The Avarice of Sports

Avarice:  a strong desire to have or get money; greediness

 

 

In todays era of sports there is no doubt that money, more then ever drives most Major League Sports and this money also flows into the Football and Basketball Collegic arena.  Fans of today era understands this and most fans, like myself, accepts it, we may not like it but we accept it.  But where does the "enough is enough" threshold of money in sports end?

With the increasing avenues to watch sports, through television, Mobile Devices, etc.. the networks offer big money to Major League Sports and Collegic Sports to have exclusive rights to air specific sports and outside of network money the next biggest money grabber is suites aimed toward corporations.  I don't fault any company or sport to capitalize gains and make a profit, but with all this big money from the network and suites, the owners and leagues greed comes in at the big games.

 

In 2015 the average ticket for a standard seat at a NFL Game is $85.83, but the average ticket for the 2016 Super Bowl is exceeding $4,000 for one ticket.  I understand that the individual doesn't need to purchase these tickets and it is up to the market to accept or reject the pricing, but the greed of the NFL and other sports will start to deter the average fans.  You hear from the NFL PA along with the other Major Sports that they market to the average fan and without the average fan we would not have a sport.  If that is the case then, what average fan can afford a $4,000 Super Bowl ticket or a $600 World Series ticket?  This is the case of, "thank you for paying for the band, but you can't dance."

 

The Avarice or greed of sports will be its own demise and the only way that we as fans, in the perfect world, can save this from happening is to have half empty stadiums at the biggest events of the year, Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, BCS College Football Championship game.  Once the world sees empty stadiums the ego driven owners and presidents of the major universities will change there ways to save face, but they will say "the change is for the average fan".  Well, here is one average fan saying I can see right through your Avarice!

Detroit Lions - Why am I so Lucky!

Reading articles and hearing all of the rumors that Calvin Johnson may walk away from his contract at the age of 30 saddens me as a Detroit Lions fan.  The reasoning behind my state is not what you may think.  It is not because Calvin has so many more years ahead of him or the years that he is missing with Stafford.  What saddens me is the Detroit Lions will have yet another superstar (potential Hall of Famer) within their franchise and nothing to show for it.

When I or any Detroit Lions fan tell a fellow football fan that we are a Detroit Lions fan,  more times then not the first response is, "I am Sorry" or the national media say "Purless Lions" or "Roarless Lions".  Which at first glance they are correct, because the Lions have never won a Super Bowl nor have played in one. With that being said there is no question the franchise has as many superstars and Hall of Famers then any other franchise.  Just compiling some of the greats you come across Barry Sanders, Billy Simms, Calvin Johnson, Charlie Sanders, Bennie Blades, Chris Spielman, Mel Farr, Doug English, Harley Sewell, Ed Flanagan and these are just a start.

So back to the question why am I saddened, because the Detroit Lions management and ownership has not clue on how to put a finish product on the field.  There are so many great players, Hall of Fame players, that worn the Lion on the helmet and all of these great players deserve so much more then what they received from management.  Ownership never did that big trade or that off the board signing that wasn't the most glamours just to fill a need.  They are able to put main ingredients in to the pot, but they are unable to put the seasoning to make it perfect.  Is it that they didn't know how?  Was there to many cooks in the kitchen and not a head chef?  These question will never be answered and it saddens me that a truly great franchise with a great history of great players can not get out of their own way.


I remember speaking to my mother, which she is now passed, every season I think this maybe the year for the Lions.  Her response, " I am (this old) and I have never seen them win a Super Bowl, what makes you so lucky".  Well mom your words are so true what makes me so lucky.

It's Only Sports!

As a sports fan, you probably heard the term, ”it’s only sports” or “why get upset over sports when there is so much more important things to worry about”.   Yes, they are correct it is only sports and there are more important things out there, but sitting here typing this and thinking back throughout my 41 years on this earth and reflecting all the joys and sorrows throughout those years, sports has always been my crutch when needed and a release when called for.  

 

There were so many important events throughout these years more important than sports,  Marriage, births, birthdays, war, conflict, crime so many things.  As a child through my teenage years and going through all the ups and downs, there was always the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Redwings, Detroit Pistons, and Detroit Lions there to help me through the small crisis that seem so big at the time.  Like every other child and teen that loved sports we lived and died with every swing of the bat and the crushing blow a linebacker made.  Thinking

back I still feel the excitement I felt as a 10 year old when Gibby (Kirk Gibson) hit the homerun off of Gossage in the 1984 World Series or when the 1984 Tigers went on an amazing start of the season, thinking will they ever lose?

As an adult I don’t get quite feel as passionate for my sport teams like I did as a youth, I don’t go to bed mad or stay mad at a bad call for a week like a child.  The small crisis as a teenager turned into mortgages, kids stomach aches, dentist, deadlines, etc.   Even though all of the juvenile worries are now real world worries, the one constant is sports, I can put on a game on the Television or Radio and forget my worries for that 3-4 hour period, during this time I transport back to being that stupid little kid that got mad because I got another Lance Parrish baseball card in the pack and I really needed Tom Brookens to complete set, I forget the mortgage and bills and during this time show my kids the child that lives inside of me. 

I treasure these events as a child and now as an adult, why?  Because it is only sports and there is more important things then sports and knowing that, makes these 3-4 hour periods of time treasures that I can look back on and say yes I forgot my worries and I became that child inside again.  If you start worrying about your everyday worries, look inside and ask yourself, Do you want to go out and play catch?

Peyton Manning Post Season Bust?

With a new NFL season upon us and the fast start that Peyton Manning has begun the season with, the talk on the air waves is: Is Peyton Manning the best regular season quarterback off all-time?  Usually during this discussion there is a big BUT.  The but is, he can't be considered the greatest of all-time (regular and post) because he doesn't show up in the post season and he has only won one Super Bowl ring.

I would agree to a point that early in Peyton's career he didn't show very much promise in the post season, but I disagree completely in the notion that Peyton doesn't show up in the post season.  Lets do a quick comparison between Peyton and Tom Brady's post season stats.  Tom Brady has played in four additional post season games, so the stats will be a little scud, but I think the comparison is still relevant

Peyton Manning:  (Games played: 20)

Passing:  761 Attempts / 481 Completed
Completion Percentage:  63.2%
Passing Yards:  5,679
Touchdowns:  32
Interception:  21
Passer Rating:  88
Super Bowl Wins:  1



Tom Brady:  (Games played: 24)

Passing:  887 Attempts / 553 Completed
Completion Percentage:  62.3%
Passing Yards:  5,949
Touchdowns:  42
Interception:  22
Passer Rating:  87
Super Bowl Wins: 3
*Photos and stats supplied by foxsports.com

Both quarterbacks have comparable numbers and again Tom Brady has four games on Peyton and Tom has two additional Super Bowl ring.  There is also the matter of the team that surrounds the player.  I would agree that Peyton had better offensive players in the early 2000's, but New England had a much superior defensive team. 

Defensive minded teams will always win out against offensive minded teams in the playoffs.  Why?  With an offensive minded team, especially one that is pass first and run second the defense can isolate their efforts to the passing and not feel fearful of the other components of the opponents offense.  In the later years that is what happened to the Colts, the running game was non-existent and the defense was able to focus on the wide receivers and shut them down.  The team's philosophy is neither players fault, they can't choose what the team's philosophy will be, but it should also not be what determines their greatness. 

As a Michigan fan, I am a Tom Brady fan because he carries the Michigan torch high and proud, but as a Peyton Manning fan the time has come to put to rest the notion that Peyton is not a great post season quarterback.

The (Baseball) Book Needs to Go!

One of the questions that many new baseball fans ask and what causes frustration to many passionate baseball fans in todays game is: Why is there a parade of relief pitchers in the late innings of a game.

It’s not a question about stamina, most relief pitchers only throw to one or two batters. It’s because the manager is going by the book.  What book?  Well, the rule is if you have a left-handed batter you would want a left-handed pitcher on the mound because it’s harder for a left-handed hitter to hit against a left-handed pitcher, and visa versa.  The main reason is the breaking ball.  If a left-handed pitcher throws a breaking ball (Slider, Curveball) the pitch will break down and away from a left-handed hitter, and the same effect would apply from a right-handed pitcher throwing to a right- handed batter. The batter will usually swing at this pitch, if thrown properly, because the pitch will appear to be in the strike zone but will break out of the zone at the last moment.

Personally, I am past the book and writing a new book and it will be an easy read.  If a left-handed pitcher can't get a right-handed batter out, then its time to replace the pitcher permanently.  I understand there are other variables such as (1) past history between the hitter and pitcher, (2) Outcome of previous hitters (hits, walks).  These variables are universal for any type of pitcher, reliever or starting and should not be only tied to only relievers.

Many times I see a manager put in a left-handed pitcher to face a left-hand batter then the next batter is right-handed so the manager pulls the pitcher.  Why am I against this, especially in close games.  Most close games are not determined because of this move.  However, most losses in extra inning games are because of this move.

Think about this scenario:  Game is tied 2-2 and it's in the 8th inning, the manager pulls the starter and brings in a relief pitcher.  The relief pitcher strikes out the batter then the manager pulls the relief pitcher and brings in another relief pitcher (solely because the books says) to face a left-handed batter.  The team gets out of the 8th inning without being scored on.  The 9th inning comes and usually the manager will bring in another relief pitcher to handle the 9th maybe two if the books says too.  The game is still tied.  The team gets out of the 9th inning without being scored on.  So through two innings the team goes through three to four pitchers and maybe those three to four pitchers will see a total of six batters.  Fast forward to the 13th inning, you will start hearing the announcers comments such as, well the manager has one more relief pitcher in the bullpen, after that they may need to bring in a starter. 


Mariano Rivera

When that statement is made every fan starts to think why did you use so many relievers in the 8th and 9th inning.  Simple answer: THE BOOK SAYS SO.  Again, if a relief pitcher can't get a right and/or a left handed batter out then there is a problem.  Still a believer of the book?  Here are two current relief pitchers stats for this year.

1.  Joaquin Beniot (Detroit Tigers) has a 3.75 ERA against right-handed hitters and a .87 ERA against left-handed  hitters.

2.  Mariano Rivera (New York Yankees), arguably the best closer in the history of baseball, has a 3.38 ERA against right-handed batter and a 1.00 ERA against left-handed batter.

Both pitchers are right handed pitchers so they should have a better earn run average (ERA) against right-handed hitters, but as you can see they do better against left-handed hitters.  I guess they have not read the book.  There are many other stats similar to the stats listed above, but I think two helps me prove my point.   I am not blaming the players for this issue, this issue lays with the manager.  If the manager does not have faith in their pitcher to get an opposite hitting batter out then the pitcher should not be brought into a critical part of the game.

In closing, if the book is correct, then why can a starting pitcher produce outs from left and right handed hitters for 6-8 innings?