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      Knicks facing a tough sell in free agency?

      June 28, 2010 /

      Ken Berger writes that the Knicks could have a tough time selling big-name free agents on playing in New York:

      Word circulating over the weekend was that Knicks president Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni faced a “very tough sell” to the top free agents, according to one rival executive monitoring the free-agent buzz. The reason, according to an agent involved in the process: “They’re going to have a lot of convincing to do for guys. There’s not a lot of pieces there to make it attractive.” According to other sources, it’s even worse than that for the Knicks. A representative for one prominent free agent, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiating period hasn’t begun, said the Knicks may have as hard a time – or even harder – persuading second-tier free agents to go to New York. “If you come in there, expectations are so high you almost can’t – unless it’s LeBron, anybody else will have a really hard time living up to it,” the agent said. “What if the team makes playoffs and loses in first round? Is that a success? Probably not. You’re starting off negative. That’s the way you want to start off? Everybody should be happy about getting two All-Stars, but they’re not the ones you thought you were getting or were sold on getting.”

      As the year has worn on, the luster has slowly but surely worn off the Knicks as a free agent destination. This is largely due to a couple of factors: 1) the salary cap estimate came in higher than expected, creating more cap space around the league, and 2) teams with better pieces — Chicago, New Jersey, Miami — have made moves that have created enough space for two max (or near-max) free agents. Part of the attraction of the Knicks in the middle of last season was that they were the only team with enough cap space to sign two max free agents outright. This is no longer the case.

      I still think that the Knicks are an interesting free agency destination for LeBron if he wants to be the hero. If he goes to Chicago, he’ll be playing in Michael Jordan’s shadow. If he goes to Miami, he’ll be joining Dwyane Wade’s team. If he goes to the Clippers, Los Angeles will still be Kobe’s city.

      If he wants to (figuratively) own a franchise, he should stay in Cleveland or head East to New York (or New Jersey/Brooklyn). If he were to bring a championship to the Knicks, he’d create a massive legacy in New York. If he brings a championship to the Bulls, people will say, “Good job, now get us five more.”

      The biggest problem with the Knicks is the pieces that are already in place. Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari are nice prospects, but they pale in comparison to the Bulls (Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah), the Heat (Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley) or the Nets (Brook Lopez, Devin Harris).

      If LeBron’s #1 priority is to win championships, he should hook up with Chris Bosh in Chicago or Wade and Bosh in Miami. If his ego requires that he also be viewed as a franchise savior, then he will sign with the Knicks, Nets or Clippers, or re-sign with the Cavs.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Report: Chris Henry had brain damage before he died

      June 28, 2010 /

      According to a report by the Cincinnati Enquirer, former Bengals receiver Chris Henry suffered from a chronic brain injury that may have influenced his mental state and behavior before he died last year.

      Bailes and fellow researchers believe chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is caused by multiple head impacts, regardless of whether those blows result in a concussion diagnosis. A number of studies, including one commissioned by the NFL, have found that retired professional football players may have a higher rate than normal of Alzheimer’s disease and other memory problems.

      What’s interesting, Bailes said, is that Henry was only 26, and neither NFL nor WVU records show he was diagnosed with a concussion during his playing career.

      CTE carries specific neurobehavioral symptoms, Bailies said — typically, failure at personal and business relationships, use of drugs and alcohol, depression and suicide.

      Bailes said he and Omalu have now analyzed the brains of 27 modern athletes, and the majority showed evidence of CTE. But it’s found in only a small number of players, he said.

      Whether Henry’s brain damage can be attributed to playing football or not, it’s vital that doctors continue to research ways to make the game safer. Football is a violent game and while the league has taken steps to improve the equipment that players wear, they should never be satisfied when it comes to protecting the athletes.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Source: LeBron and Bosh to Chicago ‘a done deal’

      June 28, 2010 /

      Per the NY Times…

      The executive, who did not want to be identified discussing a player who is not yet a free agent, said he had gathered from discussions with his fellow N.B.A. executives that James was strongly leaning toward joining the Bulls in tandem with another free agent, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors.

      “I think it’s a done deal,” the executive said.

      He said he thought James was going ahead with the meetings in Ohio “to be respectful to all these teams who jumped through these hoops,” a reference to the clubs, like the Knicks, who traded reasonably talented players like Jamal Crawford the last two seasons in an effort to open up as much salary-cap space as possible. But if James and Bosh are indeed going to Chicago, moves like the ones the Knicks made will have been done at least partly in vain.

      This jibes with what LeBron confidant World Wide Wes has been telling people, and intuitively, it makes sense. Only Miami (with Dwyane Wade) could offer the kind of supporting cast that the Bulls can, and LeBron may not want people to think that he joined ‘Wade’s team.’

      The surprising thing about a potential move to Chicago is that it would indicate that LeBron does not care all that much about how his legacy will compare to Michael Jordan’s. James would have to go on an unprecedented run to even get into the same conversation as Jordan, and barring five or six championships, it’s likely that he’ll always be regarded as the second-best Chicago Bull.

      The move would be especially painful for Cavs fans, who would have to watch LeBron play for a division rival. Instead of seeing LeBron in Cleveland once a season, he’d visit Ohio two or three times, maybe more if the two teams meet in the playoffs.

      The other thing about this LeBron/Bosh line of thinking is that Bosh has said all along that he doesn’t want to play sidekick and that he wants to be ‘the man.’ Following LeBron to Chicago doesn’t accomplish that goal and says something about Bosh, since he is the one who keeps saying that a franchise should build around him.

      If the duo does indeed head to Chicago, the Bulls can start a lineup of Derrick Rose at the one, LeBron at the three, Bosh at the four and Joakim Noah at the five. One worrisome thing about a Rose/LeBron combo is that both players are at their best when they have the ball in their hands, so unless LeBron (finally) develops a post game or Rose becomes a great shooter, it won’t be an ideal fit.

      As for Luol Deng, he would likely come off the bench or be moved for a quality shooting guard who can space the floor (Kyle Korver, Mike Miller, Ray Allen?) LeBron will benefit most from playing with a knockdown shooter at the two, especially since Rose and Noah are not known for their outside touch. Deng’s contract (four years, $51 million) will be tough to move, but he essentially plays the same position as LeBron and the Bulls won’t want to tie up that much cap space in LeBron’s backup.

      Ric Bucher’s take on the rumor. (YouTube)

      External Sports, Fantasy Basketball, NBA, News, Rumors & Gossip

      Goodell needs to act in latest embarrassment for Lions

      June 28, 2010 /

      If a player is arrested for driving under the influence, he’s subjected to a suspension. Often times he’s also ridiculed by the media and has his decision-making come into question in the process.

      But what happens when someone from a team’s front office commits the same crime? What’s the punishment for them?

      Over the weekend, Lions president Tom Lewand was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. His job with the team appears safe and he’s already released a contrite statement about how he will take responsibility for his actions, but at what point does Roger Goodell and the league get involved?

      If Goodell wants to hold players to a higher standard, he should do the same with front office personnel and anyone that falls under the NFL shield for that matter. It’s fine if he wants to rule with an iron fist, but he can’t be strict with the players and not with anyone else.

      Lewand made a mistake – he’s human. But when players make mistakes, they don’t escape punishment and neither should he. Whether he’s fined or suspended for several games, Goodell must seek punishment for Lewand. If he does, then he’ll avoid looking like a hypocrite and more importantly, he’ll show the players that he’s fair.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      External Sports, NFL

      Change of plans: Valentine not expected to land Marlins manager job

      June 28, 2010 /

      SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports that Bobby Valentine is no longer being considered for the Marlins’ vacant manager job, despite rumors last week that stated he was their top choice.

      Valentine had been viewed as the top candidate for the job since Fredi Gonzalez was fired last week, and sources told SI.com and other outlets on Friday that the longtime friend of Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria would indeed be hired. ESPN, Valentine’s employer for the past several months, reported that the Marlins were expected to make a four-year offer to him.

      But that same day, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press that an interview between Valentine and the Marlins scheduled for Friday had been put on hold.

      Why negotiations between Valentine and the team ended was not immediately known. He has a long relationship with Loria, having managed the Rangers when Loria owned that franchise’s Triple-A affiliate. Valentine has a record in the majors of 1,117-1,072, and ended a six-year run as manager of the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League in 2009.

      This is surprising news and it would be interesting to hear what happened between Valentine and the Marlins that made discussions break down. Maybe Valentine was demanding more than Loria wanted to give, either financially or in terms of control over the team.

      Edwin Rodriguez will continue to manager the Fish as they make their way to Puerto Rico for a three-game series against the Mets this week.

      External Sports, MLB

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