Charlotte Bobcats Ben Gordon: What Happened to Him?

Charlotte Bobcats guard Ben Gordon was once considered a dangerous guard in the NBA. He was a player that would come off the bench in Chicago and scorch his opponents and hit the big shots to help his club win. Now he is just a player that’s in the midst of him prime and isn’t getting it done with the Bobcats.

With the contract that the Detroit Pistons gave him in 2009 worth $55 million, 5 years it has showed to be a bad one that the Charlotte Bobcats are paying for today; such a sad story for a player for that has so much potential and was a premier sharp shooter.

Now Gordon has that label that players hate to be connected with and that “overpaid”. Is he overpaid? I would say most definitely. When the Pistons got him he had a successful run with the Chicago Bulls but a 5 year deal for that kind of money for some one that comes off the bench is a bit absurd.

It really doesn’t help as well that the Bobcats are stinking up the joint and can’t get any wins. This team is so bad I barely know who’s on the team. So you get the point what I’m saying. Owner Michael Jordan has a lot of work ahead of him this offseason.

It’s pretty hard for Gordon or any player on the team to have any laughable or enjoyable moments while losing. So I can see where the unhappiness with Gordon comes from and see how he’s changing right in front of our eyes. But you’re a professional and you still have to go out there and give the fans what they’ve paid for.

Gordon was already in the news earlier this month for his spat with Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap. It’s very unfortunate to hear Gordon being connected to any kind of bad behavior because that hasn’t been a part of his career in the NBA. He’s always been known as the quiet guy in the league.

Where do you think Ben Gordon’s career will go from here?

Top 10 NBA Power Rankings

1.      Miami Heat (40-14)

2.      San Antonio Spurs (45-13)

3.      Oklahoma City Thunder (41-15)

4.      Los Angeles Clippers (40-18)

5.      Memphis Grizzlies (37-18)

6.      Indiana Pacers (35-21)

7.      New York Knicks (33-20)

8.      Denver Nuggets (35-22)

9.      Golden State Warriors (33-23)

10.    Brooklyn Nets (33-24)

Top 10 Boxing Heavyweights of All-Time

1.      Muhammad Ali

2.      Joe Louis

3.      Jack Johnson

4.      George Foreman

5.      Evander Holyfield

6.      Larry Holmes

7.      Mike Tyson

8.      Joe Frazier

9.      Rocky Marciano

10.    Lennox Lewis

Honorable Mention: Jack Dempsey

 

The Tribute: Did Kevin Garnett get the Last Laugh?

Putting the past behind us is something that we have to do to forgive and move on. Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett seem to have buried the hatchet that caused such a stir recently. Now that they’re friends we can make some fun of Melo and how Garnett got the best of him with his comments about wife LaLa and this two-handed dunk at the Garden on him. Anthony didn’t want any part of that play at all as we see.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Scores BIG!!

Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. has hit the jackpot again in his career but this time it will be bigger than ever. According to ESPN, Mayweather has left his longtime partner HBO and signed a lucrative 6-fight, 30-month deal with Showtime. With this deal Mayweather could end up having the richest contract in sports.

Mayweather is known by his lavish spending and his love for money but people should really understand that he’s one of the savviest businessmen out there. For one Mayweather promotes his own fights so that means he cuts out the middleman. Also he commands the money he wants for each fight. When was the last time we’ve seen that; maybe never.

Mayweather will be returning to the ring to fight title contender Robert Guerrero on May 4^th. This will be a coming out party for Mayweather after signing with Showtime. Mayweather is an entertainer that loves to prove his longtime critics wrong. He’s looking to prove them wrong again and put his stamp on being the best pound-for-pound boxer.

When Mayweather meets Guerrero in the ring this spring he will be 36 years old and past the prime of his career. But as we witnessed in his past bouts you can see the great speed that Mayweather still carries and the best defense we’ve ever seen.

But Guerrero is coming off a victory against hard hitting Andre Berto late last year and he wants this fight against Mayweather so badly. But Mayweather supporters will tell this young man to be very careful what you wish for. Mayweather might have long layoffs between fights but he will be ready for the challenge and I think he will be victorious.

I’m looking forward as well as you are for this bout and also to see if Mayweather still has that hunger of a champion. I highly doubt that he has lost a step or two because of his killer instinct and his excellent training with Uncle Roger Mayweather. Who do you think will win on May 4^th?

Should the New York Yankees Extend Robinson Cano?

New York Yankees have a big and I mean big decision to make this season to see whether they will offer their star second basemen Robinson Cano a lucrative contract extension. We’ve seen Cano literally grow up in the Yankees organization as just a kid. Making his season debut in 2005 at the tender age of 22, Cano was ready for the big leagues coming out of the Dominican Republic.

Cano numbers have been stellar for the past four seasons as he’s taking over the reigns as the New York Yankees clutch and star player. He has been an AL MVP candidate for the past three seasons and still has some great years left in him.  

The Problem with all of this is that Cano is 30 years old and he’s looking for a massive deal that would be worth $160-$200 million and a length of 8-10 years. I’m just tired of seeing the Yankees just give away that kind money and years to players that will be considered old when they are in the middle of their contracts.

Haven’t they learned from the A-Rod deal that this can come back and slap them in the face? They still owe the injured and alleged steroid user over $100 million. Cano is a great player and one of the best in the league but he isn’t 25 or 27 years old where if he got that length of a contract he would still be in his early to mid-30s.

I think it would be a bad idea to sign him for that long of a contract. There are very few players such as Yankees great Derek Jeter that can still play at a high level at 38 years old. Not to say that Cano can’t do it but when you’re in that age bracket injuries comes along.

So you’re telling me that he would be worth about $20 million at that age; come on! Hopefully the New York Yankees and GM Brian Cashman learned from their past mistakes and move on and search for other options. I would love to keep seeing Cano in pinstripes but not where it can affect the future of the organization.

Cano has come out and said that he loves the Yankees and wants to stay one but he just made a big splash as well to sign on with mega agent Scott Boras. We know Boras gets his players huge contracts and he’s not known for the hometown discount. The Yankees has made it known that they want to cut payroll to $189 million by 2014. Do you think the Yankees should give Cano this kind of deal?

Jordan, Kobe or LeBron: Who are you Taking 10 Years Later

The sports world has been heating up all week with the comparisons between NBA greats Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and who is greater. Every sports fan is keeping their eyes glued to the TV or listening to sports radio to see what these analysts and fans have to say about this whole debate. This week has been so exciting for the NBA to get this kind of attention right before the All-Star break and Jordan’s 50^th birthday.

I don’t think these comparisons are really fair and to me this isn’t a big debate after all. The reason why is that there will only be one Michael Jordan; not two or three, just one. Many are looking for the next savior to take the thrown after Jordan left the NBA. See there is a difference between a great player that is the best in the world right now and someone being greater then M.J.

You have arguably the two top players in the world in Bryant and James which both are great in their own right. You have LeBron which is has changed the Miami Heat all around as is considered a dangerous team. James is also a 3-time league MVP, NBA champion and 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist. What more can a player want? Rings, rings and rings! It’s that simple for LeBron and that’s the reason why he went down to Miami in his 2010 free agency.

Now you have Kobe Bryant who has been electrifying the league for 17 seasons with his will to win, amazing highlights and scoring domination. There hasn’t been a shot the Kobe didn’t like and I mean that. A great player that will do anything to win and even if that means calling out his teammates. Bryant is a former league MVP, 5-time NBA champion, 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist and 2-time NBA Finals MVP. He is one of the top 10 NBA players of all-time when it’s all said and done.

Lastly, you have Michael Jordan who revolutionized the NBA since the 1980’s and how people all around the world viewed it. Many kids, teenagers and adults wanted to be like Mike. Considered the greatest NBA player of all-time, the new comers are coming for his title. Jordan wasn’t just the greatest at what he did on the basketball court but he changed sports marketing. Let’s take a look at Gatorade and Nike brands. Before Jordan signed on with these companies they weren’t even relevant in their industries. But once he became the face, things just took off.

Till this day his Jordan brand sneakers are still selling at high volumes in the millions every year. Jordan has been out the league since 2003 and he’s outselling all the newbies of the league that have signature sneakers like Bryant, James, Rose and etc. Jordan is a 6-time NBA champion, 5-time league MVP and 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist. When Jordan was on the floor he wanted to take your heart out. He didn’t want you to think that you belonged on the same court as him.

In the next ten years it will go down as Jordan will still be the greatest of all-time and then it will be LeBron James and then Kobe. I really thought it was going to be Kobe after Jordan but what LeBron has been doing these last couple of seasons being the great player that he’s been, I have to choose him. There is no question who is the best in the league today and that’s LeBron.

The thing with LeBron is that we don’t know his ceiling yet because he’s in his prime right now. He has aspirations to win multiple championships and some more MVP trophies. Now that is going to be really scary to witness. But even if this does happen, Michael will still be the greatest. Who do you think will be considered the greatest in the NBA in the next ten years?

Top 10 NHL Power Rankings

1.      Chicago Blackhawks (11-0-3)

2.      Anaheim Ducks (11-2-1)

3.      Boston Bruins (8-2-2)

4.      New Jersey Devils (9-3-3)

5.      Vancouver Canucks (8-3-2)

6.      Montreal Canadians (9-4-1)

7.      Pittsburgh Penguins (10-5-0)

8.      Carolina Hurricanes (8-4-1)

9.      Nashville Predators (7-3-5)

10.    St. Louis Blues (8-5-1)

A Little too Late for the Washington Wizards

I got to give the Washington Wizards and their leader John Wall credit for their four-game winning streak that was just snapped tonight with the lost to the Detroit Pistons in the Palace of Auburn Hills 96-85. That would have been five in a row if they’ve won tonight. But this article isn’t about tonight’s game. I wanted to touch on the emergence of John Wall and him coming back from injury to give this club a spark.

As we already know by now the Wizards have beat some of the top teams in the NBA recently such as the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. This is a team with a lowly record of 15-36. Their record doesn’t say the whole story of this team but we know that nobody is going to feel sorry for them and the injuries they faced.

The Wizards look like an up-tempo team led by John Wall with his reckless abandonment and lightning speed to get to the basket at will. I never seen a fast break that Wall didn’t like. That’s his game and where he mostly flourishes at. With the recent winning, most people are forgetting that record the Wizards own.

Some thought they could make a playoff run. It’s just a little too late for that as we can see the writing on the wall. They will just have to wait until next year as this young nucleus team is gaining experience and chemistry with each other. Sky is the limit for them.

Top 10 NBA Power Rankings

1.      Oklahoma City Thunder (39-12)

2.      San Antonio Spurs (40-12)

3.      Miami Heat (34-14)

4.      Los Angeles Clippers (36-17)

5.      New York Knicks (32-17)

6.      Memphis Grizzlies (32-18)

7.      Indiana Pacers (31-20)

8.      Chicago Bulls (30-20)

9.      Golden State Warriors (30-21)

10.    Boston Celtics (27-23)

Top 10 NBA Worst Coaches of All-Time

1.      Tim Floyd (Overall Record: 90-231)

2.      Sidney Lowe (Overall Record: 79-228)

3.      Brian Winters (Overall Record: 36-148)

4.      Don Casey (Overall Record: 85-153)

5.      Larry Krystkowiak Larry Krystkowiak Larry Krystkowiak Larry KrystkowiakLarry Krystkowiak (Overall Record: 31-69)

6.      Kurt Rambis (Overall Record: 56-145)

7.      Lon Kruger (Overall Record: 69-122)

8.      Marc Iavaroni (Overall Record: 33-90)

9.      Isiah Thomas (Overall Record: 187-223)

10.    John Kuester (Overall Record: 57-107)

Where are They Now: Scottie Pippen

Hall of Fame and Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen is recognized around the world of sports not just as Michael Jordan’s sidekick but as a one of the greatest versatile and athletic players of all-time. Pippen was an all-around player that could do everything from playing point guard to power forward if need be in his heyday. You couldn’t find players like this before and now, that’s why his play was so glorified. Players like LeBron James, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson were players that could have this kind of play in their careers as Pippen did.

Pippen wasn’t a highly recruited player out of high school in Arkansas as he was considered too short to play at a high level in the early 80’s. That’s what they thought! Standing only 6’1” coming into his freshman year at the University of Central Arkansas, he would become a walk-on that would grow to his form as a swing man that could get the job done and become a star that many were going to find out about through the NCAA and NBA scouts.

Having a spectacular college career it was time to enter the pros as a small forward that could be a game changer on any team; and that’s what he would be in 1987. As he was drafted by the Seattle Supersonics in the first round as the 5^th overall pick then traded to the Chicago Bulls, Pippen was ready to play alongside M.J. and make them better.

It didn’t take long in Pippen’s young NBA career to have an effect on the basketball court. He and Jordan were young and considered to be a one-two punch that opponents didn’t want any part of. Even though the competition was fierce in the NBA at the time of the late 80’s with the Boston Celtics, Detroit “Bad Boys” Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers, the Bulls were up and coming and with a young coach in Phil Jackson they were on their way.

Pippen would go on to win six NBA titles with the Bulls and become one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History as one of the best small forwards of all-time when his career was over. Scottie was so competitive and he always would do anything to help his teams win and that’s what it takes to be a champion in this league. Jordan appreciated Pippen for his play and they would make each other better in their respective careers.

Pippen could do everything from score the basketball, play intense defense and dunk the ball like the best as he would posterize some of the great ones.When it was all said and done there were no regrets on Pippen’s side. He’s been the great player that he knew he could be coming out of college and the ultimate team player that everyone grew to love through the years and today he is senior advisor to the Chicago Bulls president and COO Michael Reinsdorf. What was your greatest moment of Scottie Pippen?

The Formula of a Champion: New York Knicks

New York Knicks coach Mike Woodson is putting together a formula of a champion in New York City. Many fans of the NBA are keeping a close eye on the Knicks as they’re only 1.5 games behind first place Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference. Woodson won his 50^th game as a Knick and the fastest to have ever done it.

Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks are figuring out what it takes to win as a team and push for a number one seed in the conference. They know that this road won’t be easy but with the team that they have in place, they know that nothing can stop them but themselves. Melo is putting on a shooting clinic as the leader of the team and is second in the league in scoring at 28.7 per game. This by far is Anthony’s best season of his career and a MVP caliber one as well.

The key and glue to this team is Defensive Player of the Year Tyson Chandler. He changed the culture of this team to want to play defense and win together as one. Before he joined the Knicks they were just out for themselves and their stats and playing one-on-one possession basketball. With the run and gun play that was orchestrated by former coach Mike D’Antoni, the Knicks were always doomed to get tossed out the playoffs in the first round or not to even make it at all.

This season seems like a year that the New York Knicks can make a big run for the championship but they have to first win a playoff series. They need to prove to themselves and the NBA that they are a team to be reckoned with. Taking it one step at a time should be something that fans and the team should understand and follow. This isn’t a race but a marathon for the Knicks; especially when they are gunning for the Miami Heat.

They need to beat the Heat in the playoffs if they want to be considered a championship team because experts feel that this will be the team to go back to the championship this year. I’m really glad to see Amar'e Stoudemire back in the lineup from injury and giving his best and contributing big off the bench. This is what the Knicks have been missing in his absence. The New York Knicks are destined for glory this year; I just feel it. Do you?

The Tribute: LeBron Should get in the Dunk Contest

LeBron James was once the young phenom out of Ohio that was athletic and still is and didn’t care if you were in the lane, he would throw it down on you. This was no different when once Dallas Mavericks’ Jerry Stackhouse tried to contest James and he was posterized. This was one of my favorites that many don’t talk about because it’s LeBron. He should definitely join the dunk contest because he would make it a spectacular one that we haven't seen in ages. Also the great dunkers have all done it in the past. So he should carry on tradition. Can we say Jordan and Kobe! Just a thought guys.

Top 10 NHL Power Rankings

1.      Chicago Blackhawks (7-0-2)

2.      San Jose Sharks (7-1-0)

3.      Pittsburgh Penguins (7-3-0)

4.      Boston Bruins (6-1-1)

5.      New Jersey Devils (5-1-3)

6.      Anaheim Ducks (6-1-0)

7.      Montreal Canadians (6-2-0)

8.      St. Louis Blues (6-3-0)

9.      Ottawa Senators (6-3-0)

10.    Tampa Bay Lightning (6-3-0)

Who is Jackie Robinson?

This month I wanted to reach every sports fan about a player that most of us grew to love and appreciate and this is Jackie Robinson. Many people know that Robinson was the first Negro player to play in major league baseball. But many don’t know who he really is. So tonight I want to open his life to you on black history month.

Robinson was an African American born in 1919 in Cairo, Georgia to a family of sharecroppers. Nobody felt bad for Robinson because he was black and that his father left him when he was young. Robinson took his obstacles that he faced and made them opportunities for him. This is what so many people lack when they’re facing adversity.

Robinson was a visionary and isn’t just black history but American history. When he was young he played not just one or two different sports but four. He exceled in basketball, football, track and baseball and could of made it to the pros in either one he chose. That’s how Robinson wanted his life to be. In those days when you were black, opportunities were low. So Robinson knew that becoming great was something that he had to do and change the way people looked at African Americans in sports.

This wasn’t a man that made excuses for himself but a man that wanted to open up doors for himself and others. When Robinson attended UCLA in 1941 he was a player that many have never seen before; mainly because he was African American and he was just a great athlete. But that wouldn’t last for long because he had to leave school because of his finances.

However, Robinson would soon become a Brooklyn Dodger in 1947 and break the color barrier that has been in front of colored players since 1889. Robinson proved to not only whites that he belonged but the whole country. As everyone watched and learned about this player they also say the skill and drive that he possessed. Robinson isn’t remembered as the greatest baseball player of all-time but what he’s done for the game and for the country will not be forgotten.

Trading Rudy Gay to the Raptors will Make him an All-Star

Newly acquired small forward for the Toronto Raptors Rudy Gay is ready to make a statement in the Air Canada arena. Gay has always been an intriguing young player that possesses a lot of offensive ability. Gay has been through so much in his seven year career that he could write a book on it. When he was drafted in 2006 as the 8^th overall pick by the Memphis Grizzlies many knew that he would be the piece to the puzzle that will help rebuild this organization.

Coming out of the University of Connecticut he was used to winning and coming down to Memphis things seem to shift. It didn’t go as planned to be a respectable team in his early years. Success doesn’t come overnight but this team didn’t look that they could be strong and take the next step in the Western Conference. Being drafted as high as he was there were many pressures to come and Gay for the most part took it with stride.

Being only 26 years old and suffering numerous injuries that have kept him on the sidelines for many games with the Grizzlies, many thought that he just couldn’t stay healthy. However, when Gay was on the basketball court you'd never second guess his ability at all.

Gay is the type of player that you have to double team because he’s very explosive when he wants to be. His career scoring numbers are better than average for his position. He averages 18 ppg for his career. But for a player that was re-signed in 2010 for 5 years/$82 million deal, it should be higher.

The Memphis Grizzlies made a big mistake to give Gay a max contract when he only showed them that he wasn’t worth the asking price. Some games he looked like he can turn into an all-star and some he would look like an average forward in the NBA. I would have loved to see Gay stay with the young Grizzlies and make a strong playoff push with Zach Randolph and Gasol but many players don’t last forever on a team.

Rudy Gay contract and just decent numbers this year made the Grizzlies make the move to trade him off to Canada. This trade will not only bring Gay’s game to another level but it will guide the Raptors into a team that opponents aren’t going to want to face.

This is a young and energetic team that just needed a player like Gay to get them over the hump and the struggles that they face. I really like the move for both teams and for Gay.  In the end, the Raptors helped Gay and not the other way around. Putting him in the Eastern Conference and on a team where expectations aren’t high, he will score about 23 ppg. How do you feel about the move?