Category: Sports

Hump Day Hoops-The Blue and Gold Iceberg

A good friend has encouraged me to recognize that the Pacers have hit a giant iceberg. He might be right. My hope is that it's a daylight iceberg. Once seen, a course correction can ensue. Even though you may have to take the long way around, you can still arrive at the destination. That may be the best Pacer fans can hope for.

 

I’ve been thinking about why the Pacers are in such a state of crisis and the best I can come up with is pretty simple. This is only the second year the Pacers have been good. That’s not usually a bad thing but because of last season’s great playoff run, this year’s early season success and the faltering of the Bulls, Nets and Knicks, the Pacers have ascended to contender status a year too soon. They just weren’t ready for it.

 

This is supposed to be the growing pain season when teams figure out how to shift from being the hunter to being the hunted but it’s extremely hard to go through growing pains when also being under the championship microscope. Ask Miami. Their growing pains at the start of the Big 3 era were obvious and very public. The biggest differences between the two squads are critical. The Heat had two of the five best players in the world and starred three guys who were very accustomed to massive amounts of attention.

 

The Heat bumbled and stumbled to the NBA Finals three years ago despite never being a dominant team. They simply had enough talent to overcome the hurdle of outsized expectations. They couldn’t figure out a rotation or a pecking order but they managed to survive the East playoffs because LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were all top 20 players. When they figured out a pecking order, how to handle media scrutiny the next season and how to use their exceptional talent, they dominated.

 

The Pacers still want to play without a pecking order and have almost no experience with intense media attention. The pecking order will shake out in the playoffs when matchup advantages become obvious but amazingly, I’d guess that Lance Stephenson is the Pacer who has been a ‘high profile’ guy the longest. “Born Ready” got the Big Apple spotlight as a high school standout but none of the other Pacers had that kind of attention, even in college. Now that professional (and importantly, personal) foibles are being scrutinized intensely, everything changes. Paul George has an awesome new television commercial. That doesn’t mean he has a support network in place to help him navigate these new waters.

 

That goes for the Pacers as a whole. These championship waters are new and the Pacers probably shouldn’t be in them yet. They simply don't have the kind of exceptional talent Miami did when they went throught their growing pains.  I think it's clear that this team dramatically overachieved in the first half of the season. That’s what led to the spoiling of the fan base I mentioned last week.

 

This season the Pacers have been Portland East in some respects. They overachieved so much so early that expectations were raised to surprising heights. Each team's player profile is also similar. Both teams have a marginal top 10 guy, a marginal top 25 guy and 2 marginal top 50 guys. Solid playoff teams to be sure. But that doesn’t sound like a champion’s profile does it?* Do any Pacers fans really anticipate that the Trail Blazers will make the Finals this year?

 

We shouldn’t realistically expect the pacers to be champs this year but lots of us do. My hope is that the Pacers use the next month to figure out where they need to fix the relationships and scoring issues that seem so obviously problematic.

 

Against the Spurs, they played timidly. As though they were afraid to shoot and hurt each other's feelings. Playing not to lose instead of playing to win. I’d guess that the media attention is an element of this; no one wants to be “selfish”. But part of that stems from the low pace, high efficiency offense Vogel prefers. One guy missing 3 shots in a quarter is a big deal when there are only 18 shots are taken in the whole quarter. 

 

On the Evan Turner/Danny Granger issue, I think Vogel should experiment with ET starting at the 3 with Lance coming off the bench. That would give the Pacers a giant lineup capable of covering up some of ET’s defensive lapses. Turner would also have a chance to pick up some offensive scraps off double teams of the other guys. He just can't create offense without taking 8 dribbles. As a 5th option in the starting lineup, he won't need to. Then Lance can come in and be the primary catalyst for the 2nd unit. Bringing Lance in with 3 minutes left in the 1st quarter and halfway through the 3rd means the Pacers would never rely on Turner or CJ Watson or Donald Sloan to initiate their offense.

 

 

One last thing: Entering the playoffs as the second seed may be the best thing to happen to the Pacers. They don't know how to be front runners because they haven't done it before. In last year’s playoffs they had the element of surprise and that freed them up to play loosely. Now that advantage has gone out the window. I'd love to see them replace it with hunger. 

 

 

Franklin Oliver

 

*The champions with a player profile closest to these Pacers has probably been the Spurs but we can all acknowledge that the Spurs have been an aberration in nearly every way.

 

 

© Gayle Force Press 2014

 

 

 

Hump Day Hoops: A Plea to Pacer Nation

 

Ok Pacers fans, I think we need to do three things:

 

Hold on. Relax. Stop Whining.

 

Better already, right?

 

Here’s the reality check lots of us need. This Pacers squad has spoiled us. They started spoiling us in the playoffs when they did better than they should have until Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals when Miami kicked them in the teeth. That game demonstrated the gulf between the two squads was far greater than we wanted to believe.

 

They spoiled us much more in the fall. They began the regular season with impressive urgency and success. They believed that they needed home court advantage in the playoffs and took the regular season more seriously than anybody else in the East. That meant their record was fattened on cupcakes and they were very competitive against the best teams in the league too.

 

Then Paul George took The Leap! and looked like one of the best players in the world. Between his early season prominence and the Pacers record, MVP talk started up. So did the notion that the Pacers should be a title favorite this year. Everyone should remember how silly that notion seemed in the summer when the Bulls, Knicks, Nets and Heat were all in that conversation.

 

In September, how many of you would have bet money that the Pacers would own the best record in the East? Stop lying. It was me, Jeff McClure and about 12 other diehards. Everyone else got spoiled by the hot start, the national buzz, everyone else’s injuries and how much we like this team.

 

That’s an underrated factor in all this. Pacer fans finally warmed up to this group after too much hesitation and now we feel let down because this awesome collection of guys might not be the ’85 Lakers after all. Whoops. I mean, ’86 Celtics. I forgot where I live for a moment there. My bad.

 

All I’m asking is that we stop shouting ICEBERG!!  long enough to recognize that this team is way ahead of schedule. The Pacers are also one of the 5 best bets to hoist the Larry O’Brien in June. (I’ll write about how silly NBA trophy names are soon. Easy, awesome fixes.)

 

For now, let’s enjoy all 82. This is a team that works hard on D, shares the ball on O (sometimes to a fault) and is on course to do legitimately special things. As Pacers fans, we should help them try to spoil us a little more.

 

Go Pacers!

 

 

– Franklin Oliver

 

Hump Day Hoops: Team Rivalries

by Franklin Oliver 

 

If you missed last week, hop on board… 

 

Chicago and Miami

 

Miami must be convinced that every team in the League fancies the Heat as a rival. Repeat NBA titles and three straight Eastern Conference championships develops that kind of profile. While you will be hard pressed to find members of the Heat acknowledging anyone as a legitimate rival, Chicago comes very close.

 

Tension from this rivalry has many sources: the Bulls ending Miami’s astonishing win streak last year; the Bulls use of the ‘Jordan Rules’ on LeBron James; the Bulls’ absurd penny pinching contrasted with Miami’s apparently endless supply of low salaried veteran additions; Miami winning two 5 game playoff series with these core groups intact; Derrick Rose interrupting James’ MVP streak in an already embarrassing vote; even Chicago’s failure to land LeBron James, Chris Bosh or South Sider Dwyane Wade during their last free agency period.

 

The Heat are still the kings of the NBA mountain and the Bulls believe they are destined to replace them there. By force if necessary.

 

 

Chicago and Indiana

 

Even before the Bulls gave the Pacers their first loss of the season, this was shaping up to be one of the best rivalries in the League. These teams have both failed to defeat Miami in fiercely competitive playoff series. Both squads fancy themselves the Heat’s top challenger and heir apparent. Indiana and Chicago are also convinced that they have the best team defense and rising star in basketball.  The problem is that there can be only one!

 

Part of the scarcity problem these teams experience means that they need to prove something with every meeting. Each game between the two plays out like a grudge match. The preseason game between the two last month was more physical than some regular season matchups will be. Add in the geographic proximity and disdain between the fan bases and Pacers/Bulls has one of the fullest rivalry profiles in sports right now.

 

 

 

Brooklyn and Miami

 

The last of the Eastern Conference rivalries I’ll consider is the only one that’s largely driven by personal animosity. It’s simple, really. Brooklyn’s leaders are the former Celtics, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry. Those guys were at the top of the mountain before the Heat replaced Boston’s Big Three with a newer, flashier, more successful version.

 

While it’s clear that the South Beach version is not enamored with the older trio, most of the animosity here rests with the old lions. They hate Miami. That hate reached absurd proportions last year when Ray Allen refused to stay with Boston (after their attempted to trade him blew up in Danny Ainge’s face) and the returning Celtics publicly snubbed him. It hasn’t dissipated at all. This is the kind of animosity rarely seen in contemporary sports. It’s strong enough to automatically put the Heat and Nets on this list.

 

 

LA Clippers and Memphis

 

This may be my favorite current rivalry because it’s focused on the court. And, how…

 

Each of the last two years, the Grizzlies and Clippers fought an intense, highly competitive first round playoff series. The teams have split the series and won fans across the country. Unlike some of the other rivalries here that feature teams who have attempted to model themselves after each other, the Clippers and Grizzlies have substantially different team personalities and rosters. Los Angeles’ primary attributes are a high octane offense, great shooters, the most athletic post combination in the league, a legendary point guard who seems ordained to be a Hall of Famer and a championship winning coach

 

Memphis has an exceptional defense, hilariously bad 3 point shooting, highly skilled but deeply unathletic 4 and 5, a point guard whose father is a legend and a coach in his first year as the head man. It’s these contrasts that have made the matchups so intriguing to watch.

 

Just this week, tensions might have mounted between the teams as Memphis’ defensive ace Tony Allen kicked Chris Paul in the head while attempting to defend Paul and another player simultaneously. But Allen and Paul respect each other so much that Paul immediately recognized the accidental nature of the incident. Would all rivalries live on such an elevated plane!

 

 

 

LA Clippers and LA Lakers

 

This is a weird rivalry because it’s so metaphysical. The idea of a rivalry is much greater than the actuality of that rivalry. The national media and the Clippers themselves seem desperate to make the Hallway Rivalry a big deal. The most recent furor has come from Doc Rivers’ attempt to create a distinctive Clipper home court advantage by covering up the Lakers’ championship banners.

 

A perfect example of how clearly the ‘little brother’ the Clippers are comes from Jalen Rose’s newest NBA feature. Another is the one sidedness of the rivalry. Last year was the first time the Clippers ever won the season series. Ever. So maybe this one is on the way to being one of the top 5 rivalries in the league.

 

 

Feuds to Keep an Eye on:

 

Brooklyn-New York: Big city. Big names. Big hype. 

Atlanta-Milwaukee: Wacky offseason intrigues will make this a confusing rivalry at the bottom of the East playoff race. 

Miami-Oklahoma City: 5 of the top 25 basketball players in the world. Only one crown to be worn. 

 

 

 

Hump Day Hoops: Anticipation

 

 

Here's the first of a weekly series of blog posts focused on my favorite sport, NBA basketball. I'll be happy to hear what you think about it.  

 

So far, the NBA season can still be summed up in this one word: anticipation.

 

I’m anticipating the rise of the superpower in Miami.

 

I’m anticipating magical duos in Oklahoma and Houston and LA and New Orleans

 

I’m anticipating beautiful ball movement and versatility in Minny and Oakland.

 

I’m anticipating fierce D from the Pacers and Bulls. And the Grizz and Spurs.

 

I’m anticipating the last gasps of my wife’s favorite player. And those of one of the twenty best of all-time.

 

I’m anticipating four or five guys who deserve to be first-team All NBA guards.

 

I’m anticipating All-Star rosters that has more guys under 25 than over 30.

 

I’m anticipating Kingly things from LeBron James.

 

I’m anticipating Kevin Durant to continue being this generation’s Alydar.

 

I’m anticipating missing David Stern just a little bit come June.

 

I’m anticipating one of the best seasons ever.

 

 

Mt. Hibbert Explodes!

 

A friend of mine mentioned that since Roy Hibbert’s press
conference Saturday, he’s now rooting for the Heat. That started me thinking
about what Hibbert was actually aiming for in that presser. 

 

 

I must admit that I've always been perplexed by "no
homo". That phrase is often used in ways that are totally nonsensical.
There’s an interesting Slate article
from a few years ago that describes some of the curious ways it functions in
rap music. For Hibbert to have used “no homo” seemed like acting out as part of
a broader attempt to be tough. The same is true of his calling the reports
"motherfuckers". They both sounded false coming from him. (It verges
on funny to watch Hibbert consider whether to actually say “motherfucker” or
not. I immediately had flashbacks to middle school.)

 

 

Let’s face it, Hibbert is just not a 'street' guy.
Particularly in Indiana in the decade long aftermath of the ‘Malice in the
Palace’, NOT being a street guy is part of why Mt. Hibbert is widely beloved. He’s
one of the faces of the Pacers franchise and in a world wherein Wilt
Chamberlain could believe, “Nobody loves Goliath,” Hibbert’s kindness, charity,
quick smile and obvious love for his family have made him an important
exception to the rule. We Hoosiers love our Goliath. 

 

 

That’s part of what was so jarring about Saturday night. The
eyes of the nation are rarely on the Hoosier State where the NBA is concerned.
The Pacers have been the most important, positive surprise of the playoffs but
Saturday’s after game was a deeply unpleasant, unanticipated surprise. The
contrasts between the press conference and Hibbert’s immediate postgame
interview were shocking. It seems clear that Hibbert’s 'Happy Birthday Dad' hokum
was authentic. The badass wannabe posing he did on the dais wasn’t. Thank
goodness.  

 

 

Of course, it’s always hard to balance who you are and who
you are expected to be, isn’t it? I imagine that’s particularly true on big
stages with bright lights. I’m pleased that David Stern pulled some charity
cash out of Hibbert’s pockets. My hope is that Saturday night will serve as
another clear reminder that the world continues to change and we all need to change
along with it. 

 

 

FDO

 

 

 

February 15 Muhammad Ali

 

This Black History Month I’m Grateful for Muhammad Ali

 

 

“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will
accomplish nothing in life.”

 

-Muhammad Ali  

 

 

I want to spend today’s blog post reflecting on a man who
transcended virtually all the expectations of his life. While a young boxing
champion, the man born Cassius Clay made the first high profile conversion to
Islam. After being brought into the Nation of Islam by Malcolm X*, the newly
christened Muhammad Ali was immediately condemned as an un-American radical. Most
in the mainstream media refused to use his chosen name for years.

 

 

When drafted
to enter the Vietnam War, Ali became the most celebrated American to refuse
induction. Ali famously declared that he had no quarrel with the Vietcong.
Although Ali was offered the possibility of spending his military service as a
traveling entertainer, he continued to refuse to participate and risked jail
time for his stance. Although he was not imprisoned, he was stripped of his
championship and not allowed to work as a boxer.

 

 

For many years, Ali’s name was associated with Jane Fonda’s
as Vietnam era traitors. It took much longer for Ali’s stance to be recognized
for the act of willing sacrifice that it truly was. Ali eventually was allowed
to return to boxing where he became the first three time heavyweight champion.
More importantly, Ali used his fame and celebrity to support a wide variety of
social causes. As the most famous Muslim in the world, Ali had an extraordinary
following and level of credibility globally. Ali has been honored with the
Presidential Medal of Freedom and in the 1996 Summer Olympics, his lighting of
the Olympic Torch became one of the iconic images of the decade.

 

 

Ali’s work as an advocate for peace was generally
understated but recently, ESPN produced a documentary
detailing Ali’s role in freeing American hostages held in Iraq before the
Persian Gulf War. At this stage in his life, Ali’s physical impairments had
already manifested and he risked his health in a profound way on this trip. As
one of the most famous people in the world, Muhammad Ali could have chosen to
bask in luxury and adulation. Instead, he’s continually worked to promote peace
and justice.  He’s become an icon worthy
of the label.

 

 

Today I am grateful for Muhammad Ali. You should be too.

 

FDO

 

*- check back Thursday

 

Here's a poem I wrote for Ali:

 

 

The Greatest

 

King of all the world

From sinner to savior to saint

And shrill to sagacious to silent

Always beautifully, willfully,
painfully

Real.

 

 

© Gayle Force
Press 2003

 

 

February 8 Paul Robeson

 

This Black History Month I’m Grateful for   Paul Robeson


 

“As an artist I come to sing, but as a citizen, I will
always speak for peace, and no can silence me in this.”


-Paul Robeson

 

 

When Paul Robeson is referenced today, it’s usually as a
victim of politics. Robeson was viciously scapegoated by the US government during the Red
Scare of the 1950s. His political interests were used to destroy his
career and turn him into a social pariah. Robeson deserves to be remembered as a
pioneer and one of the great Renaissance men of the 20th
century. 

 

There was virtually nothing Paul Robeson could not do well. Taken
individually, his academic, athletic and artistic exploits are enough to make
Robeson important. Combined in a single person, Robeson’s life seems superhuman.
By the time he was 25, Robeson had graduated Rutgers as valedictorian, been
named a football All-American, completed law school and played in the NFL.

 

Robeson then embarked on one of the critical artistic
careers in Black American history. He combined unparalleled vocal talent with breathtaking
acting chops to perform in a dizzying array of styles and contexts. Robeson’s
performances as Othello, Emperor Jones and in Show Boat opened doors for Blacks
to entertain audiences without playing demeaning or stereotypical characters. Stars
like Sidney Poitier and Henry Belafonte were able to be viewed as strong, dignified
Black men because Robeson had already created that template.

 

Robeson used his wealth and status to advocate for a slew of
political causes. He supported trade unionists, civil rights groups, progressive
politicians, anti-Fascist and anti-lynching groups among many others. Robeson’s
fight for the end of colonialism eventually led him to embrace communism and spend
time in the USSR after which he became one of the most prominent Americans to
be blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee. Robeson had
numerous opportunities to salvage his reputation, rescue his career and
continue enriching himself monetarily. Instead, he willingly sacrificed himself
and his fortune, to stay devoted to his friends, comrades and beliefs. It can
be argued that few individuals suffered more from America’s anti-communist
excesses than Paul Robeson.

 

While his controversial politics discolors our collective memory
of him, Paul Robeson should be remembered as a fierce advocate for the freedom,
dignity and equality of all people. He broke the mold of what a Black person
could be and forced the world to acknowledge his gifts.

 

Today I am grateful for Paul Robeson. You should be too.

 

FDO

 

 

 

NBA 2012-13 Preseason Predictions

 

MVP:  LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul

Rookie of the Year:
 Anthony Davis, Damien Lillard, Harrison
Barnes

Most Improved Player:
 Derrick Favors, Omer Asik, DeMarcus
Cousins

Coach of the Year:
 Lionel Hollins, Erik Spoelstra, George
Karl

Pacific Division
Champion:  Los Angeles Clippers

Northwest Division
Champion:  Oklahoma City Thunder

Southwest Division
Champion:   Memphis Grizzlies

Southeast Division
Champion:  Miami Heat

Central Division
Champion:  Indiana Pacers

Atlantic Division
Champion:  Brooklyn Nets

 

Western Conference Champion:  Memphis Grizzlies

Eastern Conference Champion:  Miami Heat

 

NBA Champion:  Miami Heat

 

There are many teams with the potential to be great this
year, I’m excited to see how high they manage to climb. The LA teams, Spurs,
Thunder, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Heat, Nets, Pacers, Bulls and Celtics all have a
chance to win 55 games. A few of those teams may even threaten 60 wins.

 

But
there’s only one team with a substantial margin for error and that’s the Heat.
If LeBron, DWade or Chris Bosh gets hurt, the team will suffer but not falter.
That’s the difference between Miami (and the pre-Harden trade Thunder) and
everybody else. 

 

FDO

 

 

NFL Officiating Week 1

 

I’m astonished at how bad the NFL’s replacement officials
were in this first week of the season. It’s not that they blew calls. Professional
football is an immensely complicated game played by mind blowing athletes at
mind boggling speeds. Blowing calls happens. My astonishment comes from the
failures to understand game situations, know rules and procedures and the ease
with which crews were intimidated by crowds.

 

There were at least three games in which officiating crews
just plain botched timeouts, challenges and replays. In the nightcap between
the Broncos and Steelers, the refs didn’t even know to allow a PAT before
granting the two minute warning. Perhaps the Seahawks-Cardinals game will prove
meaningless at the end of the season but it’s unlikely. I’m surprised there
hasn’t been more outcry about that one. (Just because the right team won doesn’t
absolve the officials of blame.) By the way, these aren’t issues related to
game speed, these are issues related to applying knowledge on the fly.

 

My son is a giant Packers fan (yes, I still claim him) and
even he admitted that the Cheesehead crowd cowed officials into picking up a
flag for an illegal block in the back so clear that it could serve as the
visual illustration for what NOT to do on a kick return. Even gentle Troy
Aikman felt compelled to chide the officials on that one.

 

There were multiple times yesterday when ball spotting was
so bad as to be almost comical. Ball carriers nearly always advance the ball
when they place it on the turf for spotting. They don’t expect it to work
though!

 

Hopefully, the accumulated problems of these officials will
encourage the NFL to end its lockout before some team gets obviously robbed by poor
officiating. What? No. No, I don’t really think so either. 

 

 

FDO

 

NFL Predictions

Yep, I'm officially nuts. N V T S Nuts. 

 

NFL PREDICTIONS 2012-2013 SEASON

 

NFC East

DAL       6-10

#NYG    13-3

*PHI      14-2

WAS      2-14

 

NFC North

CHI         9-7

#DET      13-3

*GB        13-3

MIN        6-10

 

NFC South

*ATL      10-6

CAR        3-13

NO         10-6

TB          6-10

 

NFC West

ARI          1-15

STL         3-13

*SF          13-3

SEA         6-10

 

AFC East

#BUF     11-5

MIA        2-14

*NE        15-1

NYJ        5-11

 

AFC North

*BAL       12-4

CIN         10-6

CLE         2-14

#PIT        12-4

 

AFC South

*HOU      14-2

IND         9-7

JAC        1-15

TEN        3-13

 

AFC West

DEN       10-6

KC          3-13

OAK        5-11

*SD         13-3

 

 

*- Division Champion

#- Wild Card

 

 

FDO