Season ending Tennis and Controversy

The season ending championships in Madrid on the WTA tour has already been a microcosm of what the 2007 season produced. On the men's side, David Nalbandian defeated Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal two times each and Novak Djokovic once in two tournaments, winning both. Off the court, more players have come forward revealing they had been offered money to throw matches and Nikolay Davydenko, the man who set off this controversy, was fined for not giving a good enough effort in a match earlier this fall.

First off, I want to say that watching the women's matches has been particularly entertaining because save Justine Henin, nobody in the top 10 has separated themselves from the pack. Still, the trends from the year have been noticeable in the round robin matches. Jelena Jankovic has played a lot of matches this year and no longer seems to have the legs to be playing at a consistently high level to justify her third seed. She lost all three round robin matches, retiring in her last. The big story was Serena Williams retiring from her match against Anna Chakvetadze after losing the first set 6-4. Chakvetadze continues her surge into the upper ranks and Williams continues to demonstrate a lack of preparation and conditioning. Williams struggled prior to her injury and if she really intends to focus on tennis, she'll have to start from the basics. She plays her best when she's able to cover the court and dominate opponents with her power. Her off-season should be centered around building strength and conditioning to get her back to that level of play.

Maria Sharapova took a lot of time off presumably to let her shoulder heal and it has paid dividends right away as she has worked her way into the semifinals of the tournament. Her game depends heavily on her ability to serve well. What I like about the season-ending championships is that all of the players are good enough that you can really pinpoint the weaknesses of each player. With only the top players qualifying, the early matches are just as tough as the later matches. Unless of course if you are Justine Henin. The most emphatic statement of the tournament so far has to be Henin's 6-0, 6-0 clinic she put on against Marion Bartoli. Not only did Henin punish Bartoli for her previous defeat against the French woman at Wimbledon, she did so in downright embarrassing fashion. Although Bartoli had less than 24 hours to prepare for her match after replacing Serena in the tournament, there was no mercy from Henin. She made it clear that the championship goes through her.

David Nalbandian's recent surge is difficult to gauge in my opinion. Clearly, the season is winding down and Nadal is physically worn. Nalbandian's victories over Nadal are not terribly surprising nor worrisome. The victory over Djokovic is impressive but Djokovic still has to sharpen his complete game before he solidifies his spot in the top 3. Nalbandian was there a few years ago and is looking to regain that form. The victories over Federer are much more impressive for obvious reasons. The first match against Roger, Nalbandian dropped the first set 1-6 and took the next two. The second match was a straight set victory. At this point in the season, Federer does not look as sharp or as motivated to play at his normally pristine level. It's good to see Federer being challenged and defeated by some of the other tour players but it took him two losses against Guillermo Canas before Roger figured out how to beat him. Hopefully Nalbandian has built good momentum toward the 2008 season but don't expect him to dethrone Roger.

The recent controversy in tennis surrounds a match for which all bets were nullified involving Nikolay Davydenko. Since then, Davydenko has been criticized twice during matches for not giving a proper effort and was fined once. Other players have come forward saying they have been offered money to throw matches. Interestingly, so far only those on the men's tour have come forward with these cases. Many players are encouraging clear and open talk about the issue but so far no names have been named. This whole issue is similar in my mind seems to be less scandalous than it appears. If players are coming out and saying they were offered money but rejected it, then the tennis on the court is not compromised. If in any instance a player accepts the payment and throws a match, we have a problem. Davydenko strongly denies all claims that he is involved in match fixing so until there is proof otherwise, there is nothing to worry about. The rules must be clear (to avoid a Patriot-like "misinterpretation of the rules" and the punishment must be harsh for violators. Clearly, the tour will be more attentive to the possibility of match fixing now, but there is no drastic measure necessary.

Looking ahead to 2008 there are a few stories to keep an eye on. Lindsay Davenport looked exceptionally sharp during her few months on the tour after giving birth. She is going to be a major factor in the Australian Open. Serena Williams' latest injury will likely keep her from repeating at the Aussie Open but like I said, if Serena commits to getting in shape, she will always be a threat to win the majors. Martina Hingis retired from the tour for a second time, this time under cocaine usage allegations. I tend to agree with Hingis that someone on cocaine probably wouldn't be able to compete at the level she does. Spoiled brat as she was, she brought a lot of skill and talent to the tour so her presence will be missed. Hingis was never able to rediscover her early success but found a way to be competitive in a game that has significantly changed since she first broke out onto the tour. Hingis is another name on the list of stars such as Jennifer Capriati and Monica Seles that were forced out of competition before they could be given a proper farewell. There are a few other questions I have: What ever happened to Anastatia Myskina? Where is Amelie Mauresmo? Have people realized that James Blake and Andy Roddick have both peaked? Is 2008 the year that Sam Querrey, John Isner, and co make a large splash for American tennis?

Super Bad Idea

No, I'm not referring to going to a liquor store as a severely underage teenager named McLovin. The Super Bad idea is planning to have a Super Bowl in London. In today's news, Roger Goodell cited a "great deal of interest in holding a a Super Bowl in London." So far the commissioner has laid down some unpredictable punishment which has led me to be suspicious of his doing what is best for the NFL. Now he is considering taking the single biggest sporting event in the world to London.

American football will always be second to soccer in Europe. Less than three months ago, the NFL reported that it was discontinuing NFL Europe. There might be a market for one game in London, but there is no way the NFL will gain the same sort of popularity in Europe as it has here in the US. But beyond the basic idea of trying to develop an international interest in the NFL, this idea is just ridiculous.

This report came on the heels of rumors that the NBA is looking into eventually developing expansion franchises in Europe. Basketball, however, has a much greater international appeal than football and there are already good teams in Europe and Latin America. The NBA draft has been littered with high first round draft picks over the past decade and the San Antonio Spurs are the champions and spokesmen for an internationally flavored NBA with Manu Ginobli (Argentina), Tony Parker (France), and Tim Duncan (US Virgin Islands counts...they can't vote) as the faces of the franchise. The NFL has neither the international base of interest nor the star power to make the league more popular across Europe.

Still, the NFL seems to be dedicated to developing its international fan base. Whether the long-term plans involve franchises in other countries remains to be determined. However, putting a regular season game in Europe or Mexico is very different than allowing London to host the Super Bowl. In all professional sports in America, the All Star Games and Playoff games generate enormous amounts of revenue for the host cities. Like the Olympics, the city that is chosen to host the All Star game or Super Bowl benefits from an economic boost relating to that event. To allow London to take that away from an American city would be devastating.

From a fan's perspective, traveling to London to see the Super Bowl would be much more difficult than traveling within the US. The weak US Dollar (yes I went there!) would make it more expensive for regular fans of the two teams to make it to the event. For most teams, getting to the Super Bowl is not a yearly occurrence. Since the 1997 Super Bowl between the Patriots and Packers, only three teams have made it to the Big Game more than once, the Patriots, Broncos, and Rams. So in the event that a new team makes it, which is certainly possible in the NFC and would not be entirely surprising in the AFC, those fans would be robbed of a chance to support their team properly.

I realize that in order to expand, the NFL and its fans will have to make certain sacrifices. There can be no NFL Europe if the league is not willing to take its biggest game to that continent. However, if the league is that committed to developing the international fan base it should look to Mexico, Canada, and parts of Latin America first. It seems contradictory to cut NFL Europe but plan to have a Super Bowl in London. If the NFL can successfully appeal to international markets closer to home, Europe should be revisited. Having a regular season game in London is a good way of maintaining interest. Furthermore, changing the location of the Pro Bowl from Honolulu to London or elsewhere in Europe could also help generate interest while protecting the main fan base from having to watch the Super Bowl in London.

On a logistical note, it might be difficult to schedule the Super Bowl for the same kickoff time as usual. The time difference with London could cause a loss of interest or ratings in the US. At the end of the day, I am opposed to the idea, through and through. I am a big fan of the NFL and I believe that it is the biggest sport in America. Taking the Super Bowl to London would be ill advised.

Early Season Struggles

Parity in the NFL has always led to surprising starts, good or bad, for teams around the league. Usually it is a combination of injury, free agency, and entitlement that will change a team's fortunes from one season to the next. The prime example of that team this year is the New Orleans Saints. The Rams were not supposed to be great, but their offense was supposed to be much more potent than it has been so far. The Bears and Chargers are also victims of the three contributing factors that have caused early season problems.

The Saints are maybe the most disappointing because of the continued hype surrounding Reggie Bush and the media loving the post-Katrina renaissance of the Saints. But the Saints problems are hardly surprising. This is a team that always had to outscore it's opponent to win. The early season struggles are a continuation of what happened to the Saints against the Bears in last year's NFC Championship. Their offense struggled and their defense cannot stop anyone.

One factor that is highly overlooked with the Saints is the fact that they have lost their top two receivers and proven stars over the past two years. Donte Stallworth played last season in Philadelphia and Joe Horn left to join Atlanta this year. The Saints found a gem in Marques Colston but the only other legitimate threat added to the offense was the oft-injured Eric Johnson. While Johnson figures to be a solid target while healthy, there are no guarantees he will finish the season. The addition of David Patten was a waste of resources given Patten's inability to produce since leaving the Patriots.

Coupled with their anemic defense, the Saints now have a less fearsome offense. The loss of Joe Horn will be even more apparent with the loss of Deuce McAllister for the remainder of the season. Without experience at receiver or running back, the Saints will continue to struggle all season. That being said, last season was no fluke. Drew Brees was a good investment and Reggie Bush has playmaking capability. But the Saints will need to use this year to mature and need to add some defensive help before they make another Super Bowl run.

Their opponents in the NFC Championship game are similarly struggling on offense but luckily have a top notch defense to lean on. But injuries are taking their toll on the Bears with Tommie Harris and Lance Briggs ailing. The Bears' offensive woes have been placed almost entirely on Rex Grossman, resulting in his benching. But in reality, they have missed the presence of Thomas Jones. Cedric Benson has shown flashes of being capable but has also showed why he was not able to claim sole possession of the starting job last year. Also, Bernard Berrian, Mushin Muhammad, and Desmond Clark have dropped passes and stopped running on routes which have contributed to Grossman's poor numbers. Last week against the Cowboys, one of Grossman's interceptions was caused by Muhammad stopping short during his route.

So the ineffective running game has put more pressure on Grossman to make plays. No question, Grossman has been utterly unable to produce when necessary. This in turn has put more pressure on the defense to create turnovers and make plays. They have done that to a limit, holding LaDainian Tomlinson to under 50 yards rushing and Larry Johnson to similarly low numbers. But the Cowboys exploited Adam Archuletta and Marion Barber III found gaping holes and broke tackles in the running game. Although it was probably necessary to let him go, the Bears seem to miss the presence of Tank Johnson on the line of scrimmage. Last season the offense did enough to make the defense look better. This season, opposing teams are getting more opportunities on offense and the defense can only hold for so long because inevitably teams will score. One last word about the Bears, Devin Hester has not really fit into the regular offense as hoped. Although he has one return for a touchdown already, he also fumbled three times in the loss to the Cowboys, eliminating him as a threat in the game.

The Chargers seem to be more bothered by the coaching change and a sense of deserving a place in the NFL elite. The Chargers have found out quickly that they will not be given free yards after playing three tough defenses in Chicago, New England, and Green Bay. Look for them to bounce back and win their division. The Rams are more of an injury story. Losing Orlando Pace and Steven Jackson spells trouble for a bad team in a mediocre division. The Giants, Eagles, and Bengals all could be better than they are but are consistently inconsistent teams so their records are not surprising. Both the Giants and Eagles responded to two early losses with impressive wins against undefeated opponents. The Bengals should have won last week but reverted to the Bungles by fumbling away their opportunity to beat the Seahawks. Remember when they messed up the extra point against Denver last season? That one play, in a preview of what would happen to Tony Romo, effectively ended their chance at a Wild Card spot.

Never Underestimate Mothers

The finals of the US Open were supposed to be the crowning moment of a summer of great tennis. But, the real excitement came one week after the everyone had left Flushing. Lindsay Davenport, who gave birth to her first child in June, defeated Daniela Hantuchova in Bali in a three set match clinching her first title in her first singles tournament after a one year hiatus from the tour.

What was surprising about Davenport's victory is that she was healthy. After struggling with injuries and going through a pregnancy, Lindsay Davenport finally showed up to a tournament fresh and eager to play. Before retiring from the tour, Davenport seemed to be at the top of her game, but her body simply would not let her perform to her abilities. Davenport picked up right where she left off, but this time with a healthy body. She was even in decent shape, beating the top two seeds in three set matches.

Davenport dropped the second set of her match against Jelena Jankovic but put together an impressive third set, winning 6-2. Remember that Jankovic was on the verge of beating Venus Williams to claim a spot in the US Open Semifinals. But similar to that match, Jankovic was not able to come up with the shots in the final set. Against Daniela Hantuchova in the finals, Lindsay Davenport again dropped the second set and again won the third convincingly, 6-2. Hantuchova had finally put together a good tournament after falling in the first round of the Pilot Pen and US Open. But her chronic inconsistency showed again in the loss to Davenport.

Davenport entered the tournament with the goal of proving, as a mother, she could still play at the highest level. She said more than that in her path to victory and with a few months of training, could be a real threat at the Australian Open. At 31 years old, Davenport is not too old to play but certainly aging. With a baby to look after, it's not likely she plays a larger number of tournaments. But she will come to Australia prepared to make a run. If Justine Henin does not play or if there are one or two upsets, I think Davenport has a better chance to win than any other up and coming player. By defeating Jankovic and Hantuchova, Davenport has proved she can still win big matches. But the Williams sisters, Henin, and a healthy Sharapova will be tougher opponents, especially in the slams.

Speaking of the slams, I cannot end without some comment on the US Open. Though the finals ended up being anti-climactic endings to an otherwise amazing tournament, I do have some final thoughts. On the women's side, I hate to say it, but I TOLD YOU SO! Henin did not drop a set the whole tournament and beat both Williams sisters on the way to her 7th slam title. If she can stay injury free for a few more years, she will separate herself from the active players in grand slam titles and establish herself as the undisputed dominant player of this generation. I already know it, but the rest of the world might not be convinced.

As far as Roger Federer's win is concerned, it was hardly surprising, like Henin's. Federer looked more human at the US Open, dropping opening sets to Feliciano Lopez and John Isner. But what separates Federer from the field was his ability to win the big points. In the final, Federer had to save seven set points in the first and second set. I am not sure if I am more impressed by the fact that Federer did indeed save those points and win the ensuing tie breaks or disappointed by the fact that Novak Djokovic was unable to capitalize on those points. Djokovic is a great but still unproven player who has been on the verge of becoming the first non-Federer/Nadal winner since Andy Roddick won the Open way back when. I guess Djokovic is just not ready to assume the role as the third wheel in the Nadal/Federer rivalry. Still, if Djokovic wins a slam next year and if Nadal can defeat Federer at Wimbledon, 2008 might be the year that the Federer dominance comes to an end. Might.

Week One-Derful

It felt good to sit down on Sunday for some football after a long summer of non-sports related news. Of course week one in the NFL was marred with a life-threatening injury and a potential cheating scandal with the New England Patriots, but when the ball is kicked off, I am glad to forget all the distractions. It doesn't hurt when my Steelers had the pleasure of plastering the Brownies and pushing Charlie Frye out to Seattle.

Week one was not really full of surprises. Sure, every year there are a couple teams that come out and take people off guard. The closest we had to that this year was Houston looking sharp on both sides of the ball against the Chiefs. On the other hand, the Rams' usually explosive offense looked out of sorts against a rejuvenated Carolina defense. Losing Orlando Pace was not a great sign, especially for someone who drafted Steven Jackson in the first round of the fantasy football draft. However, across the NFL, things were as they should have been.

The Colts picked up where they left off, seemingly proving it didn't matter who won the NFC Championship game last year. Buffalo lost another close game that they probably should have won. The Patriots sported a new offense with Randy Moss and Wes Welker scoring touchdowns. The Chargers looked to build on last year's success with their dominance over the Bears who continued to struggle offensively. Former Chargers coordinator Wade Philips continued the Cowboys' success from last year and managed to get T.O. in for two touchdowns in the shootout against the Giants. Oh yeah, did I mention the Steelers stomping on the Browns?

What interested me most from the NFL this week was what happened off the field. Now I know this might seem hypocritical of someone who was praising the return of the season, but there is a real reason. Seeing Tiki Barber in the booth made me believe that he truly is done playing football. Despite the injury to Brandon Jacobs and the Giants' apparent need for a proven back like Tiki, he seems very comfortable in his new role. He is fairly well spoken and managed to provide unbiased analysis of the Giants while on air. Meanwhile, Bill Cowher, never much of an eloquent speaker and known more for his grit and facial expressions, made a not-so-stellar TV debut. I cannot imagine Cowher lasting more than a couple years as a TV personality and anticipate his return to the sidelines after his youngest daughter graduates from high school.

Cowher, who to the ire of many Steeler fans including myself, predicted the Steelers would end up third in the division behind Baltimore and Cincinnati. But after losing six turnovers and more importantly key players in the game, Baltimore looks to be headed for a downward spiral. The big question surrounding the Ravens was the health of their aging team. They brought in Willis McGahee to answer their offensive problems and although they chose not to use him down the stretch, he showed he was capable of handling the load and running effectively. Their age, however, showed. Steve McNair, Jonathan Ogden, and Ray Lewis all might be out for some time. If Ray Lewis has a torn triceps muscle, it could spell trouble for last season's top ranked defense. Fortunately for the Ravens, Ed Reed continues to be a stud on defense and can be effective on special teams as well. But even Reed was a bit banged up on Monday night. The Ravens defense did not seem to miss Adalius Thomas all that much on MNF but that departure will become more apparent if Lewis misses significant time.

Of course what this really means for me is that the Steelers have a better shot at winning the division. Offensively, the run game will continue to be the bread and butter for a team that did not attempt a pass in the final 15 minutes of the game. But with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger, an improved Santonio Holmes, and a coordinator that will make use of Heath Miller, the Steelers can be an explosive offense through the air as well. Much like they did during their Super Bowl win, they will probably fly under the radar for the season, yielding to the Colts, Patriots, and Chargers to take the spotlight. But look for the Steelers to be a real contender in the AFC and for Roethlisberger to enjoy much of the same success he did in the 2006 playoffs. Of course, they will need a bigger test than the Browns to determine if the defense is good enough to win a championship.

Former Champs Continue to Fall

Labor Day weekend and the Tuesday following produced quite a few great matches. Highlighting the weekend was defending women's champion Maria Sharapova losing to Agnieszka Radwanska, an 18 year-old from Poland. Radwanska out-played a sloppy Sharapova, partially by a questionable strategy. She induced double-digit double faults from Sharapova by standing halfway up to the service line on Sharapova's second serve and then moving backwards while Sharapova was serving. Though the strategy was decidedly bush-league, Radwanska smartly took advantage of a weak second serve and a mentally weak Sharapova. Maria might have to take a lot of time off to allow her shoulder to heal properly so she can get back to serving well. Without a reliable serve, she won't have success at the major tournaments. Also losing were Dementieva, another weak server, and Martina Hingis who has struggled with injury this summer.

What was most entertaining to me was Justine Henin's victory over Serena Williams. Besides looking fat and slow, Serena embarrassed herself at the press conference after losing. Serena has always claimed that at the top of her game, nobody can beat her. Well I think that's true of a lot of people. The trick is putting yourself in the physical and mental condition to be able to produce that high level of play. That is why Roger Federer is where he is and Marat Safin is where he is. Serena claimed that Justine made "lucky shots" that made the difference in the second set. In truth, Serena got wiped off the court courtesy a barrage of forehand, backhand, and volley winners at the hands of the world number one, Justine Henin.

Coming into this tournament, people were convinced that Serena and Venus could win without the match play and preparation that other players put into the majors. While they managed to do it before, Henin did not play the Australian Open and defeated Serena in the other three majors. At Wimbledon, Venus didn't have to face Henin who was upset before reaching the finals. I don't think the Williams sisters have anything to prove. They are both great players and have accomplished a great deal in the past ten years. I think Venus has been in great shape and has a real chance at the title. But the point is, although the Williams sisters are supremely talented, they will not dominate the sport like they used to with Justine at the top of her game. They may be good enough to beat everyone else, but not Justine Henin.

In the men's draw, what did David Ferrer eat yesterday? He played a dominating four set match against Rafael Nadal and looked as if he was ready for more. Ferrer had Nadal scrambling on each and every point. Nadal was clearly struggling to find a response to Ferrer's quickness and placement and his nagging knee injuries and hand injury put him in the position to be beaten. Although Nadal was in no condition to comeback and win after being down two sets to one, Ferrer maintained his level of play and his intensity to really close the door on Nadal. The most impressive part of the win was his ability to not get caught in the moment and continue to hit extremely well. Nadal was frustrated by not being able to fight as hard as he could have but Ferrer really gave him no openings. In the third set breaker Nadal called for a trainer for what seemed to be a cramp in his middle finger. McEnroe was convinced he was making something up but even if the cramp was bothering Nadal, it would not have made a big difference in the result. I think Rafa is disappointed with his result because he is a great competitor and hates to be hindered by injury. A healthy loss to Ferrer might have been easier to swallow.

Rafa's mentor and the other Spaniard still alive in the draw, Carlos Moya, has made some noise by landing a spot in the quarterfinals. Moya beat the young Latvian Ernests Gulbis in a fairly routine four set match. Moya, who now faces Novak Djokovic, was in the 1998 semifinals and looks to return this year. Unlike Moya, fellow veteran Lleyton Hewitt was bounced from the tournament easily in his second round match. Hewitt had been playing good tennis this summer, almost beating Federer in the semis of Cincinnati. But Hewitt, another former champion, fell victim to one of the many Argentinians in the draw.

Tonight's matchups of Venus vs. Jankovic and Federer vs. Roddick will be great prime time tennis. The way Jankovic has been playing, that quarterfinal match could be a three set thriller. And also, the way Federer has struggled early with big servers could prove to be the slight opening that Roddick needs to beat Roger. With the odds against him but the crowd behind him, I think this is Andy's best chance against Federer. I don't like him but I'll be pulling for him tonight. I'd like to see Venus win as well so Justine Henin can dispose of her as well.

US Open: A champion goes down

I was watching the Open today and watched my favorite player in the draw, Marat Safin, go down in straight sets to Stanislas Wawrinka 3-6, 3-6, 3-6. The commentators noted that it must be tough for Safin to have all that talent and not be able to harness it all the time. I think Safin is secretly Jean Grey.

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Now the similarities are nowhere near those between Nadal and the Geico Caveman. But there is one key factor that makes this comparison valid. Both Jean Grey and Marat Safin have unlimited talent and neither has been able to harness it effectively. Instead they prove to be dangerous opponents every time they engage in battle, but nobody knows who will show up. Will it be Jean Grey, member of the X-Men, student of Professor X? Or will it be the Dark Phoenix with unlimited yet uncontrolled power and ability? The same Jekyll and Hyde presents itself with Marat Safin when he walks onto the court. The two time Grand Slam champion could be silenced at any moment by the self destructive maniac with no control of his emotions or forehand.


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I still think Safin has the most talent of anyone on tour, even more so than the Titan that is Roger Federer. Safin just cannot seem to keep a cool head when things go south. Opponents go from fearing the shots coming off his racket to the possibility of getting hit by shrapnel coming off his racket after it hits the court. I can only hope that Safin starts Tai Chi and/or meditation and comes back a new person in 2008. Fat chance.

In other US Open news, everyone is waiting for someone to challenge Roger Federer. That probably will not come until well into next week considering Federer's side of the draw is filled with wild cards/qualifiers. Depending on whether or not Novak Djokovic pulls out a five set victory against Radek Stepanek, Lleyton Hewitt might have an easier route to the final weekend. On the women's side, the draw is so lopsided that the second week should have a ton of great matches. I still like Justine Henin as the favorite. Serena looks sluggish. Sharapova's shoulder has not been tested and she's struggled against the top players. Venus looks good at this point in the tournament but she has not had much preparation for the Open.

Finally, Sharapova's dress is just ridiculous. I actually think that there should be some sort of dress codes. Now don't get me wrong, I like to see the tennis skirts like the next guy, but the light reflecting off Sharapova's dress has to be distracting to her opponents. I'm starting to like Sharapova less and less: her interviews are pretty boring, her game has broken down against the Williams sisters, especially in Grand Slams, and her dress plus black jacket with see-through sleeves is just a hideous outfit. Plus, she's definitely not as good looking as Anna Kournikova. I actually like Venus' new line of clothing so far and Serena has been less obscene than usual. Maybe it's just that I'm annoyed by Sharapova.

Life is not Fair for Michael Vick

Michael Vick is stupid. He's dumb for getting involved with dogfighting, he's dumb for getting caught, he's dumb for many reasons. But for some reason, I find myself feeling sorry for the man. Thus far Vick has seen a range of responses to the charges and his subsequent plea bargain. Some are still calling for him to be banned for life from the NFL and others, like the ever-so-eloquent Stephon Marbury, are less offended by his crime.

While driving my brother to the airport, we were talking about our perspective, as vegetarians, in the Michael Vick case. It would seem to make sense that I should feel strongly against Michael Vick returning to play football. However, the more I consider his position, the more I am convinced that he should be imprisoned for his crime and after serving his sentence, he should be allowed to return to football without any further suspension. Although this may be counterintuitive, I feel that there is a good explanation for this. At the foundation of my reasoning, I find it hard to really differentiate dogfighting from dairy farming, veal farming, hunting, and other forms of animal cruelty. Executing dogs after a dogfight is no different than forcing a baby cow to sit in a cage so that its muscles stay tender.

In no way to I condone what Vick has done and he has knowingly involved himself in illegal activities. His charges include conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture. Now, ignoring the details of how the dogs were killed, these charges do not look like heinous crimes deserving extensive suspensions. Comparatively, Mike Tyson was convicted of rape in 1992 and after serving his time in jail was in the boxing ring within two years of his release in 1995. In retrospect, perhaps Tyson did not deserve the second, third, fourth, etc chances that he received but at the time, even a convicted rapist was given an opportunity to rehabilitate himself. More specific to football, Pacman Jones is involved in a shooting that left several people injured and one man paralyzed. Despite all of his incidents and misbehavior, Pacman was given a single year's suspension from the league.

I think the trick in this case, for animal lovers and non-lovers alike, is to separate the details of the crime from the severity of the felony committed. The lawyers and judges will use the details to determine the appropriate punishment for Vick. And yes, he will spend time in jail. But remember that jail is the way people pay their debt to society. Michael Vick has not been an angel in the NFL but at the same time he has not had any other major incidents on his file. There would be no precedent as a base for a lifetime ban against Vick.

Roger Goodell, however, might chose to make Michael Vick into an example. He might be given another year of suspension beyond his jail sentence just to make a point to the rest of the league. But I think Goodell should be careful in handing out such severe penalties. Ray Lewis was let off the hook lightly, despite being charged with murder. Jamal Lewis only got 2 games after attempting to sell Cocaine. Tank Johnson was given 8 games only after repeatedly violating the conduct policy and violating probation, not to mention, he had assault rifles sitting around his house. All in all, I expect Vick to miss a total of two years of football. He could potentially come back sooner, but hopefully no later.

What makes this situation more difficult is the fact that Vick is an easy target. In the same way that Bonds is an easy target for baseball's steroid problems, Vick is a wealthy, successful, black athlete and people want to see him fall. His story is one of perseverance and success from humble beginnings. He might have just walked himself into a trap that will take away from everything that he has done right and focus on what he has done wrong.

Throwback Thursday

Yesterday was a big throwback day because three former NBA all stars were in the news for considering or making comebacks. The biggest story is Reggie Miller contemplating a comeback with the Boston Celtics. Penny Hardaway already signed with the Miami Heat while Allan Houston is looking at several teams as he considers a return to NBA action.

But before I jump into the NBA comebacks, I'd like to make a little Throwback Thursday dedication to Pete Sampras. He came out of retirement to play team tennis and senior events but does not seem to want to return to the regular ATP tour. I was browsing YouTube last night and stumbled upon this video.



For anyone who has become enamored with Roger Federer and amazed by what he can do, just remember that Pete Sampras is the best ever. He made Agassi look like a fool! Of course I'm not trying to take away from Federer's consistent dominance of the sport in recent years because that would be more foolish than Agassi's strategy in the video clip. Although no strategy could have been effective against Pete at that point. But I digress. Federer is great, but Sampras was the best against some of the best of all time. Nadal doesn't measure up to Agassi, Roddick doesn't measure up to Ivanisevic, and Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin don't play at the level they did six or seven years ago.

Now that we're clear on that, let's move on to basketball. Starting with Penny Hardaway, I suppose from the Miami Heat stand point he replaces Eddie Jones who was recently signed by the Dallas Mavericks. He also may play a larger role if James Posey goes elsewhere via free agency. But from Penny's standpoint I think the decision to come back is based on not wanting to end his career with a bitter taste in his mouth left there by the futility and frustration of playing for the New York Knicks. He gets a chance to reunite with Shaq and with a healthy Dwyane Wade, a chance at an NBA title. All around, not a bad move for either side, as Penny is only 36 and might be fresh after taking a year and a half to rest those creaky knees.

Let's move on to Reggie Miller. My friends all know me as the biggest Reggie Miller fan in existence. It would be hard to see Reggie in anything but Indiana blue and yellow. But does this make sense for Reggie? It's understandable for a player who spent 18 seasons in the NBA to miss the atmosphere and camaraderie of an NBA locker room. Reggie was offered a deal last year from the Mavs and smartly rejected that offer. Although Reggie would not have been intimidated by Steven Jackson's defense in the playoffs and probably would have lit up the Warriors. But Reggie made the right choice. He retired with dignity and respect and he should probably stay retired. The only thing that might justify him coming back is if he hit the game winning shots that clinched the NBA championship for the Celtics. Otherwise he would be thrown into the Karl Malone-Gary Payton category. Whether that criticism would be just or not is irrelevant because the similarities would be too obvious to overlook. So Reggie, we loved you for what you did and you have nothing to prove to anyone else. If Reggie wants to play for the love of the game, I would not protest. Jerry Rice is my all time favorite football player and I respect that he continued to play because he loved what he was doing. But there is no reason to play if winning a championship in one season is the goal. The Celtics chances with or without Reggie are good, but at 42 years old, how many seasons can Reggie offer to the Celtics?

Now, Allan Houston. Oh Allan Houston, the streakiest of shooters, the overpaid, the injured, the retired. I think Allan Houston wakes up every morning and wishes he was Grant Hill. I'm not sure, but I think I'd rather have Grant Hill's ankles than Allan Houston's knees. But an old Allan Houston means a less reliable shot and therefore a streakier shooter. There are plenty of young guys in the league that can provide that service. He was never much of a leader because the Knicks always had Patrick Ewing. I doubt he can jump very high anymore. Why are we even talking about this? STAY RETIRED ALLAN!

Shut Up, Sign the Contract, and Play

It seems we go through the same story every year with one or two players. Usually, it's a rookie quarterback or receiver who is trying to get more guaranteed money out of his first deal. This year, JaMarcus Russell has yet to sign with the Raiders and sources say negotiations could continue into September. Also, Brady Quinn held out until he signed a contract with the Browns on Tuesday. A few year's back, Eli Manning forced his way out of San Diego and into the hands of the New York Giants. So far, Manning has done little in the way of winning games to justify his tantrum as an NFL toddler. He could not even win a playoff game with Tiki Barber, Plaxico Burress, and Jeremy Shockey on his team. There's no need to mention what Philip Rivers did last season.

Why do rookies, particularly quarterbacks and receivers, come into the league thinking they have already accomplished something that lets them decide where they play and how much they get paid? In reality, they are getting an entry level job and should be treated as an entry level employee. The ones like JaMarcus Russell and Calvin Johnson are talented athletes from good programs in the same way a graduate from a top school is in the finance world. Although if I were JaMarcus Russell, I would not be terribly excited about playing in Oakland. But it should be his job to prove he can play at a high level before demanding a high contract. If Daunte Culpepper is healthy this year, Russell might end up riding the bench the whole season.

Brady Quinn is another example of someone who lost an opportunity to make an immediate impact on his team. The Browns are bad. Mostly, however, due to weakness at the quarterback position. Brady Quinn expected to be treated as a top ten pick but by dropping to 22nd in the draft, his first contract became considerably weaker. Because he whined about it by means of contract negotiations, he prevented himself from having a shot at the opening day starting role. The Browns will likely end up handing the quarterback position over to Quinn by the end of the season, but he took one step backwards by not having the chance to gel with teammates during training camp. No matter the skill of the quarterback, blockers, receivers, and running backs all need to be on the same page in order to make the offense work. With Quinn in camp, this season could have been much more constructive for the lowly Browns.

Opportunities come and go quickly in the NFL and one injury could make or break a player's career. Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and Marc Bulger are prime examples of players who made the most of their chances before people thought they would be ready. So if you are a first round pick, especially quarterback, and have a chance to start your first season, get into camp, get better, and if you are confident about your abilities, you will succeed and get paid.

Perhaps I am being naive about the NFL. It is a business and players should look out for their long-term financial security in the same way people in other careers do. There are probably 50 stories of failure for every story of success in the NFL. However, for these first round picks, they are already going to get paid millions of dollars over at least two or three years, regardless of how well they play. Those with football on their minds will do what it takes to get good and let their play help write their paychecks.

When it Rains, it Pours

It looks like no sport is immune from scandal this summer. Officials are investigating a possible betting scandal involving the match between 4th ranked Nikolay Davydenko and 87th ranked Martin Vassallo Arguello in an ATP tournament in Poland. Massive bets were placed for Arguello to win a match in which he entered the huge underdog. No accusations against Davydenko have been made but a British betting company nullified all bets pertaining to that match because of "suspicious betting patterns."

The ATP tour has avoided the substance abuse scandals endured by MLB and the Tour de France by dealing out harsh punishments to the likes of Guillermo Canas who was banned from the tour for a year for violating the policy. However it now looks like Tim Donaghy has some friends on the tennis circuit. Expect officials to be extra-sensitive in this case in light of the NBA's troubles this summer. I personally wouldn't be surprised if Davydenko was involved. He has had a thus-far disappointing season and has had to fight his fair share of injuries. Davydenko has not even made it to the finals of a tournament in 2007, let alone winning a championship. His play since Wimbledon has been downright awful. So perhaps he thought he could make some money on the side by overplaying an injury and throwing the match. Regardless, this does not affect tennis in the same way betting affects other sports. One corrupt player can be kicked out, a bad linesman can be overruled, and an incorrect chair umpire can now be questioned by players. Tennis has a better system of checks and a less subjective system of umpiring that protects the sport well from corruption.

On the women's side of the tour, Maria Sharapova quickly disposed of Sania Mirza, who until this match, had been playing her best tennis of the year. Mirza looked sluggish, hopeless, and lost on the court. She also could not get a serve to fall in. Admired by fans in India, Mirza has done a lot for women's tennis and for sports in India, but she will never amount to anything more on the court. She does not have the skills on her backhand or serve to be successful against a top player such as Sharapova. While Indians and people around the world alike can appreciate what she represents, she does not seem focused enough on tennis to be ranked in the top five.

Maria Sharapova, however, should be doing much more with her 2007. Three disappointing slams and like Davydenko, no tournament victories, should have her plenty motivated for the US Open. But she will have to start elevating her game if she has any chance of salvaging a season that can be considered a step backwards for a player that ought to have one major this year. Even against Mirza, winning 6-2, 6-1, Sharapova looked timid at times. Her serve has been, to say the least, unreliable over the summer and though she does not lack the focus, she seems to lack the mental toughness this season. Now, she's playing with expectations unlike the young woman who had nothing to lose when she won Wimbledon. I liked Sharapova then, but she might be drifting toward the land of Marat Safin, a fellow Russian whose full potential could never be realized because of faulty wiring between the ears.

KG to the Celtics!

Don't look now, but here comes the East. The Celtics and Timberwolves are on the verge of a trade that could help balance the lopsided NBA.

First Ray Allen was plucked from Seattle and now Kevin Garnett appears to be on the move for a lot of potential in Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, and Sebastian Telfair plus an expiring contract (Theo Ratliff). There is no question that the West still has better teams than the East, but the power may be shifting a bit. Let's look at the star power that has changed sides in the past couple seasons.

East to West:
1. Allen Iverson (to Nuggets)
2. Ron Artest (to Kings)
3. Grant Hill (to Suns)
4. Steve Francis (to Rockets)

West to East:
1. Ray Allen (to Celtics)
2. Kevin Garnett (to Celtics)
3. Jason Richardson (to Bobcats)
4. Zach Randolph (to Knicks)
5. Rashard Lewis (to Magic)

The East to West movement is mainly aging stars or those with baggage, or both. And while Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are also getting older, Zach Randolph and Jason Richardson are at or reaching prime age of play. Still, the Western Conference received a fortuitous bounce on lottery day which resulted in Portland and Seattle drafting Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. In the same way, the East was fortunate to land Dwyane Wade and LeBron James in the same draft year. The West certainly has more proven players and teams, not to mention 8 of the last 9 MVPs since Jordan's final MVP season and the past 6 consecutive MVPs.

The Celtics instantly become contenders in the East with the addition of Kevin Garnett. Miami's addition of Smush Parker and potentially others puts them back into contention. Orlando improved by adding Lewis and the Bulls improved through the draft. The Pistons will be solid and the Knicks will be improved yet again. New Jersey welcomes back Vince Carter as well as a healthy Nenad Krstic. Things are looking up in the East. The Cavs have yet to make big moves and the Wizards look for Arenas to really break out this season yet both teams will contend if healthy.

The talent in the west in undeniable with Steve Nash and Tim Duncan as the stalwarts. But I think the Mavs were exposed very badly last year and contrary to Mark Cuban's philosophy, they will need to rebuild in order to win. I would not put my faith in Dirk carrying Dallas to a championship because of how he was unable to respond to the Golden State defense. When Dwyane Wade was being blanketed by the Mavs, he rose above their defense to carry Miami to its title. Dirk instead faded into the offseason. Also, the Suns only have a couple more years of Steve Nash at that pace to be productive and Golden State cannot win on simply adrenaline as it reloads around Baron Davis. The Jazz will need an offensive boost to become challenge the Spurs and the Nuggets will need to gel better. The Lakers and Hornets need to stay healthy and need help around their stars, Kobe and Chris Paul. If their talent develops, Portland seems to have the brightest future, but that is still at least two years in the making.

So looking ahead to this season in the NBA, the Western Conference may well win the MVP or home court in the finals but don't be surprised if a team like the Heat or Bulls is able to bring a championship back east.

Stern Says All the Right Things

Facing a potentially catastrophic scandal, NBA Commissioner David Stern did and said all the right things. And what he said is that:

a) The NBA did all it could to prevent something like this from happening. Through the training, screens, and checks the NBA has a thorough system to educate referees on rules and monitor their behavior.

b) This was isolated to one referee who had developed a bad gambling habit and became trapped. He knowingly disobeyed the rules and before resigning on July 9th, he was planning to pursue a plea agreement in the impending case.

c) The NBA will review its procedure and rules to ensure the integrity of the game.

There is more to be interpreted from David Stern's message. First of all, he described a lot of the league's policies and procedures regarding officials. The referees are subjected to an observer system to monitor the calls that they make or don't make. Like the players, they are subjected to training camp, preseason, and regular season training sessions. Furthermore, there are different levels of referees that indicate what level of the playoffs they are allowed to ref. This is based on experience and performance. All things considered, Tim Donaghy was a mid-level NBA ref with a moderate amount of experience.

What I understood from David Stern illuminating the public on the NBA's procedures is that handing out pamphlets with gambling rules may not be the most efficient way of making rules clear. Stern insisted that the NBA's gambling policy for referees is clear, but how many of us have started a job, or opened a bank account, or signed up for something online and haven't read all of the conditions pertaining to that contract. The NBA is not completely innocent in this situation. Also, as part of the collective bargaining agreement, referees are not allowed to gamble in any form, except horse racing during the summer after the season is over. They must obtain a permit from the NBA to do this. This is a stupid rule. Either they are allowed to gamble or they are not allowed to. Horse racing is no different than slots or blackjack. If the referees' union wanted to give them some leeway, a more reasonable point to agree upon would be to disallow gambling on sports.

Tim Donaghy worked 139 regular season games and 8 playoff games over the past two seasons. The allegations of what games he placed bets on are still unclear. He is accused of betting on some games that he worked and possibly other games. The worry around the sports world is that the results of some games could have been changed due to Donaghy's bias. However, I don't believe he really influenced the outcome of games unfairly. If the NBA system is as thorough as David Stern claims, then presumably any irregular behavior would have been noticed and Donaghy would have been suspended in a similar fashion to Joey Crawford last season. Tim Donaghy wasn't the reason the Spurs beat the Suns. Tim Duncan had a much bigger role in that outcome. Believe that because it's true.

Still this will force the NBA to answer to a lot of critics and luckily they have David Stern to do so. Let the young stars in the league speak for the quality of basketball. In the mean time, this is a nice break to the boredom of summer sports.

Bonds...Vick...NBA Refs?

It was a bad week for sports. Bonds is two homers from the record, Michael Vick will be indicted, and the NBA is facing a Pete Rose-like scandal.

Here's my take. Barry Bonds is a good baseball player. He might be a jerk but he knows how to hit. The truth about baseball is that players have been using performance enhancing substances since the first day. The greats as we remember them now were not all model citizens. So although Bonds has given people plenty of reason to hate him, he has been a consistently good hitter his whole career. I'd much rather Bonds be the hero instead of Mark McGwire. I guess I'll just be happy when he breaks the record and people stop caring about baseball again.

On Michael Vick: he's stupid. He's Marcus Vick's brother. He's the most talented athlete in the NFL. He likes to watch and bet on dog fights. He finally has a receiver to throw to but might never get the chance to do anything substantial in the NFL. His loss, Nike's loss, the NFL's loss but look for a big suspension based on what Roger Goodell's reaction has been to this summer's plethora of misbehaving players.

On the NBA referee scandal: so many speculations can be made about this case. It is still too early to know whether games were actually tainted by betting and throwing games. But this is much worse than a player betting on games. This has potential to affect the credibility of the league just a year after it decided to give referees more respect and power with cracking down player reactions to calls made. This could make Rasheed Wallace turn in his sleep thinking about all of those technical fouls he was given. And although Joey Crawford wasn't implicated, it certainly reminds us of Tim Duncan's ejection last year and Crawford's subsequent suspension. Basically the NBA has to hope that this was not part of a bigger problem and is an isolated incident involving a human being that made some mistakes.

On a brighter side in the NBA, look for Steve Francis to have a renaissance in Houston. He'll be healthy and back in a city where he made is mark and is comfortable. At 30, he has plenty of good basketball left and Houston has quietly made key moves in the offseason to help them get to the next level. Less pressure on TMac and Yao means they will be even more effective.

Almost Perfect

I can't decide whether or not I was surprised by Federer winning his fifth Wimbledon. The question a lot of people are asking is: Could Federer have beat Nadal had he not injured his knee? The answer is that the injury did not matter. Nadal still had four break points in the fifth set and failed to convert.

What I like about the Caveman's stance on this final is that he recognized his own weakness: his serve. He has beaten Federer on clay and almost on grass but I think he still knows that his game needs improvement. If Nadal can learn to flatten out his serve from time to time, he could have a lot more success on grass. And remember, the kid is still only 21 years old. As long as he stays healthy, he will eventually get his first Slam besides the French.

About the match itself, you just had to watch. If you missed it, too bad for your life. Entertainment from start to finish. By the way, would you take Pete Sampras at his prime or Roger Federer at his prime at Wimbledon? I'd still take Pete no question.

Nadal = Caveman??

I'm back from a month in India and I managed to catch some of Wimbledon out there. It has been played out quite expectedly despite all the rain. I was watching Nadal's interview this morning and made a startling discovery. Geico is missing a caveman!! I found him, he's in London, playing at Wimbledon. Look:










I have to credit my brother for the idea of showing these guys side by side. Looks like Nadal is having a meltdown of his own at Wimbledon. Luckily for him he has been able to put together back to back five set wins.

In other news, Pete Sampras thinks he would still be able to get to the net against players today at Wimbledon. He's right. With his serve on point, he could do it. Roddick seems to think he's invincible with his serve as well. Given that if Roddick is going to win, he's going to do it either at Wimbledon or the US Open, but what makes Andy so cocky? Making it this far is good for Andy and he's building confidence but blah blah blah blah, Federer wins again. That is, unless blast from the past Juan Carlos Ferrero has an out of body experience. We might still see a Monday or Tuesday final to put off the boredom of July and August in the sports world.

French Open Week 2

There's no guarantee we see a Nadal vs. Federer final. But really, is anyone up to the challenge? I was happy to see Novak Djokovic playing to win and reaching the semifinals to set up his match against Nadal. Djokovic might be the type of player that men's tennis needs to challenge the two power houses. Everyone else, including former top players like Carlos Moya, look like amateurs against Nadal and Federer. Still, I doubt Djokovic will be able to seriously challenge Nadal in this year's tournament.

On the women's side, the most exciting event of week two was Justine Henin's victory over Serena Williams in the quarters. While Serena could intimidate and outplay most top players even when she's not at the top of her game, she could not do the same to Henin. That match, in my mind, solidifies Henin as the top player in women's tennis today. She has won at least one grand slam in every year since 2003 when she won two. She has reached four other slam finals and looks to add yet another French Open title to her collection. With the retirement of Kim Clijsters, the injuries plaguing the Williams sisters, and the inconsistency of Sharapova, Henin quietly put together an impressive four years of tennis. She should be the heavy favorite going into the finals against first time finalist Ana Ivanovic.

I was surpised that Guillermo Canas put on such a lackluster performance against Nikolay Davydenko. Perhaps he was looking past Davydenko, anticipating another match up with Federer. Canas is one player who managed to discover some flaws with Federer's game, beating him twice this year. Canas and Djokovic have potential to be threats to win in the future, but this year's French Open will be a rematch of the budding rivalry between Nadal and Federer. The match should prove to be a thrilling one.

Roddick makes another early exit

This is my first blog so I'm going to start off with my first sport: tennis.

American favorites struggled and bowed out in the first round of the French Open, again.

It's official, Andy Roddick is not the one to carry on the torch of American tennis left behind by Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. Roddick played an uninspired match and often looked confused on the court. His serve fell apart and his forehand was overshadowed by winner after winner from opponent Igor Andreev.

I've never been so sure that Andy Roddick is just a one-hit wonder than after watching this match. Andy looked like Safin on a really bad day, throwing his racket and talking to himself. What's worse is that Andy admits that his mental game is the reason he has not seen more success. While that might be true in the early rounds against supposedly weaker opponents, I don't think Roddick has the tools or skills to win in the later rounds. He has no consistent strategy or play to back up his big serve. And if the serve falls apart, he has no chance.

I think Andy has finally started to realize that his future is not to be mentioned in the same breath as the other American tennis legends. This is Andy's second lack luster year in a row and he has yet to win a tournament in 2007. I know all of the die-hard Andy Roddick fans claim that he still can be the champion that he was expected to be. But at this point, expectations are not enough. Getting to the finals of a slam is not enough, just ask Anna Kournikova. It will take a miracle for Andy to pull an Agassi-like renaissance of a career who's ending was almost prematurely written. But it would be stupid to try to compare the early parts of Roddick's Career with Agassi's. To put it simply, Andy Roddick is not good enough.

Unfortunately for Andy, he doesn't have the looks or appeal to be an icon like Kournikova. And he doesn't have the skill to be a tennis pro with the likes of Igor Andreev. Let the Nadal-Federer rematch happen and as I look for a job for myself, I will look for one for Andy Roddick as well.