"He got game" was filmed with Denzel Washington and Ray Allen in 1998. The movie was about Jesus Shuttles worth, the most sought after high school basketball player in the nation. Ray Allen, plays Jesus Shuttlesworth. The movie was naturally a success. Ticket ratings skyrocket and the film made quite a lot of money.
As we all know, Ray Allen is part of the dynamic trio of the Boston Celtics along with Kevin Garnet and Paul Pierce. As of recently, Celtics merchandising has started producing Ray Allen jersey's with the name Shuttlesworth on the back. These jerseys have been selling like hot cakes.
Here's the thing. Ray Allen is a throw back player, yet pivitol to the NBA. The whole Shuttlesworth jersey is hip and cool because not many people get it.
It is a movement in a way, because Spike Lee directed the film. It's kind of like a niche trend. It's a cult classic Celtic fan, you are probably going to buy that jersey. People who are really invested in the team are going to buy into that type of cult thing.
Why weren't these Jersey's created earlier? The film was popular since it was released. Could it be that the Celtics are using this as a money making scheme? Certainly appears so. Should Cleveland start selling Shaq Jersey's that say "Kazaam"?
Sure the hardcore fans will take interest in this, yet many fans will only be confused with the stunt. I dont agree with merchandising strategies that look for anyway possible to make money. And what does Ray Allen feel about this. Could this have a negative affect on his image? Only time will tell.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Can Tiger Recover?
Over the past two weeks, the mania surrounding the Tiger Woods has risen to a fever pitch. This is hardly surprising considering his level of fame and media exposure, but it calls into question what, if anything, he must do to regain his once-high level of respect from the public.
A new poll suggests that it will take a lot. Rasmussen Reports, a well-respected polling organization, released a report yesterday that says only 38% of the American people view him favorably. That's down from 56% a week ago, and 83% two years ago.
It seems like a fairly steep hill to climb. Woods would have to find a way to erase public memory - or at least provide a bit of distraction from - his recent foibles involving multiple women who are not his wife (Deadspin has the count at 11). However, it just might be possible.
Ray Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens' All-Pro linebacker and Hall of Fame shoe-in, has managed to rehabilitate his image fairly successfully after his January, 2000 run-in with the law. You think Tiger's sleeping around was bad? Try getting indicted for murder.
Lewis managed to pull off an almost complete rehabilitation fo his image, but it did take some time. Despite being named Super Bowl XXXV MVP in 2001, he did not get any endorsements - or even the customary trip to Disney World - that usually go along with the honor.
After many years and lots of careful public relations work (including several significant community service initiatives), Lewis can be seen in advertisements for SoBe, Under Armour and several Baltimore-area businesses, as well as on the cover of Madden NFL 2005.
But Lewis faced his scandal head-on. He accepted his reality by pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and paying a then-record $250,000 fine from the NFL. Woods has chosen to keep quiet - with the exception fo a few opaque public statemetns released on his website - and let the media and his alleged mistresses do the talking.
Can his reputation be rehabilitated? Only time will tell. But don't expect it to happen overnight. It never does.
A new poll suggests that it will take a lot. Rasmussen Reports, a well-respected polling organization, released a report yesterday that says only 38% of the American people view him favorably. That's down from 56% a week ago, and 83% two years ago.
It seems like a fairly steep hill to climb. Woods would have to find a way to erase public memory - or at least provide a bit of distraction from - his recent foibles involving multiple women who are not his wife (Deadspin has the count at 11). However, it just might be possible.
Ray Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens' All-Pro linebacker and Hall of Fame shoe-in, has managed to rehabilitate his image fairly successfully after his January, 2000 run-in with the law. You think Tiger's sleeping around was bad? Try getting indicted for murder.
Lewis managed to pull off an almost complete rehabilitation fo his image, but it did take some time. Despite being named Super Bowl XXXV MVP in 2001, he did not get any endorsements - or even the customary trip to Disney World - that usually go along with the honor.
After many years and lots of careful public relations work (including several significant community service initiatives), Lewis can be seen in advertisements for SoBe, Under Armour and several Baltimore-area businesses, as well as on the cover of Madden NFL 2005.
But Lewis faced his scandal head-on. He accepted his reality by pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and paying a then-record $250,000 fine from the NFL. Woods has chosen to keep quiet - with the exception fo a few opaque public statemetns released on his website - and let the media and his alleged mistresses do the talking.
Can his reputation be rehabilitated? Only time will tell. But don't expect it to happen overnight. It never does.
BCS Fail
"What can we say -- it's December and the BCS is in chaos again."
These words came from Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and sponsor of the new legislation to attempt to outlaw a non-playoff system champion.
This is not the first effort to undermine the current BCS system, but perhaps it has the most potential to effectively do so.
---
Some of us, myself included, loathe and hate the current format, and one only needs to look at this year as proof.
There are 5 undefeated teams: Alabama, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, and Boise State.
This will be the first year that there will be two games featuring only undefeated teams: Alabama vs Texas and TCU vs Boise State.
Florida has one loss to Alabama in the finals of the SEC and faces Cincinnati, which almost means that there are six undefeated teams facing off in three separate games.
And when all this is said and done, there can be up to three teams with legitimate claims at a BCS championship.
... and all this could be solved with a simple playoff system.
Now I've designed a BCS Playoff system that attempts to take into account all factors that have helped maintain the BCS' presence. Factors such as the appeal of ending the season on a winning note, in a bowl game, in order to gain momentum for next season. Factors such as the bowls themselves, which seek to maintain the profit they receive from the games each year.
Hopefully, this will paste this into this blog so that you can view and judge for yourself whether or not you think it a better system.
It features a midmajor playoff of the 5 midmajors and 1 at large bid from any conference. This spits out 2 teams, which merge into the 10 team playoff. The BCS conferences get a bye in the first round while the 2 play in teams face two more At large teams.
From there the playoffs run out as expected. In general, all the bowls are placed on the days they actually occur and the times they do as well. Some were moved and have been noted in the event details. Enjoy and comment back.
These words came from Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and sponsor of the new legislation to attempt to outlaw a non-playoff system champion.
This is not the first effort to undermine the current BCS system, but perhaps it has the most potential to effectively do so.
---
Some of us, myself included, loathe and hate the current format, and one only needs to look at this year as proof.
There are 5 undefeated teams: Alabama, Texas, TCU, Cincinnati, and Boise State.
This will be the first year that there will be two games featuring only undefeated teams: Alabama vs Texas and TCU vs Boise State.
Florida has one loss to Alabama in the finals of the SEC and faces Cincinnati, which almost means that there are six undefeated teams facing off in three separate games.
And when all this is said and done, there can be up to three teams with legitimate claims at a BCS championship.
... and all this could be solved with a simple playoff system.
Now I've designed a BCS Playoff system that attempts to take into account all factors that have helped maintain the BCS' presence. Factors such as the appeal of ending the season on a winning note, in a bowl game, in order to gain momentum for next season. Factors such as the bowls themselves, which seek to maintain the profit they receive from the games each year.
Hopefully, this will paste this into this blog so that you can view and judge for yourself whether or not you think it a better system.
It features a midmajor playoff of the 5 midmajors and 1 at large bid from any conference. This spits out 2 teams, which merge into the 10 team playoff. The BCS conferences get a bye in the first round while the 2 play in teams face two more At large teams.
From there the playoffs run out as expected. In general, all the bowls are placed on the days they actually occur and the times they do as well. Some were moved and have been noted in the event details. Enjoy and comment back.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Culture of Coaching
At the risk of becoming one dimensional, we're going to talk about uniforms again. But this is new and different, I promise.
Uniforms! Coaching Edition!
The thought occurs to me as I was watching a segment comparing the Belichek Hoodie to the Josh McDaniels Hoodie. Most everyone finds it a little silly that these grown leaders of men are walking around in sweats, but if you look around the NFL, it is a culture of crappy clothing.
Now I understand they're required to wear team apparel, but I'm not sure the kids are dressing up in Broncos gear so they can look like McDaniels. No, I think they're there for the players.
Which led me to my next thought. How is it that sports uniform culture became what it is?
A brief synopsis:
NFL Coaching Attire - Team clothing. Essentially anything that says your organization on it *
NBA/College Basketball - Suit. Or jacket and tie at the least
Soccer - Suit. Or jacket and tie again, but also with the caveat that when its cold they wear those long wool jackets.
Baseball - player uniforms.
Hockey - suits.
Cricket - who cares.
Now because Soccer and Hockey realms are the second tier of sports in America , with Basketball being essentially a 1A, it seems that we focus on the two sports that have silliest traditions of uniforms. Let's start with baseball.
Lou Piniella for example.
He exemplifies everything wrong with baseball coaching uniforms. Baseball uniforms are not flattering pieces of clothing, and putting them on some semi-overweight guys who tend to stand like Captain Morgan in the bench, chewing some gum and wearing gruesome grimaces is right up there with some of the NFL throwbacks.
Here's another thought. Baseball managers are notorious for their temper tantrums on the field. It's really their only opportunity to get their uniform dirty. Yet imagine what wearing suits to do this. (Here's a visual aid...and another...and another).It would be ten times as humorous for the fans watching, and certainly it would occur with less frequency. No one wants to mess up a $300 suit unless they're super pissed off, which means umpires would know they'd really blown a call. It could help the sport dramatically now that they've refused to open up the instant replay possibility.
Call me new age. Generation Y or X or Z... whichever we're on now, but the idea of hoodies and sweats and jerseys seems a little childish at this point. You don't see Barack Obama come out in a USA t-shirt for his press conferences, do you? There's something classier about a suited head coach. NFL teams might not have the same problem with respect for their coaches. There's even a tradition of it in the great Vince Lombardi, and he was one of the most respected coaches in NFL history.
At some point baseball and football need to grow up and join the modern world. Leave the dress up for the fans.
Uniforms! Coaching Edition!
The thought occurs to me as I was watching a segment comparing the Belichek Hoodie to the Josh McDaniels Hoodie. Most everyone finds it a little silly that these grown leaders of men are walking around in sweats, but if you look around the NFL, it is a culture of crappy clothing.
Now I understand they're required to wear team apparel, but I'm not sure the kids are dressing up in Broncos gear so they can look like McDaniels. No, I think they're there for the players.
Which led me to my next thought. How is it that sports uniform culture became what it is?
A brief synopsis:
NFL Coaching Attire - Team clothing. Essentially anything that says your organization on it *
NBA/College Basketball - Suit. Or jacket and tie at the least
Soccer - Suit. Or jacket and tie again, but also with the caveat that when its cold they wear those long wool jackets.
Baseball - player uniforms.
Hockey - suits.
Cricket - who cares.
Now because Soccer and Hockey realms are the second tier of sports in America , with Basketball being essentially a 1A, it seems that we focus on the two sports that have silliest traditions of uniforms. Let's start with baseball.
Lou Piniella for example.
He exemplifies everything wrong with baseball coaching uniforms. Baseball uniforms are not flattering pieces of clothing, and putting them on some semi-overweight guys who tend to stand like Captain Morgan in the bench, chewing some gum and wearing gruesome grimaces is right up there with some of the NFL throwbacks.
Here's another thought. Baseball managers are notorious for their temper tantrums on the field. It's really their only opportunity to get their uniform dirty. Yet imagine what wearing suits to do this. (Here's a visual aid...and another...and another).It would be ten times as humorous for the fans watching, and certainly it would occur with less frequency. No one wants to mess up a $300 suit unless they're super pissed off, which means umpires would know they'd really blown a call. It could help the sport dramatically now that they've refused to open up the instant replay possibility.
Call me new age. Generation Y or X or Z... whichever we're on now, but the idea of hoodies and sweats and jerseys seems a little childish at this point. You don't see Barack Obama come out in a USA t-shirt for his press conferences, do you? There's something classier about a suited head coach. NFL teams might not have the same problem with respect for their coaches. There's even a tradition of it in the great Vince Lombardi, and he was one of the most respected coaches in NFL history.
At some point baseball and football need to grow up and join the modern world. Leave the dress up for the fans.
Lakers got Ladies
Being a Laker has its advantages. The city of Los Angeles is known for its sun and presence of celebrities. The Lakers are no exception. In addition to their team emerging as one of the greatest in the league (they won the NBA title last year in case you forgot) their players seem to always be in the spotlight. As of lately, it has been the significant others of the Lakers players that have made the news.
Lamar Odum Odom married reality TV personality Khloe Kardashian in late September. In fact, three million people tuned into the two hour wedding special on E. Two weeks later she announced on The View that she was changing her name to Khloe Kardashian Odom, dropping her original middle name and changing her maiden name to her new middle name. Now whether this means the wedding was that good or three million people need to get a life, I will leave up to you.
Sasha Vujacic on the other hand has recently been seen with tennis star Maria Sharapova. Although Vujacic has "danced" around the subject in interviews, sources have confirmed the relationship is legit. They were seen together at a U2 concert in the Rose Bowl recently. Sharapova was also seen at a recent Lakers game sitting across from the Lakers bench.
Kobe has been married since 22 to Vanessa Laine and Luke Walton is rumored to be dating Bre Ladd, a volleyball player from the University of Arizona.
Being a Laker certainly has its perks.
Lamar Odum Odom married reality TV personality Khloe Kardashian in late September. In fact, three million people tuned into the two hour wedding special on E. Two weeks later she announced on The View that she was changing her name to Khloe Kardashian Odom, dropping her original middle name and changing her maiden name to her new middle name. Now whether this means the wedding was that good or three million people need to get a life, I will leave up to you.
Sasha Vujacic on the other hand has recently been seen with tennis star Maria Sharapova. Although Vujacic has "danced" around the subject in interviews, sources have confirmed the relationship is legit. They were seen together at a U2 concert in the Rose Bowl recently. Sharapova was also seen at a recent Lakers game sitting across from the Lakers bench.
Kobe has been married since 22 to Vanessa Laine and Luke Walton is rumored to be dating Bre Ladd, a volleyball player from the University of Arizona.
Being a Laker certainly has its perks.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Celebrities at the World Series
With the number of celebrities at this years World Series, it might have well been the Grammy’s. Why is it that most celebrities think the cool thing to do is to only to go high profiled sports games? Jay z, Kate Hudson, Billy crystal, Donald Trump, Spike Lee, Bloomberg, Former mayor Giuliani, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden and his wife, Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves could all be seen at this years World Series, and most of them in New York. Most of those women don’t even understand baseball, much less want to go see a game.
At one point when Spike Lee was congratulating Phil Coke, there were more cameras on him than on the game. Every chance the network had they would put the face of a celebrity in the middle of the screen. Are we supposed to be impressed that famous people are at the World Series? Should we care?
These celebrities see these games as an event to be seen at. They dress up, they doll themselves all to be seen at a professional baseball game. It is a gentle reminder of how intertwined professional sports are with popular culture. In this day and age, sports stars are celebrities. Having Demi Moore show up at a game is like Jeter going to the Grammy’s.
The elites of society “roll” together, and sports is no exception. They like to go big or go home, all the time. The World Series is one of the biggest events in American Sports, it is only fitting that there would be an entourage of celebrities to go along with it.
As long as sports continues to be as high profile as it is, celebrities will be sure to be there.
At one point when Spike Lee was congratulating Phil Coke, there were more cameras on him than on the game. Every chance the network had they would put the face of a celebrity in the middle of the screen. Are we supposed to be impressed that famous people are at the World Series? Should we care?
These celebrities see these games as an event to be seen at. They dress up, they doll themselves all to be seen at a professional baseball game. It is a gentle reminder of how intertwined professional sports are with popular culture. In this day and age, sports stars are celebrities. Having Demi Moore show up at a game is like Jeter going to the Grammy’s.
The elites of society “roll” together, and sports is no exception. They like to go big or go home, all the time. The World Series is one of the biggest events in American Sports, it is only fitting that there would be an entourage of celebrities to go along with it.
As long as sports continues to be as high profile as it is, celebrities will be sure to be there.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A-Rod and Kate Hudson
So the Yankees are in the World Series for the first time in 6 years. A-Rod is going into baseball’s most important 7-game series during the hottest streak of his life. Is it a coincidence then, that he is dating one of the hottest stars in Hollywood?
Pop stars dating pop stars is nothing new, but this one is a little weird. The two have been dating for a little over a month. How did this even come about? Kate Hudson lives in L.A.. A-Rod lives in New York, not to mention he is traveling for the better part of 6 months a year.
She has been spotted at several of his games over the past month, including all the New York post season home games. Does she not have anything better to do? What is her 5 year old son doing during all of this. And more importantly, how does A-Rod have the time to commit to a girlfriend when he is about to enter the most critical part of the season?
Some would say who cares, whatever works. Rodriguez is experiencing one of the most explosive streaks his career has seen. He is hitting .345 avg and has launched 4 deep balls in the postseason. It appears that having a lady in the stands is increasing his performance, Whatever works.
Both Hudson and Rodriguez have been previously married. A-Rod has gained somewhat of a raunchy reputation since the Playboy model he was seen with in Toronto in 2007. Time will tell if this fling will develop into something more, but for now A-Rod is riding high.
Pop stars dating pop stars is nothing new, but this one is a little weird. The two have been dating for a little over a month. How did this even come about? Kate Hudson lives in L.A.. A-Rod lives in New York, not to mention he is traveling for the better part of 6 months a year.
She has been spotted at several of his games over the past month, including all the New York post season home games. Does she not have anything better to do? What is her 5 year old son doing during all of this. And more importantly, how does A-Rod have the time to commit to a girlfriend when he is about to enter the most critical part of the season?
Some would say who cares, whatever works. Rodriguez is experiencing one of the most explosive streaks his career has seen. He is hitting .345 avg and has launched 4 deep balls in the postseason. It appears that having a lady in the stands is increasing his performance, Whatever works.
Both Hudson and Rodriguez have been previously married. A-Rod has gained somewhat of a raunchy reputation since the Playboy model he was seen with in Toronto in 2007. Time will tell if this fling will develop into something more, but for now A-Rod is riding high.
Throwback? Don't.
In the words of now head coach Mike Singletary, "Can't play with them. Can't coach with them. Can't win with them. Can't do it!"
No truer words have been said... or should have been said... about NFL throw back uniforms. I get it alright, its the anniversary of the AFL. Yippee and all that, but there has got to be a better way to convey that celebration besides donning uniforms that must have been designed by color blind individuals who were pissed.
Example one. Seattle.
First problem. They glow. They must be radioactive or something. Maybe its was a ploy by the team to help their quarterback find receivers more easily. Or for their running backs to find holes. It'd be simple, just go where its dark. They wouldn't run to daylight, they'd be running for darkness.
Neon green is the primary color. That's right sports fans, the primary color, for these jerseys. The secondary is their usual navy blue. Their helmets? Silver. How could this have lasted a year in a league? Not even generation X kids, high on mountain dew and pixie sticks could think this was cool.
Example two: Denver
Denver has two wonderful uniform failures, that they proceeded to showcase in back to back weeks. Their featured colors? Yellow and brown. Sure they're not neon, but that's about where all the good news ends.
They have striped socks that blend right into striped pants, skip the torso and go into their striped helmet, which is brown and white. Its disgusting. They followed up that spectacular with brown on white, which at least go together (only because white goes with anything), but the same repulsive striped patterns round their socks again.
Its like they're a candy cane... a rotten candy cane. Which is the general feeling across the board as far as throwbacks go.
Take Kansas City. They played in their old Texas uniforms, which were not only ugly again, but insulting to their "new" fan base.
The Patriots went Americana with their Red based, white and blue striped uniforms. At least acceptable by color standards, but their little mascot of a steroid induced Patucket Pat sailor snapping the ball with a meaty grin on his face leaves an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach.
All in all, its clear that AFL uniforms came from the lands of stripes and lack of color coordination. Very jarring considering our standards today.
No truer words have been said... or should have been said... about NFL throw back uniforms. I get it alright, its the anniversary of the AFL. Yippee and all that, but there has got to be a better way to convey that celebration besides donning uniforms that must have been designed by color blind individuals who were pissed.
Example one. Seattle.
First problem. They glow. They must be radioactive or something. Maybe its was a ploy by the team to help their quarterback find receivers more easily. Or for their running backs to find holes. It'd be simple, just go where its dark. They wouldn't run to daylight, they'd be running for darkness.
Neon green is the primary color. That's right sports fans, the primary color, for these jerseys. The secondary is their usual navy blue. Their helmets? Silver. How could this have lasted a year in a league? Not even generation X kids, high on mountain dew and pixie sticks could think this was cool.
Example two: Denver
Denver has two wonderful uniform failures, that they proceeded to showcase in back to back weeks. Their featured colors? Yellow and brown. Sure they're not neon, but that's about where all the good news ends.
They have striped socks that blend right into striped pants, skip the torso and go into their striped helmet, which is brown and white. Its disgusting. They followed up that spectacular with brown on white, which at least go together (only because white goes with anything), but the same repulsive striped patterns round their socks again.
Its like they're a candy cane... a rotten candy cane. Which is the general feeling across the board as far as throwbacks go.
Take Kansas City. They played in their old Texas uniforms, which were not only ugly again, but insulting to their "new" fan base.
The Patriots went Americana with their Red based, white and blue striped uniforms. At least acceptable by color standards, but their little mascot of a steroid induced Patucket Pat sailor snapping the ball with a meaty grin on his face leaves an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach.
All in all, its clear that AFL uniforms came from the lands of stripes and lack of color coordination. Very jarring considering our standards today.
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