Daily Archives: March 5, 2013

LeBron James & the Dunk Contest

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http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9014505&categoryid=2459788

In the above video, Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless debate whether or not LeBron James should be influenced by Magic Johnson’s $1 million offer to participate in the dunk contest.

I am a fan of the NBA. Obviously, I would love to see James throw down his vicious dunks in the contest. But James has turned down the opportunity for 10 years now. I think it is about time we all accept the fact that he just doesn’t want to participate in the dunk contest.

LBJ dunking

And you know what? There is nothing wrong with that.

We get so caught up in what we want these athletes to do or how we want them to act that we forget that they are people too. They have their own preferences and behaviors. It is perfectly acceptable for them resist the public’s wishes. How would you feel if someone else dictated your whole life?

Let’s all stop whining and just move on. The dude doesn’t want to do it. It isn’t the end of the world.

NFL: Contract killers

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Joe FlaccoWord broke recently that Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will be the NFL’s highest paid player. The two parties have agreed to a six-year deal worth $120.6 million.

Excuse me? Come again?

Is this the same Joe Flacco whose completion percentage has been under 60% the last two seasons? The same Joe Flacco whose career post-season percentage is 55.5%?

Joe Flacco 2Now I understand that Flacco is coming off a very impressive post-season run. He is the reigning Super Bowl MVP and has won nine playoff games.

But is he worthy of the richest contract in NFL history?

Well, is Charlie Sheen a role model for kids?

No chance.

This is still the same guy who gets rattled when pressure is in his face. This is still the same guy who was at the helm of a listless Ravens team at the end of the season. Do four great playoff games completely erase the frequent periods of offensive stagnancy that has plagued Baltimore the last couple years?

Joe Flacco 3

Joe Flacco is a solid quarterback who has won some big games. But he is not more valuable in terms of dollars and on field performance than Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees. You could make the argument that a hand full of other QBs are more valuable as well.

As my brother smartly pointed out, most of the major contracts are dictated by the market and not actual value. Supply and demand are going to jack up prices for prime time free agents. But I still don’t see the logic here. Baltimore could have easily made Flacco a top five paid QB instead of sacrificing the ability to add talent to a roster that has some holes.

Everyone knew Baltimore had to pay the man. But they didn’t need to be an accomplice to robbery.