Spencer Checketts’ Blog

2009-10 NBA Award Winners

April 21st, 2010

So the NBA regular season in in the books and the post-season is now in full swing. It’s officially time to reveal what my ballot reflects for this season’s NBA award winners. Some of the annual honors are no-brainers this time around (MVP, Rookie of the Year) and some have multiple deserving candidates (Coach of the Year, Most Improved Player). So without further adieu, the envelopes please.

Let’s start with the obvious.

-MVP: Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

About three months into the season, this MVP award could have been re-named the Lebron James award. He’s been that good from start to finish and really, there isn’t even a close second. The King actually had one of the most dominant seasons, statistically and otherwise, in the history of the NBA. His stats go like this: 29.7 ppg, 8.6 ast, 7.3 rpg. His shooting percentage is up to over 50%, his range has improved and you can count on him being named to his second consecutive All-Defensive team when the squads are announced later this month. And to top if off, he led his Cavs to an NBA best 61 regular season wins and are considered by many to be the prohibitive favorite to win the NBA title. Lebron’s performance is perhaps the most dominant regular season since Michael Jordan in 1987-88. And the cherry on top is the fact that he is clearly the most entertaining player in the league. The King will be crowned with his second consecutive MVP award, and deservedly so. Stay tuned to see if he can lead the Cavaliers to the NBA finals, and perhaps beyond…then we’ll look forward to seeing him in a Knick uniform come next season.

Honorable Mention: Dwight Howard. Most underrated stat of the season: Howard is the only player in NBA history to lead the league in blocks, rebounds, field goal percentage, and double doubles…amazing.

-Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans, Sacramento Kings.

Brandon Jennings is getting some love for this award because he helped lead his team to the playoffs. Understandable. But the clear choice is Evans, who is one of four players in NBA history to average 20 ppg, 5 ast and 5 rpg as a rookie. The others? Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson and Lebron James. Case closed. It’s not his fault the Kings are one of the worst teams in the NBA.

Honorable Mention: Jennings. His shooting percentage saw a sharp decline after his torrid start to the season, and he must improve his strength, decision making and perimeter defense, but Jennings is a dynamic lead guard with the ability to change the game all by himself. The double-nickel he dropped on the Warriors this season was spectacular, and his rookie playoff debut against the Hawks saw him go or 34 pts, which was the most percentage of a teams total points scored by a rookie in his playoff debut in the history of the league.

-6th Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford, Atlanta Hawks

There really is only two deserving candidates this season: Crawford and Manu Ginoboli of the San Antonio Spurs. Ginoboli played himself into the equation over the last two months of the season, when he was finally healthy and looked like the Manu of old. Up until then, this was clearly Crawford’s award, and due to his consistent play from start to finish, I feel as though he is still deserving of the hardware. Crawford has always been asked to do too much during the course of his NBA career; he’s never been a complete player or a superstar, but for some reason certain NBA GM’s (Isaiah Thomas) thought he could carry a team. He can’t. But he is a perfect 6th man; think Vinnie Johnson from the Detroit Pistons of the late 80′s. Instant offense, the ability to get his own shot, and the willingness the step up and embrace the moment during key stretches of the game. He has sacrificed for the greater good of the team, and the Hawks have benefited from his multi-dimensional offensive repertoire.

Honorable Mention: Ginoboli.

Most Improved Player: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

I know what you’re thinking: Durant was the Rookie of the Year in 2008 and an all-star in 2009, how can he be the most improved player? I would argue that the evolution of Durant’s game this season is one of the most remarkable single season improvements we’ve ever seen. He went from All-Star to Superstar, from a dangerous scorer to a transcendent scorer, from one-dimensional volume shooter to multi-faceted volume scorer. He is a pleasure to watch as a basketball fan, and amazingly still has room for improvement. He takes it to the basket and finishes with force, shoots of the bounce going in both directions, and has a deadly mid-range jumper. He is 6-10 with a 7-2 wingspan and comes off screens to catch and shoot like a natural two guard. He is a nightmare cover for most every defender in the NBA, and is just as much of an anomaly as Lebron James. Only three players in the league attempted more free throws than Durant made. He had an incredible season, and will most likely finish second to James in MVP voting.

Honorable Mention: Andrew Bogut. Lost in the vast wasteland of Milwaukee, Bogut very quietly put together the best season of his NBA career, and may finally be living up to the billing as a #1 draft pick. The former Ute averaged 16 ppg, 10.3 rpg, and 2.6 bpg until his season was cut short but a nasty injury to his elbow and arm on April 3rd against the Phoenix Suns. It ways here that a healthy Bogut would have given the Bucks a great shot at upending the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.

Coach of the Year: Nate McMillan, Portland Trailblazers

No coach has been forced to re-shuffle his lineup more than McMillan this season, who has seen his team miss a total of over 300 games due to injuries. Greg Oden AND Joel Pryzbilla went down early an missed most of the year, while his cornerstone, Brandon Roy, was in and out of the lineup all year long. Add Nicholas Batum and Rudy Fernandez to the list of walking wounded as well. Portland still won 50 games and is a legitimate threat to oust Phoenix from the first round of the playoffs due to their meticulous offensive execution and physicality on defense. McMillan has been masterful, and slightly edges out a slew of deserving candidates.

Honorable Mention: Scott Brooks, Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder were thought to be a nice young team that would entertain a lot, and win a little. A 27 win improvement, a 50 win season and a surprise post-season appearance is a testament to the job Brooks did with his roster littered with talented, but very young and inexperienced players.

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

The anchor of the NBA’s best defensive team, Howard had a monster year, leading the NBA in blocks and rebounds. Outside of his shot-blocking ability, his mere presence scares opposing defenders and makes them think twice before even entering the lane. He is the ultimate game-changer on the defensive end, and has blossomed into the NBA’s next great center during an era when elite big men are few and far between. That dynamic is considered the counter-argument here, and the main reason why I would understand a vote going to Lebron James. In this day and age, wing players in the NBA are tested every night by opposing scorers, as the majority of NBA teams possess legitimate wing scoring threats. Lebron has stepped up his defensive intensity and effort, while providing players with breakaway opportunities nightmares as he lurks from behind, waiting to eliminate a dunk attempt or swat a lay-up into the 15th row. But the award still has to go to Howard.

Honorable Mention: Lebron James

So there you have it. Feel free to chime in and give your thoughts. Now let’s enjoy the NBA’s second season, and see if the Jazz can capitalize on their game two victory at the Pepsi Center by holding home court and advancing on to lose to the Lakers.

Tags: Andrew Bogut, Brandon Jennings, Brandon Roy, Dwight Howard, Greg Oden, Jamal Crawford, Joel Pryzbilla, Kevin Durant, Lebron James, Manu Ginoboli, Michael Jordan, Nate McMillan, Nicholas Batum, Oscar Robertson, Rudy Fernandez, Scott Brooks, Tyreke Evans
Posted in NBA | 1 Comment »

The Hangover

March 17th, 2010

Thanks to my good friends at Jetblue Airlines, I find myself sitting here at the luxurious (nope) Long Beach Airport, enjoying (nope) a 4-hour layover during my incredibly long trip to Salt Lake from Vegas, via Long Beach. A Jetblue direct to Vegas from SLC is on my short list of secret desires (the rest of the list shall remain in my brain. Trust me, it’s better that way…for all of us.) I left the friendly (nope) confines of the Hard Rock hotel in Vegas nearly seven hours ago. I could have walked briskly, and would be close to home by now. I should be on my couch in my cozy little home in Sugarhouse watching “Bracketology” on ESPN, analyzing the field and cleaning out my TIVO selections for the weekend, including the Jazz games I missed, “Real Time” with Bill Maher on HBO, and the premiere of “Winning Time” on ESPN (based on Reggie Miller tormenting my New York Knicks in the mid-90′s. Don’t ask me why I’m so excited for this documentary. I hate Reggie Miller. I almost prefer Cheryl. Almost.)

But alas, I find myself here at a run down little old airport restaurant in So Cal, dining on crab bisque and salad, with a heavy dose of water (after spending three days in Vegas, drinking fresh free water feels like Christmas morning. I paid seven dollars for a bottle of water at the Hard Rock. Seven. And the tap water in the hotel room tasted like butt pee…I wish that last sentence was fiction). Side note: Even in a Southern California Airport, the seafood tastes amazing. Or maybe I’m just starving. I don’t know. What I do know is that sitting here in 75 degree weather with crystal clear blue skies above is causing me to wonder why the hell I live in Utah. I loathe Los Angeles; the borrowed culture, the ‘roided up Ed Hardy wearing douche bags, the females who are all one casting call away from their big break, etc. But I do love the weather in Southern California. It says here that I will one day live in So Cal…one day.

A few thoughts on Vegas before I get to my Mountain West Tournament recap:

-If you’re not going to Vegas to party and/or gamble, the city feels like nothing more than sensory overload on your brain. Seriously, three days there and I felt like I had been away for weeks. Everywhere you turn there is some sort of false sense of mythical stimulation that causes you, for a moment, to consider doing something that in a normal state of mind, you would never even entertain as an option. It’s a subconscious thing, and the creators of Sin City are, at the very most, brilliant, and at the very least, despicable.

-Anyone who listens to the show knows I am a huge music geek. I stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel, and was amazed at some of the music paraphernalia they had on hand. But even that is a trap. One minute you’re looking at the guitar David Bowie played when he recorded “Ziggy Stardust” and and the original sheet music to Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Only Living Boy in New York”, and the next minute you find yourself in the middle of the casino standing in front of a bar. They suck you in. The music even changes as you move from room to room. The Beatles and Bob Dylan are your companions as you trek through the historic rock exhibits, and suddenly, it’s Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath blasting in your ears when the Casino presents itself, awaiting to rip out your soul. Even the color schemes go from a pleasant light red and orange to a harder blue and black when you traverse from one room to the next. They know what they’re doing. There’s a reason why a new Casino is built every other month in Vegas. They are calling to your subconscious, and before you realize what hit you, your wallet is out and you’re shelling out all the cash you have at the possibility of lucking into easy street; a huge payday by virtue of sitting on your ass and pulling a few slots or tricking yourself into believing you have the edge over the house. Ever heard the saying, “the house always wins”? Yeah, there’s a reason for it…they do. A sinus infection kept me on the sidelines this year, which is a good thing. Didn’t even sit down at a table once. My three days were basically Hard Rock to Thomas and Mack, and back again. Thank the good Lord. I’m still not sure if I love this city or if I hate it. I suppose that’s a different topic for a different day.

Now onto the tournament.

-First off, allow me to say this: During our initial broadcast in Vegas, I made the statement that San Diego State was the ultimate wild-card in the tourney; they could either win the whole thing (which they did) or they could bow out in the first round (which they nearly did). After watching every game in the tourney up close for three days, I can certainly tell you that the best team in the tournament didn’t win it. The best team in the Mountain West is either New Mexico or BYU, and there isn’t a wrong answer. But I will say that the most talented team in the conference did win it. If San Diego State had a serviceable lead guard and a head coach who, oh I don’t know, actually coached, they would be a top 15 team, no question. They have a ton of athletes and all of the potential to be a national powerhouse. But they are so poorly coached it’s almost laughable. I mean, they don’t run a thing on offense and are only able to make up for defensive mistakes because of their speed and ability to recover. They rely solely on athletic ability and individual efforts to beat their opponents. Kawhi Leonard is a walking double double; he nearly naps through games and puts up 16 and 12. In my opinion, has more potential upside as an NBA player than any other player in the Mountain West. He just needs to learn how to play the game and develop the skill to fit his athleticism and natural ability. Billy White and Malcom Thomas are also legitimate big time division one athletes. The fact that they won the tourney with the basketball IQ of a park bench is a testament to their potential, not their fundamental execution as a team. Steve Fischer basically rolls the ball out there and says, “let’s go”. But hey, if it ain’t broke…

-UNLV is a solid team. If Trevon Willis had three more inches (that’s what she said) he would be a legitimate NBA prospect. I love the dude. He guards, he shoots it from the outside, and he plays unselfish. They just didn’t have the athletes to hang with SDSU on the boards and took too many ill advised contested shots in the tourney final. The Bryce Massamba who so badly hurt BYU in the semi-final was nowhere to be found against SDSU. He is a project; a true work in progress. Side Note: the UNLV/BYU semi-final was one of the best college basketball atmospheres I have been around in my entire life…and I’ve been to the Final Four. The Thomas and Mack was packed; BYU fans showed strong, but of course were badly out-numbered by their counterparts who, once again, enjoyed the home court advantage. Side note to the side note: The packed house for the semi-finals and the overall intensity of the tournament was a testament of why the tourney should remain in Las Vegas. (I can see the BYU fans rolling their eyes now, as the Cougs have dropped eight straight to their UNLV antagonists in Vegas. Stop making excuses. Just win baby, just win).

-Jimmer Fredette was brilliant against TCU, no doubt. You can’t argue with 45 points and 24-25 from the charity stripe. But (hold your breath BYU fan) even though he went for 30 against UNLV, I thought he froze his teammates out of the game. He was inefficient on offense (7-20 from the floor, 4-11 from three) and I don’t recall him even getting into a defensive stance, let alone playing defense at all. However, he’s a stone-cold killer; a true assassin that can (and will, in my opinion) lead BYU to a victory in the NCAA Tournament. The kid loves to compete, shoots out of a phone booth, and doesn’t shy away from the moment. It’s hard not to like a guy with that mentality.

-New Mexico is a very solid all-around team, but their inability to contain SDSU’s athleticism does not bode well for their NCAA Tournament hopes. Kawhi Leonard dominated the glass, and Billy White did whatever he wanted to offensively. Darinton Hobson was neutralized, especially in the second half, and Dairese Gary did a poor job of dictating the flow of UNMs offense; something he has been a maestro at throughout UNM’s over-achieving season. They can win a game in the Tourney, but that’s about it. Kudos, however, the the New Mexico fan base, who showed up in droves.

-Then there’s the Utes. Poor Jim Boylen. I like Jim; think he’s a solid coach and a great guy. But his team was bad. The Utah/UNLV game was the only game in the actual tournament that really wasn’t close from the get-go. Yes, I realize they pulled within a point at half-time. But if you watched the game, you saw right away they were over-matched. The game had an eerily similar feeling to the Utah/BYU game at the Huntsman a couple weeks ago. You just knew that it was a matter of time until UNLV pulled away. Some people have said the Utes didn’t show up, that they didn’t try or didn’t give the effort needed to win. I disagree. I saw effort, I saw intensity, I saw desire, I just think they’re a bad basketball team, bottom line. They simply don’t have the talent at this point to compete. It’s my opinion that BYU ended Utah season in that blowout win on March 3rd. Up until that night, Coach Boylen had his team playing the best basketball we had seen all year long. They never recovered from being blown out by their rivals. Let’s hope the incoming recruiting class lives up to the hype and the young kids evolve. Hope is a good thing, and right now, it’s all Utah fans have to hold onto. At least until football season.

-So the MWC is now a four-bid league. The conference tourney served as a nice warm-up for UNM, BYU, UNLV and SDSU. Let’s hope they show well as a group for the sake of the conference. What a long strange trip it’s been, being in Vegas for three days that felt like three weeks. Man, it’s good to be home. Now let’s enjoy the madness.

Tags: Aztecs, College Basketball, Las Vegas, Lobos, Mountain West Conference Tournament, NCAA Tournament, Rebels, Reggie Miller, San Diego State, University of New Mexico, UNLV
Posted in BYU, NBA, U of U, U of U Basketball | 1 Comment »

2010 NCAA Tournament Bracket

March 15th, 2010

Click on the bracket graphic to see the full size graphic…

Check out Bill Riley’s bracket HERE and Shep’s bracket HERE.

Tags: College Basketball, NCAA Tournament
Posted in BYU | No Comments »

Earth to Big Ben

March 10th, 2010

Attention Ben Roethlisberger: Buddy, the rules have changed for you.

There is Big Ben on the field. You know, the one who is the youngest quarterback ever to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory, the one who has one more Super Bowl ring than Peyton Manning, the one who was the Rookie of the Year in 2004; a Pro Bowl quarterback who currently ranks 9th all-time in NFL passer rating (91.7), 5th in yards per attempt (8.01), and 8th in completion percentage (63.29%) among quarterbacks with a minimum of 1500 career attempts. He has the 5th highest winning percentage (.698) as a starter in the regular season among quarterbacks with a minimum of 80 starts. He is among the game’s elite quarterbacks, and was recently rewarded with a contract north of $100 million by one of the classiest organizations in the history of the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is 28 years old with the world at his fingertips. Problem is, we seem to have yet another athlete on our hands who appears to believe he can treat women like objects. And of equal importance, lacks the self-awareness to realize that for him, the rules changed months ago.

This is the second time in less than a year that Roethlisberger has been charged with sexual assault, and the third time in his career that a mindless off-field decision has led to questions about his intelligence and maturity.

First there was the near fatal motorcycle accident that threatened to take Ben’s life and career in the summer of 2006 when he was operating his bike at high speed without wearing a helmet, nor possessing a valid motorcycle license. Roethlisberger suffered fractures to the jaw and right sinus cavity, as well as a nine-inch laceration to the back of the head, the loss of two teeth, and several chipped teeth. His facial injuries were severe enough that witnesses on the scene did not immediately recognize him, even after he identified himself. That in and of itself could have been enough for the Steelers to void his contract, or at least punish him severely. They did neither and Ben was back on the field in time for the 2007 season after a remarkable recovery. He spoke about what a “wake-up call” the accident had been, and how he wanted to “make serious changes” moving forward. Useless rhetoric, as it turns out.

Now, to be fair, Ben’s first female accuser appears to me a money hungry “Pro Hoe” Casino Host from Lake Tahoe, who was heard bragging to her co-workers that she had consensual sex with Roethlisberger in July of 2009. She additionally was harboring fantasies about being the mother of Ben’s child, telling the same co-worker that she hoped to “have a little Roethlisberger in me” (too late) while describing the sexual encounter. She appears to be off the reservation, and her public statements killed any credibility she may have had, while eliminating the possibility of any criminal prosecution for Big Ben (suddenly sounds like a porn name).

But here’s the real point: Criminal prosecution or not, Roethilsberger should have recognized that, following the incident in Lake Tahoe, the rules had changed for him. He should have realized that he was not bullet-proof, and that several desperate women wouldn’t hesitate at the chance to expose him, should he give them that chance. Well, this past weekend, once again, Roethlisberger gave another female that very chance. Only this time, it doesn’t appear he’s getting off so easy.

Really, what is this guy thinking? What else needs to happen for him to wake up and realize that he can’t play by the rules that everyone else can? He is a public figure. He is a well-known professional athlete and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Right, wrong, or indifferent, his rules are different than mine or yours; that’s just the reality. And with what has already happened in his life, he’s now playing by a set of even more stringent rules; rules that many of his counterparts don’t even need to adhere to because they don’t carry his baggage. Ever heard of Peyton Manning forcing himself on a female at a bar? No. Tom Brady? No. Drew Brees? No.

Ben opened himself up to scrutiny when the first allegations became public last summer. He should have realized then that coercing 20-year old female college students at a dive bar in Georgia into your VP section with the lure of free drinks and the attraction of hanging with an NFL player simply isn’t something he’s allowed to do anymore because of his past mistakes. How in the world did he allow himself to, once again, fall into this situation, less than a year from the last time he was allegedly assaulting a female? Perhaps he should have thought twice, three times even, before removing the t-shirt from his drawer with a picture of the devil on the front (his wardrobe choice for his night of debauchery). Perhaps he should have pumped the breaks a bit before entering a bathroom in a dive bar with a female while heavily intoxicated. A situation which may, at the most, ultimately lead to the downfall of his career, and at the least, the delineation of his character (if he ever had any).

The investigation is in it’s preliminary stages, so it’s far too early to make a judgement about who’s right and who’s wrong, who’s lying and who’s telling the truth. But again, that’s not the point. The point is until Big Ben pays some real consequences for his juvenile actions, he will continue to engage in behavior that is a black eye for the Steelers, who pride themselves in being a reflection of their blue-collar, pull no punches city, Pittsburgh. As a football fan, I’m hoping he’s innocent, but as a person, if he is indeed guilty, I’m hoping he’s finally forced to face his actions with some serious consequences so he can realize that, this time around, he actually does need to make changes.

Tags: Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl, Tom Brady
Posted in NFL | 7 Comments »

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

March 1st, 2010

Title a bit deceiving, you say? No, I’m not stuck in a time warp taking me back to the holiday season. No, I’m not scrambling to do some last minute Christmas shopping. And no, the following content will not be based on looking forward to Christmas 2010. I’m simply stating my opinion, and presenting the case that this is unequivocally the best time of the year to be a sports fan. Opinions seem to be split; many people eagerly look to the fall, anticipating the start of College and Pro Football, Baseball Playoffs and NBA Training Camp. But for me, March is what it’s all about, and when you look a bit closer, it’s just the tip of the iceberg of what promises to be a fun-filled sports spring and summer.

In chronological order, as a sports fan, it’s time to get excited for:

-March Madness.

The NCAA Tourney is simply the best annual sporting event the yearly calendar contains. There is just nothing like it. And this year, a tremendous amount of local interest is creating a ton of buzz, as BYU and Utah State appear to be headed to the big dance, while Weber State currently sits in first place in the Big Sky, and could also join the Aggies and Cougars in the Tourney should they emerge victorious from their Conference Tournament. Added bonus? The NCAA West Regionals will be played here in Salt Lake City, so fans will be able to see the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight up close and personal at the Energy Solutions Arena.

-Real Salt Lake season opener.

RSL opens it’s defense of the 2009 MLS Cup on March 27th in San Jose. Once known as Major League Soccer’s “Lovable Losers”, Jason Kreis and his squad are standing at the top of the MLS heap after last season’s unforgettable post-season run, culminating with RSL’s coronation as the kings of American Soccer. Yes, it seems like only yesterday we were celebrating in Seattle, but the start of the 2010 season is just over three weeks away. The target on RSL’s back will be sizable; an unwanted but unavoidable burden that comes along with winning the trophy. Questions abound for the Utah side, as departed striker Yura Movsisyan, leaves a gaping hole up top, likely to be filled by the talented but oft-injured Argentinean play-maker, Fabian Espindola. Also gone is Clint Mathis, a main-stay in the RSL midfield a year ago. Ned Grabavoy and RSL original Andy Williams will be likely be counted on to sure-up Kreis’s starting 11 and fill-in for the departed Mathis.

-The NBA Playoffs.

Anyone who listens to the show knows that I am an NBA geek, and the Association’s annual post-season battle should be ripe with competitive action and intriguing story lines this year. And after running off a record of 19-4 in their last 23 games, The Utah Jazz appear poised to treat their fans to one, if not two rounds of playoff basketball. Depending on the match-ups and outcomes of the other playoff series in the western conference, it’s really not much of a stretch to say the Jazz could duplicate their ’07 playoff run into the Western Conference Finals. I believe the Jazz can handle any team in the west not named the Lakers, with the Nuggets also posing a stiff challenge. The collision course that appears unavoidable is a Lakers vs. Cavaliers final, pitting the two best players in the world against each other, as Lebron and Kobe would go head to head in would would surely be a finals for the ages.

-Major League Baseball

-A sport that has it’s detractors with the steroid era still ripe in everyone’s mind and the prospect of the sometimes monotonous 162 game schedule ahead, but for baseball purists and even casual baseball fans, pitchers and catchers and sprig training bring one thing Fall baseball does not: hope. Every team has a chance, every fan base has a reason for optimism…well, unless you’re the Royals. Star players have changed teams (most notable Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Jason Bay and John Lackey) while several teams shored up their rosters with smaller trades and signings. The Yankees and Red Sox appear, per usual, to lead the way in AL, with a new-look Mariner team and the always dangerous Angles nipping on their heals. In the NL, it appears to be the Phillies and everyone else, with the Cardinals and the Dodgers (maybe) pacing close behind.

-The World Cup

-Little known fact: more people in the United States, per capita, watched the 2006 World Cup in Germany than any other nation around the Globe. Unfortunately, they witnessed a disaster for the Americans, as Bruce Arena and the boys failed to advance out of group play, posting an 0-2-1 record while scoring just two goals. Fans here in the states are hoping for a performance this time around that would conjure up memories of the boys from 2002, when the U.S. made an improbable run to the quarterfinals. The upstarts opened the tournament by shocking Portugal 3-2, finishing 1-1-1 in pool play and continued on with a 2-0 win over Mexico in the round of 16, before a loss to Germans ended the memorable run. Locally, there could be added interest as Robbie Findley is considered to be an option to replace the injured Charlie Davies, though Davies has resumed training after a remarkable recovery following a tragic car accident. But no matter who Bob Bradley picks to round-out his roster, best believe that come June 12th, much of our nation will be eagerly tuned in for a dangerous but sexy opening round match with perennial soccer powerhouse, England.

So there you have it. Yes, the fall sports season is enjoyable and exciting. Yes, I realize the one sport that can do no wrong for most of America is not on this list (I guess I could mention the Blaze?). But for me, the beginning of March has always meant the start to the most exciting sports period of the year. And with all of the local story-lines to follow in the coming weeks and months surrounding the events outlined above, this spring/summer is sure to entertain and captivate. Now sit back and enjoy.

Tags: Andy Williams, Boston Red Sox, Cavaliers, Cliff Lee, Clint Mathis, Fabian Espindola, Jason Bay, Jason Kreis, John Lackey, Kobe Bryant, Lakers, Lebron James, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Dodgers, March Madness, MLS Cup, NCAA Tournament, Ned Grabavoy, New York Yankees, Nuggets, Philadelphia Phillies, Roy Halladay, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Utah Blaze, World Cup, Yura Movsisyan
Posted in BYU, MLB, MLS, NBA, RSL, U of U Basketball, Utah Jazz | 10 Comments »

A Soccer Thanksgiving

November 24th, 2009

Real Salt Lake are the 2009 MLS Cup Champions.

Wait…read that again.

Yes, ”lil old Real Salt Lake are the kings of United States Professional Soccer.

Over the weekend, the often criticized, but highly capable head coach of RSL, Jason Kreis, led his club to the highest honor Major League Soccer has to offer. He did it his way. He did it with his players. He laughed in the face of his critics (you know who you are) as RSL defeated the supposed “favorite” LA Galaxy, a team that features the best player in US history (Landon Donavon) and the World’s most famous soccer player/metro-sexual (David Beckham).

RSL completed it’s quest for the Cup via penalty kicks, conquering the mighty Galaxy by a score of 5-4, with defender Robbie Russel delivering the game winning tally, after Cup MVP Nick Rimando (once again) came up huge when the game was on the line.

As I pondered the five-year journey this organization has trekked since its inception, and the transformation the team has undergone since Kreis and General Manager Garth Lagerway took hold of the reigns, I was overcome with gratitude for many things. And we would all be remiss if, during this time of Thanksgiving, we didn’t offer our heart-felt and sincere appreciation to the following Major League Soccer teams:

1. To the Chicago Fire.

Thank you for undervaluing Andy Williams. When Andy was left unprotected in the 2004 expansion draft, Steve Patorino and John Ellinger wasted no time in snatching up the Jamaican international with Real Salt Lake’s first selection, making the dynamic midfielder an RSL original. Andy has been a staple for the RSL organization, and remains the lone original player still toiling on the pitch for the team today. His late season resurgence was a key component in Real Salt Lake’s run to the cup, while his off-field battle regarding his angel wife, Marcia, is certainly the 2009 local sports story of the year.

The Fire organization also thought little of a Canadian International named Will Johnson. After a low-ball offer that could be considered nothing less as insulting to the young midfielder full of fire (pun intended) and promise, Johnson took his sizable skill-set to the Netherlands. RSL acquired his MLS rights by sending a supplemental 4th round draft pick to Chicago, as Johnson returned state-side last season. Since then, Will has been a mainstay in Jason Kreis’s midfield, appearing in the 2009 MLS All-Star Game and proving to be a defensive menace and an offensive threat every time his number is called.

2. To the LA Galaxy

clint-mathis

Not only were you the proverbial “favorites” (media machine creation, F.Y.I) who were supposed to win MLS Cup 2009 running away, but you also thought Clint Mathis had nothing left in the tank. After the RSL orIginal returned home from an abbreviated stint in Greece, the Galaxy shipped Clint back to the 801 in exchange for a 4th round supplemental draft pick. Last season, Clint emerged as a steadying influence in the RSL locker room, as the team made the Western Conference Finals. In 2009, Clint finished in the top 5 in all of MLS in assists, and shouldered the load in central midfield for over 100 minutes when Javier Morales went down with a sprained LCL in the Cup Final. Clint was also Jason’s first choice to step to the spot and take a penalty kick in Chicago and LA, setting the tone for the rest of the team as RSL emerged victorious on both occasions en route to the championship.

findley

Oh, and lest we forget, LA was also the original home for the all-time leading scorer in RSL history (and reigning golden boot winner) Robbie Findley. It was Findley’s goal in the 64th minute against the Galaxy that drew the “underdogs’” even, allowing RSL the chance to advance to extra time. Robbie’s classy penalty kick take was his 5th goal during the 2009 MLS playoff campaign, and his 17th on the season as a whole. Neatly gift-wrapped from LA, Findley is rapidly emerging as an elite MLS forward, and has to be considered a cornerstone which to build upon for the future.

3. To DC United

APTOPIX MLS Cup Real Salt Lake Galaxy Soccer

Remember when, in what now seems to be nothing more than a distant memory, RSL traded backup goalkeeper Jay Nolly for a prodigy, and the supposed future of United States soccer, Freddy Adu? The throw-in to that deal was an undersized goalkeeper thought to be past his prime named Nick Rimando. Need I elaborate? The 2009 MLS Cup MVP was traded by RSL, albeit momentarily, to New York following his acquisition from D.C. He was quickly re-aquired. The rest, as they say, is history. No single player was more important to the “cinderella” run of RSL to the Cup championship this season than the best ‘keeper in RSL history.

4. To the Colorado Rapids

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Okay, it’s one thing to be a doormat for RSL success, as Real Salt Lake has brought home the Rocky Mountain Cup at the expense of their MLS rivals for three straight seasons in dominating fashion. But a closer look reveals that the Rapids are basically Real Salt Lake’s developmental roster. RSL’s captain Kyle Beckerman, who is among the league’s most dominant holding midfielders, was acquired for Mhedi Ballouchy, while defender Chris Wingert was acquired by virtue of nothing more than a couple of draft picks. 2009 RSL MVP Nat Borchers, the only RSL player to start every single game this season, is also a Colorado cast-off. RSL supporters everywhere owe much to our little brothers from Denver.

5. And finally, to FC Dallas (or the Dallas Burn, at the time)

In 2004, the Dallas Burn boasted a striker who was the all-time leading goal scorer in MLS history. After nine seasons in Dallas, he had career totals of 91 goals and 65 assists. He was the first American-born player to be named MLS MVP, while leading his team in scoring five times; garnering five MLS-All-Star Selections.

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His name was Jason Kreis.

“They (Dallas) said I could stay if I took a 50% pay-cut. They told me they wanted to sign an international striker”, said Kries.

“I felt expendable”, he continued.

I guess one man’s mistake is another man’s good fortune, as Kreis was signed as Real Salt Lake’s first ever player in 2004. In 58 appearances, he scored 17 goals. But that isn’t the half of it.

In May of 2007, Kreis became the youngest head coach in MLS history, as he traded his cleats for a clipboard in mid-season. In two full years at the helm he has guided his club to a Western Conference Final, and, over the weekend, became the youngest coach in MLS history to win the coveted MLS Cup.

So let it be written that a rag tag bunch of cast-aways, a group of players and coaches nobody else wanted or believed in, are the make-up of the best team in Major League Soccer. And during the upcoming week, as we sit down amongst family and friends to give thanks for many things, let us not forget to thank the non-believers; the critics, the cynics and the holier-than-thous. Because without them (many of whom are listed above) RSL wouldn’t be where they are today: 2009 MLS Cup Champions.

SOCCER/

Tags: Andy Williams, Chicago Fire, Chris Wingert, Clint Mathis, Colorad Rapids, David Beckham, DC United, FC Dallas, Jason Kreis, Kyle Beckerman, LA Galaxy, Landon Donovan, MLS Cup, Nat Borchers, Nick Rimando, Robbie Findley, Robbie Russel
Posted in MLS, RSL | 9 Comments »

Show me the Money

November 3rd, 2009

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Meet Antoine Walker.

He was a two-time all-american at the University of Kentucky under Rick Pitino, and started on the Wildcats 1996 National Championship team as a sophomore. Walker was a three-time NBA All-Star, while scoring over 15,000 points throughout the course of his 12-year NBA career. He was a dangerous perimeter threat with unlimited range on his jump shot. At 6-8, 245 pounds, he had the body of a power forward, and the handles of a point guard. He was a rare talent.

Due to his unique skill set, Antoine Walker was, at one point, one of the NBA highest paid players. In his 12 NBA seasons, Walker signed contracts worth an estimated $110 million. He also received endorsements from Adidas and was the cover boy for EA Sport’s NBA Live 1999, a widely popular basketball video game.

Now, just one year removed from his NBA playing days, Antoine Walker is flat broke. Actually, its worse than that. Recently, news surfaced that Walker was arrested at Harrah’s Casino in Las Vegas, and charged with writing 10 bad checks totaling just south of $1 million in casino markers.

In the days following his arrest, the Boston Globe reported (Antoine was a Celtic for 8 seasons) that Walker is being pursued by multiple financial institutions for unpaid debts totaling more than $4 million. Court documents filed in Illinois and Florida reveal that Antoine was named a defendant in three recent debt-related civil cases, in addition to the ongoing check-kiting case. His former agent is also after him, citing a heap of unpaid fees.

So how in the name of bling does somebody blow through a total of $110 million to the point where they cant even cover casino markers? How does one go from $110 million in the black to $4 million in the red, just one year after retiring from basketball?

Unfortunately, Walker is not the first professional athlete to have wasted away what should have been enough money to last 10 lifetimes. Nor shall he be the last. In fact, Walker joins a very long and prestigious list of once filthy rich pro athletes who squandered away their fortunes.

To understand why this continuously occurs, and perhaps learn some lessons along the way, let’s take a look at some of our favorite “Professional Athletes Gone Broke” and see if we can get to the root of the problem.

-Lesson #1: Become a Trojan Man.

Case in point: 4-time Heavyweight Champ, Evander Holyfield

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Holyfield earned an estimated $250 million during the course of his long and prestigious boxing career. Building a 54,000 square foot estate in suburban Atlanta and paying cash for most everything certainly didn’t help his financial well-being, but fathering 11 children from eight different women is what eventually did the defending champ in. The government recently foreclosed on his home, and Holyfield was forced to get back into the ring in an attempt to make good on his monthly child support. Honorable mentions in this category also go to former Bronco Travis Henry (Nine kids, Nine baby mammas) former Spur Willie Anderson (Nine kids, Nine baby mammas) and former Sonic Sean Kemp (Seven kids, Six baby mammas).

-Lesson #2: Buy less cars.

Case in point: 4-time Major League Baseball All-Star Jack “The Ripper” Clark

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I’m not saying buy no cars, I’m just saying buy less. Jack Clark, who made an estimated $20 million over the course of his baseball career, filed for bankruptcy in 1992, listing debts of close to $12 million. At the time, Clark was the proud owner of 18 automobiles, including a 1990 Ferrari that cost $717,000 and three 1992 Mercedes Benz cars costing between $103,000 and $143,000. When he filed for chapter 11, Clark still owed money on 17 of the automobiles. Honorable mention: former NBA All-Star Kenny Anderson (10 cars averaging $125,000 in value).

-Lesson #3: Leave your homeboys at home.

Case in point: NFL Quarterback Michael Vick

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As recently as three years ago, Vick was listed by Forbes as one of the world’s richest athletes. He signed the most lucrative deal in NFL history, and was the beneficiary of dozens of endorsements. It was estimated he was worth close to $140 million. Throughout the course of his career, Vick hired several of his childhood friends to perform various tasks, and look after his estates. One of Vick’s former estates is now infamously known as “Bad Newz Kennels”, the dog fighting operation that landed Vick in prison for two years and saw his once lucrative lifestyle waste away to debts totaling close to $50 million. No surprise that it was three members (and childhood friends) of his entourage who were the primary principals in “Bad Newz”. Honorable mention: The aforementioned Antoine Walker. He is said to be supporting as many as 70 family members and friends.

-Lesson #4: Uhm, drugs are bad, mmmkay.

Case in point: Former Giant Linebacker Lawrence Taylor

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“LT” was one of, if not the greatest players ever to play the game. But after his retirement, an estimated $50 million in career earnings were squandered on drugs, booze and women. Cocaine was LT’s weapon on choice, as he was jailed at least three times for crack possession. After filing for bankruptcy in 1998, Taylor found sobriety, and the football hall of fame awarded him with a well-deserved induction. But addiction was the main catalyst in the delineation of his millions. Honorable mention: Bjorn Borg. The former tennis great was busted for cocaine possession, overdosed in what was rumored to be a suicide attempt, and spent millions to support his egregious habit.

-Lesson #5: When investing, seek the advice of, oh I don’t know, an actual licensed financial advisor?

Case in point: Former football great Raghib “The Rocket” Ismail

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Instead of focusing on private equity or allocating small portions of money to low-risk quality stocks, many athletes invest large sums of money in terrible idea, high profile ventures with little to no business acumen or infrastructure. “The Rockets” bad investment list tops them all. Among the investments that saw $25 million go directly into the toilet: financing a religious movie, opening a Rock N Roll Café, financing a record label (COZ Records), starting a cosmetics company, and lastly, backing a chain of framed calligraphy-name shops. Honorable mention (there could be several named here) Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers. Investments in pistachio farms, Arabian horses and wind turbines were his down fall, as Fingers lost nearly $20 million.

Sadly, this is just a fingernail sketch of the dozens of examples of professional athletes who are a victim of their own poor decision making en route to throwing away fortunes that could literally feed small countries. At the end of the day, the onus is on the athletes themselves, no doubt. But the players unions and sanctioned leagues need to do more to ensure that once the paying days are over, these people (yes, they are people) have the ability and the tools to live the rest of their lives in manageable fashion. Until these athletes learn to control their frivolous spending, and the leagues stop viewing them as nothing more than a momentary meal ticket to boost ratings and revenue, we will continue to see more and more cases such as the ones outlined above.

Tags: Antoine Walker, Bjorn Borg, Evander Holyfield, Jack Clark, Kenny Anderson, Lawrence Taylor, Michael Vick, Raghib Ismail, Rollie Fingers, Sean Kemp, Travis Henry, Willie Anderson
Posted in NBA | 13 Comments »

Lost in the Shuffle

October 20th, 2009

The 2009 off-season for the Utah Jazz has been nothing short of a soap opera. Never in Jazz history have we seen the team enter the off-season in so much turmoil; with so many questions.

Three years ago, the Jazz reached the Western Conference finals, while winning the Northwest division. They followed it up with another 50-win season, and another division championship. At the time, they were one of the five best teams in the NBA, while also boasting one of the league’s 5 youngest rosters. The present was entertaining and the future was bright. It was good to be a Jazz fan.

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But last season, the wheels fell off. Carlos Boozer was the main antagonist, missing 45 games due to an assortment of injuries, while informing a national media member over the holidays that it was his plan to opt out of his contract at the end of the season. Ensconced in velvet at the end of the bench for the majority of the regular season, Booz didn’t do much to endear himself to his teammates, this I can assure you.

But of course Boozer and his delusional agent, Rob Pelinka found that no suitors were lining up to pay Carlos the “raise he deserved” after such an injury-plaugued season which saw his production diminish greatly. Despite Boozer’s best efforts (he went on radio stations in Chicago and Miami prematurely selling himself to their respective fan bases) and much to his dismay, he was back in Utah.

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Then free-agent Paul Millsap received a front-loaded free-agent offer-sheet from the Jazz’s Northwest divisional rivals, the Portland Trailblazers. The Jazz had no choice but to math the 4-year, $32 Million deal, lest they loose their young power forward. Suddenly, the Jazz had over $84 million in player salaries allocated on their books. The NBA salary cap is $57.7 million. The luxury tax threshold is set at $69.92 million. Meaning Greg Miller and the Utah Jazz will be paying nearly $15 million in luxury tax dollars back to the NBA this season.

They have a championship caliber payroll without a championship caliber team, something the late Larry Miller swore would never happen.

But lost in the shuffle of all the off-season drama and cap mismanagement is what the Jazz do have:

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Deron Williams.

That’s right. Remember this guy? Seems like we haven’t heard a whisper this off-season about the best player to ever wear a Utah Jazz uniform not named Stockton or Malone. It’s expensive to go see an NBA game live these days. Deron is the only individual Jazz player worth the price of admission, all by himself. He has tremendous floor vision, great leadership qualities, crazy-quick handles that allow him to attack the basket in a myriad of different ways, makes heady decisions when he gets into the lane, possesses a deadly jump shot off the bounce going in both directions, and has improved his 3-point range. The only knock on Deron is his lack of lateral quickness and tendency to let his man beat him defensively. A criticism that pertains to about 90% of players in today’s NBA.

Deron is the reason the Jazz are still relevant. Without him, the Jazz are a lottery team. With him, they can compete with any team in the NBA on a nightly basis. As is the case with every team, of course Deron can’t do it all by himself. But ask anyone who was at the ESA last season; often times, it sure looked like Deron was carrying the team on his back, willing the Jazz to results, with very little help from anyone else. Deron was the main reason the Jazz won 48 games, despite suffering 146 total games missed by players due to injuries, illness or absences. Deron carried the Jazz into the playoffs, and, as usual, saved his best basketball for the biggest stage. He averaged 21 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds in the Jazz’s first-round 5-game loss the the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. While the rest of the Jazz roster seemed intimidated by the mighty Lakers, Deron was the only one who played like he belonged. He played like he was there expecting to win. He conceded nothing, and was failed by his teammates, with the possible exception of Paul Millsap.

Because of Deron, the ship stayed on course last season as much as humanly possible. And because of Deron, there is still reason to hope for Jazz fans. He is a legitimate NBA superstar. He is a clutch player with a big-game mentality. If he isn’t the best point guard in the NBA, he is certainly the second, right behind New Orleans’s Chris Paul. The debate between who is the better player will not be settled until both of their respective careers are finished. I could make a compelling case for both.

So as the NBA begin in less than a week (crazy, isn’t it) the Jazz are entering the season with a ton of questions. Can they trade Carlos Boozer for equal value before the trade deadline in February? Can Paul Millsap, who is being payed north of $10 million this season, remain content coming off the bench? Where will they find someone who can guard the interior? Are they mature enough to finally win on the road with consistency? Do they have the depth to compete with the injury to CJ MIles and the impending retirement of Matt Harpring? Can Eric Maynor step in and play right away as your back-up point guard?

It’s nice to know that one spot is in tact and remains without question: Deron Williams.

Tags: Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Paul Millsap
Posted in NBA, Utah Jazz | 6 Comments »

Coaches Behaving Badly

October 13th, 2009

“Keep your hands to yourself”.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is one of the most basic, fundamental principles that we’re all taught from a very young age.

Apparently, a couple of football coaches need to go back to pre-school.

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Tom Cable is the head coach of the hapless Oakland Raiders. The Raiders, one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, are an absolute mess. They’re a team in total disarray. Al Davis, once thought a football genius, has completely lost control of his organization, and possibly control of his mind. And it has nothing to do with his recent draft disasters that include (among others) Robert Gallery, Jamarcus Russell and Darius Heyward-Bey. The Raiders are 1-4 and could easily be considered the worst team in the NFL. Recently, news surfaced that Cable, who is in his first full season as the Raiders head coach, punched assistant coach Randy Hanson in the face during a “heated exchange”, breaking Hanson’s jaw in the process. Initially, Cable denied any wrongdoing, telling reporters that “nothing happened” when pressed about the issue. The Raiders swept it under the rug and released a statement saying it was an “internal issue that we’re dealing with.”

Now, Hanson is speaking out, and the details don’t bode well for Cable or the Raiders. In an exclusive interview given to Yahoo Sports recently, Hanson described the scene like this:

“From my blindside, Tom Cable threw me from my chair and into a piece of furniture that a lamp sat upon,” Hanson said. “He was screaming, ‘I’ll f——- kill you! I’ll f——- kill you!’ And I have no reason to believe he wouldn’t have killed me if they hadn’t pulled him away. If my head would’ve hit a different way, I might be dead right now.”

Currently, the case is under investigation. Cable could face possible felony assault charges. The NFL, per league policy, will most likely wait until the legal process plays itself out to make a ruling. The Raiders, however, shouldn’t wait another moment. Cable deserves to lose his job, and he deserves to lose it today.

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Mike Locksley is also a first-year head coach. His New Mexico Lobos are 0-6, good for last place in the Mountain West Conference. They are off to the program’s worst start since 1987. In what is also being characterized as a “heated exchange”, Locksley punched his wide receivers coach J.B. Williams in the mouth during a coaches meeting in September, splitting the lip of Williams wide open. But did Locksley lose his job? Nope…but guess who did? That’s right, J.B. Williams. Reports have surfaced out of New Mexico that Williams recently took a leave of absence, then resigned under pressure.

But this isn’t the first time we’ve caught wind of inappropriate behavior by “The Mike of Locksley”. The punch comes off the heels of accusations that Locksley sexually assaulted longtime Lobo office worker Sylvia Lopez last spring. This week news came out that the two have resolved the issues that led the 54-year-old Lopez to file a sexual harassment /age discrimination claim against Locksley. Ironically, the resolution came after it was decided that Lopez would keep her job.

Leave it to Paul Krebs and David Schmidley, the University of New Mexico VP of Athletics and University President, respectively, to handle the situation appropriately. After all, as Locksley’s superiors, they are ultimately responsible for the resolution (or lack there of) concerning the situation. Recently, the two men released this incredibly ignorant and obtuse statement: “We stand behind Coach Locksley and know that he has performed and continues to perform his job in a professional and respectable manner and will do so in the future.”

Okay, maybe I’m alone on an island here, but can someone please explain to me what’s “professional” and “respectable” about sexually assaulting a female employee and giving an assistant coach a fat lip? Like Cable, Locksley should be fired, and he should be fired today.

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By now, college football fans are all to familiar with LeGarrette Blount from Oregon. He is is the senior running back who was suspended for the season when he went postal and knocked-out Boise State’s Byron Hout after the Broncos hammered the Ducks in Boise on October 3rd. Oregon Coach Chip Kelly wasted no time in suspending Blount for the rest of the season following the punch, all but eliminating the senior’s chance at a chance to be drafted into the NFL, and greatly diminishing his opportunity to make a living playing professional football. Personally, I thought the penalty was harsh. But make no mistake, Blount lost his cool and deserved to be punished for his violent act.

But someone please explain this to me: How is it fair that a 22-year old kid like Blount, who reacted poorly when antagonized by a low-class jerk in an emotional moment following a crushing loss, has his future ripped away from him, while two grown men (under contract, might I add) like Tom Cable and Mike Locksley continue to maintain gainful employment after deliberately and maliciously striking their subordinates in the face during what was supposed to be a routine coaches meeting? Are you serious? How/why would anyone ever want to work with/for either of these two men again?

Al Davis needs to seriously re-consider the shocking under-reaction of his organization. In the real world, if you go around punching people in your place of employment, you lose your job. Cable deserves the same fate. At this point, Al Davis is operating like a “Weekend at Bernies” movie. Are we sure this dude still has a pulse?

Likewise, Schmidley needs to recognize what a cancer he has in Locksley. A sexual harassment charge and an assault accusation in the first six months on the job is not acceptable. Locksley’s employment must be terminated. Yes, even in New Mexico these things are not acceptable.

Between the two coaches, they have a combined record of 1-10 in 2009. But their off-field actions make their on-field performance look genius. It’s jerks like Cable and Locksley that represent the worst of competitive sports and exacerbate the negative stereotypes that exist. But the sad truth is as long as their employers turn a blind eye, this behavior will be deemed as acceptable. The double standard needs to stop, and it needs to stop now. Locksley and Cable must go.

Posted in NCAA Football, NFL | 8 Comments »

I Believe in Kreis

September 29th, 2009

Soccer fans are a rare breed. I have spent my entire life in and around professional sports. I can promise you, no sport contains fans that have the emotional attachment and personal investment towards their team that soccer fans seem to possess. Internationally, soccer is life. Stateside, it’s starting to move the needle, but still has a ways to go before it evens approaches the international game.

You think the black hole at the Coliseum where the Raiders play is dangerous? Try watching a match in Columbia when the national team plays. The country has seen a player, an executive and a referee murdered because of the outcome of soccer matches. Yes, murdered. As in shot. As in six-feet under. As in, our team lost, and someone deserves to die as a result.

Head to a match at Upton Park where West Ham plays, or White Hart Lane where the Tottenham Spurs call home. Winning isn’t the primary objective. Getting back to your flat with your extremities in place is the main goal. The “Hooligans” in England are alive and well. Google “Millwall and West Ham fight“, then sit back and enjoy. Or be disturbed. Soccer is much more than a game to these people. There’s something about the sport; the culture, that breeds lunatic behavior.

To draw a parallel here, imagine what would happen stateside if fans of the Lakers and the Jazz rioted outside the ESA after a game. Imagine if a player from either side was shot and killed for missing the game-winning shot, or turning the ball over at an inopportune time. Imagine if a team executive from either side was murdered for a poor draft pick (we would be out of NBA General Managers if this was the case). Imagine if an NBA official was killed for blowing a last second call (generations of officials would be dead by now). These images are not uncommon among international soccer fans, but entirely foreign and completely terrifying for those of us raised on the meat and potatoes of American sport.

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Jason Kreis is the head coach of Real Salt Lake. Technically, he is in his third season as the team’s manager, but he is in the latter part of his second full season at the helm. After what can only be only described as an abysmal performance over the weekend in Dallas when former RSL striker Jeff Cunningham tallied twice to lead his team to a 3-0 drubbing of RSL, Kreis’s team sits four points out of a playoff spot with three games to play, boasting a record of 9-11-7. Realistically, it would take nothing short of a miracle for RSL to reach the post-season; a disappointment after last year’s magical run to the Western Conference finals when Real Salt Lake came within a whisker of reaching the MLS Cup Final.

Over the last week, my in-box has been inundated with e-mails calling for Jason’s job. We receive inquiries daily on KALL 700 Sports about Jason’s job security, or lack thereof. As I said, soccer fans are passionate. They live and die with the success or failure of their team.

So to all of you naysayers out there who believe that Jason should be fired, for all of you “fans” who believe you know better, for all of you supporters who believe the time for a change has come, I say this:

I believe in Kreis.

I’m not writing this article as an apology letter for the failings of the RSL front office. That, perhaps, is a different topic for a different day. I’m not writing to make excuses for poor decision making by certain members of the RSL staff who stubbornly believe they know better, for no discernible reason other than their own ego. But RSL supporters should know that the shortcomings of some are obvious to everyone. Do I believe the fans deserve better? Yes, I do. But long ago, I learned that you can’t worry about things that are out of your control. I’m simply writing this article to offer my personal opinion that Jason Kreis has all the makings of a talented and successful coach. And for what it’s worth, it’s my hope that he remains the head man at RSL for years to come.

Truly great head coaches in every sport have rather consistent personality traits. They are over-achievers. They are tireless workers. They are passionate. They are stubborn, even to the point of mild insanity. They have a timeless approach to the game, while maintaining the ability to communicate with the modern-day athlete (a dynamic that is unequivocally complicated).

Jason Kreis is an over-achiever. Kreis was a 5th-round draft pick out of Duke University. A mid-fielder by trade, he converted to striker. All he did after that was score more goals than any player in MLS history.

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Jason Kreis is a tireless worker. Since taking over as RSL Manager, he has transformed the culture at Real Salt Lake from “lovable losers” to a team that expects to win every time they step on the field. Only RSL fans and front-office staff who have been here since day one can truly attest to the mentality change that has occurred over the last two years. Kreis’s roster-overhaul includes the acquisitions of Defenders Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, Chris Wingert, Tony Beltran and Robbie Russell. Midfielders Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Will Johnson are also Kreis acquisitions, as are strikers Fabian Espindola, Yura Movsisyan, and Robbie Findley. Say what you want about Clint Mathis, but RSL does not reach the post-season a year ago without Jason reacquiring Clint. Mathis also leads RSL with seven assists on the season in 2009.

Jason Kreis is passionate. I’m sure his wife Kim could attest to the passion Jason has for the success of the RSL organization, and the tireless hours he has tallied with the progress of the team as his sole endeavor. Jason Kreis is RSL. Everything he does is with the best interest of his team in mind. Since the day Jason was signed by Steve Pastorino as the first player in team history, he has wanted nothing more than to see this soccer club excel. This I can personally attest to.

Jason Kreis is stubborn, and maybe just a little bit crazy. Just watch an RSL match in person or on television. I’m not sure how surprised I would be If Jason’s head literally exploded from frustration, or jubilation. His intensity and attention to detail is borderline obsessive. And for a head coach, this is not a bad thing.

Lastly, Jason believes in coaching soccer in a classic sense, while maintaining the ability to relate to his players. Jason has played for and with some of the finest soccer minds this country has ever seen. He communicates with coaches who have gone before him. He continues to study and learn the game, even at this stage of his soccer development. A man who’s soccer resume boasts countless accomplishments, Jason is never one to rest on his laurels. His players would fall on a sword for him, as Kreis seems to have found the balance between disciplinarian and trusted confidant. Too much of one or the other has historically proven to be the demise of many coaches.

He will continue to evolve, he will continue to improve, because that’s the kind of coach he is. More importantly, that’s the kind of person he is. And even if his team fails to make the post season, even if all of the pre-mature pre-season expectations do not come to fruition in 2009?

I still believe in Kreis.

MLS Red Bulls Real Salt Lake Soccer

Tags: Jason Kreis, Real Salt Lake
Posted in MLS, RSL | 19 Comments »

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