As someone covering the Spurs, can’t say I agree this was a “wasted season” by any means! They were transparent from the beginning about bringing Wemby along slowly and learning what they had in the rest of the young guys already on their roster, and they did just that! They also were keen on maintaining long-term flexibility with their cap space and draft capital, and they still have those assets! They now have a clearer picture of what they’re working with! They didn’t give into external pressures and make short minded deals for one-year rentals or players who bog down their ability to pursue help this summer! Just my thoughts! Very much still enjoyed getting another perspective from a lot of talented writers!
Heartening to see so many writers decrying the baleful influence of gambling--I knew it would be bad, but I had no idea how bad. I don't gamble, so the only personal impact it has is that sports discussions on broadcast media--rarely a venue for intelligent or insightful talk--are even more annoying than before. But culture-wide? Wow, my soul dies a little every time I hear the rapidlyspoken announcement that you should wager within your gambling budget (gambling budget!) or call a toll-free number if you think you have a problem. Quicktalkin' Buddy, we ALL have a problem.
Why isn’t Tatum an MVP favorite? Because his team is absolutely loaded and his individual impact is nowhere close to the top three players (Jokic, Luka, and Shai). Boston’s sporting both an elite starting lineup and a quality bench, to boot. Throw in the fact that his counting stats aren’t better than any of the top three guys, and it’s very easy to understand why he correctly gets no MVP recognition. He’s a very good player! But he is not the MVP.
I have to agree that gambling has had a corrosive effect on sports culture, and not just in the NBA. A few weeks ago I posted that fantasy sports have turned fans of TEAMS into fans of box score stuffers. Legalized gambling is the logical extension of this cancer. I really feel that the purest fans of the sport do NOT gamble on games. We root for our teams to WIN and not to win by "x number" of points. If my team is favored by 5 points and wins by 4, I'm happy because I don't care about the spread. Recently Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff described how he's heard abuse from fans because he didn't leave starters in a game where the Cavs won but didn't cover. Never mind that his strategy of saving wear and tear on key players and protecting them from risk of injury is HIS JOB as he tries to get his team ready for the postseason. Ignorant fans that criticize him for that are not legitimate fans.
Kawhi would be in the running for Top 20 player of all time were it not for him being constantly injured. I think of Brandon Roy, who would might've also become an all-timer were it not for his disintegrating knees.
betting betting betting. Suddenly the NBA is the new red light district for sports. And someone said it changes people. It does. It changes everything.-
I'm slightly miffed that no one in the Spurs organization looked a Wemby and said "Win. Now." There hasn't been such blatant non-support since Maury announced DNA results. The Spurs' motley collection of non-passers and poor defenders should have been churned and turned at the trade deadline, the All-Star game meet and greets, and the buyout season. Drag a couple of competitive mentors out of retirement. Dig up some junkyard dawg defenders from side jobs. Fly in lemon pepper wings for Lou Will. Sign Rondo for ten minutes of game time and 16 hours a day of point guard tutelage. Wemby and the Spurs fans deserve to see winning effort, not just attempts at highlights.
It's not just that gambling is a distraction or a temptation or even flat out greedy. It's the sheer unapologetic hypocrisy of legalized gambling. If gambling was a criminal offense for neighborhood policy wheels and barroom bookies, then why is it perfectly fine for the state and the leagues to profit? Aren't all those parlays and trifecta s being made with money that has better uses?Maybe little Susie's college fund, or Derrick could use a book, or a new flannel shirt for Pops? At least stop advertising/shilling during the game.
As someone covering the Spurs, can’t say I agree this was a “wasted season” by any means! They were transparent from the beginning about bringing Wemby along slowly and learning what they had in the rest of the young guys already on their roster, and they did just that! They also were keen on maintaining long-term flexibility with their cap space and draft capital, and they still have those assets! They now have a clearer picture of what they’re working with! They didn’t give into external pressures and make short minded deals for one-year rentals or players who bog down their ability to pursue help this summer! Just my thoughts! Very much still enjoyed getting another perspective from a lot of talented writers!
Heartening to see so many writers decrying the baleful influence of gambling--I knew it would be bad, but I had no idea how bad. I don't gamble, so the only personal impact it has is that sports discussions on broadcast media--rarely a venue for intelligent or insightful talk--are even more annoying than before. But culture-wide? Wow, my soul dies a little every time I hear the rapidlyspoken announcement that you should wager within your gambling budget (gambling budget!) or call a toll-free number if you think you have a problem. Quicktalkin' Buddy, we ALL have a problem.
Brilliant post. Love it.
Why isn’t Tatum an MVP favorite? Because his team is absolutely loaded and his individual impact is nowhere close to the top three players (Jokic, Luka, and Shai). Boston’s sporting both an elite starting lineup and a quality bench, to boot. Throw in the fact that his counting stats aren’t better than any of the top three guys, and it’s very easy to understand why he correctly gets no MVP recognition. He’s a very good player! But he is not the MVP.
I have to agree that gambling has had a corrosive effect on sports culture, and not just in the NBA. A few weeks ago I posted that fantasy sports have turned fans of TEAMS into fans of box score stuffers. Legalized gambling is the logical extension of this cancer. I really feel that the purest fans of the sport do NOT gamble on games. We root for our teams to WIN and not to win by "x number" of points. If my team is favored by 5 points and wins by 4, I'm happy because I don't care about the spread. Recently Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff described how he's heard abuse from fans because he didn't leave starters in a game where the Cavs won but didn't cover. Never mind that his strategy of saving wear and tear on key players and protecting them from risk of injury is HIS JOB as he tries to get his team ready for the postseason. Ignorant fans that criticize him for that are not legitimate fans.
Kawhi would be in the running for Top 20 player of all time were it not for him being constantly injured. I think of Brandon Roy, who would might've also become an all-timer were it not for his disintegrating knees.
betting betting betting. Suddenly the NBA is the new red light district for sports. And someone said it changes people. It does. It changes everything.-
I'm slightly miffed that no one in the Spurs organization looked a Wemby and said "Win. Now." There hasn't been such blatant non-support since Maury announced DNA results. The Spurs' motley collection of non-passers and poor defenders should have been churned and turned at the trade deadline, the All-Star game meet and greets, and the buyout season. Drag a couple of competitive mentors out of retirement. Dig up some junkyard dawg defenders from side jobs. Fly in lemon pepper wings for Lou Will. Sign Rondo for ten minutes of game time and 16 hours a day of point guard tutelage. Wemby and the Spurs fans deserve to see winning effort, not just attempts at highlights.
It's not just that gambling is a distraction or a temptation or even flat out greedy. It's the sheer unapologetic hypocrisy of legalized gambling. If gambling was a criminal offense for neighborhood policy wheels and barroom bookies, then why is it perfectly fine for the state and the leagues to profit? Aren't all those parlays and trifecta s being made with money that has better uses?Maybe little Susie's college fund, or Derrick could use a book, or a new flannel shirt for Pops? At least stop advertising/shilling during the game.
Definitely in agreement regarding the injuries this season and the 65-game rule and its unintended but honestly rather predictable consequences.
Great stuff Mike!