Sports Guy Bill Simmons and Henry Abbott: 'Kobe Bryant Isn't Clutch'

"No country for stat geeks..."

That thought raced through my head while listening to the most recent B.S. Report from Bill "The Sports Guy" Simmons of espn.com. He and guest, Henry Abbott had crunched the numbers and deduced that despite what your lying eyes (and record books) may tell you, it isn't a great idea to have Kobe Bean Bryant take the reigns of the Los Angeles Lakers' offense down the stretch of a game.

"He's not good." Abbott said at around 2:50 into the podcast. "He's too selfish. He's too much of a ball hog, and the Lakers actually end up being an average crunch time team, even though they have the personnel to be the best offensive team."

Abbott, who presides over True Hoop Blog (also on espn.com), recently wrote that despite all the praise from his peers, opposing GMs, and even critics, Bryant is a bad option in the proverbial clutch.

"Ask me, though, (as Ryen Russillo did last week and Mike Trudell the other day)," Abbott wrote. "And I'll tell you I don't know who's the best, but with all due respect to Bryant's amazing abilities scoring the ball, there's zero chance he's the king of crunch time."

On the podcast, both Abbott and Simmons almost sounded mystified as to why anyone would believe Bryant would be considered a viable option in the final five minutes of a close NBA game. They cited PER statistics, that placed Bryant below average in the crunch time statistical category. In fact, they deduced that Carmelo Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki are both head and shoulders above Bryant in likelihood of coming through in clutch situations.

This despite, as Abbott surveyed, 79% of NBA's GMs saying they wouldn't want Bryant to have the ball against their team in a clutch situation. The ninth straight season that he's "won" that praise.

Abbott argues that Bryant takes a lot of tough shots, and dominates possessions, even going as far as to call him a "ball hog".

Simmons, a lifelong Boston Celtics fan, and an admitted detester of Bryant as a player and a person, says that the two are simply doing the sports world a service by "attacking a false narrative about their career."

Both Simmons and Abbott agreed Bryant was a great player, but "clutch" he was not.

My question: Do you really trust Carmelo or Dirk more in the clutch than you trust Kobe? Because I don't.

Bryant has a flair for the dramatic. Just last season, Bryant added six game-winning shots to his resume', further pushing the "narrative" that he is the NBA's premier clutch performer.

Abbott, an admitted stat geek, used a "Game on the Line" compilation that measured performances when "trailing by one or two points, or tied, in the final 24 seconds of regular season and playoff games since 1996-1997, with a minimum of 30 shots."

Anthony came out on the top of the list, connecting on 21 of 44 attempts, a 47 percent clip.

Bryant was 36 of 115, 31 percent. Case closed, right?

As Charlie Murphy would say, "Wrong!"

Bryant's stats by that particular measurement, aren't that impressive, until you realize that the total number of NBA titles won by the 26 players ahead of him is 5; four by Tim Duncan (23 of 62, 37 percent) and one by Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson (14 of 36, 38 percent). Throw Robinson's out since he didn't play in the clutch (or much at all) when the San Antonio Spurs won their last title, and all the titles are with two players who both shoot below 38 percent with the game on the line.

Another look at the list shows that aside from Anthony and Nowitzki, the list isn't exactly a sampling of the NBA's most elite players from 1997 to today. From 2-27 (Kobe) there is Chris Paul, Shawn Marion, Brandon Roy (decent start), Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, Big Dog (WTF), Deron Williams (Okay again), Mike Bibby (Negro no), Dirk, Jalen Rose, Duncan, Eddie Jones (Really didn't see that coming), Karl Malone (Playoffs included? Really?), Ben Gordon, Chris Webber, Raymond Felton (Weirdest stretch), Lebron James (Hey, an elite player!), Ray Allen (No doubt), Gilbert Arenas, Vince Carter, Steve Francis, Damon Stoudamire, and Nick Van Exel.

Of those names, I would pull out four (Dirk, Ray, Lebron, and Duncan), maybe five (Vince Carter, because his 31 of 96, 32 percent is very close to Bryant's) can be included in an argument of being as clutch than Bryant. But none could be considered more clutch.

Much of Abbott and Simmons' criticisms of Bryant in crunch time centered around the degree of difficulty of the shots he takes.

"Kobe wins the 'who can take the most impossible crunch time shot and actually make it'," said Simmons. "He's the best guy since Larry Bird. One-point-eight seconds on the clock, double-teamed, falling out of bounds, he's the one you want taking (the shot)"

So what is your argument again? I thought you said he wasn't clutch.

Abbott was adamant that the Lakers high powered offense became below average down the stretch of close games, going from 109 points per 100 possessions, to 82 points per 100 possessions. He attributed the decline to Bryant's ball hogging and abandoning of the offense.

But what about the defense? Can it not be said that if a game is close, and a team is inclined to want the win, they step up the defensive effort? It's only logical that the offense won't operate as smoothly in that situation, but to a stat geek, I imagine it does not compute.

It has been said that you can get a statistic to prove whatever point it is you want to, and I find no truer NBA example than this argument. I love Simmons' work as a writer and a podcast pioneer. I know his passion for the NBA is genuine. I respect Abbott's tireless coverage of all things NBA. But we're all capable of being blinded by bias. Neither cares for Bryant's style of play, which is admittedly an acquired taste.

But it isn't dogma that leads people to believe Bryant is clutch. Clutch is subjective, and the subjective cannot be swayed by numbers alone. The times he's actually come through (36) are more than anyone else during his 15-year career. Add to that the fact that he's attempted more of those shots (115) than anyone else, and take for granted that people know what they're seeing when their seeing him play.

It's not about PER, or any saber mathematics, or being a ball hog. It's about getting the job done when all the chips are down, and Kobe Bryant has done it better than anyone else throughout his entire career.

Vince Young And Public Speaking Don't Mix

To his credit, Vince Young is trying really hard to say the right things. He just may need a translator to express them for him. Every time he speaks I'm reminded of just how little he grasps the use of the English language. See this interview conducted by ESPN and judge for yourself...



Someone please get this man a 2nd grade grammar textbook and some Hooked On Phonics tapes ASAP.

Vince Young has the talent and athletic ability to maintain a solid NFL career. But I honestly don't think he has the mental capacity to be "Elite". And he still seems a tad bit clueless. He just doesn't get it. Who knows....

Just know that I will not be a believer until he learns how to form proper sentences, as a 3-year college student at Texas University should be able to.

-ALR

Nnamdi Asomugha's Contract Voided, Now a Free Agent

Thanks to a little known performance clause in his contract, the Oakland Raiders will allow Nnamdi Asomugha to enter free agency, without the ability to place the franchise tag on him.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Asomugha's contract included a clause that said if he didn't improve statistically from 2009 to 2010, his contract would be voided. He could have done so by reaching his incentives for games played, interceptions, fumbles, or sacks. He played two less games this season, and did not number in any of the other categories.

Asomugha recorded 19 tackles this season, and was set to recieve $16.8 million in 2012. The 30-year old shutdown cornerback is sure to garner a lot of attention this offseason.

This move comes on the heels of the Raiders allowing head coach Tom Cable to walk after leading the team to its first .500 season since 2002.

Springsteen Band Member Disturbed By Praise Of Mike Vick

Nils Lofgren, solo artist and former member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, recently sent this open letter to "to the men and women of the sports reporting community" via ESPN. It was a pretty passionate letter explaining how he is disturbed by the attention Philadelphia Eagles QB Micheal Vick is getting for his spectacular performance this season. Here is one glaring quote from the letter than struck a nerve with me:

“When you do what Vick did, a second chance should never include the rare gift of an NFL career and the potential bounty it offers.”

First off, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I can't dispute that. And at the same time it is my right to disagree with said opinion. Which in this case, I disagree.

True be told, what Vick was convicted for was cruel and insensitive. He committed his crime with little regard for the consequence or without considering how it may be viewed. But the fact of the matter is that Vick has served his court appointed debt to society. He did his time. And to say that Vick shouldn't be in the NFL because his crime was against animals is preposterous.

Saying that he should not be allow "the rare gift of an NFL career" is a little off based to me. I think because of the high profile of the National Football League, most of the general public forget that an NFL position is, an essence, a job. They get paid a salary just like any other working class individual. If you want to point the finger at anyone for Vick's NFL career, than it should be pointed at the owners who are profiting hand over fist from anything he produces on the field.

Michael Vick is a professional football player. He makes his living between those sidelines. Saying that he shouldn't be allowed to play in the NFL is basically saying his should not be allowed to make a living in the career of his choice. Proclaiming that Vick should not be considered for the MVP award for his on the field performance is basically in line with saying an ex-con should never be considered for an Employee Of The Year merit, which is technically what the MVP is.

Many may disagree with my point of view on this, and I can accept that. But correct me if I am wrong, but isn't our correctional facility and judicial system in place to rehabilitate an individual to become a better member of our society? And in Vick's case, does that not appear to be what has transpired?

But as I said, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

-ALR

Snitches Get What They Want

Modern day sports journalist must listen to too much Ricky Rozay. That's the only explanation I can find to the recent rash of "snitch" accusations being tossed at people who are coming forward with information related to murky sports stories.

Yesterday, a Sports Illustrated story on player agent Josh Luchs was leaked to various media outlets. The agent claims to have paid a number of athletes from 1990 to 1996 while they were still in college, violating a number of NCAA bylaws. He gave names, dates and dollar amounts.

Today, on "Mike and Mike in the Morning", Luchs claims he did so because he didn't want his kids to look up information about him on their iPhones, or some other kind of self-righteous gobbledegook.

Quicker than you can say "Bawse", notorious tough guy Mike Greenberg had to ask the question that was at the front of America's mind. Guess what that was.

Not, "Are you (Luchs) aware of any other agents who engaged in such practices?"

Not, "Were you encouraged to this by any agency, and/or institution looking to funnel blue chip recruits?"

Not, "Of the athletes that declined your offers of money (Keyshawn Johnson, J.J. Stokes, and Dana Stubblefield), did any already have a similar situation set up with other agents?"

Nope. Greenberg felt that the most important question was, "Is this snitching?"

Bomani Jones (someone whose opinion I actually respect) has led a campaign the likes of the "Stop Snitchin'" tee-shirts that were popular back in 2005, aimed at folks who engage in Luchs' actions. He interviewed Luchs on his radio show, "The Morning Jones", and openly attempted to discredit him, not on things of substance, but the superficial. He chastised Luchs for offering a player tickets to a Janet Jackson concert, as though it made him less than a man. He openly laughed at him during his responses.

Jones tweeted that Luchs felt they would "attempt to make (me) look like an a-hole."

Jones' response via tweet, "I've made a comfy living off that schtick myself."

That's what "sports journalism" has come to be. Jose Canseco's revelation of the steroid culture in Major League Baseball. Floyd Landis' revelations about Lance Armstrong. The North Carolina recruiting fiasco, where Butch Davis' lost blue chippers Marvin Austin, Greg Little, and Robert Quinn before he even got a chance to fully exploit their talents for free.

We have only snitching to thank for our knowledge of these subjects.

Its a catch-22, though. You reveal the nefarious nature of a big budget sport, and you will be labeled a "snitch".

What's worse, the ones doing the labeling are the ones that should have been watching for these things in the first place. The viewing public is left to rely on snitches to remind these alleged journalists of exactly what their micky-ficky job is.

I'm a huge fan of snitching (yeah, I said it). In sports, and in real life. As long as there isn't any lying involved, I have no problem with it. I don't understand the fascination with protecting people who are doing something that they aren't supposed to do when you don't benefit from protecting them in any way.

That's what's good about a "snitch".

Everybody wants to say they "keep it real", and that's what a good snitch does. They don't lie, exaggerate, or fabricate. They simply tell it like it is.

"Did that guy do that thing that he wasn't supposed to do?"

"Yep."

While its cool to utter the phrase "Snitches get stitches", that isn't true. Not in Canseco's case, who got a best seller, a reality TV stint, and was just announced as a participant in next season's "Celebrity Apprentice". Generally, snitches get what they want; 15 minutes of fame, and maybe a small payday.

For that, they should be celebrated. What's more American than making a name for yourself without really doing anything other than talking?

Instead they're castigated by the media, and relegated to outcast by the zombie public, slaves to their cable news network masters.

So break the grip of shame. Be a slave to status quo group-thinking no longer. Free your mind, and your snitch will follow.

To Catch a Kolb?

Well, that didn't take long.

Teams are already lining up to inquire about the services of the Philadelphia Eagles now backup QB, Kevin Kolb. ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reports that a number of teams have contacted the Eagles about the availability of the QB who just a month ago was considered the team's QB of the future, and a day ago, was still the teams starter.

Now, there's the perception that nothing is for sure, nothing is for certain, nothing last forever. Michael Vick has been named the starter for the team for this week's matchup at Jacksonville, and beyond. Teams with poor quarterback situations won't wait for the Eagles to make a rational decision about their own future, but rather try and pressure them to jettison a potential franchise player.

Kolb reportedly has the stuff that NFL scouts love to see in a quarterback. He's big (6'3", 220), strong-armed, and adept to running a west coast "cerebral" offense. He's the first NFL quarterback to throw for over 300 yards in each of his first two starts, filling in for an injured Donovan McNabb last season. He's also young (26) and while he wouldn't be cheap, in an NFL financial world where quarterbacks Sam Bradford ($50 million guaranteed) and Matt Cassel ($28 million guaranteed) can get paid long term without much of a resume', I'm sure some team can find a few nickles for a QB like Kolb.

Los That Leaks: "Popcorn Ready" - T.Ocho feat. DJ Steve Porter

Watching the first Sunday NFL Countdown of the season, and in between Chris Berman losing his voice while Keyshawn Johnson was giving me a migraine, they debuted this new auto-tune ditty that is sure to become a classic. "Popcorn Ready" by T.Ocho feat DJ Steve Porter. Crank dat "Popcorn Ready"! (Pop, pop, pop!)

Los That Top Ten Sports Divorces

I'm a child of a broken home, and a sports addict. I spend most of my time reconciling how these two things direct my day-to-day life. That's one of the byproducts of investing too much time and thought on things that ultimately you don't have any control over. I believe psychologist refer to this as a form of "arrested development", or something...

It started around the time I was 9. Like the Skynet program from Terminator, that was the time I became "self-aware". My parents split, and I'd officially pledged my lifetime allegiance to the Lakers, 49ers, SF Giants, and hip hop. What I knew about life was falling apart around me, and it seemed sports (through TV) were the one thing I had control over, so I clung to it.

I'll save the rest for my autobiography, but know that over my odyssey of following sports, I've always been fascinated by the marital divorces that happen within. It reminds me of the traumatic events that made me divert the bulk of my attention towards them in the first place (I'm big on nostalgia). Not the divorcing of players and teams (see: Johnny Damon and Boston Red Sox), or teams and fan bases (see: Supersonics and Seattle), or the divorcing of minds and logic (see: Philadelphia and Fans Expectations) but the divorces between actual men and women.

Make no mistake, the soap opera aspect to sports is what secretly drives the industry. ESPN didn't build their brand by simply showing game scores and highlights. That just brought people in the door. What made us stay was the drama.

Divorce is the apex of human drama when it comes to intrapersonal relationships. It goes against the natural impulse of people to forge relationships with others by signaling a permanent ending to one. Don't be fooled by divorce rates, people love to keep contact with other people, even if its in the most superficial sense (How many friends do you have on Facebook? When is the last time you were in the same room as them?). That's why divorces, long after they've become so commonplace, continue to get the attention they do.

Americans love watching others public humiliation. Its the tie that binds us together. Its fun to look at others struggle so publicly. It appeals to that same basic human instinct that makes us stare at car crashes.

The top 10 sports divorces that have happened within my time following serve as proof.

10.) Andre Rison and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez

This one had it all. An all pro wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, and a multi-platinum R&B starlett from "TLC", domestic violence, strippers, and of course, the burning down of a million dollar mansion. The only reason its so far down on the list is because just like "mama and 'nem" the two never officially tied the knot, so their split, while sensational and headline-grabbing, was never recognized by the courts. This ended badly for Rison, who was never the same player, and eventually had to be forced out of the NFL so that Jerry Rice could have his jersey number 80 when he signed with Oakland in 2001.

Left Eye had a much worse ending. Rest in peace.

9.) Chuck Finley and Tawny Kitaen

Finley was an all star pitcher for the California/Anaheim Angels (before the lates renaming), and Kitaen was the George Washington of video vixens, appearing in the classic Whitesnake video for "Here I Go Again". Really, the couple had a pretty uneventful marriage until one night in 2002, when Kitaen went all "OJ" on Finley, and had to be arrested on charges of, you guessed it, domestic violence. Finley filed for divorce three days later. We eventually found out that Kitaen had a substantial drug problem, and she appeared on Dr. Drew's "Celebrity Rehab", possibly causing the largest outbreak of "Masturbators Regret" that this country has ever seen.

8.) Jeff Gordon and Brooke Sealey

Jeff Gordon spent many moons as the "Golden Boy" of NASCAR. He married his "Golden Gal" in 1994. There's was a marriage right out of the script for "Talladega Nights", right down to them meeting when Gordon won the Winston Cup, and Sealey was "Ms. Winston". Gordon was winning championship after championship, and Sealey was living the trophy wife life, right up until 2003, when they divorced.

Their story doesn't end there. After the divorce, Gordon remarried a super model (Ingrid Vandebosch), and Sealey had a cougar rendezvous with a kid named James Dixon II, that resulted in the birth of a baby boy, and then re-married a man Mullins Mcleod, who ran for governor of South Carolina. Sealey made the news recently because she attempted to have the new baby's last name be "Gordon", even though it wasn't his, AND she was married to another man.

Only in America.

7.) Dwyane Wade and Siovaughn Wade

The Wade's were this generation's rags-to-riches story. They grew up together on Chicago's south side. They were high school sweethearts. They werer partners through D-Wade's meteoric rise from little-used reserve, to blue chip recruit at Harold L. Richards High School, to his incredible Final Four run at Marquette that made him a number 5 overall pick by the Miami Heat (This is the point where the needle skipping off the record noise starts).

By all accounts, once the Wade's hit Miami, "that's when signals got crossed, and (they) got flipped" (Hov!). D-Wade was allegedly hitting everything moving, possibly even Star Jones (eww).

The couple filed for divorce in 2007. During the divorce, Siovaughn accused Dwyane of everything from adultery to giving her an unspecified STD (rhymes with "smerpes"). The divorce even played a role during this summer's free-agency, when the Chicago Bulls believed they had a shot at landing Wade, due to the custody battle. Ultimately, Dwyane re-signed with Miami.

6.) Alex Rodriguez and Cynthia Rodriguez-Scurtis

2007-08 were not kind to A-Rod. Over that time period: 1.) He announced his intention to be a free agent during the World Series broadcast. 2.) A photo of he and a muscular exotic dancer/escort emerged from the tabloids. 3.) He was mentioned in connection with a madam (aka female pimp) who said their paths had crossed professionally. 4.) His wife filed for divorce. 5.) He was romantically linked to a 50 year old (so, so old) Madonna. 6.) He went on television and denied ever using steroids, only to have his positive test leaked to the public just before Spring Training in 2009.

Now, A-Rod has always been an easy target for people, but even the biggest detractor has to admit that was quite a bad stretch. Add to that, Cyntia sought comfort in the home of friend/rockstar Lenny Kravitz, who had to release a statement saying they weren't romantically involved.

Focusing on the divorce, Cynthia had demanded the $12 million home, as well as alimony, and custody of the children. The two settled in July of '09, but the terms were never disclosed.

Ironically, divorce has been great for A-Rod. He shed his "choker" label by helping the Yankees to their first World Series win in 10 years. He also hit his 600th HR, and has been romantically linked to actresses Kate Hudson and Cameron Diaz.

(Numbers 5-1 coming tomorrow)

Hate Mariotti Now!

You never want to kick a man when he's down, unless of course that man is Jay Mariotti.

Mariotti, 52, is a writer for Fanhouse.com, a former writer for the Chicago-Sun Times, and a regular guest commentator on ESPN's "Around the Horn". He was arrested early Saturday morning on charges of suspicion of felony domestic assault. Something to do with his girlfriend allegedly flirting with another man at a club in LA.

Those who are familiar with Mariotti's work, know that he's prone to call for quick and definite punishment whenever an athlete finds themselves on the wrong side of the law, or a very conservative public opinion.

Here's Mariotti on whether Mike Vick should be allowed back into the NFL after his prison time.

Here's Mariotti on how LeGarrette Blount should get jail time for last years Oregon-Boise St. brawl.

Here's Mariotti on MLB's "too soft" stance on violence, on and off the field.

And trust me, he's much worse on television.

Here's hoping that Mariotti takes accountability for his actions, and asks for the judge to punish him to the fullest extent of the law.

Los That Links 8-3-10

What's new in the world this morning?

- Reports that Brett Favre has informed Minnesota that he'll retire.

- Lebron James takes an ad out in a newspaper to thank... Akron?

- Albert Haynesworth skips practice.

- For Adam "Pacman" Jones, this is real progress.

- Chargers sneak dis a former teammate with the initials "L.T."

- Marky-Mark says ESPN employees are always boinking because Bristol is the most boring place on earth. Can't find anything wrong with his reasoning.

- Karen Sypher, the woman from the Rick Pitino extortion trial, seconds before "paying" her lawyer fees.

- In case you haven't heard, its a good time to feel sorry for Laurence Fishburne

Top Ten Reasons To Love Skip Bayless

(Note: Please click on the links. It makes the article that much better, like watching "Fantasia" on acid.)

(Note 2: Just say "No" to drugs.)

Every morning I wake up at 5:30, and I have the same routine. Hit my snooze button for a half an hour, because it bugs my girlfriend. Stumble to the bathroom for the morning number one or two (a combo if I'm really lucky). Wash up. Head to the kitchen and start a pot of coffee. Turn on the television, check the DVR for last nights "Daily Show with Jon Stewart" (black nerd alert). Watch it and pretend I'm smart. Morning push-ups (for the ladies), prepare breakfast, drink coffee.

All this ends at 7 am.

At 7 am, I turn to ESPN2 for "First Take". Now, it's another story for another day, but just know that I'm aware the show is goofy. I know it used to be called "Cold Pizza". I know that a "real sports fan" would never watch the show. That's why most of you probably have never seen it.

Oh, what's that? You have? Let me guess why. Two words:

Skip Bayless.

Love him or hate him...well, more than likely you hate him. But that's cool. I'm gonna give you some perspective that'll change your mind in a second. Bayless is the polarizing, talking head who appears regularly (as in every damn day) on a segment of the show called "1st and 10" (here's a sample). A former journalist and author (a very good one, in fact), Bayless is supposed to represent the old-school, sports writer point of view on a variety of daily topics divided over, get this, four downs.

(Get it? 1st and 10? Four downs? Cliche' much?)

Anyways, Bayless has reinvented himself on this show as an entertaining curmudgeon who will often take positions on the debate topics that will leave you either A.) scratching your head, B.) wondering if he really believes what he's saying, or C.) yelling obscenities at your television. You'll rarely agree with anything he has to say, but you'll watch him as he says it.

And that, people, is what we in the business call "entertainment".

Whether its his ridiculous arguments, his passion, or his uncanny ability to look like a cross between Woody from "Toy Story", Ernest, and Heath Ledger's version of the Joker, he has that thing that makes people watch. Most who watch will say they hate him. I've even said it in the past. But I've realized the error in my ways. So, without further ado, the "Top Ten Reasons To Love Skip Bayless"

10.) He really was an excellent writer. Check out his Wiki page. He started out very young in the sports journalism business, and has carried a bit of that "young mentality" with him, even in his old (58) age. Hell Bent was a classic book about the crazies within the Dallas Cowboy locker room and front office.

9.) His brother, Rick Bayless, is a world renowned chef with a television show on PBS. He's even won a Humanitarian award. How can you not like someone who's related to someone like that? Did Hitler have a brother that did anything cool or nice? No, he did not.

8.) He usually argues against black people. Check out here, here, here, and here. That's harder than you think. We live in a very "PC" wold these days. Given the variety of topics, and the sensitivity of the issues, he navigates the whole "white guy yelling at black people" thing pretty well.
That's not to say that I've never questioned if he harbored some racist feelings at one time or another. And I'm not alone.

7.) He listens to hip-hop. Not like those old white guys who try and sound cool by saying they listen to hip-hop. He actually does, and has had Lil Wayne, and Bow Wow (amongst others) come on the show to debate him. He's had a rapper AND a sound a dog makes, debate him on TV. That's pretty damn cool if you ask me.

6.) He's made Chad Ochocinco's career ten times more relevant than it ever should be. Bayless first started critiquing Ochocinco for his behavior back in 2005-06, when he was known as "Chad Johnson", a pretty good wide receiver on a crappy team (Bengals) in a city no one cares about (Cincinnati).
What started as a few comments made on a small cable program quickly grew when Johnson/Ochocinco, a media-whore by nature, used multiple venues to respond to things Bayless said. Their war of words continued, and then this little thing called "Twitter" was created. Johnson/Ochocinco lobbed a few grenades, and Bayless did so as well. Before long, Johnson/Ochocinco was a guest on "1st and 10". Shortly after that, Johnson/Ochocinco appeared on "Dancing With the Stars". This summer, Johnson/Ochocinco debuted his own reality show on VH1 called "The Ultimate Catch".
I call this the "Bayless Bump". Johnson/Ochocinco has been on the downside of his career for three years now. The numbers don't necessarily show it, but his team hadn't been in the playoffs since 2005 prior to last season, and that was only the other time his team had done so. Meanwhile, Johnson/Ochocino's self-promotion now had "marketing" in the terms of Bayless making his actions conversational topics for each of the past 5 years.
But at least Bayless seems to like Johnson/Ochocinco. That's more than I can say for...

5.) Terrell Owens must have done something terrible and personal to Skip. Because, atthis point in time, there really seems to be no other logical reason that Bayless saves his most vitriolic critique for Owens. If you're reading this blog, you know enough about sports to know the name Terrell Owens. All-pro wide receiver with Hall of Fame numbers who's burned his fair share of bridges on different teams he's played for.
Well, that's putting it lightly. Owens (allegedly) called one former teammate "gay", said his team would've won the Super Bowl if not for another quarterback (watch this starting at 4:30), and cried for a quarterback, then claimed he was conspiring against him.
What's not to like?
Still, Bayless has never let up on Owens. He refers to him as "Team Obliterator", among other names. He claims that he is a real life cancer in a locker room. He "poo-poos" his great plays and accentuates his dropped passes. Unlike other athletes, he doesn't seem to want Owens to appear on "1st and 10". At times, I get the feeling that he really wishes harm on Owens. And that makes for good television. Here's a classic example.
He even goes in on T.O. on Twitter. Check this out from @RealSkipBayless today:

"Bill Walsh once told me 1) T.O. was as smart as any player ever had in meetings 2) psychological issues made him unreachable, uncoachable."
"Walsh, then a 49er advisor, loved Jeff Garcia. T.O. criticized his arm. Yet Garcia-to-T.O. led NFL in TDs 2 yrs before Niners said enough."
"My challenge stands: I will debate Ocho AND Owens on live TV. Any time, any place. But Owens is afraid of me because I know too much."

What does he know? I want to know.

4.) Again, he usually argues against black people. This is something extremely unique to this. Think about it. Hoe often do you get to see black people in sports media? Now, subtract the number of those who are former athletes, musicians, or actors promoting a new movie. Now who comes to mind?
See, not as many as you think.
Bayless gives a lot of black journalist/media a platform to show their face on a pretty popular program. He's been able to raise the profile of people like Michael Smith, Jemele Hill, Rob Parker (who regularly gets his ass handed to him), Scoop Jackson, Howard Bryant, Doug and Ryan Stewart (The 2 Live Stews), Terrence Moore, and a host of others. This is a big deal to me, because I'm black, and I'm not above playing the race card if it'll get me some face time. Works for Jesse and Al.
Seriously though, there is something to be said for Bayless providing his stage, since most who come on will be in disagreement with what he has to say. I know for a fact that it is what pulled me into watch so many years ago.
But... when Stephen A. Smith is on there with him, I sometimes want to stab my eyes out.

3.) Charles Barkley HATES him. See this, and this. Enough said.

2.) He'll never concede an argument, even when he's been proven wrong. The proven wrong part gets him the most. Watch him squirm as Jalen Rose counters his argument and breaks down his hatred T.O. of a certain player we'll talk about in a sec. These are the best moments of the show to me. Not because I like to see a grown man squirm, but because I love to see it. Especially when it's someone who has taken extremely critical stances on people and situations without being called to task on their own shortcomings, or the error in their judgment. (Note: please do not show this post to any children I may have in the future. I'm a hypocrite. Sue me.)

1.) He was absolutely right on Lebron James. You may not remember this, but it was only about a month ago that Lebron James was the most beloved athlete in all of the NBA, and the highest approval rating of celebrity athletes according to a Sports Illustrated Poll. The day after "The Decision", James saw that approval rating dip from 78 percent positive, to 81 percent negative.

There was one person, though, who never had their opinion changed. Mr. Skip Bayless.

The "Diabolical Hater", as he's sometimes known, has been railing full force against "Prince James" for a full five years now. He actually began to let up once James made his announcement that he'd be going to join the Miami Heat, citing James recognizing his inability to come through in the clutch. Scoop Jackson summed up those of us who'd watched Bayless bash James over the years waiting for James to prove him wrong in a recent blog post titled, "LeBron James, you've proven Skip Bayless right". If you're like me, you read it, you remember everything he'd said, you nod your head, and shake it off. Basically, you now know how Bayless feels every time he gets owned on "1st and 10".

And in my opinion, you gotta love it.

To MLB, or not to MLB

I got into an email argument recently. It's like a texting argument, only more queer.

The topic began somewhere, then evolved to ranking favorite sports to watch live. I had the audacity to rank NBA and MLB games above the hallowed NFL. This led to a bunch of baseball bashing, complete with the most commonly used cliche arguments against the sport. Its a boring, slow, simple game, played by non-athletic people who used to maybe use steroids. All BS, of course, but whatever...

Within that email thread, only myself and a Puerto Rican guy were willing to defend the game. We pointed to the history, the unwritten rules, the unique complexities of the different ballparks, the Ken Burns documentary, and all kinds of other things that made me realize that even I was beginning to bore myself.

How did we get here?

Many have and will point to the Steroid Era as what ultimately has done the game in. I can't wholeheartedly disagree. The media likes to point to the early 2000's as the height of the Steroid Era, but if you look closely at the numbers (and film) the case can be made for steroids being a part of the game as far back as 25 years. It matters because in a game that is so reliant on sheer numbers to impress an audience that admittedly has to endure a lot of inaction throughout the course of a game, having almost three decades of tainted play is a concern.

I grew up in the Steroid Era, pulling for a San Francisco Giants team led by all-time homerun leader Barry Bonds no less. An unlikable guy, doing unfathomable things, with unknown amounts of illegal assistance (allegedly). Time has come to reveal that the best player on my favorite team was far from alone in this. I more than understand the current hangover effect that may have set in America's conscious about the game.

As a fan though, I don't want it to be that easy. There are a lot of good things happening in Major League Baseball right now. Seventeen of the thirty teams are still in contention for either a division title or playoff spot. There have been five no-hitters this season, and it isn't even August. Washington Nationals pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg is showing to be worth the "Lebron-esque" hype he'd been receiving since being drafted. Texas Ranger Josh Hamilton may be the first athlete to pull the reverse "Lawrence Taylor", going from crackhead to Triple Crown MVP. The New York Yankees...wait...fuck the Yankees. But you get my point, right?

I have to believe that all is not lost. As the picture above alludes to, baseball is in a rough patch right now. The game is scuffed. It's unclear how, if at all, it will be able to pull through. Strip away all the ancillary stuff, though, and you still see the only thing you need to see, and that is the ball. In the end, that should be all that matters.