The Problem with the Bobcats

Given my delay in writing here, it’s probably not a surprise I have a few things I need to get off my chest in the sports world.  So let me start with….

The Charlotte Bobcats.  Yes, I’m going to pick on our Crappy (capitalization intentional) local NBA team.  An article appears in this week’s Charlotte Business Journal with the sub-headline, “Team goes into offseason with focus on sales.”  On one hand, that may be a good thing, since they were 22nd in the NBA in attendance.  However, I would imagine a number of those people who did go just wanted to get in the new arena (which was built despite the majority of taxpayers not wanting it).  It seems the team was shocked, SHOCKED that they had a 33% DECREASE in the number of season tickets sold when they increased prices anywhere from 25% to 100%, depending on the seat location.  Why would anyone want to pay MORE to go see a team that SUCKS???  Apparently, no one in the Bobcat front office was bright enough to answer (or probably even ask) that question last year.  Or at least they weren’t bright enough to answer it with something other than, “To see the new arena!!!”

People want to continually look at Cleveland and Jacobs Field for a reason to build a new stadium.  They had the place sold out for every game for something like 7 years after they opened.  Morons who own teams (and there’s a lot of ‘em that are morons) think it was the stadium that did it.  They forget that Cleveland was winning the AL Central and in the playoffs 6 out of those 7 years.  Back then, there weren’t that many new stadiums, so people would travel in from other places to see a game there.  Heck, Rob & I have traveled to see games in new stadiums (Skydome in Toronto in ’89 and Camden Yards in Baltimore in ’92) in the first year.  But then EVERYBODY started putting up new parks, so it became less exciting.  That’s why now, if a city builds a new stadium, they can only really count on a bump in attendance for 12-18 months.  After that, it’s like Al Davis said:  “Just win, Baby.”

Full disclosure:  I hate the NBA.  I’m only half convinced that it doesn’t function in about the same way the WWE does.  That is, not everything is scripted, but the outcome is pre-determined.  There’s only about 8 people in the league who seem to know how to pass, and about the same number who play defense.  Any sport that allows music to be played in the arena WHILE THE GAME IS BEING PLAYED has to be fixed.  It’s also become an ugly game to watch.  I confirmed this last night when Rob called me at halftime from the Palace to tell me he was in the 4th row.  I kept flipping over to see if I could see him (I’m trusting he wasn’t one of those people who had to wave at the camera), but never did.  I did discover, however, that it is more fun to watch if you TiVo the game, and watch it at double speed without sound.  That way, it actually looks like guys are trying.

Well, maybe that’s enough for today.  Time to watch 24.

I Need a Raise

Let me say this, just for the record: If N.C. State doesn’t have a men’s basketball coach by the end of April, they’re welcome to contact me. I have a 3-4 career record, but it should be noted that I wasn’t allowed to recruit, or even select my players. I’ll also say yes for a number south of $1,000,000 per year.

I have to admit, it’s been kind of funny watching State fans (OK, Casey) ride an emotional roller coaster for the last week. Last week, they were going to get Rick Barnes. “His wife’s from Raleigh” he said. “He’ll never be as important as football at Texas.” These statements may be true. However, he couldn’t come up with an answer when I asked why Rick would leave a top-5 team in order to be the third (or fourth) biggest basketball coach IN NORTH CAROLINA. “We’re bringing him to Augusta.”

“I think he’s using you to get a raise from Texas,” I told him.

The result? Barnes got a raise and stayed at Texas.

Next was John Calipari from Memphis. This one had some better legs under it. After all, Conference USA is a dying league, and clearly not as good as the ACC. Word is that State was offering a little over $2 million a year. He and his coaches apparently flew in to Raleigh. Then the coaches flew back. Hell, people were apparently tracking the planes (they think this makes them look “devoted” as opposed to “stalkerish”).

The result? Calipari got a raise and stayed at Memphis.

The lesson is this: If you want a raise, go call N.C. State about their opening, and then negotiate a raise from your present employer. I don’t think this is even limited to basketball coaches.

So the Wolfpack is (are?) still looking for a men’s basketball coach. In order to help them out, I’m providing a list of candidates who would likely take the job, if offered: Joey Meyer, Pat Kennedy, Paul Evans (if he’s even still alive), Jim Crews, Larry Eustachy, Chris Washburn, Nolan Richardson, Dick Butkus (he played the coach on “Hang Time”), Parrish Casebier (he was released from prison a couple years ago).

Hope that help out.

Tiger Observations

For those of you who are Tigers fans, it’s been a good week.  It’s been a long time since you started off 5-1.  It’s even more impressive when you consider that those 5 wins were all on the road and ¼ of your 2003 road win total of 20.  I have to say, they’ve been impressive so far.  Even the loss today was respectable.

But before anyone gets too excited, there are a few things you want to keep in mind:

1. It wasn’t like the Tigers were beating top level teams.  The Royals are not a good team, and Texas pitching still sucks.


2. The 17 home runs is an impressive total so far, but you will not hit 459 this year.  You would be doing very well to hit half of that.  Where are the runs going to come from when balls stop flying over fences?


3. The Tigers still aren’t drawing enough walks (13 in six games).  That needs to improve, as you won’t keep hitting .308 as a team once you get to some better teams.


4. Granderson is not a leadoff hitter.  He’s not selective enough at the plate.  He had a better day on Sunday, but I don’t think he’s ready for that.

Now that I’ve tempered your excitement, here are the good things I see:

1. Chris Shelton.  Sure, he won’t keep hitting .583 with 5 home runs every week.  But I liked watching him hit last year, and he certainly jumped out of the gate strong.  He could hit .300 with 25+ home runs if he stays healthy.


2. Pitching:  I liked what I saw of Bonderman, Verlander, and Zumaya.  While the Royals aren’t great, Texas still has a decent offense, and they managed to keep them quiet this weekend.


3. Pudge has two walks already.  This leads me to believe he’ll end up with more than 11 this year.

The next mission for Detroit is to win 3 or 4 of the next 7 games (3 vs. Chicago, 4 vs. Cleveland, all at home).  The intensity needs to stay up for the first TOUGH road trip (@ Oakland, @ Seattle, @ Anaheim).  The goal for this season should be 82 wins.  If the Tigers can come out of that road trip still a game or 2 over .500 (they’re 4 over right now), it’s an excellent first step.

All Over the Map

We’ve got a few things to go over here, so let’s get going.

1. Herbie Goes to Tempe. I was certainly stunned to see Herb Sendek of NC State take the head coaching position at Arizona State. My guess is that he got tired of going through every season feeling like he was going to be fired, so after the one season there hasn’t been any talk about whether he’d be let go, he left on his own. Now the question becomes, who does NC State go after?

2. NCAA Semifinals Sucked. What a disappointment both games were on Saturday night. LSU wasn’t even in the game after about the first 8 minutes, and Florida won going away. However, at least George Mason put up a fight for a while. That series in the last 2-1/2 minutes where Florida would shoot, miss, and get the offensive rebound certainly hastened the end of the game. Kudos to both George Mason and their coach for not deciding to foul. They were pretty much out of it, and there wasn’t much hope in trying to lengthen the game.

3. Baseball season is about to get under way with a game between Cleveland and the White Sox. I think I’m ready, but I could probably use another couple of days. As usual, I’m pulling for my Yankees, and hoping for the demise of the Red Sux. May Schilling end up with an ERA in Wil Ledezma territory (7.00+) and Ortiz have a .216, 17 HR, 58 RBI season.

4. I know it was only me and about 48 other people watching on Thursday night, but Tatiana Golovin put up a hell of a fight with Maria Sharapova in the Nasdaq-100 Open. She had to retire after rolling her ankle in the 3rd set, but not until she’d tried playing a point. Come to find out, she tore two ligaments and bruised a bone. This, after she’d come back from 5-1 down in the second set. Besides watching two attractive women play tennis, they were both playing GOOD tennis.

5. Reason #14 for Tigers fans who don’t want Brandon Inge at third that causes them concern: "Roger Clemens has proven you can still pitch into your 40s, so I don't see why Kenny Rogers can't keep this up," said the Tigers' third baseman. Uh, Brandon, do me this favor: Look at Roger Clemens body, and body of work. Now look at Kenny Rogers, and his body of work. Notice anything? I think you could argue that there are a couple of differences, starting with Clemens being 45 pounds heavier, right-handed, and a power pitcher. Rogers is left-handed, and struck out only 87 guys last year. Rogers also hasn’t been the most consistent guy on the planet. I hope you see ground balls better than you see differences in pitchers.

6. Just over 2 months before the World Cup starts with a match between Germany & Costa Rica.

7. Just under 3 months before the Tour de France starts on July 1st. The mountains start on July 12th, which is stage 10.

Comments, insights, and arguments welcome.