Teams always looked past Griffin's demons

Before the NBA’s age limit went in to effect, the typical one and done college player was a kid that scouts were scared of in high school. A kid with character issues. A kid that needed a year of college to “mature.”

A kid like Eddie Griffin, whose turbulent year at Seton Hall answered the questions everyone had during his senior season at Roman Catholic in Philly, where he was arguably the best player in the country.

Without question, Eddie Griffin was a major risk. And still, his ability, which NBAdraft.net compared to Tim Duncan’s, outweighed the obvious.

Griffin died in a horrific accident last week when he crashed his SUV into a moving freight train. Sadly, his tragic death came as a surprise to very few people. Griffin, who was just 25, battled alcoholism his entire professional career, which led to various run-ins with the law.

It times like these that all sports, especially basketball, need to look in the mirror. For all of those wonderful stories you hear about players who overcome the streets because of their ability to play a game, the truth is: sports exploit athletes.

That’s what happened to Griffin. There were red flags surrounding him every step of the way, but teams looked past his problems because he was an athletic 6’10. Talent was always a reason to give him the benefit of the doubt.

And look where it got him.

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Hittin' the links

• It seems like everyone is predicting Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson will (at least) have a down year or (at worst) suffer a career-threatening injury this season. Even the Chiefs showed their lack of faith by not giving him L.T. money.
  
  
• Apparently a former Mets clubhouse attendant has exposed a number of players that were using steroids while he was with the team. I hate to speculate, but check out Todd Hundley’s numbers from his only two All Star seasons.
  
  
• It’s hard to have any sympathy for Latrell Sprewell, but a serious question needs to be raised: Why are we hearing more and more stories about NBA players with money troubles? I mean, there’s Sprewell and his boat, Andray Blatche sleeping in the Verizon Center and last year’s allegations that Scottie Pippen was broke. Who is advising these guys?

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Webb is carrying Arizona

The best pitcher in baseball isn't making a prorated portion of 28 million dollars this season.

He's not openly asking why he should re-sign with the team that currently employs him either.

And he's definitely not blogging about Barry Bonds' tax problems.

He's Brandon Webb and even though his 42 consecutive innings without giving up a run is among the most impressive stretch of performances you'll ever see, you probably wouldn't know the defending National League Cy Young Award winner from Spud Webb.

Webb is the best player on a team only Baseball America subscribers and keeper league nerds could get excited about. He's the best pitcher on a team that has the most dominant pitcher of an era dominated by hitters. And he'd still be the best if Randy Johnson's back wasn't in shambles.

Led by guys like Webb (13-8, 2.63), Jose Valverde (37 saves), Eric Byrnes (.300, 18, 70), and the second best Chris Young (24 HR) in their division, the Arizona Diamondbacks have the best record in the National League and lead the San Diego Padres by five games in the West.

Step aside Milwaukee, Arizona is quickly becoming the story of the National League.

That’s because Webb has gotten stronger since the All Star Break, something he didn’t do during his Cy Young campaign a year ago. Following the mid-summer classic, the right hander is 5-2 with a .84 ERA, and looks like he might be the first repeat Cy Young winner since The Big Unit won it four times in a row from 1999-2002.

As October nears, there isn’t a team in the National League that wants to see Webb and his team of prospects, especially in a five game series.

With the way Webb is pitching, it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll be there.

STATS SHMATS: Brandon Webb

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Not the time to be Now

ESPN is getting it wrong with this Who’s Now business.

Now isn’t LeBron James, an athlete so young, yet so incredibly aware of his importance to sports. Now’s not Derek Jeter, the player every little leaguer should aspire to be. It’s not the best quarterback on the planet either.

Step aside Tiger, ARod and LT. None of you are even close.

Now is the former face of the National Football League. The guy who once dominated Madden to the point where many gamers instituted a no-Falcons rule. The player whose mix of blinding speed and arm strength made him the most exciting athlete in all of sports. Now is Michael Vick, the guy who is about to become the Mike Tyson –think about all of that wasted talent– of his generation.

Now is a no-name who literally had the ability to change a game every time he stepped on the floor. A guy who allegedly broke the cardinal rule in sports. Someone who makes Pete Rose look forgivable. Now is Tim Donaghy, the guy who may have damaged basketball’s integrity permanently.

They’re two completely different incidents, yet their impact can be felt far beyond just football and basketball. Vick, as sick as it seems, is not the only athlete that enjoys watching dogs maul each other. He’s certainly not the only athlete willing to risk millions to partake in illegal activities. And Donaghy isn’t the only corrupt referee in history. With their relatively low salaries –at least compared with the money athletes make- it’s just a wonder it took so long to spot one.

That’s what is so sad. Sports are filled with such amazing stories (see Jon Lester) and genuinely good people (see Vick’s teammate, Warrick Dunn). But all too often the positives are brushed to the side by guys so willing to compromise others to meet their personal needs.

And that’s why we say those involved with sports, just like you and I, aren’t perfect. Okay, fine. It’s just unfortunate that the Vick and Donaghy stories are so Now.

Because what they’re accused of should never happen.

Sports Worst Week Ever – Up For Sports Blog

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Numbers aside, ARod will never be appreciated

After their bullpen blew yet another lead on Sunday, the New York Yankees turned to their most valuable player for a pickup.

And Alex Rodriguez promptly led the eighth inning off with a double, eventually scoring the tying run. The Yankees won, taking three of four from lowly Tampa Bay and climbing to within 9 games of the American League East leading Red Sox.

Different day, same ARod.

But as Rodriguez, who might be the only reason this year’s Yankees aren’t the Devil Rays, closes in on 500 home runs and a second MVP in three seasons, the 32 year old has a major decision to make when the season ends. One that will have a huge effect on the rest of his career. Or will it?

If he, like many believe, opts out of his contract in New York, Rodriguez will continue his ascension toward the top of the all-time homerun list with the fourth team of his career. Upon passing Barry Bonds, it’s likely ARod will be praised for bringing purity back to the record books. But will he also be chastised for chasing money the way Roger Clemens is currently? Even in a world with Scott Boras, should the game’s best player be switching teams four times during the prime of his career?

Of course, he could remain in pinstripes and pass Bonds in the brand new Yankee Stadium. How’s that sound? Win MVP’s, Pennants and break the homerun record all in the house that Jeter built while occupying third base, the position Jeter forced him to play. By staying in New York, Rodriguez, despite all the ability, will never be more important than the guy to his left in the eyes of the home crowd.

ARod’s numbers will always be there. His place in the record books too. They’ll suggest he was among the greatest to ever play the game.

And no matter what comes of his major decision, he’ll also be among the most underappreciated.

Quality ARod coverage:
Yankees Covering Their Behinds With ARod – Prince of New York
More ARod Thoughts – New York Yankees Etc…

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Baseball's draft is pretty irrelevant

It’s still debatable as to whether or not Roger Clemens will propel the New York Yankees back into respectability – after all, Tyler Clippard couldn’t make it through four innings on Sunday - but the Rocket’s quality start did prove one thing:

While every year a handful of NBA and NFL teams are accused of purposely losing games in order help them land top draft picks, there is no place for tanking in Major League Baseball.

Nope, teams will just buy their way out of jams. Or at least they’ll attempt to.

That’s why ESPN would have been better of airing World Series of Poker reruns than baseball’s First Year Player Draft last week. People are a little more familiar with David Williams and Mike Matasow than David Price and Mike Moustakas (the first two picks).

And it’s not just the regular sports fan finding it hard to recognize any of the first round picks. It’s the scouts too. I kid you not. I recently talked to a scout about his team’s first round pick and all he knew about the kid was that he had a good arm. No position, no projection. The pick wasn’t even a pitcher.

The first pick overall however, was a pitcher. Price was Vanderbilt’s ace and has a promising chance to become the best pitcher to be picked first in the history of the game. Of course, that’s not saying much. Andy Benes (155-139 career record) and Kris Benson are his competition.

Furthermore, the lack of repercussions for poor drafting directly coincides with the public’s lack of attraction to the draft. In most sports, screwing up in the first round means people are losing their jobs. In baseball, it simply means a team better spend more money. Since 1990, the Yankees have had one first round pick produce for them on the major league level: Derek Jeter in 1992. The year before, they selected Brien Taylor first overall and he never reached the big leagues.

The Cardinals, White Sox and Red Sox, the sports last three World Champions have had a combined four of their first round picks on their roster when they won their title.

But hey, who’s counting?

And when it comes to baseball’s draft, who cares?

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UFC hardly a hit

The UFC can certainly teach boxing a thing or two when it comes to marketing; Character development, national television, I don’t know, maybe a website.

But after watching the biggest name in mixed martial arts leave himself open to a punch Floyd Mayweather only wishes he could throw – because a Mayweather opponent would never get caught like that – its hard not to come away disappointed with the “fastest growing sport” in the world.

The truth is boxing should be ashamed of itself for even being compared to a sport filled with guys who would be working for Vince McMahon if their acting wasn’t as embarrassing as their defense.

Of UFC 71’s nine fights on Saturday night, six ended in three minutes or less, including the main event which –following a minute of dancing- lasted all of one punch. Even the knockouts didn’t have that exciting wow he just got his ass whipped boxing feel.

And this form of fighting is supposed to KO boxing? It just makes no sense. After actually watching a full UFC, my opinion remains the same.

It’s just real wrestling.

With shorter, less exciting matches.

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