It's the middle of summer and I finally decided to bring back the blog. I've obviously been pretty absent due to lack of creative ideas. I learned that there were some issues with my blog throughout the season and a few people weren't happy about it. It certainly made me question whether I should have the blog or not. With everything there will be a few detractors and I'm not going to stop because of them.
Now off to different things that I haven't talked about yet.
Penn State
I had a good conversation with my girlfriend yesterday regarding the Penn State and JoePa craziness that is happening right. The biggest question is, should PSU football get the 'death penalty?' I argue no, because there were no NCAA violations for the NCAA to come down on the school. Now, if the school decided to take away football for a few years because of this monster that did awful things to little children then that is their prerogative. If PSU took away football not only wouldn't the school survive but State College would have a tough time surviving as well.
Towns like State College, Tuscaloosa (AL), Auburn (AL), Lincoln (NE), and numerous others are completely structured based off their college football teams. In Lincoln, a six lane highway is just off the football stadium to help ease traffic for the seven Saturday's they have home games. It just goes to show you how powerful coaches and programs can be at certain schools. You would definitely think that institutions would make some changes based on what happened at PSU but $$$ talks and even college presidents will overlook things in order to make more money.
AAU
I've gone off on a couple of issues with AAU recently and this story is no different.
4 Teams Banned from Evaluation Period
If you read the article, which you should, it talks about four AAU teams that ties to an agent. This is the first time the NCAA has cracked down on that. Now, the punishments for this is absolutely embarrassing, and not for the AAU teams. In about a half hour, one of those teams, Florida Rams, will be playing on CBS College Sports for the Championship of The Adidas Invitational in Indy. They won't be the Florida Rams but "Florida Elite" with essentially the same team. They have different uniforms and a different name but the same team.
NCAA told the AAU teams that needed to disassociate themselves with the person in contact with the agent, so they did. Now, they are back playing. The New England Playaz are off to Europe, so they don't care. The Florida Rams changed their name to Florida Elite and are good. Not sure about Worldwide Renegades, they don't seem to have very many "high-level" guys so no one cares. And SEBL All-Stars just have to disassociate themselves from their coach and they are good. So, one team gets punished and that's the Worldwide Renegades (at least to my knowledge). What a joke.
These agents are all over the place and many have more access to the kids than any college coach does. Many of these kids "verbally" agree to sign with that agent in high school. Then, all of a sudden their family has some nicer things and the kid has a new chain, some nice new fitted hats, etc. It's too bad, because some agents do it the right way and this idiot gives them a bad name.
Dream Team Debate
As most sports fans know, Kobe Bryant said that this year's National Team could beat the Dream Team. He retracted his statement and said that they could beat them but probably not in a seven game series. Scottie Pippen went back and said that his team would win by 25 or so. MJ, Magic, and Bird all laughed off the comments by Kobe. If I were them, I would too.
It's always tough to compare era because as we've seen guys become bigger, faster, stronger, and more athletic them their predecessors. You look at guys like Lebron and Russell Westbrook as guys that are on another level athletically than even the guys playing now just like MJ and Clyde Drexler were then. I'll give a matchup comparison by position
Point Guard
Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Russell Westbrook vs. Magic Johnson and John Stockson.
The new blood is obviously more athletic and younger in their careers. Magic and Stockton are two of the best PGs to ever live. Stockton is the reason why both Paul and Williams are good at the being in the pick and roll. The Dream Teamers changed the way the game was played.
Decision: Slight Edge 2012 because of athleticism
Shooting Guard
Kobe Bryant and James Harden vs. Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler
Kobe is definitely one of the best players in NBA history but it's a no contest competing against two of the all time greats at the position. Both Kobe and MJ are "killers" and would do anything to win but MJ gets the nod and Clyde is much better than Harden especially at this point in his career.
Decision: 1992 and it's not close
Small Forward
Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Lebron James vs. Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen, and Larry Bird
Too athletic freaks vs. some crafty vets. This makes this a tough matchup for the Dream Teamers. Pippen could cover Durant or LBJ but certainly not both. Bird wasn't much near his peak at this point in his career.
Decision: 2012, too athleticism and length. Bird in his prime makes this different
Power Foward
Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love vs. Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and Christian Laettner
I could probably switch Melo and Bron out at this one but we'll go with what they will probably play in the Olympics. Barkley is a prototype for "team jerk" and he didn't care. He wanted gold. Malone was a monster as well. Love is a great player and rebounder but they aren't hanging with these guys.
Decision: 1992, not close
Center
Tyson Chandler and Anthony Davis vs. Patrick Ewing and David Robinson
This isn't even an argument. Ewing and Robinson were both at the peak of their careers and zero percent chance of the 2012 guys hanging with them.
Decision: 1992
So the argument is done, Dream Team wins. Too many guys at their peak w/MJ, Clyde, Stockton Mullin, Pippen, Sir Charles, The Mailman, Ewing, and The Admiral. I can say that CP3, Deron Williams, LBJ, Melo, and KLove are at the peak. You can argue that Westbrook and Durant are at their peaks but I think they'll get better. If you put Dwight Howard on the 2012 team is changes things but their is too much depth and firepower at the power forward and center positions.
