Sports

Stoppage Time

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Everyone is famous for 15 minutes.  Megan Rapinoe has been famous for a few weeks now.  We know, if you are a fan of women’s soccer, she has been famous for a lot longer.  And, now her fame extends beyond the pitch where the USWNT (United States Women’s National Team) won every match on their way to another World Cup championship.

On the field her abilities are indeed world (cup) class.  She won her one on one’s, dribbled well, passed even better, and scored from every angle.  She even knocked in a penalty kick or two.

As she left the field Sunday she stepped on an American Flag on her way to a guest appearance on Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper’s CNN show, and a parade down Broadway in New York, New York.   The honorable Mayor of New York, New York Bill De Blasio sat to her right as she spent a few minutes at the parade’s end to address those who attended.

In a nutshell, we paraphrase, she said in all of these moments, 1) that she and all of her teammates that “she has spoken to” won’t accept an invite to the effing White House, and 2)  why would they allow Trump to use the platform that they have built to put them on display, and 3) she would go talk to people in DC that had views like hers, and 4) we need to listen more and talk less,  and 5) equal pay for equal play, and 6) this World Cup win is so much more than what was on the field. It seems like one of those sort of iconic turning points in history, to be honest, and 7) no she’s not running for the White House, she’s too busy.

We hear her outrage in her words.  We see her outrage in her actions, like when she kneels for the national anthem.  And, we wonder.  We wonder if she is misguided or not.  We wonder if she is actually leading or following.  And, that makes us wonder if she is anything more than the next Colin Kaepernick.

If so, that would be unfortunate.  Because, if she took a step back, she would realize that all of that which she has been able to accomplish comes from the freedoms that her country affords.   Why not go visit with our President if you really want to effect your view of what should change?  What an unbelievable opportunity.   Talking to people who agree with you only makes you feel good about your views.  Change comes from open debate.

Why not use the “platform that you built” to get this access to the President?  Many millions clamor for such a chance.  Oh, and the platform wasn’t built just by you.  It was built by many who came before as well.  You and your teammates were plenty talented enough to walk through the door.   Take advantage.

Why not run for the White House?  Everyone else who has been famous for 15 minutes is.  You have a better shot than the mayor who sat next to you.  Oh, and did he tell you that drinking champagne in a moving vehicle is a violation in NYC?  Did he ban Big Gulps during the ride?  Well, at least you did not use a plastic straw.

And, most of all, it’s not one of those iconic turning points in history to be honest.  It’s not even close.  You have the opportunity to make it an important moment perhaps.  But to do so you need to listen more and talk less now.  Like nike, can you just do it?

If not, your flag step and Kaepernick’s dismay at Betsy Ross’ flag get dismissed by Americans who listen to disrupters like you and wish you would say more while talking less.

Everyone is famous for 15 minutes.  Including extra time you’ve been famous for more.  But, the bright lights are already flickering.  And, the roots are showing in your pink dyed hair.  Good luck.

 

 

I Have Yet Another Story and a Moral Thereof

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Over the course of a business life that involved flying to US destinations almost weekly the greatest words that you can hear are “the flight’s on time.”  However packing, parking, walking, TSA, waiting, boarding, taxiing, runway, cruising altitude,  leveling off, seatbelt sign is on, small bathrooms, landing, rental cars, checking in, and unpacking wears on oneself.  That said, any and all of that is better than the dreaded words, “we are delayed due to mechanical reasons.”

It was one nondescript Tuesday morning many, many moons ago, when we were boarding for Milwaukee when the dreaded announcement came.  It was time for an undetermined amount of time to deplane.   Off to the United Flight Club room I went.   George Bush Intercontinental Airport was and is dominated by United Airlines.  And, like all major airlines that fly to and from hubs, either there are plenty of folks in the AM to fly, or if all of the flights have gone there are few.   Therefore,  the club is either packed or empty.

The terminal B club was empty.  A diet coke and a toasted bagel in hand I headed to one of the many living room/smaller areas to settle in for the wait.  As I entered I paid no attention to the only folks in the area, a couple seated one couch over from me.  As I got out the trusty laptop and booted up I looked over.  This was no couple, and the club was empty-almost.  Empty it was, except for one world famous golfer, his assistant, and now me.  There I sat ten feet from Gary Player.  Gary Player.

I decided then and there to get on AL Gore’s internet to refresh my understanding of just how big of a world renown athlete that he is.  Gary Player won tournaments the world over.  He won the Grand Slam (all four of the Majors).  He won nine majors in all.   He designed and help create over 400 golf courses the world over.  He authored or coauthored 24 books.  His foundation has helped thousands of children.  Hailing from South Africa, it is estimated that he has flown over 16 million miles.

Suddenly I felt very small.  I’ll keep to myself and answer some emails, or so I thought.

“What brings you to Houston?”  Yep.  He initiated the conversation.  I looked up.  I stammered.   “I, I, live here.”  “Oh, then why are you in here?”  “Flight delay headed out to Milwaukee.”  “I see.”  “Where in Houston do you live?”  “Um, The Woodlands.”  “Great place, I’ve done some work with them.”  “Ah yes, your golf course that you built, the one with your name on it.”  He laughed deeply.   And it was on.

And on our conversation went for a good 45 minutes off and on, but mostly on.  He excused himself as his assistant reminded him that he had a radio show interview to give.  His answers were articulate, direct, and well thought out.   Mesmerizing.

Boom Boom always told me that “everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time.”  The Black Knight, aka Gary Player, could have been the exception.  Small in stature, he is indeed much larger than life.

As the interview ended he picked right back up with me.   Sorry I took so long.”  ” No worries of course.”  “Family?”  “Yes, two kids.”  And on it went as if we were old buddies catching up.

After about an hour the desk announced that the delayed flight to Milwaukee was ready to board.  Mr. Player heard this as well.  He leaped out of his seat.  “Nice to meet you,” he said first to me.  Shouldn’t it have been the other way around?  Mesmerizing.  World class.

Oh yea, so what is the moral of the story?

Maybe Boom Boom was right.  Everyone does put their pants on one leg at a time.  At least the humble, great one, Gary Player does.  Mesmerizing.

 

 

 

Ten Piece Nuggets-Sports

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Summer’s in.  Three major U.S. sports (football. basketball, and hockey) are out.  But the pickings are never slim with our nuggets.  Whether you dine in or take out, enjoy the ten below.

  1.  The ugly Americans scored 50 combined runs in the first two London MLB games ever.  The Yankees out scored the defending Word Series champion Boston Red Sox 17-13 on Saturday and 12-8 on Sunday.  If the Brits like scoring, they got scoring.  The teams combined for 65 hits, 16 doubles and 10 homers.  Only one starting pitcher made it out of the first inning.
  2. BoSox manager Alex Cora was impressed with the 60k screaming fans, but not his team.  “It was eye opening, the last two days, from top to bottom,’’ Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “They’re a lot better than us right now.’’ The Yanks are rolling, even in Europe.
  3. MLB took a bow.  They retrofitted a soccer stadium that was more than serviceable.  They saw 60k fans stand and cheer each of the two days.  All in all it was good to great publicity for a game that often struggles to market itself.  “All of the feedback was that it was fantastic,’’ MLB senior vice president Jim Small said. “So, from a U.S. standpoint, the pitching wasn’t very good, the game was too long, but it was such a great fresh start for baseball here.’’
  4. The Yankees scorching 9-1 record in their last ten has pushed their lead over the Devil Rays to 7 games in the AL East.   Five of the six division leaders enjoy leads of 5.5, 6.5,7, 8 and 12 games.  Only the NL central is close where the Cubs and the Brewers are tied for first.   Half of the season is over.  Are five of the six division races over?   Probably not, but maybe so.  Say it ain’t so.  At least a bunch of teams are still very alive for a wild card spot.
  5.  LPGA’s Michelle Wie announced late last week that she was shutting down her 2019 season due to a chronic wrist injury.  There was no word on whether the wrist was injured when she tweeted to express her dismay via Twitter of Hank Haney’s LPGA U.S. Open remarks.  Haney tweeted out Saturday “Know what last name rhymes with Wie?  Lee!”  No, he didn’t.
  6.  How about a golf clap for first time PGA winner Nate Lashley?  On Sunday, the 36-year-old journeyman, ranked 353rd in the world and the last player to get into the Rocket Mortgage Classic, was a winner for the first time with an impressive six-stroke margin at Detroit Golf Club. He now has a job on the game’s biggest stage for the next two years. A spot in next month’s Open Championship awaits, as does an invitation to next year’s Masters among other perks. That is pretty sweet for a guy with just one previous top-10 on the PGA Tour in 32 starts.  Fifteen long and hard years ago his mother, father, and girlfriend crashed and perished in a small plane accident in Wyoming while attempting to return to Nebraska after watching the then 21 year old Nate play in a tournament for Arizona U. in Oregon.  The golf gods said, “enough already.”  Great story.
  7. The NBA free agency period is off and some teams are playing above the rim.   In a whirlwind of conversations, salary dumps, more conversations, max salary offers, and strokes of genius, several franchises saw significant transformations.   No transformation is bigger than where the Brooklyn Nets are headed however.  After years of also ran status the Nets will land Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan.  If (when really) GM Sean Marks completes these FA signings the Nets will have exactly one player left from the 2015-2016 roster Marks had when he started that won only 21 games.
  8. Durant, baring a major medical miracle, will miss all of the 2019-2020 season with his torn achilles.  That didn’t stop the Nets from throwing max or near max money at him.  It did stop the Knicks who worried publicly about his total recovery.  One borough’s loss was another borough’s gain.  Durant at 90% is still an unselfish player who melds well with other stars and would still be an all star level player himself.
  9. The Miami Heat are believed to be very close to completing a deal that would land Jimmy Butler from the Philadelphia 76ers.  Butler was rumored a week ago to be heading to the Houston Rockets to join Chis Paul and The Beard.  Butler was rumored eight months ago to be headed to those same Rockets.  Houston you may or not have a problem with team chemistry.  But, with exactly zero draft picks this past draft and a HUGE Paul four year deal only entering year two now, you clearly have some hurdles to clear to try to hurdle the Golden State Warriors in the West.  GM Daryl Morey can feel the heat coming from one of restaurant magnet and owner Tillman Fertitta’s kitchens.
  10. However, Tillman Fertitta and 31 owners of NBA franchises may not be “owners” for much longer.   In the league office and in some team’s front offices a push is on to remove that term due to it’s “racial insensitivity” in a league whose players are 75% African American.   In Los Angeles, Steve Ballmer ,who was billed as the owner for the first couple of years after he took over the Clippers is now listed as Chairman on the team’s website.  That change occurred in early 2018.   The term “governor” is being used inside of the league office “for years now” per Commissioner Adam Silver.  “Governor,” really?  Hopefully everyone feels better.

We at least know that you’ll feel better having consumed the above.  It’s Monday, and this work week is at most four days long.  Enjoy.

Who Went Where?

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Did you watch the NBA draft last evening?  We did all the while channel surfing.  We suspect many others did while texting, or cooking, or talking, or surfing that internet that Al Gore invented.  With America’s attention span far shorter than the wing span of many of these new draft pics we wonder how many of us have any clue who went to whom?

The confusion we create, to follow who went were, is on us.  The confusion the NBA creates, on who went where, is on them.

What confusion you ask?  It’s how NBA draft day trades work for teams involved, and how they don’t work for the casual viewer.  Eight of the thirty first round picks were traded last evening, or just over 25 percent.  Except the picks weren’t really traded.  Got it?  Confused?

It seems complicated actually.  And, we researched it and can confirm, it’s complicated.

In short NBA teams trade the draft rights to a player that that NBA team has just selected.  In other words when team A agrees to trade draft rights of pick X to team B for draft rights to picks Y and Z, team B does so only when team A agrees to select player Q for team B.  A multiple choice quiz follows.  Just kidding.

Why does the NBA do it this way rather than allowing team B to make it’s own selection with the pick?  It’s all due to the collective bargaining agreement(CBA), the exclusive rights it gives the team for a year, the salary cap, the timing of the NBA year, it’s salary cap implications, and the two dates of July 6 and July 30.  A multiple choice quiz follows.  No, really, we are just kidding.

What does this do to the average fan?  It confuses them.  Eight times last evening a player walked onto the stage wearing a certain team’s hat having just been drafted by them.  Eight times in eight in thirty days from now that player won’t be with that team.  He’ll be with the team who has his rights.

So, ESPN interviews the player and cannot ask what it feels like to be headed eventually to the team that he will play for.  Sometimes the kid drafted doesn’t even know that he is moving.   So, ESPN interviews the player and doesn’t ask what it’s like to be drafted by the team whose hat sits right on top of his head.  So, TV shows us one thing, and tries to explain that it didn’t happen how you see it.  And, they attempt this all in five minutes.  If you just jumped, hypothetically, from Fox News (which, as you know, is fair and balanced) and see “Joe Blow” in a Lakers hat, don’t believe what your eyes just saw.  Thanks Kirk Gibson.   No, no.  Thank the NBA.

MLB draft presentations look and feel like dedications to libraries and the trusty Dewey Decimal System.  NFL draft presentations look and feel like three day rock concerts.  NBA draft presentations look and feel like something that is hard to look at, we feel.

Adam Silver is the most progressive commissioner when it comes to embracing gambling on games.  He should roll the dice on a new CBA agreement (or timing thereof) that allows us to see who goes where when we tune in.

Otherwise, it’s too easy to tune out.

 

 

Yes, here is your Great NBA Predraft Post

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

It’s NBA Draft Day.  One staff member did great work compiling super in depth player profiles for your reading pleasure for today.  Unfortunately one other staff member had no idea how to get the file to download into a format that is compatible with the highly sophisticated security wall that BBR has.  Thankfully all has been resolved.  The complete rundown is below.

 

#1 Zion Williamson, Forward, Duke

A transcendent athlete with elite speed, quickness, power and agility, Zion can immediately help an NBA team on both ends of the floor. Aside from his athletic ability, he has great basketball instincts with a nose for the ball, particularly on the offensive glass. Zion is also a great passer in the open court and keeps his head up while handling the ball on the break. In a half court setting, expect Zion to have great impact off the ball with cutting and leaping plus ability. With the variety of types of players at the power forward position in the NBA, Zion will be able to blow by at least 20 NBA teams starting 4’s.  Although he will be playing with a ton of space because of defenders backing off of him in the half court, he will still be able to penetrate NBA defenses and get downhill because of his size and strength. Don’t expect him to be handling the ball much early in his career, but when he does he will be hard to stop no matter who is fronting him. His unique ability to have uncanny finishes at the rim compliments his game of attacking downhill and shooting floaters and layups.  Zion is a once in a generation athlete and player who is destined for superstardom.

 

#2 Ja Morant, Point Guard, Murray State 

A commanding point guard with great vision and decision making, Ja Morant is a future all-star in the NBA.  Ja has a natural feel for the position he plays and isn’t afraid to lead his team with the additional load of play making.  Ja Morant compares to the likes of De’Aaron Fox and even Russell Westbrook. Similar to Zion, he combines his speed, quickness and power with an ability to finish at the rim with either or both hands. Ja can shoot with range and break down defenses with dribble penetration and hesitation moves. He can also shoot in the midrange and make runners and floaters in the lane. Ja shows off his swagger and shifts the momentum of a game when he rises up and jams the ball through the hoop over a taller defender. He also has great defensive potential with length and wiry strength. Ja’s ability to make play after play and decision after decision at the point guard position will bode well for the modern NBA.

 

#3 RJ Barrett, Shooting Guard, Duke

As a left-handed assassin that takes long strides in the open court, RJ Barrett is a unique combo guard that is a sure-handed top three pick in this year’s draft.  RJ’s is a willing driver and finisher and rarely settles for jumpers. RJ is great in the pick and roll and can whip passes to cutters and open shooters with either hand. He is a streaky shooter at times, but with his pure form and consistent timing, he should develop into a go to shot maker. RJ shows a wide variety of ball handling moves and can slowly break down a defense by sifting through the lane and using his length to extend over smaller guards. He is lethal in the open court and can beat most of his competitors with quickness and athletic ability. RJ is also a willing defender and shows a competitive streak. If RJ gains muscle weight and improves his all-around shooting, he can be a perennial all-star.

 

#4 Cam Reddish, Small Forward, Duke

A versatile defender and great shooter, Cam Reddish fits into a premier position in the NBA. The “3 and D” player will never go out of style as the type of player that can shoot off-ball threes with efficiency and also defend multiple positions on the other end. Cam Reddish is more than that though, as he displays an ability to make sound fundamental entry passes into the post and can finish at the rim. Cam is a great athlete who has the quickest lateral movement in the draft. With all of this said, shooting may be his best attribute. He should seamlessly transition to NBA shooting with range as he has a tight and consistent shot form with an effortless release. He is so long and tall (6’9 with a 7 foot wing span) that he will figuratively be able to reach into the basket even from three point range like a hand reaching into a cookie jar. Cam has a high ceiling and fits into any NBA offense with his ability to fill into a premium position in the modern NBA.

 

#5 Darius Garland, Point Guard, Vanderbilt

Darius’ game compares to Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young.  He is the most refined shooter in this draft. His ball handling and pure shooting at all three levels of the half court make him an intriguing prospect for any team. He doesn’t mind pulling up for mid range shots around the top of the key which is a shot that presents itself quite often in the NBA, especially for point guards. Darius is slight of frame but uses his quickness and ability to get under defenders to his advantage. He sometimes struggles with decision making and often resorts to single-minded scoring when its time to make a play, but with time he will get better at orchestrating an offense. If Darius can physically mature into his frame and become a more consistent playmaker for his teammates, he can be a great NBA player.

 

#6 De’Andre Hunter, Forward, Virginia 

With a nice shooting touch and physical style of play, De’Andre Hunter’s game translates well to the next level.  Inclusive of his defensive capability, De’Andre can help a team in a variety of ways. From fade-aways, floaters and stand up threes, Hunter may be the most versatile player in the draft.  Hunter won the NCAA Championship, has great intangibles, and is willing to do the little things that win games. Whether it’s getting a tough rebound over a bigger defender or setting a solid screen, this is a team player that is locked in and focused all game long. If De’Andre improves his speed and ball handling in the open court, he can be a great rotation player in the NBA.

 

#7Jarrett Culver, Shooting Guard ,Texas Tech

A natural scorer who can shoot from anywhere on the floor, Culver makes for an intriguing prospect at the shooting guard position. When you consider that he has one of the best shooting forms in the draft coupled with the fact that his shot is almost impossible to block, you likely get a lottery pick. At 6’6, Jarrett already has NBA range from the 3 point line and can also finish with power at the rim. He should be able to guard three positions at the next level and is long enough to average a steal or two per game. His shot is so hard to contest because of his quick release as well as how he elevates on his pull-up mid range jumpers. If Jarrett commits to getting his upper body stronger, like Cam Reddish, he can be a versatile defender and potent scorer.

 

#8 Coby White, Combo Guard, North Carolina

One of the fastest players in the draft, White can blow by anyone in transition. Coby was lethal at the college level even after made baskets as he would sprint down the court with the ball and set the pace for the Tar Heels. White is also a great shooter and made 3.3 threes per 40 minutes last year. He has a certain burst and explosiveness that you don’t see much, and he uses it to his advantage in either the half court or open court setting. He compliments his athletic ability with being able to have unorthodox finishes at the rim with either hand. This is a very quick guard moving side to side so he definitely has the potential to be a great defender at his position. If Coby improves his passing and decision making, he can be an All Star guard at the NBA level.

 

#9  Rui Hachimura ,Forward, Gonzaga 

Rui might very well be the steal of this years’ draft. At 6’9 230 pounds, the Gonzaga forward plays a physical style of ball and loves to get to the rim. He has a great post up game and also a great face up game in the mid range, effectively using jab steps and pump fakes. This is a fundamentally sound big with a silky shooting stroke who has no chance to bust. He was Gonzaga’s emotional leader all year. What is really great about Hachimura is that he can play in virtually any system. He can take the ball into the post 20 times a game or he can stretch the court and then drive the lane. His post and mid range game goes well with his interior passing skills and he has a great feel for rebounding. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Rui get selected earlier than projected, as he has all of the tools a modern NBA scout is looking for in a combo forward.

 

#10 Jaxson Hayes, Center, Texas 

This guy is huge. At 7’0 feet tall with a 7’3 wingspan, Jaxson uses all of his length to dunk on other centers time and again. He usually follows up his dunks with a loud yell, imposing his will on the opposition. Hayes also has the biggest hand size in the draft, and is very coordinated with the ball in his hands. He had the best true shooting percentage in the college ranks at a strong 75%. Jaxson has a high ceiling and seems to have the want to get better.  According to ESPN stats, he was the second best rim protector in college basketball last year. If Hayes is committed, he can become one of the most dominant big men in the game, at least on the defensive end of the floor and maybe on the offensive end as well.

 

#11 Nassir Little, Forward, North Carolina 

Can you say “defensive versatility?”  This is the first thing that comes to mind when examining forward Nassir Little out of North Carolina. At 6’6 with a wing span of 7 feet, Nassir should be able to guard at least three positions and, depending on the matchup, four positions because of his mature physical frame. He can slide his feet as well as anyone in the draft and hard hedge off of a pick and roll while using his length for an effective double team. Nassir loves to get into the teeth of a defense and pick up some rebounds as well. He does have a nice shot form and can put the ball on the floor in the open court, but the next phase of development for him should be using a triple threat jab step on the wing while being able to create his own shot. He must focus on improving his ball handling in tight spaces. He is already a great finisher at the rim and uses his strength to get to the free throw line as well.  A good player to compare Nassir to would be Draymond Green.  But as a fluid finisher at the basket with a smooth shot form, he has a higher ceiling than Golden State’s forward.

 

#12 Romeo Langford, Guard, Indiana 

Langford compares well to Nets guard D’Angelo Russell. As a big guard that can create his own shot and get into the lane, Langford also has a soft touch around the rim. He changes speed especially with the ball in his hands, as he bends and breaks down defenses. A terrific ball handler combined with good athleticism goes a long way into becoming an NBA point guard. His upside suggests he could be a top 5 pick, but his play on the court this year will show you otherwise. Langford is often lackadaisical on defense and gets beat by his man on back door cuts. Although he was Indiana’s best player, he never truly showed leadership skills or carried his team verbally.  If his motor can change and he shows more hunger in the NBA, he has the talent to be an all star.

 

#13  Sekou Doumbouya, Forward, Limoges CSP

The Frenchman stands tall at 6’10 and impresses immediately when scouts lay eyes on him. With a huge wing span and big hands, Sekou is an intriguing prospect that has a high ceiling being the athlete that he is. He loves to run the lane in transition which compliments his game of finishing with dunks in space. He also likes to attack the paint in the half court, although his ball handling could use some work. Sekou runs at his own pace on his own time, and playing in the NBA will be a big adjustment coming from playing in the LNB Pro A in France. He did average over 1 block a game and 1.7 steals per game in his time over seas, but his footwork will have to improve to keep up with smaller NBA forwards. Sekou needs to gain muscle and improve his lateral quickness, if he can do that he can be a worthy rotation player.

 

#14 Bol Bol, Center, Oregon

Bol Bol has a certain fluidity to his game that you rarely see in players his size. As the tallest player in the draft, Bol is not afraid to shoot a three or penetrate the lane after a hard close out. He also has great hands and finishes above the rim with soft touch.  Bol’s defensive is impressive as well. In college, Bol averaged 2.7 blocks a game, and he will get better at protecting the rim once he makes it to the NBA.  He used his length at the collegiate level and didn’t have to move his feet much to interrupt players charging through the lane. He never had to move that fast in the condensed half court, so in the pros he will have to adjust to the speed. I expect Bol to adjust well as he has shown he can move his feet laterally with the best big men in the country. Similar to Sekou, if Bol can grow into his frame he can become one of the best rim protectors in the game.

 

#15 PJ Washington,Forward, Kentucky

As an undersized power forward at the collegiate level, PJ has the toughness necessary to maintain that position in the pros. It also helps that he’s got the best jump hook in the draft and made 55 percent of his mid range shots. He’s got everything scouts are looking for intangibly, as he lead Kentucky emotionally in his sophomore season as he was always getting his guys into a huddle. The scouts look at his tangible tools, and it’s virtually as good as the leadership skills. He can defend four positions as he moves his feet like a true wildcat, and he can drive the ball from the wing. There aren’t many, if any, holes in PJ’s game.  He shot 42 percent from three point range?  PJ’s natural talent promises an NBA career of possible All Star status.

 

#16  Bruno Fernando, Power Forward/Center, Maryland

Fernando averaged almost 11 rebounds a game and manned the center position for Maryland in his sophomore season with the Terrapins. He will play more power forward in the NBA, but the transition should be no problem for Bruno. He shows off a fluid offensive game as he is a knock down mid range shooter and one of the best post players in the draft. He’s also one of the best athletes in the draft and often soars for ally-oop jams as he sprints from the top of the key. Bruno has the physical tools to be a great defender but lacks the awareness and feel on that end of the floor. He’s is a less polished version on Gonzaga forward Rui Hachimura but has more upside being a taller player with superior athletic ability. If Bruno can improve his awareness on the defensive end of the court, he will be a valuable two way player in the NBA.

 

#17 Goga Bitadze, Center, Georgia

Goga has a great feel for the game and drives hard to the rim coming off of pick and rolls. One of the best parts of his game is that he enjoys screening for his guards and embraces the physicality that comes with it.  He uses a wide stance in the post and then turns with a firm pivot into a face up with the threat of his deadly mid-range jumper. Offensively, this is a prototypical stretch power forward that can contribute immediately in the league. It’s not like his production falls off on the other end of the floor either. In fact, Goga averaged 3.7 blocks per 40 minutes.  Goga can be a great role player on an NBA team.

 

#18  Cameron Johnson, Forward, North Carolina

The next best “3 and D” player in the draft behind Cam Reddish, Cam Johnson can contribute for an NBA team right away. At 6’9, Johnson uses all of his length to get deflections and steals while corralling opponents until they lose handle of the ball. Johnson is also one of the best shooters in the draft as he shot 46% from three in his senior season. He can make cuts while playing off of the ball in a half court set, and adds in a nice post up game with a turnaround jumper over either shoulder.  As a great team player he is engaged all game long on the defensive end and shows a high motor. Johnson could get stronger and improve his driving and finishing, but once he does this he will help any NBA team that drafts him.

 

#19 Brandon Clarke,Forward, Gonzaga

Brandon is a brash competitor and enjoys playing physical down low. He is committed on the defensive end and not only blocks shots but also gets steals. Clarke had a 36 point game against Pac 12 competition. If he wants to be more than a rotation player in the pros, he will have to get better as a threat on the wing and improve his ball handing. Without much of a post game, it’s hard to have consistent impact in the NBA standing at 6’8 weighing 215. Brandon does have the athleticism.  He will have to evolve as a player, and mask a few shortcomings at the next level.

 

#20 Keldon Johnson, Guard, Kentucky

Keldon was Kentucky’s best shooter last year averaging over 13 points a game. With a great shooting stroke, Keldon will be able to stretch defenses out to the wing and then finish inside with his impressive touch at the basket. In fact, he was 2nd on is team in baskets made with an additional free throw.  This shows his ability to finish through contact and display concentration in the lane. Keldon is also a great ball handler and a good enough passer to play both guard positions. With his length he will be able to guard three positions, and given his competitive streak should do just fine on that end of the floor. If Keldon can improve his court vision and decision making to capitalize on his size at the guard position, he can be a dangerous two-way player with the threat of making a bunch of threes in a short period of time.

 

#21 Nickeil Alexander-Walker

An ambidextrous guard that shoots with his right hand and is terrific finishing in the lane with his left, Nickeil has the mind set to make himself a productive NBA wing. Being able to use both hands as a shooter and a passer makes Nickeil’s game so fun to watch as he carves up defenses utilizing whichever hand a defender is surrendering. Nickeil is also a fierce competitor with great intangibles who isn’t afraid to lead by example. He has the physical tools to guard multiple positions and get his hands in passing lanes as one of the longest players at his position. He averaged 2.2 steals per game and shot 38 percent from three, so he can become a very good “3 and D” player at the next level. Nickeil will help any team that drafts him as he will fill a valuable position in the modern game.

 

#22 Tyler Herro, Shooting Guard, Kentucky

This is one of the best shooters in the draft who isn’t afraid to let it fly from three even with a hand in his face. Tyler can also put the ball on the floor and distribute for his team especially in the open court. He is used best running off of screens and also taking handoffs into the mid range where he can rise up over the out-stretched arm of a switching defender. Tyler has the will to go guard deep out onto the perimeter and pick up the opposing teams ball handler from full court. This is a sure-fire shooter with a competitive fire who should have a long NBA career.

 

#23 Mfiondu Kabengele, Power Forward, Florida State

Mfiondu is a terror on the defensive end swarming for rebounds and blocking shots into the stands. He is one of the best defensive players in the draft, and was taught well under defense minded coach Leonard Hamilton. He not only covers ground with his feet, but also plays physical fronting in the post and getting his hand on the ball. He compares nicely to former Florida State player Jonathan Isaac as a player that can switch onto smaller guards in the pick and roll and defend multiple positions. Whats most impressive considering all of the tools Mfiondu has on the defensive side of the court is that he shot 37% from three and 76% from the free throw line!  If he keeps up these numbers in the pro game, he can play up to 35 minutes a night on an NBA court.

 

#24 Admiral Schofield, Forward, Tennessee

Schofield is a big, strong athlete that has a soft touch on his shot from all three levels of the half court. In college he often played out of the post against larger forwards, but in the NBA he will transition to posting up guards.  He improved his range as a shooter in four years at Tennessee and turned himself into one of the best three point shooters in college last year. He was nicknamed “the Admiral” because he truly played like a general on the court and was one of Tennessee’s emotional leaders. Admiral can guard up to four positions as he slides his feet on the perimeter well and has enough mass in his upper body to defend taller power forwards in the post. If Schofield can improve his ball handling and decision making he can become a traditional “3 and D,” but also possess power and strength not many at his position have.

 

#25 Naz Reid, Power Forward, LSU

Naz is a true power forward at both the collegiate and pro level and has a brute strength that he is willing to impose in game situations. He does not mind going to the free throw line and can shoot it well once he gets there. His ability to create contact and finish with arms wrapped on him will carry over to the pro level. He shot 73 percent from the line last year, and has a nice looking stroke. He embraces being in the post but has limited developed moves down low. He stretched his shot out to the three point line.  He only shot 33 percent out there without any hands in his face, however.  Naz is slow of foot on defense.  But considering his ability to get out and run on the break, it’s a matter of will and hard work for Naz to get it together on the defensive end.  If Reid commits to playing hard defense and refines his offensive game, he can be a serviceable post up player in the league.

 

#26 Kevin Porter, Shooting Guard, USC

Porter has supreme athletic ability and uses it to dunk on opponents often. The lefty has a silky release & is comfortable shooting from NBA range. As a big combo guard, Porter elevates in the lane for nifty finishes and can lay it up with either hand. Porter has a scoring mindset and will need to build play making habits. He’s a demon in transition and changes speed with the best guards in the country. Porter can also pull up with a clean shot form at any area of the half court. If Porter becomes a willing defender and learns how to make plays more often, he can be a multi year NBA guard.

 

#27 Darius Bazley, Various Positions

Darius, who chose to work with trainers in preparation for the draft instead of college last year demonstrated marketability earning $1 million with New Balance!  His path creates an interesting conversation for the future of basketball.  Darius is a long athlete with high defensive potential who can guard three positions. He moves his feet very well and is accomplished at running out near the sidelines in transition. Darius has a nice offensive package as he can pull up well in the mid range and shoot from deep off of the catch. Darius is slight of frame but uses his quickness effectively. If he can build onto his frame, Darius can turn into another needed “3 and D” player.

 

#28 Grant Williams, Forward, Tennessee

Grant looks like an SEC linebacker, and plays like one too. Williams go-to place on the floor is the post, and it’s for good reason if you watch his highlights. Williams won’t be able to be as effective from the post in the NBA game, but he has dimension in his game to make up for it. This is a great defender and terrific passer, and he has some abilities bullying opponents in the lane as well. Grant has a stoic personality and leads his team with composure. He was known for making critical baskets for his team last season. Grant loves to use the spin move and will be able to develop it in the pros with his massive frame. If Grant can get lighter on his feet and create a more complete perimeter game, he can be a valued rotation player at the next level.

 

#29 Tremont Waters ,Point Guard, LSU

The 5’10 guard makes up for his lack of height in every area of his game. He gets under defenders, has a quick release on his shot, and uses every part of the back board on his devastating floaters and layups. Tremont is, no doubt, an NBA point guard and only and point guard. He may very well be the best in the draft at manipulating defenses in the pick and roll.  With his change of pace by way of hesitation and stutter-stepping, Tremont is graceful while he moves downhill into the lane. He is an unbelievable finisher and makes layups from hard to fathom angles. He also shoots with range and has great court vision in either the half court or fast break setting. Tremont  led the Tigers in steals as a pesky and visionary defender.  Tremont  excels at most levels of his game.  But, give his stature, his defense is likely a liability.

 

#30 Carsen Edwards, Point Guard, Purdue

This is a thick, bruising point guard with deep range as he shot NBA level threes at Purdue. Carsen is an underrated athlete that possesses a signature left-handed jam that you don’t see in players his size. He shows off his anticipation skills on the defensive end of the floor as he racked up 1.3 steals a game. He averaged 24 points a game for the Boilermakers and shot 36% from three. He has skills as a passer but didn’t display them much as he only averaged 2.9 assists per game last year. Carsen has an array of dribble moves and spins through the lane effectively for reverse layups. If Carsen commits to distributing the ball more, he can be a rotation player at the next level.

 

Enjoy the draft and its many many twists, turns, and trades.

Hopefully Zion’s cheap Nike shoe will hold up better than our process did this AM when he takes center stage tonight shortly after the opening bell rings.

.

 

Ten Piece Nuggets-Sports

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

Greetings.  Did you miss us?  We missed you and your comments.  Glad to be back at it.  We have a lot to catch up on.  Some of the below is a bit less timely than others, but we cannot help our selves.   Warm and some fresh, some not as fresh, here are the tender vittles.

  1.  Congrats go to the NBA Raptors and the NHL Blues.   What a parlay that ticket would have been.  We haven’t seen that ticket, but a legit ticket made it’s way around Al Gore’s internet last week that showed a $400 bet, turned winning wager, on the Blues to win the Stanley Cup placed prior to the season.  The odds you ask?  250 to 1.  The payout?  It was 100k.  Kudos.
  2. The Golden St. Warriors loss of Kevin Durant and, in game seven, Klay Thompson should in no way dull the finish on the Raptors’ crown.  Injuries happen in sports.  They happen every day.  Next man up.
  3. A week ago the Lakers had the shortest odds in Vegas at 4-1 to be the 2020 NBA champions.   Yep, it isn’t a misprint, nor a typo, nor a mistake.  It’s the infatuation with the Lakers.  A week later they acquired a dude named Anthony Davis.  The uni brow heads to Tinseltown.  Maybe 4-1 was good money after all.  Maybe not.
  4. LaVar Ball thought it was a bad move.  Shocking.  “I guarantee: Like I say again, it will be the worst move the Lakers ever did in their life and they will never win another championship,” LaVar Ball told ESPN while at the Drew League on Saturday to watch his son LaMelo play. “Guarantee it.”  No word on how good his word is on the guarantee.  Can we get our money back?  And, the Lakers don’t have a life.  The people who run it do.  And, never is a long time.   There are publicity hounds and there is LaVar.
  5. If you never watch golf you might still have watched the US Open this weekend.  Pebble Beach is one of the greatest looking places on the entire planet.  Period.  If you did watch you heard the Fox Sports broadcast.  Hopefully you turned the sound down and enjoyed the visual majesty.  Joe Buck is fine.  He’s no Jim Nance, friends.  But the rest of the team is somewhere between bad and horrendous.  Paul Azinger is very bad with spelled with a capital VERY.  When Joe Buck was chatting with Pebble Beach homeowner Jim Nance briefly on Saturday Azinger wondered aloud what he was doing on the set with two legends.  We wondered the same.  Also, Zinger needs to find a new barber.  Any one of them will be way better than his current one.
  6. The only one that is worse than Azinger is Curtis Strange.  His facial expressions could be on pharmaceutical commercials for sufferers that need anti depressants or anti constipation medicine.  He said on Saturday about a Brooks Koepka pending approach shot, “this is a hard shot.”  He said no more.  Riveting and ground breaking aren’t words that come to mind with Fox Sports decision to have these two wall flowers on air.  They have the US Open broadcast locked up for 12 years.  It’s never too soon to make changes.  Never.
  7. In the MLB AL West the Astros own a 9.5 game lead over the Rangers.  In the NL West the Dodgers own a 10.5 game lead over the Rockies.  The season isn’t half over.  It’s about 45 percent over, actually.  But, these two division races are over.  It’s not that the teams within the two western divisions are that bad.  It’s that the Astros and the Dodgers are that good.  And, we add, the Astros have played the last three weeks without Altuve, Springer, and Correa.  Wowza.
  8. Don’t sleep on the Twins either.  Their lead is 10 games over the Cleveland Indians.  Their win percentage is .671, best in all of baseball.  Their run differential is 116 runs, best in all of baseball.  Relax Yankees fans.  The Yankees are good as well.  They lead their division by a half of a game over the very pesky Tampa Bay Rays.  Everyone on the Yankees team has spent time on the DL except Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra.  When they get healthy they”ll be tough to beat.
  9. The NFL Houston Texans will no longer pursue New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio for their GM position, the team announced Friday.  As a result, the Patriots dropped the tampering charges they filed last week against the Texans for attempting to hire him.  This is according to ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports coverage and anything Lakers or LeBron related.  On Wednesday, sources said the Texans had requested permission to interview Caserio for their GM job, but had not been granted permission.  Owner Robert Kraft still faces charges as well.  He hopes that they will get dropped (like his pants) as well.
  10. Way too much has been made of the ugly American’s Women’s World Cup 13-0 romp over Thailand.  “They should have stopped scoring.”  “They should have passed the ball more.”  “They should have subbed more.”  “They should have called off the dogs.”  It’s the World Cup.  How in the world did Thailand qualify?  Sunday’s three nil (as they say) win over Chile is shutout no. 2 for the ugly Americans.  Will anyone score on them?  Probably.  Maybe.  Maybe not.

Like Kotter, welcome back.

 

62 Down, 100 to Go, and 30 Nets to Put Up?

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

It’s cool inside of Oracle Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors.  But, it will heat up tonight during the NBA Finals game three v. the Toronto Raptors as one team looks to take control of the one game apiece, tied series.  It’s cold inside of the TD Garden, home of the Boston Bruins.  But, it will heat up tonight during  the NHL Finals game five v. the St Louis Blues as one team looks to take control of the two games apiece, tied series.

Meanwhile, it’s either cool inside of a few indoor MLB stadiums, or hot as Hades outside in many outdoor MLB stadiums as the baseball season heads head long into the dog days of summer.  Most teams are about 62 games deep into a 162 game schedule.  If you sweat a lot, you’re thinking, “cool, just 100 hot ones to go.”

But something has heated up in the last week in baseball stadiums coast to coast, and it isn’t just the weather.  It’s a debate as to whether or not stadiums coast to coast need to add protective netting beyond the current span of 70 or so feet of the first and third base lines as each team is currently mandated to do so by MLB.

What caused this sudden, additional call for fan safety?  It was a screaming line drive foul ball hit just last week in Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, during their game versus the Chicago Cubs.  The foul ball struck a little girl at the game.  Hard.  The events at last night’s game were extremely upsetting,” MLB said in a statement.

“Events?”  It was one event and we wouldn’t call it an event.  We might call it an unfortunate incident.  We might call it an accident.  Heaven forbid, if she died from the “event” we might call it a tragedy.

The girl, who has not been identified, was hit by a ball off the bat of Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. during Chicago’s game with the Astros.  At Wednesday’s game, Almora Jr. was visibly distraught after he hit the ball foul, falling to his knees at home plate in pure anguish.

“We send our best wishes to the child and family involved,” the MLB statement said.  That sounds so heartfelt, doesn’t it?  You need to say something nice, but legally it stops there.  Speaking of there, it’s plainly written right there, on the back of every single ticket,  that MLB assumes no liability for injuries to fans attending.   It further states that it’s the fans responsibility to stay very alert for balls leaving the field of play.

This “event” got a bit more attention than the normal “event” of a fan getting hit by a foul ball.  It was a cute (can you still say that?) little girl injured, and it was a very sympathetic Almora who broke down emotionally in front of a national TV audience while inquiring about the girl’s well being.

“Clubs have significantly expanded netting and their inventory of protected seats in recent years. With last night’s event in mind, we will continue our efforts on this important issue,” the league said in its statement.  All clubs complied with the above 70 foot mandate by 2018.

So, where do safety needs/nets end?  Where do legal needs end?  And, where does common sense begin?  And, when did we realize that foul balls can hurt (and in rare instances kill) if you don’t somehow protect yourself?  Who knows where all of the answers to these questions connect into one sensible one?  Recency bias aside please.

Smoking went from ok, to designated areas, to arrest for smoking in non designated areas, to no designated areas.  Good idea?  For sure.   Drinking went from as many as you want, to limit of two per customer per transaction, to no alcohol served after the seventh inning.  Good idea?  Mostly.

Nets went from none, to directly behind home plate, to down first and third.  Do you need them around the entire field?  Do you need taller walls around the base of each level of stands to stop people from falling down to the next level?  National sentiment is that the more big brother can help us the better.

In short, where do you stop helping people who should be able to help themselves?  And, ask them to help themselves?

We like a clear view of the game in front of us.  If you cannot protect yourself and your loved ones we suggest that you sit where Bob Uecker used to.  Just be careful not to sit close to the “front row” and fall to the next one.

Uecker could see just fine from way up there.   “Hey, he missed the tag.  He missed the tag.”  Of course there was no net back then.

 

 

Ten Piece Nuggets-Sports

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

It’s another Tuesday morning serving of the normally Monday Ten Piece Nuggets.  We aim to please and wanted to serve you yesterday, but people named Jeoungeun, Hank, and Tiger keep cutting the buffet line.  Enjoy as we cover multiple sports in ten quick bites.

  1.  MLB held the first two rounds of their 2019 draft last evening.  Baseball fever.  Did you catch it?  Probably not.  It was on the MLB network.  No Nashville.  No music.  No street parties.  No trades.  No green room.  It’s just one big room with 32 tables, one for each team that take turns picking from pitchers and position players.  You can get drafted right out of high school.  Or, you can get drafted after three eligible college years.   The contrast between the NFL and MLB is arguably never more on display than on their respective draft nights.
  2. Adley Rutschman went first overall to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday.  Rutschman is a catcher.  His batting and defense combined to make him irresistible as the first pick.  At Oregon St. he stood out on a standout team for his three years there.  He’s a “can’t miss” the scouts say.
  3.  Can’t miss?  Before they start pushing statues around to make room for him in Cooperstown, know that the road to the majors and success therein isn’t a given.  Since 1965 when MLB began holding the draft as it is known today seven catchers have been selected first overall.  Rutschman is the seventh.  Mostly forgettable names are the first six (actually five as Danny Goodwin was picked first in two separate drafts after he refused to report to the first team) selections.  B.J. Surhoff and Joe Mauer are the best of the five names.  But, there are no Hall of Fame names to be found.
  4.  Bobby Witt Jr. was selected second overall.  The 19 year-old high school shortstop went to the Kansas City Royals.  He may be the most famous name in this year’s class.  Witt’s father was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1985 draft, making the Witts the first father-son combination to both be selected as top-five picks.
  5. The NCAA baseball playoffs began last weekend.  Sixteen regionals in sixteen cities had sixteen number one seeds hosting a four team double elimination tournament.  Obviously, only sixteen survive to participate in the Super Regionals this coming weekend.  Of the sixteen no. one seeds, 12 advanced to the Supers.  Eight teams will advance to the CWS in Omaha.  Because several top seeds square off against one another as few as four, or as many as eight no. one’s could get there.  The SEC with six and the ACC with four dominate the Supers.  The Pac 12 and the Big 12 have two each.  They play great hockey in the north.  Baseball not so much as the Big 10 has but one survivor.
  6.  FSU head coach Mike Martin is coaching the Seminoles in the Supers this weekend.  When their season ends, his career ends. He’s retiring.  He’s been their head coach for 40 years.  40 years.  His teams have won over 2000 games. 2000.  They have never missed the postseason under his watch.  Never.  They have won 40 or more games every year of his 40 years.  Every year except one, that is.   This year they sit at 35 wins.  They need to get past LSU at LSU to pick up two more wins and get three more in Omaha to get to the magical forty wins in all forty years.
  7. It’s 21 months before the NFL and it’s player’s association current labor agreement expires.  But, it’s never to early to start negotiating in public.  Commish Roger Goodell said yesterday that four preseason games were no longer necessary to get players ready for the season.  “I feel what we should be doing is always to the highest quality, and I’m not sure preseason games meet that level right now,” Goodell said.  What he really is saying is he wants two more regular season games.  This would generate more TV ratings and therefore more revenue.  No word on the always safety conscious NFL’s position on if these two games would further endanger the player’s health.  Heck, they even have a concussion protocol in place now.
  8. It’s under three months until the NCAA football season begins.  Find us a website or a printed magazine that doesn’t brazenly pick Alabama or Clemson to win it all.  Good luck.  As a matter of fact USA Today, CBS SportsLine, and The Sporting News all have at 5. THE Ohio St., 4. Oklahoma, 3. Georgia, 2. Alabama or Clemson, and 1. Clemson or Alabama.  Should we just fast forward to January?  Lee Corso sez, “not so fast my friend.”
  9. The resilient St. Louis Blues shook off a seven goal by seven different players shellacking on the weekend and bounced back with a 4-2 win to even the Stanley Cup Finals at two games a piece with the Boston Bruins.  Six games are assured and seven is quite likely in the this bruising, black and blue(s) final matchup.  The seven goal barrage by the visiting Bruins happened on the Blues first home ice Stanley Cup Final in 49 long years. What a statement by Boston. The Blues bounce back last evening was a statement unto itself.  Drop the puck.
  10. Two weeks ago after Kevin Durant’s injury, Sir Charles Barkley predicted that the Golden State Warriors would not win another game v. the Houston Rockets.  After knocking out the Rockets and the Trailblazers in the next round sans KD ,Golden St. stands tied with the Toronto Raptors 1-1 in the NBA Finals.  Yesterday Stephen A. Smith predicted that the Finals are over if KD comes back for the Warriors.  Toronto need not show up apparently.  If Stephen A. gets it wrong like Sir Charles did, should Stephen A. Smith change his name to Stephen Eh. Smith in honor of the Canadians?  Eh?

Use SPF of 50 or more. Apply frequently.  It’s sunny and hot out there.

The Student Schools the Teacher.

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

SiriusXM got serious Friday.  It joined the list of media outlets that demand freedom of the press and the right to free speech as long as they agree with it.  Free speech is good until it might offend the listenership.  Then its orator gets in trouble.  And, with the backlash growing against old Hank Haney, SiriusXM suspended him from his golf talk show.

You remember old white Hank don’t you?

When Haney’s co-host, Steve Johnson, asked him earlier last week about the 74th LPGA Women’s Open Championship that played out this weekend, Haney joked that he was going to predict that a Korean would win.  And, he added that he couldn’t name six players on the LPGA Tour, except for those with the last name Lee.

“I’m gonna predict a Korean,” Haney said.

“That’s a pretty safe bet,” Johnson replied.

“That’s gonna be my prediction. I couldn’t name you, like, six players on the LPGA Tour,” Haney continued.

“Yeah,” Johnson said.

“Nah, maybe I could,” Haney said. “Well, I’d go with Lee. If I didn’t have to name a first name, I’d get a bunch of them right. I don’t know. … Lexi Thompson. Michelle Wie’s hurt. I don’t know that many.”

The criticism came quickly and from a few notable folks like LPGA player Michelle Wie and USA Today writer Christine Brennan.  Hank was a racist they cried.   Old Hank was sexist they cried.

Later that day noted sensitive feminist Tiger Woods remarked about his old teacher/coach.  “He deserved it(the suspension),” Woods said Friday following his second round in the Memorial at Muirfield Village. “Just can’t look at life like that.”

Clearly Tiger has learned much from his therapy for sexual addiction after his well documented trysts with a dozen or so women.  We can all learn from a man who learned that having women stashed in hotel rooms under false names in out of town towns for his beck and call was bad behavior.  This went down while his wife was at home tending to their two young ones. Heck, it was sexist too.  But, not racist.  Tiger didn’t discriminate when it came to the ladies.  He so loved them all.

Friday Christine Brennan stated that every country club in America should ban Haney for his gross insensitivity.  We don’t recall her calling for the same ban on Tiger.

And, there she was yesterday evening holding up the trophy.  It was one Jeongeun Lee6.  The number six at the end of her name isn’t a typo.  It’s there at her request.  The explanation is simple.  When Lee first arrived on the Korean LPGA  a couple of years ago, she found five other Lees named Jeongeun already on tour.  So, she added the “6” to differentiate herself from the rest.

Old Hank told you so in his own stumbling words last week.  He was right.  Lee.  Six.   And old Hank doubled down last evening.  “My prediction that a Korean woman would be atop the leaderboard at the Women’s US Open was based on statistics and facts. Korean women are absolutely dominating the LPGA Tour. If you asked me again my answer would be the same but worded more carefully.”  So read his tweet last evening.

But old Hank needs to spell more carefully, too.  His next and congratulatory tweet was, “Congratulations to Jeougean Lee6 on your great win at the US Women’s Open. Who’s The Great Predictor now Steve Johnson @steveyrayj I knew a Lee would win.”  He got the Lee6 right, but he misspelled Jeougeun.  His punctuation is a bit wanting as well, truth be told.

Jeongeun Lee6’s Korean fan club is called the “Lucky Six.”   Tiger’s traveling fan club was the “Lucky Dozen.”  If old Hank gets lucky, serious SiriusXM might reinstate him.

If so, the teacher will get a second chance.  Everyone deserves a second chance, don’t they?  Ask the student.  Isn’t that right, Tiger?

 

 

Swing and a Miss

Posted on by thependulumswings staff

You know old Hank Haney, don’t you?  Sixty-three year old PGA teaching professional Hank Haney worked with Tiger Woods for a few years about a decade ago along with other PGA professionals.  He parlayed that experience into a golf reality show that lasted five years.  Each season one chosen celebrity would be the one that Haney would try to improve their golf game.

In 2008, Haney started working with former NBA star and current NBA analyst Charles Barkley on the Golf Channel’s The Haney Project: Charles Barkley, in an attempt to fix Barkley’s infamously bad swing. Haney’s show continued in 2010, this time with comedian Ray Romano. The third season, in 2011, featured talk radio host Rush Limbaugh. Series 4 (2012) featured a four-player shootout in Mario Batali, Adam Levine, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Angie Everhart.   Series 5, in 2013, featured all-time winner of the most Olympic medals, Michael Phelps.

Old Hank would cringe on camera every time Sir Charles stopped midway through his swing, then shank the ball in any and every possible direction.

Well, yesterday, several people cringed when old Hank weighed in on this week’s U.S. Women’s Open on his SiriusXM radio show.

When Haney’s co-host, Steve Johnson, asked him about the 74th Open being played this week, Haney joked that he was going to predict that a Korean would win.  And, he added that he couldn’t name six players on the LPGA Tour, except for those with the last name Lee.

“I’m gonna predict a Korean,” Haney said.

“That’s a pretty safe bet,” Johnson replied.

“That’s gonna be my prediction. I couldn’t name you, like, six players on the LPGA Tour,” Haney continued.

“Yeah,” Johnson said.

“Nah, maybe I could,” Haney said. “Well, I’d go with Lee. If I didn’t have to name a first name, I’d get a bunch of them right. I don’t know. … Lexi Thompson. Michelle Wie’s hurt. I don’t know that many.”

Haney’s comments were quickly criticized on social media, the platform of self expression of the new, kinder, more sensitive generation.  And Wie was one of them.

As a Korean American female golfer, these comments that @HankHaney made disappoint and anger me on so many different levels. Racism and sexism are no laughing matter Hank….shame on you. I don’t ever do this, but this must be called out. https://t.co/P18JByTosN

— Michelle Wie (@themichellewie) May 29, 2019

Old Hank took to the same Twitter outlet to get out his apology.  “This morning, I made some comments about women’s golf and its players that were insensitive, and that I regret,” Haney wrote. “In an effort to make a point about the overwhelming success of Korean players on the tour, I offended people and I am sorry.

Racism?  Sure.  Old white Hank predicted a Korean would win.  Old white Hank knows better we think.  You can’t say the obvious.  Koreans currently hold down the 1,4,6,8,12,13, and 15th places year to date on the LPGA money standings.  You can’t say the obvious.  He said he couldn’t name six players on the tour.  Neither can anyone else.  No one watches it in person.  No one watches it on TV either.

So Hank Haney said “I’m sorry.”  He offended people and was insensitive towards women.   Maybe he could make a run for the White House in 2020.  Joe Biden realized the error of his previous ways and said he was sorry to have been insensitive towards women as well.  He said he stands behind women now.  Wait, that still doesn’t sound right.

Regardless, old Hank’s apology stated that he actually had intended to “make a point about the overwhelming success of Korean players.”  No he didn’t.  He intended to make a joke about a tour that is viewed (but not seen) as a joke.

Wie said that she “as a Korean American female golfer” was disappointed and angry.  Couldn’t she just be a golfer or an American that was angry?  Or, an American tour player that was angry?  Nope.  It’s important today to tell everyone where you are originally from and how many obstacles you had to and have to overcome.  Wie claimed that the remarks were sexist too.  We wonder about that.  He was asked to comment on the LPGA tour.  Like what he said or not, he did just that.  If a female reporter comments on the PGA tour, are her remarks automatically sexist?

Christine Brennan, who writes for the USA Today, broadened the scope of the crime to include an accusation of xenophobia and wrote, “If there’s any golf club in the country (let’s make it the world) that allows Haney to set foot on its property after that despicable exchange, that club is telling every girl and woman and person of color to go play any one of the dozens of other sports they can play for life, not golf.”

This went from Koreans under attack to all countries.  This went from women to girls.  And, this went from one race to any person of color.   We wonder if Tiger Woods or Charles Barkley or Sugar Ray Leonard think old white Hank is prejudiced.  Did Angie Everhart think he was sexist?  Maybe they do.  And, maybe he is.  But, can we tap on the brakes just a bit?

Christine, a ton of golf clubs that you want old Hank to be banned from have members that can’t name six LPGA golfers either.   But, when they flip through the channels in the men’s locker room looking for the men’s tour broadcast of the week, they ever so briefly pause on the leader board of the LPGA event in their search.  On it they see the Korean flag, among others, up and down the first page.  It’s not bad.  It’s just bad the way old white male Hank made light of it.

Michelle Wie cried “wie, wie, wie,” all the way home.  It’s certainly her right.  But, did anybody hear her?

The problem for Christine Brennan and her diatribe is that no one reads the failing USA Today anymore.  Do you?  The problem for the LPGA tour is that no one watches the LPGA Tour anymore.  Do you?

Tap the brakes people.