Sports Owners….HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Why do sports owners in the major sports think they know more than the people they employ????  Most of the sports team owners in the major sports say they want to win, which just means they want to make their wallet bigger.  Then there are the sports owners who REALLY want to win and those are the owners who don’t trust the people they employ.  For instance, since it is the most recent news, Al Davis.  Why does he feel like he knows more than his coach or GM??? I know back in the day Al Davis has done a ton for the NFL and was a huge part in making the merger happen. Davis has himself been a Coach, GM, and Owner.  You can’t talk about the NFL or AFL without mentioning the two words, AL DAVIS, but that was then and this is now.  20 to 30 years ago I would have backed Davis even though I don’t care for him too much at all, but he is getting to controlling and hands on for an owner.  I know the Raiders are his baby and he brought them to the forefront in the NFL but AL, that was over 5 years ago. 6 coaches in 7 years, not too good for a once great team.

Jerry Jones is an other Owner who has taken on both jobs of Owner, and GM in the NFL.  Jerry Jones lives by the motto of “No Press is Bad Press”. Jones signs T.O., Tank Johnson, Pac-Man Jones and he takes on all of these guys not only for the sole purpose of everyone deserves a second chance but to get another press conference with the Cowboys logo on TV.  The guy who fires a legendary coach in Tom Landry right when he becomes owner must really want to make a splash and get some media attention right away.

Then in the NBA, you have Mark Cuban. What qualifications does he have to be so hands on??? I know he has always been a fan and I love a Fan being an owner but get your hands out of the cookie jar now and again Mark.  I love how honest Mark Cuban always is and how he treats his players but going around and running on the court after calls and trying to break up fights and such, not a great look for an owner.

George Steinbrenner and Son with the Yankees, need I say more???

I’m not saying owners should not keep an eye on their investments or their passions when it comes to their teams. Owners just need to trust.  They need to trust themselves that they made the right hire in a GM, Coach and so on and so forth. They need to trust that their guy is the right guy and making the right decisions.  If an owner acts like Al Davis and meddles in the day to day operations, then your team will end up just like the Raiders.

Josh Hammer - Overtime Sportswear

GREG ODEN……. MAN?? MYTH??? LEGEND???? OR ALL 3

When the Portland Trailblazers drafted some kid out of Thee Ohio State University in 2007 they didn’t know they were going to have to wait another full year to get their brand new toy out of it’s wrapper before they could play with it.  Greg Oden COULD be the next Shaq or Bill Russell, he COULD also be the next Jo Jo White or Sam Bowie.  Who knows?????  In the NBA everyone is so quick to say that guy is the next Jordan, Kareem or Magic and so on and so forth.  Why can’t Greg Oden just be the next Greg Oden???  Is there some sort of Chart in the NBA league office which says if you get above this guys stats you’re a Hall Of Famer?? 

When Kobe Bryant first came into the league everyone said he was the next Air Apparent to Jordan. What happened after that???? Kobe tried to be the next Jordan and Ran Shaq out of town, same with Phil the first go around and he tried playing like Jordan used too. People just need to let the Memories of their heros and reminders of a Great Basketball Era remain in the past. Stop Comparing Oden to Russell and Kobe to Jordan. The best Era of basketball thus far in my life is behind us with Jordan, Bird, Magic, Charles and so on and so on.  This Generation with Kobe, Durant, and Oden is starting to turn the corner back to the old school ways and respecting the game and keeping out of trouble for the most part. The Past is the Past isn’t it Kobe.

Oden has never been in the press for anything bad and from the way ALL of his TEAMMATES, COACHES and FAMILY talk, YOU NEVER WILL!!!!  Greg Oden has his head on straight and hopefully will be taking his first step to Sprigfield Mass. soon for all to see.  Oden in his off time has fun like any 20 should, being a part of the ESPY’s, practicing, and staying grounded with his Dog McLovin!!!!

I am hoping soon that we get to see what all the Hype is all about.   The only thing stoping Greg Oden to be one of the Greatest Players EVER is Greg Oden and injuries.  He has all the tools, mindest and great family support around him and he knows a moocher when he sees one.

 

Josh Hammer - Overtime Sportswear

THE NBA NEEDS MORE PEOPLE LIKE RAY RAY

“What is the first thing to hit your brain when I say Ray Allen? Shooting Guard? NBA Champion? Sweetest Shot, maybe ever? When I think of Ray Allen, I think of a guy who has OCD and wants to improve his shot as well as the life of his teammates, friends and the rest of the NBA. For Years Ray Allen has been one of if not the best
PERSON in the league. There is a huge line in my eyes between player and person off the court. Ray Allen goes out of his way to let the community know who he is and what he stands for.

From Day 1 in Seattle Ray Allen took out a Full Page Ad in the Seattle Times talking about how his dad was in the Military and how he traveled all over all the time and how Seattle Made him feel at home. That same year Ray won the NBA Sportsmanship Award.

When receiving the Joe Dumars Sportsmanship Award in 2003 Ray Allen was Quoted as saying, “There are a lot of guys in the league who do their jobs well,” Allen said. “I pride myself on doing my job well while also representing myself, my family and my teammates with pride and respect.” - AP Ray is also part of the Read to Achieve Program formed by the NBA and Not only does Ray Allen help the city of Seattle when it needed it the most in the early years, but when he was called upon in the NBA Finals for the Celtics he Stepped up huge and averaging more points in that single series than any other in the play offs that year. While Averaging 20 points, 5 Rebounds and 2.5 Assist for an OCD Shooting guard I would say is not too shabby. Why are there not more guys like Ray Allen, who put the Community, Teammates, and Family First???? I know if there were more guys like him, I’d watch the NBA More often!!

Josh Hammer - Overtime Sportswear

What is Up with the NBA?

The NBA for the longest time has been a Dictatorship with David Stern at the top ruling with an Iron fist.  When Stern rolled out the Dress Code a few years back, a lot of players didn’t like it. Stern said Tough, either you do it or get out, plain, simple and too the point.  When Stern tried to please Animal Rights Activist by going to a different type of ball, all of his players once again said they hated it and once again he said Tough.  It wasn’t until the games started being affected by the new ball that Stern decided to look into it. Showing once again that Stern only cares about the Game and how it is perceived around the Nation and Worldwide.  How will David Stern be able to rule with an Iron Fist when some of his main Stars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James jump the pond to go make $1.75 on the American Dollar????  What will Stern do to keep his league his??? Will he just buy every league in Europe to make certain that he and the NBA Front Office get their cut of all Merchandise sold of his stars??  Dave, (I can call him that since we are so close) has been talking for years to try and get a Team or League in Europe and in the last 2 or so years has wanted to start a NBA League in China. Who will be the Commissioner in those leagues?? Certainly David can’t live forever and I think China will have something to say about ruling with an Iron Fist over there after all they handled the Olympics pretty damn well. 

 The NBA is starting to Change again like when Jordan and some other big stars left and it isn’t changing in a good way!!  The NBA used to be thought of the league that housed thugs and rule breakers, Stern came in and Cleaned it up like he always does and then Josh Howard, Darrell Aurthur, Mario Chalmers and many other instances happened in the last few years. I understand the NBA isn’t full of Thugs as many sports aren’t but just like the Nightly news “If it Bleeds, It Leads”!!!  No one pays attention to all the good that players do, they just look at the negative. Like the Malice in the Palace, The Tim Donaghy scandal, 2 young players getting busted in ROOKIE CAMP, Josh Howard being completely insensitive to all black people as well as this country. 

I tell you what Josh Howard if you don’t Celebrate Our National Anthem, I respect your decision and even your right to free speech but this Country that you turned your back on has given you and everyone you know everything they own.  So since you’re Black and you don’t celebrate our Anthem which doesn’t make sense in itself, why don’t you tell us what you do celebrate and which country you wished you lived in?????

What happened to this once GREAT LEAGUE???  The Seattle Sonics have the 12Th best TV market and leave to Oklahoma the 45Th largest TV market which just contradicts the NBA’s way of thinking.  The NBA then says that Seattle will get another team in the near future.  WTF is that???? Why not just put an expansion team in Oklahoma and let the Longest tenured team in Seattle stay????  The Seattle Sonics won the City’s only Major Championship and then the NBA held the City hostage, since when is that part of the business plan of Sterns League??? 

I used to LIVE for the NBA but when Jordan left, an end of an Era left with him. Young Punks are saying stupider things daily and not having any respect for their teammates, the league, players that came before them or even the fans, who by the way ultimately pay their salaries!!  Maybe we do need to find a way to help David Stern live forever and keep this league under wraps.  Is this how Dr. James Naismith thought his game would turn out???

 

 

Josh Hammer - Overtime Sportswear

Chalmers, Arthur caught with marijuana at rookie camp……WTF????

March Madness heroes Mario Chalmers and Darrell Arthur were thrown out of the NBA’s rookie transition program on Wednesday morning after being caught in their hotel room with marijuana and women, according to several sources. Read more