Author Archives: Sam Smith

Decisions, MeloDramas and the C-word: the NBA and its WWE problem

By Sam Smith | Published: March 27, 2011
The National Basketball Association has a World Wrestling Entertainment problem. Actually, it has several problems, none of which look like they’re going to be easily solved. (And I’m not even talking about the officiating, although I have in the past and no doubt will again in the future). The collective bargaining agreement is up after this [...]
Posted in Basketball | 1 Comment

NBA officiating: get me to a sports book

By Sam Smith | Published: March 15, 2011
I’ve probably watched more NBA games this season than ever before, and those of you who have indulged my rantings in the past know I have … issues … with The League. Frankly, I wish they’d bring back Tim Donaghy so we can all stop pretending. [Aherm] Anyway, I am now more convinced than ever that I [...]
Posted in Basketball | 1 Comment

March Madness vs. the BCS: neither is perfect, but all controversies are not created equal

By Sam Smith | Published: March 14, 2011
Well, the 68 participants in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament have been announced, and boy are people pissed. The selection committee is defending its choices, the most controversial of which seem to be the inclusion of Alabama-Birmingham and Virginia Commonwealth at the expense of teams like Colorado, Alabama, Virginia Tech. Given the way the Hokies [...]
Posted in Basketball | 4 Comments

Coach K: no NBA HoFers to his credit?

By Sam Smith | Published: March 4, 2011
I’m watching the Bulls/Magic game and it got me thinking (because there are two former Blue Devils on the Chicago roster and one more playing for Orlando) about Mike Krzschefvzksky-era Duke players and the NBA. Duke has won a bunch during his tenure and they’ve put a number of players in the pros, but none [...]
Posted in Basketball | 2 Comments

In Denver, the MeloDrama is over; in New York, it’s just beginning…

By Sam Smith | Published: February 22, 2011
After months and months of wrangling, speculation, posing, posturing, misdirection and strategery, wheeling and dealing, and fear and loathing, the Carmelo Anthony circus has finally departed the 5280 bound for the Big Apple. Praise Jebus, and may we never have to hear the term “MeloDrama” again. So, who got the better of the deal? We’ll know [...]
Posted in Basketball | 2 Comments

Who’s really the greatest NFL franchise in history?

By Sam Smith | Published: February 4, 2011
As the Super Bowl approaches, I’m hearing a lot of talk centering around the question of which franchise is the NFL’s greatest. In some cases it takes the form of “who is really America’s team?” Whatever the heck that gets you. Other times, as with countless spirited “debates” on sports talk radio’s arguing with idiots [...]
Posted in football | 19 Comments

SportSunday: Cutler’s critics are way out of line, but it’s probably his own damned fault

By Sam Smith | Published: January 30, 2011
Let’s establish something here and now: I detest Jay Cutler. He’s an entitled, punk-ass little sulk whose attitude makes everyone around him worse. The way he handled his exit from Denver was remarkable in one key respect: he managed to make Josh McDaniel look mature and competent by comparison. As wrong as Coach McSkippy was [...]
Posted in football | 7 Comments

What are we going to watch if there’s no NFL in 2011-12? A possible Plan B…

By Sam Smith | Published: January 24, 2011
The second-biggest topic of discussion in American pro football circles these days (right after the Super Bowl) is what’s in store for next season. More specifically, will there be a next season? In case you haven’t been paying attention, the owners are set to lock out the players and the two sides don’t seem terribly close [...]
Posted in football, soccer | 35 Comments

Denver Broncos make ironclad institutional commitment to sucking for 3-5 more years at least

By Sam Smith | Published: January 5, 2011
Let me begin by observing that I have been wrong before. I will be wrong again, no doubt. And I may be wrong here. Hopefully I’m wrong here, and I want everybody to hang onto this so that when I’m proven wrong you can mock me mercilessly as we watch the Denver [...]
Posted in football | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Mt. NFL Coach Rushmore

By Sam Smith | Published: December 21, 2010
The proposition: say we’re doing a Mt. Rushmore for pro football coaches. We need four faces. It seems to me that three of them are obvious: George Halas, Vince Lombardi, and Bill Walsh. So, who’s the fourth? Some nominees (and you’re going to have to stretch to make a case for anybody not on this list): (Coach; [...]
Posted in football | 65 Comments