2009 Cavs: Gone, But Not Forgotten (Look Ahead to 2010)

Every year, it’s a seamless transition for me: football to basketball to baseball to football to basketball to baseball. It never ends, and you really can’t distinguish the where it begins (just ask my wife).

It’s been that way since I was a kid. I’ve followed the Redskins as long as I can remember (1982) and somewhere along the line, I picked up the Reds and the Cavaliers. Since college, I’ve also added the University of Oklahoma to my list of teams, but if we’re talking the “big three” for me, it’s the Redskins, Reds, and Cavs (in no particular order).

For argument’s sake, we’ll say I’ve followed all three of those teams “closely” since 1990. That is a total of 58 seasons. Of those 58 seasons, exactly two have ended up in championships (1990 Reds and 1991 Redskins). In addition to those two teams, only the 2007 Cavs won even a conference championship. The Redskins haven’t even appeared in a conference title game since that 1991 season and the Reds haven’t made an appearance in the NLCS since 1995.

These are not good numbers.

Still, a good number of the 58 teams have wrapped me around the collective fingers. Here are my top 5 all-time favorite teams (it has a point).

5. 2007 Cavs: First team in Cavs history to make it to the NBA Finals. They won 50 games that year (16 fewer than they won this year) and they were truly a one-man show in the post-season. They had no answer for the Spurs in the Finals, but they did provide Cavs fans with the greatest season in their history and a thrilling series win over Detroit in the East Finals.

4. 2005 Redskins: A triumphant season for Joe Gibbs in his second year back in the NFL. A gritty team that caught fire late in the season and beat their three NFC East rivals down the stretch to make the playoffs (including a 35-7 drubbing of the Cowboys). They upset the Bucs in the wild card round before bowing out to the eventual NFC champion Seahawks in Seattle. Sean Taylor led the defense and Santana Moss and Clinton Portis had huge years for the offense. A memorable team.

3. 1999 Reds: Had they won one more game that season, they may have found themselves at the top of this list. I LOVED that team and what they brought to Reds fans in the summer of 1999. They won 96 games, but fell to the Mets in a one-game playoff for the wild card. In almost any other year, 96 wins would have easily earned the Reds a playoff berth, but they picked a bad year to be very good. The Reds lost two of three games during the last series of the season in Milwaukee and the details from those losses are forever etched in my memory. An underdog team with huge heart.

2. 1991 Redskins: Undoubtedly the most dominant team I’ve ever followed. The Redskins started 11-0 that season and cruised through the playoffs and the Bills in the Super Bowl. An underrated team on the all-time scale as well—often forgotten because that season was so incredibly easy for them. A very typical Joe Gibbs team that had all the right parts working in unison. Two Hall of Famers in their prime on that team (Art Monk and Darrell Green) and several other players who have HOF arguments (Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby, Wilbur Marshall). Also boasted a brilliant coaching staff.

2009 Cavs: Yep, my all-time favorite team, despite the fact that they came up short against Orlando. The Cavs had a phenomenal season—out hustling and out working their opponents on a nightly basis. Lebron James earned his MVP award, but he was not alone—his supporting cast was excellent and gave Lebron plenty of time to rest throughout the year. An infectiously fun team that was historically good at home. A very good cast of characters that were unfortunately exposed on the floor in the East Finals by a superior Magic team. You don’t win 66 games by accident and you don’t do it by being a one-man show. They clearly had flaws we didn’t see until the very end, but the reason we didn’t see them was because they played so hard all year to cover them up—and I will never fault a team for that.

As a fan, this Cavs playoff loss will rank as one of my all-time disappointments—quite possibly the most down I’ve ever been following the end of a season. This is a team that deserved to win and a fanbase that deserved a winner. The way this season ended will linger for a long, long time. But on the bright side, I do not feel as if a window has closed on these Cavs—maybe this was needed in order for them to put the final pieces of the puzzle together? But truth be told, it’s hard to focus on bright sides less than 24 hours after your season ends.

Off-Season Thoughts:

Lots of criticism being levied at Mike Brow, Mo Williams, and Delonte West for the loss to the Magic. While it’s fairly obvious that Brown got out-dueled by Stan Van Gundy at least a little bit in the series, I do not think there was a coaching answer to what the Magic presented the Cavs. It’s pretty simple: The Magic had a big man dominate down low (Howard) whenever the Cavs went one-on-one with him. And when the Cavs doubled, his teammates hit shots—they did it all game, every game of the series.

The big problem with the Cavs in this series was their lack of post presence. Not only did Howard own the paint when the Magic had the ball, but the Cavs were completely unable to establish any offense from the post. Their best bet was Lebron driving to the lane or West backing down his man for a turn-around jumper. Zydrunas Illgauskas is still a perimeter threat, but his low post game has dwindled to almost nothing. When the Cavs have the ball, the basically run a four-guard offense (Lebron, West, Mo, and Z). Anderson Varejao is a good garbage man and nuisance for the other team, but he and Z are a poor combo to have on the floor at once. Problem is that Mike Brown had few other options. Ben Wallace provides zero on offense and he is on his last legs due to age and injury anyway.

The Cavs need more size, athleticism, and youth at the 4/5 positions. Lebron, Mo, and West are a fine trio and you can live with the lack of size from the two guards if you have big men who can handle things in the paint.

The Cavs should target two types of players in this off-season:

--A true big man that has merit on BOTH ends of the floor.
--A longer, more athletic 2/3 to help defensively and add an offensive boost off the bench).

The list of unrestricted free agents this summer is somewhat underwhelming. Obviously, the Cavs main priority is to get Lebron to sign an extension. But that is out of their hands. They can (and will) offer him the max, it’s up to Lebron if he wants to sign it or wait until next summer to decide. In the meantime, all the Cavs can do is prepare the roster to entice Lebron to come back. With Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade free agents after next season, the Cavs may not want to lock up much money this coming off-season.

But if they decide to spend the cash, here are some interesting names:

Rasheed Wallace: A fantastic complementary player when he wants to be. But is age catching up with him? Would he be willing to play more in the post?

Chris Anderson: Nuggets will most likely re-sign the Birdman, but he could fill Varejao’s role if he leaves for a big contract elsewhere.

Shawn Marion: Never been a huge fan, but his game might suit the Cavs well. They will not need to rely on him for any sort of perimeter offense—he could play the 3 or 4 position and be a defensive stopper/slasher. I could see him doing well with Lebron.

Ron Artest: Not sure if he’d be the right fit, and you’re always worried about what he might do next, but there is no doubt that he is one of the finest defensive players in the NBA and he is also a bigger guy that can handle the ball and spell Lebron for brief stretches.

Trevor Ariza: Makes perfect sense, but no way the Lakers let him walk after what he’s done for them in the post-season.

Each of the players on the above list have size and versatility—it would stand to reason that the Cavs would improve by signing any of them.

The one name not on this list that intrigues me the most?

Shaquille O’Neal. He looked refreshed and motivated last season and you know he’s dying to win one more title—especially if Kobe gets his this year. And it doesn’t hurt that Shaq seems offended by Dwight Howard’s success. The Suns have no use for Shaq at this point and a team like Cleveland is a logical destination. The Cavs could use Shaq sparingly in the regular season and save him for the stretch run. Depending on the price, I might make Shaq my number one off-season priority if I was Danny Ferry. Shaq gets his last ring while helping Lebron get his first? I can see it now.......

The Ultimate E-Mail War: Kobe vs. Lebron

My good friend Eric is a die-hard Lakers fan, and therefore, a Kobe supporter.

I am, of course, a Cavs fan, and therefore, a Lebron supporter.

As our two teams have crept closer and closer to a possibly meeting in the NBA Finals this June, our exchanges have gotten more and more heated. I am posting a recent email exchange that articulates both points of view pretty well.


From Eric:

Not surprisingly, I have a response for our little email exchange last night.

There are certain teams in sports that are just immensely hateable. We talk about them all the time, and I mentioned a few in the subject. Now, you hate some teams more than me and I hate some more than you, but we all really despise certain teams for our own reasons. It just so happens that most of these teams are very successful and are definitely hated more by people than loved. Kobe Bryant may not be a team, but you can definitely add him to this list.

Is it all because of Colorado? No, but it does play a contributing factor. He has a personality which makes it hard to like him. Growing up it Italy, very distant from the best country in the world for basketball, and his dream of playing in the NBA, I think he felt isolated. I think he felt that he was "away from the action" and every day the guy drilled and thought about nothing all day except how to get better, and how to take on all great young players in America when he returned. Does this mindset still reside within him? Yes, but not to the extent that it used to. He has matured a bit. This is where I compare him to Favre. Both of them amaze, excite, and enthrall their fans. They both love their sports more than life itself and it defines who they are. Both play every game like it is their last game, and both expect their teammates sometimes to do things that Favre and Kobe just don't understand why they cannot do. It is the price of their competitiveness and greatness.

While both men have become smarter as their careers have ensued, and I do believe Bryant to be a slightly better hooper than Favre a football player, they still have that edge to them that excites everyone in the building. Through rape allegations, fights with superstars, an aloof personality, drama queen syndrome, constant griping at the front office, constant comebacks and interviews, and doing things that make fans cringe at times, there is a certain quality Kobe and Favre possess that make them "cult heroes" to the people that love them. They do it their way, and, in Kobe's sake, the "rebel" way. Remember, Kobe is a Laker and the Lakers are hated. And he is like Jordan. And he fought Shaq. And he fought Phil. And Colorado. In some ways, I think Kobe is a bit misunderstood, and when he retires, I bet he stays retired.

Lebron is just in another universe right now. Granted, the competition is less than stellar (not a shot), but the Cavs just play with so much heart, passion, and togetherness. Lebron is not the only reason, as Mike Brown and a very underappreciated supporting cast have been flying somehow under the radar all season. AV is a warrior, Z is still very good with no feet, DW is very tough and solid, Mo has been Jason Terry, the bench gives you energy and many guys who were former starters. While the Cavs have no clear # 2, they have all the other pieces. And, with Lebron, the need for a great # 2 is not there. Maybe if they lose to the Lakers in the Finals, it will be exposed. But this guy is on another planet. He is drilling midrange jumpers that he used to miss, and he is hitting the 3. Passing? Very good. Rebounding? Only 10 per game. Defense? Second best in the league after the whole world was ripping him for not playing it consistently. Free throws? Improved 8 percent.

The difference is Lebron learned this summer what it takes to be a professional in the truest sense. Guys like Shaq and Lebron have so much physical superiority that it tended to come easy for them. I am not comparing Lebron's work ethic to Shaq (The Crispy Cream Commercial is epic, you tube it), but you see my point. Kobe, Magic, MJ, Bird, Russell, Hakeem, Duncan, Jabbar, those guys were not perfect athletic physical specimens. Lebron, along with Shaq and Wilt, are the three specimens of the game. Shaq has the flaws of conditioning and free throws. Wilt had the questions about his heart and he couldn't hit free throws. Right now, there is not a thing Lebron is doing wrong. He has it all. He scores like Kobe and MJ, passes like Bird, powers like Karl Malone, handles the ball and his team like Magic, as well as excites the entire stadium and city, like Magic, and is now starting to even shoot almost as well as Kobe, MJ, and Bird (not him). Simply put: There is nothing stopping this guy from being the greatest player ever. He is the most talented player to ever play the game.



Yet, the man from Italy, who enjoys and probably has been dreaming his whole life for the opportunity to have this type of challenge, is in the way. Good vs. Evil. Likeablility vs. Non-likeability, Hero vs. Villain. Hollywood vs. Coal Town. Let's just hope it happens.



My Response:

It's tough to really judge any of these guys personally, because we obviously don't know them. Having said that, it's human nature to pick and choose sides and decide who you "like" more. We'll never truly know about these guys-- all we can go on is what we see, hear, and feel in our gut.

Based on his public actions, private rumors, and my gut, I don't like Kobe. I don't think he's a "good dude." I'm not saying he's evil or a horrible human being, but he seems like a jerk to me-- a selfish jerk. Kobe is a basketball phenom and I truly do admire his work ethic and committment. In that way, he is very much like Jordan and even as a Cavs fan and Lebron admirerer, I can fully aknowledge that Kobe is at least still Lebron's equal, if not a tad better as an overall player. Kobe is a once-in-a-generation player, no doubt.

But I disagree with your Favre comparison and your "love of the game" comment. I"m not sure Kobe loves basketball as much as he loves proving something to the world. What "that" is, I'm not sure, but I think you hit on some good points.

Here is the reason Kobe is not as widely embraced as you'd think he would be: No joy. Kobe never looks like he's having fun. His intensity manifests itself in scowls, cocky stares, etc.. there is no playfullness to him-- no irony or humor. He is a brick wall. Lebron goes through his little routines and antics, but those routines and antics always seem to be done a little tongue-in-cheek, and they quite often involve his teammates.

Mike Tirico, who does pro sports all over the place, said that Quciken Loans Arena is the best atmosphere in pro sports right now-- that's quite a statement and a testament to the kind of joy Lebron has brought to that city and team.

As much as I think Favre is overrated, I know why he is so loved: He was a joyful player-- and that kind of thing is infectious for both teammates and fans. Kobe is very clearly trying extremely hard right now to be a leader and "toughen up" a somewhat soft team-- and it might work, but it just looks so awkward and forced to me. He doesn't seem comfortable with any kind of personal interaction-- and that makes it tough to lead. Kobe is a loner...in some ways, I am sure that helps his game...he is still the best go-to guy in the league because he has no fear on the court. I think some of Kobe rubbed off on Lebron at the Olympics-- because Lebron does seem to take things a bit more seriously now and he has absolutely stepped up his defense and nightly intensity.

But I'm not sure Lebron has rubbed off on Kobe because I just don't think Kobe is wired that way. I think Lebron is more like Favre and Kobe is more like A-Rod. If the Lakers and Cavs meet in the Finals, it will be a true classic for all the reasons you mentioned.

BOOM....There Goes My Youth

Only children do some interesting things. Some may think it’s weird, but for those of us out there who grew up sibling-less, these weird behaviors were borne out of necessity.

Only children who grow up obsessed with the NFL do some even more interesting things. As a child my “weird behavior” list was pretty long, but at the very top of that list had to be the imaginary NFL games I would play all by myself. I would catch, tackle, fumble, pass, kick, gouge, announce, rejoice, argue, and wallow in the mud all in the same series of motions and movements. I especially enjoyed the wallowing—just ask my Mom.

The behavior itself was pretty strange, but I think the motivation behind the behavior may have been even stranger. Most of the time, I would engage in these “games” in or near our front yard. But on occasion, when I was feeling a bit more “dangerous,” I would head to the front entrance of our neighborhood at 87th and Harvard in Tulsa, OK. The entrance area would get especially muddy, but more importantly, there was traffic coming and going. And traffic meant an audience. I was happy to “perform” for anyone who happened to be walking or driving by—but I was always hoping for one person in particular to catch my act.

At this point in my life, I am certified sports nut. I can trace my love of Major League Baseball, the NBA, and the two major college sports to specific times in my childhood. But with the NFL, there is no trace. It is as if it was written into my DNA. I do not possess a memory of time when I did not love the sport. For as long as I can remember, I was mesmerized by the helmets, uniforms, history, and drama of the NFL. I still get chills when I hear the original Monday Night Football theme song.

And then there was Madden. How could a kid not fall in love with THAT guy? John Madden oozed passion from the announcing booth. When I would see him on TV going nuts over the minutia of the game, I would get so excited because it made me feel like less of a freak. Here was this successful grown-up getting just as giddy about a mud-covered helmet as I was. If he could get away with it, then so could I.

He and his original partner, Pat Summerall, were as instrumental in the development of my love of the game as anyone. As a Redskins fan, I knew if Madden and Summerall were in the booth, that meant it was a big game. From a tactical standpoint, Madden helped me understand the importance of winning the game in trenches. He was the only analyst that was able to tell you exactly what the right guard did on the play almost before it was over. He saw things away from the ball—he helped teach me the game.

While his tactical prowess was always underrated, Madden will fittingly always be remembered for his passion, humor, and unique view of the game. Summerall was the straight-man and Madden delivered the punch lines—but never at the expense of the game (unlike many of the analysts today). His timing was impeccable, he always knew when to focus on the game, divert attention to the kid with the ice cream splattered on his face in the stands, or wax poetic about the “finality” of a team that was about to lose in the playoffs. In his prime, he was perfect.

As he got older, he slipped a bit, as we all do. He became a bit fixated on certain players and teams (Brett Favre), and he wasn’t quite as sharp as he was in heyday. But Madden always brought the passion—and that was good enough for me.

Madden goes down as an icon. But as a kid, I simply viewed him as an older version of myself.

Back to that muddy neighborhood entrance…

By that time, I knew Madden was afraid to fly and I knew he traveled from city to city via his RV—the famous Madden Cruiser.

Even though I knew it was a long shot, I was convinced that if Madden happened to drive by and see me re-enacting Redskins-Cowboys doused in mud and sweat that he’d stop and say hello—or maybe even invite me aboard to join him en route to his next destination.

Of course, the Cruiser never came. But that doesn’t mean that Madden didn’t take me for a ride.

OU Season Wrap-Up/Grades for 2008-2009

It’s not often that a team in any sport manages to meet pre-season expectations to a tee. But that’s exactly what the OU men’s basketball team did in 2008-2009. Coming in to the season, most fans and hoops pundits considered OU to be a Final Four contender, but perhaps just a notch below the elite teams in the country. In the end, this is almost exactly how things wound up.

This season will always be remembered in Norman as the season where Blake Griffin dominated the college basketball world. He left Sooner fans with enough memories this year to last a lifetime. Assuming Griffin bolts for the NBA in the coming weeks, he should go down as one of the most impactful two-year players in college history. While Wayman Tisdale may remain the gold standard in OU basketball lore, Blake Griffin made his mark as the most dynamic player to ever don the crimson and cream. He will be missed.

However, the best news to come from the season is that Griffin’s departure does not appear to be a death knell for the program or even next season.

Jeff Capel is still transitioning from the Sampson era. Against North Carolina, OU had three starters that would not have even been in the rotation for the Tar Heels. Starting next year, there will be only player on the roster (Tony Crocker) that wasn’t brought in by Capel and his staff. The five-man incoming freshmen class includes two McDonalds All-Americans, who will join Willie Warren (assuming he returns) as the key to 2009-2010.

There will never be another Blake Griffin in Norman—at least not for a very long time. But that doesn’t mean the program won’t continue to grow and flourish under Capel’s leadership.

Final Season Grades:

(Grades are based on performance vs. expectation, with a dash of “intangible” mixed in. Seniors get two grades—season and career.)

Capel/Coaching Staff: A-. I gave them an “A” last year and decided to drop it just a tad this year due to the late season malaise the team suffered following Blake’s concussion. That little slump may have cost them a #1 seed and whenever a team looks as disinterested as they did, the coaching staff deserves some blame. Having said that, the bottom line was a 30-win season and an appearance in the Elite 8, losing to the eventual National Champions. The Sooners played very well in the NCAA Tournament, which is a feather in Capel’s cap.

Austin Johnson: B. By far Johnson’s best year overall, but his late-season swoon was way too reminiscent of the enigma he’d been during his first three years in Norman. Midway through the year, he was on target for All Conference honors, but whether it was due to injury, fatigue, or whatever, Johnson dipped badly down the stretch.

Career: C. You never know what’s in a players head or his heart, but as a fan, I do wonder if Johnson left it all on the court during his career at OU. I don’t claim to know that answer, but at times I was turned off by his body language and perceived effort level. There were persistent rumors that Johnson played hurt, which is admirable and may have contributed to this perception, but all in all, his was an average career.

Omar Leary: C+. His minutes dwindled this year, but Leary always did what was asked of him. Quite simply, he was an under-talented player, going against guys that were generally on a level or two above him. But he did has his moments, and was a major factor in OU’s great comeback attempt against Kansas.

Career: C+. Got the most out of what he had, but ultimately, his lack of size and skill limited him to a minor role.

Taylor Griffin: A-. Really struggled early in the year, but went nuts down the stretch. Taylor raised his level of play late in the season when many of teammates were dragging and he was superb in the Big Dance. The guy played the best basketball of his career during his final games—doesn’t get much better than that.

Career: A. As I said in my entry last week(http://edkleese.blogspot.com/2009/03/farewell-to-true-sooner.html), Taylor was a true Sooner, representing the school in a perfect fashion during his four years. It was a real joy to see him play with his brother and his consistent effort and leadership should be appreciated by all fans.

Tony Crocker: C. TC dropped a full grade from last year, when I thought he had somewhat of a breakout year. As always, Crocker had his moments of his greatness and his performance against Syracuse in the Tournament helped keep this grade from being even lower. But his “bad moments” were entirely too frequent this year. He seemed to struggle not only with his shot, but his confidence level, compounding mistakes with more mistakes. Crocker always plays hard and his defensive effort against Michigan should be a model for struggling players, but it’s simply too much of a detraction to have a starter give you those kinds of inconsistent performances. Looking for Crocker to become more balanced as a senior.

Juan Patillo: B-. Not a huge sample size and the whole redshirt thing is still very odd, but there is no doubt that Patillo has the physical tools to be a highly effective player. He was fantastic in his first few games, then virtually vanished down the stretch. However, against North Carolina, he was one guy on the team that didn’t seem overmatched by Carolina’s size and athleticism. An extremely gifted athlete who only has one more year to make his mark.

Blake Griffin: A+. There’s nothing more to say. He was brilliant from start to finish and was clearly the best player on the floor in every game he played this season—including the finale’ against Carolina. His future in the NBA is seemingly as bright as his past in Norman. If for some crazy reason he decided to return, he could cement his legacy as an all-time great in the college game.

Cade Davis: C-. Davis struggled in his sophomore year. He got off to a good start with a good showing in NYC in the pre-season NIT, but he battled to find his shot all year. He does get major kudos for a being a great rebounder per minutes played player, but OU needs Davis to hit shots—and quite simply, he didn’t do much of that this year. I do think he was probably a bit affected by his inconsistent minutes—I’d like to see Capel commit to him a bit more next year.

Willie Warren: A-. A bit troubled by his lack of production over the final few games of the season, but even in the loss to UNC Warren showed flashes of what was a times a brilliant freshmen season. His game is mature—his sense of timing is excellent and he seems to have a knack for knowing when his teams needs him to pick it up and when he can hang back a bit. On the floor, Warren deferred to Blake all year (which was a smart move) and I’m very excited to see what he does as the #1 option next year. Has potential to be a first team All-American type of player. He holds the key to success in 2009-2010.

Orlando Allen/Ray Willis: Incomplete. Willis just might lead the nation in shot attempts per seconds played. The guy truly has a scorer’s mentality and in his brief moments of action, showed that he does have legitimate potential to be a player on this level. However, he was wild and his off the court issues are discouraging. I could see him being the type of guy that gets buried on the roster or transfers—which would be a shame because I think there’s something there. Very unimpressed with Allen for 90% of the year, but was very impressed with him during his brief action in the Tournament. He’s very big and word has it that he’s a hard worker—could be a surprise player for OU next year, but needs to work on his conditioning and footwork.

Awards:

MVP: Blake Griffin. No explanation necessary.

Defensive MVP: Juan Patillo. Yep, all five starters struggled at times on the defensive end of the floor, and even though he arrived late, Patillo made his biggest impact on the defensive end of the floor. Tony Crocker would be second on my list.

Worst Individual Moment: The end sequence against OSU in the Big 12 Tournament was very frustrating. A bad call by the refs against Blake didn’t erase the fact that Byron Eaton scorched our guards all night long.

Best Individual Moment: Even though it was against a lousy team, OU’s second half exhibition against Texas Tech in Norman was a sight to see. It was a dunk-a-thon of major proportions. Looked like the Globetrotters against the Washington Generals—a true thing of beauty.

Worst Loss: There’s no shame in losing at Missouri this year, but there was shame in the way OU played that night. A truly disgusting effort. The loss in Fayetteville would be a close second .

Best Win: No doubt, the Sweet 16 victory over Syracuse. Very encouraging that our very best performance of the season came on such a big stage when many people (including myself and other fans) were expecting Syracuse to pull the mini-upset. Capel deserves a ton of credit for having the team ready for the zone that night. Our defense was also outstanding. As a runner-up, I’m actually going to go back to November and say the win over Davidson—not because we beat such a great team, but because it was a real treat to see Blake and Stephen Curry both have career nights. A highly entertaining game that had a real “showcase” feel to it.


Overall Season Grade: A-. A slight drop from last year, but not by much. The little lull late in the season kept this from being a solid A—not the loss to UNC. No shame in losing to a superior team that throttled everyone they played in the Tournament. Overall, a memorable year—OU can hang the Elite 8 banner next year and be proud.

Farewell to a True Sooner

This may all sound weird coming from someone who has dedicated a large portion of his life to the pursuit of pursuing his favorite professional sports teams. Since I was a kid, I’ve been cheering for, complaining about, celebrating, laughing at, writing about, and yes, even shedding tears over, the success and failure (more of the latter) of the Washington Redskins, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Cincinnati Reds.

Growing up in Oklahoma, I’ve always taken the unpopular side of the pro sports vs. college sports debate among my friends and peers. The pro game is my game, it’s where my heart has always been.

Right now, I’m obsessed with Lebron James and the Cavs ending my personal streak of championship-less seasons (none since the Redskins won the Super Bowl in 1991). The day Lebron hoists that trophy (and it will happen) will be a glorious day. But tonight, that’s not what’s on my mind.

Tonight, what’s on my mind is the sight of seeing a kid trudge off a basketball court and drape a towel over his head to shield his tears from the public.

I’ve always been proud to be a Sooner. I was proud to go to the University of Oklahoma when I was there, and I was proud when I (finally) graduated in the spring of 2001. And I was extraordinarily sad the day I packed my car and left Norman for the “real world.” As I get older, my pride only grows stronger. For the majority of OU alumni, football season is the way they reconnect with the school and display pride and passion for their Alma Mater. But I’ve chosen to live vicariously through the men’s basketball team. I am a season ticket holder and do my best to never miss an away game on television. Of course, I enjoy the nights when the arena is packed, ESPN is in the house, and the excitement is through the roof. But I also enjoy those cold Tuesday nights in December when we play Mississippi Valley St. with the place half full and most fans haven’t even begun to think about basketball season yet. I think I like those nights because I know it will all be over soon enough and I should enjoy it while it lasts.

That’s what Taylor Griffin did. And that’s why he couldn’t hold back the tears when OU lost today. He knew it was over.

I’m not naïve enough to believe in the “purity” of big time college sports. It is as much of a business as the pro game, and the hypocrisy surrounding the “purity” argument is one reason I still prefer the pro game. However, kids like Taylor are what make college sports unique. Kids like Taylor make me proud to be a Sooner. And that’s why when he drapes a towel over his head, I can feel a little bit of a lump in my throat as well.

Taylor’s superstar brother, Blake, is by all accounts, as great of a person and ambassador for the school as his brother is. The difference is that Blake is far from done playing basketball. He will be making millions and chasing championships for years to come in the NBA. His career in basketball is just beginning. Taylor’s career, on the other hand, has reached its sunset. And that’s why I think Blake’s tears today were not so much for himself as they were for his brother.

Taylor also has a bright future ahead of him. From everything we hear and read, it sounds as if Taylor is going to find success in whatever he does. No one should feel sorry for him; he got a free education and got to participate in major college athletics for four years—not a bad deal at all.

But I keep going back to that draped towel.

No matter the circumstances, no matter how fortunate or unfortunate a person may be, it’s always a bit gut wrenching to see something you love come to a conclusion.

Even though it’s pretty apparent that coach Jeff Capel is pointing the program in the direction of more trips deep in the tournament, you still never know if and when you’ll get back to within one game of the Final Four. Even though the talent level at OU appears to be ratcheting up a notch each season, there are no guarantees that any team in the future will be as successful as this one. And that’s why coming up short stings.

I’ll be there next year. I’ll be excited as always when my packet of season tickets arrives in the mail. I’ll be ready for another season of fun, with dreams of March greatness. But I won’t forget a kid like Taylor Griffin and the way he represented my school. I wish he could have culminated his career by playing in the Final Four alongside his brother. But sometimes, the effort trumps the destination. I understand why Taylor draped that towel over his head, but I hope it doesn’t stay there long—he has nothing to be ashamed of. Thanks Taylor, Boomer Sooner.

A VERY Special Super Bowl Picks, Pats, and Apologies

Season: 167-88-1
Record Picking Redskins Games: 7-9
Against the Spread: 33-32-2
Lock of the Week: 10-6-1
Playoffs: 4-6

This post is coming to you from a hospital room. At 7:00 this morning, my wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl (our first). Mom and baby are doing well.

Back in the summer, when we were given a Feb. 10th due date, all my friends and family teased me about what would happen if the baby came on Super Bowl Sunday-- and what if the Redskins were involved? I never thought it was possible (especially the part about the Redskins), but at 6-2, it looked somewhat possible. So had we made the Super Bowl for the first time since 1991, it wouldn't have even been the biggest event of my day. Not even close.
So, I'm actually happy about it...I wouldn't want to "share" this day with anything else.

With this in mind, my Picks, Pats, and Apologies for the Super Bowl is going to be quite weak:
I did get both Championship Games correct after a 2-6 start to the playoffs. So, I'm looking to end the season on a high note:

The Cardinals? I just don't see it today. I think their style plays right into the hands of the Steelers. I think the way to beat Pittsburgh is to do what the Eagles and Giants did to them early in the season-- play along with the Steelers grind-it-out approach: Don't be afraid to punt. The Steelers offense is steady, but not explosive--make them go the length of the field and shorten the game. Pittsburght thrives on field position and turnovers. Their defense simply does not allow big plays.

I just can't see Arizona being patient enough to play that type of game.

Steelers 28
Cardinals 16

Thanks to everyone who read PPA throughout the year-- I look forward to 2009 already-- next year we'll have one more Redskins fan cheering them on!

NFL Championship Games Picks, Pats, and Apologies

Season: 167-88-1
Record Picking Redskins Games: 7-9
Against the Spread: 33-32-2
Lock of the Week: 10-6-1
Playoffs: 2-6

Last Week: Another humiliating playoff week for me. 1-3 in both weeks this season with only the Ravens win over the Dolphins and the Steelers win over the Chargers keeping me from an O'fer. The only game that "stunned" me last week was the Cardinals beating the Panthers. That was a shocking result, not only in the outcome, but in the way the Cardinals dominated that game. It's time for the Panthers to move on from the Jake Delhomme era. I did correctly predict the eleven point spread in the Chargers-Steelers game. Do I get bonus points for that?

This Week's Picks:

Philadelphia at Arizona: I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but this match-up stinks. This is quite possibly the worst championship game match-up I've witnessed since I became an NFL fan in the early 80's. There is a reason that neither of these teams won 10 games this year-- they are both extremely flawed. And I think it makes for a less than attractive game this Sunday. Of course, I give both teams much credit for getting here. As a Redskins fan, I would give my right arm for my team to make this kind of run just once. If I were a fan of either the Eagles or Cardinals, I'd be totally stoked for the game on Sunday. But as an outside fan just looking for a good Super Bowl representative, this games leaves me quite disappointed. I have a feeling the winner of this game may very well get crushed down in Tampa in two weeks. As for the pick... everyone is going Eagles here, but I have an small gut feeling that Arizona finds a way. Yeah, I'm picking the Arizona Cardinals to go to the Super Bowl....shoot me now.

Cardinals 24, Eagles 19

Baltimore at Pittsburgh: Here's another game where I think public perception may be missing the boat. I agree that is should be a brutal, hard-hitting, defense-dominated game, but I also think it could be fairly one-sided. The Ravens struggled a bit last week on both sides of the ball, being rescued by timely plays from the defense, silly mistakes by the Titans, and a fairly obvious clock error. The Ravens still deserved to win that game, and I am incredibly impressed by the poise that Joe Flacco showed late in the game, but I think I may have seen some cracks for the Ravens overall. And the Steelers could turn those cracks into gaping holes. I think the Ravens scratch and crawl their way for most of the game, but Pittsburgh pulls away late.

Steelers 22, Ravens 10