The Power Of Teamwork...

Great picture, huh?

I will admit, I wasn't fully inspired by this year's Duke team, until I saw them in person.

My passion and ethusiasm for Duke hoops, had slightly started to wane heading into this season.

I couldn't put my finger on why. I felt guilty. Was I bad fan? It's hard being named Dukie and not realizing the team was playing on certain nights. I stopped checking Dukebasketballreport (best fan site ever--- my homepage in college--- I think I was upset when they changed their layout). I still loved Coach K. I liked the players. But I wasn't surrounded by others who shared my passion. I'm living here in Miami. Whenever I'd talk Duke hoops to anybody, I'd get eye-rolls. So, I guess, I stopped trying.

Plus, to be perfectly honest, I was getting sick of Duke having the SAME season. The team was earning a 1 or 2 seed in the tournament, and then losing by the Sweet 16, to some team who was just bigger, tougher, and meaner.

I started to question Coach K's motives a bit. Was he too focused on the Olympics? Perhaps his heart wasn't in it like it used to be?

And then I saw them play in person.

It's like a loved one who you are in a little tift with, and then realize, I can't stay mad at you.

I loved the way they played.

In a word, together.

Coach K articulated it well himself after the Elite 8 Game "We're not a great team. We're a really good team, but we have great character."

He's on point.

Baylor was much more talented than Duke, player-to-player.

I saw several NBA-level players on Baylor.

But when things got tight, when it got late, when both teams couldn't score, it was Duke who found a way and then pulled away.

Part of it was simply Nolan Smith. He was playing basketball that could ONLY be described as inspired. A career-high 29 points for Nolan, and now, he leads Duke to the Final Four in the city where his late-father won HIS national title (Nolan's dad won with Louisville in 1980).

I always tell people I don't like sports movies, because real life is always better.

My brother called me during the second round of the tournament to tell me, your boys sure screen a lot, and well. I agreed.

Jay Bilas described Lance Thomas as one of the ONLY guys out there practicing screens during the layup line. Screening isn't the sexiest part of basketball. It's giving up your body so that your teammate can shine. But that's Lance Thomas.

Last night's game had the EXACT formula for what's knocked Duke out EVERY year since the title year in 2001. A top player has an off-night (Kyle Singler), a big man fouls out (Zoubek), and they face a fast, athletic opponent.

But *THIS* year's team didn't succomb. They withstood all of the adversity, and that's why they're marching on.

I have one favorite moment of the tournament so far, that I'd like to single out. If you're reading THIS far, you'll indulge me (the Maryland Folks and Tarheels probably gave up after the first sentence-- i tend to use a lot of big words--- i kid, i kid).

Jon Scheyer, who I love for many reasons (one of which is he's jewish---always a source of pride to see a member of the tribe do well in sports), has been having an awful tournament. At one point, he'd missed 15 straight shots. So when he was open for his 16th attempt, the ball came into his hands, and Jon BURIED IT. They showed a replay. Coach K went absolutely ballastic. He pumped his fists like someone who had just been told "come on down" on the 'price is right.'

That's what this team is about: Belief, trust, picking each other up.

Isn't that what you want in your sports teams? The whole to be greater than the collection of the parts? It's been a pleasure to watch a group of young athletes playing for each other, having each other's back, and achieving what others didn't think was possible (myself included).

Onto Indianapolis Blue Devils.

You've already made so many people, so proud. You've allowed me to rekindle a passion which is life-long, but every now and then, needs to be revived.

And you've shown me why I own not one, but TWO, Coach K Bobble-heads.

How about cutting down the nets one more time?

Final Four!!!!! Woo-Hoo!!!!

My Least Favorite Question...

I think in writing and life, it's always important to disclose your biases. So right off the bat I'll say this. I love Mike Krzyzewski. I think he's a phenomenal teacher, basketball coach, and human being.

Last night, Coach K took a Duke team that many thought didn't deserve to be a number 1 seed, to the elite 8.

I don't need to list his myriad accomplishments, suffice it to say, he's really good.

So why is it, during EVERY Duke game I watch, I always get asked my LEAST favorite question.

Why does Duke have so many white players?

I get asked that by people who are dead serious, I get asked that in jest, people say it with a smile.

First of all, most people aren't comfortable talking about race in this country. We're told it's impolite and frankly, most people aren't educated enough to do it intelligently.

I'm not a sociologist. Having taken a few soc classes and a few classes on race in America, does not make me an expert.

But I have a few thoughts on this question.

First of all, why does anyone care? It's not like Coach K tells his assistants, I want you to go out and find me the best 6 white kids. Go to the McDonald's All-American game, if you see any pale dudes, grab 'em.

Coach K is in the winning business, not the race business.

If you look at Duke's greatest players under Coach K, there's a mixed bag of race. Johnny Dawkins (black), Christian Laettner (white), Bobby Hurley (white), Grant Hill (black), Shane Battier (bi-racial), Jason Williams (black), JJ Redick (white).

That sure seems to mix things up.

Secondly, I tell people, Duke's basketball team looks more like its student body than most schools. Sure there are a lot of white players on Duke, and black players as well. Isn't that what the college experience is SUPPOSED to be about? People from all backgrounds, thrown into the same environment, getting drunk, and writing papers about arcane subjects no one understands? (I'm looking at you Roman History Paper).

Then there's the question of Duke's perceived lack of success in the NBA. The argument goes, Duke's whiteboys are good in college, but all suck in the pros. Grant Hill couldn't hear you over his decade-long career. Carlos Boozer seems to have found a few extra minutes of playing time in the NBA.

I will concede the following, North Carolina players have had more success in the NBA. But that's an unfair comparison, they have Michael Jordan.

I think the bigger issue is this: Why can't white players be good? We all laughed at the movie "White Men Can't Jump," but has anyone seen the flying Plumlee brothers for Duke? Those dudes can fly.

This perception that white people can't be good at basketball is as foolish, ignorant, and I would argue hurtful as any sterotype against blacks, jews, gays, or any other group.

The only color that matters to Coach K and real Dukies: is blue.

And if you'll hold your stupid question, we have a Final Four to reach.

Future Yankee Closer...

Before I explain what the heck that is to the left, I wanted to thank everyone for reading this little blog on Thursday. There was a veritable explosion of interest, 100 hits. If you take away the 82 times I checked to see how many hits, about 18 people actually read this thing. For that I am eternally grateful, truly.

Now, how's about a little baseball talk?

The man you see in the picture is Joba Chamberlain. Yankees manager Joe Girardi has relegated Joba to the pen.

Basically, he and Phil Hughes fought it out for the role of 5th starter. Winner gets to start during the regular season, loser gets moved to the bullpen for the 8th. Joba lost.

I think it's for the best. The key to the Yankees five World Series titles since 1996, hasn't been the JILLION dollars they spend on free agents, contrary to popular opinion.

The Yankees not-so-secret weapon has been the man with one pitch, Mariano Rivera. Take away his cut-fastball, and that Yankees probably have 2 less titles. That's no exaggeration. Mo, or even the THREAT of Mo, has been influencing games for over a decade.

But he can't pitch forever.

The Yankees have to start thinking about life after Mo.

That's where this decision comes into play.

There's a term thrown around sports a lot called swag. It's often used (and misused) in terms of the "U." Believe it or not, Mariano has swag. It's just a cool, calm swag. He doesn't have to say anything, but when 'Enter Sandman' starts playing, and he runs out of the pen, half of the batters have struck out already.

Joba has had moments of swag. When he first came up, Joba took over New York. A pudgy kid from Nebraska throwing ABSOLUTE gas. Then, not so much. He's been pitching a bit like a cowardly lion (oh we've come full circle now). I personally believe the attack of the bugs in Cleveland a few years ago impacted Joba.

Time to get old Joba back.

He needs to just let it rip in the 8th.

Intimidate batters. Throw the occassional brushback pitch.

And study Mariano.

As for Phil Hughes, I think he's a more fully developed pitcher. He's got more of an arsenal, if he can stay healthy.

I have to hand it to Joe Girardi, he made the right call.

Random...

I don't know how I feel about the blogsphere. Two weeks in, I'm underwhelmed and frustrated.

As I said off the bat, I'm like six years too late. Despite stalking people on stat-counter, you never really know if people are reading your work and frankly, if your work is even worth reading.

I know this blog has not yet found its voice. I know I'm a better writer than I've shown so far. I've had multiple people whose opinions I respect say, it's not very good.

It's hard, because in the world of blogs and sports-talk, people want expertise. You want someone who REALLY knows what he or she is talking about.

And since most people aren't experts, to make up for a lack of knowledge, people shout loudly, take strong absurd stances, and substitute thought and reason with volume level.

I'm not the first person to say the level of discourse in this country has gone down.

But what I'm told is, you have to find a unique position to write a blog. Or, as author Seth Godin calls it a "Purple Cow." That unique selling proposition.

The problem, as my brother beautifully articulated it is, we're living in a world where everyone is a purple cow. Go on to facebook. Everyone's got something to plug (believe me, I'm as guilty as anyone). We don't talk, we cross-promote.

So in a world where everyone thinks they're an expert, and everyone thinks they're important, how do you stand out? Do you want to?

To be honest, I'm not really an expert in anything. I have a variety of interests. But being interested, having curiosity, liking--- doesn't make it in a world where people want the loudest, instant reaction. Not only are you supposed to be an expert, RIGHT AWAY, you're supposed to speak with absolute certainty and bravado. That's just not how I'm wired. I'm more of a seeker, a questioner. I like to take in information. I question absolutely everything.

There's a great quote by Dr. Timothy Leary that I think about often (I'll paraphrase): My favorite three words in the English language are 'i don't know.' Every time you say them, you learn something new. Don't know if that philosophy flies in blog-land.

Believe me, I have passions. There are things I care deeply about. Sports, movies, some pop culture, certain music, comedy, ethical and moral issues, politics...

There's nothing more annoying than when I tell someone that I'm involved in sports media, and they immediately think this is a game of stump the schwab. Just because I try to watch as many sporting events as possible, doesn't mean I have immediate cognitive access to every piece of sports trivia since the Revolutionary War.

I know I don't want my blog to be sports-talk. Not in the sense of talking about sports, but I mean in the sense of sports-talk.

For the past TEN years, I've been FULLY engulfed in that world. I've taken two weeks off from it so far (aside from one fill in hosting gig, and another this upcoming Sunday), and I feel better. There are less idiots shouting at me as I drive to work.

To talk about sports, you don't have to yell at people. You don't have to one-up them. You don't have to know everything.

You can just be interested in the players and the storylines, the circus and the absurdity.

That's what interests me.

That's what I try to capture in this blog.

My 'purple cow' in this blog, has got to be me.

There's no question that I have a different world-view than most.

If I can make you put on some Dukie Lang-colored glasses to process certain events in the world, that may be enough.

If not, I may have to start a porn site.

Do You Feel A Draft?

I'm not a Gators fan. I don't think he's coming to the Dolphins or Giants. And yet to me, the most fascinating player in the NFL draft is Tim Tebow.

Of all the picks that are made, where Tebow ends up, what type of system he's put into, and how he does, will be topic number one of the 2010 NFL draft.

I'm dumbfounded by the stupidity of the analysis some of the so-called experts have of Tebow. He can't throw the ball? He's not a good leader? Did any of those fans watch a Gator game the last four years?

The Tebow-hatred is real, deep, and passionate. For some, it's simply envy. The kid walked away with 2 National Titles and a Heisman. I'd be willing to endure substantial pain if my favorite college player, Jacory Harris, could leave school with half of that resume.

I think it goes deeper than that. For many, the hatred is because Tebow is religious. We're not supposed to mix religion and sports, and yet, Tebow wears his beliefs for all to see. Literally, under his eyes.

In an age where Wilt Chamberlain lists his conquests in the tens of thousands, Tebow takes the A.C. Green route, claiming virginity because of his faith. I don't share Tebow's beliefs. But I certaintly admire them.

And yet lost in all that is something really simple. Tim Tebow is a good football player. He won a LOT of games in college. Why all of a sudden will he start sucking in the pros?

People want to convert him (pun not intended) to tight end or fullback or linebacker. Why? Because Tebow is blessed with a skill-set unlike many we've ever seen. He's big, tough, physical, loves-contact, and yet is a quarterback.

How do you use him?

I bet there are a few NFL offensive coordinators salivating over that possibility.

I wish Tebow well in the NFL.

He's polarizing in the same way as the Yankees, Notre Dame, and the designated hitter rule.

He stirs the pot.

The NFL is already more interesting because of him.

Ask Tougher...

This guy would've done a better job with the Tiger Woods interviews than the two knuckleheads that were hand-picked.

Let's bring out the new and improved Tiger Woods...

Or not.

Tiger has become so humbled that he was wiling to give up a full 5 minutes of his time.

In fact, he even personally selected his friend from the golf channel along and also a feckless dweeb from ESPN . They were obliged to do with their questions what many of mistresses did to him.

Tiger did have to take a big leap to television; he could have simply texted his answers to the interview. We all know that he has proven to be quite the wordsmith in that medium.

Good for CBS news. They turned down the Tiger interview because, well, it wasn't really an interview.

Sorry Tiger. You're not THAT important. You can give up more than five minutes.

And you can't even sit down? Why were they standing? I guess Tiger always like to pick the position...

Frankly, I don't really care what he says at this point.

We all know the drill.

Publicly, he's clean-cut and precise. Privately, he's what Rick James would call a superfreak.

The two aren't mutally exclusive.

He's the world's greatest golfer *AND* he likes to send freaky text messages to porn stars.

The only reason this story bothered me, is because what the hell happened to sports journalism? Here you have an interview with one of the most intriguing athletes in the world, and these are the questions you ask him?

At moments like that, I tend to think back to one of my heroes - Howard Cosell. How differently would that interview have gone if he were holding the mic? Too often the term "sports journalist" has become an oxymoron. It's a shame: that was an opportunity lost.