certainly capable to lead the team.  Then, he pulled his hamstring - and now he’s out indefinitely.  Jodie Meeks, a nice complementary player was next, but he sprained his ankle and is headed for an MRI.  Is there someone out there with a Los Angeles Lakers voodoo doll?  I guarantee if there was such a thing, they’d sell out in a hurry.

Still and all, Laker fans went into Game 3 with hope that, maybe the home crowd could pull them through.  Of course, if that were to happen, it would have to wait until at least midway through the second quarter because that’s when it’s fashionable to show up in LA.  You know, like, with the traffic and all.

When the game began, the Lakers got a few points from their big guys - Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard.  The fans, which include their announcers, actually thought, even though the game is 48 minutes, that they’d have a shot.  “Get it inside!” they yelled, because it is somewhat unrealistic to depend on a second year player and a guy just called up from the D-League to knock down enough shots to win.  And, because that’s what Kobe tweeted.  As if the Spurs didn’t consider it would be a good idea for the Lakers to try to score that way and had not game planned for it.

That’s when the cynicism begins.  All because the fan’s team is losing.  And they don’t want to be a loser.  A number of them are losers in what they do.  The Lakers give them meaning - and they think - respect.  Hey, they don’t need any more help being a loser.  While fanatic has the word “fan” in it, so does infantile.  Winston Churchill said a long time ago:

“A fanatic is someone who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”

Robert Parish was selected as one of the 50 greatest players of all-time.  Does that make him qualified to be an NBA coach?  To my knowledge there’s never been a definitive study done comparing skill as a player to that of a coach.  However, history tells us that while being a great player doesn’t preclude someone from having a similar career on the bench, it’s a rare superstar who becomes a successful coach.

Parish is upset at his former teammates, claiming they didn’t reach out to him the past few years.  Independent of former players shunning him or teams turning their backs on him (mainly his club, the Celtics), his story boils down to the fact that a) he’s broke, b) he’s not broke but doesn’t have as much money as he needs or c) he simply just doesn’t have as much money as he wants.

The story of his plight always returns to his money woes.  He’s auctioned off his championship rings, his Hall-of-Fame ring and his 50 greatest player ring, items most people would never part with.  Although he was employed by the team he played for, Parish claimed the $80,000 a year job the Celtics were paying him wasn’t enough.  He said he was in the market for an NBA assistant or head coaching position - one that paid six or seven figures.  Right there, he lost sympathy from most of us common folk.  Personally, prior to my retirement, I had seven figure jobs from as far back as 1977.  Of course, two of those figures were after the decimal point.

The reason Parish says he ought to be hired is because he was such a highly skilled player himself; that he could really help a team.  Parish is experiencing the same cold shoulder as a couple other former superstars - Kareem Adbul Jabbar and Rick Barry.  Each of these guys shared a characteristic other than being one of, if not the best, at their position.  All were standoffish.  And that’s being extremely kind.

What Robert Parish, as well as others like him, needs to learn is summed up in a line I heard many years ago from Hubie Brown:

“You’ve got to learn how to say hello before it’s time to say goodbye.”

Probably because I was in the “arena” so long (30 years in Division I basketball at nine different institutions, for first time readers - or those who’ve been away for a while and have less than stellar memories), I chuckle (now - I used to fume) when I see “letters-to-the-editor” or hear TV talking heads spew venom when they know, maybe, 10% of what they’re commenting on.  All that said, I saw something in yesterday’s paper, the entirety of which I imagine I know very little.  Armed with so little knowledge, however, I will still go out on a limb and make comment on it.

The story was about Billy Hunter, the executive director of the National Basketball Players’ Association.  Full disclosure: I am on record as being on the David Stern side of the NBA & David Stern vs. NBPA & Billy Hunter battle.  One reason is that I think Stern is as competent at his job than anyone else was/is at theirs.  Inside the world of sports or out of it and for that, I truly admire him.  Hunter always struck me as the pompous, bullying sort for which I can’t bring myself to respect him.

It seems that, as unbelievable as it sounds, there was criticism of his hiring practices.  Somehow his daughter and daughter-in-law were on the payroll of the NBPA. Hey, maybe they killed the interview.  Or aced the written exam.  Falling within a similar realm of incredulity, the NBPA used to work with Prim Capital.  I have to admit I’ve never heard of that organization.  One thing I do know about it, though, is that Hunter’s son, Todd, is employed there.  Bids in sealed envelopes, perhaps?  In any case, Hunter was forced to fire the two ladies and the NBPA no longer can be affiliated with Prim Capital.

Situations like this mess beg for a quote - and in the case of someone like Billy Hunter, it’s not Mark Jackson’s catchphrase, “You’re better than that!”  Rather, we’d have to paraphrase Desi Arnez:

“Billy, you got some ’splaining to do!”

If everything remained as it was, we’d still be living in caves.  Progress has always been America’s keyword.  But, as the saying goes, “While there is no progress without change, not all change is progress.“  That means that when some changes are implemented, a number of them might turn out negatively.  It’s just how it works.

There are people in society who have tremendous influence over the rest of the folks out there, especially the youth.  There’s a major difference here.  Unless someone is completely magnanimous and can’t wait to get to the soup kitchen or shelter to assist others who have less, money and fame drive the vast majority of decisions made in this country.  One of the areas that most disturbs me is how much money athletes are paid. Another is how they act - in the name of getting more money.

I’m by no means a prude and realize “the good ol’ days” will never return.  On that we ought to be grateful.  Dig deep enough and you find they weren’t that good in the first place.  However, there are still many who cling to tradition.  Understandably so - it’s difficult to give up what your dad and/or your coaches taught you.  In many instances, they were the greatest role models you had/have and letting go of those life lessons hurts too much not to let people know.  By venting. 

Unfortunately, the main message these days is that sports is entertainment.  True - but when the entertainment part gets in the way of how you understand the game was meant to be played, that’s going over the top.   Yesterday, I saw a receiver catch a touchdown pass, do a little dance, flex and throw out his arms to the crowd as if he was embracing them.  His team was playing a road game and - they were behind!  We’re told it doesn’t matter.  He’s merely expressing himself, trying to find a celebration that people back home are going to like enough, so he can use it as a trademark.  Trademark celebrations lead to endorsements.  What doesn’t lead to player endorsements is winning.  That used to be enough; now it’s just a part of a player’s package.  I saw where Phil Rizzuto, the “Scooter,” once said:  

“I’m glad I don’t play anymore.  I couldn’t learn all the handshakes.”  

Much has been made recently over the number of 35+ year olds in the NBA.  While the other professional leagues also have a rise in average age on their rosters, too, we’ll just focus on hoopsters here.  Without going into a list of names, here are the reasons the dinosaurs have survived:

1) strength and conditioning coaches     These were non-existent years ago.  Way back when, lifting weights meant several sets of one pound (16 oz.) liquid weights - from the elbow.  Switching arms was optional.  As the years went by, more and more advances have been made and teams have hired legitimate, qualified people in the area who are, for example, isolating body parts in order to heal them  Types of treatments have advanced - like post game ice baths - to accelerate the healing process.  It’s like George Raveling says, “Some people don’t know - and others don’t know that they don’t know.”   Some of these guys were trying to figure it out.

2) nutritionists     It’s legendary how many promising players would actually eat themselves out of the league.  One guy, who somehow is still collecting a check, is known for his unusual diet of pancakes and Kool Aid.  A lot of each.  Players, other than the one just mentioned, realize their bodies are cathedrals and in order to show proper reverence, they hire their own personal nutritionists.

3) trainers     Every team always had a trainer.  In addition to taping guys, he had a ton of ancillary duties like: he made reservations for road trips - flights, room reservations, meals, maybe took care of complimentary tickets.  Many still do these chores but for every one who does, he has assistants to help with the athletic training duties.

4) charter flights     No one ever chartered in the early-mid NBA years.  Now, everybody does.  Heck, a great deal of college teams are chartering!  Think about that advantage on a body that has to go at it 82 times a year, 41 of them on the road.  No getting to the airport early, going through metal detectors, waiting, layovers - and fans requesting autographs and just wanting to chat it up.  Instead, drive up the tarmac, park your car, get on board a private jet with oversized seats (perfect for NBA sized players), partake of the meal on board and sleep - or watch game video that staff members put together for you.

5) guys are starting so young.     Immaturity runs rampant through the NBA with young guys who’ve had their butts kissed early in their basketball careers and it never stopped.  High school summer leagues are the major culprit.  For coaches, you have some guys (it used to be the majority of them had kids’ best interests at heart, then the greed factor entered into it and has never left) looking for a handout, or even more - a job.  In fact, the sleeze factor has become an unofficial trademark of summer hoops.  Wanted: veterans - who got it! - how to win and teach the next generation.

Teams drafting players long on super talent, short on knowing how to play the team game; kids ultra-skilled but with a less than stellar work ethic; youngsters with million bodies and nickel heads.  All these guys in desperate need of mentors - “good locker room guys.”

As Joshua Liebman said:

“Maturity is achieved when a person postpones immediate pleasures for long-term values.”

Society is composed of good and bad people.  It would be nice (and easier for most of us) if the good prevailed.  A question that’s been kicked around are forever is regarding how each of us will be judged.  Must it be only black or white?

Consider the following:

Bernie Madoff wanted to be known as the best in his business.  He cheated and stole a ton of other people’s money.

Lance Armstrong wanted to be known as the best in his business.  He cheated and raised a ton money for other people.

Both are proven cheaters.  A lot people are better off because of Lance Armstrong.

I guess the moral of the story is:

“If you feel your lot in life MUST be that of a crook, at least help a whole lot of others along the way.”

When steroids hit professional sports (and do we really know exactly when that was?), the guys who were doing them were ahead of those who weren’t simply because the guys who were clean didn’t realize their opponents (or teammates) had an advantage.  Just like with anything that will enhance performance, once steroids exploded (for lack of a better term) and people in the actual field were beating others who had been superior to them in the past, it became all too obvious.

These pills, shots, whatever, are called PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) for a reason.  They work - for people at the elite level.  They’re not like Jack’s beans.  They have to be combined with a thorough regimen of weight training, aerobic activity and diet.  Sure, the weekend athlete can get bigger and better as I’m sure everyone has witnessed but we’re talking about the big boys here.  The play for pay guys.

The major sports in this country. i.e. football, basketball, baseball and (I think) hockey have been exposed - and embarrassed - for PEDs.  So I don’t upset the many friends I have in track & field, that sport has been in the news for PEDs usage as well.  And since the main event in that sport comes along every four years, the risk-reward theory is too great not to give cheating a shot (for some).

Now it seems that Lance Armstrong and his cronies were also juicing - and doing it better and for a longer stretch of time than all of his competitors.  I’m not going to comment on the sport of cycling because, other than the recumbent bike I’m on at least five days a week, I don’t know a thing about it.  From what I’ve uncovered by reading about it, the problem isn’t so much saying Armstrong cheated and should be stripped of his golds.  The real issue is - “Who would get it?”  The sophistication of the cheating styles - or the incompetence of the sport’s testing methods - seemed to have made it so that the people on the podium would have to be a few guys from remote country (where they couldn’t get the drugs flown in) or a third world country (where they couldn’t afford them).

All that can be said of Lance Armstrong - and of all the other folks who played (and play) outside the rules - is what Stephen Covey said long ago:

“You can’t talk yourself out of problems you behave yourself into.”

People were livid that replacement referees were still working NFL games.  It only took an absurd missed call against the Green Bay Packers to bring the situation to a head.  How absurd?  After instant replay, one referee was signaling touchdown while the other was right next to him, waving his arms above his head, signaling time was out meaning a touchback was the outcome.  This was done after the two guys looked at each other.  It reminded me of “rock, paper, scissors” except they were supposed to agree.

Luckily this blown call didn’t result in a severely injured player, as it could have with the guys on the field not being of sound mind and body - when it came to enforcing the rules .  Now that everyone involved has put aside their greed and come to their senses, maybe the beginning of this season will only be reduced to a punch line instead of a tragedy.  There were good arguments on both sides but they needed to be hashed out during the off season.  As with any disagreement in which the parties involved have more ego than sense, stubbornness usually wins out.

It’s easy for me to say but players should have refused to take the field until the refs’ situation was completed.  No one will ever be able to convince me that players - or for that matter, coaches, agents and executives - didn’t know what the outcome would be, especially since the “next level” of officials, i.e. big-time college officials were not going to be available.

The rule book is too difficult, the game is too fast, the players are too good for replacement referees.  Now, all that said, don’t expect people - fans and those in the NFL, not to complain about calls.  There’s a reason for that:

“That’s why the word ‘complainers’ is in the dictionary.”

It seems as though any time there’s something new going on, there are polls taken.  On television there was a fan poll asking the viewers of NFL games how they thought the replacement referees were doing in comparison to their striking brethren.  I can remember the results being about 60/40 but I can’t recall which side got the 60%, which side the 40%.  It seems like nearly every poll - football, political or otherwise is around 60/40.

Why?  I don’t know.  Our country is an argumentative one.  People today wait until they hear how the majority feels and then decide to go the other way.  However, when it comes to this year’s NFL replacement officials, the mistakes they make are nearly always seen by millions - in slow motion.  It’s tough when you’re thrust into a position you really want but, deep down, you know you’re not quite ready for.

The biggest problem thus far has been the interruption in the flow of the game.  Usually they get the call correct - whether it’s the original one or the overturn - but there is one concern that the game has no continuity.  The other issue is, eventually, an injury is going to occur.  Coaches are trying to intimidate the new guys and players are using the tricks they try on veterans, thinking they’ll work even better on these rookies.  And maybe they will.  But at what cost.

The culprit is - what else - money.  It’s just amazing that with the strength and skill the players possess, the NFL, the referees and the NFLPA would allow it.  All parties feel they deserve what they get or what they’re asking for.  Happiness is involved in this argument but all parties should remember what Frederick Koenig said:

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Heading to Stanford for my tenth, yeah tenth, back surgery.  As I’ve shared, I currently have a pain pump implanted in my abdomen.  After years of enduring pain that, with this pump, I shouldn’t have, a dye study and an MRI showed the catheter that delivers the drug from the pump into my spinal canal was defective.  The surgery is to replace the catheter.  Maybe this is TMI but many of the people who check out this blog are friends and it’s a means of letting them know what’s going on in m life.

The blog will return when I do.  Probably next week.  Best wishes to all.

If anything can screw up something good, it’s a union.  Until I retired last June from teaching, I worked for ten years for one of the few school districts in which the teachers did not have a union.  There were instances where that fact hurt us teachers but I can’t think of any of my colleagues who felt we were missing anything, especially with the problems neighboring school districts had with their union.

Unions had their place in the nation’s history.  There was a time when their members needed to be protected and the unions provided what they needed.  In today’s climate, however, unions have mainly become antagonists.  It’s always us against them and there is seldom any good that comes from that mindset.

What’s remarkable is that a sport hell bent on making it safer for its players can’t get the people responsible for enforcing the rules in place to do so.  Not only that but the people on the field are obviously unqualified and way over their heads.  What hurts the replacement referees so much, beyond jumping so many necessary growth steps to get to the ultimate level of their profession, is the camera.

Or cameras.  There are so many of them that any miscue is caught and shown repeatedly.  The replacements have been wrong, embarrassingly so, time and again.  What we’ve forgotten, because the memory of the fan is a short one, is that the regular referees have been shown to be erroneous as well.  Definitely not nearly as much, but still, they get calls wrong.  Which is not surprising.  It’s a difficult game to officiate and, as I’ve said many times - of the three people who make up the game, i.e. players, coaches and referees - the refs make the fewest mistakes.

What is lost in this battle over, what else, money, is the safety of the players is going to be compromised.  I’m no labor negotiator, nor do I want to be. but, if the major concern of the NFL is player safety, the powers-that-be should have figured out a way 1) to either have solved this problem long before it got to this point or 2) to get the professional referees on the field while negotiations take place.

If an injury occurs due to “referee error,” the NFL and its referees will be branded as many think they already are - greedy.

Although I’ve used the quote on numerous occasions, it’s powerful here - especially with all that’s at stake:

“What’s right is more important than who’s right.”