Josh Brent Probably Didn’t Drive Himself to Cowboys' Stadium on Sunday

-Brian Fagan

briandfagan@gmail.com

Josh Brent on the sideline as the
Cowboys took on the Steelers.

            DALLAS, TX - - Josh Brent was on the sideline of the Dallas Cowboys’ overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.  If you don’t know who Josh Brent is, he’s this guy.  The Dallas Cowboy offensive lineman had a blood alcohol level of .18 when he chose to drive home from a nightclub with teammate, Jerry Brown, riding shotgun.  That decision would prove life changing, and life ending, when he crashed the car, killing Brown in the process.
            Anytime someone dies, its sad.  Car crashes in their abrupt nature, are especially hard to handle. But when the death comes at the hands of the deceased person’s own friend, your heart has got to be aching.
            Brent, facing manslaughter charges and serious jail time, is sure to be at a low point in life right now.  Everyone had to be surprised to see him show up on the sideline this past Sunday.  Brent was not dressed out for the game.     

Josh Brent Speaks to the media.

            The media had a field day with this act, some called the move some called the move insensitive and others questioned the Cowboys’ motives behind Brent’s presence.  But teammates seemed to support the decision, and by all accounts point to the decision to include Brent on the sideline to have come from his teammates themselves.  Who, mind you, are also the teammates of the man he “killed.”
            So was this the correct move by the Cowboys?  To let your offensive lineman turned media labeled murderer roam your sidelines as a free man. Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboy’s outspoken owner, defended the move http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/17/jerry-jones-defends-having-josh-brent-on-the-cowboys-sideline/.  Brown’s own mother has publicly forgiven Brent and even invited him to be at her side during her son's funeral
            All in all, there is no reason to criticize the Cowboys, or Brent, for appearing at the game.  His teammates wanted him there.  They feel for him.  Of course they miss Brown and surely mourn his loss. But in football, like in any sport, your teammates are your brothers.  And Brent made a mistake, albeit a fatal one.  That being said, we all make mistakes.
            Driving drunk is an insensitive and reckless crime to commit, and those who are found guilty of such a crime deserve to be punished.  Especially, as is the case with Brent, when it is a second time offense.  Brent was convicted of a DUI in 2009.  The legal consequences coming to Brent will be deserved, but perhaps will be no match to the emotional consequences Brent is going to have to live with for the rest of his life.
            We are all free to formulate an opinion of Brent, what he did, and what kind of man he is.  With disgusting reports of Brent ignoring his teammates’ last cries for help as the car reportedly went up in flames, it is easy to judge Josh Brent, and he will get what is coming to him, no doubt.
            However, his teammates wanted him at the game; he was reportedly even driven by a fellow member of the Cowboys.  It has come out that Brent thought it was a bad idea, but that his teammates urged him to attend the match so that he may be with his friends, his brothers.  Dallas ownership and management wanted him there to support his team, and in turn, support Brent through this troubling time in his life.  Due to all of the trouble that it caused with the media and the public opinion, Brent has since been banned from appearing on the Cowboys’ sideline.  As controversial as it may seem, there is nothing wrong with him attending his team’s game.  After all, it will likely be his last one. 

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are for Real

Head coach Mark Jackson

            When Mark Jackson was hired as the head coach of the Golden State Warriors during the 2011 offseason, he guaranteed that his team would make the playoffs.  It turns out that he may have only been one year off. 

            The Warriors are currently in the playoff picture a quarter of the way into the 2012-2013 NBA season.  They have a 16-8 record, which is good enough for the second in the Pacific Division and fifth place in the Western Conference, 3.5 games behind the first place Oklahoma City Thunder.  The Warriors seem to following the Thunder’s blueprint for success: draft your core and acquire key role players that fill specific needs. 

            The Thunder drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and James Harden, who turned into Kevin Martin through trade.  Those are their star players who they build the team around.  Other players such as Kendrick Perkins, who fits the role of veteran leader and defensive stopper, were acquired through trade or free agency.  The Warriors have gotten, Stephen Curry, their young, star point guard through the draft lottery, where they also picked up starting shooting guard Klay Thompson and promising rookie small forward Harrison Barnes.  All three of those players are sure to be cemented into those positions for years to come. 

Jarrett Jack and Stephen Curry celebrate
 while David Lee looks on.

            David Lee is one of the unsung heroes of the season.  Every year, Lee has produced good numbers.  The Warriors acquired Lee via trade in the 2010 offseason.  As of December 16, 2012, Lee is averaging 19.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.  He has manned the post quite efficiently for the Warriors this season.  Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry came to the team before the start of the season and both have played key minutes all season long.  Jack has done a great job of mentoring Curry to be a better point guard and Landry has provided depth in the post.  When and if Andrew Bogut is able to return from injury and play at a similar level that he is capable of, this will only make the Warriors stronger.  They also have a collection of role players that figure prominently into their success, such as Draymond Green, whose layup was the bucket that gave his team a victory of the Miami Heat on December 12, 2012. 

            Many will doubt the validity of the Warriors success, due to their disappointing play since the days of Tim Hardaway and his “killer crossover”.  However, the Warriors are for real.  They have an average defense, but their offense ranks eleventh in points per game and third in rebounds per game.  There is no reason to think that these numbers cannot continue with players like Curry and Thompson on the wing and Lee manning the boards inside.  Among their 16 victories are wins over the Heat, Nets, Timberwolves, Hawks and Mavericks, who all sit in the playoff picture of their respective conferences.  On their previous seven game road trip, the Warriors came home with a 6-1 record. 

            Perhaps the biggest reason for their success is the health of Stephen Curry.  After Curry missed most of the 2011-2012 season with serious problems to his ankle, some doubted that he could return to have a healthy career free of setbacks and also regain his athleticism that made him such an intriguing prospect.  Curry had missed 40 of 66 games last year and averaged career lows in points and assists per game.  This season, Curry has bounced back quite nicely and is averaging 19.7 points, 6.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.  Curry is shooting 41.8% from beyond the arc.

            The Warriors are a good basketball team and have the makeup to be good, possibly even great, for years to come if they can keep their core intact.  

Can the Lakers Come Back? Or is This Collection of Superstars a Failed Experiment?

Don’t lie: whether you are a fan of the purple and yellow or a hater, you thought the Lakers were going to be better than this.  With a couple of big time additions, LA looked like a serious threat to dethrone the Heat, who after adding leprechaun-turned-ring-seeker Ray Allen, appeared to be a lock to repeat as NBA champions in 2013.

However, that doesn’t seem to be the case 24 games into the season.  As we approach the once highly anticipated NBA Christmas Day, the Lakers sit at 10-14. They are losing by an average of 8 points, and have dropped 8 of their last 12. The projected dynasty in LA, led by the pairing of newcomer Dwight Howard and Laker legend Kobe Bryant, isn’t panning out. The Lakers aren’t the Lakers, and do not look like a threat to win a title, at least right now.

So are the Lakers out of it already?
No, definitely not.

Lets look at the some stats from a recent Laker game:

Bryant: 42 points, 5 rebounds

Howard: 19 points, 20 rebounds

Having all five of the regular starters on the floor
has been a rare occasion for the Lakers this season.  

Metta World Peace: 13 points and 9 rebounds.

Pretty good numbers, right?  Figures like these certainly look like the beginning of a stat line that would equate in a Laker victory, but these numbers are from the Lakers ugly loss to the Cavaliers the other night in Cleveland. How on earth did the Lakers lose a game where Kobe scored 42 and Howard dominated the boards?

Well, they’re missing a few starters who would play key roles for this team. Here they are, your current starters at point guard and power forward for your Los Angeles Lakers and their numbers in that game against the Cavaliers:

PG: Chris Duhon- Two points and two assists.
PF: Jordan Hill- Two points and one assist.

And that is why the Lakers lost that game. Now, what if Gasol and Nash were both active, and playing at their 2011-2012 averages instead of Hill and Duhon in that game.

Gasol: 17 points and 10 boards.

Nash: 12 points and 11 assists.

Needless to say, the whole game changes for the Lakers with such valuable additions.  Many people would have you believe that the Lakers are hopeless. The media talks as if the return of Nash wont be the return of a former NBA, MVP point guard who, keep in mind, did this under newly hired Lakers’ coach Mike D’Antoni, and that Gasol will never be himself ever again. By the end of the season, Gasol will be Gasol, and Nash will be Nash.  Line those two up with Howard and Bryant, and I believe the Lakers will be a championship contender when the playoffs roll around.  



-Brian Fagan
briandfagan@gmail.com

Angels Sign Hamilton, Win the Battle of the Media

           The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have signed Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 million contract, making them the talk of the MLB for the second straight offseason. 

            In the 2011 offseason the Angels signed Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to big contracts.  This also makes the second straight offseason that the Angels have signed a star player away from the Texas Rangers.  The signing of Hamilton heightens two rivalries; the Angels’ rivalry with the Dodgers and a rivalry with the Rangers. 

            The Angels and the Dodgers seem to be battling for Southern California supremacy.  The Dodgers have been spending money like crazy as of late and it seems that the Angels have felt the need to make a splash as well.  Hamilton adds a huge name and a huge bat to the Angels lineup.  He joins Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo and Pujols.  Hamilton is one of the biggest storylines as well.  The big news begins to heal the wound that Zach Greinke delivered to the Halos when he signed with their LA rival.  Hamilton flanking Trout in the outfield will surely put extra fans in the seats at Angel’s Stadium and will increase attention that is paid to the Angels. 

            Hamilton has made headlines for overcoming his drug and alcohol addictions to become an MVP and one of the game’s most dangerous hitters.  Hamilton can mash homeruns, but he has also made headlines for his extreme slumps and his two relapses.  Questions have been raised about Hamilton’s durability.  This is why it was believed that he would not get a huge contract, but the Angels were apparently not scared. 

            The Angels play the Rangers, Hamilton’s former team, 19 times per year.  Those 19 games are sure to be very highly watched and there will be much drama surrounding them.  The Angels and Rangers have already had a fierce rivalry, and this will only accelerate it. 

            The troubling story that came from this was that former Angels outfielder, Torii Hunter, was apparently deceived by the Angels organization.  Hunter took to Twitter to announce that Angels’ owner Arte Moreno told him that there wouldn’t be enough money to resign him.  If this is true, it is a shame to see.  Hunter meant so much to the Angels organization.  An athlete of his caliber should not be treated as such. 

            Storylines like this make the MLB offseason more compelling than the bulk of the regular season.  Surely more eyes will be on the Angels’ new star-studded batting order.  Now it remains to be seen if the Angels put together a complete team, one with a rounded out rotation and a fixed bullpen that was awful in 2011.  If the Angels can do this they will be a scary team for anybody to face for years to come. 

Damian Lillard Takes the NBA by Storm

           Coming into the 2012 NBA draft, Damian Lillard was a little-known prospect out of Weber State University.  All the talk was about Anthony Davis and his fellow Kentucky Wildcat national champions.  Through the first quarter of the 2012-2013 NBA season, Lillard has clearly been the most impressive rookie. 

            Lillard leads all rookies in points and assists, averaging 18.4 ppg and 6.4 apg respectively.  He plays beyond his years, leading the Blazers team and being much more than just a scorer.  He is far more than just a volume shooter, looking to pad his stats and boost his numbers.  He shoots 42.1% from the field, 36.7% from beyond the arc and 83.1% from the free throw line.  He is a pure shooter and is proving to be a better floor general than most anticipated.  Lillard has scored in single digits only twice in 22 games. 

            On December 13, 2012 Lillard scored a career-high 29 points as he led his Blazers to their third straight victory and an upset win over the San Antonio Spurs.  In the game, Lillard also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out six assists, while only turning the ball over twice.  He also shot 11/22 from the floor and made all five of his free throw attempts.  Against one of the best teams the NBA has to offer, Lillard played his best basketball of the season.  This shows what kind of player he is, rising to the occasion and not being afraid. 

            Lillard has taken the NBA by storm and is not only the best rookie in the league, but one of the best point guards.  This is a golden age of point guards in the NBA with youngsters like Russell Westbrook, Jrue Holliday, Kyrie Irving, Rajon Rondo and Stephen Curry dominating the league and joining the likes of superstars Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and Deron Williams.  It is clear that Lillard clearly belongs in this group.  In years to come he will surely develop into one of the leagues top lead guards.  

NBA Top 5/ Bottom -5 12/13/12

TOP 5:

1.  Oklahoma City Thunder- It’s always been so hard to stop Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.  Kevin Martin can also light it up and now Serge Ibaka is playing much better.  This team has only gotten better as Erick Maynor works his way back into shape. 

2.  New York Knicks- The play they get from their two starting point guards in Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton. 

3.  San Antonio Spurs- They never seem to age do they?  Tim Duncan is having a great season thus far, but will he break down?

4.  Los Angeles Clippers- Deepest team in the NBA.  Lamar Odom seems to be rounding into form, which will only make them better. 

5.  Miami Heat- They have not been overly impressive to start the season, but Dwyane Wade hasn’t been healthy.  They’ll be fine.

Outside Looking In:

The Golden State Warriors are playing out of their minds right now.  There is a lot of talent on that roster.  The Memphis Grizzlies are another team similar to the Warriors, but they have more experience and less health issues.  

BOTTOM 5:

5.  Detroit Pistons- There is hope in Detroit.  They are just a young team and it isn't coming together yet.  Who is their point guard?  Brandon Knight or Rodney Stuckey?  Greg Monroe is turning the ball over too much as well.  

4.  Toronto Raptors-  Six straight losses for the Raptors.  The silver lining is that they are losing to good teams.  They will be without Andrea Bargnani indefinitely as he nurses an injured elbow.  

3.  Sacramento Kings-  DeMarcus Cousins was suspended for a game for punching O.J. Mayo in the groin.  Cousins needs to grow up, and the Kings need to get more talented.  

2.  New Orleans Hornets- Austin Rivers needs to step it up.  This team will surely move up in the standings now that Anthony Davis is back.  

1.  Washington Wizards- They desperately need John Wall to return.  The Wizards offense is awful.  Bradley Beal has been playing better as of late.  

Robert Griffin III Injured Against the Ravens

The Washington Redskins now have a record of 7-6 with their win over the Baltimore Ravens.  The mark of seven wins is the highest win total that head coach Mike Shanahan has reached in his three-year tenure with the team.  In the comeback win, Robert Griffin III went down with injury.  

Luckily for the Redskins, news came out today that it is only a torn LCL and Griffin III is listed as day-to-day.  The Redskins' winning record can largely be attributed to Griffin III's play.  He is surprisingly accurate, despite not having a lot of weapons to work with, and he is always a threat to make a big play, whether that is with his arms or his legs.  

The Redskins faced much scrutiny for drafting two quarterbacks in the 2012 draft.  However, whenever Kirk Cousins has come into the game in relief of Griffin III, he has done well.  He may even be the best backup quarterback in the NFL.  He adds security for the Redskins in case Griffin III is out longer than expected.  

The Redskins shouldn't rush him back onto the field, but it would be beneficial to them to get him back onto the field as soon as possible.  Since Pierre Garcon has returned from injury, he and Griffin III have formed a solid tandem in the passing game.  These two will need to keep up their strong play if the ‘Skins are going to catch the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants in the NFC East race. 

The Redskins have an opportunity to not only catch the Giants, but also make Redskins football relevant again.  RG3 has already saved Shanahan’s job.  They are missing pieces on defense too, but this is a talented team that is going to be good for a while and make some noise in the NFL.