The time has come. To all my friends whose paths I have intersected, I thank you. I apologize if I was an unwanted intersecter, if that's even a word. I would love to list those bloggers and friends that I have met and interacted with since I first showed up on this doorstep in May of 2006, but I would inevitably leave someone out. So I'm falling back on my reputation, and my gambling nature, and betting that you know who you are.
I first showed up here on a rush. The Phoenix Suns were undermanned and underdogs, yet still managed to split the first two games in Dallas in the western conference finals that year. And I was excited, looking for some coverage on the 'little team that could,' or so I hoped, get to the mountaintop. In fact, I was so pumped I even wrote my first blog that night. Or maybe my second one. Oh what the hell, you can look all of that up, so I won't bother going into it any further.
I have met some extremely great writers and people on this site. Of course when I say "met," I mean via the written word, for the most part. And I am thankful to Fox Sports for giving me the opportunity to express my (sometimes bent) offerings, and for the forum to interact with all.
So thank you Fox. I will be etenally grateful. Thank you to all of you who have read my musings and have given me support and an impetus to write the next one. You may not realize it, but you are what kept me going. And keep this in mind readers--support and appreciate those that spend their time saying something wortwhile. And also keep in mind that criticism is easy, relationships are not. But they're worth it.
There are some writers here that I have gleaned some knowledge from. In some cases, quite a bit. I only hope that I imparted some to them in return.
And now, I bid you all the grandest adieu. Aim high and shoot straight.
The Phoenix Suns hosted the Seattle Sonics, or I guess that would be Supersonics under the circumstances, in a 40th anniversary celebration tonight. I turned the game on the local outlet, KUTP, minutes before it started. It was black and white, and they listed the Supersonics’ starting lineup, then the Suns’, complete with numbers and letters which took up nearly the whole screen. As the teams were warming up, I noticed Steve Nash had a headband on. So did Boris Diaw, Grant Hill, Amare Stoudemire, and a few others. Maybe they all did. Seeing Nash in a headband was quite odd, though with his long, stringy hair by today’s standards, he somehow fit the part. (Diaw would be the lone Sun who kept his headband on the entire game).
Once the game started, it was shown primarily from one camera, about mid-level on the side, which would follow the action back and forth. The only exception would be during a free throw, when the camera angle was the same but slightly lower on the side, with a slightly closer shot. And the score would show only after every two or three baskets, not every possession. The only constant on the screen was the clock near the top, just big enough to see but not in the way of anything. No the shot clock, not a sponsor, not any stats on runs, points in the paint, fast break points—nothing. And they even had the little hair-like lines which meandered across the picture from time to time, like it was in the old days. And whenever they did show a player and his number, it was in big block-like fashion, such as
44 - KURT THOMAS
Except it was in white, of course, covering the entire bottom of the screen. And wasn’t always very visible if the background was white. (Man, they thought of EVERYTHING!) Unfortunately, the Suns played like a first year team in the first quarter, trailing by 20 at its conclusion. Strangely enough, as I felt like I was watching a replay of an old game, I wasn’t too concerned. Guess I was lost in time and was enthralled by the broadcast more than the score.
By the way, there were no short-shorts or throwback jerseys involved. And no, the refs didn’t suddenly decide to call traveling or palming the ball, which may have helped snap me back into reality. But at every commercial, appropriate music was played, starting with some Doors and progressing chronologically as the game went on. And a highlight of a past Suns’ great was shown. Connie Hawkins, Alvan Adams, Walter “Sweet D” Davis, Paul Westphal, Kevin Johnson, and on and on. Speaking of being snapped back into reality, an anti-smoking commercial was shown near the end of the first period, when I half-expected to see “I’d walk a mile for a Camel.”
At the start of the second quarter, the game was shown in color. Although it was ‘70s style color. In other words, it was a little sloppy-with bright colors sometimes “following” a player, or the court luminating unexcpectedly when the camera would move. Priceless, I tell you. And still the simple block letters telling the team names and score, although now covering only the bottom third of the screen rather than half. But still only periodically, and briefly.
At different points in the first half, the Suns brought former and current broadcasters on. George Allen was asked to do the last minute of the half; “Nash for threeeeee- - got it,” he said, growling the last two words. Al McCoy, recent hall of fame inductee and longtime Suns radio announcer who did simulcasts for a long time, led off the second quarter with former partner Greg Schulte, who now does play-by-play for the Diamondbacks. Seemed like old times. Gary Bender also sat in for awhile. Former Sun Eddie Johnson, who is the normal cohort of Tom Leander and former partner of Bender, offered the most consistent, high-quality insight. As he usually does.
The Supersonics scored 33 in the first quarter, but only 30 during the second and third combined. And the Suns ended up winning by eight. And to cap of####reat night, my guy Shawn Marion did a post game interview with Leander. Just before the interview concluded, Leander mentioned that they had discussed different ring of honorees and shown highlights of each during the game. And how he said they needed to make room for the Matrix. Marion seemed a little humbled and said he would be honored. As they bid their adieus, Marion sang, “Tooooom Leander,” and mutual respect was obvious. Perhaps that was a “guess you had to be there” moment, since my description doesn’t convey the feeling.
There was more, so much more. Like McCoy recalling a “Ron Lee Floor Score” contest that a station had run one season while Lee was with the team in the late ‘70s and was known for diving for loose balls. Fans were invited to keep track during the season, and the winner at the end won a new waterbed. Or opening of the broadcast with Leander and Johnson looking like Mod Squad wanna-bees, complete with old-style microphones. Or the highlights of past Suns greats leading into commercials. Ah, the memories. And I loved the cheerleaders’ getup during the second (‘70s?) quarter, complete with orange tops and hot pants, oversized white earrings and white calf-high boots. And I didn’t watch a second of the game on TNT, which I imagine didn’t pick it up until the Bulls and Blazers were done overtiming. And I understand that in today’s NBA. But fortunately I didn’t have to deal with that on this evening. For a brief time at least, I got to be in the middle of nostalgia. And it was beautiful. Thanks to KUTP TV, the Phoenix Suns, and all who played a part in the first 39 years.
The New England Patriots defeated the New York Giants in Giants’ Stadium tonight, 38-35. At least that’s what the box score, the talking heads, and the hype-mongers who can’t think for themselves will tell you. And it’s too bad that most of us will buy into that result. But the fact of the matter is that the Patriots were exposed. But more on that later. The league was also exposed. And frankly, so was I. Like most of you, tonight was the first time I had access to a game on the NFL Network. And silly me for not realizing beforehand that the NFL Network, which is run by the NFL-hence, the name-would not tell it like it is. Nary a discouraging word from Cris Collinsworth, Bryant Gumbel, or anybody else in that rarified air, regarding the officiating. But why would there be? It’s their network. And there’s the disturbing part. Plaxico Burress was held and dragged down before Eli Manning’s pass arrived, with the official five yards away and watching it intently. No call. Shortly thereafter, the Giants linebacker numbered 58, who played a whale o####ame, had the ball hit him while he was covering Randy Moss. Pass interference? I guess, in today’s NFL. Let’s make sure we tell that linebacker not to cover that receiver so close. The nerve of him. {And let’s all wait with baited breath for the league to alter the rules in the off-season, yet again, to favor the offense. I doubt it surprises anyone anymore). I realize that on the next play after the no-call on the Giants receiver being pulled down, they scored. But that doesn’t make the no-call go away. And what happened on the Giants’ kickoff return early in the fourth quarter, when a penalty was called on the sideline? I’m not sure. And I’m not saying it was a bad call. Because, like I said, I don’t know. We weren’t informed. Or shown. And, like I said, I should have seen this coming, but announcers on a network run by the NFL won’t tell you. Don’t know why I was expecting them to. Guess I’m a little slow on the uptake sometimes. But that would be like J. Edgar Hoover doing a PSA (Public Service Announcement, for those of you under 30. And J. Edgar Hoover was in charge of the FBI back in - - never mind) telling you to watch out for sneaky ####s with lots of power.
Anyway, the Pats were exposed tonight. Actually, not just tonight. It’s been ongoing, and something the NMHM (National Media Hype Machine) had neglected to tell you, or simply ignored. Why would they get in the way o####ood story? Can’t blame them, I guess. They have a job to do. But a team that has a balanced offense and a defense who will not be fooled by a one-dimensional offense {See Jacksonville Jaguars} will knock the Patriots out of the playoffs. You heard it here first. Okay, maybe you’ve heard it before, and just didn’t believe it. But prepare yourself. The champs of Super Bowl whatever-the-number-is-this-year reside in Florida. Oh, I almost forgot; as long as we don’t have to deal with incompetent officials.
I must say, I darn near laughed out loud when Cris Collinsworth quoted Tiger Woods after the game, saying he (Tiger) expected to win every time out, like the Patriots do. Of course the glaring difference is that Tiger controls his own fate. And once again, I was reminded why golf is the greatest sport on earth. Say what you want about them not being athletes, and it not being a sport. But there is no other place than a golf course where everything about you is there for the world to see. There is no other competition whose outcome rests solely on your performance. The good, the bad, and the ugly. No official’s calls, either in your favor or against. No substitutions when you need one. And anyone who’s played golf has needed one at one time or another. No timeouts. And no other competition has results that are based as much on one’s ability to perform. It’s you, the course, and the competition. No officials’ decisions on whether it was interference or not. A charge, a block, or a no-call. A borderline strike, or ball four. Nope. Just you and your ability. And that, sports fans, is what we’re after. Isn’t it?
(Note: This was originally posted on July 31, 2006. In light of recent developments regarding Major League Baseball, I decided to post this again, as it expresses my feelings perhaps even stronger now than when I originally wrote it. And seems to be just as pertinent. What follows is the entire body of the original post. Thank you for tolerating a bit of old prose.)
It was the definition of “love at first sight.” The first time I got involved with her, I was hooked. I loved everything about her. The excitement, the heartbreak, the little intricacies both on the surface and below it. I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to be around her all the time. She only came around for a few months every summer before the seasonal change in a small town in North Dakota would take her away for me, leaving other activities and challenges that would present themselves but never proved to be quite as interesting. It was an undying love that never got old or stale.
Things went incredibly well for a long time. I was in heaven. Until one summer day in ’81. I had feared it for several weeks, and my fear came to fruition. She left me. Baseball left me for the first time. I was crushed and no idea how to handle it. I was lost without her, but, luckily for me, she decided to come back a short time later. Obviously, I welcomed her back with open arms, and figured the relationship was going to be grand once again. It was a given it would last forever.
It was a great time for several years. Perhaps not as memorable as the 1970s, but great nonetheless. I got to see my Dodgers beat the hated Yanks later in ‘81, a fabulous year by the Tigers in ’84-a year that also featured one of the rare Cub playoff appearances. Naturally they had a 2-1 lead in the best of five versus the Padres and lost. In ’85, the first year that the league championship series went to seven games instead of five, I got to see the Royals come back from a 3-1 deficit. Not once, but twice. First against the hard-luck Toronto Blue Jays, then over the Cardinals in the World Series. Of course everyone remembers the Red Sox-Mets series in ’86, which was preceded by an incredible ALCS in which the Red Sox prevailed over the Angels after Boston was down to their last strike and trailed three games to one. (See also my earlier posts regarding Donnie Moore, Bill Buckner, etc., from 7/02, and "Do You Remember . . ." from 5/17).
The Twins, my first favorite team growing up as a child in North Dakota, broke through and won in 1987, which amazed us all. Of course ’88 brought Orel Herschiser’s record-breaking scoreless inning streak, and later Kirk Gibson’s home run (“I do not believe what I just saw!”) against the A’s. I remember it like it was yesterday.
She left me again in 1989. Naturally, as any man would with his first love, I again took her back. She got what she had coming to her that same year, though. Even though the A’s would rebound from their ’88 loss, sweeping the Giants in a series that was interrupted by an earthquake, it was about as anti-climactic as could be.
As the spring of 1990 arrived, I was over our last break-up. And to loosely paraphrase a well known quote, sports makes for strange bedfellows, which brings me to the Cincinnati Reds. They got off to a great start in ‘90, like the Tigers in ’84, and wound up sweeping the A’s in the World Series. Being a Dodger fan, I didn’t care too much for the Reds’ success, so I was rooting for the A’s in the Series, the same team I had rooted against the previous two years. Naturally, since the A’s had won handily the year before, I figured the Reds were doomed. And of course the Reds won four straight. Ah, her beauty shone through once again. I both loved her and hated her (not really) at the same time. Oh well. I guess you must take the bad with the good. But even though the Reds won the World Series, life was, and had been, very good. I had seen some of the best baseball of my life in the years following the ’81 strike. I couldn’t have been happier, all things considered. The relationship between she and I was absolutely wonderful. The Twins won again in ’91, followed by the Blue Jays winning back-to-back titles.
For some reason when I was a kid, maybe it was the cool uniforms and the outstanding batting helmet, or the underrated talent they had like Tim Raines and Andre Dawson in the early ‘80s, I had taken a serious liking to the Expos. Or maybe it was because I was one of the few baseball fans who got to see a lot of them. With the advent of cable TV in the late 1970s, we had a whopping 13 channels, including two Canadian channels. I became familiar with Raines and Dawson as well as Tim Wallach, Steve Rodgers, Gary Carter, and so many other Expos who didn’t get their due because fans just simply didn’t get to see them very often. Granted, the ’94 Expos didn’t have the same team I had watched growing up, but the soft spot for them was still there. I thought of how great it would be for the franchise and the city of Montreal to finally realize a championship. And how great it would be for major league baseball. And as a baseball fan first and foremost, how great it would be for me to see it. Or perhaps the Cleveland Indians or the Chicago White Sox, neither of whom had won a World Series since well before I was born. At any rate, the ’94 post-season would no doubt prove to be interesting, since MLB had broken each league into three divisions for that season, and with a wild-card team now qualifying, the playoffs would take on a whole new look. I anticipated it greatly, even though she told me she might not stick around to see it through. I didn't want to believe it. Couldn't believe it. But she ultimately left me again, one last time. Before I got to see the Expos, Indians, White Sox, or anybody else compete in that ’94 post-season. After much thought and reflection, I came to the conclusion that I was not going to go through the pain of her leaving any more. I told her not to bother coming back. Sure, she tried, but I held firm. With a stiff upper lip, I said no. No more.
Major League Baseball has brought a lot of problems on itself in recent history. A. Bartlett Giamatti, a true baseball man, was hired as commissioner in September of 1988. He died just under a year later. Giamatti wrote in “The Green Fields of the Mind,” regarding baseball:
“It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.”
The owners wanted Faye Vincent, another baseball man who replaced Bart Giamatti after his sudden death, out as commissioner in favor of one of their own. They got it. Under pressure-one might even say duress-Vincent resigned in September of 1992. (Looking back, many of the owners at the time wouldn’t have had a clue on how to deal with Bowie Kuhn, who made decisions, usually prudent ones, based on the ‘best interests of baseball,’ and was seldom questioned. But then, times change. Boy, do times change.) In the Selig regime we have had rampant steroid use, a tied All-Star Game, the ingenious decision that the All-Star game winner would decide home-field advantage in the World Series, (a poor attempt to make the All-Star game mean more than it should, and an even poorer attempt to divert the attention away from Selig’s major snafu to call the game after nine innings when it was tied), and a major labor roadblock during the 1994 season. Which, of course, meant that I didn’t get to see it to fruition. Not that the owners were the only ones at fault. There was and is more than enough blame to go around for the debacle of the 1994 Major League Baseball season. Both the owners and the players had serious delusions of grandeur in thinking they were bigger than the game. They weren’t. But they did prove they were too big for me.
Without looking it up, and aside from 2001, I couldn’t tell you who won the World Series in any given year since then, though I do know a lot was made of the Yankees playing the Mets one year. I did watch most of the 2001 Series, in part because of the emotions of 9/11 being fresh in everyone’s mind and in part because the local Diamondbacks were involved, and who knows if or when I’ll ever see that again. Other than that, I have not watched one major league game. I still watch baseball and love the game. But now it’s the Arizona State Sun Devils or an occasional minor league game. And every game I do watch, without fail, the song from “A League of Their Own” goes through my mind. This used to be my playground. Because for me, as a kid, it really was. And I can’t help but get choked up. The pain that she caused by leaving me three times is great. But nothing in comparison to the pain I would experience if I allowed it to happen again.
Thanks for taking the time to read.
“This Used To Be My Playground,” from the movie “A League Of Their Own.” Sung by Madonna. Written by Madonna and Shep Pettibone. Sire Records
I’m one of those people who just have never liked sequels. Or remakes, for that matter. Once I’ve seen a movie, the sequel(s) usually turn out to be more of the same, and don’t live up to the hype. Sure, there are a few exceptions: Back To The Future II was pretty good, but that was planned from the get-go. Although the third installment, true to form, left something to be desired. All three Final Destination flicks were pretty good, too, if you like that genre. There are a few others-very few. But I stopped after the second Rocky, the first Rambo, and the first Lethal Weapon. I guess I just didn’t see the point. My kids did convince me to watch the remake of When A Stranger Calls about a year ago. Having seen the original, the second offering was a waste of time. Even they thought so, and they hadn’t seen the first one. But want to.
As the Phoenix Suns are once again flying high, though the recent back to back losses have them sitting at 11-4, (yawn), I can’t help but think that we’ve seen this all before. As usual, their big three of Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, and Amare Stoudemire will guarantee that they are one of the more formidable teams in the league, and a joy to watch. And again, their top seven players-add in Raja Bell, Grant Hill, Leandro Barbosa, and Boris Diaw-are probably as good as anybody’s. Throw in Brian Skinner, who has been a pleasant surprise in the middle with his athleticism, shot blocking, and ability to connect from mid-range AND the free throw line, and you have an eight man squad that I’d put money on against anyone. Just as I would have on last year’s eight. Problem is, NBA teams are allowed to dress 12. Which most nights are wasted wages to those who collect a paycheck for laundering the Suns’ jerseys.
That wasn’t the case in the preseason or the first couple weeks of the season. As head coach Mike D’Antoni does every year, he gave decent minutes to backup point guard Marcus Banks, frontliner Sean Marks, and sniper Eric Piatkowski. And the team’s two rookies, D.J. Strawberry and Alando Tucker, saw significant time in the preseason, adding an energy on both ends of the court that stuck out like a sore thumb. Tucker was recently sent to the developmental league, and Strawberry may be headed there too in the not-to-distant future. I have a hard time believing that another team as much in need of young, quick guard play as the Suns are wouldn’t be able to find a spot for these guys in the rotation.
It appears that D’Antoni’s main problem with Marcus Banks is that he’s not Steve Nash. But nobody is. And after some steady performances and a solid game against the Kings just over a week ago, in which he was leading the break, throwing some no-look passes, and playing solid defense, Banks hasn’t seen the floor. In the same time, Nash’s average minutes per game have risen slightly, from around 33 prior to just under 36 since. And while Nash is playing at an unbelievable level right now, there are still 60-plus games to go. This is not an indictment of Nash, but everyone knows that, while in excellent condition, he would be best served by scaling back on the playing time a bit. Common sense would say that an average of around 30-32 minutes per game, and 16-18 for Banks, would serve both players much better come May. But unfortunately, I’ve seen this before. It won’t happen.
Grant Hill was immediately anointed a starter upon his inking the contract, and I’m not sure why. Not that he doesn’t have a starter’s ability, but his current average of 35 minutes per game-we’re still in November-doesn’t bode well for the spring. The optimum situation would have been bringing Hill off the bench for 20-25 minutes, to keep him and everyone else relatively fresh throughout the season. But as we have seen, a definite pattern has been established. A prequel, if you will.
Today, D’Antoni lamented in the East Valley Tribune (www.eastvalleytribune.com) that his team doesn’t seem to be enjoying themselves much these days. While they’re still winning, they don’t have the enthusiasm of the team from three years ago. Which is somewhat understandable, since the pressure then was almost non-existent compared to now. But at the same time, a deeper rotation and an infusion from the bench, including the afore-mentioned rookies, could do nothing but help the overall attitude. He went on to say that his team was playing uptight and without the free flowing energy of years past. Hey coach, you think it’s bad now? Wait until the end of the season, when those top seven or eight guys on your roster have the off-season in the back of their mind so they can get some rest. You no longer have to defend yourself when it comes to your style of play. We saw last year you have no qualms about going head to head with Dallas or San Antonio. Nor do you have to explain your team’s lack of consistent defense. It has shown that, in a big game, it can play it when it has to-provided you have all yours weapons at your disposal. More on that to follow. But, as has been written by yours truly in this space in the past, you have yet to answer the shallow bench criticism. And therein lies the problem.
Three years ago, the revamped Suns sprinted to the best record in the league, but lost to the Spurs in the conference finals, even though Stoudemire was a beast, averaging 37 points per game. A healthy Joe Johnson, who broke his face against Dallas in the previous round, may have helped. But not to worry. This was a team on the rise. Two years ago, Stoudemire was on the shelf and two new starters were replacing Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson. But despite all the doom and gloom predictions, and thanks to Nash’s second MVP season and a season for the ages from Shawn Marion, the overachieving Suns once again slipped into the conference finals, where they lost to the Mavericks in six games. We could’ve done without Raja Bell pulling a calf muscle, though. Especially since the rotation was already stretched about as thin as could be. Last season, I was convinced that the Suns were getting over the hump. Their two long winning streaks, their late season erasure of a 15 point fourth quarter deficit at Dallas to win in overtime, and their victory at San Antonio in game four of their series after trailing by 11 midway through the fourth told me the Suns were tough, hungry, and ready. Well, at least eight of them were. But when the eight became six, they came up short yet again. Even in game five, without Stoudemire and Diaw, the Suns led throughout until late in the fourth. Then they ran out of gas. Kind of like a sequel that tries to thrive off the previous edition. It just never seems to work.
Perhaps next off-season, the trade rumors regarding Shawn Marion will be replaced by the search for a new coach. Which would make a lot more sense. Without Marion, the Suns are no better than a five seed. After all, the Suns have won with a ####ed-up-Nash. They’ve won without Stoudemire. But without the ever-durable and supremely consistent Marion, they would be at a loss. And without D’Antoni? Who knows. But his window, if not the Suns', is about to be closed for maintenance. I know. I've already seen this movie.
(Subtitle: Palaver (noun) a: idle talkb: misleading or beguiling speech)
NBA Commissioner David Stern used the above word in an interview with Dan Patrick last spring. It was used as he was referring to all of the backlash over the Suns-Spurs series and the “palaver” being bandied about regarding the suspension of two Suns, while a similar violation committed by the Spurs in the same game went unpunished. When Patrick confronted him with it, (prompting the use of the “P word”) Stern’s arrogance and defensiveness instinctively kicked in. Not to his discredit though, as apparently he can’t react any other way. After all, we all know his officials are the most knowledgeable, most well-trained, and most competent in all of sports. If you don’t believe me, just ask him. And to those who thought his opinion may be muffled a bit after the Tim Donaghy disaster, think again. It’s almost as if it had never happened. Donaghy was a “rogue, isolated criminal” according to Stern in his late June press conference. Sure he was. And you, Mr. Stern, are a top-notch commish, despite all the palaver that you deflect. Well, you’re no Bud Selig, but you’re well on your way.
Chris Sheridan wrote earlier today, (Quoting Stern here) “Technically, it turns out every single current NBA referee has gambled in some form, after all -- although none of them are going to be punished for it. And, strange as it may seem, those very same referees will now be permitted to gamble in a multitude of ways.”
That can do nothing but help the game, right Mr. Stern? Who doesn’t want refs gambling? (Public Service Announcement: Are you an NBA official who’s tired of those annoying phone calls saying “When are you going to pay up, punk?” Call 1-800-DONAGHY. We’ll handle any case, no matter how big or small. Stern & Co. We'll go to bat for you. We're so sure we'll come out ahead, we'll bet on it).
Sheridan continues, “Stern said an internal review had found that all [ALL? So you admit it and stillchoose to do nothing??] of the league's 56 referees violated the contractual prohibition against engaging in gambling, with more than half of them admitting to placing wagers in casinos. But Stern said none of the violations was major, and no referees had admitted to wagering in a sports book or with a bookie.
‘ “Our ban on gambling is absolute, and in my view it is too absolute, too harsh and was not particularly well-enforced over the years," ‘ Stern said. ‘ "We're going to come up with a new set of rules that make sense." ‘
Uh, folks, if that ain’t “palaver,” I don’t know what is. Or dare I say absolute palaver? And did an official leave the general vicinity of the blackjack table during a hand? After all, a rule is a rule . . .
But wait, it gets better, in the same article from Sheridan. "It's too easy to issue rules that are on their faith violated by $5 Nassau, sitting at a poker table, buying a lottery ticket and then we can move along," Stern said. "And by the time I got through and I determined going into a casino isn't a capital offense ... I'm the CEO of the NBA and I'll take responsibility."
No, you won’t. That’s obvious, you arrogant no-mind. And no matter how often
you try to convince us otherwise, we’re not buying it. Just like we haven’t
bought your assertion, or should I say insistence, regarding your stellar
officiating crew. What they did on the court has always been there for all the
world to see. Obviously, what they do off the court doesn’t really matter either.
And neither do these rules you speak of. The fact of the matter is, Mr. Stern, is
that your employees broke your rule, and you are doing nothing about it.
Responsibility? Sounds like more palaver from you if you ask me. But I wouldn’t
ask me if I were you.
Mr. Stern will be at The Improv all week. Don’t forget to tip your bartenders and
waitresses.
Thanks for taking the time to read my palaver.
(And for even more intriguing prose on related topics, see my post from 06/27/07, entitled "David Stern, Teflon No More.)
TEMPE, AZ.- Following Arizona State’s 44-20 victory over the Washington Huskies, Sun Devil athletic director Lisa Love made a somber announcement at the post game press conference. The win pushed Arizona State to 7-0 on the season and 4-0 in the Pac-10. And their ranking, 14th coming into the contest and a possible top 10 ranking next week, gives Sun Devil football a lot of momentum. However, the feel-good moment was short lived. Love solemnly disclosed that the Sun Devil football program would be shut down for a week, and would not re-open until two weeks from tonight, on October 27th against the Bears of Cal. Love cited necessary maintenance to the team bandwagon for the decision.
“With all that’s gone on this season, such as several highly-touted teams losing, both in the conference and nationally, we-well, actually I, it was my decision-decided it was time to prepare the Sun Devil bandwagon for the road ahead. These preparations will include an oil change, new tires, replacing the shocks, spark plugs, and just a full maintenance inspection in general. Any areas of concern will be addressed and rectified.” In addition, the seating area on the bus is to be renovated to accommodate approximately 5,000 more fans according to Sparky, who commented on the condition that he not be identified.
“We just felt that the time is now to ensure that there will be no glitches as we head to the home stretch. It’s unfortunate, and it is with great regret that I am announcing that our game against Bye next week will be canceled. Please note that this is being done with the sole intention of ensuring that those who already use the bus and those who will use it the remainder of the season will be able to do so in the utmost comfort. It’s the fans we care about, and we will always keep their best interests at the forefront of what we do here in Tempe.”
Following the Sun Devils 523 yards of total offense against the Huskies, including 296 yards on the ground, the momentum is certainly in their favor. Add to this the fact that they find themselves the lone unbeaten team in the Pac-10 conference, and Love’s decision seems to be a wise one, though unprecedented.
“Our game against the Cal Bears at Sun Devil Stadium on the 27th of this month will be played as scheduled,” Love continued, “and I guarantee you that the bandwagon will be back better than ever at that time. We are simply trying to be proactive in this matter. If it fails to work out, I will take full responsibility. Well, along with my advisor of course, Rick O.” Oddly, Love had a look of satisfaction while answering subsequent questions and upon making her way out of the press conference.
Head Coach Dennis Erickson, when reached for comment, joked, “She’s the boss. She hired me, so she obviously knows what she’s doing. Seriously though, I think it’s a great decision on her part. We’ve got some guys who could use the rest on both sides of the ball. And let’s face it, the bandwagon could use a little expansion.”
Thanks for taking the time to read.
{Obligatory but probably unnecessary disclaimer: This post was written as fiction. Well, most of it.}
{Or, for those of you not familiar with the David Bowie number, I’ll translate the title: “Moving Marion Would Mark Beginning of End for Suns”}
The Phoenix Suns’ 2007-08 marketing campaign carries a heavy dose of the phrase “Planet Orange,” though it was unsure as this went to press whether the team was referring to one of the Suns’ colors, along with purple, or the area’s lucrative citrus yield. Suns forward extraordinaire Shawn Marion made it public recently that he would like to be traded, citing a weariness of being mentioned in trade rumors during the last few off-seasons. Contrary to popular opinion, there’s not always fire where there’s smoke, but to think the team hasn’t at least had a serious discussion or two on the matter would be naïve. Which can be taken one of two ways; the Suns think that swapping Marion for a player or two would ease their financial situation, or that the rest of the league thinks enough of the Suns highest paid player that a plethora of inquiries have been made regarding his availability.
It would be easy to criticize Marion in this situation, as some of his recent comments may have been a little hard for Suns fans to ####, such as “It’s like a bad marriage. It doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong, both people should just move on,” or, when asked if he was excited about the prospect of joining the Lakers, replied, “Why wouldn’t I be? You have a great organization, a great ownership there with the Lakers.” And when you sharpen your pencil and devise a Matrix with the following given equations--Kobe Bryant has requested to be moved from the Lakers more than once due to a poor, feebly-run management, and Marion’s apparent desire to play with Bryant and his “great organization,”--the contradiction screams louder than the rim does after a half-court alley-oop from Steve Nash to the outstretched right arm of a soarrrrrrrring Marion, floating in a most peculiar way.
Yes, the comments were a little much. However, I for one will cut Marion some slack, due to the frequency and significance of deposits he has made into the appreciation account, so to speak. In other words, considering the comments came from a player who was picked out of UNLV as a relatively unheralded first rounder, (if that’s possible for the ninth overall pick--hire THAT scout as your next GM, sports fans), then worked his rear end off to be the best small forward in the game today, whether the Suns were an also-ran or a playoff team, he gets the benefit of the doubt here. Hard to imagine what this team would be without him.
With Amare Stoudemire out for the ’05-’06 season and two other starters from the previous year’s western conference finals team gone-Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson-most pundits wrote the Suns off. But after a season in which Marion reached rarified air-more on that later-they found themselves in the conference finals again. A perfect example of Marion’s worth came just prior to that, during the second round playoff series against the Clippers, when Marion guarded point guard Sam Cassell one game and power forward Elton Brand the next. He also spent a significant amount of time defending Corey Magette. It’s also worth noting that he averaged 25.6 PPG and 12.6 RPG in that series. Is there a player in the league whom you would trade Marion for that would be as adept at carrying out these assignments? Maybe a couple. And could one argue that Marion is more valuable to the Suns than Stoudemire? Perhaps.
(Obligatory statistics paragraph to follow. Please bear with me). Many have said that the addition of Steve Nash prior to the 2003-04 season has inflated Marion’s value, and that Marion is a “product of the system.” I won’t address the latter because, in a team sport, how many athletes’ productions are NOT results of the system? Very few. As for the former statement, let’s ponder that more closely. Over the three year period before Nash joined the Suns, 2001-2004, Marion scored 4741 points in 242 games. In the three seasons since, Marion has scored 4761 points in 241 games. Note the consistency in those numbers for a minute, and take note of his games played in all six of those seasons: 81,81,79,81,81,80, with more than one of those games missed being a late season rest. Marion’s average PPG pre-Nash; 19.6. With Nash; 19.8. Now let’s look at Nash’s numbers over the same time period. In the three seasons before joining the Suns, 2001-2004, Nash had 1919 assists in 242 games. After joining the Suns, he accumulated 2571 assists in 227 games over the last three seasons. The bottom line? Nash before; 8.0 assists per game. Nash since; 11.2 assists per game. It goes without saying that there are several other factors involved in these stats, and that they are simply that-stats. But can one make the case that Marion has made Nash better? And while I’m on the subject, I’m still trying to figure out how the Matrix could have a season like he did in ’04-’05, when The Matrix was in the top 20 in the following categories: Scoring (17th-21.8 PPG), Field goal pct. (52.4, 18th), rebounding (4th-11.8 RPG), blocks (18th), steals (6th), minutes played (7th), double-doubles (tied for second), Pts./Rebs./Assts. (11th), and 3rd in the league in ‘efficiency rating,’ whatever that is. Sounds good, though. Not to mention he shot 81% on his free throws during the season and 88% in the playoffs. Yet got all of one fifth-place MVP vote. ONE. If you can find me another player who had a season like that -who isn't 6'10" or bigger- and he’s probably in Springfield or will be someday. Perhaps the hurdle facing Marion and his level of appreciation is that he is definitely a unique specimen, or at least one who hasn’t achieved this level of success, and we really don’t know what to make of him. We’ve seen great leapers, great defenders, great dunkers, and great quickness from the forward position. We’ve seen all the attributes Marion possesses, but never rolled into a single package like this. Not to beat a dead horse, but it’s hard to say Marion is fully appreciated when what he does for a basketball team is put into full perspective. And when you consider what the main cogs of the Marion trade rumors are being compensated and what they provide for their teams, one could almost make that case that Marion is underpaid. Almost.
Players involved in the Marion trade rumors the past year or so have included Jermaine O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Lamar Odom and a Laker to be named later (I’m on the edge of my seat), and Andre Kirilenko. Let’s eliminate three of them from realistic consideration right now. O’Neal, Odom, and Kirilenko all come with caveats. O’Neal could be a big help to the Suns if he’s motivated. Odom could fit in with the Suns if he can stay healthy. Kirilenko may be able to regain the form he showed a couple years ago, if he can gain the confidence of his teammates and coaches. But Jazz point guard Deron Williams’ recent comments stating that Kirilenko is the first to leave after practice after arriving last, and that Williams wouldn’t trust him as much as other teammates with a big shot, tell me all I need to know about him. I would want no part of AK47, which, in a bit or irony that is begging to be mentioned, could blow up the Suns for the foreseeable future.
Regarding Garnett, he is one of the very short list on players who may bring the Suns equal value. However, that move would give them a more specific type of player who would work well in certain matchups, rather than the flexible Marion, who works in nearly every matchup. Garnett playing the opposing team’s point or shooting guard is hard to imagine. Which would force the Suns to add yet another player to fill the bill. And since the league only allows five men on the floor at one time-unless you’re the San Antonio Spurs, of course-that deal makes little sense as well. And it must be pointed out that any of the above names don’t address the issues that really kept the Suns from winning the title last year; quality depth, D’Antoni’s unwillingness to go deeper than eight to see if he had quality depth, and a defensive upgrade.
{Note: as this went to press, word out of Suns’ camp is that Amare Stoudemire is going to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Not the knee that he had the microfracture procedure done, and he should only be out about a month. But this development does shine the light on Marion’s durability and value even more.}
Of course all of this brings us back to the subjects at hand; A) would the Suns be better off dealing Marion, and B) if not, can he and the team smooth over the perceived chemistry issues that may arise? Any trade attempted would be difficult to pull off salary-wise, and just as difficult to get equal value in return. Why? Because the time has come to declare Shawn Marion and his league-leading nickname, The Matrix, an elite player. And without an elite player coming back in the deal, it would be the beginning of the end for Suns chances to poke their head through the championship window that may be on the way down. There have been a few pundits who have made a significant issue out of the fact that Marion’s numbers have dipped in the playoffs. But after further review, that can be said about most players, since the playoffs pits the best teams against each other. And without Marion, the Suns can forget about winning 60 games during the season. Rather, they would settle in at around 45 to 50, and be no more than a five seed in the ultra-competitive western conference. As for the chemistry issue, if leading by example accounts for anything, the last member of the Suns who should be subject to criticism is Marion, as he more than any other Sun in recent history has been through the playoff wars. I find it hard to believe that he would play at anything less than what he has in the past. And frankly, if Boris Diaw and head coach Mike D’Antoni had progressed from the ’05-’06 season to last season like they should have, we may be talking about the Suns going for two straight. In short, Shawn Marion is not the problem, and trading him solves nothing, especially given the names that have been bandied about in return. And to avoid ignoring the obvious, if root of the problem is Marion’s request to be traded, address it. The Suns need to explain to Marion that a raise is simply not an option, due to the fact that they are already up against the cap. But a three year extension at a workable salary, with a no-trade clause, may be enough to placate him. That would end the trade rumors immediately, which should have been nipped in the bud two off-seasons ago. Would an extension somewhat handcuff the Suns? Maybe. If you can call having Marion, Nash, and Stoudemire under contract for the next three seasons a handcuff.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Suns’ organization may want to point out to Marion and his agent that a trade would do nothing to solve the recognition and respect issues he faces. He would be the same type of player on another team, and if that team is an also-ran, he’ll fade even farther into the NBA masses. Case in point-what would Dirk Nowitzki be on a .500 team? Come to think of it, not much different than last year. A very good player whose team got bounced in the first round. Or at best, an athletic seven footer who scores a lot. And Marion needs to look no further than former Sun Joe Johnson, who was quoted in the April 23, 2007 edition of ESPN magazine with the following comment, “I got a sense of satisfaction by showing my all-around package. But when the playoffs come around, I’ll be at home again.” Is this the sort of recognition you want, Shawn? The Matrix deserves to be on the NBA all-defensive team, and has for a few years now, as well as the first or second team all NBA, but being on a less successful team won’t help him one bit in either of those quests.
If an extension cannot be worked out over the next few months, the trade rumors will surface yet again next off-season, since the Suns are certain not to trade Marion while on their way to another very successful season. Act now, Planet Orange. Because when it comes right down to it, you have one of the most well-trained, well-conditioned, and talented basketball players in the league in tow. A player whom Don Nelson calls, “as important as anyone they’ve got.” Nelson played on Celtic championship teams and has subsequently coached in the league longer than many of its players have been alive.
In light of all this, The Matrix stated last week, “I’m a professional. I will be where I’m supposed to be.” And if you’re not, Shawn, Planet Orange will be blue, and there’s nothing we can do.
Thanks for taking the time to read. And thanks to www.eastvalleytribune.com, www.nba.com, and www.basketball-reference.com. And thanks to Shawn Marion. Shawn, your fans here love you very much, you know? I hope the Planet Orange spaceship knows which way to go. Can you hear me, Major Shawn?
Let's get something straight here, folks. For those who don't remember, Mr. Bud Selig was in command during the '94 strike, the subsuquent home run explosion of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in '98, and everything since. Blame Barry if you must, but the fact of the matter is that Selig and his cronies allowed all of this to go on. And in a fitting display, Selig had his hands in his pockets when Bonds hit #755. No one should be surprised by this. It's the same place his hands were when all of this started. Same s***, different year.
Glad you a-holes ran Faye Vincent out of office.
How does that egg taste, Bud? Get used to it. There's lots more where that came from.
In the past week, we were hit with another perfect example of why Pete Rose has yet to sniff Cooperstown. Depending on our allegiances, we sports fans will put up with just about anything. Michael Vick still has his supporters, as do Pacman Jones and Barry Bonds. But blindside the American public with a revelation that the playing field wasn’t level, and that we were fooled in the process? Different story, indeed. When we learn that we put stock into a competition where the outcome may have been unduly and unnecessarily influenced, we don’t take it too well. Once a shred of credibility is attached to a falsified outcome, conspiracy theories run amok. Whether it’s a fixed game or the JFK assassination, they are there, although most are simply too far-fetched, too over the top, or can be made to sound far too convenient. What fueled the fire of the problem, of course, is that doubt was created in the first place.
At his recent press conference regarding Tim Donaghy, David Stern appeared as we’d never seen him before; a defendant painted into a corner on the witness stand, rather than the confident-some would say over confident-head of the NBA. Stern has been lauded often for his achievements as commissioner, though one has to wonder how difficult it must have been to take over a league that had already had the kick-start of a lifetime courtesy of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, who were entering their prime, and was about to add a soon-to-be-superstar named Michael Jordan in Stern’s first season.
Critics of Stern would cite things such as a sometimes arrogant and condescending manner, (witness his interview with Dan Patrick on ESPN radio during the Suns-Spurs series, which, in a classic bit of irony, came roughly a week after Donaghy officiated game three), his staunch position that his officials were the most well-trained, best qualified, and most highly monitored in all of sports, and his tendency to sound as though he was lecturing us feeble-minded basketball fans. And those critics wouldn’t be too far off on any of these.
Without a doubt, NBA basketball is the most difficult to officiate of all the major team sports. Nearly every call, from traveling to three seconds to almost every foul, is a judgment call, and being an NBA referee is an unenviable task indeed. However, Stern’s unconditional defense, or should I say outright praise, of his referees in the past has grated on many. Especially since the product on the floor has not measured up, in the opinion of the vast majority of fans. And when one takes into consideration his decisions regarding the situations of some of his officials in recent history, i.e., the cash-for-first-class-tickets and some bouts with tax evasion, his track record suddenly becomes very ordinary. I’m all for giving folks a second chance, but since Stern tried to convince us ad nauseum that his league’s standards were much higher, one has no choice but to come to the conclusion that Stern did not meet his own verbalized standards. On the credibility scoreboard, he needs a slump-buster.
Stern said in his press conference, “I feel betrayed by what happened on behalf of the sport, regardless of how protective I’ve been.” Two observations come to mind. First, at least he admitted he’s been protective. We all knew it, and he’s now acknowledging it. That’s a start. Secondly, he is not the only one who feels betrayed. NBA fans do too. And when all is said and done, we are the ones who dictate the success of his league. With the finals ratings spiraling downward, Mr. Stern cannot afford to misstep on this one. Since some cynics will say, for example, that Mr. Stern is more of the problem rather than the solution, since it may come out and be verified that Donaghy had prior gambling issues that the league knew about, Stern is now in a zero tolerance position.
Stern’s new ball didn’t work out very well. Neither did his own zero tolerance answer to players, coaches and in some cases owners, who complained about the quality of officiating, only to have Stern respond with quicker technical fouls being called and even stiffer fines for the critics. His “best officials in all of sports” never were, and it was downright laughable that he consistently preached otherwise. Mr. Stern is living in our world now, his attention diverted towards trying to figure out how to fix a game that once was great, (and that a great game was only once fixed?), rather than trying to convince us that all is well, and how dare we infer otherwise. And if the trade off is his paying less attention to what his players wear off the court and more to the legitimacy of the game on the court, I will gladly take it. If another trade off is the ceasing of his convoluted view of the quality of officiating for a consistent, unbiased application of the rule book, I’ll take that too. In a heartbeat. It’s what we’ve all been yearning for all along.
We may learn down the road that the problem runs deeper than “A rogue, isolated criminal,” as Stern said in reference to Donaghy in the press conference. He also said that it was limited to only one, as far as he knew. But a couple months ago he would have STERN-ly admonished us for implying that there was even one doing it. For the sake of you and the league, Mr. Stern, I certainly hope you’re right this time. The ball--the classic leather version hopefully--is in your court. Now tap into those millions of dollars in fines you’ve collected and address an upgrade in officiating. It's unfortunate it's taken this dilemma for you to do so, but at least the funds will be put to good use.
As is the case every year, there has been an abundant amount of words spent on how difficult this year’s U.S. Open will prove to be. Some are calling this year’s site, the Oakmont Country Club, the toughest Open venue there is, which would be hard to believe after Winged Foot last year, and Pinehurst, Shinnecock, and Bethpage Black in recent years. But this year, the source of the carnage, if there is indeed any, will be of a different nature. At 7,230 yards, Oakmont is not one of the longer U.S. Open venues. In fact, the course is only slightly over 300 yards longer than when the first Open was held there in 1927. Granted, at par 70, it lends itself naturally to scores over par, but with the length being what it is, the major hurdles this week will come from on and around the greens. In fact, it’s been reported that greens will vary greatly in their speed (from 11.5 up to 15 on the stimpmeter) due to elevation and how much sun and wind they are objected to based on where they are located on the course. Not to mention the severe undulations that exist on nearly every green. While the two par fives on the course both measure over 600 yards and the 288-yard par 3 eighth hole is a bit ridiculous, it also has four par fours under 400 yards, almost unheard of by today’s standards. So it’s not the overall length of the course that will cause the heartache, it’s the greens, and three-putts and even four-putts may be commonplace.
All of this may add up to what a lot of golf fans have been waiting for; something that opens up the field to everybody, even the short hitters. Whether this actually plays out is anybody’s guess, and make no mistake, longer hitters will always have an advantage. Provided they can place it where they need to be. But this course may level the playing field somewhat. Figuratively speaking, of course.
Without further ado, here is who I think we’ll be watching come the weekend of the 107th U.S. Open.
Is it their time/Are they ready?
-Adam Scott-Greatness has been predicted and expected for this Aussie for several years. And those expectations got even greater after he won the 2004 Player’s Championship. His current driving accuracy stats (59.65% of fairways hit, 109th on tour) could be his undoing this week. But if he can find a way to maneuver his way around Oakmont, his putting (currently 10th on tour) could secure his first major. At just 26, is he ready? Perhaps.
-Luke Donald-His driving distance is nothing to write home to England about (159th), but his accuracy is (21st). This week, that’s a combination that may bode very well for the 29-year old. He also has five top-ten finishes in 13 events this year, and is ranked ninth in the world. He may be jumping up a bit after this weekend, if he has the maturity to be patient.
-Sergio Garcia-Believe it or not, Sergio is 27th in putting this year. He has long had a tee-to-green game rivaling anyone’s, but it’s been his putter which has let him down many times. Unfotunately, his driving accuracy is way down this year, as he currently ranks 161st on tour. But this week, he may be able to get around that. With Oakmont not being beastly long, as I mentioned, he can probably get away with hitting a fairway wood or long iron off the tee on many holes. If he has the mental discipline to do so. If he can keep it in the short stuff, I like his chances. A lot.
Is it now or never? These players have not won a major, and time is running out . . .
-Stewart Cink-Had a nice run at the Open from ’98-01, including three top tens. And other than his driving accuracy this season, his stats are all pretty good (33rd in both putting and greens in regulation this season). Find a way to keep it in the short grass, Stewart. Many of us are pulling for you. You’ve had many a close call in majors before, and we’d like to see you win one.
-Padraig Harrington-Hard to believe he is 36 already. Like Cink, he has hung around long enough to win a major on more than one occasion, but it just hasn’t happened for him yet. If not for his disastrous finish last year, he may be the defending champion. He has the game, and if he can put the close-but-no-cigars out of his mind long enough, which is much easier said than done, he could very well be your 2007 U.S. Open winner.
-Colin Montgemerie-No one will dispute the fact that Monty has the game. His achievements are well-chronicled. His best chance may have come last year. After hitting a near-perfect drive on the final hole, he had a mid iron into the green. Always a strong iron player, he hit the one shot that he no doubt will think about for the rest of his life if he never wins a major. His short-and-right second shot into thick rough led to a double-bogey, when a par would have won and a bogey would have put him in a playoff. Monty has had one of the world’s most well-rounded, and best, games for a long time. But he’ll be 44 later in the month, and the clock is ticking on his elusive first major victory. It would be a shame if he never wins one. It could very well be now or never for Colin.
Do no be surprised, even a little, ‘cause you heard it here first, if . . .
-Steve Stricker wins. There are certain players who always seem to show up in tournaments like the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship. Players who have a solid game and the mindset to compete in those; Payne Stewart, Lee Janzen, Corey Pavin, etc. Players who may not be much of a factor at other majors, but have the formula to fair well in certain venues like the two I mentioned. They hit fairways, hit greens, and make a few putts. In the late ‘90s, Stricker was becoming one of those, and appeared on the doorstep of the elite players’ home. He knocked a few times, but couldn’t get in. He finished fifth at the U.S. Open in both ‘98 and ’99, and second in the PGA in ’98. Great things were on the horizon. But as we all know, golf is one of the most fickle of sports. He did win the Accenture Match Play title in ’01, and finished tenth at the Masters the same year. But then, for whatever reason, he fell on hard times for the next few years. In 2005, he lost his fully-exempt card for the first time since ’97 after finishing outside the top 150 on the money list for the third straight year. But in ’06, he was back, winning comeback player of the year award. He’s back even farther now, and up to 22nd in the world rankings. Look for him to be a major factor this week. And don’t be surprised if he’s holding the trophy on Sunday.
-K.J. Choi wins. Another player who flies a little under the radar, but always seems to show up in major championships. He’s got the game for this layout. And his victory at the Memorial a couple weeks ago, where he came from five shots down at the start of the final round, showed a stalker’s mentality that I don’t think he knew he had. But he does. And he’s mentally strong enough to win this week.
Maybe someday, but not just yet
-Aaron Baddeley, Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, and Trevor Immelman-I would be surprised if all of these don’t win a major by the time they’re done. But the U.S. Open is as much of a mental test as it is about talent. Each of these are stellar shotmakers, and players on the rise. They will be a factor in this tournament for years to come. Perhaps as soon as next year. But not quite yet.
The Favorites
-Tiger Woods-If I need to expound on this, you’ve clicked on a golf blog by mistake. And it would be hard for you to expla
