Identity Crisis

Thursday, December 30, 2010 Posted by Kyle Mountain 0 comments

Whatever happened to having pride in an identity? In sports, the ability to develop and maintain an identity is a hard thing to do but doing so creates a sense of pride for a program. It's an underrated part of sports that can go a long way in an organizations success, however in recent years there's been a noticeable spike in the number of teams trying to, "create new identities," which is code for, "we're terrible so we're going to change our uniforms and try to create some new excitement about our team." I understand the concept but I have a problem with teams doing this.

Imagine if there were a fighter who got whooped and had black eyes, cuts, etc. reminding him and others of how he got beat. Now picture him going and getting make-up so he could cover up his scars and wounds and create a new appearance so people wouldn't know what happened to him. Maybe not the best example but I think it illustrates my point. I wouldn't have much respect for a guy like this because he's essentially trying to hide what he is. Sports teams do the same thing sometimes. Its become a natural - almost instinctive - reaction recently for teams to attempt to change their identities after constantly getting beat on. The Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Capitals, Detroit Lions, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Memphis Grizzlies are a few teams who, over the past decade or two, have changed their identities in hopes of sparking some success. I like to see if these changes make a difference, so let's break down the Detroit Lions' logo change they made before the 2009 season. The first thing I notice about the changes in the picture (courtesy of news.lalate.com) is that the new Lion is a little bit leaner than the old one. This change makes sense; what better way to fix your self-esteem issues and perhaps give yourself a chance to compete in 4th quarters-to-come than dropping a few pounds? The next change is one of posture. I may be crazy but the new Lion seems to be standing a little straighter compared to the old Lion who's slouching a little bit. It's good to portray confidence and puff the chest out a bit so this is a very important fix.The last significant change is that the new Lion has an eye and the old Lion didn't. I guess they realized that the lack of vision was quite an oversight (pun intended) and I'm sure they were convinced that this change would pay dividends.

I'm all for changing your identity, but don't do it by trying to hide what you are. The most notable teams in sports are the ones who have an identity through good and bad times - the Yankees, the Red Wings, The Canadians, the Lakers. Instead of hiding what you are, why not use what you are as motivation as well as a building block to get where you want to go? To go back to the analogy of the fighter, if I got beaten up badly I'd want to look at those bruises and scars everyday because they'd help motivate me and help me to become better.

Now of course some teams will change a logo just to spice things up, even if they're a successful team (for example, the Pittsburgh Penguins). However, a new logo doesn't mean a good logo, or a good team, or a good legacy. Winning makes a good logo. A legacy makes a good logo. Are you telling me that a four-leaf clover is a good logo? The only reason it is is because the Boston Celtics made it that way through years and years of winning. They took a mundane thing and made it a significant symbol representing success. You can take any identity and make it something great if you're committed to habitually reaching for the success you want to achieve.



Share/Bookmark
Labels:

What Up Wednesday (12.22)

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 Posted by Kyle Mountain 0 comments
This week's edition features special teamsters, Heat coolers, Sid the Kid (yes, again), some girls who are really good at basketball and the big man in red. Enjoy!


What Up Kick Returners - This week was a big week for returners. We saw Devon Hester break the all-time record for the most returns for touchdowns in a career. We saw DeSean Jackson win the game for the Eagles against the Giants off a punt return with no time remaining on the clock. But perhaps the most entertaining return of the week was made by Dan Connolly of the Patriots. Never heard of him? Probably because he's always in the trenches. The 6'4", 313 lb. guard used his blazing speed to return this kick 71 yards. He wasn't quite able to heave his way into the endzone but it's still one of the best returns you'll ever see, and if you haven't seen it yet you need to:






What Up Dallas Mavericks - You broke the Miami Heat's 12-game winning streak on Monday night which everyone is happy about (at least those I've asked, who all seem to share a bond linked by a common sense of bitterness as well as a strong desire to see the Heat crash and burn this year), and you're now 2-0 against them this season. If only you guys played them 60 times a year... Plus, you're second in the West behind the Spurs.









What Up Sidney Crosby... Again - Last week your streak was at 19 games, and I figured it might be over by now but I guess I shouldn't underestimate the Sid. Your streak is now at 21 with a chance to extend it tonight against the Panthers. And congratulations, you now have another, perhaps even more noteworthy streak going with the most consecutive What Up's with 2. Oh, AND, you still have that dusty mustache. Lots of good things going on.



What Up UConn Women's Basketball - I'm not much of a women's basketball fan but this is a significant feat that may never be broken in Division I sports. With Tuesday night's win over Florida St. UConn hit 89 wins, the longest streak in Division I history, but perhaps even more impressive than the streak itself is the way in which they've been able to set this record. They've demolished nearly every team they've played on their way to win 89 (their average winning margin during the streak is over 30 points a game), and there's no indication that they're going to stop anytime soon. This record will most likely break 100, and while it's special for those who are currently on the team, it's perhaps even more significant for those who were with the team earlier to help build this program into the empire it is today.





What Up SANTA CLAUSE - We all know you've got a pretty busy week. I thought my shopping list was tough. Hopefully you're doing alright up there on the North Pole; just know we're all rooting for you! And since I gave you a what up maybe you could be a little extra generous this year... Just a thought.






Share/Bookmark

Philly Phriday (12.17)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 Posted by Kyle Mountain 0 comments

Every Friday, as the second of three new installments at The Show (the third of which will be coming very soon), is Philly Phriday. I recently commented that being a general sports blogger requires me to be objective, but Philly Phriday is an exception. This is the day that I get to praise/complain about my favorite teams, but there's not much to complain about this week if you're a Philly sports fan. Usually on Philly Phriday I'll zero in on one team or player, however this week is a special week so we're going to do a group post.

To quickly review this week: the Eagles beat the Cowboys, the Phillies signed Cliff Lee, the Flyers beat the Penguins and the Sixers won more than one game. All in one week!!! If gods of the sporting world exist, they really like Philly right now, for whatever reason. Philly fans need to recognize how significant this is and understand that Philly is one of the few premier sports towns in the whole country right now, along with Boston and maybe Chicago. When you have three out of four teams that are legitimate contenders it's extremely special because these times don't come around often. It's inevitable that this time will eventually pass, so savoring it is important.

Of course having good teams is always exciting, but Philly fans are bred to ask for more, and if you're like me you'd rather have one good team in your city win a championship than have three good teams that don't quite get it done. But I think Philly fans should be as hopeful as ever right now in the potential our teams have in winning us a championship. We saw the Flyers come extremely close to winning a Stanley Cup last year, and this year they look even better. The Phillies had a disappointing end to a great season but with the great offseason they've had they have our hopes up for another World Series title. The Eagles have proven that they're one of, if not the, team to beat in the NFC, which is extremely exciting for fans considering the expectations for this team weren't nearly that high at the beginning of the year. Philly fans love good teams, but they love championship teams more. I have confidence that at least one of these teams can get a parade back to Broad Street within the next three years. We had one in '08 but having more than one within a five year span would be amazing for the city and its fans.

So for the Philly fans out there, stay hopeful but also remember that what this city has right now is pretty special, and not many places can relate.

Share/Bookmark

What Up Wednesday (12.14)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 Posted by Kyle Mountain 0 comments
What Up Wednesday is one of three new installments (the other two will be coming to you very shortly) on The Show. The concept of What Up Wednesday is to give weekly doses of props to those in the sports world whose achievements deserve some recognition. Soon to be coveted sports honor sought by the world's top athletic figures, What Up's will provide an easy way to catch up on the good going on in the sports world. So, without further ado:


What Up Ruben Amaro Jr. Being a sports blogger requires me to be objective, so I need to make it clear that I'm not doing this because I'm a Phillies fan. I'm doing it because what Ruben has done can only be defined as a colossal achievement that will effect the entire National League for years to come. Phillies fans have spent the last year "what-ifing." Fans were greatly disappoint when the team traded Lee after the '09 season, but of course ecstatic about acquiring Roy Halladay. However, there was always that lingering question in the back of their minds that wouldn't go away no matter how well the staff pitched: what if we hadn't traded Cliff Lee? Now Phillies fans can rejoice because Ruben Amaro Jr. has ended the "what-if" days and spawned the "best-rotation-in-baseball-history" days. Cheers Ruben.


What Up Brett Favre. Brett gets two what up's this week. One for his amazing streak. No matter how much you hate the guy you have to respect what he has done. 297 games in a row in unbelievable. It's a record that may never be broken and the man's legacy will always be that of a warrior because of this streak. Although annoying, Brett deserves congratulations on this amazing feat. His second what up is for ending the streak. Yes, it's a great streak, but we've been waiting for it to end for years now, so thank you Brett. However, if you attempt to break your own record your What Up will be stripped.


What Up Sidney Crosby. You're in the midst of a 19-game point streak, during which you've acquired 38 points. Your team is 2nd in their division and 2nd in the NHL. And you lead the league in points (51) and goals (26). Oh, and you've done it all with a really dusty mustache. I'd say that just about does it.











What Up San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are the first team to 20 wins this year and they've only lost 3 games. The Spurs have shown that they'll without a doubt be contending for a ring this year. The biggest question with the team is whether they'll be able to stay healthy. However, they have five players averaging 12 PPG or more, so their offense is dynamic and they get contribution from more than one or two players.









and finally...




What Up DeSean Jackson. This celebration is - well, words don't quite do it for me. I just want to thank you.








Share/Bookmark

Identity Crisis

Posted by Kyle Mountain 0 comments

Whatever happened to having pride in an identity? In sports, the ability to develop and maintain an identity is a hard thing to do but doing so creates a sense of pride for a program. It's an underrated part of sports that can go a long way in an organizations success, however in recent years there's been a noticeable spike in the number of teams trying to, "create new identities," which is code for, "we're terrible so we're going to change our uniforms and try to create some new excitement about our team." I understand the concept but I have a problem with teams doing this.

Imagine if there were a fighter who got whooped and had black eyes, cuts, etc. reminding him and others of how he got beat. Now picture him going and getting make-up so he could cover up his scars and wounds and create a new appearance so people wouldn't know what happened to him. Maybe not the best example but I think it illustrates my point. I wouldn't have much respect for a guy like this because he's essentially trying to hide what he is. Sports teams do the same thing sometimes. Its become a natural - almost instinctive - reaction recently for teams to attempt to change their identities after constantly getting beat on. The Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Capitals, Detroit Lions, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Memphis Grizzlies are a few teams who, over the past decade or two, have changed their identities in hopes of sparking some success. I like to see if these changes make a difference, so let's break down the Detroit Lions' logo change they made before the 2009 season. The first thing I notice about the changes in the picture (courtesy of news.lalate.com) is that the new Lion is a little bit leaner than the old one. This change makes sense; what better way to fix your self-esteem issues and perhaps give yourself a chance to compete in 4th quarters-to-come than dropping a few pounds? The next change is one of posture. I may be crazy but the new Lion seems to be standing a little straighter compared to the old Lion who's slouching a little bit. It's good to portray confidence and puff the chest out a bit so this is a very important fix.The last significant change is that the new Lion has an eye and the old Lion didn't. I guess they realized that the lack of vision was quite an oversight (pun intended) and I'm sure they were convinced that this change would pay dividends.

I'm all for changing your identity, but don't do it by trying to hide what you are. The most notable teams in sports are the ones who have an identity through good and bad times - the Yankees, the Red Wings, The Canadians, the Lakers. Instead of hiding what you are, why not use what you are as motivation as well as a building block to get where you want to go? To go back to the analogy of the fighter, if I got beaten up badly I'd want to look at those bruises and scars everyday because they'd help motivate me and help me to become better.

Now of course some teams will change a logo just to spice things up, even if they're a successful team (for example, the Pittsburgh Penguins). However, a new logo doesn't mean a good logo, or a good team, or a good legacy. Winning makes a good logo. A legacy makes a good logo. Are you telling me that a four-leaf clover is a good logo? The only reason it is is because the Boston Celtics made it that way through years and years of winning. They took a mundane thing and made it a significant symbol representing success. You can take any identity and make it something great if you're committed to habitually reaching for the success you want to achieve.



Share/Bookmark
Labels:

The Rings Go To the Vets

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 Posted by Kyle Mountain 0 comments
The culture of the NBA is built on a foundation of youth, flash, attitude and showmanship. The league thrives on excitement - huge dunks, alley-oops, buzzer-beaters, etc. However, despite these things being that which the NBA thrives on, to thrive in the NBA takes something else that isn't quite as marketable or exciting. If you look at some of the NBA's top teams - the Celtics, the Spurs, the Lakers, for instance - there's something they all have in common: a strong veteran presence. It's not something that you can teach and you rarely see it on the highlight films. The qualities in a player or team that the media values often differ from the qualities that truly make a player or team successful - and having veteran players with winning experience that play with these unnoticed qualities will carry a team much further than the plays you see on the highlight films.

The media tends to bend people's perceptions of what's important regarding a player. When you turn on Sports Center in the morning and watch highlights, you see the nicest plays of the day. Often times people will use these plays to determine a player's value, which often times will end up as a skewed opinion of how good that player really is. Instead of looking at dunks to determine a players value, look at a players ability to win games. Look at Andre Iguodala. He can jump through the roof and some of his dunks are staggering. However, he has shown over the past few years that he doesn't bear the abilities to win games or carry a team. However, the media would rather show Andre Iguodala jumping through the roof for a dunk during a 76ers loss than Tim Duncan hitting the same bank-shot ten times in a Spurs win. Can you blame them though? No offense to Duncan but he's boring, and always has been. More effective than anyone, but boring, and that's not a knock on Duncan, it's actually a compliment. He plays a simple and effective game. The point I'm trying to make is that the media can't always show what wins games because sometimes those things can be boring. However, they're significant and need to be recognized.

The top teams in the league have more than an ability to look flashy and make it onto the Sports Center Top 10. What makes great teams is their ability to be more than one-dimensional. Let's go back to the teams I mentioned earlier - the Celtics, the Spurs, and the Lakers - and recognize one particular stat that epitomizes why these teams are so successful now. The combination of Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest and Pau Gasol are a +100, which is the best in the league as of Dec. 7th. The combination of Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Peirce and Rajon Rondo are a +77 at this point, which is the second best in the league. I think you know where this is heading. The combination of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson, Tony Parker, and DeJuan Blair are a +71 which is third best in the NBA. On top of that, these three teams have a combined six players in the league's top ten for individual +/-. It's no coincidence that these teams are amongst the best in the league. The +/- stat in basketball is extremely revealing. A player may average 20 points a game for a season but if he also averages a -5 rating, what does that say about him? It says that he'll get his points but ultimately his offensive ability isn't enough to benefit his team. It says that when he's on the floor, his team gives up more points than they get. The perviously mentioned Lakers combination is +100 through 20 games this season, which means they're averaging 5 more points a game than whoever else is on the floor against them. This tells me two things: the Lakers can put up points, and they can play defense. Many players and teams can only do the first, but it takes both to be successful in the NBA.

The +/- stat is among many other telling stats you don't hear about often mainly because they're not marketable stats. You'll never hear ESPN say, "tune in to watch the +42 Kevin Durant take on so and so." You'll hear, "tune in to watch points leader/ppg leader Kevin Durant take on so and so." That's what people want to hear and that's what's marketable. People want to see offense, flash - the things I mentioned earlier that the league has built a foundation on. However, to win, a team needs more. This is where it comes back to teams being experienced. Teams in this league need to have players that know how to win and that know how to play on both sides of the ball. Kobe Bryant is known as an explosive offensive player, but he knows how to play defense too, which is a big part of why he and the Lakers have been successful. They're at the top of the league again this year, and if this year's standings don't convince you of the need for players like this, let's take a look at who has won NBA championships over the last ten years: the Lakers have won five times, the Spurs have won three times, and the Heat, Celtics, and Pistons have each one once. Each of these teams had a core of veterans that played a significant part in them winning. I can't even think of a team who has won without such a presence.

We are constantly shown the flash but that's not what wins. It's the Tim Duncan's, the Pau Gasol's, the Kevin Garnett's - amongst many others - that win. These players know how to play in a way that will help their team's win, which is different from just getting 20 points a game. It's important to overlook what's shown to us on TV (namely dunk after dunk after dunk) and to instead look at what aspects a team has that makes them win or lose. The highlights are great but come playoff time they're not going to matter as it's the often unnoticed yet significant attributes a team can consistently play with, along with strong veteran leadership, that will carry teams to championships.

Share/Bookmark
Labels:

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Identity Crisis


Whatever happened to having pride in an identity? In sports, the ability to develop and maintain an identity is a hard thing to do but doing so creates a sense of pride for a program. It's an underrated part of sports that can go a long way in an organizations success, however in recent years there's been a noticeable spike in the number of teams trying to, "create new identities," which is code for, "we're terrible so we're going to change our uniforms and try to create some new excitement about our team." I understand the concept but I have a problem with teams doing this.

Imagine if there were a fighter who got whooped and had black eyes, cuts, etc. reminding him and others of how he got beat. Now picture him going and getting make-up so he could cover up his scars and wounds and create a new appearance so people wouldn't know what happened to him. Maybe not the best example but I think it illustrates my point. I wouldn't have much respect for a guy like this because he's essentially trying to hide what he is. Sports teams do the same thing sometimes. Its become a natural - almost instinctive - reaction recently for teams to attempt to change their identities after constantly getting beat on. The Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Capitals, Detroit Lions, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Memphis Grizzlies are a few teams who, over the past decade or two, have changed their identities in hopes of sparking some success. I like to see if these changes make a difference, so let's break down the Detroit Lions' logo change they made before the 2009 season. The first thing I notice about the changes in the picture (courtesy of news.lalate.com) is that the new Lion is a little bit leaner than the old one. This change makes sense; what better way to fix your self-esteem issues and perhaps give yourself a chance to compete in 4th quarters-to-come than dropping a few pounds? The next change is one of posture. I may be crazy but the new Lion seems to be standing a little straighter compared to the old Lion who's slouching a little bit. It's good to portray confidence and puff the chest out a bit so this is a very important fix.The last significant change is that the new Lion has an eye and the old Lion didn't. I guess they realized that the lack of vision was quite an oversight (pun intended) and I'm sure they were convinced that this change would pay dividends.

I'm all for changing your identity, but don't do it by trying to hide what you are. The most notable teams in sports are the ones who have an identity through good and bad times - the Yankees, the Red Wings, The Canadians, the Lakers. Instead of hiding what you are, why not use what you are as motivation as well as a building block to get where you want to go? To go back to the analogy of the fighter, if I got beaten up badly I'd want to look at those bruises and scars everyday because they'd help motivate me and help me to become better.

Now of course some teams will change a logo just to spice things up, even if they're a successful team (for example, the Pittsburgh Penguins). However, a new logo doesn't mean a good logo, or a good team, or a good legacy. Winning makes a good logo. A legacy makes a good logo. Are you telling me that a four-leaf clover is a good logo? The only reason it is is because the Boston Celtics made it that way through years and years of winning. They took a mundane thing and made it a significant symbol representing success. You can take any identity and make it something great if you're committed to habitually reaching for the success you want to achieve.



Share/Bookmark

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

What Up Wednesday (12.22)

This week's edition features special teamsters, Heat coolers, Sid the Kid (yes, again), some girls who are really good at basketball and the big man in red. Enjoy!


What Up Kick Returners - This week was a big week for returners. We saw Devon Hester break the all-time record for the most returns for touchdowns in a career. We saw DeSean Jackson win the game for the Eagles against the Giants off a punt return with no time remaining on the clock. But perhaps the most entertaining return of the week was made by Dan Connolly of the Patriots. Never heard of him? Probably because he's always in the trenches. The 6'4", 313 lb. guard used his blazing speed to return this kick 71 yards. He wasn't quite able to heave his way into the endzone but it's still one of the best returns you'll ever see, and if you haven't seen it yet you need to:






What Up Dallas Mavericks - You broke the Miami Heat's 12-game winning streak on Monday night which everyone is happy about (at least those I've asked, who all seem to share a bond linked by a common sense of bitterness as well as a strong desire to see the Heat crash and burn this year), and you're now 2-0 against them this season. If only you guys played them 60 times a year... Plus, you're second in the West behind the Spurs.









What Up Sidney Crosby... Again - Last week your streak was at 19 games, and I figured it might be over by now but I guess I shouldn't underestimate the Sid. Your streak is now at 21 with a chance to extend it tonight against the Panthers. And congratulations, you now have another, perhaps even more noteworthy streak going with the most consecutive What Up's with 2. Oh, AND, you still have that dusty mustache. Lots of good things going on.



What Up UConn Women's Basketball - I'm not much of a women's basketball fan but this is a significant feat that may never be broken in Division I sports. With Tuesday night's win over Florida St. UConn hit 89 wins, the longest streak in Division I history, but perhaps even more impressive than the streak itself is the way in which they've been able to set this record. They've demolished nearly every team they've played on their way to win 89 (their average winning margin during the streak is over 30 points a game), and there's no indication that they're going to stop anytime soon. This record will most likely break 100, and while it's special for those who are currently on the team, it's perhaps even more significant for those who were with the team earlier to help build this program into the empire it is today.





What Up SANTA CLAUSE - We all know you've got a pretty busy week. I thought my shopping list was tough. Hopefully you're doing alright up there on the North Pole; just know we're all rooting for you! And since I gave you a what up maybe you could be a little extra generous this year... Just a thought.






Share/Bookmark

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Philly Phriday (12.17)


Every Friday, as the second of three new installments at The Show (the third of which will be coming very soon), is Philly Phriday. I recently commented that being a general sports blogger requires me to be objective, but Philly Phriday is an exception. This is the day that I get to praise/complain about my favorite teams, but there's not much to complain about this week if you're a Philly sports fan. Usually on Philly Phriday I'll zero in on one team or player, however this week is a special week so we're going to do a group post.

To quickly review this week: the Eagles beat the Cowboys, the Phillies signed Cliff Lee, the Flyers beat the Penguins and the Sixers won more than one game. All in one week!!! If gods of the sporting world exist, they really like Philly right now, for whatever reason. Philly fans need to recognize how significant this is and understand that Philly is one of the few premier sports towns in the whole country right now, along with Boston and maybe Chicago. When you have three out of four teams that are legitimate contenders it's extremely special because these times don't come around often. It's inevitable that this time will eventually pass, so savoring it is important.

Of course having good teams is always exciting, but Philly fans are bred to ask for more, and if you're like me you'd rather have one good team in your city win a championship than have three good teams that don't quite get it done. But I think Philly fans should be as hopeful as ever right now in the potential our teams have in winning us a championship. We saw the Flyers come extremely close to winning a Stanley Cup last year, and this year they look even better. The Phillies had a disappointing end to a great season but with the great offseason they've had they have our hopes up for another World Series title. The Eagles have proven that they're one of, if not the, team to beat in the NFC, which is extremely exciting for fans considering the expectations for this team weren't nearly that high at the beginning of the year. Philly fans love good teams, but they love championship teams more. I have confidence that at least one of these teams can get a parade back to Broad Street within the next three years. We had one in '08 but having more than one within a five year span would be amazing for the city and its fans.

So for the Philly fans out there, stay hopeful but also remember that what this city has right now is pretty special, and not many places can relate.

Share/Bookmark

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

What Up Wednesday (12.14)

What Up Wednesday is one of three new installments (the other two will be coming to you very shortly) on The Show. The concept of What Up Wednesday is to give weekly doses of props to those in the sports world whose achievements deserve some recognition. Soon to be coveted sports honor sought by the world's top athletic figures, What Up's will provide an easy way to catch up on the good going on in the sports world. So, without further ado:


What Up Ruben Amaro Jr. Being a sports blogger requires me to be objective, so I need to make it clear that I'm not doing this because I'm a Phillies fan. I'm doing it because what Ruben has done can only be defined as a colossal achievement that will effect the entire National League for years to come. Phillies fans have spent the last year "what-ifing." Fans were greatly disappoint when the team traded Lee after the '09 season, but of course ecstatic about acquiring Roy Halladay. However, there was always that lingering question in the back of their minds that wouldn't go away no matter how well the staff pitched: what if we hadn't traded Cliff Lee? Now Phillies fans can rejoice because Ruben Amaro Jr. has ended the "what-if" days and spawned the "best-rotation-in-baseball-history" days. Cheers Ruben.


What Up Brett Favre. Brett gets two what up's this week. One for his amazing streak. No matter how much you hate the guy you have to respect what he has done. 297 games in a row in unbelievable. It's a record that may never be broken and the man's legacy will always be that of a warrior because of this streak. Although annoying, Brett deserves congratulations on this amazing feat. His second what up is for ending the streak. Yes, it's a great streak, but we've been waiting for it to end for years now, so thank you Brett. However, if you attempt to break your own record your What Up will be stripped.


What Up Sidney Crosby. You're in the midst of a 19-game point streak, during which you've acquired 38 points. Your team is 2nd in their division and 2nd in the NHL. And you lead the league in points (51) and goals (26). Oh, and you've done it all with a really dusty mustache. I'd say that just about does it.











What Up San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are the first team to 20 wins this year and they've only lost 3 games. The Spurs have shown that they'll without a doubt be contending for a ring this year. The biggest question with the team is whether they'll be able to stay healthy. However, they have five players averaging 12 PPG or more, so their offense is dynamic and they get contribution from more than one or two players.









and finally...




What Up DeSean Jackson. This celebration is - well, words don't quite do it for me. I just want to thank you.








Share/Bookmark

Identity Crisis


Whatever happened to having pride in an identity? In sports, the ability to develop and maintain an identity is a hard thing to do but doing so creates a sense of pride for a program. It's an underrated part of sports that can go a long way in an organizations success, however in recent years there's been a noticeable spike in the number of teams trying to, "create new identities," which is code for, "we're terrible so we're going to change our uniforms and try to create some new excitement about our team." I understand the concept but I have a problem with teams doing this.

Imagine if there were a fighter who got whooped and had black eyes, cuts, etc. reminding him and others of how he got beat. Now picture him going and getting make-up so he could cover up his scars and wounds and create a new appearance so people wouldn't know what happened to him. Maybe not the best example but I think it illustrates my point. I wouldn't have much respect for a guy like this because he's essentially trying to hide what he is. Sports teams do the same thing sometimes. Its become a natural - almost instinctive - reaction recently for teams to attempt to change their identities after constantly getting beat on. The Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Capitals, Detroit Lions, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Memphis Grizzlies are a few teams who, over the past decade or two, have changed their identities in hopes of sparking some success. I like to see if these changes make a difference, so let's break down the Detroit Lions' logo change they made before the 2009 season. The first thing I notice about the changes in the picture (courtesy of news.lalate.com) is that the new Lion is a little bit leaner than the old one. This change makes sense; what better way to fix your self-esteem issues and perhaps give yourself a chance to compete in 4th quarters-to-come than dropping a few pounds? The next change is one of posture. I may be crazy but the new Lion seems to be standing a little straighter compared to the old Lion who's slouching a little bit. It's good to portray confidence and puff the chest out a bit so this is a very important fix.The last significant change is that the new Lion has an eye and the old Lion didn't. I guess they realized that the lack of vision was quite an oversight (pun intended) and I'm sure they were convinced that this change would pay dividends.

I'm all for changing your identity, but don't do it by trying to hide what you are. The most notable teams in sports are the ones who have an identity through good and bad times - the Yankees, the Red Wings, The Canadians, the Lakers. Instead of hiding what you are, why not use what you are as motivation as well as a building block to get where you want to go? To go back to the analogy of the fighter, if I got beaten up badly I'd want to look at those bruises and scars everyday because they'd help motivate me and help me to become better.

Now of course some teams will change a logo just to spice things up, even if they're a successful team (for example, the Pittsburgh Penguins). However, a new logo doesn't mean a good logo, or a good team, or a good legacy. Winning makes a good logo. A legacy makes a good logo. Are you telling me that a four-leaf clover is a good logo? The only reason it is is because the Boston Celtics made it that way through years and years of winning. They took a mundane thing and made it a significant symbol representing success. You can take any identity and make it something great if you're committed to habitually reaching for the success you want to achieve.



Share/Bookmark

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

The Rings Go To the Vets

The culture of the NBA is built on a foundation of youth, flash, attitude and showmanship. The league thrives on excitement - huge dunks, alley-oops, buzzer-beaters, etc. However, despite these things being that which the NBA thrives on, to thrive in the NBA takes something else that isn't quite as marketable or exciting. If you look at some of the NBA's top teams - the Celtics, the Spurs, the Lakers, for instance - there's something they all have in common: a strong veteran presence. It's not something that you can teach and you rarely see it on the highlight films. The qualities in a player or team that the media values often differ from the qualities that truly make a player or team successful - and having veteran players with winning experience that play with these unnoticed qualities will carry a team much further than the plays you see on the highlight films.

The media tends to bend people's perceptions of what's important regarding a player. When you turn on Sports Center in the morning and watch highlights, you see the nicest plays of the day. Often times people will use these plays to determine a player's value, which often times will end up as a skewed opinion of how good that player really is. Instead of looking at dunks to determine a players value, look at a players ability to win games. Look at Andre Iguodala. He can jump through the roof and some of his dunks are staggering. However, he has shown over the past few years that he doesn't bear the abilities to win games or carry a team. However, the media would rather show Andre Iguodala jumping through the roof for a dunk during a 76ers loss than Tim Duncan hitting the same bank-shot ten times in a Spurs win. Can you blame them though? No offense to Duncan but he's boring, and always has been. More effective than anyone, but boring, and that's not a knock on Duncan, it's actually a compliment. He plays a simple and effective game. The point I'm trying to make is that the media can't always show what wins games because sometimes those things can be boring. However, they're significant and need to be recognized.

The top teams in the league have more than an ability to look flashy and make it onto the Sports Center Top 10. What makes great teams is their ability to be more than one-dimensional. Let's go back to the teams I mentioned earlier - the Celtics, the Spurs, and the Lakers - and recognize one particular stat that epitomizes why these teams are so successful now. The combination of Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest and Pau Gasol are a +100, which is the best in the league as of Dec. 7th. The combination of Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Peirce and Rajon Rondo are a +77 at this point, which is the second best in the league. I think you know where this is heading. The combination of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson, Tony Parker, and DeJuan Blair are a +71 which is third best in the NBA. On top of that, these three teams have a combined six players in the league's top ten for individual +/-. It's no coincidence that these teams are amongst the best in the league. The +/- stat in basketball is extremely revealing. A player may average 20 points a game for a season but if he also averages a -5 rating, what does that say about him? It says that he'll get his points but ultimately his offensive ability isn't enough to benefit his team. It says that when he's on the floor, his team gives up more points than they get. The perviously mentioned Lakers combination is +100 through 20 games this season, which means they're averaging 5 more points a game than whoever else is on the floor against them. This tells me two things: the Lakers can put up points, and they can play defense. Many players and teams can only do the first, but it takes both to be successful in the NBA.

The +/- stat is among many other telling stats you don't hear about often mainly because they're not marketable stats. You'll never hear ESPN say, "tune in to watch the +42 Kevin Durant take on so and so." You'll hear, "tune in to watch points leader/ppg leader Kevin Durant take on so and so." That's what people want to hear and that's what's marketable. People want to see offense, flash - the things I mentioned earlier that the league has built a foundation on. However, to win, a team needs more. This is where it comes back to teams being experienced. Teams in this league need to have players that know how to win and that know how to play on both sides of the ball. Kobe Bryant is known as an explosive offensive player, but he knows how to play defense too, which is a big part of why he and the Lakers have been successful. They're at the top of the league again this year, and if this year's standings don't convince you of the need for players like this, let's take a look at who has won NBA championships over the last ten years: the Lakers have won five times, the Spurs have won three times, and the Heat, Celtics, and Pistons have each one once. Each of these teams had a core of veterans that played a significant part in them winning. I can't even think of a team who has won without such a presence.

We are constantly shown the flash but that's not what wins. It's the Tim Duncan's, the Pau Gasol's, the Kevin Garnett's - amongst many others - that win. These players know how to play in a way that will help their team's win, which is different from just getting 20 points a game. It's important to overlook what's shown to us on TV (namely dunk after dunk after dunk) and to instead look at what aspects a team has that makes them win or lose. The highlights are great but come playoff time they're not going to matter as it's the often unnoticed yet significant attributes a team can consistently play with, along with strong veteran leadership, that will carry teams to championships.

Share/Bookmark