Movin' On Up

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Now Entering the Courtroom: Zdeno Chara

There are two sides to every story, with the truth lying in between.  If you talk to a Bruins fan, you would hear an entirely different outtake in regards to Zdeno Chara’s body check than you would if you spoke to a Canadiens supporter.  As bad blood boiled over from the Canadiens’ overtime victory on January 8th and a fight filled affair on February 9th, the Bruins were in desperate need of a spark, for they spotted the Canadiens a three goal lead as play was nearing the end of the second period.  In the earlier matchup, Habs forward Max Pacioretty gave Chara a good shove in the back as he scored the game winner in overtime.  Chara immediately confronted Pacioretty and a skirmish ensued.  While nothing major occurred at the end of that game, there is no doubt that it provided fuel to the fire the next time these two teams faced off.  The February contest induced a tremendous amount of fisticuffs, as the Original Six members put the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry to shame.  With all of the hatred manifesting itself to epic proportions, it is important to note that an athlete does not forget any past transgressions.  Instead, he waits until the right moment presents itself to enact revenge, which is exactly what happened last night.

As play approached the final seconds of the second period, Max Pacioretty had a step on Zdeno Chara, racing to the outside of the ice, trying to create a two-on-one situation.  Chara immediately decided to prevent this from happening, so his intention was to rub Pacioretty along the boards, effectively taking him out of the play.  More than likely, Chara would have received a two minute minor interference penalty, but he deemed it as a necessary evil, for a guaranteed odd man rush was something the Bruins could not afford to risk at that moment.  As he was being checked along the players’ bench side of the rink, Pacioretty violently collided with the glass sanction that separates the opposing teams.  As the play around him continued, Pacioretty lie face down and motionless on the ice.  It was highly evident that the Canadiens player was unconscious and serious injury was a definite possibility.  Due to the extent of his actions, Chara was issued a five minute major and a game misconduct.  While it was unsure if any other suspension would take shape, the issue was brought to league officials for their review and diagnosis.  While Pacioretty was conscious and could move his extremities at the hospital, it is also important to note that he does have fractured vertebrae in his neck and suffered a severe concussion.

If you look at the situation from a third party’s point of view, you quickly realize that this can be compared to a People’s Court episode.  Sitting at one table, you have the Montreal Canadiens and its die hard fans, foaming at the mouth and demanding the book to be thrown at Zdeno Chara.  They would claim he intentionally targeted Max Pacioretty and wanted to take his anger out at that exact moment and time.  On the other side, you have the Boston Bruins and its supporters, pointing at Chara’s exemplary record, noting that this is his first offense of any kind.  Not known as a dirty player, Chara certainly did not mean to inflict this level of injury on his opponent.  They would further argue that hard body checks like this, while unfortunate, are a part of the game.  The issued penalty that Chara sustained during the game was more than ample for his actions.  Judge Wapner would have his hands full dealing with these enraged groups appearing in his courtroom.  I can almost hear the television show’s theme music playing as the two sides are announced by host Doug Llewelyn.

Unfortunately, I will be forced to give you my take on this case, due to the high financial demands that Judge Wapner desires.  So without further ado, since the courtroom is now silent, I can commence my decision.  While I hold Mr. Chara’s previous record in high regard, I will make sure to note that this is his first time ever being associated with negligence.  However, that is the term that I cannot allow myself to get past.  I believe that Zdeno Chara did not intend to inflict an injury of this magnitude on Max Pacioretty, but the fact remains that his actions did create them.  Furthermore, even though hockey is played at a tremendous amount of speed, an athlete of professional caliber certainly knows the nuances that appear around the playing surface.  Hence, Chara fully understood that he and Pacioretty were skating towards the players’ benches and that those glass partitions could come into play.  Instead of letting up on the impact, he maintained his pressure and the end result came to fruition.  While the five minute major and game misconduct was only due to the injury, I will also keep that in mind in regards to my final judgement.  I would not strike this against the clean record of Zdeno Chara, for it was not deemed malicious.  While the body check would have normally derived in a two minute minor for interference, the old saying, “Wrong place, wrong time” applies to this case.  After reviewing all the material given to me, I would suspend Chara for 1 or 2 games, primarily for his negligence of his actions.

UPDATE:  The NHL has ruled that no further disciplinary actions would be taken on Zdeno Chara.

The Flyers Have a Chance to Rewrite History

It is no secret that the Philadelphia Flyers are viewed as being in dire straits.  What else is new?  As the team suffered an embarrassing 7-0 loss at the hands of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, the panic button was effectively pushed by Flyers nation.  Throughout the season, the team has plugged along, having consistent success without any stretches of hardship to overcome.  From the first drop of the puck this season to the end of February, the 2010-2011 club has been a polar opposite than the team that ended up just short of hockey excellence last year.  Perhaps that is why the rabid fan base is ready to turn its back to the club, as if it was bracing for the inevitable failure that has plagued the franchise since 1975.  Every year since that magical moment, whether the team had a realistic chance to win it all or not, the end bottom line has been the same.  Known as being a tough sports town, Philadelphia fans just want the best for its teams.  Sometimes their passion just gets in the way of seeing things for what they are and not want they believe them to be.

The club had a statement game at its fingertips on Sunday, as a national audience tuned in to watch on NBC.  After falling behind early, the flood gates opened, and the hungry Rangers steamrolled the Flyers, sending a message of their own to the league that are a team to be reckoned with.  All the franchise can muster is excuses as it tries to stop the worst losing streak of the season against the lowly Oilers at the Wells Fargo Center.  Coach Peter Laviolette tried to curtail the blame game by suggesting that his recent rash of harsh practices took the life out of his team.  He furthered his stance by giving the players the day off on Monday, allowing them to relax and refocus.  The flu was also considered a culprit of the demise of the Flyers, as it forced several key players to miss recent games.  However, that excuse does not hold water for a true team would barrel through the adversity and press forward, a la the Pittsburgh Penguins, who, despite the loss of stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, have maintained the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference.

It would not be the Flyers if the goaltending position was not under constant criticism.  Since the retirement of Ron Hextall, the club has been able to freely blame whoever the poor guy was in between the pipes for all the downfalls.  As while the club sputters along, it is only natural that unheralded Brian Boucher and rookie Sergei Bobrovsky would come under fire.  With the makeup of the team, the two goalies have only been needed to make the routine saves, with the occasional spectacular stop sprinkled in the mix.  Recently, however, the team has faltered into defensive lapses, forcing the tandem to be left high and dry.  While neither goaltender is viewed as the second coming of Bernie Parent, they were never expected to be, as the finances were spent on comprising a solid team in front of them to alleviate the burden.  

While systems and coaching are vital to a team’s success, the players are the ones who can alter history.  Until the team regains its composure and heart, it will continue to dwell in limbo.  This is arguably the best Flyers team in the past 25 years, (dating all the way back to 1987 and even better than the other Stanley Cup Finals losers since) with the right combination of playmaking, scoring, defense, and grit filling its active roster.  The club thrives on tenacity and toughness, but that has been lacking for quite some time.  As the playoffs approach, the Flyers need to analyze themselves individually and carry out what they set out to do after losing to Chicago last postseason.  Now is the time for the veterans’ voices to make themselves be heard and be translated into all out attrition.  The playoffs have already begun for many teams on the playoff bubble as every game potentially has a dramatic effect on their chances of playing for the Stanley Cup.  Those clubs find themselves in the same situation the Flyers were last season as they clawed and scraped into the postseason.  While complacency may have set in for a brief moment, it is the desire of the team that will ultimately prove its direction from here on out.

A Team’s Ultimate Victory: Overcoming Tragedy

By competing in a team sport, individuals must always put their peers first for the betterment of the squad.  In doing so, not only is success possibly achieved, but a strong bond between teammates is forged.  In the ever growing relationship of a team, as the cohesiveness strengthens, a family like atmosphere takes shape.  The sense of obligation that team members have is evident in the amount of time and dedication they commit to one another.  That is the beauty of a team sport. Camaraderie is quickly obtained through all facets of commitment such as the prolonged road trips, tough practices, and laughs in the locker room.  Moving forward, a team confronts numerous obstacles along its path, with perhaps, none being more difficult than the tragic loss of one of its own.  Fully knowing that every person will face the loss of loved ones during the course of his/her life does not make dealing with that hardship any easier.  

In dealing with the loss of a loved one, time and recollection heals all wounds.  In a team sport, all players can hold onto is the times they have shared together.  The schedule does not offer them the chance to obtain peace of mind.  Such is the case for two amateur basketball teams, who have faced the tragic loss of a teammate.  For Fennville High School, it was a roller coster of a emotions which led to the death of junior stand-out Wes Leonard.  After making a game winning shot and leading his team to a 20-0 regular season record, the Michigan high school student collapsed amidst the on-court celebration.  The charge that radiated from the crowd and players quickly changed to one of despair and remorse.  Despite all efforts to revive the star player, Leonard lost his life to cardiac arrest, caused from an enlarged heart.  As a community continues to mourn, the players are in a difficult spot for they need to put the pieces back together at an escalated rate as they prepare for the playoffs.

Members of the Middle Tennessee State University women’s basketball team are still dumbfounded in correlation to the tragic death of junior guard Tina Stewart.  According to reports, Stewart and her roommate, Shanterrica Madden, had been in a fight that led up to Stewart being fatally stabbed.  Madden has since been charged with the murder which has shocked those in the Murfreesboro area.  While all the events leading up to the altercation may never come to light, the ending will never be forgotten.   Once again the team admirably pressed on, competing against Arkansas State in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.  Despite a strong second half effort, the number one seeded Blue Raiders fell 77-62.  Now the team’s fate lies in the hands of the NCAA Selection Committee, who will determine the playing field for the upcoming National Championship Tournament.

Tragedy does not discriminate.  It will bear its ugly head to each and every one of us throughout the course of our lives.  While making the statement, “He would want it that way” may be cliche, it holds a meaning for those of an athletic club.  The level of commitment that the lost member displayed to teammates must be carried on by those who are left in the aftermath.  A sports team is considered a second family to each and every player and in losing a “sibling” unexpectedly is challenged in an unfathomable way.  For a sports team, members are not offered the opportunity to heal traditionally.  Instead, they face the tragedy head on with one another, needing the support and love they share to carry them through such a circumstance.  In having each other, the team will conquer all and in cases like these, achieve the ultimate goal: finding solace in tragedy.

Running With Jesus

As most NASCAR teams travel back and forth from their respective garages to that week’s race location, some are forced to go from track to track.  A simple lack of funding is to blame, although for the members of those crews, it has become a way of life.  Such is the case for long time driver, Morgan Shepherd, who currently participates in the Nationwide Series.  For most teams, sponsorships offer the opportunity to earn an exorbitant amount of money, which is then used for the research, development, and maintaining of vehicles.  While these sponsors are from all walks of life, for Morgan Shepherd, he follows the path of one man, Jesus.  “Racing with Jesus” has been his mantra for quite some time and has become synonymous with Shepherd himself.  

With his background in mind, it is ironic that Shepherd aided Las Vegas Police in apprehending a group of shoplifters.  Due to his obvious lack of funding, the 69 year-old Shepherd was forced to search for an oil drain pan at a nearby Walmart. As the 44-season veteran approached the entrance, three men came sprinting out, being chased by security.  Shepherd immediately joined in the chase and apprehended one of the suspects.  As he was sitting on top of the man, Shepherd was tossed a pair of handcuffs  by Police, which he then applied to the downed person.  While his cohorts were catching the other men, Shepherd used his time to empathize with the suspect and hoped that he would learn from the decisions he had made.  

For Morgan Shepherd, this was just another day in his will to do good.  In his lifelong devotion, he has given his time and efforts to the betterment of others.  Most recently, he donated the hoods of his cars to the Salvation Army and committed to helping spread the word about the services the nonprofit organization provides.  In a sports world consumed with money and greed, it is a breath of fresh air that someone not only shows the good in things, but lives that way.

Trevor Gillies Back In the NHL’s Penalty Box

        Trevor Gillies of the New York Islanders did not waste any time in making his presence felt.  In his first game back from his nine game suspension for his altercation with Eric Tangradi of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the forward continued his brash style of play.  After Cal Clutterbuck from the Minnesota Wild checked his teammate into the boards, Gillies retaliated by coming up high and hitting Clutterbuck’s head into the glass.  Gillies received a five minute major and a game misconduct for his actions.  While it is a forgone conclusion that the NHL will suspend Gillies, the pressing issue is determining the duration of his sentence.  The league has an important decision on its hands, but must act quickly to assume control of the situation.  Gillies is now a repeat offender and the proximity of incidents must be taken into account by the NHL.  While everyone deserves a second chance, Gillies threw that in the trash in a matter of a few shifts during his return.  Playing physical, yet disciplined hockey is what drives patrons into arenas, but this type of barbaric lunacy would get those same fans arrested if they mimicked those actions in a public forum.  

The Islanders organization must be embarrassed by this latest tirade, for this is exactly what the NHL discourages in today’s game.  Management must also stress that this type of play will not be tolerated and release this man immediately.  By doing so, it will serve as a public apology to its fan base as well as a declaration that players’ safety, a main concern of the NHL, is supported at the team level.  With the rising amount of players who have sustained serious injuries through clean play, the league cannot allow more to be targets of unruly behavior.  Hopefully upon his perceived release from the Islanders, other teams will turn their backs and let Gillies walk off into oblivion.  Incidents like this give the league a black eye and bring the evolution of the sport down several pegs on the totem pole.  With critics analyzing the reaction of the league closely, it is time for the NHL to step up to the plate and send a loud and clear message to not only its brethren, but to the sports world.  This is the exact time and place for disciplinary action to equal the on-ice crime, but the clock is ticking.

BYU Keeps It Black and White

Written rules are as black and white as the ink and paper they are transcribed upon.  For those who police the directives, being human can allow shades of gray to cloud their interpretations and selfishly alter punishments.  BYU announced that Brandon Davies was dismissed from the school’s basketball team for violating the honor code of the University.  The school is now conducting an honor code review to determine if the sophomore forward will be permitted to remain enrolled in classes as well as his future with the basketball team.  The University’s honor code requires students to live a chaste and virtuous life, be honest, abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee and substance abuse, and attend church regularly.  Upon learning of Davies’ violation, the school immediately removed him from team functions and started its investigation.  Despite the school being ranked #3 in the most current college basketball polls, BYU handled the situation swiftly and, as it constitutes in the student handbook, justly.

A sophomore forward, Brandon Davies was a vital contributor to BYU’s success, as it tries to make a run at the NCAA Title.  Davies has started 26 of 29 games and averaged 11.1 points and a team-leading 6.2 rebounds.  He was a low post presence, ran the floor well, and was often given the assignment of containing opponents in the paint.  This is seen as a tremendous loss for the Cougars, who are 27-2 overall, 13-1 in the Mountain West Conference.  It remains to be seen how the selection committee will view this dismissal, for it may ultimately cost BYU a potential #1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Credit must be given to BYU for upholding its honor code with its purpose trumping any outside factors and possible coercion.  In taking this stand, the school fully understands that it may have hampered any chance it would have to capture its first National Championship.  While some people may jeer at the substance that is contained in the school’s honor code, that is not the matter at hand.  Davies was fully aware of the ramifications of violating the code and it is important to note that all those enrolled at BYU are held accountable to the same degree as their peers.  The only reason why this is making headlines is due to the fact that it involves a star basketball player.  Had this been a nondescript student, the individual would have been shown the door and expelled from the University.  By the same token, depending on what level Davies violated the ruling, the school could have easily swept it under the rug and turned a blind eye to the situation.  By taking the high road, it instills in its pupils that the best thing to do is always do what is right, even if it is not always the easiest.

UPDATE

The BYU Cougars suffered a 82-64 loss at home to New Mexico last night.  Also, it is now being reported that Brandon Davies violated the University’s honor code by having sex with his girlfriend.

Descrambling the Trade Deadline Winners and Losers

With the NHL Trade Deadline now expired, teams are left playing with the cards they have been dealt.  Although the ultimate winner is yet to be determined, it is fun to examine all the transactions and discuss the possible outcomes for the wheelers and dealers.  Trades happen for a variety of reasons and are deep rooted. Some of those objectives that General Managers are desperate to achieve include: filling holes in the club’s lineup; adding a missing piece to a well established roster; acquiring players and draft picks to help a rebuilding process; or simply shedding salary.  This season, there were franchises looking to improve their respective teams and those that were already pondering next season.  Thus, most of the moves made on Monday were not seen as blockbusters, but rather the type that can offer a team a prolonged run at the Stanley Cup.  Because several General Managers jumped the gun and produced a flurry of trades in the vicinity of Deadline Monday, I have included them in the discussion.  With that in mind, here is my list of those who made the grade and for those who will have plenty of time reassessing their downfalls while in summer school.

WINNERS

• Boston Bruins:  Credit must be given to GM Peter Chiarelli.  While he may have overpaid for Tomas Kaberle, there is no doubt what a defenseman of his magnitude will bring to the club.  He can quarterback the power play, take some minutes off of Zdeno Chara’s ice time log, and play with that calming effect that seems to take over a game whenever he has the puck on his stick.  Also not to be overlooked are the acquisitions of Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly who will firm up what already was a deep lineup.  Peverley will settle in nicely as the third line center and Kelly will provide grit and determination along with the 12 goals he has scored for the season.  The Bruins have not only closed the gap between the themselves and Philadelphia, but they may have swung the pendulum in their favor as the playoffs approach.

• Los Angeles Kings:  The Kings already had a team built around size, grit, and nastiness.  Yet, the team struggled on the power play and have been underachieving as a unit for most of the season.  On deadline day, the club acquired Dustin Penner from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for assets that it had at its disposal, thus not subtracting anyone off the current roster.  A previous Stanley Cup Winner, Penner brings with him his enormous size (6’4” and 245 lbs) and a pair of goal scoring hands.  He will instantly inject some life to the Kings power play and may be able to catapult the club above the Phoenix Coyotes for 4th place in the Western Conference, which would give them home ice advantage in the first round.

• St. Louis Blues:  Yes, the team will most likely be playing golf when the playoffs begin.  However, the team made strides in improving its chances moving forward.  While trading former first overall pick Erik Johnson may prove costly (especially if he develops into the complete defenseman scouts envisioned), the Blues certainly scored in the cache.  Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk will provide the team with key components to build with its existing collection of young prospects.  The Blues bright future now radiates with optimism.

• Tampa Bay Lightning:  GM Steve Yzerman plugged holes in his otherwise impressive lineup with the deals that brought goalie Dwayne Roloson and defensemen Marc-Andre Bergeron and Eric Brewer.  Despite one of the best offensive attacks in the NHL, the Lightning now represent a well balanced team, which can rely on defense to win hockey games, if need be.

• Vancouver Canucks:  The team with the most points in the President’s Trophy race added two veterans to its arsenal.  Maxim Lapierre and Chris Higgins will be counted on to provide leadership and grit and position the Canucks even closer to the club’s first Stanley Cup in its history.

• Washington Capitals:  With incredible regular season records the past two years and their unfathomable collapses in the playoffs, the Capitals knew they could not sit still and let the deadline past without at least kicking the tires on available players.  GM George McPhee addressed all the issues that have been hounding his team.  Desperately needing a second line center, the Capitals focused on Jason Arnott and his intangibles.  A Stanley Cup winner, Arnott will help Mike Knuble in providing the necessary leadership that this team lacked.  He will also spark life into a struggling power play, which has been in the bottom half of the league for most of the season.  With defensemen Tom Poti and more recently, Mike Green out of the lineup, the team had a serious void on the blue line. Brought in to help with his puck moving potential, Dennis Wideman will log substantial ice time.  Lastly, the unheralded claim of Marco Sturm from waivers will give coach Bruce Boudreau another player who is flexible enough to perform in any role.

LOSERS

• Detroit Red WIngs:  It is difficult to put the Wings on this end of the spectrum.  The team certainly does not need to tinker with things, but it does place much hope in the pads of Jimmy Howard.  With Chris Osgood still working his way back from injury, the club is optimistic (perhaps a little too much) that he can come back and serve as a capable backup.  Even if he does assume the role, will he have had enough time between the pipes to shake some of the rust off before the playoffs begin?  With Ty Conklin on waivers, the Red Wings could have claimed him as an insurance policy just in case Howard should falter.

• Dallas Stars:  Not moving Brad Richards could prove to be a double edged sword.  In retaining his services, the club should forge into the playoffs, ending a two year absence.  Yet, it is likely that Richards will leave in the offseason, as turmoil surrounds the club at its highest level, ownership.  With an unknown direction, the Stars may have its hands tied as other franchises start surfacing with offers to Richards.  So this is a high risk, high reward situation.  Unless the team pulls off an unlikely run to capture the Stanley Cup, or the ownership troubles are solved prior to the free agent market opening, the Stars will be left with a huge hole in its lineup and cause dissension in its fan base.

• Montreal Canadiens:  A couple of years ago, the Habs made an organizational change in philosophy.  Management decided to comply with its rabid fan base to challenge for the Stanley Cup.  To ignite the process, high priced veterans were brought to town.  While that certainly aided the cause in last year’s playoffs, this year is   much different. While the team will most likely make the playoffs, it is essentially a sitting duck.  There were simply too many holes to patch and too many injuries for management to overcome.  On the blue line, the club is without Andrei Markov, Josh Georges, and Jaroslav Spacek.  It would be one thing if the team realistically had a fighter’s chance to win the Cup, but the Canadiens are moving in the wrong direction.

INCOMPLETE GRADES

• New York Rangers:  The acquisition of Bryan McCabe would normally have put the Rangers on the Winners’ list, however, the club failed to address its back up goalie situation, as Martin Biron suffered a broken collarbone in practice on Monday.  Not having a reliable stopper may prove to be an Achilles heel if anything should happen to Henrik Lundqvist.  

• Philadelphia Flyers:  On Valentine’s Day, the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference traded two draft picks to the Toronto Maple Leafs for forward Kris Versteeg.  Since his arrival in the City of Brotherly Love, the 24 year old has just one goal and one assist in seven games played.  While the Flyers have an embarrassment of riches in terms of scorers, the club needs Versteeg to play alongside Mike Richards and provide grit and fierceness, which he has inconsistently achieved.  The forward may be enough to put the Flyers over the top if he can settle into his new surroundings and play every shift with tenacity.

• Phoenix Coyotes:  The club realized that to achieve greatness in the Western Conference, it needed a shut down defenseman, as the competition employs tough, hard nosed forwards.  Without injured Ed Jovanovski, the Coyotes gambled that struggling Rostislav Klesla would be able to step in and be that player.  Also an unknown result from the trade is who would account for the departed Scottie Upshall’s production?  Internally, the club is hoping that youngster, Mikkel Boedker and veteran, Taylor Pyatt will be up for the challenge.  While all those scenarios may indeed come to fruition, there may be too many variables along the way that derail those plans.

EXTRA CREDIT GOES TO

• Penguins GM Ray Shero:  While the Penguins continue rolling along, the fact remains that Sidney Crosby is still out with post concussion symptoms and there is no time table for his return.  It is a testament to Pittsburgh for maintaining its place in the standings for Evgeni Malkin is also absent from the line up due to a season ending injury.  Instead of crying the blues, Shero traded defenseman Alex Goligoski for James Neal and Matt Niskanen.  Not satisfied, he added veteran Alex Kovalev at the dead line.  The acquisitions of Neal and Kovalev will hold the fort down offensively for the Penguins and if Crosby can return to his former self, the attack may be downright scary.

• Buffalo Sabres Owner Terry Pegula:  The Pennsylvania billionaire just purchased the team on February 22nd, but vowed to produce a winner.  Showing he was serious, the Sabres brought in former 40 goal scorer Brad Boyes from the St. Louis Blues.  With the team on the playoff bubble, the owner may provide the spark that catapults Buffalo into the playoffs.  Adding Boyes into the fold allows Pegula to put his money with his mouth is.  It seems exciting times lie ahead for Buffalo Sabres fans.

Beltran’s Last Big Play in Center

Carlos Beltran made one more great play in his final stance as the center fielder of the Mets.  A series of injuries and father time have led the former all-star to realize that it is better for the team if he swapped spots with the younger, fleet footed, Angel Pagan.  Even though most insiders believed that this was the best option for the Mets and Beltran, it is never easy for a player to publicly admit that he can no longer offer the same production that he did in his prime. (The Yankees may eventually face this scenario if Derek Jeter turns a blind eye in his continuing decline.)  Being that this is a mess of a franchise, it was also expected that Mets management would mishandle the situation, marking yet another blemish to its record.  

But the once proud ball club may finally be turning a corner.  While this offseason has certainly been viewed as unproductive in the acquisition of player personnel, the front office has taken shape and is aligning itself to achieve championship caliber status.  Ownership ultimately decided a change in guard was vital and the new philosophical stance has brought in Sandy Alderson as General Manager.  Upon his arrival, Alderson made quick work establishing a regime which he deemed suitable in undertaking the difficult task of giving the franchise a “Joan Rivers’ type” facelift.  With a clean slate to stamp his mark on the team, the General Manager sought out Terry Collins to manage the club.  With a mix of injured and underachieving players filling out his every day lineup, the Mets are not expected to contend.  Instead, it is the hope of a tired and disgruntled fan base that the team will position itself to stop the bleeding and to put a screeching halt to its ugly fall from grace.  With Alderson making the personnel decisions, Collins is being asked to alter the mood of a waning roster.  While the team lacks the talent needed to contend, it does however include some solid veteran leadership in left over stars, David Wright, Jose Reyes (some would argue), and Beltran.

Despite his veteran status, Carlos Beltran could have made things very difficult for his new bench boss and prove to be stubborn in refusing to see that mother nature was catching up to him.  The elephant was in the room, but everyone was trying not to avoid it.  An ugly situation lingered on the horizon: Who would tell the fading star that it might be best for him to man right field and let Angel Pagan take his place in the defensive line up?  How would the topic come up and how would it be handled?  It turns out the Mets were fortunate that the topic was answered by Carlos Beltran himself.  As Spring Training swings into full gear, Beltran continues the rehabilitation process in strengthening his knee.  However, Beltran had no desire to pull the wool over the team’s eyes and ultimately knew that to possibly prolong his career, he would need to change positions.  In doing so, he would also open the door for Angel Pagan to carry the torch from the man he views as his mentor.

The matter through which Beltran carried out this notion should be commended.  As he started his running program, the star player was seriously contemplating what his future held.  Beltran first sought the opinion of the people closest to him: his wife and father, former teammate, Carlos Delgado, and of course, his agent, Scott Boras.  By taking his time in analyzing those discussions, Beltran was able to easily decipher and accept the right solution for all those involved.  On Monday, he sat Angel Pagan and Terry Collins down in the Mets dugout and quietly handled the matter.  In doing so, Beltran gracefully diffused the situation before it was allowed to evolve and prove to be awkward and uninviting.  After the unassuming meeting concluded, all three members came away with a positive outlook and admiration for one another.  The Mets could not have asked for more.

While the team on the field is deemed to be lackluster and in dire need of a makeover, fans are once again asked to be patient.  The rebuilding process can often seem long and drawn out, especially in an environment such as New York City.  Over the past decade or so, this team as hit rock bottom as fans disgust escalated.  Yet, the Mets of 2011 are already showing some signs of life.  For the franchise to come full circle, it needs its leaders to take control and show it the way.  While the club has brought in a new front office staff, it is now imperative for the players to buy what the check payers are selling. For the franchise to once again be successful, it needs everyone to be on the same page.  In the manner through which he handled his own situation, Carlos Beltran single-handedly gave Mets fans something to cheer about.  But do not get too excited Mets fans, as AC/DC famously quipped, “It’s a long way to the top, if you wanna rock and roll.”

Hamilton’s Anger Wrongly Directed

Constant turmoil is spreading around the Detroit Pistons like wild fire.  Front and center is the cause of the controversy: long time veteran guard Richard Hamilton.  Throughout the year, the fading star has continually battled with head coach, John Kuester in areas that includes playing philosophies and team direction.  While such actions are not unheard of and would usually be non-newsworthy, it is the matter through which his unhappiness is displayed.  During this lackluster and unfulfilled season for the Pistons, Hamilton has not only confronted his bench boss with his perceived shortcomings in front of teammates, but in order to strengthen his point he also tried to coordinate a morning shoot around boycott.  Upon the first incident, Kuester  had no other choice but to permanently bench Hamilton, which only added fuel to the ever building, raging inferno.

Hamilton has tried in fervor to proclaim himself as the victim in this situation.  The “whoa is me” persona has overtook not only the player, but has become a mantra to the impressionable team.  Yet, Hamilton could have escaped the black hole that has consumed him.  Before the trade deadline, the Pistons tried to alleviate themselves of Hamilton by sending him, along with a first round pick in the upcoming draft, to Cleveland.  Essentially, the Cavaliers would be compensated for taking a $12 million trade exception with the draft choice caveat.  While the prospect of spending the remainder of the season in the Siberia of the NBA (which Cleveland now draws comparison) is certainly not enticing, Hamilton would instead have a silver lining.  Rather than adding him to their roster, the Cavaliers would have bought out the contract of the embattled player, who could then move on to a team of his choosing.  Clubs such as the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls were kept aloft in the prospective deal, chomping at the bit to add a veteran presence to their respective playoff aspirations.  Further, with the current state of the Bulls, Hamilton may have even found himself in the starting five.  All Hamilton would have to do is say yes.  

With all the elements that have plagued him this season, the potential trade would seem to be a no brainer for Hamilton in waving his no trade clause.  However, in one more act of deviance, he unbelievably decided to maintain his roots in Detroit.  His plane ticket out of “hell” was there for him, but he instead chose to stay in the bed he has made.  In review of Rip Hamilton’s past year, the problem lies not with the Pistons lack of player personnel, or lack of coaching, but Hamilton himself.  As a veteran, he knows better than to lash out at authority in front of his peers.  How can younger players have any sort of desire to play for a man that an elder statesman has absolutely no respect for and publicly makes his transgressions well known?  A player should develop his own relationship with his coach and should not have a teammate’s voice detract from that bond.  As a veteran, Hamilton needs to conquer obstacles that he stumbles across, not cause them. 

While staying in Detroit was ultimately his decision, it is now time for Hamilton to reassess himself and to use all his energy to patch up the destruction and frustration that he has caused his teammates and coach.  He still can illustrate to his teammates and the Detroit community that he has opened his eyes and has decided to face his self made confrontations like a man.  Can you imagine what it must be like for a member of the Pistons to go to work everyday?  By simply entering the doors of the Detroit locker room, one would walk through a cloud of tension that feeds on the growing level of negativity.  The situation draws a close comparison to the basis of the movie Ghostbusters, as negative karma fueled the god Gozer’s return to power, eventually resulting in the confrontation of good versus evil.  The Pistons are nearing that exact breaking point.  A disgruntled superstar can create despair and distress that cannot be overcome easily and often takes a considerable amount of time.  Even though it is human nature to point the finger at someone else, it takes a true leader to admit fault and establish solutions for the betterment of the team.  For the Pistons, the team is vitally relying on Hamilton to reassume that vacant role, which needs to be accomplished before the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man comes to town possibly signaling the point of no return.

Cuban Makes Cents

As usual, the Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, has a gripe. While making that statement is old hat, the fact that his remarks are justified offer something that in itself should be analyzed.  Throughout his tenure as the boss of the Texas based franchise, Cuban is notoriously known for his antics, whether they occur on the sideline right next to his team’s bench, or on SportsCenter, freely offering his opinion to all comers.  NBA Commissioner David Stern is of particular interest to Cuban, as he continually bashes heads with the leader of the league.  Most of the comments are brushed aside by sports aficionados due to the well known fact that he will often times wear his emotions on his sleeve.  Yet, to the thankfulness of the media, Cuban lashes about anything and everything.

Such was the case on Thursday, as Cuban stressed his displeasure with the ongoings at the NBA trade deadline.  While not so much upset about the Mavericks lack of making any moves to better their chances of capturing NBA glory, Cuban was once again challenging David Stern.  Due to financial issues, the struggling New Orleans Hornets  are under league control, which also means the other 29 teams have a vested interest in the operations of the team.  Thus, when the Hornets (who were rescued by the NBA for $300 million) were active at the deadline, it ruffled Cuban’s feathers.  

The minor deal sent forward Carl Landry to New Orleans in exchange for guard Marcus Thornton and cash considerations.  At first, it sounds like a classic situation of Cuban being Cuban, where his motive for being angry would stem from the fact that the New Orleans would likely face his Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.  However, digging a little deeper, one sees his true reason for the tirade: the financially strapped club also took on more salary.  Who is flipping the bill for that?  You guessed it, the other owners of the league.  In his rampage, Cuban remarked, “There's so few teams in the league that can afford to do that and yet we're allowing a team that's owned by the league to do that?”  He also added, “I don't need to be competing economically with the league and myself."  

To me, if the New Orleans Hornets are expected by the league to be supported and kept alive by the other owners, those members should have some say in operational dealings, especially when its their money that is ultimately being spent.  While I am a proponent for the Hornets in trying to better their chances for success and survival, it cannot be thrown into the faces of the rest of the NBA.  This lack of respect shown to the owners by its leader, David Stern, could come to haunt the league, as the Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire soon.  Unfortunately for the NBA and the other struggling franchises, people tend to have long memories, especially when money is involved.

Bumbling Idiots Serve Vital Roles

The sporting world needs personalities to keep its entertainment ball rolling.  People such as Rex Ryan and Hank Steinbrenner often fill the void with their moxie, for which they are often referred to as bumbling idiots throughout the media.  On one side, reporters sharpen their pencils and ready their microphones as these personas utter anything resembling a word, while the public sits in anticipation to argue its point of view in conjunction with the matter at hand.  Experts and naysayers may view these type “A” personas as ludicrous and self-absorbed, but in essence they produce an interesting element for their respective sport and franchise: people are always paying attention no matter what time of year it is.

Recently, Hank Steinbrenner questioned his team’s direction and desire by indicating that the failure of last season may be linked with players “building their mansions.”  Obviously trying to spark a fire in his ball club during spring training, the media took it as him attacking the team’s most worshipped current figure, Derek Jeter.  Perhaps he should have thought this through prior to speaking or maybe he should not try so hard to be his old man, George.  Still, he was able to capture a spot in the headlines for his franchise, even with other New York teams (big trades for Knicks and Nets) controlling the back pages of the newspaper.

Not to be outdone, Rex Ryan talked about the upcoming labor lockout and still guaranteed that his New York Jets will capture next season’s Super Bowl, even though next season is not a certainty.  Ryan fully understands the fact that he has as close to “job security” as anyone in professional sports due to his recent success.  The Jets fans love him for his attitude, which they perceive as their own and the swagger he conveys is evident as the team lashes out against championship caliber opponents.  Ryan successfully reached the root for why fans love their teams so much, they have a need to believe that this is the year the championship comes “home.”

Perhaps most importantly, it offers fuel for sports rivalries to flourish.  People in Boston are chomping at the bit, desperately anticipating the Patriots to steamroll the Jets and prove Ryan wrong.  How dare Rex Ryan declare such a creed with the unflappable Bill Belichick residing in New England?  By the same token, Steinbrenner has now challenged the Yankees to overtake the (better team on paper) Red Sox in the American League East.  Despite the fact that their respective sports are not quite “in season” fans are already looking forward to seeing their heroes return to the playing field.  While marketing campaigns develop around a tremendous amount of research, design, money, and implementation time, sometimes all it takes is one person with a microphone directly in front of him to achieve the desire effect.  For owners the message is quite simple, freedom of speech costs them absolutely nothing, but still puts fannies in the seats.

Privacy For Sale?

      For Carl Crawford, signing his contract with the Boston Red Sox was a simple equation: the money was right, the club was a contender, and his home park would be under the lights at Fenway Park.  For the Boston Red Sox, the deal was processed after due diligence and careful studying.  Please emphasize the words diligence and studying.  Theo Epstein indicated to Crawford and the media on Tuesday that the Boston Red Sox conducted an in-depth back round check on the All-Star, which included both on the field game play and off the field personal activity.

While most employers today engage in following up on potential workers by looking into their past, the Red Sox may have crossed the line with having someone tail Crawford as he went about his business.  I do not blame the Red Sox brain trust for needing reassurance before it pulled the trigger in signing Crawford to a lucrative contract, bringing his services to Boston.  But personal privacy is the issue at hand.  At what point do employers stop themselves from prying into someone’s life without their knowledge or consent?  While back round reports are black and white and often contain information such as criminal records, employment and financial histories, having a “private investigator” delve deep into one’s everyday life is as gray an action as its notion suggests.  

While a player earns millions of dollars a year in salary, does that total make it perfectly justifiable for a team to override the rights of that individual?  It is certainly understandable for a franchise to protect an investment or investigate a potential deal to its fullest, it must be perfectly known that the club does not own this player.  Rather, they simply employ his services, which pertain strictly to the baseball diamond.  

Management in professional sports have a unique relationship with one another which allows them to often converse about personnel and the dealings pertaining to those individuals.  Having that knowledge at their disposal paves the way for inside information to be passed along through the proper channels.  This old school way of thinking also serves as reassurance and offers the opportunity for general managers and owners to compare notes from their meetings with the player.  With such a weapon in their hat full of tricks, it is surprising that Theo Epstein negated that practice and upped the ante.  I surely hope that other teams do not follow suit and institute this new, radical tactic, for it takes away one of the most imperative elements of an individual’s life that does not have a price: privacy.  

Flyers Land Versteeg Due to Self-Sacrifice

Ville Leino is patiently waiting for his turn.  Leino has carried his inspired play over to the regular season after becoming one of the Flyers playoff heroes in their march to the Stanley Cup Finals last spring.*  Since being “stolen” from the Detroit Redwings just prior to the trading deadline last year, Leino has established himself as a fixture in the Flyers lineup. Often skating alongside Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell, the trio combines a unique blend of speed, puck handling abilities, and grit that constantly causes headaches for opposing teams as they try to slow a balanced Flyers attack.  

After seeing fellow teammates Jeff Carter and Claude Giroux sign their own contract extensions, respectively, Ville Leino has sat back and let his play do his negotiating.  Yet, the NHL is stringent in regards to franchise payroll capabilities.  “Tagging” players in terms of future seasons is regulated in the fact that teams cannot already commit to player salaries that are higher than the current salary cap maximum.  Due to the fact that the Flyers are amongst the select group of teams in the NHL that continually spend as close to the ceiling of the salary cap as humanly possible, the club found itself facing a decision.  The team could work out a new deal with Leino now or acquire a player to help in a playoff run. In essence, the Flyers would have to wait until the offseason to conduct business with Leino, for the NHL determines next season’s salary cap after analyzing all the figures from the previous season to determine expected growth in profits.  (The number has risen every year since the salary cap was instituted during the 2004-05 lockout.)

Despite the collection of players that General Manager Paul Holmgren had assembled on his roster, management felt that this is a Flyers team that can not only compete, but could contend for the Stanley Cup.  With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that as the trade deadline fast approached, the club would scour the league looking to add a piece or two that will solve the playoff puzzle that the franchise was so close to conquering last spring.  After finding what he hopes is the missing element in Toronto Maple Leafs Kris Versteeg, GM Paul Holmgren took it upon himself to do the unthinkable: he sat down and consulted with Ville Leino about the prospect of acquiring the forward.  While management usually does not inquire about personnel moves with current players on the roster, Holmgren found it imperative to seek out Leino’s thoughts.  In doing so, Holmgren was able to complete several bullet points on his checklist. First and foremost, discussing with Leino the Flyers wish to resign him to a long term contract at salary that is in line with his production and worth to the franchise.  In addition, with the possible acquisition of Kris Versteeg, the window would essentially close on achieving any new deal until the offseason, for the cap hit of Versteeg would prevent the Flyers in “tagging” Leino.

Through taking the time and conversing with Ville Leino and obtaining his blessing, Paul Holmgren was able to complete the trade for Kris Versteeg that not only improved the Flyers depth for their upcoming run at the Stanley Cup, but may also have prevented any misunderstandings in the offseason negotiations with one of his key players.   Kudos go out to Paul Holmgren for executing a simple, yet well thought out scheme and to Ville Leino who put his own personal gain on the back burner to add Kris Versteeg to the Flyers roster.  Realizing what is at stake for both parties, both men put the team first and made it known that the offseason would have to be the time for a new contract to come to fruition.  When the sit opposite each other at the bargaining table this summer, both hope they will be signing the contract with a shiny, diamond encrusted Stanley Cup ring on their fingers.

*In 19 playoff games, Leino registered 7 goals and 14 assists for 21 points.