No Contest

Given recent events, the IOC made the easy choice:

This...

not this...

Replacement Refs: Not a Big Change

When has the NBA not used the equivalent of replacement refs? Certainly not in my lifetime. Officiating has been broken ever since the day the league decided to scrap the rule book and and let the games become Vince McMahon-like entertainment exhibitions.

There was a time when referees were independent and acted like it. Now, they are too aware of the game clock, which players are involved in a play and how the call will be perceived by the fans, teams, owners and league officials. And they too often want to be part of the drama of the game. This game to game inconsistency and uncertainty gave room for rogue refs like Tim Donaghy (pictured) to operate.

This may be an opportunity for the league to re-invigorate the referees profession.

Or, get rid of refs altogether. Think about it. It may be possible to bring back the integrity of the game by letting the players call their own fouls - "street rules". Let the players call fouls and work things out on the court. Players know what is or is not allowed in the context of a game. Let courtside - not on-court - officials decide the really hard fouls or when replay is needed to be used.

One thing street rules will prevent ... it will stop the flop. What player would dare flop if his peers are calling the game. Regardless, unless we have a return to the basics of Dr. Naismith's' game, it doesn't matter a lick who's blowing the whistle.

Lousiana with Foliage

Rampant corruption in Connecticut has gotten the attention of media across the nation, most recently the Boston Globe. 

My concern, though, is that the headlines also provide cover for numerous small acts that will never see the light of day, but which are costly and erode trust.

We've Been Down This Road Before

A summary of today's headlines:

• Threat of nuclear war. (NYTimes)
  
• Unsuccessful military presence halfway around the globe (CBS News)
  
• Violent domestic protests (Yahoo)
  
• Bank struggles and restructuring (Bloomberg)
  
• Washington is the worst team in the majors (Yahoo)
  
  
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it - George Santayana

Double Dipping

@Walt Handelsman, Newsday

Double dipping by public employees has become endemic. Tens of thousands of educators (higher ed and k12), military veterans, police and fire officers as well as municipal, state and federal bureaucrats practice the fine "art" of receiving compensation from multiple public sources simultaneously. It results in rising taxes, bloated payrolls and long-term debt

In Connecticut, lower tax revenues caused the Governor to consider ways to cut state payrolls. The incentive for employees to leave public service (heaven forbid anyone gets fired) was to offer them early retirement. This followed on the heels of a previous negotiation with public unions to lower the rate of their pay increases in return for a no-layoff guarantee. Nice situation, if you can get it.

Bud Selig's Vision of Baseball

This is what 3-22 looks like

The Yankees and Red Sox are meeting this weekend in an epic meaningless series in the Bronx in front of a sold-out (except for the lower bowl) crowd.

In the meantime, in a galaxy far, far away the Pirates are doing their best to catch the Phillies. Not this year's Phillies. The all-time losingest Phillies.

The Right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness (not so fast, whitey)

These clever guys appeared outside a Center City Philadelphia hotel this weekend. Their pitch? "It's whitey's fault".

Their message seems a little dated. Nice hair, though.

What's with NL pitchers in Boston?

John Smoltz and Brad Penny were (relative) bargain signings this year for the Sox. Penny was the better of the two, and while he was never great, he chewed up a lot of innings. In that regard, he fulfilled his end of the bargain.

On the other hand, the pitching-smart Braves had given up on Smoltz, and the Red Sox should have paid closer attention to why.

But now the two pitchers have gone back to the National League. And while Smoltz had a one-game revival for the always-smarter-than-you Tony LaRussa, he may be now reverting to form. Penny on the other hand has had back-to-back solid starts for the Giants. Is this a National League v American League thing, or just an anomaly? The Red Sox have had little luck importing National League pitchers.

A Great American

Ted Kennedy is being buried from the Mission Church in Roxbury (Mission Hill). My Aunt Kay used to go to pray for the boys at the Mission Church when they were sick. She used to drive over, go to Mass and then come back with holy water, which she sprinkled on them. I guess her faith paid off.

And Kennedy's mother, Rose Kennedy, grew up around the corner (as they say in Dorchester) on Ashmont Hill from where we lived on Regan Road. It was a mile away and but in reality a world away in terms of the neighborhood.

This may be why Jim Rice had to wait so long for the HOF

For those who were around when Jim Rice was in his prime, his words to Little Leaguers last week are not surprising. When he spoke - which wasn't often - he said what was on his mind. And he wasn't always pleasant in either the substance or the delivery. Many people attribute the 15-year delay to his deserved entry to the Hall of Fame to his outspoken, blunt and sometimes under-thought-out comments.

So you'd think he would have learned. But apparently not. His inspirational speech to Little Leaguers in Williamsport was a bit short on humbleness and inclusiveness.

I understand why he might go after Manny ["We didn't have the baggy uniforms. We didn't have the dreadlocks," Rice said.]. But Jeter? ["You see a Manny Ramirez, you see an A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez),  you see (Derek) Jeter ... Guys that I played against and with, these guys you're talking about cannot compare," Rice said].

He better hope they don't take a re-count in Cooperstown.

Brett Farve is Tempting Fate

Brett. Say it ain't so.  You must know that quarterbacks never die, they just get hurt. Ask Drew Bledsoe or Tom Brady or Tim Tebow. You have a chance to get out before you suffer a permanent injury.

I hope your "Obamacare" is paid in full before some blitzing linebacker has you on your knees. Like YA Tittle.

Thank you...Tom Watson

Golf survived. The great and powerful Tiger Woods missed the cut at the British Open and the sport of golf actually survived. An even greater storyline emerged,thanks to Tom Watson. The 59 year old, 5-time British Open champion shook off challenge after challenge heading to the final hole where par would have handed him a sixth Claret Jug. But it wasn't to be. It was Stewart Cink's time.

But the sport of golf won this weekend. In the end it didn't matter that Tiger missed the cut or Phil was home with his wife. A great story was written by one of the games great champions. It brought back echos of Arnie and Jack and Slammin Sam and Hogan. So thanks one more time Tom for a riveting weekend, me and my HDTV.

Happy 4th of July!!

What a country...Wrap yourself in an American Flag, lay out at your pool, grill some hot dogs, have a few brews, a slice of apple pie with ice cream, kiss a pretty girl, watch some baseball and catch the fireworks.

We're all Americans today.

Finally...It's Over

This had to be the longest NBA season of my life and thankfully the NBA Finals ended last night. I had minimal interest at best. I confess to not being either a Laker or Magic fan. As the NBA goes there seem to be more and more teams each year I grow to dislike or am disinterested. But if pressed, I hate the Lakers. The team of my youth were the Russell/Bird Celtic's and since my relocation to the Valley of the Sun, I love the Nash led Suns. I was raised in a basketball family and I love the GAME of Basketball. Maybe that's why I'm having a fallout with the NBA version. I admit being a basketball snob and a bit of a purest and I hate that the best players in the world are held to less of a standard when it comes to the rules of the game. Traveling, palming, grabbing, slapping, flopping, ball at three quarters court late in a game, superstars being protected are just some of the items that cause me to rant. And I have been know to rant. I would recommend the College game but they are close behind in the same tactics. So for now, its down to the high school level for those of us who want to see rules enforced like they were originally written. If only the NBA would see the error of their ways and bring back the the most beautifully played game we have. It would be "Fantastic".

Cheater, Cheater, Cheater

Another John Calipari program is coming under NCAA scrutiny for alleged violations and as usual the "teflon don" of college basketball has already fled. The allegation centers on star player and #1 NBA draft pick Derrick Rose and who may have taken his SAT test. Of course Calipari denies any knowledge of the wrongdoing. Just like when he was at UMass and his star player, Marcus Camby had already signed with an agent. I guess the "man" placed in charge of a major college program is always kept in the dark about important personnel matters. And I'm perfectly sure after checking Rose's high school transcript and having a couple of deep conversations with his recruit, he must of been perfectly satisfied he had the needed intelligence to gain his eligibility into the highly accredited University of Memphis. What's the graduation rate?

Not...Calipari is a scam artist pure and simple. He's a bane of college basketball. He toys with the lives of young men for his financial and egotistical benefit. University of Kentucky basketball, the most heavily sanctioned basketball program in the history of college basketball has been put in his hands and I'd care to wager within a few years, the lights at Rupp Arena will go dark as the NCAA evokes the "death penalty" for his follies.

Some years ago at a NBA draft combine, I had the unfortunate experience of sitting a row ahead of the esteemed Coach Calipari for a session and I found him to be one of the most arrogant, pompous, self promoters I have ever encountered. These are the virtues I'm sure you never hear from the likes of Dickie V or other college basketball promoters. But then again they'll never kick a dog like Calipari until he's down for the count. Well, start counting.