hey everyone,
I'm sorry I haven't posted here in a while. Obviously this sports blog thing has taken over my life, but that's not to say that I've been sitting at a computer every day punching the keys.
So here's what I've done, what I want to do, my feelings and musing on things... and everything else.
Since I returned from the Blue Mountains more than two weeks ago, I've been yearning to get back there. They are that exquisite. I plan on going back with my good friend, Ashley, this Saturday for a full day of hiking. Should be fun.
Since Aunt Sally has so kindly agreed to pay, I plan on doing the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb in the next couple weeks (maybe this Sunday). Should be a lotta fun as well as riveting. Unfortunatly, we're not allowed to take cameras (or anything else) when we're up there, but I'll be sure to get some photos from the experience. I think I'm gonna do the sunset climb. Standing on the apex of a bridge while the sun sets below me on the harbour doesn't sound like a bad evening.
Speaking of heights, I accompanied Melvin, Cheryl, Toad and his friend, Will, up to (almost) the top of the tower in Sydney - its tallest building. We relaxed in the bar, sipped expensive drinks and looked out at the city. Unfortunately, our view didn't include the sunset - the bar rotates clockwise, but very, very slowly - however the views were nonetheless priceless.
Last Friday I went out for the first time with just Australians as I accompanied a few of my co-workers for a celebration of another one of my coworkers leaving Sydney Uni Sport. Everyone got loose and we had a good time. I ended up crashing at my co-worker's crib, woke up to watch Ice Age then ate sausages for breakfast. It was a fun experience.
Speaking of work, I'm just about ready to be done with it. I only have six work days remaining. While I've enjoyed interviewing some of the Aussie athletes, I don't feel that I've improved at all as a journalist. I guess I'll just use the experience as resume fodder (because how many American sports journalists have done work in Australia?). On a side note, it's been fun to follow the Ashes, Australia and England's Test cricket match that spans almost two months. It's like the NBA playoffs, except just one series between two teams. Cricket is absolutely bizarre, let me tell you.
I haven't heard back from the woman with the Sydney Kings, Sydney's men's professional basketball team. She said a week or so ago that I could work the games on Dec. 3 and Dec. 8, but until I hear from her, nothing's certain. I guess I'm indifferent. If I work the games, great - more resume fodder and you know how much I love basketball. If I don't, I'll get to spend more time with the great people I've met here before we say our farewells.
Speaking of leaving, it's kind of shocking how quickly this experience has gone. I have five more days at the internship, one more paper due (next week), and the final exam for my mass media class. That's it. I'll be leaving Sydney on the night of Dec. 15 (one day later than most) and flying to Auckland, New Zealand for 3-4 days. I haven't done a speck of planning for New Zealand, so if you know of any great things to do (especially outdoors) please throw reccomendations out there.
I'm very ambivalent about leaving. I'll definitely be happy to get home, see the family, and watch American sports whenever I want to. Relaxing at the crib on Spring Street and hopefully getting my sports writing job back in Jackson will also be great. But at the same time I'll really miss a lot of the people from the program. I've forged some tight bonds here in Sydney, and it'll be difficult to say adios. I'll also miss Sydney to a degree. Living in a big city has many benefits. There's always a store open if I need anything and always bars and 24-hour food joints that can cater to me late at night. But, then again, Sydney has coerced me into spending more money than I planned on, so it'll be nice to be back in cities where it's not quite as easy to burn the wallet. I don't plan on doing much spending for the next few months.
With that said, it's time for me to go grab some dinner and relax the night away. With just over two weeks left in Sydney, I've still got plenty to do.
peace and love,
jake
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
"My best weekend yet"
This past weekend was easily the most enjoyable I've had here abroad. Eight friends and I took a train to the Blue Mountains, about a 2-hour ride from Sydney. We arrived in Katoomba, a small, peaceful town in the heart of the mountains, around 10:30 on Saturday morning, and I was ready to hit the bush.
The Blue Mountains are nothing like those I hike in every year in New Hampshire. You don't start at the bottom of the mountain and hike up. Instead, the towns are at the peaks of the mountains, so you usually hike down and then make your way back up. That is what we did.
After getting settled in the YHA hostel - easily the nicest hostel I've stayed at here, and still cheap, at $27.50 a night - we trekked through a residential neighbourhood to get to the trail. The first couple hours of the hike we followed a ridge trail, which wove around the top of the valley, offering splendid views of the cliffs opposite us and the trees and waterfalls in the valley. The only negative about this part of the walk was the amount of tourists who clogged the trail. Since it stayed on top of the cliffs, we were fairly close to the road, so people could simply park their cars and walk a hundred yards to one of the several lookouts. It's safe to say we saw hundreds of people with sandals on, mothers with strollers, and men dressed in their workday business suits.
Also, the trail intersected with a huge visitor information centre, replete with a gift shop and food stand. I never really felt, during this part of the journey, like I was in the bush. It felt more like - and I'm only imagining here - visiting the top of the Grand Canyon.
But things got better... much better. As the day grew old, some of the crew decided to head back, but Steve, Andrew, Kristina and I pushed on, determined to reach the Golden Steps - a very steep ascent back up to the road. After surviving Tourist Central, we had descended a great deal, thus putting us down in the valley. With the sun reaching its peak in the sky, we bushwalked over rocks and under trees - which made it very dark - until we reached the base of the stairs. One thing about hiking in the Blue Mountains is that you have to keep an eye on the path ahead - and this is not just because of the possibility of wildlife. Trails often aren't marked that well. There are no cairns like in the White Mountains. There are a few intermittent chalked arrows on rocks, but that is about it. At one point we lost the trail, but after retracing our steps, we easily found it again.
And then we climbed the steps. Steep, steep, steep. That's the best way to describe them. Man-made - some out of rock, and some out of metal - the steps twisted upward, at times affording us brilliant views of the farther and farther away valley, which gave us an excuse to rest.
We were tired, heaving, out of gorp (or at least I though at the time - I ended up having another whole bag), and it was close to dark.
But then, all of a sudden, after just 23 minutes, we reached the top. The sign had said an hour, but we killed those stairs. We ended up having at least a half hour until darkness, so we decided to chill out on a perfect rock facing the fading sun towatch the sun set. Only, it didn't. It got lost among the clouds. That was the only real disappointment of the day.
But it was only half of my Blue Mountains adventure.
Yesterday, not everyone was as energetic as the day before. Four guys went off to play golf. Steve hit up a caves tour. The girls went in search of kangaroos. But I? Well, I was ready for some more bushwalking. So I hopped on a train down to Wentworth Falls, two stops toward Sydney from Katoomba. And in the span of six hours, I had the time of my life.
After about a 25-minute walk to the national park, I hit the trails - all of them. Similar to Saturday, I started on a ridge trail with great views of the valley and waterfalls below. Then I made my way down to the Valley of the Waters, where I hiked right alongside a long chain of waterfalls. At the first waterfall, I watched as three people climbed down the fall by using rope into a small pool that was oh so tempting. I would have jumped in, but the sun wasn't out and it was early in my journey. Oh, and the water was freezing (colder than at the potholes).
After a brief snack (cheese and crackers, baby!) I headed down to the Wentworth Pass, which took me to the other side of the canyon and beautiful Wentworth Falls. We had visited a couple waterfalls on the first day - including one that was directly above a cliff that dropped off several hundred feet - but Wentworth Falls was the paragon of waterfalls. It must have been 300 feet tall, with the water falling in the air for about 200 feet before hitting rock and moving gracefully down the final 100 feet into a pool at the base. Also, there was a sandy beach. A sandy beach in the mountains! I couldn't believe it. The water here was also freezing, but I told myself I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn’t swim in one waterfall, so I waded in and stood around the stream of water for 10 seconds. Refreshing is the best word to describe that.
I also received a visit from a friend while I was at the falls. I was lying on a rock, reading my book, when a rather large lizard slid up ever so slyly behind me. It had no cruel intentions, but it still took me by surprise. I took a couple pictures of it and decided to sit up while I finished the chapter I was reading.
Finally I decided I ought to leave the falls. An interesting fact: I was without a watch on this trip, so I often had to gauge what time it was or ask somebody. On Day 2 I didn't run into many people - definitely a good thing, except that I often had no real idea what time it was. After departing the falls, I travelled up an extremely steep set of stairs to the National Pass. The stairs must have been 80 degrees, no joke. I had to lean forward, with my hands gripping the railings to make it up them. At the top, a sign noted what I had already realized: "Experienced Hikers Only." Good thing I've done some hiking.
The National Pass was an interesting path. Most of the way, it was directly below an overhanging cliff, occasionally making me duck. Also, most of it was transparently man-made. Rocks laid out acted as stepping stones, making for a nice and easy hike. At the end of the National Pass, I reconnected with the Valley of Waters. I then hiked the one trail in the area that was left on my list: the Nature Trail. The NT took me up, way above the valley, eventually to the road, but not before I passed some beautiful rock lookouts (not man-made whatsoever) and a pool where, from behind some rocks, I could tell some skinny-dipping was in full-swing. It was a nice, sometimes arduous end to my climbing adventure.
So there you have it, my hiking experience in the Blue Mountains. Once I return home, I'll be sure to share pictures of it. Again, it is completely different from hiking in New Hampshire - and not as difficult - but it was enjoyable and worthwhile all the same.
And the views... well you'll just have to see for yourself.
The Blue Mountains are nothing like those I hike in every year in New Hampshire. You don't start at the bottom of the mountain and hike up. Instead, the towns are at the peaks of the mountains, so you usually hike down and then make your way back up. That is what we did.
After getting settled in the YHA hostel - easily the nicest hostel I've stayed at here, and still cheap, at $27.50 a night - we trekked through a residential neighbourhood to get to the trail. The first couple hours of the hike we followed a ridge trail, which wove around the top of the valley, offering splendid views of the cliffs opposite us and the trees and waterfalls in the valley. The only negative about this part of the walk was the amount of tourists who clogged the trail. Since it stayed on top of the cliffs, we were fairly close to the road, so people could simply park their cars and walk a hundred yards to one of the several lookouts. It's safe to say we saw hundreds of people with sandals on, mothers with strollers, and men dressed in their workday business suits.
Also, the trail intersected with a huge visitor information centre, replete with a gift shop and food stand. I never really felt, during this part of the journey, like I was in the bush. It felt more like - and I'm only imagining here - visiting the top of the Grand Canyon.
But things got better... much better. As the day grew old, some of the crew decided to head back, but Steve, Andrew, Kristina and I pushed on, determined to reach the Golden Steps - a very steep ascent back up to the road. After surviving Tourist Central, we had descended a great deal, thus putting us down in the valley. With the sun reaching its peak in the sky, we bushwalked over rocks and under trees - which made it very dark - until we reached the base of the stairs. One thing about hiking in the Blue Mountains is that you have to keep an eye on the path ahead - and this is not just because of the possibility of wildlife. Trails often aren't marked that well. There are no cairns like in the White Mountains. There are a few intermittent chalked arrows on rocks, but that is about it. At one point we lost the trail, but after retracing our steps, we easily found it again.
And then we climbed the steps. Steep, steep, steep. That's the best way to describe them. Man-made - some out of rock, and some out of metal - the steps twisted upward, at times affording us brilliant views of the farther and farther away valley, which gave us an excuse to rest.
We were tired, heaving, out of gorp (or at least I though at the time - I ended up having another whole bag), and it was close to dark.
But then, all of a sudden, after just 23 minutes, we reached the top. The sign had said an hour, but we killed those stairs. We ended up having at least a half hour until darkness, so we decided to chill out on a perfect rock facing the fading sun towatch the sun set. Only, it didn't. It got lost among the clouds. That was the only real disappointment of the day.
But it was only half of my Blue Mountains adventure.
Yesterday, not everyone was as energetic as the day before. Four guys went off to play golf. Steve hit up a caves tour. The girls went in search of kangaroos. But I? Well, I was ready for some more bushwalking. So I hopped on a train down to Wentworth Falls, two stops toward Sydney from Katoomba. And in the span of six hours, I had the time of my life.
After about a 25-minute walk to the national park, I hit the trails - all of them. Similar to Saturday, I started on a ridge trail with great views of the valley and waterfalls below. Then I made my way down to the Valley of the Waters, where I hiked right alongside a long chain of waterfalls. At the first waterfall, I watched as three people climbed down the fall by using rope into a small pool that was oh so tempting. I would have jumped in, but the sun wasn't out and it was early in my journey. Oh, and the water was freezing (colder than at the potholes).
After a brief snack (cheese and crackers, baby!) I headed down to the Wentworth Pass, which took me to the other side of the canyon and beautiful Wentworth Falls. We had visited a couple waterfalls on the first day - including one that was directly above a cliff that dropped off several hundred feet - but Wentworth Falls was the paragon of waterfalls. It must have been 300 feet tall, with the water falling in the air for about 200 feet before hitting rock and moving gracefully down the final 100 feet into a pool at the base. Also, there was a sandy beach. A sandy beach in the mountains! I couldn't believe it. The water here was also freezing, but I told myself I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn’t swim in one waterfall, so I waded in and stood around the stream of water for 10 seconds. Refreshing is the best word to describe that.
I also received a visit from a friend while I was at the falls. I was lying on a rock, reading my book, when a rather large lizard slid up ever so slyly behind me. It had no cruel intentions, but it still took me by surprise. I took a couple pictures of it and decided to sit up while I finished the chapter I was reading.
Finally I decided I ought to leave the falls. An interesting fact: I was without a watch on this trip, so I often had to gauge what time it was or ask somebody. On Day 2 I didn't run into many people - definitely a good thing, except that I often had no real idea what time it was. After departing the falls, I travelled up an extremely steep set of stairs to the National Pass. The stairs must have been 80 degrees, no joke. I had to lean forward, with my hands gripping the railings to make it up them. At the top, a sign noted what I had already realized: "Experienced Hikers Only." Good thing I've done some hiking.
The National Pass was an interesting path. Most of the way, it was directly below an overhanging cliff, occasionally making me duck. Also, most of it was transparently man-made. Rocks laid out acted as stepping stones, making for a nice and easy hike. At the end of the National Pass, I reconnected with the Valley of Waters. I then hiked the one trail in the area that was left on my list: the Nature Trail. The NT took me up, way above the valley, eventually to the road, but not before I passed some beautiful rock lookouts (not man-made whatsoever) and a pool where, from behind some rocks, I could tell some skinny-dipping was in full-swing. It was a nice, sometimes arduous end to my climbing adventure.
So there you have it, my hiking experience in the Blue Mountains. Once I return home, I'll be sure to share pictures of it. Again, it is completely different from hiking in New Hampshire - and not as difficult - but it was enjoyable and worthwhile all the same.
And the views... well you'll just have to see for yourself.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Sports blog: check it out
hey everyone,
I believe I e-mailed most of you, but for those I missed, I have set up an exclusive sports blog: www.sportstakewithjake.blogspot.com. Please check it out. It will feature a daily column in addition to a daily wrap-up column about the day's actions, transactions, off-the-field histrionics, you get the idea. Because of this new site, you all not so interested in my sports writing won't have to sift through it on this blog. This is now exclusively my Sydney blog. Expect an entry by the end of this weekend about my trip to the Blue Mountains that I'm embarking on tomorrow morning.
As always, please post comments on either blog about my writing or anything else. I appreciate the feedbck. You can also e-mail me at jbl10@albion.edu.
thanks,
jake
I believe I e-mailed most of you, but for those I missed, I have set up an exclusive sports blog: www.sportstakewithjake.blogspot.com. Please check it out. It will feature a daily column in addition to a daily wrap-up column about the day's actions, transactions, off-the-field histrionics, you get the idea. Because of this new site, you all not so interested in my sports writing won't have to sift through it on this blog. This is now exclusively my Sydney blog. Expect an entry by the end of this weekend about my trip to the Blue Mountains that I'm embarking on tomorrow morning.
As always, please post comments on either blog about my writing or anything else. I appreciate the feedbck. You can also e-mail me at jbl10@albion.edu.
thanks,
jake
Sunday, November 05, 2006
NBA playoffs preview
This is gonna be abridged. Only because it's 4:30 a.m. here and I'm starting to fatigue. But don't worry, my mind is still sharp. At least in terms of basketball knowledge. Here's a round-by-round look at the playoffs.
FIRST ROUND
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit def. (8) Orlando 4-1
Darko can't defeat his old team. Billups posts up Nelson all day long.
(2) Miami def. (7) Indiana 4-2
Jermaine O'Neal has great series, but in the end too much Wade, and Shaq steps up.
(3) New Jersey def. (6) Washington 4-3
Great series showdown between Arenas and Carter. Jason Kidd makes the difference at end.
(4) Cleveland def. (5) Chicago 4-1
Zeke has a huge series against tired Big Ben. LeBron wins a game in the final seconds.
Western Conference
(1) Phoenix def. (8) Denver 4-0
Raja Bell shuts down 'Melo, leaving Nuggets hopeless.
(2) Dallas def. (7) Houston 4-2
Not an easy series, but in end Dallas has too much firepower. Yao worn out by big-bodied Dallas centers.
(6) LA Lakers def. (3) Utah 4-3
Kobe shows up this time in Game 7, lights up the Staples Center.
(4) San Antonio def. (5) LA Clippers 4-3
Manuficent: Ginobli carries Spurs, as Brand and Duncan cancel each other out. Horry hits big Game 7 trey.
SECOND ROUND
Eastern Conference
(4)Cleveland def. (1) Detroit 4-2
Too much LeBron for Pistons to handle. Plus, Marshall, Jones and Hughes hit open shots.
(2) Miami def. (3) New Jersey 4-2
Rematch from last year yields similar result.
Western Conference
(4) San Antonio def. (1) Phoenix 4-3
Can't go against the Spurs after a disappointing season. TD carries them this round.
(2) Dallas def. (6) LA Lakers 4-1
Devin Harris blows by Lakers' point guards, Josh Howards contains Kobe. No one on LA can stop Dirk.
CONFERENCE FINALS
Eastern Conference
(2) Miami def. (4) Cleveland 4-3
What a series! LeBron-Wade is a matchup to remember. In the end, Wade has more support, as role players step up in Game 7. Plus, it's in Miami, where Wade gets more calls.
Western Conference
(4) San Antonio def. (2) Dallas 4-2
Spurs get their revenge from last year. Tony Parker has huge series, Bruce Bowens hounds Jason Terry, and Jackie Butler comes in off bench to do a good job on Dirk. Big D doesn't have an answer for Duncan.
FINALS
San Antonio def. Miami 4-2
Finally, Wade runs out of gas. And the ancient lineup around him doesn't have much left either. Although Shaq has big-scoring series against no-name SA centers, TD and Manu prove to be too much and the Spurs win their fourth title in eight years.
- Finals MVP: Who else? Tim Duncan
FIRST ROUND
Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit def. (8) Orlando 4-1
Darko can't defeat his old team. Billups posts up Nelson all day long.
(2) Miami def. (7) Indiana 4-2
Jermaine O'Neal has great series, but in the end too much Wade, and Shaq steps up.
(3) New Jersey def. (6) Washington 4-3
Great series showdown between Arenas and Carter. Jason Kidd makes the difference at end.
(4) Cleveland def. (5) Chicago 4-1
Zeke has a huge series against tired Big Ben. LeBron wins a game in the final seconds.
Western Conference
(1) Phoenix def. (8) Denver 4-0
Raja Bell shuts down 'Melo, leaving Nuggets hopeless.
(2) Dallas def. (7) Houston 4-2
Not an easy series, but in end Dallas has too much firepower. Yao worn out by big-bodied Dallas centers.
(6) LA Lakers def. (3) Utah 4-3
Kobe shows up this time in Game 7, lights up the Staples Center.
(4) San Antonio def. (5) LA Clippers 4-3
Manuficent: Ginobli carries Spurs, as Brand and Duncan cancel each other out. Horry hits big Game 7 trey.
SECOND ROUND
Eastern Conference
(4)Cleveland def. (1) Detroit 4-2
Too much LeBron for Pistons to handle. Plus, Marshall, Jones and Hughes hit open shots.
(2) Miami def. (3) New Jersey 4-2
Rematch from last year yields similar result.
Western Conference
(4) San Antonio def. (1) Phoenix 4-3
Can't go against the Spurs after a disappointing season. TD carries them this round.
(2) Dallas def. (6) LA Lakers 4-1
Devin Harris blows by Lakers' point guards, Josh Howards contains Kobe. No one on LA can stop Dirk.
CONFERENCE FINALS
Eastern Conference
(2) Miami def. (4) Cleveland 4-3
What a series! LeBron-Wade is a matchup to remember. In the end, Wade has more support, as role players step up in Game 7. Plus, it's in Miami, where Wade gets more calls.
Western Conference
(4) San Antonio def. (2) Dallas 4-2
Spurs get their revenge from last year. Tony Parker has huge series, Bruce Bowens hounds Jason Terry, and Jackie Butler comes in off bench to do a good job on Dirk. Big D doesn't have an answer for Duncan.
FINALS
San Antonio def. Miami 4-2
Finally, Wade runs out of gas. And the ancient lineup around him doesn't have much left either. Although Shaq has big-scoring series against no-name SA centers, TD and Manu prove to be too much and the Spurs win their fourth title in eight years.
- Finals MVP: Who else? Tim Duncan
NBA preview part 2 - Western Conference
I couldn't go to sleep. I was too anxious to post this. Enjoy. Playoff preview coming up.
jake
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Northwest Division
No. 1 – Utah Jazz; 47-35 (6th in the West)
Jerry Sloan could be an annual pick for Coach of the Year the way he squeezes the most out of his roster. An average basketball fan would be hard-pressed to name a player on the Jazz’ roster, yet Sloan continues to keep his team respectable. This season the Jazz will return to the playoffs thanks to a roster of unselfish players hungry to find that success. Utah is very strong and deep at point guard, with Deron Williams running the show and veteran Derek Fisher as well as rookie Dee Brown, who alongside Williams nearly led Illinois to a national championship. Versatile big man Andrei Kirilenko will be able to do even more this season, playing small forward, and his backup, Matt Harpring, could win the Sixth Man of the Year award. The wild card is Carlos Boozer. He hasn’t settled in yet in Salt Lake City after leaving Cleveland. With Mehmet Okur playing a strong center and creating all kinds of matchup problems with his deadly three-point trigger, a healthy, stalwart Boozer could make the Jazz a title contender.
No. 2 – Denver Nuggets; 44-38 (8th in the West)
This should be a breakout year for Carmelo Anthony, who has watched his 2004 Draft classmate Wade win a championship and LeBron get all the props. ‘Melo started to show signs of becoming one of the league’s premier players toward the end of last season as the Nuggets made a belated run to the playoffs and he played well in Japan at the World Championships. Unfortunately for ‘Melo, he won’t have enough support to make this team’s fortunes any better than last year’s. With Kenyon Martin and coach George Karl not seeing eye-to-eye and Marcus Camby injury prone, the frontcourt could atrophy at any point during the season. Fundamentally sound point guards Andre Miller and Early Boykins won’t be able to direct this team to more than a brief appearance in the playoffs.
No. 3 – Minnesota Timberwolves; 40-42 (10th in the West)
Poor KG. It looks as if his stay in Minnesota will never lead to more than playoff disappointments. And this year the Timberwolves won’t even make the post-season. Not with Mark Blunt starting at center and little behind him, aside from offensive liability Mark Madsen and unproven rookie Craig Smith. The bright spot for this team could be rookie Randy Foye, who should battle for ROY honors. He’ll get plenty of playing time, playing behind the selfish Ricky Davis. If he and Smith have big rookie seasons, KG might be convinced to return for another Minnesota winter. Otherwise, he’d be smart to get out of town come summertime.
No. 4 – Portland Trailblazers; 26-56 (14th in the West)
I might be the only person not picking the Trailblazers to finish dead last in the West. Something tells me they’ll do just enough to finish ahead of the falling Supersonics. For one, they do have talent, they just need to find a way to harness it. Also, there are distractions in Seattle, with the constant talk of the team moving. As hard as it is to believe, there haven’t been any off-the-court incidents recently. Look for rookie Brandon Roy to content for the award that is his given name and for Zach Randolph to put up double-double numbers. Jamaal Magloire is a very solid big man off the bench. By season’s end, things might be looking up in Portland.
No. 5 – Seattle Supersonics; 25-57 (15th in the West)
By the end of the season, one thing is certain and another not so cemented. The certainty: the Sonics will be packing their bags for the off-season as others begin the playoffs. The uncertainty: they won’t know where they’ll be returning to for the 2007 season. Seattle? Oklahoma? We’ll see. The players can say that’s not a distraction, but it is. Not knowing if you’ll have to uproot your family to another city isn’t something you want to live with for a full season. Seattle, with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, will win some shootouts, but with an absolutely awful defense, they won’t be able to stop anyone. Unless Chris Wilcox clones himself four times, the Sonics will give up over 100 points in 70 games this season. That’s a recipe for implosion.
Southeast Division
No. 1 - Dallas Mavericks; 57-25 (2nd in the West)
As with Miami in the East, the Mavericks return all their key players – except for swingman Marquis Daniels, who is basically a mini Josh Howard. So as long as Howard stays healthy, they shouldn’t miss Daniels too much. In exchange for him, they got Anthony Johnson, a veteran point guard, from the Pacers. Unlike Miami, this team is hungrier than last year to get that title. And they realize this might be their last chance. Jerry Stackhouse, a key bench player, is on his last legs. We’ll see early on if the Mavs have been able to put that Finals’ collapse behind them. Even if they did, however, it won’t be easy to get back to the Finals. Phoenix with Amare Stoudemire will present an admirable challenge, and there’s another team in Texas – with a man named Duncan – that seems to win championships every other year.
No. 2 – San Antonio Spurs; 55-27 (3rd in the West)
This team was within a bad foul by Manu Ginobli of making the Finals. And Tim Duncan didn’t even have his usual consistently great season. Everybody returns this season except for big man Nazr Mohammed, who’s trying to fill Big Ben’s shoes in Big D. But let’s be honest, has it really mattered – since the Admiral’s departure - who plays alongside TD upfront? Not really. When he’s at his best, he’ll get the job done with a Bill Weddington at center. There has to be a sense of urgency within this team to send out its veterans victorious. Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry and Michael Finley are all in the twilight of their careers and might just call it quits if they can win another title (or Barry’s and Finley’s first championship). Another key will be the stamina of Ginobli. Last season he seemed worn down by playoff time, undoubtedly exhausted by his year-round schedule. If Gregg Popovich is smart, he’ll make sure to limit Ginobli’s minutes a bit during the regular season so he can get a fresh Manu come April, May and June.
No. 3 – Houston Rockets; 47-35 (7th in the West)
This team is loaded with talented, proven players. So why am I not picking the Rockets higher in the West? One word: injuries. Tracey McGrady and Yao Ming only played together for 30-something games last season. That can’t happen again. Yes, Bonzi Wells was a huge off-season acquisition. But how happy is he going to be coming off the bench? And he has also dealt with injury issues in the past. If the Rockets stay healthy the entire season, they could win the division. If they suffer a repeat of last year, they could miss the playoffs. That’s the long and the short of the matter. You also have to worry about the center position, where behind Yao, veteran Dikembe Mutumbo is Houston’s only other center. Mutumbo is on his last legs and is half the player he was five years ago. Houston might regret not finding a young, athletic center to back up the big man.
No. 4 – New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets; 42-40 (9th in the West)
A plethora of expert are high on this team, and they have some good reasons. Reigning ROY Chris Paul will only be better. Power forward David West is becoming the next Robert Horry. They signed deadly outside shooter Peja Stojakovich, who will likely give Paul dozens of assists. But in the powerful Western Conference, I still don’t see this team in the playoffs. Not yet. They’re one piece away. They traded away veteran team leader P.J. Brown to the Bulls for Tyson Chandler, who will be the key to their success or failure. Chandler has yet to prove himself as a consistent offensive force in the league. If he becomes one, this team will make the playoffs. I don’t see it happens. Not yet.
No. 5 – Memphis Grizzlies; 31-51 (13th in the West)
No Pau, no punch for the Grizz. That’s the basic parable here. With big man Pau Gasol out for probably the first two months of the season, recovering from foot surgery, this team will struggle mightily. There will then be a period of Gasol trying to regain form and mold again with his teammates. And finally, by the middle of February, this will be a .500 team. Maybe. By then, any hopes of a successful season will be in flames. But it will be interesting to see rookie Rudy Gay. It’s obvious the versatile small forward has a wealth of potential, but he was criticized in college for at times appearing non-responsive on the court. This will be his proving season. Of all the rookies, I think he might have the most potential.
Pacific Division
No. 1 – Phoenix Suns; 60-22 (1st in the West)
Every NBA expert is talking about the return of Amare Stoudemire and how he’ll rebound from last season’s knee surgery. I’ll do the same, but first let me address the exit of a player that I think will hurt the Suns. Although he could be mercurial at times, Tim Thomas was a very solid player for the Suns in the playoffs last season. If not for his clutch 3-pointer at the end of regulation in Game 6 of the first round against the Lakers, the Suns would have been done right there. Thomas left for the Clippers, and the Suns didn’t find anyone to replace him. Instead, they signed Marcus Banks, an unproven point guard. And they didn’t even need a backup PG. Leandro Barbosa was also very impressive in last year’s postseason. Now to Amare. If he regains his form of two seasons ago, this team will be very difficult to beat – regardless of its defensive ineptitude. I don’t think he will. He’ll be a solid 20-and-10 player, but he won’t be indomitable. And neither will the Suns come playoff time.
No. 2 – Los Angeles Clippers; 52-30 (4th in the West)
It was difficult to pick between the Lakers and Clippers for the fourth spot. The main reason the Clippers will edge the Lakers is they have better supporting players around their star. And, yes, Elton Brand is a star. He just doesn’t get the pub Kobe does. He’s consistent, he never misses games, and he brings a positive attitude to the locker room. He along with the interminable Sam Cassell would be enough to get a team to the playoffs. But this squad is loaded with talent. Almost too much talent. Everyone except Vladimir Radmonovich returns from last season, and he’s replaced by Tim Thomas, who I think is better. With a year under his belt, Shaun Livingston will feel more comfortable running the offense when he spells Cassell, and Quinton Ross could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. This team is dangerous. Mark my words.
No. 3 – Los Angeles Lakers; 50-32 (5th in the West)
No Kobe, no problems. That’s what the Lakers said the first two games, as they won sans Kobe Bryant. Now he’s back, his boys are more confident, and they’re all hungry to erase from Jack Nicholson’s mind the memory of their collapse during last year’s playoffs. Lamar Odom showed signs last year that he’s ready to step up and be a leader alongside Kobe. Luke Walton might be the best Lakers’ passer since Magic. And Smush Parker will be pushed by rookie Jordan Farmar, making the both of them better. I still don’t see this team as a title contender, however (although Kobe could easily will them victories in games they should lose). Their centers – Andrew Bynum, Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown – are mediocre, and Kobe’s lone backup, Aaron McKie, is slowing down (I didn’t even know he was still in the league). So Kobe will have to play big minutes. This team could win one or two playoff series, but I don’t see them going farther than that.
No. 4 – Sacramento Kings; 38-44 (11th in the West)
They might not admit it, but this team is smarting after losing Bonzi Wells to free agency. He played amazing against the Spurs in the playoffs, giving the defending champs a huge scare. And Ron Artest loved him and vouched inexorably for him to return. You don’t want Mr. Artest to get upset. Bad things can happen. Mike Bibby seemed a little worn down toward the end of last season. But without a strong backup, the Kings’ point guard will likely play big minutes once again. How long will he be able to hold up? A key player for the Kings is Kevin Martin, who made a name for himself in the playoffs with his buzzer-beating layup over Tim Duncan in Game 3 of their first-round series. He has shown flashes of brilliance at times, but I’m still circumspect. He’s undersized, allowing bigger shooting guards to post him up and wear him down. Hopefully for the Kings, Martin will have a big season, allowing fans in Sactown to slowly forget about the man named Bonzi.
No. 5 – Golden State Warriors; 35-47 (12th in the West)
This team is so soft, I could lay my head down on them and fall asleep. With Mike Dunleavy, more of a SF, at power forward, and Troy Murphy at center, no one – and I mean no one – will be afraid to attack the basket. The Warriors are a bad version of the Suns. They don’t play much defense – and that shouldn’t change with the hiring of Don Nelson as coach – and their offense is the amateur version of the Suns.’ Sure, Baron Davis and Jason Richardson will hook up on some alley oops that make SportsCenter, but they won’t do much else. This team will be fun to watch, but not fun to bet on.
jake
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Northwest Division
No. 1 – Utah Jazz; 47-35 (6th in the West)
Jerry Sloan could be an annual pick for Coach of the Year the way he squeezes the most out of his roster. An average basketball fan would be hard-pressed to name a player on the Jazz’ roster, yet Sloan continues to keep his team respectable. This season the Jazz will return to the playoffs thanks to a roster of unselfish players hungry to find that success. Utah is very strong and deep at point guard, with Deron Williams running the show and veteran Derek Fisher as well as rookie Dee Brown, who alongside Williams nearly led Illinois to a national championship. Versatile big man Andrei Kirilenko will be able to do even more this season, playing small forward, and his backup, Matt Harpring, could win the Sixth Man of the Year award. The wild card is Carlos Boozer. He hasn’t settled in yet in Salt Lake City after leaving Cleveland. With Mehmet Okur playing a strong center and creating all kinds of matchup problems with his deadly three-point trigger, a healthy, stalwart Boozer could make the Jazz a title contender.
No. 2 – Denver Nuggets; 44-38 (8th in the West)
This should be a breakout year for Carmelo Anthony, who has watched his 2004 Draft classmate Wade win a championship and LeBron get all the props. ‘Melo started to show signs of becoming one of the league’s premier players toward the end of last season as the Nuggets made a belated run to the playoffs and he played well in Japan at the World Championships. Unfortunately for ‘Melo, he won’t have enough support to make this team’s fortunes any better than last year’s. With Kenyon Martin and coach George Karl not seeing eye-to-eye and Marcus Camby injury prone, the frontcourt could atrophy at any point during the season. Fundamentally sound point guards Andre Miller and Early Boykins won’t be able to direct this team to more than a brief appearance in the playoffs.
No. 3 – Minnesota Timberwolves; 40-42 (10th in the West)
Poor KG. It looks as if his stay in Minnesota will never lead to more than playoff disappointments. And this year the Timberwolves won’t even make the post-season. Not with Mark Blunt starting at center and little behind him, aside from offensive liability Mark Madsen and unproven rookie Craig Smith. The bright spot for this team could be rookie Randy Foye, who should battle for ROY honors. He’ll get plenty of playing time, playing behind the selfish Ricky Davis. If he and Smith have big rookie seasons, KG might be convinced to return for another Minnesota winter. Otherwise, he’d be smart to get out of town come summertime.
No. 4 – Portland Trailblazers; 26-56 (14th in the West)
I might be the only person not picking the Trailblazers to finish dead last in the West. Something tells me they’ll do just enough to finish ahead of the falling Supersonics. For one, they do have talent, they just need to find a way to harness it. Also, there are distractions in Seattle, with the constant talk of the team moving. As hard as it is to believe, there haven’t been any off-the-court incidents recently. Look for rookie Brandon Roy to content for the award that is his given name and for Zach Randolph to put up double-double numbers. Jamaal Magloire is a very solid big man off the bench. By season’s end, things might be looking up in Portland.
No. 5 – Seattle Supersonics; 25-57 (15th in the West)
By the end of the season, one thing is certain and another not so cemented. The certainty: the Sonics will be packing their bags for the off-season as others begin the playoffs. The uncertainty: they won’t know where they’ll be returning to for the 2007 season. Seattle? Oklahoma? We’ll see. The players can say that’s not a distraction, but it is. Not knowing if you’ll have to uproot your family to another city isn’t something you want to live with for a full season. Seattle, with Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, will win some shootouts, but with an absolutely awful defense, they won’t be able to stop anyone. Unless Chris Wilcox clones himself four times, the Sonics will give up over 100 points in 70 games this season. That’s a recipe for implosion.
Southeast Division
No. 1 - Dallas Mavericks; 57-25 (2nd in the West)
As with Miami in the East, the Mavericks return all their key players – except for swingman Marquis Daniels, who is basically a mini Josh Howard. So as long as Howard stays healthy, they shouldn’t miss Daniels too much. In exchange for him, they got Anthony Johnson, a veteran point guard, from the Pacers. Unlike Miami, this team is hungrier than last year to get that title. And they realize this might be their last chance. Jerry Stackhouse, a key bench player, is on his last legs. We’ll see early on if the Mavs have been able to put that Finals’ collapse behind them. Even if they did, however, it won’t be easy to get back to the Finals. Phoenix with Amare Stoudemire will present an admirable challenge, and there’s another team in Texas – with a man named Duncan – that seems to win championships every other year.
No. 2 – San Antonio Spurs; 55-27 (3rd in the West)
This team was within a bad foul by Manu Ginobli of making the Finals. And Tim Duncan didn’t even have his usual consistently great season. Everybody returns this season except for big man Nazr Mohammed, who’s trying to fill Big Ben’s shoes in Big D. But let’s be honest, has it really mattered – since the Admiral’s departure - who plays alongside TD upfront? Not really. When he’s at his best, he’ll get the job done with a Bill Weddington at center. There has to be a sense of urgency within this team to send out its veterans victorious. Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry and Michael Finley are all in the twilight of their careers and might just call it quits if they can win another title (or Barry’s and Finley’s first championship). Another key will be the stamina of Ginobli. Last season he seemed worn down by playoff time, undoubtedly exhausted by his year-round schedule. If Gregg Popovich is smart, he’ll make sure to limit Ginobli’s minutes a bit during the regular season so he can get a fresh Manu come April, May and June.
No. 3 – Houston Rockets; 47-35 (7th in the West)
This team is loaded with talented, proven players. So why am I not picking the Rockets higher in the West? One word: injuries. Tracey McGrady and Yao Ming only played together for 30-something games last season. That can’t happen again. Yes, Bonzi Wells was a huge off-season acquisition. But how happy is he going to be coming off the bench? And he has also dealt with injury issues in the past. If the Rockets stay healthy the entire season, they could win the division. If they suffer a repeat of last year, they could miss the playoffs. That’s the long and the short of the matter. You also have to worry about the center position, where behind Yao, veteran Dikembe Mutumbo is Houston’s only other center. Mutumbo is on his last legs and is half the player he was five years ago. Houston might regret not finding a young, athletic center to back up the big man.
No. 4 – New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets; 42-40 (9th in the West)
A plethora of expert are high on this team, and they have some good reasons. Reigning ROY Chris Paul will only be better. Power forward David West is becoming the next Robert Horry. They signed deadly outside shooter Peja Stojakovich, who will likely give Paul dozens of assists. But in the powerful Western Conference, I still don’t see this team in the playoffs. Not yet. They’re one piece away. They traded away veteran team leader P.J. Brown to the Bulls for Tyson Chandler, who will be the key to their success or failure. Chandler has yet to prove himself as a consistent offensive force in the league. If he becomes one, this team will make the playoffs. I don’t see it happens. Not yet.
No. 5 – Memphis Grizzlies; 31-51 (13th in the West)
No Pau, no punch for the Grizz. That’s the basic parable here. With big man Pau Gasol out for probably the first two months of the season, recovering from foot surgery, this team will struggle mightily. There will then be a period of Gasol trying to regain form and mold again with his teammates. And finally, by the middle of February, this will be a .500 team. Maybe. By then, any hopes of a successful season will be in flames. But it will be interesting to see rookie Rudy Gay. It’s obvious the versatile small forward has a wealth of potential, but he was criticized in college for at times appearing non-responsive on the court. This will be his proving season. Of all the rookies, I think he might have the most potential.
Pacific Division
No. 1 – Phoenix Suns; 60-22 (1st in the West)
Every NBA expert is talking about the return of Amare Stoudemire and how he’ll rebound from last season’s knee surgery. I’ll do the same, but first let me address the exit of a player that I think will hurt the Suns. Although he could be mercurial at times, Tim Thomas was a very solid player for the Suns in the playoffs last season. If not for his clutch 3-pointer at the end of regulation in Game 6 of the first round against the Lakers, the Suns would have been done right there. Thomas left for the Clippers, and the Suns didn’t find anyone to replace him. Instead, they signed Marcus Banks, an unproven point guard. And they didn’t even need a backup PG. Leandro Barbosa was also very impressive in last year’s postseason. Now to Amare. If he regains his form of two seasons ago, this team will be very difficult to beat – regardless of its defensive ineptitude. I don’t think he will. He’ll be a solid 20-and-10 player, but he won’t be indomitable. And neither will the Suns come playoff time.
No. 2 – Los Angeles Clippers; 52-30 (4th in the West)
It was difficult to pick between the Lakers and Clippers for the fourth spot. The main reason the Clippers will edge the Lakers is they have better supporting players around their star. And, yes, Elton Brand is a star. He just doesn’t get the pub Kobe does. He’s consistent, he never misses games, and he brings a positive attitude to the locker room. He along with the interminable Sam Cassell would be enough to get a team to the playoffs. But this squad is loaded with talent. Almost too much talent. Everyone except Vladimir Radmonovich returns from last season, and he’s replaced by Tim Thomas, who I think is better. With a year under his belt, Shaun Livingston will feel more comfortable running the offense when he spells Cassell, and Quinton Ross could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. This team is dangerous. Mark my words.
No. 3 – Los Angeles Lakers; 50-32 (5th in the West)
No Kobe, no problems. That’s what the Lakers said the first two games, as they won sans Kobe Bryant. Now he’s back, his boys are more confident, and they’re all hungry to erase from Jack Nicholson’s mind the memory of their collapse during last year’s playoffs. Lamar Odom showed signs last year that he’s ready to step up and be a leader alongside Kobe. Luke Walton might be the best Lakers’ passer since Magic. And Smush Parker will be pushed by rookie Jordan Farmar, making the both of them better. I still don’t see this team as a title contender, however (although Kobe could easily will them victories in games they should lose). Their centers – Andrew Bynum, Chris Mihm and Kwame Brown – are mediocre, and Kobe’s lone backup, Aaron McKie, is slowing down (I didn’t even know he was still in the league). So Kobe will have to play big minutes. This team could win one or two playoff series, but I don’t see them going farther than that.
No. 4 – Sacramento Kings; 38-44 (11th in the West)
They might not admit it, but this team is smarting after losing Bonzi Wells to free agency. He played amazing against the Spurs in the playoffs, giving the defending champs a huge scare. And Ron Artest loved him and vouched inexorably for him to return. You don’t want Mr. Artest to get upset. Bad things can happen. Mike Bibby seemed a little worn down toward the end of last season. But without a strong backup, the Kings’ point guard will likely play big minutes once again. How long will he be able to hold up? A key player for the Kings is Kevin Martin, who made a name for himself in the playoffs with his buzzer-beating layup over Tim Duncan in Game 3 of their first-round series. He has shown flashes of brilliance at times, but I’m still circumspect. He’s undersized, allowing bigger shooting guards to post him up and wear him down. Hopefully for the Kings, Martin will have a big season, allowing fans in Sactown to slowly forget about the man named Bonzi.
No. 5 – Golden State Warriors; 35-47 (12th in the West)
This team is so soft, I could lay my head down on them and fall asleep. With Mike Dunleavy, more of a SF, at power forward, and Troy Murphy at center, no one – and I mean no one – will be afraid to attack the basket. The Warriors are a bad version of the Suns. They don’t play much defense – and that shouldn’t change with the hiring of Don Nelson as coach – and their offense is the amateur version of the Suns.’ Sure, Baron Davis and Jason Richardson will hook up on some alley oops that make SportsCenter, but they won’t do much else. This team will be fun to watch, but not fun to bet on.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
The Prince Alfred Park experience
Yesterday, my friends Steve and Andrew (we call him Spiderman)and I hooped at Rucker Park. Sorry, just kidding. It only seemed like Rucker. Well, kind of.
Prince Alfred Park, located near Red Fern in Sydney, is very reminiscent of New York's famous streetball bastion. Directly behind the two full courts are the subway tracks. Every 30 seconds or so, a train whistles by. There is a large deposit of trash on the train side of the rusty fence between the courts and train tracks, but some trash has managed to intrude the court. Yesterday, with the wind blowing and the sky overcast, blowing plastic bags were an extra defender.
And while the court was empty yesterday (there were a mere four other guys, who we played some 3s with), it is a pretty popular place on sunnier days. When Steve and I first found it last weekend, there must have been 50 cats with their trunks and sneaks on, either ballin’ or waiting their turn. It was the place to be.
Even an apparent homeless man camps out on the outskirts of the court. His tent was there both times we stopped by. Sometimes, you just can’t afford to miss a single game.
Which brings me to the non-Rucker thing about Prince Alfred Park. The ballers. There’s no Goat, no playground legend. At least from what I’ve seen so far. On the backboard, there is a warning that dunking could cause death. How can you create streetball legends without reverse slams and alley oops? You can’t, you just can’t.
So obviously, in order to go down in Prince Alfred Park lore, you got to die. Plain and simple. Now that’s hardcore, Rucker.
To be quite honest, I felt some Rucker in me yesterday. Although I couldn’t hit an outside jumper for my life, when I went up for what is usually a faint-hearted attempt at a block, I felt lifted, soaring two feet in the air to smack this dude’s layup attempt.
“Get that %^$# outta here!” I thought to myself. “Don’t come to Prince Alfred with that weak $%$#”
And that one instance, on the windswept courts of Prince Alfred, will be my PAP moment to remember. I’ll never forget it.
I know that not even a 10-inch growth spurt would ever get me on Rucker. But PAP is playground enough for me. A place where I can establish myself as a streetballin’ legend.
At least in my mind.
Prince Alfred Park, located near Red Fern in Sydney, is very reminiscent of New York's famous streetball bastion. Directly behind the two full courts are the subway tracks. Every 30 seconds or so, a train whistles by. There is a large deposit of trash on the train side of the rusty fence between the courts and train tracks, but some trash has managed to intrude the court. Yesterday, with the wind blowing and the sky overcast, blowing plastic bags were an extra defender.
And while the court was empty yesterday (there were a mere four other guys, who we played some 3s with), it is a pretty popular place on sunnier days. When Steve and I first found it last weekend, there must have been 50 cats with their trunks and sneaks on, either ballin’ or waiting their turn. It was the place to be.
Even an apparent homeless man camps out on the outskirts of the court. His tent was there both times we stopped by. Sometimes, you just can’t afford to miss a single game.
Which brings me to the non-Rucker thing about Prince Alfred Park. The ballers. There’s no Goat, no playground legend. At least from what I’ve seen so far. On the backboard, there is a warning that dunking could cause death. How can you create streetball legends without reverse slams and alley oops? You can’t, you just can’t.
So obviously, in order to go down in Prince Alfred Park lore, you got to die. Plain and simple. Now that’s hardcore, Rucker.
To be quite honest, I felt some Rucker in me yesterday. Although I couldn’t hit an outside jumper for my life, when I went up for what is usually a faint-hearted attempt at a block, I felt lifted, soaring two feet in the air to smack this dude’s layup attempt.
“Get that %^$# outta here!” I thought to myself. “Don’t come to Prince Alfred with that weak $%$#”
And that one instance, on the windswept courts of Prince Alfred, will be my PAP moment to remember. I’ll never forget it.
I know that not even a 10-inch growth spurt would ever get me on Rucker. But PAP is playground enough for me. A place where I can establish myself as a streetballin’ legend.
At least in my mind.
NBA preview - Eastern Conference
OK, no joking around. It's time to get down to business. Before I give you the abridged version of my NBA preview, let me just make myself clear that I claim no responsibility for dollars or horses lost over bets made because of my picks. With that said, here's a team-by-team outlook of the Eastern Conference. Western Conference and playoff preview will come your way tomorrow.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
No. 1 - Detroit Pistons; 56-26 (1st in the East)
Despite a no-longer-scary defense and an offense that can become very stagnant, as witnessed during the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Pistons still have the best starting lineup in basketball and an improved bench. Flip Saunders won't play his starters as much during the regular season this time around - a lesson learned, unfortunately, during the playoffs. That will result in a few less wins, but still the top seed in the East. Just barely.
No. 2 - Cleveland Cavaliers; 54-28 (2nd in the East)
This team, as young and talented as it is, is only going to improve, which has to be a frightening thought for the rest of the league. And, yes, LeBron will be even better as well. The key is how well LeBron and Larry Hughes - who was injured for a good chunk of last season and missed most of the Cavs' playoff action - will be able to work together. If Hughes regains the offensive repertoire he branded in Washington, watch out, this could be a dynamic duo. Also, of course, LeBron has to stay health. A LeBronless Cleveland team is just another Atlanta Hawks, except without a single player who can jump through the roof.
No. 3 - Chicago Bulls; 49-33 (5th in the East)
Great defensive team, but do they have enough firepower to become contenders? I'm not so sure. This is a perimeter-oriented team on offensive, which means they are going to be streaky, as witness by their first two games (a blowout win over the defending champion Heat and an ugly loss to the Magic). Their defense will keep them in most games, but they won’t go far in the playoffs without that low-post threat.
No. 4 – Indiana Pacers; 43-39 (7th in East)
How great a job has Rick Carlisle done just to keep this team afloat and respectable the past few years with all the off-the-court distractions? And now, Stephen Jackson almost gets shot? How much more can this team take? Well, somehow they’re still a playoff team. As long as Jermaine O’Neal stays healthy, which is a big IF. Youngsters Danny Granger and newly acquired Marquis Daniels should bring some aggressiveness to the court that has been lacking since Mr. Artest’s departure.
No. 5 – Milwaukee Bucks; 37-45 (9th in the East)
Not a bad team, but not a playoff team. Getting Charlie Villanueva from Toronto was a plus. He and Andrew Bogut will complement each other in the post, just like Villanueva and Josh Boone did at UConn. Michael Redd might be the most underrated player in the league. Never gets much attention, playing in media-lacking Milwaukee, but always puts up big numbers, often carrying the Bucks on his shoulders. If they want to become playoff worthy, the players around him will need to lighten that load.
Atlantic Division
No. 1 – New Jersey Nets; 50-32 (4th in the East)
Lucky Nets. A handful of college teams could finish in the top half of this division. Yeah, it’s that bad. Thankfully for Atlantic Division fans (if there are any) the Nets have managed to remain a solid team under coach Lawrence Frank. The good news this year is that it’s a contract season for Vince Carter. He’s gonna play hard all the time. At least I think. Marcus Williams was a steal in the draft. If he can spell Jason Kidd enough to allow the aging star some rest, this team could be dangerous come playoff time.
No. 2 – Philadelphia 76rs; 35-47 (10th in the East)
The only reason they will finish this high in the division because of how utterly awful the division is (did I mention that?). And because of AI. Despite all the trade talk, he’s still one of the league’s best players and he hates to lose. He’s a lock to win a few games by himself each year. Besides aging Chris Weber, this team has a group of athletic young guns to support AI. Kyle Korver, Andre Iguodala, and Samuel Dalembert all have upside. But not enough to let this team even smell the playoffs.
No. 3 – New York Knicks; 34-48 (11th in the East)
I don’t know why, but something in my head keeps telling me the Knicks will somehow make the playoffs. I’m not listening to that voice. Yes, they have talent. Yes, they have a HUGE payroll. But it doesn’t matter. You need to have chemistry to win in this league. The Knicks don’t have that. They’re the Mavericks before they got good. A bunch of players who want to shoot. The biggest story will be seeing how long it takes for Isiah to get pushed out the door.
No. 4 – Toronto Raptors; 32-50 (12th in the East)
I like three players on this team: Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford (acquired during the off-season), and Morris Peterson. Unfortunately, those three aren’t good enough to breed optimism in Canada. I didn’t like the drafting of Andrea Bargnani, and Rasho Nesterovic should not be a starting center in the NBA. With Bosh, Ford and Peterson, this franchise has a foundation for success. Now it needs to build on it.
No. 5 – Boston Celtics; 28-54 (13th in the East)
Red won’t be missing much this season. The Celtics have hit rock-bottom. Their starting center, Theo Ratliff, is old and can’t score (somehow, he can still block shots though). Their starting point guard, Sebastien Telfair, can’t escape his off-court issues. And while Paul Pierce can still shoot the lights out on a given night, you have to wonder how much motivation he still has with all the young players who have come to the organization with promise and ended up pancakes. Rajon Rondo could be next.
Southeast Division
No. 1 – Miami Heat; 52-30
Logically, this team should simply go out and win the whole thing again. After all, every single ingredient returns from last year. However, many of those ingredients have sitting in the fridge for too long. GP, ‘Zo, Shaq and ‘Toine are all on their last legs. And you can’t help but wonder how motivated these guys are now that they got their championship. Still, the Heat have one of the best three players in the league in Dwyane Wade, and he will carry them all season long. The dilemma for Pat Riley: how much should he play Wade in an effort to A) win the division and get a good playoff seed; B) keep him rested for another playoff run. Should be interesting to see how things unfold.
No. 2 – Washington Wizards; 46-36 (6th in the East)
No one’s talking about the Wizards, but you can’t ignore their Big Three of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. Together, they can keep the Wizards in any game. I’m very skeptical of starting DeShawn Stevenson, an unproven player, and starting center Brandon Haywood is still nothing more than mediocre. But if the Big Three stay healthy, this team will finish right around where they did last year. And I wouldn’t want to play them in a first-round playoff series.
No. 3 – Orlando Magic; 41-41 (8th in the East)
There are a lot of questions with this team, such as: Will Grant Hill stay healthy? And will Darko Milicic back up what everybody is saying and be a serviceable and maybe even potent backup center to Dwight Howard? To start off, if the answers to those two questions are resounding “Yeses” this team is better than 41-41. Dwight Howard, as he showed at the World Championships in Japan, is developing into one of the conference’s best centers right behind Shaq. And Jameer Nelson is silencing all his doubters, becoming a consistent point guard in the league despite his lack of height. There are lots of questions, but also lots of optimism, surround this squad.
No. 4 – Charlotte Bobcats; 26-56 (14th in the East)
I know people want to say this team is on the rise, but I don’t see any rising happening this year. Their backcourt is extremely thin, and with Raymond Felton starting at shooting guard (definitely not his position), point guard Brevin Knight, almost 31, has no backup. Not good news for the ‘Cats. The only sanguinity surrounding this team involves the arrival of two highly-talked-about individuals: No. 3 draft pick Adam Morrison, and new GM Michael Jordan. Morrison should get plenty of court time, and if he and fellow youngster Felton and Sean May evolve their games, there could be reason for optimism come next fall.
No. 5 – Atlanta Hawks; 25-57 (15th in the East)
Well, at least they made one good off-season move (the first in a decade) when they picked up underrated point guard Speedy Claxton. Yep, that’s about the only good thing I can say about a team that is establishing a new mantra for bad NBA teams: lose with exciting players. Josh Smith can flat-out jump; Josh Childress’ ‘fro is tight; and their starting center’s name is Zaza. But unless the Hawks somehow steal AI from Philly or KG from Minnesota in a mid-season deal, they’ll be staying consistent. Consistently bad.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
No. 1 - Detroit Pistons; 56-26 (1st in the East)
Despite a no-longer-scary defense and an offense that can become very stagnant, as witnessed during the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Pistons still have the best starting lineup in basketball and an improved bench. Flip Saunders won't play his starters as much during the regular season this time around - a lesson learned, unfortunately, during the playoffs. That will result in a few less wins, but still the top seed in the East. Just barely.
No. 2 - Cleveland Cavaliers; 54-28 (2nd in the East)
This team, as young and talented as it is, is only going to improve, which has to be a frightening thought for the rest of the league. And, yes, LeBron will be even better as well. The key is how well LeBron and Larry Hughes - who was injured for a good chunk of last season and missed most of the Cavs' playoff action - will be able to work together. If Hughes regains the offensive repertoire he branded in Washington, watch out, this could be a dynamic duo. Also, of course, LeBron has to stay health. A LeBronless Cleveland team is just another Atlanta Hawks, except without a single player who can jump through the roof.
No. 3 - Chicago Bulls; 49-33 (5th in the East)
Great defensive team, but do they have enough firepower to become contenders? I'm not so sure. This is a perimeter-oriented team on offensive, which means they are going to be streaky, as witness by their first two games (a blowout win over the defending champion Heat and an ugly loss to the Magic). Their defense will keep them in most games, but they won’t go far in the playoffs without that low-post threat.
No. 4 – Indiana Pacers; 43-39 (7th in East)
How great a job has Rick Carlisle done just to keep this team afloat and respectable the past few years with all the off-the-court distractions? And now, Stephen Jackson almost gets shot? How much more can this team take? Well, somehow they’re still a playoff team. As long as Jermaine O’Neal stays healthy, which is a big IF. Youngsters Danny Granger and newly acquired Marquis Daniels should bring some aggressiveness to the court that has been lacking since Mr. Artest’s departure.
No. 5 – Milwaukee Bucks; 37-45 (9th in the East)
Not a bad team, but not a playoff team. Getting Charlie Villanueva from Toronto was a plus. He and Andrew Bogut will complement each other in the post, just like Villanueva and Josh Boone did at UConn. Michael Redd might be the most underrated player in the league. Never gets much attention, playing in media-lacking Milwaukee, but always puts up big numbers, often carrying the Bucks on his shoulders. If they want to become playoff worthy, the players around him will need to lighten that load.
Atlantic Division
No. 1 – New Jersey Nets; 50-32 (4th in the East)
Lucky Nets. A handful of college teams could finish in the top half of this division. Yeah, it’s that bad. Thankfully for Atlantic Division fans (if there are any) the Nets have managed to remain a solid team under coach Lawrence Frank. The good news this year is that it’s a contract season for Vince Carter. He’s gonna play hard all the time. At least I think. Marcus Williams was a steal in the draft. If he can spell Jason Kidd enough to allow the aging star some rest, this team could be dangerous come playoff time.
No. 2 – Philadelphia 76rs; 35-47 (10th in the East)
The only reason they will finish this high in the division because of how utterly awful the division is (did I mention that?). And because of AI. Despite all the trade talk, he’s still one of the league’s best players and he hates to lose. He’s a lock to win a few games by himself each year. Besides aging Chris Weber, this team has a group of athletic young guns to support AI. Kyle Korver, Andre Iguodala, and Samuel Dalembert all have upside. But not enough to let this team even smell the playoffs.
No. 3 – New York Knicks; 34-48 (11th in the East)
I don’t know why, but something in my head keeps telling me the Knicks will somehow make the playoffs. I’m not listening to that voice. Yes, they have talent. Yes, they have a HUGE payroll. But it doesn’t matter. You need to have chemistry to win in this league. The Knicks don’t have that. They’re the Mavericks before they got good. A bunch of players who want to shoot. The biggest story will be seeing how long it takes for Isiah to get pushed out the door.
No. 4 – Toronto Raptors; 32-50 (12th in the East)
I like three players on this team: Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford (acquired during the off-season), and Morris Peterson. Unfortunately, those three aren’t good enough to breed optimism in Canada. I didn’t like the drafting of Andrea Bargnani, and Rasho Nesterovic should not be a starting center in the NBA. With Bosh, Ford and Peterson, this franchise has a foundation for success. Now it needs to build on it.
No. 5 – Boston Celtics; 28-54 (13th in the East)
Red won’t be missing much this season. The Celtics have hit rock-bottom. Their starting center, Theo Ratliff, is old and can’t score (somehow, he can still block shots though). Their starting point guard, Sebastien Telfair, can’t escape his off-court issues. And while Paul Pierce can still shoot the lights out on a given night, you have to wonder how much motivation he still has with all the young players who have come to the organization with promise and ended up pancakes. Rajon Rondo could be next.
Southeast Division
No. 1 – Miami Heat; 52-30
Logically, this team should simply go out and win the whole thing again. After all, every single ingredient returns from last year. However, many of those ingredients have sitting in the fridge for too long. GP, ‘Zo, Shaq and ‘Toine are all on their last legs. And you can’t help but wonder how motivated these guys are now that they got their championship. Still, the Heat have one of the best three players in the league in Dwyane Wade, and he will carry them all season long. The dilemma for Pat Riley: how much should he play Wade in an effort to A) win the division and get a good playoff seed; B) keep him rested for another playoff run. Should be interesting to see how things unfold.
No. 2 – Washington Wizards; 46-36 (6th in the East)
No one’s talking about the Wizards, but you can’t ignore their Big Three of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. Together, they can keep the Wizards in any game. I’m very skeptical of starting DeShawn Stevenson, an unproven player, and starting center Brandon Haywood is still nothing more than mediocre. But if the Big Three stay healthy, this team will finish right around where they did last year. And I wouldn’t want to play them in a first-round playoff series.
No. 3 – Orlando Magic; 41-41 (8th in the East)
There are a lot of questions with this team, such as: Will Grant Hill stay healthy? And will Darko Milicic back up what everybody is saying and be a serviceable and maybe even potent backup center to Dwight Howard? To start off, if the answers to those two questions are resounding “Yeses” this team is better than 41-41. Dwight Howard, as he showed at the World Championships in Japan, is developing into one of the conference’s best centers right behind Shaq. And Jameer Nelson is silencing all his doubters, becoming a consistent point guard in the league despite his lack of height. There are lots of questions, but also lots of optimism, surround this squad.
No. 4 – Charlotte Bobcats; 26-56 (14th in the East)
I know people want to say this team is on the rise, but I don’t see any rising happening this year. Their backcourt is extremely thin, and with Raymond Felton starting at shooting guard (definitely not his position), point guard Brevin Knight, almost 31, has no backup. Not good news for the ‘Cats. The only sanguinity surrounding this team involves the arrival of two highly-talked-about individuals: No. 3 draft pick Adam Morrison, and new GM Michael Jordan. Morrison should get plenty of court time, and if he and fellow youngster Felton and Sean May evolve their games, there could be reason for optimism come next fall.
No. 5 – Atlanta Hawks; 25-57 (15th in the East)
Well, at least they made one good off-season move (the first in a decade) when they picked up underrated point guard Speedy Claxton. Yep, that’s about the only good thing I can say about a team that is establishing a new mantra for bad NBA teams: lose with exciting players. Josh Smith can flat-out jump; Josh Childress’ ‘fro is tight; and their starting center’s name is Zaza. But unless the Hawks somehow steal AI from Philly or KG from Minnesota in a mid-season deal, they’ll be staying consistent. Consistently bad.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Brief Pistons preview
I know. I know I'm cheating by doing this after the Pistons' first game - a surprising loss at home to those scary Bucks - but I had a Coach K clinic to catch. Maybe Flip should have attended.
I know. I'm being hard on the Pistons, especially on head coach Flip Saunders. After all, he did lead 'em to the best record in the league last year and the conference finals.
But Detroit's rather sad loss to eventual champion Miami in the Eastern Finals exposed problems with Flip's offense-first system that simply did not exist during Larry Brown's up-and-down (and short) tenure with the team.
To put it concretely, if you have an offense-first system and only a decent defense, if your offense goes in the tank - as the Pistons' did the final two rounds of the playoffs - you're screwed.
Unless your playing the Hawks, Bobcats or Trailblazers. Even the Knicks will beat you.
If you have a great defense, however, you're never out of a game. Your D keeps you in the game until your shooters start hitting.
i hate to carp after one game, but the fact that the Pistons gave up 105 games to the Bucks, a team with virtually one offensive weapon (quick-release gunner Michael Redd), doesn't send out the best signals.
Remember a couple years back when the Pistons went a rediculous number of games without giving up 80 points? That was fun to watch.
Now, with Ben Wallace sporting his 'fro and 'rows in Chicago, the Pistons, all of a sudden, aren't so intimidating. Sure, Chauncy Billiups and Rip Hamilton can shoot the lights out and 'Sheed might hit some big shots too.
But the game is played on both ends of the floor. And opponents are no longer scared of attacking the basket.
Nazr Mohammed? Please. He was more intimidating as a Wildcat.
To get to the prediction, the Pistons are still going to be one of the East's best, maybe even THE BEST... during the regular season. They still have the best starting lineup in the league - as long as 'Sheed doesn't get kicked out of too many games, which definitely could happen with the new no-bickering-to-the-refs rule.
Their bench is improved from last year as long as Lindsey Hunter and Antonio McDyess stay healthy. Flip Murray and Carlos Delfino are capable of putting points on the board.
As for a defensive presence, however (besides Hunter, of course), 6-5 newby Jason Maxiell is about the best the Pistons got. He blocked three shots in 12 minutes against Milwaukee, but, I'm sorry, if the Pistons have to rely on Jason Maxiell in the playoffs... well, pencil in another loss in the conference finals (or sooner).
As for my team outlook, with young teams in Cleveland and Chicago quickly closing the gap between themselves and the Pistons/Heat, a loss in the second round wouldn't be surprising. I'll give the Pistons a slight edge on those teams, however, at least for one more year.
The Pistons will win the division, and finish first in the East, but lose to the Heat again in six games in the Eastern Finals.
And they'll realize how much they miss Ben and the defense-first approach.
I know. I'm being hard on the Pistons, especially on head coach Flip Saunders. After all, he did lead 'em to the best record in the league last year and the conference finals.
But Detroit's rather sad loss to eventual champion Miami in the Eastern Finals exposed problems with Flip's offense-first system that simply did not exist during Larry Brown's up-and-down (and short) tenure with the team.
To put it concretely, if you have an offense-first system and only a decent defense, if your offense goes in the tank - as the Pistons' did the final two rounds of the playoffs - you're screwed.
Unless your playing the Hawks, Bobcats or Trailblazers. Even the Knicks will beat you.
If you have a great defense, however, you're never out of a game. Your D keeps you in the game until your shooters start hitting.
i hate to carp after one game, but the fact that the Pistons gave up 105 games to the Bucks, a team with virtually one offensive weapon (quick-release gunner Michael Redd), doesn't send out the best signals.
Remember a couple years back when the Pistons went a rediculous number of games without giving up 80 points? That was fun to watch.
Now, with Ben Wallace sporting his 'fro and 'rows in Chicago, the Pistons, all of a sudden, aren't so intimidating. Sure, Chauncy Billiups and Rip Hamilton can shoot the lights out and 'Sheed might hit some big shots too.
But the game is played on both ends of the floor. And opponents are no longer scared of attacking the basket.
Nazr Mohammed? Please. He was more intimidating as a Wildcat.
To get to the prediction, the Pistons are still going to be one of the East's best, maybe even THE BEST... during the regular season. They still have the best starting lineup in the league - as long as 'Sheed doesn't get kicked out of too many games, which definitely could happen with the new no-bickering-to-the-refs rule.
Their bench is improved from last year as long as Lindsey Hunter and Antonio McDyess stay healthy. Flip Murray and Carlos Delfino are capable of putting points on the board.
As for a defensive presence, however (besides Hunter, of course), 6-5 newby Jason Maxiell is about the best the Pistons got. He blocked three shots in 12 minutes against Milwaukee, but, I'm sorry, if the Pistons have to rely on Jason Maxiell in the playoffs... well, pencil in another loss in the conference finals (or sooner).
As for my team outlook, with young teams in Cleveland and Chicago quickly closing the gap between themselves and the Pistons/Heat, a loss in the second round wouldn't be surprising. I'll give the Pistons a slight edge on those teams, however, at least for one more year.
The Pistons will win the division, and finish first in the East, but lose to the Heat again in six games in the Eastern Finals.
And they'll realize how much they miss Ben and the defense-first approach.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
"Never give up... don't ever give up"
There will be no mention of poisonous creatures wreaking havoc on airplanes in this post. No Samuel L. Jackson quotes. Not even a mention of them damn Tigers.
No, this will be a serious post about the state of my career.
For a few months now I've known that what Uncle Chuck suggested to me in that phone call four years ago was right. Chuck, a highly successful lawyer in Chicago, told me that it'd be easier for me to move up the ladder in just about any vocation if I attended the big, renowned college as opposed to a small, not-so-well-known school.
I listened to what Chuck had to say, and I strongly considered the University of Michigan - located in my wonderful hometown of Ann Arbor - up until the end. But instead of staying attached to my beloved Wolverines, I decided on Albion College, a small liberal arts college about an hour west of Ann Arbor.
In terms of my career, it was the wrong choice. No beef.
This is not to say Albion is a bad school. It is far from that, nationally renowned for its ability to place its graduates at admirable jobs. Rick Smith, the editor of Newsweek magazine, is an Albion alumn. It ain't a bad school academically.
But it wasn't the right fit for me, the aspiring sports journalist, the sports junky, the I-could-watch-and-read-about-sports-24-hours-a-day kid from Ann Arbor.
I picked Albion because I felt most comfortable there. I liked the campus, I liked the feel it gave off. I liked the meal plan, which was unlimited food between 7 and 7 every day (I was, am, and will always be a big eater).
But, unfortunately, my decision was not based upon where I saw four years at Albion getting me in terms of sports journalism. I did not consider enough the ramifications of there not being a journalism major at the school and the school paper being nothing but an itty, bitty weekly.
Let me tell you, what others and myself were able to do with the publication, The Pleiad, over just two and a half years was nothing short of amazing. The publication was in shambles when I joined its staff for good the second semester of my freshman year as the sports editor. The layout was odious, the articles contained several grammatical and factual errors. I was told later that one of the paper's writers the semester before I joined fabricated several of his articles.
The paper could have passed for "The National Enquirer."
But slowly and surely a dedicated group of us brought it to respectability. I was editor-in-chief for two semesters, managing editor for one semester, and sports editor every semester. With each semester, I noticed things that could make the layout more visually appealing. It improved dramatically. Ditto with the writing. And everything else. We switched from fake broadsheets to actual newsprint. We began printing color photos.
And, finally, last spring - after thousands of hours spent in the spacious Pleiad office - we put out the grandest of issues, a 12-pager with color on four pages that I might get framed one day.
So why, you ask, did I just say I made the wrong decision for my career? Why, considering all the success I brought to The Pleiad, should I have spent the past three and a half years somewhere else?
Because I never experienced a real newspaper feel in Albion. Because, writing about Division III sports, I never found anything controversial to write about - never anything tough to write about. Because, as a weekly publication, I never felt the pressure of deadlines. Because, I had exclusive rights to the coaches and athletes I interviewed. I could invite athletes up to the office. I didn't have to stand among a horde of reporters and shout out a question during the tiny laguna of silence after the interviewee finished their last answer.
It boils down to this: I didn't learn much about the actual business I so desire to enter, the daily newspaper service.
All that would have been different had I chose UM or MSU, both of which have daily student publications. True, if I had gone to UM, I wouldn't be in Australia now, but I'd likely be interviewing Lloyd Carr and Mike Hart, asking them about staying focused for Ball State on Saturday. I'd be writing columns about Lloyd turning the ship around and about Tommy Amaker needing to get the Wolverines to the Big Dance this March.
I'd be living the sports reporter's dream - covering big-time sports on a daily basis.
But I'm not, and I will move on.
The past two Decembers I applied for a very enticing sports journalism summer internship at the Detroit Free Press. I was rejected both times. I looked on the paper's website to see the breakdown of past interns, only to learn that every one of them has come from a Division I school. I'm not saying I would have gotten the internship if I'd been at UM or MSU, but my chances certainly would have been better.
Anyway, more to come on this later. All I can say for now is that I will get a good job in sports journalism. I will not be denied what I want to do the rest of my life. It'll happen, regardless of the obstacles stacked against me.
In the words of the late Jim Valvano, who led NC State to its improbable 1983 national championship, I'll "never give up."
It just won't be as easy as my decision four years ago should have been.
No, this will be a serious post about the state of my career.
For a few months now I've known that what Uncle Chuck suggested to me in that phone call four years ago was right. Chuck, a highly successful lawyer in Chicago, told me that it'd be easier for me to move up the ladder in just about any vocation if I attended the big, renowned college as opposed to a small, not-so-well-known school.
I listened to what Chuck had to say, and I strongly considered the University of Michigan - located in my wonderful hometown of Ann Arbor - up until the end. But instead of staying attached to my beloved Wolverines, I decided on Albion College, a small liberal arts college about an hour west of Ann Arbor.
In terms of my career, it was the wrong choice. No beef.
This is not to say Albion is a bad school. It is far from that, nationally renowned for its ability to place its graduates at admirable jobs. Rick Smith, the editor of Newsweek magazine, is an Albion alumn. It ain't a bad school academically.
But it wasn't the right fit for me, the aspiring sports journalist, the sports junky, the I-could-watch-and-read-about-sports-24-hours-a-day kid from Ann Arbor.
I picked Albion because I felt most comfortable there. I liked the campus, I liked the feel it gave off. I liked the meal plan, which was unlimited food between 7 and 7 every day (I was, am, and will always be a big eater).
But, unfortunately, my decision was not based upon where I saw four years at Albion getting me in terms of sports journalism. I did not consider enough the ramifications of there not being a journalism major at the school and the school paper being nothing but an itty, bitty weekly.
Let me tell you, what others and myself were able to do with the publication, The Pleiad, over just two and a half years was nothing short of amazing. The publication was in shambles when I joined its staff for good the second semester of my freshman year as the sports editor. The layout was odious, the articles contained several grammatical and factual errors. I was told later that one of the paper's writers the semester before I joined fabricated several of his articles.
The paper could have passed for "The National Enquirer."
But slowly and surely a dedicated group of us brought it to respectability. I was editor-in-chief for two semesters, managing editor for one semester, and sports editor every semester. With each semester, I noticed things that could make the layout more visually appealing. It improved dramatically. Ditto with the writing. And everything else. We switched from fake broadsheets to actual newsprint. We began printing color photos.
And, finally, last spring - after thousands of hours spent in the spacious Pleiad office - we put out the grandest of issues, a 12-pager with color on four pages that I might get framed one day.
So why, you ask, did I just say I made the wrong decision for my career? Why, considering all the success I brought to The Pleiad, should I have spent the past three and a half years somewhere else?
Because I never experienced a real newspaper feel in Albion. Because, writing about Division III sports, I never found anything controversial to write about - never anything tough to write about. Because, as a weekly publication, I never felt the pressure of deadlines. Because, I had exclusive rights to the coaches and athletes I interviewed. I could invite athletes up to the office. I didn't have to stand among a horde of reporters and shout out a question during the tiny laguna of silence after the interviewee finished their last answer.
It boils down to this: I didn't learn much about the actual business I so desire to enter, the daily newspaper service.
All that would have been different had I chose UM or MSU, both of which have daily student publications. True, if I had gone to UM, I wouldn't be in Australia now, but I'd likely be interviewing Lloyd Carr and Mike Hart, asking them about staying focused for Ball State on Saturday. I'd be writing columns about Lloyd turning the ship around and about Tommy Amaker needing to get the Wolverines to the Big Dance this March.
I'd be living the sports reporter's dream - covering big-time sports on a daily basis.
But I'm not, and I will move on.
The past two Decembers I applied for a very enticing sports journalism summer internship at the Detroit Free Press. I was rejected both times. I looked on the paper's website to see the breakdown of past interns, only to learn that every one of them has come from a Division I school. I'm not saying I would have gotten the internship if I'd been at UM or MSU, but my chances certainly would have been better.
Anyway, more to come on this later. All I can say for now is that I will get a good job in sports journalism. I will not be denied what I want to do the rest of my life. It'll happen, regardless of the obstacles stacked against me.
In the words of the late Jim Valvano, who led NC State to its improbable 1983 national championship, I'll "never give up."
It just won't be as easy as my decision four years ago should have been.
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