_Sez Me …_
The NBA has been weaponized, now meant to inflict harm on the eyes of purists.
It survives. Somehow.
It’s a cockroach. It’s 80 years of age, but it makes you think slumped-over men came out of a swamp dribbling a basketball. It has been stomped on, sprayed with doubt by traditionalists, given extreme unction, and left for dead. But it goes on.
Some of its players, many with unimaginable talent and making many millions, go all out. Some play half-assed, some don’t play at all when they can. The latter is the big problem now.
Tanking.
A nasty word, tanking. In modern sports, really nasty. Because of gambling. I don’t know and may never know if anybody is shaving points, but what I don’t know is how bookies can put lines on games when they have no idea who actually is going to play.
That’s the rub now. And longtime commissioner Adam Silver finally is using his backhoe instead of a trowel to dig into it. He has informed his owners that he will take action next season.
Changes will be made to the lottery system, but none would be necessary if they just did away with it entirely. If the NBA weren’t so screwed up, it never would have needed it in the first place.
Just how hard is it to make the worst team draft No. 1, and so on? Now, any of the most pathetic four can draft first overall. Even if the worst team goes 0-82. …
Silver recently fined Utah $500,000 and Indiana $100,000 for sitting healthy players. Money hurts most of us, but not billionaires.
What the NBA has to do is what the NFL would do. If a team — no matter how good or bad — deliberately tanks, a No. 1 should be taken away. If that team doesn’t have a No. 1, next year’s should be gone. That’s how you stop this. Hitting them where it hurts. Players.
How about improving the game? Take away the absurd traveling that’s allowed. The Euro step (this isn’t Europe). Carrying the ball over. It isn’t basketball. How about shortening the season? Too many games — especially while the NFL is on.
Fans pay a fortune to attend games. Many go to watch the best players — on both teams. Many plan months in advance. If a healthy player sits, the millionaires are fine and the fans get screwed.
I really don’t understand the NBA, how it survives, why anyone watches. Because it stinks. …
And don’t tell me they’ve improved the NBA All-Star Game. I’d rather stare at the sun. …
The Padres have extended the contract of A.J. Preller, the team’s president of baseball ops (fancy title for general manager). Hopefully, one year for every championship he has produced. …
OK, you already know I’m no fan of A.J. But, given the circumstances, I do like his offseason. …
No one’s saying how long the extension is. But remember, a GM’s tenure is only as long as a new owner says it is. …
Manny Machado is the “unofficial” Padres captain. Got it. A team captain sticks up for a man who got him a $300-million deal. …
Mets owner Steve Cohen says there will be no team captain as long as he runs things. What does a baseball captain do? Go out for the coin toss? Praise his boss? …
Saw a film of Jaxson Dart getting thrown by a mechanical bull. Four concussions later. Brilliant. …
So you say it’s just a mechanical bull. But they are much like defensive linemen. No feelings whatsoever. …
And would it be a stretch to say that, after millions of rides, not one person has been concussed getting dumped by a mechanical bull? Of course, most of them have been too drunk to notice. …
Kansas State has fired basketball coach Jerome Tang. For cause. The cause? He said his “dudes” don’t deserve to wear the uniform. Being right doesn’t matter in college anymore. Surprised if he doesn’t get his money. Bad excuse. He got canned because his team stinks. …
Bryce Harper isn’t happy with Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski for saying he doesn’t believe Bryce remains an elite player. Harper still has $330 mil on his contract. He’s 33. Get over it. …
RIP, Robert Duvall. A San Diegan and a great actor. He’s the only actor in six of the American Film Institute’s list of top 100 films of all time. “Mr. Corleone is a man who insists on hearing bad news at once.” …
RIP, Rev. Jesse Jackson. I had the privilege to see him speak live at the1988 Democratic National Convention. He could take hold of a room. The crowd was mesmerized. …
RIP, Doug Moe. An honest basketball coach without a real playbook. Roll the ball out and do it. …
The Cowboys are cap-poor and already paying receiver Ceedee Lamb a fortune. Can they afford to pin a $29-million franchise tag on George Pickens? Hard to pay two No. 1 wideouts, a QB who makes more dough than anybody, and still compete. …
I repeat. Great receivers do not win Super Bowls. …
Jaxon Smith-Njigba says he should be the highest-paid receiver. Super Bowl stats: Four catches, 26 yards. …
Dan Fouts is NOT ill, as the unsocial media would have us believe. It’s AI. “It’s bull(crap). AI can affect a lot of things,” Fouts said after calling me. “And it’s all bad. I’m fine. I have a new knee, but other than that, there’s nothing wrong with me.” …
Did you know: Among the 37 quarterbacks drafted in the top five since 2000, not one has won a Super Bowl with a team that drafted him? …
The NFL Team That Used To Be Here has never signed a more disappointing free agent than guard Mekhi Becton. He couldn’t block a toddler. …
The Bears might set up residence in Indiana. Does this mean Chicago people will hate them? …
Aztecs men’s basketball losing at Grand Canyon? Forgivable. Barely. Losing to the Antelopes at home? Not. If they don’t win the Mountain West Tournament, it’s NIT for them. Which would mean a terribly disappointing season. …
I have never seen a coach eject his own player. Not a bad idea. Now, let’s see a player throw out a coach. Also not a bad idea. …
Rashee Rice’s ex has accused him of brutalizing her. I can’t for a moment believe a Kansas City Chief has done anything wrong. How will K.C. handle this one? Extend his contract? …
Receiver Mylan Graham transferred from Ohio State to Notre Dame. When asked about the biggest difference, he said: “You just actually have to go (to class) in person.” …
Floyd Mayweather, 49, plans to unretire. Why? So he can bore more people, only at an older age? I couldn’t watch him “fight” 30 years ago. …
Judging by the medal count, I guess it gets cold in Norway. …
Daily dilemma for Norwegians while getting dressed to go out on the town: “I just don’t know what skis to wear.” …
Snoop Dogg got $500,000 a day to escort Martha Stewart around Milan? …
I’m confused. If we celebrate the Lunar New Year, is there a 10% tariff involved?