GOR, Late June Entry

I’m back after my hiatus and here’s what’s on my mind:

NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft is tomorrow (Thursday, June 26) and the Cavaliers actually have a first round pick at 19 overall. If they are smart, they will package that pick and players for an established NBA player who can consistently score the basketball.

Their needs are plenty – consistent scoring, shooting, athleticism and post defenders with shot-blocking abilities. Other than that, they are set. Right.

The Cavaliers do not have many pieces to trade that other teams want as we all know, so including a mid-round #1 in a deal might be able to get them over the hump and get them some real help for LJ.

If they keep the pick, a wise-man told me they should take Chris Douglas-Roberts out of Memphis if he is there at 19. That wise-man is my son, who has been right more often than not in the past when it comes to draft picks – see L. Tomlinson over G. Warren. I trust his judgment more than the guys making most of these picks (See S. Brown, C. Mihm, etc…).

I have no opinion on who they should take if they retain the pick for two reasons.

First, I have not seen enough college basketball to make an educated judgment, and secondly, I have stated I would deal the pick for immediate help. LJ only has two years left on his deal and if they have any hope of keeping him beyond that point, they’d better move fast and add real talent.

Lakers-Celtics
I want to take this opportunity and tell you how stupid I can be.

Several weeks ago I picked the Lakers to defeat the Celtics in the NBA Finals. Why? Because I believed Kobe Bryant was the best player in the series and his supporting cast overall was better than the Celtics.

I again went against my first rule in sports – always take the better defensive team. I also made that mistake this spring in picking the Wizards over the Cavaliers in the post-season. I doubled down on that stupidity in the Finals.

Add the fact that I had the Celtics in the Finals before the season began, eventually losing to the Spurs, should have been enough for me to ride that horse till the end.

So what if the Spurs didn’t make it. If I felt in November the Celtics were good enough to reach the Finals, I had no reason to jump off that wagon and hitch my saddle to Kobe and company, even though they came from the alleged better conference.

The West has better offensive players in it. That does not make it clearly better. The style of play out West is different and since we are an offensive-minded sports culture, we assume offense always equals better in basketball because it's more pleasing to the eye. That’s not the case all the time.

I should have remembered that fact.

Only the Spurs and Jazz are year-in-year out good defensive teams out west. The majority of the rest of the conference is offensive-oriented. There are more guys who can score the basketball in the West. That’s all.

How else do you explain the Cavaliers taking the Celtics to seven games and coming within a couple baskets of beating the eventual champions with that roster while the best team in the alleged toughest conference lost in six and out-and-out quit (losing by 40) in game #6 in Boston?

I won’t even go into the large leads they lost to the Celtics while in LA.

Hell, even lowly Atlanta made the Celtics sweat more than the mighty Western Conference representative.

I know, I know, sometimes match-ups dictates what will happen.

I am not buying that in this case. There was no reason for the Lakers to lay such an egg in this series. This wasn't the "Bill Russell" or "Larry Bird" Celtics they were up against. This group had R. Rondo running the show. Defenders ran away from him to help elsewhere in the playoffs as though he had a contagious disease.

More on that later.

There is one other reason the Cavaliers gave the Celtics their best series.

LJ is the best player on the planet and nearly beat Boston by himself (again) in game #7 while the second best player on the planet (Kobe) had an ordinary series against the Celtics. If Paul Pierce does not have a career game in game #7 to offset James' effort, the Celtics don’t advance.

Remember, James has played Superman in the past. He does it all the time. This was the first time Pierce reached that level on such a huge stage. That's what it took for the Celtics to beat Cleveland. That and the rest of the Cavs' roster laying another egg. Other than Joe Smith, no other Cav played well in that series from beginning to end.

Also, remember that LJ is the closest thing to Michael Jordan in terms of making everyone around him better. He is not in Jordan’s league in terms of overall individual basketball talent but he is in terms of being able to get the most out of the talent around him. Those of you who understand what I have just said understand the basic DNA of sports.

Let’s try another approach – if you put James in a Lakers’ uniform, who wins that series against the Celtics? The Lakers do because James gets more out of Gasol, Odom and company by getting them consistently better/easier looks at the basket.

James also rebounds the ball better than most power forwards in the league and would have offset somewhat the Celtics decided edge over the Lakers in toughness inside.

Also, if Kobe is such a terrific defender, how did Paul Pierce win the Finals MVP Award? There were times the two guarded each other, and from my vantage point, Pierce won that battle most of the time.

Kobe is a much better shooter than James. He is the world's best one-on-one player, not the "best player on the planet" as the media would have you believe. He's at best #2 on that list.

Finally, if you don’t believe me – believe my favorite rapper – “The Diesel” and his recent lyrical observation: “Kobe can't win without me. Kobe, how does my $#@ taste. Kobe, how does my $#@ taste.”

Or something to that effect.

Bob Ryan
Here’s a simple case of a local (Boston) reporter letting his heart get into the way of reality. He recently stated this Celtic team was the second best he has ever seen. Sure, have another drink.

I have no idea how they would do against the great Celtic teams of Russell and company. I never saw them play. But this group would have NO chance against the Larry Bird teams of the 80s. That team not only had Bird – one of the game’s five best players of all-time – but two other Hall of Famers (McHale & Parrish), and Dennis Johnson, a lookdown defender, and Danny Ainge, a 6-5 versatile guard. That team played together for years and also had the highest basketball IQ of any team I have ever seen.

Ryan got carried away. Hopefully, he will come to his senses soon and apologize for that asinine comment. Next, Ryan will tell us this Celtic team could handle Magic, Kareem and that crew.

Goodbye CC
First, let's make clear I am a CC fan. Those of you who have read this blog in the past know that. If I were in charge, signing him would have been my #1 priority LAST YEAR. However, they (Indians) screwed that up, so we are where we are.

The Indians are under .500 and show no sign of coming out of it. Now it is imperative the Tribe get the “right” package for CC. They desperately need a good corner outfield or corner infield bat and power arms in the pen. It’s also crucial that bat comes with a potential high on base percentage. This team does not need a player who will hit 30 homers and fan over 100 times. They already have too many players who don’t make enough contact.

Everyone wants a Barloto Colon type package in return. That’s wishful thinking. Rarely do you hit on all three prospects in one deal. If they can get two players who can be key contributors at the major league level for the next 6-8 years, they will be doing well.

For those morons who still want them to keep CC through the season, ask them who the Indians got for “Joey” Belle, Manny Ramirez or Jim Thome and what did keeping them until they skipped town get them (Indians)?

Trade Bait
Astrubal Cabrera is playing shortstop in AAA. That should tell you something. We wanted Cabrera at SS at the beginning of 2008 and Peralta moved to second. Look for that to take place soon. The Tribe may be shopping Peralta along with the obvious others – CC, Byrd and Blake.

Here is my problem with that – it is hard to find middle infielders who hit with power – especially in a post steroids era. If they deal JP, they’d better get quality in return. As of now, they have no second baseman of the future on the roster.

Which brings us to Casey Blake - his strength is versatility. Few players can play all four corner positions adequately like he can and also hit for some measure of power. The downside is he’s at best a .270 hitter and nothing more. He’s the classis “average” major league player – which is saying something since getting to the big leagues and staying there is the most difficult thing to do in sports. He’s also a free agent after the season.

I can’t see the Indians committing a fat multi-year contract to Blake based on the numbers he puts up. But then again, his versatility is intriguing. Blake might also be on the block come July.

The Indians however need to be careful they don’t create too many holes with deals at the deadline. There is no one in the system to play third base right away. Ditto for second base. And although Cabrera can play shortstop better than Peralta from a defensive standpoint, his offensive meltdown in 2008 is worrisome. I, a Cabrera fan, certainly did not see it coming.

Too many moves once out of the playoff picture might be problematic. The key is the quality ou get back for CC. That will go a long way toward telling us what type of team will be in Cleveland the next few years.

PAC Man
I read where one of my favorites said he would “pray” for Don Imus. I didn’t know they had altars and pews in strip clubs. I love Pac Man. I wanted him playing cover corner for the Browns this fall. But come on.

Omar
A final word on my wife's favorite player of all-time - Omar V. Another of my commandments is you keep a Hall of Fame player when you have one. Until the end. Period.

We said at the time the Indians needed to keep Omar several years ago when they deemed him old and expendable. I would overpay a player who has meant that much to a franchise to make the fans happy and have him enter the HOF wearing my uniform. Yes, even if his skills have eroded somewhat. In Omar's case, that has taken place just recently.

I know it goes against my rule of "this is a business and you need to treat it as such." See my desire for the Browns getting PAC Man when he was available cheap.

But in Omar's case, I would have kept him, escpecially after two other HOFs left town - Manny and Thome. That is another reason why I wanted the Tribe to sign CC. He's the closest thing they have to a HOF talent next to the underachieving Grady Sizemore.

He's (Omar) barely hitting .180 since coming off an injury, but seeing him easily execute a perfect suicide squeeze then make a nice play in the hole in the ninth inning to get a key out at second to beat the Tribe yesterday reminded me of what has been missing in Cleveland the past few years.

That needed to be said.

Tiger
I actually watched Tiger Woods play golf recently and came away with a this question - Is it a sport if a guy can win the event playing basically on one leg?

You can't play football, basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, etc... on one leg. You can win the World Series of Poker on one good leg though.

Look, that's not to say Woods isn't an amazing talent. My beef is with comparing him and his "sport" to the other major sports in play. To call golfers "great athletes" is what I question. I would use "great talent" instead. That's just me.

Golf is a game of great skill, but to put it in the same league with other major sports gives me room for pause. Let's just say I don't think golfers in large part are some of the world's best athletes. Again, that's not to take anything away from Woods' individual greatness. He might be the exception.

Remember - the ball ain't moving and no one is even allowed to say a word when you hit it.

And please don't go to "You don't know how hard it is to be there all by yourself, and execute a 12 foot put uphill to win a tournament with all those eyes on you."

Come on. Give me some credit.

I'm sure that's harder than trying to catch a pass over the middle with a 220 pound missile (known as a safety) about to hit you at full speed with 80,000 people screaming at the top of their lungs.

Or trying to score over a 6-5 athlete on an NBA floor who was also heavily recruited to play tight end in college.

Or maybe you'd like to try to hit a 90 mile per hour pitch that moves a ton (unlike a golf ball) thrown by a Major Leaguer.

Please. What's next, telling me it's extremely hard to walk a golf course at a tournament four times in one week. That's a lot of mileage right? I might buy that some if they at least had them carry their own bags.

Just because it's not easy to do, does not make it a sport!

There are good athletes playing golf, and yes, getting a pro golf card and making the tour is extremely difficult. I'm told it is one of the most difficult things to accomplish. But don't tell me Lee Trevino was a great athletes.

Yea, I know the sport has changed and they lift now, have personal trainers and take good care of their bodies. That's nice. I would also say it's about time.

I put golf somewhere below tennis and soccer. I would put it above distance running however. Sorry, for those of you who are skinny, like to run in circles and enjoy an occasional game of frisbee.

Soccer
I have also been watching the European Soccer Championships. I played the game as a youngster although I don't admit to it publicly very often. I, unlike, most Americans can appreciate a 1-0 match. Perhaps it's my European background - the fact that I came here from that part of the world.

Regardless, watching the tournament reminded me again what kind of damage the U.S. could do internationally in the sport if our best athletes played soccer instead of the other major sports.

We in the States have three main sports youngsters choose first and foremost - football, basketball and baseball. Soccer is at best #4 on that list. Some would place track and field #4, but I don't.

In the rest of the world, soccer is normally #1 or #2 at worst - Scandanavian countries emphasize hockey for example.

Soccer will never, I repeat never, reach the status of the "Big Three" in the U.S. There's simply too much competition. And now, with the emphasis on playing one sport year round, that fact has been solidified here in the States.

By the way, I am a big opponent of youngsters playing just one sport year round for several reasons. But that's for another day.

Besides, that's enough knowledge for you to consume in one sitting (reading).

The wait was worth it, wasn't it?

Getting On Records, 6-3-08

Betancourt
Last week, Eric Wedge started to show signs the losing was getting to him. He called out Rafael Betancourt for not pitching inside enough after another poor outing by the Tribe’s set-up man.

Last year, Betancourt combined with Rafael Perez to form the best set-up tandem in baseball. In 2008, both have had their struggles. Such is the life of a reliever in MLB. No one in their right mind expected the duo to post ’07 numbers in ’08. The memo obviously did not reach Wedge. Very few relievers are outstanding every year. The few that are that good that often usually pitch in the ninth inning.

What surprised this observer is Wedge naming a player who has struggled and critiquing him publicly. That’s a first for Wedge.

And why choose Betancourt?

Wedge has plenty of higher-priced regulars to criticize who have underachieved this season. Start at the top of the batting order and work your way to the ninth hitter and stop at a place of your choosing.

Secondly, Wedge’s critique is misguided in this case.

We all know you have to pitch inside to win – especially if you are a starter and have to face the same hitters two or three times a game. Betancourt is a reliever who pitches two innings max. It helps if he pitches inside, but he proved in ’07, he could dominate by painting the outside corner all season long. I have never seen a pitcher paint the black away like he did for six months in ’07. That's a hard habit to break if you have had success like he did.

To expect him to change his approach to pitching after just two months of struggling in ’08 is somewhat unrealistic – especially after no one got on him about pitching inside last year when he didn’t and was arguably the best set-up man in the AL.

Yes, he probably should pitch inside more. No one would argue that. But what has he done to draw Wedge’s ire in public? Hey Eric - it doesn’t take guts to call out a set-up guy.

Look for Mark Shapiro to have a heart to heart with Eric about his public critique of Betancourt. First, that’s not his style, and secondly, if you do it, you don’t choose a set-up guy. That doesn't go over well in the lockerroom.

Now to answer why he chose Betancourt – my guess is he (Wedge) was disappointed RB failed in the short time he was placed in the closer’s role when Joe Bo was out, and that frustration eventually came out in a post-game interview days later.

Remember, many have been pushing for Betancourt to close more even dating back to ’07when Borowski was doing his nightly ninth inning tight-rope act. Now, that future option does not seem as appealing.

Celtics – Lakers
We had the Celtics in the Finals before the season started but missed on the Lakers. Thanks to Memphis handing LA a polished post player (P. Gasol) for practically nothing in mid-season, the Lakers are representing the West.

Based on what we have seen in the post-season so far, we give a slight edge to LA over the Celtics. How’s 4-2 LA sound?

Both teams have three all-star caliber players. The difference is LA has the single best player on the floor – Kobe, excellent length and athleticism in Gasol and Odom inside, and the better bench. Advantage Lakers.

And no, I won’t be watching any of the upcoming Kobe kiss-ass features and comments the national media will be shoving down the throats of NBA fans. I’m not that stupid. He’s a great player but still currently the single most selfish player in team sports in this observer’s eye.

By the way, I will be rooting for Kevin Garnett to win a title.

Since wearing Celtic green, I don’t like him making those silly facial expressions every time he takes a breath on the floor, but otherwise, he represents what’s right about competition and being a professional.

Garnett is the anti-Kobe.

He toiled in Minnesota, never had enough talent around him, never got out of the first round, took the blame for it and didn’t complain, and never demanded (at least in public) to be traded. That’s the definition of a class act.

Flip Saunders & The Pistons
He takes them to the conference finals three straight years and is fired. It’s a rough business. Joe Dumars, who runs the show in Detroit, has basically said if you don’t get to the Finals coaching this group of Pistons, you have failed. That’s a high bar – especially now since this group is starting to get old and Detroit has one of the most inconsistent and volatile big men in the league in Rasheed Wallace.

Is it Saunders’ fault “Sheed” didn’t play well in the Celtic series?

Good luck to the next guy in line to try to get the Pistons over the hump before their window of opportunity closes.

My guess is the next Pistons coach will be a former player who recently retired. Dumars has not gone that route yet. He’s due to go there.