Bloggers' Roundtable: Best Week 6 College Football Game

This week is probably the most interesting college football week so far this season. With conference schedule in full swing, we are treated to 6 match-ups between AP Top 25 teams. This week will help determine whether or not the B1G will even be in the discussion for a team for this years playoff as #19 Nebraska travels to #10 Michigan St. This week will help determine who are the truly competitive teams in the SEC West which currently has 6 of its 7 teams in the Top 15. All of those teams play each other this week as #3 Alabama travels to #11 Ole Miss for College GameDay, #5 Auburn welcomes #15 LSU and #12 Mississippi St. coming off its upset of LSU welcomes #6 Texas A&M to Starkville.

With such competitive match-ups and interesting narratives in each series, this week we asked our bloggers which college football game they were most excited for.

Rick Saxe - Featured Blogger - Nebraska at Michigan St.

The Big Ten has greatly faltered as of late, as it has been tougher than ever to find a solid team in the conference. The last undefeated team standing is Nebraska--currently 19th overall in the country--and they will be going to play a Michigan State team that has suffered a loss this season, but is still rated 9th spots ahead of Nebraska at 10th overall in the country. This game is certainly intriguing, and will give us a better idea of who the powerhouses in the Big Ten are--or if they simply don't exist.

Matthew Hakimian - Lead Editor - Stanford at Notre Dame

Stanford vs. Notre Dame stands out to me in a week filled with incredible matchups. I'm still not sold on Brian Kelly's squad, especially after their abysmal 2013 season. However, Everett Golson looks tremendous so far after being away from the team last season, and he has to be mentioned among the early Heisman favorites. Stanford had a tough loss earlier in the season against USC so we know that David Shaw is going to have his guys fired up in this rivalry game. Both teams have College Football Playoff aspiration so it should be an awesome game.

Stephen Dreznick - Featured Blogger - Stanford at Notre Dame

There are a lot of Top 25 match-ups in college football this week, but the one I am most excited for is the #14 Stanford Cardinals traveling to South Bend to play #9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame is coming off of a victory against Syracuse, and quarterback Everett Golson has been playing well this year. Stanford has allowed the fewest points per game in the NCAA this year. It will be interesting to watch this potent Notre Dame offense go up against the best defense in college football.

Thomas Kroner - Featured Blogger - Alabama at Ole Miss

Although I should say Cornell's home and Ivy League opener against Yale, since I go here and all. But lets be real, there are 6 inter Top 25 games on Saturday. If I have to choose one, I'm going Alabama at Ole Miss, the winner of this will have a serious leg up in the SEC and National Title race.

Robert Lee - Contributor- LSU at Auburn

The most intriguing College Football game of the week for me is LSU at Auburn. LSU has announced that it will be starting true freshman, Brandon Harris, for this week's game, and it will be interesting to see how this highly touted freshman will handle himself on the road in a hostile environment. On the other hand, this game is the beginning of a hellacious schedule for the Auburn Tigers. They already have a marquee victory against Kansas State; however, of the remaining 8 games, they will have to face 6 ranked team plus South Carolina. This game against LSU could be the beginning of the end or beginning of their journey to the College Playoff for Auburn.

Cole Finke - Contributor - Stanford at Notre Dame

Come on, we go to Cornell. What is more exciting than watching than watching two football and intellectual powerhouses play in one of the biggest rivalries in college football. Stanford coaches even call their old-fashioned, smash-mouth football style “intellectual brutality.” The Cardinal remain one of the last teams in college football that play a traditional style: running a slow offense, pounding the ball in the I-formation and playing solid defense. Meanwhile, the Fighting Irish are off to a solid 4-0 start and are ranked in the Associated Press top ten. The atmosphere in Notre Dame Stadium will be wild, as the Notre Dame faithful and the famous Touchdown Jesus will watch their Fighting Irish attempt to beat Stanford for only the second time in six years. This is definitely not one to miss.

Why People Should Watch the FIBA World Cup

For those of you who may not know, the FIBA World Cup is in the middle of their 2014 competition, taking place in Spain. Team USA has concluded pool play undefeated, as most expected, but not without a scare from Omer Asik and Turkey who were up five at halftime. The round of 16 commences Saturday the 6th and continues Sunday the 7th, with the championship game taking place a week later on the 14th at 3pm EST. While I don't expect hordes of people packed in to humid summer parks, making it seem as if no one in the city of Chicago has a job, in the same manner that Americans did for the World Cup of Soccer. This tournament is still worth your attention and here some reasons why.

1. Team USA is one of the favorites to win the whole thing. Other than the host nation of Spain, no other country is expected to give the Red, White and Blue a serious run for their money. This being said, America has already found itself trailing at halftime to Turkey and late in to the second quarter vs. the Ukraine (seriously that actually happened) so a trip to the finals is far from guaranteed. This still greatly trumps the chances of the US had at winning the FIFA World Cup. It might just be me, but I find it hard to ascertain the notion that winning 1 out of 4 games in a tournament means success like it did in Brazil. Kyrie, The Beard and co. will certainly give the States a much better opportunity to hoist the trophy at the conclusion of the event.

2. It gives everyone an excuse to wear their obnoxious America apparel they otherwise would only breakout maybe once or twice a year. Don't lie to yourself, we all have bought, or know someone whose bought a pair of tremendously overpriced American flag pants. Well it's time to bust those bad boys out in as close to a socially acceptable manner as you'll find outside the 4th.

3. The return of Derrick Rose. Oh he's too injury prone, he can't shoot, he's going to be soft now...just stop it. D-Rose is the only player not named LeBron or Kevin to win the MVP award since Obama has been in the Oval Office. For those who forgot, this is what he does. Although he may not be as much of a figurehead on this team, it's still the best opportunity to view a healthy D-Rose since the 2011-2012 season.

4. Teams other than America are actually worth watching. Spain obviously has the second best allotment of talent on their roster with the Gasol brothers, Serge Ibaka, Jose Calderon and others, but other teams with talent also deserve your attention. For instance, on Sunday the 7th Argentina faces off against Brazil in the round of 16, and while this isn't the same matchup it would have been on the soccer field, both teams have NBA talent. France, who also has a few NBA players (not Tony Parker unfortunately) will likely play Spain in the quarter-finals, another non-American match worth watching.

5. Even during the 20,30,40,50 and even 60 pops team U.S.A. delivers some rather amazing highlights. From lobs to The Brow, to the Splash Brothers dropping bombs, to Uncle Drew getting absurd buckets, the highlights are often worth watching for sheer entertainment value. Here are some of the best from Team U.S.A's run so far: 1, 2, 3, 4

6. This, the tournament's international flavor certainly adds a few things Americans aren't used to seeing in a typical basketball game.

So get rowdy, watch some games and hope America can take home the 'ship next Sunday. Don't worry you can check your fantasy football scores during timeouts.

Blogger Roundtable: Most Appealing Regular Season NFL Game

The passion for football in this country is unrivaled. It is because of this passion that the NFL manages to remain relevant in the news even during its offseason. The most recent news was the release of the 2014 regular season schedule and it did not disappoint. You want rivalry games? How does Brady v. Manning round 15, or Steelers v. Ravens, or Seahawks v. 49ers sound? You want a Super Bowl rematch? "Touchception" rematch? Division opponents battling it out for a playoff spot the last week of the season?The NFL schedule-makers listened to your requests and have ensured that all your wants will be met in 2014. Now as the hype for the season builds as the draft grows nearer, the question is which game is going to be the best.

We asked our bloggers which regular season NFL matchup is most intriguing. Here is what they had to say:

Thomas Kroner, Featured Blogger- Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

Disclaimer, I was born and raised in San Francisco. That being said, it should come as no surprise that my most anticipated matchup is Niners-Hawks on Thanksgiving night at Levi's Stadium. This is the first time the NFL's best rivalry meets during the season. Plus it's a home game for San Francisco, so they're more likely to come out with a W. I look for the first offensive play the Niners run to be some sort of screen or sweep action where Joe Staley comes around and gets to pancake Richard Sherman. Nothing would make me happier.

Stephen Dreznick, Featured Blogger- Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

The most appealing game of the regular season is the Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers matchup. Both teams have high profile defenses coupled with exceptional young quarterbacks. It will be interesting to see how Cam Newton plays against Seattle's secondary, which is in my opinion, the best defensive unit in the NFL. Also, Russell Wilson will have to face the likes of Luke Kuechly, one of the best young linebackers in the game who has the potential to be a future Hall of Fame player.

Rick Saxe, Featured Blogger- Redskins at Eagles

Definitely Week 3's matchup when Desean and the 'Skins get a shot at the Eagles. Desean Jackson has his chance to prove that Philly made a mistake letting him go. He has already stated that he looks forward to these games and wants them to regret their move. Can't wait to see him do it.

Matthew Hakimian, Featured Blogger- Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

The most attractive game for the 2014 season has to be the Seattle Seahawks at the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13. Easily the best rivalry in football at the moment, the Niners and Seahawks flat out hate the opposition. San Francisco has been on the cusp of a Super Bowl each of the last three years while Seattle is coming off a dominating championship performance. There is no doubt that San Fran will be seeking to avenge their loss in the thrilling NFC Title Game back in January. The stage will certainly be set for this Turkey Day clash in the new Levi's Stadium.

John Martin, Blog Contributor- Redskins at Eagles

The obvious answer to the question would be the NFC Championship Game rematch when the Seahawks travel to new Levi's Stadium to take on the 49ers on Thanksgiving Day. But the game I am more excited to watch due to how deeply rooted the bad blood is, is in Week 3 when the Redskins travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. This will be DeSean Jackson's first time back in Philadelphia, facing the team that cut him over "personal issues" after his best season in 2013. Jackson could have a big game against a pass defense that gave up the most yards during the 2013 regular season, as he seeks revenge against Chip Kelly and the Eagles' front office.

Be sure to comment below to let us know your opinion.

Reviewing My NBA Regular Season Preview

This is a response from the NBA preview posts I wrote at the beginning of the regular season. Let's see what I got right, and what I got not so right.

I'd say I was pretty spot on with my prediction about this year's abomination of a rookie class. I predicted that almost none of them would have productive seasons, and none of them did. I guess it could be argued that MCW did well, but how good of season can someone have on a team that almost set the record for most consecutive loses. I also implied that Ben McLemore and Cody Zeller had shots at a successful rookie campaign, if they did, they didn't take advantage of them.
My two potential new rivalries in the eastern conference were Brooklyn-Miami and Chicago-Indiana. The hopes of a potential central division rivalry all but evaporated when D-Rose went down for the season. The Heat and Nets had some moments during the season. They competed in a few close games (all of which the Nets won), culminating in Plumlee's questionable block of LeBron's dunk attempt. Although these rivalries didn't ignite in the regular season, these teams would face each other in the second round of the playoffs if they all advance. This would certainly have potential to spark a potential rivalry.

When speaking of expected outcomes for second year players I insinuated that both Damian Lillard and Harrison Barnes would have down years. For Lillard, just watch this. For HB-angout on the other hand, my prediction was considerably more accurate. His numbers went down and was even discussed in trade talks. All three of the sophomores I predicted to do well, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond and Dion Waiters, all did so.

When I predicted who would make the playoffs in each league I was right on the money in the west, sans my omission of the Suns as a potential playoff contending team. Both the Blazers and Mavericks made it back to the playoffs from the lottery just as I predicted. My eastern conference predictions on the other hand, could not have been more off.

For starters I had the New York Knicks in the playoffs, so much for that. One of my sleeper playoff teams was the Pistons, the other, was the Bucks. Yes you read that correctly, I predicted the 15 win Bucks would be in heavy contention for a playoff spot. Although in my defense how far off is 15 wins from the 8 seed in the east? I had neither the Bobcats or Raptors anywhere close to the playoff picture. Although I did have the Wizards on my radar, so there's that.

So what does this all mean? Pretty much nothing. It means, I know about as much as the analyst on ESPN. I'm no Nate Silver but I did have my fair share of accurate predictions. This year's playoffs are already too crazy. Too crazy for me to even potentially make an attempt at a finals prediction. All I know is they're just getting started and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Blogger Roundtable: NBA Draft Prospects

There is always hype going into a draft concerning a special few players who will go as lottery picks. Making the correct choice, or winning the lottery in a sense, requires an in-depth analysis of the top college prospects. The best player in the draft may not be the most pro-ready as of now, but that is the beauty of these athletes entering the league so young. They can be coached and molded into the ideal player.

We asked our bloggers which college prospect who has declared for the 2014 NBA Draft is going to have the best professional career. Here is what they had to say:

Stephen Dreznick, Featured Blogger- Andrew Wiggins

Andrew Wiggins will have the best professional career. He has the perfect build for a defender, since he is 6' 8" with an even bigger wingspan. There is minimal bust potential with Wiggins, because he will be able to shut down the opposing team's best player. Moreover, he has significantly developed his offensive game since arriving at Kansas, and the sky is the limit on this side of the ball. I could see Andrew Wiggins becoming a player of Kevin Durant's caliber, if not better.

Thomas Kroner, Featured Blogger- Aaron Gordon

This may be my Bay Area bias coming through, but I'd have to say Aaron Gordon. He's 6'8" with out of this world athleticism. He's also much more developed skill-wise, than his NBA comparison Blake Griffin was at the same point in their careers. If he gets drafted by a team that puts him in a good situation look for Gordon to blossom in the NBA.
 

Matthew Hakimian, Featured Blogger- Andrew Wiggins

This question is really contingent on whether or not Jabari Parker comes out or stays another year at Duke to play with Jahlil Okafor. The guy can score in any way he wants - he reminds me of a more physical Carmelo Anthony. If Parker doesn't come out though, Wiggins has the best chance to become a superstar from this year's class. Wiggins was the consensus top pick prior to this season, but he underperformed as a freshman at Kansas. He has a ton of potential, but he will definitely need to bulk up a bit if he wants to thrive in the NBA.

Max Fogle, Editor-in-Chief- Joel Embiid

It's really easy to dream on a guy like Embiid.  He's got the measurables (7'0'', 250 lbs.) and the production (11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game while averaging just 23.1 minutes). He's the best center prospect in a long time, and it's not hard to imagine him becoming a perennial All-Star.   The BIG thing working against the Cameroonian is his injury history, along with the recent track record of centers selected with top picks.  But if you are a team that is picking early, the best bet for an impact player is probably Embiid.

Be sure to comment below to let us know your opinion.

Turning the Big Dance into a National Holiday

Dear Mr. Obama,

I know you have a lot on your plate and all, but I have a modest proposal for you. After watching the amazing Kentucky-Michigan Elite Eight matchup, I was somewhat relieved, not because of the outcome of the game, but because I knew I could finally get back to my homework. There were only two games on this particular day of the tournament, I can't begin to describe how little I got done during the first round of the tournament.

So I must humbly suggest to you that you make the first Thursday and Friday of the NCAA March Madness Tournament national holidays. I'm aware there is currently a movement for similar action to be taken on baseball's opening day. I fully support this as well, but regard this as a completely separate request.

I'll admit that I haven't made it to all of my classes during the first two days of the tournament since I was 14. I, however, know i'm not the only one whose lost productivity during March Madness. According to Sebastian Posey of CBS, over 8 million hours are spent watching the tournament by people at their places of work. This equates to roughly $175 million lost during the tournament each year.

Not only do basketball enthusiasts and gambling addicts cost their companies money by watching March Madness at their offices, they also hurt their coworkers who actually strive to get work done. According to Posey, over one in three office computer systems completely shut down at some point during the first two days of the tournament, due to the strain places on them by the amount of streaming done for the games.

So I ask, does anyone get work done during the tournament? It appears that the answer is no. So what would two days off do except allow people to watch the games from their homes instead of their place of work. Plus, think of all the money the national and state governments could save by not having to pay the salaries of their employees for these two days.

People living in the eastern time-zone may not understand this work-basketball predicament, but put yourself in the shoes of someone on the west coast. Games out there start at 9am. About 2/3 games start before the average west coast 9-5er leaves the office, this doesn't account for any commute they may have. So of this year's games left coasters would have had to miss our include: OSU vs. Dayton, NC State vs. St. Louis, NDSU vs. Oklahoma, Mercer vs. Duke, SFA vs. VCU, and UNC vs. Providence.

At the end of the day, I really don't see a scenario in which my passion for basketball ever subsides enough for me to do anything productive during March Madness. Declaring the first Thursday and Friday national holidays would allow me and the millions of similarly unproductive people to better justify our viewing habits. I hope you consider my proposal.

Manziel for the Money

If i'm either Shahid Khan or Wayne Weaver (the owners of the Jacksonville Jaguars), i'm praying to the football gods that Johnny Football falls to the Jags in the upcoming NFL draft. The Jaguars are slated to pick third, and likely only have to worry about the Texans because the Rams already have their quarterback of the future. All football and personnel decisions aside, the Jags need Johnny Manziel in order to increase the monetary value of their organization.

According to a report issued by Forbes at the beginning of the 2013 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars were next to last in overall team value. Their recent on-field performance has done nothing to help their cause. Over the past few seasons the Jags have been fully enrolled at St. Ruggles University. 

This porous performance has led to a decrease in the number of fans willing to pay for tickets to watch their team. Last season Jacksonville ranked in the bottom five for attendance. This costs the team some serious cash flow as ticket sales comprise the number one revenue source for NFL teams. Manziel could help drastically alleviate this issue because at the very least he'll at least pack the stands for whatever team he plays for.
According to the site quoted above, the next most important source of revenue comes from merchandising. You need not look any further than the most recent collegiate mega-star turned NFL players to see why J. Football would bring home the bacon. Tim Tebow blew up as he led the Denver Broncos to a playoff victory in his second season, after sitting his first year. But before he blew up during Tebowmania, before he even played a down of NFL football, Tim Tebow had the highest selling jersey in all of the league. It's almost a certainty that Johnny Manziel's jersey would achieve similar levels of success.

Last season the Jaguars did not have a single player in the top 25 NFL jerseys sold. Compare that to the Cowboys, who had four players make the list. Referring back to the the list published by Pellegrino and Associates, third on the list of important factors for creating revenue in NFL is advertising. Jacksonville's small media market does them no favors in generating ad revenue for their team, but neither does the fact that they haven't had a marquee player in years. 

The marketing department down there would salivate over all the promotional strategies and potential endorsements that would be able to engage people across the 50 states. Johnny Manziel could bring the Jaguars national attention for something other than their awful on-field performance over the past few seasons. You already know, that from day one of training camp, multiple national media outlets would arrive on scene in Florida.

Of course, from a purely football standpoint, drafting Johnny Manziel appears to be anything but the slam dunk it is from a business point of view. For starters, many scouts have their trepidations as to whether Manziel can develop into the franchise caliber qb an organization expects from a top three pick. 

Then comes the issue of the excessive attention J. Football would get compared to his teammates, aka the Tebow/Manning/Brady effect. This can rub many of them the wrong way and lead to friction in the locker room. So from this perspective, maybe another pick would serve the Jaguars best. But if the goal of their owners is to make money, than Johnny Manziel is what they need.

Casual Fan's MLB Offseason Roundup

I think of myself as a decent fan of Major League Baseball. Yet, every spring I embarrassingly find myself puzzled as to how I could miss a fairly notable veteran has changed teams. Maybe I focus too much on other sports (Football, Basketball), but whatever the cause is, I'm here to help others avoid this feeling. Let's take a look at a few noteworthy offseason moves you may have missed.

Let's start off with a couple of acquisitions made by the Arizona Diamondbacks. They acquired Mark Trumbo back in December, via a three-team trade. Despite Trumbo's mediocre average (.250 for his career), the move makes sense for Arizona because of the pop he can offer their lineup. In his three full MLB seasons, Trumbo has averaged over 30 HRs per year, with a low mark of 29. The Diamondbacks had one player hit 15 or more last season.

They also signed veteran pitcher Bronson Arroyo to a fairly sizeable two-year, $23.5 million dollar contract just a few days ago. Arroyo provides veteran leadership, and durability (never once placed on the DL in the bigs) for the D-Backs. This is a move I'm betting most people missed as it didn't get much national attention. Likely because outlets like ESPN have so many other stories on their dockets (Super Bowl fallout, Winter Olympics, a weekend full of basketball, etc.).

Sticking with the theme of veteran pitchers coming to the NL West, a move that may have been overlooked was the Giants signing three-time All-Star pitcher Tim Hudson. San Francisco has us hoping he can recover from the ankle injury that sidelined him at the end of last season. Hudson has never posted an ERA at or above 4 and has won over 15 games in each of his last three full seasons. He's a good signing by the Giants, because there is almost no way he produces less than Barry Zito, the guy he's replacing.

This past offseason Rafael Furcal quietly signed a one-year deal with the Miami Marlins after missing all of 2013. A do-it-all type of middle infielder Furcal has done one thing consistently his whole career, and that's win. He's reached the playoffs in 9 of his first 13 MLB seasons. He could provide a young Marlins team (as if there exists any other kind) with some much needed leadership in the clubhouse.

Heath Bell, formerly known as a stout closer for the Padres and the guy who slid at the 2011 All-Star game. The Rays acquired the veteran reliever through a three-team trade. Although he likely won't close for them, he could be a very useful 7th or 8th inning guy. Bell did have over 40 saves three consecutive years in San Diego, so the talent is there, or at least it was.

Lastly, there's Dexter Fowler, who was traded to Houston this winter. Still fairly young (27), but a veteran in my book seeing as how he's been a fixture in Colorado's outfield since Obama's inauguration. Fowler seems to be forever trapped as someone known for his potential because of modest numbers and freakish athleticism. He's still a solid offensive contributor and covers a ton of ground in the outfield. The biggest reason for this trade flying under the radar, however, is because one of the teams involved is the Astros. Houston over the past three seasons has accrued over 320 loses, and in the process have become completely irrelevant sans the occasional joke at their expense.

This is not to say that these are the only offseason transactions of note. Clearly, the Cano's of the world matter, but most everyone who has had internet access over the past three months is aware of his change in address. These are the guys whose offseason headlines failed to garner headlines outside their local news markets. Hopefully this post helps some people avoid being negatively judged by their baseball-loving fans for not keeping up with hot-stove news this winter.

Weekly Blog Recap

Here's a rundown on all of the content on the blog this week:

(2/2) Why the Bulls-Cavaliers Trade Means More than You Think 
Incoming freshman Mitchell Myers makes his blog debut with this NBA trade analysis. This in-depth look at what Luol Deng means for the Cavs, and what Andrew Bynum and draft picks meant for the Bulls.

(2/3) Letter to 49er Fans
Featured Blogger Thomas Kroner pens this open letter following the San Francisco's disappointing playoff finish. This unabashedly biased piece comes off like an obituary, and a must-read for Bay Area fanatics.

(2/4) The Weekly Rant: Arbitration and Bullpen Construction
Max Fogle ponders if teams are acquiring veteran relief pitchers in order to keep the arbitration prices of their current bullpen low.  He reaches the conclusion that "proven closers" may actually represent relative bargains in the long run.

(2/5) Blogger Roundtable: Foreign Invasion- International Sports in the U.S.
Assistant Editor Adam Malz rounds up the bloggers for the weekly roundtable. This week's question? Which internationally popular sport has the most potential in the U.S.?  We all chime in without any understanding of how cricket is actually played,

(2/6)  Rivalry Wear Changing the Model
The blog profiles Rivalry Wear, an emerging sports apparel start-up with a unique e-commerce model.  It's innovative founders are two recent Cornell grads, so it's more than worth a read.

(2/7) Event Recap: NHLPA's Alex Dagg and Mathieu Schneider
We finally got around to posting Jon Levitan's recap from this awesome event last semester.  NHLPA officials Alex Dagg (Director of Operations) and Mathieu Schneider (Special Assistant) spoke to SBS members about labor relations in hockey, among a host of topics.  Schneider, a former All-Star and Stanley Cup winner discussed his playing career through a series of work stoppages.

(2/8) Batting Leadoff: Marginal Win Value and Dollars Per Win
Our partners at Batting Leadoff deliver premium baseball content, and this piece is no exception. See what factors need to be considered in evaluating baseball transactions.

Also, check out our Contributors Page to get to know our staff.  Contact information, career plans, and their sporting interests are all there. 

Letter to 49er Fans

Dear Niner Nation,

After a couple weeks since the NFC Championship Game it's time to take a deep breath and hold our heads once again. The past three seasons have been arguably the most heartbreaking stretch experienced by any fan base in North American professional sports.

Only but a few comparable stretches of heartbreak have plagued teams during the past few decades. In baseball, you have the Braves teams that won 14 straight division crowns, but won only one World Series. In basketball, you have Detroit who reached six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, yet again only one ring. 

You also have the Spurs teams of the past three seasons who got upset by an eight seed, lost four straight in the conference finals and we all saw what happened in those two games down in South Beach last year. The NFL has had the Bills teams that lost four consecutive Super Bowls.  Then there's the Patriots, who in the last three seasons combined to reach the exact same rounds of the playoffs as San Francisco.
 
What separates the heartbreak felt in San Francisco from those previously mentioned is just how close the deciding games were, and how long it's been since they've won the ultimate prize. If merely three plays went differently the 49ers could just as easily be three-peat Super Bowl champions. But they didn't, and the Bay Area must once again look toward next season. 

During Buffalo's run of Super Bowl appearances only one game was actually close. The other teams listed above either won it all during their span of heartbreak, or won one within a decade before their stretch.
 
The 49ers haven't won a Super Bowl since January 1995, a time when most people reading this were still in diapers. The post-Jeff Garcia and pre-Jim Harbaugh teams that I grew up watching gave the Niner Faithful all but zero to root for. Heck that goes for all Bay Area teams for that matter. 

From the time JT was thrown out at the plate in 2003, until the turn the decade and this, the five Bay Area franchises in three biggest sports combined for two playoff appearances. Somehow one of those was the Warriors. I highly commend the natives of the Bay who stood by their teams. With special admiration for my fellow 90's babies whose rooting interests were formed during this time frame. But I digress, back to the Niners.
 
Just think back a few years to the completion of the 2010 season that included a coaching change midway through the year. This marked the eighth straight season without a winning record. A ring was nowhere near the realm of possibility for most Niners fans. Flash forward to today, three consecutive NFC Championship Games reached, that's no small feat. 

Instead of sulking over the recent excruciating losses, Niners fans should rejoice over the success this unit has had. Because I know no one wishes to go back to how things were during most of the 00s. Plus think about it, for the first time in many seasons San Francisco has had consecutive years of genuine hope for the upcoming season. This spring and summer will be no different. SF returns the majority of their core, and resigning or finding comparable replacements for Boldin, Goodwin, and Whitner will place them right back at the elite level they've been at for the past few years.
 
Don't get me wrong, losing to that cheater Pete Caroll led, adderall and streroid abusing, "articulate" Stanford "graduate" smack talking, popcorn throwing fan condoning organization up north should sting. I'll openly admit that I almost cried after the game. 

The only thing that kept tears from flowing was the fact that I watched the game with two fellow San Franciscans whom I had just met and I wished to avoid becoming known in certain circles as "The Guy who Cried After the Niner Game." Nothing would make me happier than seeing Peyton Manning and that Bronco offense blow Seattle out of the water. Absolute worst-case scenario, the Hawks end up with 1/5 the number of Lombardi trophies currently held by the red and gold.
 
So fear not, things aren't as bleak as they seem. At the very least, just remember that most of the faithful are fortunate enough to live in The Bay, where winter isn't even a thing. As someone who recently moved to upstate New York, I can assure you that this is something to be truly grateful for. Once the offseason officially starts on Febraury 3rd and someone asks "Whose Got it Better?" you can bet your bottom dollar i'll give them the correct answer. I hope you'll do the same.

MLB and Youtube

In order to improve their appeal to young people, Major League Baseball needs to make up for lost time on YouTube. For years the MLB kept their video content off of YouTube, disallowing anyone from putting MLB footage on their own accounts. The first video on the league’s official YouTube channel didn’t get posted until after the 2010 season. 

Both the NHL and NBA posted their first videos during their 2006-2007 seasons. These leagues also allow other users to post their content without fear of copyright consequences. The NFL does not have an official YouTube channel, but it’s the NFL and they will always reign as kings of popularity in America, so it really doesn’t matter what the do on YouTube.

Why am I using YouTube to illustrate my point? Because YouTube is awesome, time consuming and incredibly popular. It is particularly popular with younger, student, audiences. I can personally attest to many a nights where YouTube’s NBA videos were my procrastination method of choice. One related search lead to another, and soon I had wasted hours and given up on whatever assignment I was supposed to have been doing (Just kidding, I go to Cornell, I’ve never done something like that). I’m putting my money on the fact that at substantial portion of my readers have had similar experiences..

Video surfing on the internet allows fans to watch highlights, follow their teams, admire their favorite players, get excited for upcoming matchups, etc. The inability of the MLB to properly use the internet to help gain interest in their league is emphasized by the discrepancy between the view counts between their videos and those of other sports. Compare video A and video B. Both are videos of incredibly stupid plays made by Bay Area teams (share the same market and fan base), yet one has received about 5 times more views than the other.

The NBA and NHL have used their YouTube success have helped contribute to an increase in their overall TV ratings. Hockey’s popularity drastically dipped after they skipped the 2004-2005 season, the 2006 finals drew abysmal ratings. Each year after the ratings slowly increased until they culminated in last season’s epic success. Baseball, however, has not seen any increase in ratings since the advent of YouTube. The NBA Finals’ ratings have increased from the pre-YouTube era and have drawn two of its best ratings since Jordan has a Bull during the Game 7s of 2010 and 2013. There are plenty of other factors at play here, I just do not think internet competency should be dismissed.

The NBA’s internet prowess spawned from YouTube, but did not remain there. Because their page has been so popular for so long (8x the amount of subscribers as the MLB and NHL combined), they have won the battle for overall social media popularity. The Association has more Twitter and Instagram followers than any other North American pro sports league, including the NFL. Social Media and young people are tied at the seam. Therefore likes today transform in to ticket sales and tv viewership in the future.

What baseball needs to do in order to make up for their dormant YouTube years is simply to bolster their current promising internet publicity campaigns. The MLB Fan Cave for instance has over 2/3 as many Instagram followers as the NHL. If the MLB does this and promotes its web endeavors to a greater extent then it will surely see improvements in its social media presence and will subsequently see an increase in the league’s popularity as a whole.

Blogger Roundtable: Brazil 2014 or Rio 2016?

Which sporting event in Brazil would you rather attend: The 2014 FIFA World Cup or The 2016 Summer Olympics? Please give your opinion by answering the poll at the top of the page and share your thoughts in the comments section.

All eyes will be on Brazil in two of the next three summers as the country is set to host what are arguably the two biggest international sporting competitions in the world. Many people dream about getting the chance to go to either event, but if you could only go to one, which one would you select?

Here's what our bloggers had to say:


Adam Malz - Olympics

I would much rather attend the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. The Olympics offer a variety of sports and the same level of pride in your country that the World Cup offers.

Matthew Hakimian - World Cup

Despite the aura the Summer Olympics carries, there is no single sporting event that can match the excitement of the World Cup. It is the pinnacle of the most popular sport outside the U.S. as the world's best soccer players vie to obtain national glory. In addition, from start to finish the World Cup is twice as long as the Summer Olympics (32 to 16 days). As a huge soccer fan though, my answer is likely biased due to the fact that the quality of Olympic soccer doesn't even compare to the level of competitiveness featured in the World Cup.

Thomas Kroner - Olympics

I would rather go to the Summer Olympics in Brazil simply because America is considerably better at nearly every other sport in the world than we are at soccer. If I’m spending the money to travel and stay in another continent then I want to see America succeed. The last thing I want is some little Portuguese person coming up to me talking trash about the result of a game.

Max Fogle - Olympics

After seeing the World Cup draw for the USMNT, I'm tempted to say the Olympics. While I would like to see the German national team and the Ronaldo national team, I wouldn't be able to take another defeat to Ghana. I would rather get better use on all of my star spangled paraphernalia and watch a bunch of Americans win at sports that I usually do not watch. It would be Rio 2016 for me.

Blogger Roundtable: Which League Best Selects and Trains Talent

Which league bests selects and trains talent? We gave our thoughts, so now it's your turn. Answer our poll at the top of the blog and then leave a comment at the bottom of this post explaining why. 

Inspired by their learning in human resource courses, our bloggers took a stab at what can be a major consideration for professional sports leagues.  Analyzing how leagues select and train talent may seem a little abstract.  But scouting and developing players is a very real concept. 

Which of the four leagues best utilize other professional and amateur networks to identify suitable candidates.  Which league is most efficient and effective in hiring the most qualified players. Between the big four, which has the best developmental system in place?

That's what our bloggers tried to answer.

Adam Malz- MLB

In my opinion, the MLB does the best job identifying and developing talent. The minor league system is very successful and players are able to learn the ropes and improve the most. Players do not make it to the major league level unless they work hard and absolutely deserve it.

Thomas Kroner- MLB

I think Major League Baseball does the best job of hiring and training its players. The depth of their drafts allows it so players who aren't the top prospects to get an in with the organization and have the possibility of moving up in the ranks. The NBA D-League pales in comparison to the effectiveness and popularity of Minor League Baseball

Joshua Goldstein- NBA

Due to its relatively low amount of professional players in the league and its smaller draft size, the NBA has the most effective method of identifying its players. While football teams have over 50 people on their rosters, basketball teams can only have 13 active players on their rosters at any given time. Also, the NFL draft has seven rounds, while the NBA draft only has two rounds. Since NBA teams hire and therefore seek out less players than other sport franchises, the NBA has the least arduous job finding suitable employees.

Ben Cantor- NFL

I believe the NFL has the most effective method of identifying and developing talent in comparison to the other major sports leagues. The fact that prospective football players must be three years removed from high school provides scouts with ample opportunity to evaluate their ability in college. Furthermore, NFL organizations employ many specialized coaches, who represent valuable assets for developing young talent.

The NBA's developmental league is a valuable resource for young players to gain experience against top competition. However, the nature of basketball is such that rookies are often expected to contribute significantly right away, and failure to meet high expectation can hamper a young player’s development. The MLB’s minor league system allows young players to hone their skills against lesser competition. However, baseball’s scouting system is steeped in outdated traditions, and it’s flaws were detailed in Michael Lewis’s Moneyball.

Blogger Roundtable: Which League Will Grow the Most? (Part II)

h/t to Business Insider

This is Part II in a two-part Blogger Roundtable.  To read what the SBS E-board had to say about sports revenues, see Part I.

The four major U.S. sports leagues in the United States generate massive amounts of revenue.  Although there is great disparity between the leagues, each has considerable potential for growth.  So here's the question we asked our featured bloggers::

Which of the four traditional major professional sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) will experience the highest percentage growth in revenue over the next 20 years?


Matthew Hakimian (Featured Blogger)- NBA

Of the four traditional professional team sports leagues, the National Basketball Association will experience the most growth over the next 20 years. With Adam Silver coming to the helm as the league's new commissioner in February 2014, he will have the opportunity to further build off the tremendous job David Stern has done in expanding the global markets and international segments of the game. Over the next 20 years there's a chance that a team, or even an entire division potentially, will be featured in Europe. With the league's popularity at an all time high, it would not be shocking to see a 100 percent increase in revenue in 20 years from now as the revenue currently stands at slightly $5 billion.

Thomas Kroner (Featured Blogger)- NBA

Over the next 20 years the NBA will experience the most growth of the four major leagues in North American Sports. That is not to say that it will ever surpass the NFL’s popularity. The NFL just can’t get that much more popular than it already is. Last season’s NBA Finals drew some of the highest ratings in years. With young stars like Kyrie Irving, KD and D-Rose entering their prime, look for the NBA to increase its popularity and close the game between itself and MLB.

Joshua Goldstein (Featured Blogger)- NFL

Due to the high potential for both domestic and overseas expansion, I believe that the NFL will experience the most growth over the next 20 years. Commissioner Goodell has made it a goal to bring teams to both Los Angeles and London, which would result in two new, large market revenue generators for the league. The NFL’s expansion into Europe would spark excitement for American football among English youth, as well as a potentially greater interest from other European metropolises. The NFL’s long-term growth plans are promising!

John Zakour (Featured Blogger) -NBA/MLB

I believe the growth of the four major sports leagues will be tied to embracing the internet and globalization. The NFL is incredibly popular, but I don't think it's global. The NBA is both. I always thought MLB was in a bad position with their supposedly old and bleak demographics, but after hearing Pre-Play founder Andrew Daines talk about the strong online infrastructure they have I believe they're in better position than most think.

So I'd say NBA and MLB will be trending up the most in 20 years time, while the NFL will still be going strong in the US. And the NHL, is well, the NHL. I don't think the NHL will grow much outside of North America, and labor turmoil continues to hurt them.

This is Part II in a two-part Blogger Roundtable.  To read what the SBS E-board had to say about sports revenues, see Part I.

What do you think about our predictions? Let us know by answering our poll at the top of the blog and by leaving us comments below!

The Veterans' Minimum in the NBA

Why do some NBA players hang around long enough for people to forget that they’re even in the league? I mean why would someone willingly choose to go from this to this in their career. Aside from the obvious love of the game most players have, what it really comes down to, is the fact that it the association, it pays to be a veteran.

A few other players you may not know are still in the league include: Ben Gordon (Bobcats), Keith Bogans (Celtics), Kwame Brown (Sixers), Elton Brand (Hawks), Hedo Turkoglu (Magic), Richard Jefferson (Jazz) and Jermaine O'Neal (Warriors). In the MLB and NFL former relevant players seldom linger around until they're forgotten, with the exception to the rare backup-QB like Brady Quinn (Rams) or Matt Hassleback (Colts).

This is a result of how each league's respective collective bargaining agreement is designed. Anyone familiar with human resources knows that a delayed compensation model rewards employees who have accumulated tenure with the organization. This is how the NFL and NBA pay their minimum wage players. Major League Baseball, on the other hand, no discrepancy exist between veteran players and rookies (at the league minimum). All minimum wage players earn the same salary of $480,000 (as of 2012).

In the National Football League players earn an increasing minimum salary each of their first three years in the league at a rate of $75,000 per year. Once a player reaches his fourth season as a professional, he is not owed another raise in pay until his seventh season and from there he is not owed another bonus until he reaches a decade of tenure in the NFL. The biggest jump in pay from the aforementioned list comes when a player enters his seventh year his minimum salary increases by a whopping $125,000.

Because of this, you seldom see non-contributing players hang around the NFL. Teams simply can not afford to pay them what they're owed. From a player's perspective, even if they believed the team would pay them the increase, it is hard for many of them to see the light at the end of the tunnel since they can't expect a raise for 3 seasons. The lack of pay incentive causes many to retire within one of those three year gaps.

The National Basketball Association, on the other hand, awards an increasing minimum salary for every year a player has been in the league. Aside from the increase between a player's rookie and second season of around 50% of their previous salary, the increase is usually a small fraction of the previous year's contract. A negligible increase from the team's perspective. From a players prospective, the fact that each season brings in a pay raise keeps people like Kwame Brown in the league.

NBA Preview "And One" Playoff Predictions

This is Part II in a two-part series previewing the National Basketball Association season on Sports Business Society's Tipoff Week.  To read Part I, click here. 

All the questions I asked before were mostly human interest.  Now for the question that really matters:

Which teams will complete the playoff picture in each league?

As the season approaches, there appears to be a block of teams in each league we can pencil in as playoff participants without much argument. In the Western Conference, the six seemingly shoo-ins are, (in no particular order) The Rockets, Spurs, Thunder, Warriors, Clippers and Grizzlies. In the East, the teams that will stand atop the standings (again in no particular order) are The Knicks, Heat, Nets, Pacers and Bulls. The last two western conference playoff spots will come down to a battle between Denver, Dallas, Portland and Minnesota.

Sorry Lakers fans  despite Kobe's objections the purple and gold will not be in the playoff hunt. Look on the bright side, next year’s lottery will provide you with a potential successor to the Mamba.

 This past summer the Nuggets lost their coach, G.M. and most prized free agent. However, their acquisitions of J.J. Hickson, Randy Foye and Nate Robinson will sure up their bench, make up for the lost production brought about by Igoudala’s departure and keep the Nuggets’ fast-paced attack relevant until the end of the regular season.

Mark Cuban and company took on the hair pulling frustration that comes with a team lead by the Mississippi Missile, Monta Ellis. Ellis’ inconsistent play and poor shooting percentage historically leads to losing seasons. What Big-D can hang their cowboy hats on this year is that their offense will run through Dirk, Monta will simply provide the secondary scoring option that they’ve lacked in the past few years. What separates the Mavs from the West’s contenders stems from their complete and utter lack of frontcourt depth. Nominees for their best non-Dirk big-man include; Samuel Dalembert, DeJuan Blair and Brandon Wright...Need I say more?

Last season the Blazers’ had one of the NBA’s most competitive starting fives. Unfortunately for them, their bench was the worst in the league, by a lot. Their bench scored 25% fewer points than the next least productive bench. Luckily for the fans in Rip City, they brought in Thomas Robinson, Dorell Wright and Mo Williams, amongst others, to sure up their bench and keep them in the post-season hunt.

The Timberwolves, when healthy, can play with most anyone in the NBA. Adding Kevin Martin to the potentially dominant trio of Rubio, Love and Pekovic provides them with a starting five to be reckoned with. The T-Wolves also have two players on the NBA’s all-name team, Alexey Shved and Gorgui Dieng. If they remain healthy then they have as good a chance as any to make the playoffs.

 In the East the discrepancy between the fifth and sixth seeds, is larger than that of the Ben Stiller led movies Zoolander and Envy. The illustrious four teams vying for the final three spots include Detroit, Cleveland, Washington and Milwaukee.

Of these teams, the Pistons arguably had the best summer. The acquisitions of two of the league’s best lefties (J. Smith and B. Jennings) as well as one Mr. Big Shot, thrust them into a playoff or bust mindset. The NBA’s biggest floppy haired YouTube sensation, might also be their best reserve, this is a problem for D-Town. Their lack of depth will inevitably keep them out of contention for a top five seed in the East. 

The Bucks seem eager at the chance to defend their eighth seed. Despite losing their hyper-quick backcourt, their offseason moves (Ridnour, Neal, Mayo and Knight) potentially improved them at the guard position. If their frontcourt of Ersan Ilyasova and Larry Sanders develop nicely and O.J. can score with consistency, look for the Bucks to make a potential run at as high as a six seed. As things stand currently, however, they’re looking at another battle for the last playoff spot. Once again depriving their fans of drafting a potential new franchise player in the lottery.

Cleveland fans finally have something basketball related  to look forward to besides LeBron’s free agency and the next episode in the Uncle Drew YouTube series. Their signing of Andrew Bynum has Cavs fans expecting postseason basketball for the first time since King James’ departure. Their lack of depth and veteran leadership, however, should keep them at the bottom of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Leading to a potential first round matchup with their former hometown hero.

Lastly, we have the Wizards. The backcourt of Wall and Beal has the chance to place the Wizards in the national spotlight for the first time since Agent 0 (Gilbert Arenas) had the bright idea of bringing his piece to the office and the far reaching responses to his felonious action. If any of their forwards, Nene, Big Al Harrington, Otto Porter or even newly acquired Marcin Gortat, develop as a viable alternative scoring option, then DC could provide Obama with his first hometown playoffs since entering the Oval Office.

This is Part II in a two-part series previewing the National Basketball Association season on Sports Business Society's Tipoff Week.  To read Part I, click here.

NBA Preview Three-Pointer

This is Part I in a two-part series previewing the National Basketball Association season on Sports Business Society's Tipoff Week.  Click here to read the conclusion.

1. Can We Expect Anything from This Rookie Class?

No. Well the possibility is highly unlikely. Victor Oladipo would be the obvious answer, but he might not even start on a team that seems to have already booked its return trip to the lottery. Anthony Bennett has the skillset to provide some entertainment but will unlikely find many minutes on a team that wants to make the playoffs and already has a solid frontcourt of Earl Clark, Tristan Thompson and Andrew Bynum.

Almost everywhere you look lottery picks from this summer’s draft are second on the depth chart Otto Porter’s behind Trevor Ariza, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's behind behind Chauncey Billups and what Shabazz Muhammad lacks in commonsense he will also lack in minutes this year as he appears to have fallen to third at his position on Minnesota’s depth chart. At least the Bucks' Greek rookie can provide entertainment simply by people’s vain attempts to correctly pronounce his name. The one rookie who was likely going to get the best chance to put up numbers was Trey Burke, as the starting point guard for the Jazz, but now he’s out for a few months with a hand injury.

The two fleeting glimpses of hope for this rookie class are Cody Zeller and Ben McLemore. Zeller is slotted to start for Charlotte, although not too much should be expected from a production standpoint with The Black Hole (Al Jefferson) and Kemba taking most of the shots. McLemore should be somewhat of a focal point in Sacramento’s offense, the Kings’ unfortunate recent history of ruining players leaves me skeptical towards McLemore’s potential

2. Are There New Rivalries Brewing in the East?

As two of the league’s top teams, playing in the same division, the Bulls and Pacers will cross paths for what should be some hot-blooded affairs. The potential for bad blood between these two teams was escalated when Bulls star Derrick Rose overlooked the Pacers as a potential rival, stating that the Heat were the Bulls’ main concern in the Eastern Conference. The teams square off for the first time with a nationally televised game on November 6. This should set the tone for their next three games. The smart money is one at least one altercation this season. Rose’s comments won’t sit well with Indiana, and with the physical nature of their frontlines (Boozer, Hibbert, Noah, West), emotions could easily spill over.

Since LeBron first took his talents to South Beach, the Celtics and Heat have not liked each other one bit. It appears that KG and The Truth have taken this animosity with them to their new home in the Empire State. Most would assume that Brooklyn and their new starters would naturally most concern themselves with their crosstown rival. Up to this point, however, it appears that the Heat are on Brooklyn’s immediate radar. Heat players called for an apology from Garnett and Pierce over their treatment of Ray Allen, to which KG politely told LeBron to worry about his own team. The teams meet four times this season in games that appear to have a sudden extra meaning. The first of which comes opening week, November 1, on ESPN.            

Lastly, although not new, look for the Detroit-Cleveland rivalry to pick up for the first time since King James use to go at it with Rip Hamilton and the crew. Both teams seem poised for a run to end their postseason droughts and will likely fight each other for seeding at the bottom of the conference. If no extra-curricular activity arises from these two , at least their matchups will pin two of the league’s top up-and-coming PG’s against each other.

3. Sophomore Slump?

Although this rookie class lacks a certain oomph, last year’s showed some tremendous signs of promise. Damian Lillard, last year’s ROY, has all the makings of an NBA star. This year, his Blazers team brought in the help that D Lil. desperately needed. This help, should get Portland more wins, but look for Lillard’s production to drop with more offensive options and increase in viable backups at his position, C.J. McCollum and Mo Williams.

Harrison Barnes (aka The Black Falcon, aka HB-angout), had a coming out party during the Warriors’ playoff run last spring.  Two words will provide all the reason for his inevitable sophomore slump, Iguo Dala. Dub Nation's offseason acquisition will seriously reduce Barnes' minutes. 

The second year trio of Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond and Dion Waiters should carry the weight for 2012 draft class. All of whom are slotted to start and should see a quality amount of minutes based on a lack of depth for their teams at their respective positions. Of these three, look for Beal to have the most productive year, as he should be the secondary offensive option for the Wizards. No one else from this group will be asked to score at the same clip. 

This is Part I in a two-part series previewing the National Basketball Association season on Sports Business Society's Tipoff Week.  Click here to read the conclusion.

Forgotten Dunks: Part I

If a Bobcat dunks and no one is around to see it, did it really happen? This facial provided by the Charlotte Bobcats' Michael Kidd-Gilchrist leaves me seriously unsure. The Bobcats have lagged in the bottom of the NBA’s standings since their creation in 2004. Their most impressive season resulted in a seven seed and a first-round sweep.

 Not hard to believe seeing as how the organization’s best player sits in a luxury box, donning a suit. Their terrible on-court performance combined with the fact that they play in one of the league’s smallest media markets makes their highlights all the less relevant to the national audience. But seriously America, this video has fewer than 480,000 views.


To put that in perspective, Miley Cyrus calling out fans of other acts has gained about 5 times as many views. The Kidd-Gilchrist dunk was one of the best dunks of the previous NBA season yet nowhere did it receive the hype it deserved. Compare it to, say, the infamous Kobe dunk over the Nets:


The Kobe dunk garnered more than twice as many views as the MKG slam and they’re from the same source, posted about two weeks apart, I might add. It stands to reason that a highlight from a nationally televised game between two major-market teams involving the Mamba himself would attract more views than a game between two of the NBA’s worst teams (both from relatively small markets).

But not that many more.

For starters, Kobe’s dunk was mostly aesthetics. The number of people involved made it look like that much more insane of a jam. Looking closely, even with his running start, he did not get higher than either Gerald Wallace or Kris Humphries, they both just happened to swing their hands to the side of the ball. MGK, however, went up, over and practically through the six-foot eleven Greg Monroe.

Off a of drop step no less.

Greg Monroe hadn’t been so disrespected since the Golden State Warriors picked Ekpe Udoh over him. How the Pistons' defense allowed Kidd-Gilchrist in to the lane when he has the shooting ability of an eleven-year-old chess protégée is beyond me. But I can only thank them for their over rotation, because it gave the world one of the most underrated dunks in recent history. A dunk which deserves tantamount more views on YouTube.

So to answer the initial question: no, no it doesn’t.