Author: bestkeptsecret19

I'm just a man trying to be listened to. Hopefully, I can motivate and inspire people on the way to making a widespread positive difference.

What we should learn from Deshaun Watson allegations

Not that long ago, one of the biggest developing stories in sports was trying to figure out which NFL team might attempt to trade for the services of Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. The 25-year-old said he doesn’t want to play another game for the Texans due to dysfunction within the team’s management, but according to reports, Houston was not entertaining any trade offers. This means along with trying to dissect which team Watson could end up with, we had an old-fashioned standoff developing because the Texans had just signed Watson to a long-term contract extension. Yes, the football aspect was front and center, but that would quickly begin to change when a civil lawsuit, accusing Watson of sexual misconduct, became public March 16. The number of lawsuits are now up to 22, and the question of Watson’s future now extends much further than what happens next on the football field. Through this saga, three things have stood out in my mind, and I believe they blur the lines in terms of how we view not just athletes and celebrities, but society in general.

The first is the perceived relationships we have with people who have achieved lofty status in the social hierarchy. In the case of football players, we see them perform weekly, conduct interviews and have a presence on social media. Because of the attention that’s paid to the players, particularly someone with Watson’s star power, the thinking is we know how they are off of the playing field. Before these lawsuits became public, Watson had an image of someone who was squeaky-clean and very generous in terms of charity work within the city of Houston and elsewhere. Because of this portrayed image, shock would be the overwhelming reaction when lawsuits claiming Watson repeatedly committed acts of sexual misconduct reached the news wires. We all have to wait for the process to play out in court, but the lesson should be one of realizing we don’t know these athletes…at all, regardless of whether or not Watson is innocent. We have no idea what they do in their private time outside of the spotlight, so we shouldn’t act like we do. This goes both ways, because we can think a person is a complete a**hole, and be proven wrong about that also. That simply can’t be known unless we are hanging around them regularly, and even then, there’s no telling.

Speaking of the process playing out, that brings me to my second point. In the court of law, a person is to be innocent until proven guilty. In the court of public opinion, it’s guilty until proven innocent. When all of these lawsuits started to come out, it was automatically assumed in most outlets Watson was guilty. My hope is he didn’t do these things, because I have been a fan of Watson’s ever since his days with Clemson, where he led the 2016 Tigers to a national championship. If it’s proven the lawsuits filed by these women are fraudulent money grab attempts (which is possible), that actually would be even sadder because it’s people like that who ruin the creditability for the women who are actual victims of sexual harassment, assault and misconduct. Looking at what we know, it does not look good for Watson because a pattern of disturbing behavior during numerous massage therapy sessions has been painted. All I’m saying is during my days in the military, I have seen cases like this get thrown out because the woman couldn’t provide evidence due to the fact the events she claimed happened never transpired. That’s where the innocent until proven guilty phrase comes in, because it is up to the plaintiff to provide the burden of prove, not the defendant. If we do see that day where proof lines up, then Watson should be thrown in jail no questions asked, but excuse me while I wait to exercise judgement.

Finally, I mentioned Watson is named in 22 lawsuits alleging he committed acts of sexual misconduct. What has also been introduced by Watson’s defense team are 18 women saying the Texans’ 2017 first-round draft pick was a model citizen during their sessions of massage therapy. So that brings the count to 40 women, almost split down the middle on the conduct of Watson. I can only speak on my behalf, but I would think once a person finds a good massage therapist, they would want to stick with that person because there’s a trust and chemistry built that says the best treatment for the customer’s body is the expectation. Dealing with multiple massage therapists, let alone 40, seems abnormally high to say the least. Another part that’s baffling about these allegations is where it’s said Watson flew one of them in from Atlanta. I know there have been cases where athletes fly over to countries to get stem-cell treatment, or employ a personal massage therapist to be with them during the season, but when it’s considered Watson resides in the nation’s fourth most populous city, I’m having a tough time figuring out why he would have to fly someone in. Everything about these allegations seem weird and disturbing, and if proven true, this would be another sad case where a player, who had a great career and a bright future, threw it all away because of bad decision-making.

There’s no telling where this story is going to go in the coming days and weeks. Most of the women who filed the lawsuits against Watson are now required to reveal their identities, which would be a telling sign of how far these suits will be pursued. Even with that, it doesn’t seem like Watson’s defense team has much of a defense as of now. At any rate, one thing is for sure. Watson, regardless of the results, needs to take a serious look at how he’s going about things. Most people would worry about the football player, and endorsers such as Nike and Beats by Dre have distanced themselves from him, but Deshaun Watson the human being is what should be the priority. If proven guilty, the person will lose more than his career and endorsements. Just remember…we don’t truly know these people, and it’s innocent until proven guilty. Those lines have to remain clear, but unfortunately, they often aren’t.

Harden trade outlines bigger problem in the NBA

Last Wednesday, the NBA world was shaken up by a blockbuster trade that saw guard and former league MVP James Harden get moved from the Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets. The trade, which also involved the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers, was a move that was expected from those who follow the league, but the circumstances that led up to this is what the narrative should be. Whether or not Harden forming a “superteam” with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will bring title a title or two to Brooklyn has and will be analyzed until results come in (I have this being an epic train wreck for the record). The issue is how seemingly easily players can force a trade by being unprofessional and, for the lack of a better word, a spoiled brat. Such is the case for Harden, but sadly, his case is just the latest in what has become a problem in this age of player empowerment.

It’s not uncommon for someone to be unhappy at a workplace, but these issues can be handled professionally, and Harden was anything but. First, he shows up to training camp out of shape (apparently after spending a good amount of time in strip clubs), then he’s reportedly getting into it with teammates during practice. Top all of that off with having a press conference after a game the Rockets lost to the Los Angeles Lakers saying this situation can’t be fixed, due to the team not being good enough (in Harden’s eyes), and the situation becomes officially toxic. Rockets players, such as John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, came to the team’s defense and reported confronted Harden about his attitude. All of this led to the trade to the Nets, which is what the disgruntled star wanted all along.

Another situation that involves pouting and being a malcontent involved Lakers forward/center Anthony Davis. When Davis was with the New Orleans Pelicans, he signed a long-term deal to stay there. Then came the day when Rich Paul, who is the agent for fellow Lakers forward LeBron James, became Davis’ agent. When that happened, it’s probably not a coincidence a trade request came right after. Of course, things between Davis and the Pelicans became super awkward, as the team was going back and forth between sitting him out and minutes restrictions. After the 2018-19 was over, Davis would eventually get what he wanted and end up in L.A. Part of the reason that happened also was James, in essence, passive-aggressively called out some of the teammates he was playing with before the trade. In other words, both of Paul’s clients were willing to burn things down to get what they wanted, which at it’s core seems pretty selfish.

Finally, lets visit the case of Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George. Going into the 2018-19 season, George signed a deal to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder. After the season was completed, Kawhi Leonard, fresh off of leading the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA title, entered free agency and said he would come to the Clippers if, among other things, the team was able to get George to come there in a trade. All of a sudden, here come the trade demand to get out of OKC. The difference between how the Thunder handled this and how the Rockets and Pelicans handled their respective situations was OKC management didn’t give this a chance to manifest and become a trash situation. They granted George’s request, got some players and draft picks in return, and moved on. No matter what, most people just want clear pictures of what’s currently happening. It appears the Thunder were aware of this, and for the goodness of their environment, they didn’t want to have any toxicity leak in from a potentially unhappy player.

All of the scenarios mentioned above had two things in common. The first is Harden, Davis and George all were in substantial deals, and the second is they ultimately got what they wanted by being whiners. The latter is what sets a bad precedent and points to the bigger problem in the NBA and sports in general. I’m all about players having the ability to look out for themselves and their futures, but to demand trades with multiple years left in contracts (in the cases of Harden and George) seems disingenuous. If all a player has to do is act like a spoiled brat to get their way when things aren’t going well, then we’re in more trouble than I originally thought. I just hope at some point, these players can start being adults about their business, but something tells me not to hold my breath.

Props to these teams for not tanking and being who they are

It’s no secret a lot has changed as time moves on, and the world of sports isn’t any different. Gone are the days where players and teams competed every single night, regardless of the chances they had of winning, and here are the days where we wanted to reward people for giving up. It’s to the point where you see full articles describing tanking (a word used to describe being the best at being garbage) as an art. To be honest, it’s downright sad how we can even entertain such a thing, but there are examples of teams who still put competing over throwing a season (or three) away for draft picks who aren’t guaranteed to turn fortunes around anyway. These teams, two from the NFL and one from the NBA, get a standing ovation for coming out and being who they are, professionals who get paid a good amount of money to play sports.

The first team I want to applaud is the Miami Dolphins. It’s definitely understood the Dolphins finished the year at 5-11, but when we consider how they started the year, that record should be looked as wildly successful. Miami began the year losing games by scores of 59-10, 43-0 and 31-6. Combine the awful beginning with the fact the Dolphins were stockpiling draft picks, and there was talk about this team being the worst in league history. Somewhere along the line, professional pride kicked in, and having Miami on the schedule wasn’t looked at as an easy win like it was a few months ago. To top off the season, the Dolphins went on the road and defeated the defending (now former) champion New England Patriots. Much credit goes to head coach Brian Flores and his staff for having the team ready to play, where it would have been easy to do what everyone else says they should do, which is tank. All of a sudden, a bleak future suddenly looks bright in south Florida.

This may sound a little crazy considering how I have crushed this team time and time again, but I have to give some credit to the New York Jets. While I still believe the Jets get way too much airtime to be an overall trash product, they actually rebounded from a slow start to win three of their final four games and finish with a 7-9 record. I guess we would have to see if momentum carries on into next season, but maybe (just maybe) head coach Adam Gase might have a clue after all. Quarterback Sam Darnold had an okay year if you take away having mononucleosis and seeing ghosts on the field, and one would think he’ll continue to improve with more time. I don’t give the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets props often, so maybe this could be considered a weak moment from me. I’m here to say it’s not, and New York could be tough to deal with next season if everything comes together.

For the final team that gets credit for competing, I’m going to the NBA and saluting the Oklahoma City Thunder. Going into this past summer, the Thunder had the vision of building a team around their dynamic duo of guard Russell Westbrook and forward Paul George. When the free agency period began, George demanded a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers to join forces with reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, and was dealt soon after. Westbrook was then traded to the Houston Rockets, and the rebuilding project was suddenly staring OKC’s front office in the face. Quietly, the Thunder have developed a nice mix of youth and experience who give hell to the league’s elite, and they are at the seventh spot in the Western Conference. As a fan of OKC, I definitely didn’t see this coming, and maybe they don’t make the playoffs at season’s end, but the fact they’re playing this well after such a shift in direction says a lot head coach Billy Donovan and about the organization.

It’s good to see these three teams compete at a high level, but I admit writing this story is a sad case. One would think the least these athletes can do is go out and compete, but it’s not the case these days. We live in an era where throwing away seasons to get high draft picks is encouraged and participation trophies are given out as charity. For these teams to ignore all of that noise should be commended because it sends a positive message. None of these moments are promised, and we don’t know what tomorrow is bringing us. This is why we have to make the most of what we have today, and Dolphins, Jets and Thunder are examples of that characteristic.

After three seasons, the eyes of Texas are still crying

The Texas Longhorns concluded their season with a 38-10 victory over 11th-ranked Utah in the Alamo Bowl. There’s no doubt finishing the season strong should be celebrated, but for the Longhorns, all it does is salvage an otherwise disappointing season that was supposed to be the announcement of a program being back to prominence. I mean no disrespect to the Alamo Bowl when I say my next statement, but the standards are a lot higher than playing in this game. After all, that is why Tom Herman was brought in as the head coach before the 2017 season, to lead Texas to heights not seen since winning the national title in 2005. In the three seasons Herman has been in charge, results have been up and down, but one thing is for sure. The Longhorns are still far away from that return to the glory days, and because of it, the eyes of Texas shed many tears.

Let’s start with year one of the Herman era. The man who was previously the head man at Houston took over for Charlie Strong, who was fired by the university after three seasons. Because of the success he had in Houston, Herman was looked at as someone who could instantly get the best out of the talent that was in place. Expectations were high, but fans and media alike would be sorely disappointed. Texas began the year losing at home to an unranked Maryland team that put 51 points up on their defense, and finished with a 7-6 record. That seventh victory came in the Texas Bowl against Missouri. Like the Alamo Bowl, the Texas Bowl is a good bowl, but not exactly where a program with all of the resources the Longhorns have should be. By the way, Texas lost to arch-rival Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown (I’ll always call it the Shootout), which is always a no-no. I get it, it’s one year into a five-year contract, but this was not exactly the start people were looking for.

Year two surely would be an improvement over the first, right? The beginning painted the picture of it being more of the same, as the Longhorns lost to Maryland (again). To Herman’s credit, he coached the players up and got things turned around. They actually beat Oklahoma in the shootout and got to the inaugural Big 12 Championship Game, where they lost to OU in a rematch. Texas actually finished the year playing in a bowl game more to the liking of the masses, the Sugar Bowl, and defeated Georgia 28-21 in New Orleans. The Longhorns compiled ten wins and played in a major bowl, or what is known as a New Year’s Six game in today’s times. At any rate, there was significant signs of improvement from the first season in Herman’s tenure, and with the majority of the players returning to school, the future looked bright in terms of seeing a potential return to glory.

So here it is, the beginning of the season, and the hype behind Texas football is as high as it has been since Colt McCoy was the quarterback a more than a decade ago. Speaking of quarterbacks, the present-day signal-caller, Sam Ehlinger, was on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s college football preview edition, with the caption saying “The Longhorns Are Back.” To me, back means they are competing for national titles regularly, and the year would end with a birth to the College Football Playoff. Not so much, as the program regressed in a year that seemed so promising. Texas compiled a 5-4 record in conference play, and weren’t even the best football team in the state (Baylor, Texas A&M, take your pick). Included in the losses was another one to Oklahoma. Needless to say, the Longhorns are a long way from being “back,” and there’s no telling when that day will come. What we do know is Herman, at least to this point, has not produced the results that was sure to come with his arrival in Austin.

Next year will be the fourth in the Herman era, and this should be the make-or-break season. It’s understood we live in a world where instant gratification is sought after, but in college football, year four is all about the coach who’s been in place. There should be no more residue from the previous regime, and fresh recruiting classes are of their picking. The system is in place, and the time for excuses is long gone. Combine this with the fact Herman let go of many assistant coaches before the Alamo Bowl, and it equals no room for error or misunderstanding. Next season, if you ask me, anything less than in the Rose or Sugar Bowls, the two games that will host the national semifinals, is a failure. The eyes of Texas are squarely on Herman and the Longhorns, and they can only watch replays of the 2006 Rose Bowl on the Longhorn Network so many times. If things don’t get better, the same eyes could be watching another head coach get his walking papers.

A few NFL teams that should be banned from air time

When a person turns on a television, listens to a radio or monitors a website on their computer or smartphone, it’s hard not to notice the huge amount of mess that is accessible to the eyes and ears. Part of that mess is teams in the NFL that continuously get air time, even though their performance on the field says they shouldn’t be talked about at all. Some of these teams may have historical significance in terms of winning championships in the past, while others have been given unnecessary hype because of a few offseason moves. Either way, these teams have either underachieved, or have been overall trash. A few of the teams I am talking about are the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns and both of the New York teams, the Giants and Jets. These teams get talked about way too much while the product on the field is subpar at best.

Let’s start with the Cowboys, who are currently in first place in the NFC East. Seeing this fact alone would make someone want to ask me why I’m listening Dallas as one of these overhyped teams. It’s because they have a 6-7 record while playing in a garbage division no one seems to want, and the headlines are the same as always. Head coach Jason Garrett is in supposed jeopardy of losing his job, but this has been the case ever since Garrett took over the position in 2010. Jerry Jones, the owner and general manager of the team, continues to try and sell to anyone who will listen this is a team who can win a Super Bowl, something the Cowboys haven’t done since the 1995 season. Dallas is one of those teams who have historical value (on top of being the world’s most valuable sports franchise) and when this is the case, the media seems to hang on anything that can be a sign of a return to glory. Factually, the Cowboys are far removed from those winning ways, and we can’t continue to hold on to past history when recent history says they are as close to average as any team can get on the field of play. The play is what it should be about, and until the day comes where changes at head coach and owner are made, or the record gets better, there’s no reason why Dallas should get as much attention as they get.

Speaking of unwarranted attention, there’s no better definition of this than the Cleveland Browns. I just talked about how average the Cowboys have been, but the Browns would have a championship parade if they were close to average. If you don’t believe me, just go back a couple of years, when the city of Cleveland threw a parade for the Browns going 0-16 in 2017. At any rate, this is a team that came in to this season with a lot of excitement, and understandably so. They have an up-and-coming quarterback in Baker Mayfield, a good running back in Nick Chubb, a wide receiver duo featuring Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry and a good defense. Sure, Cleveland has a lot of young talent, but Super Bowl contending status? That’s what numerous media members thought. After 12 games, it looks like the Browns are still, well, the Browns. They are 5-7, and are in grave danger of missing the playoffs, something that has happened every year since 2002. Because of all of the preseason hype, ESPN, Fox Sports and other television and radio stations continue to talk about Cleveland like they are one of the elite teams in the league. Maybe this is breaking news to some, but one thing they’re not is elite, and reality has to set in at some point. The Browns aren’t good, and there will be plenty of time to talk about them around NFL Draft time, but not in December. This month is meant for actual playoff contenders, and Cleveland is not that. Get ’em out!

If anyone thinks the Browns are overhyped (which I clearly do), just imagine how much worse it would be if they were playing in the nation’s No. 1 media market, which is New York City. That’s the only reason why the Giants and Jets continue to stay somewhat relevant, because saying their play on the field has been garbage is an insult to trash cans everywhere. The Giants sit at 2-10, and the Jets are 4-8. The Giants, as bad as they have been the last few years, have at least won a couple of championships recently.The Jets? They have done next to nothing on the field for decades now. For this season, they are best known for being the first victory for the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals, two teams that were looked at as tanking the season. If the Giants and Jets played anywhere else besides New York, there’s no way they stay in the media cycle as much as they do. It’s a good thing we were created with minds, so we can look past all of the hype and see how truly bad these two teams are.

I understand this article seems funny because I’m talking about these teams getting too much air time, and by writing this story, I’m doing the same thing I’m coming after media outlets about. The main thing I wanted to point out is all of the hype and history can only carry a team so far, because if they’re not winning, it’ll get harder and harder to hold on to these nuggets of hope. The Cowboys, Browns, Giants and Jets are simply not as good as the narrative would have us believe, and we have to see it for what it is, not from a fantasy world. The reality is these teams, among others, have not been good, and they shouldn’t be covered like they’re perennial championship contenders when they are anything but. The teams that are actually doing something are who should get the attention, and hopefully, more people can see it this way.

What to make of the NFL-Colin Kaepernick saga

August 26, 2016. That was the date where Colin Kaepernick, then the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, was seen sitting on the bench during the national anthem. Sept 1, a week after the protest was maid public, Kaepernick would change his protest from sitting to taking a knee (I’ll get into the reasoning for his actions in a bit). These two events combined to touch off one of the most volatile and explosive debates in recent memory. People were fighting each other trying to get their point across, longtime friendships were ended and Facebook blocking was at an all-time high. In the midst of all of the mutiny, the original reasons for Kap’s protest were lost in the shuffle, and everything turned into a political firestorm that rendered the NFL clueless on how to deal with it all.

As for the reasons why Kaepernick was protesting, we have to remember, no matter what side we want to argue, his position was taken to bring attention to social injustices going on in America. The stance going from sitting down altogether to taking a knee was because of a conversation Kap had with Nate Boyer, who was an Army Green Beret member (one of the military’s elite units). It was Boyer who recommended taking the knee, which is a way the military honors the fallen. It never was, as Kaepernick said, about disrespecting the military or the country’s flag. Like everyone else, I can go on and on about my feelings, but that’s not the reason for this article. I just wanted to set the stage on how we ended up at what transpired last week, and because of the sides involved, why we are still at the same spot we have been at all along, which is on the road to nowhere fast.

Since Kap opted out of his deal with the 49ers after the 2016 season, he hasn’t played in the NFL. The deal opt-out was purely Kaepernick’s decision, but I tend to think San Francisco was going to move on from him anyway. Be as it may, it’s been a while since Kap has been on an NFL field, and based on the overall quarterback play throughout the league, it’s hard to figure out why he couldn’t get a roster spot. There are two things the NFL cares about more than anything else, money and optics. Of course, the league would say otherwise, but their actions speak louder than their words. The anthem protest controversy, fairly or unfairly, put a dent into the league’s ratings. Combine that with the fact they didn’t know how to handle things because of public outcry, and you have an optics nightmare that messes with their money. There are people who say the league colluded to keep Kaepernick out of the league, and based on the way the league handles things, I don’t think it’s a stretch for someone to have that opinion. To move on, the league and Kaepernick would come to a settlement after the former 49ers star sued the league. Part of the settlement was Kap would get a workout that could be checked out by all of the teams. Apparently, it would be the league’s choosing when the workout would take place, because they chose a random Saturday during the season, with only a few days notice and a day before almost all of the teams play in their respective games. The timing of this announcement seems shady, and it screams covering their asses from a league known for trying to cover their asses. The NFL knows there are people who want to see Kaepernick get a shot to play, and by doing this, they can say they granted that opportunity. Again, it’s all about optics.

While the NFL is guilty of a lot in my estimation, Kaepernick isn’t completely innocent. While the original reason for the protest is legit, Kap can get in the way of his own message (see the pig socks and Fidel Castro shirt he has worn in the past), and we really haven’t heard if he even wants to play. When Kap talked after Saturday’s workout, which was moved from the original location given by the NFL, that was one of the first times we heard definitively he wanted to play in years. In regards to the workout, people said Kap looked good, but there’s no way of telling how good he can be unless can get time in an actual game, and judging off of Kap’s other comments calling out the 32 owners of the NFL teams, we probably won’t be seeing that anytime soon, if at all. The bottom line is as much as I would like to say this was a productive event, I really can’t say that because nothing positive came out of it. If anything, the wedge between the two sides became bigger.

So here’s where we’re at. The NFL did what they always do, which is look out for their money and optics. I don’t think Kaepernick helped his cause out either. Therefore, we are where we have always been since the original protest, which is heavily divided, and left searching for a solution. How this saga ends is anyone’s guess, but one thing is for sure. There are no winners here, and things will continue to be bitter between the two sides for the foreseeable future. The saddest thing is a once promising career appears to be over, and because that’s probably been the case long before a supposed workout.

Time to answer the annual best player in the NBA (world) question

So the free agency period in the NBA has come and gone, and what a period it turned out to be. This class of free agents was one of the most star-studded in recent memory, and the results of the moves has turned the league into a place where, dare I say it, parody, might be the theme of the upcoming season. Through all of the moves, there has been a lot of debate (as usual) in regards to which player holds the title as the best basketball player in the world. Obviously, this answer varies depending on who you talk to, but for me, it’s between four men. Before I dive into the debate, I want to send my apologies to fans of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (this season’s regular season Most Valuable Player) and Houston Rockets guard James Harden (not really), because they aren’t on this list, but here are the four dudes that are:

Could it be Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard? Most players who come off of an NBA Finals MVP instantly become part of this conversation, and the same is true in this case. Leonard is coming off of a season where he led the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship, and he was traded to them by the San Antonio Spurs before last season. In his only season in a Raptors uniform, Leonard quickly reminded all of us how good he is, and the run he went on during the playoffs can compare to some of the all-time great runs we’ve ever seen. Going to the hardware count, he has two titles, two Finals MVPs and is also a two-time Defensive Player of the Year award winner. Maybe there is a little bit of prisoner of the moment energy when it comes to Kawhi, but this man was always among the best in the league.

Might it still be Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James? I say still because in the estimation of most fans and analysts, James has held this title for quite a while. Even though we didn’t see him in the playoffs this season, the “Chosen One” has more than enough to back up his claim for the world’s best. He is a four-time regular season MVP and a three-time NBA Finals MVP to go along with his three championships. To go along with all that, James has been on a team that has made the Finals eight straight seasons (four with the Miami Heat and four with the Cleveland Cavaliers) before the miss with the Lakers. Say what you want about LeBron, but it’s hard to ignore the man has been historically good for a decade and a half.

Maybe it’s Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant that takes the vote. The instant boost into the best player discussion from winning Finals MVPs was mentioned earlier in the article. Durant was the beneficiary of that boost in 2017 and 2018, where he won the award on the Golden State Warriors’ title teams. We all know Durant is already one of the best scorers ever to play the game, and he has four scoring titles to back that up, and he has a regular season MVP award by his name also. Because of the Achilles injury he suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Raptors, it’ll be a while before we see him on a basketball court, but don’t be surprised if KD comes back to remind us of how potent he can be.

Perhaps it’s Warriors guard Stephen Curry who claims the best player award. Curry is already widely known as the greatest shooter of all-time, and he still has some years left two play. He has two regular season MVPs, and is the only played to win that award by a unanimous vote (2015-16). He’s also a three-time NBA champion, and is also given credit for revolutionizing the game because of his shooting ability. Unlike the other three players mentioned above, there’s nothing physically imposing with Steph. He can dominant a game entirely with skill.

There are my four player who are in the running for best player in the world. Of course, I can’t complete this article without actually listing them, right? On my rankings, I would still have to give a slight edge to James. LeBron has been on the top of my list for a while, and it’ll take more than a season to knock him off the No. 1 spot. Leonard would be second, followed by Curry, then Durant. I would love to hear who you have as the best player in the world. Is one of my four, or do you have Antetokounmpo? Maybe Harden, or perhaps Russell Westbrook? Let me know, then let’s debate.

Don’t believe LeBron if he says he’s just a basketball player

When we look at how most sports leagues are ran, the common thing seen is players won’t have power like the team owners and management does. This is not the case with the National Basketball Association (NBA), where players have huge influences, not just within the sport itself, but outside in the social world as well. That influence wasn’t on any bigger display than it was during the league’s free agency period, where players literally were able to swing the balance of power with their moves, even if they had multiple years left on their contracts. So who gets most of the credit for starting this movement of player empowerment? Look no further than Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.

In pointing to James as the person who should get credit for starting this era of player empowerment, it isn’t to say he’s the first to use his stance to get what he wants. Going back to when Michael Jordan played, players would use their leverage to get as much money as they can. What I am saying is LeBron is one the first players to use his stature to get what he’s looking for, while keeping the pressure on the team he’s playing for at the same time. By pressure, I mean in ways like signing other players to fit James’s game, and getting his friends paid also (see the deals signed by Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson and Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for context). Overall, I definitely understand if a player wants to exercise leverage, because in the business world, a team would be quick to let him or her go if they don’t think he or she can no longer produce at a high level. At the same token, a squad has to ask when it’s too much for a player who is probably going to leave anyway.

LeBron, to look at things objectively, did spend the first seven seasons of his career with the Cavaliers, who drafted him No. 1 overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. After that, it was the summer of 2010, when James announced he would be “taking his talents to South Beach,” and signing with the Miami Heat. In doing so, LeBron would join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the No. 5 and 4 picks in the same draft James was in, and form a “superteam.” I’m sure I don’t have to explain the significance of this move, but it stands out because the balance of power literally swung in the Heat’s favor just from that decision. After joining Miami, there would be other moves made to make sure the roster was to LeBron’s liking. From the outside, it may look like everything is great, because the team James is on is instantly (until last season) in contention for a title. Having said that, there seems to be a lot teams who have the player widely viewed as the best basketball player in the world have to deal with in order to have that luxury.

After four years, and two championships, with the Heat, James would leave Miami and come back to play with the Cavaliers in the summer of 2014. There were some who thought he left because he couldn’t control the team like he wanted, because the president of the team was Pat Riley, who is best known for being the coach of the showtime Lakers during the 80s. Upon his arrival in Cleveland, expectations changed for the Cavs, going from a team who was building towards the future, to a team who has to win right now. The head coach at the time, David Blatt, was brought on to help develop the young talent, led by point guard Kyrie Irving (more on him later). Now, it was how to manage a player who believes he’s the smartest in the room. Andrew Wiggins, who was drafted by the Cavs in with the No. 1 pick in 2014, was all of a sudden traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves to bring in Kevin Love. This team had James’ fingerprints all over it, so much in some’s, estimations that he might as well have the title of player-coach, general manager and owner. Blatt would later be fired in favor of assistant coach Tyronn Lue, another move that had LeBron’s preferences. Now, it’s the Lakers who seem to be at the mercy of James. Over the past few months, Luke Walton has been replaced by Frank Vogel as the head coach, and the man who helped bring LeBron to Los Angeles, Magic Johnson, suddenly stepped down as team president and went scorched Earth on every associated with the team. Only the people inside know for sure, but I can understand if someone thought LeBron was a reason these changes happened.

In following the career of James, one thing that sticks out to me his his passive-aggressiveness. He’ll have you believe he’s just the player, and he has nothing to do with any of the personel moves. That stance in and of itself is laughable when you consider this is the NBA we’re talking about. In a league where players have a lot of power, it would be hard to believe the most powerful player sits back and does nothing. The Lakers just got Anthony Davis in a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. James and Davis have the same agent in Rich Paul. I think we’re teasing ourselves if we think that had nothing to do with the trade pulling through. Those deals with Thompson and Caldwell-Pope, they probably don’t get done without the influence of James and his camp. Those two also have Paul as their agents. Bottom line, a lot of stuff doesn’t get down unless James gives the OK. What teams have decided is having LeBron is worth the headache, as long as they have the chance to play in June. Back to Cleveland, Irving didn’t think it was worth his sanity, as he would demand a trade. He got his wish, and went to the Boston Celtics. That’s part of that player empowerment James has lead. Sometimes it can be a gift, and other times it can be a curse. Lately, it’s looking more like a curse.

Two players, two reminders of greatness

In sports, there are times where a player reaches a level of greatness, go off the radar for a little bit, then rise back up to let people know they’re still around. Most of this can be attributed to the way society is, especially with us being in the “What have you done for me lately?” attitude that has taken over. Another part is people just didn’t realize how good a player was when they were destroying everyone in their path, and when they do it again, it’s some sort of coming out party. The “surprise” of what’s going on is what dominated the airwaves when it comes to discussing Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, who are duking it out in the NBA Finals. Honestly, this isn’t any sort of coming out party, nor should anyone be surprised at the high level these two are playing at. What both are doing is reminding everyone how great they were, and still are.

Of course, while Curry and Leonard are sharing the biggest stage in basketball, the paths the two used to get there this season are drastically different. Let’s start with Curry, who is making his fifth straight NBA Finals appearance with the Warriors. The seventh pick in the 2009 NBA Draft was the league’s Most Valuable Player two seasons in a row (2014-’15 and 2015-’16), and became the only unanimous winner of the award the second time (not to mention winning one league title and being seconds away from making it two during this span). After forward Kevin Durant joined the Warriors in the summer of 2016, Curry became a very potent sidekick in many’s eyes. Through it all, the shooting never left, then Durant goes down with a calf injury in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets. The injury to Durant was supposed to spell doom for Golden State, but Curry said not so fast. From that moment, to the completion of a sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers in the conference finals, the son of sharp-shooter Dell Curry went on a tear that quickly reminded people what he’s capable of. After Game 5 of the Rockets series, Curry scored 33 points or more in each game. Suddenly, analysts and bloggers were acting like this was a shock. I guess people forgot how great Curry was before Durant even entered the equation.

While Curry’s road wasn’t exactly easy, it was nothing like the route Leonard took to get to this point. The 15th pick in the 2011 draft (traded from the Indiana Pacers to the San Antonio Spurs on the same day) came into the league know as a great defender, but worked to improve his game in some form every year he’s been in the league. The hard work cumulated in the form of an NBA Finals MVP in 2014, and two Defensive Player of the Year awards in the years that followed. It seemed like the sky’s the limit for Leonard, then came the 2017-’18 season, in which he only played in nine games for the Spurs. There was a lot of controversy in regards to a quadriceps injury Leonard was nursing. The Spurs medical staff cleared him to play, but his team was saying he wasn’t ready to return. Regardless of what happened or what side a person is on, the bottom line is the dispute led to a serious disconnect, and ultimately, a broken relationship that was beyond repair. Leonard would be traded to the Raptors, and what followed him was a reputation (in some’s eyes) of someone who quit on the Spurs. With his new team, Leonard would quickly reminded people how good he is, leading Toronto to a 58-24 regular season record, and the franchise’s first Finals appearance. During the playoffs, Leonard had plenty of scoring outbursts, prompting analysts to ask where is that coming from. Again, how quickly people forgot this man was the best “two-way” player in the league.

Both Curry and Leonard have interesting stories that have seen the highest of highs, and some low points. Everyone who plays sports will experience peaks and valleys, but for those players who have achieved a certain level of greatness, it’s hard to imagine them becoming sorry all of a sudden unless unforeseen circumstances happen. Both of these men never lost their skill, or work ethic. They were just put in situations where their individual excellence was forgotten. For Curry, he sacrificed his own status of being the man for the Warriors to make room for Durant and put titles over personal fame. For Leonard, he didn’t (or at least his team didn’t) think he was healthy enough to play. At any rate, both are back to doing what they do, and doing it at a high level.

For more context, we can’t forget how historically good these two were, and are. Curry, with his shooting ability, has literally changed the way the game is played. Leonard is a rare player who can score with the best, and can also guard all five positions on the court on defense. How quickly people forget how good players were. It’s so bad, people will be the talk of the day one minute, and forgotten about the next. From here forward, Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard should be mentioned in the best player in the world conversation, and what they have done in the playoffs should serve as a reminder. The problem is these names should have never left that conversation in the first place.

Criticism of Greek Freak shows what’s wrong in today’s sports media

One thing I can’t stand about society these days is whenever something goes wrong, the instinct is to find something, or someone, to blame for the reason why it happened. The world of sports isn’t any different. As a matter of fact, players get their feet put to the fire, especially if the team they play for went through a monumental collapse at the moment of truth. We know the drill by now. If a team loses, blame automatically (in most cases) goes to the star player, and this is the reality that faces Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in the wake of what happened in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Even though the majority of the time is spent piling on the negative, I prefer to look at the positive and give credit to where it’s deserved. The Toronto Raptors were great in coming back from a 2-0 series deficit to win four straight and earn a trip to the NBA Finals, where they have a chance to dethrone the Golden State Warriors. The Raptors’ defense, particularly forward Kawhi Leonard, did a great job of forcing Antetokounmpo into jump shots, and making other players, such as guards Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe, into doing things they’re not as comfortable doing. Toronto’s bench, which was a strength during the regular season, had disappeared at times during the playoffs. In the conference finals against the Bucks, those contributions came back to life. If you ask me, this series was more about what the Raptors did right than what Milwaukee did wrong.

Having said all of that, I would be cheating if I didn’t look at both sides of the equation. Toronto was great, but there were times where it looked like the moment was too big for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo actually airballed free throws, and the crowd at Scotiabank Arena wasn’t afraid to let him hear about it. Yes, the Greek Freak wasn’t nearly as dominant against the Raptors as he has been all season and in the first two rounds against the Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics. That much may be true, but to say he was practically a no-show in the latter part of the series is, for the lack of a better word, a lie. Looking at his numbers in the games, they were still decent. In Game 3 (for example), Antetokounmpo had 12 points on 5-16 shooting, but he also had 23 rebounds and seven assists. I bring this game up because the shooting percentage could have definitely been enough for most players to let the rest of their performance slip, but that wasn’t the case with the Greek Freak.

If anyone watched the coverage following Milwaukee’s dismissal, they would have thought Antetokounmpo didn’t do anything in the series at all. I even heard people (mostly from Houston) try to compare these performances to past playoff failures seen from Houston Rockets guard James Harden. I’m here to say those games aren’t even close to being the same. Antetokounmpo didn’t go 2-of-11 shooting with six turnovers in an elimination game, like Harden did in Game 6 of the 2017 Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs (a game the Rockets lost 114-75). The Greek Freak also didn’t have a game like Harden did in Game 5, another elimination game, of the 2015 West finals against the Warriors, where almost had as many turnovers (12) as points (14). All I’m saying is if we’re going to make comparsions, let’s at least be in the same ballpark, and putting Antetokounmpo’s performances side-by-side with Harden’s is nowhere near the same.

I think we can all agree the Greek Freak is an awesome player who can still get better. He’s only 24 years old, and the potential he can reach is downright scary. What the Raptors did was exploit one of the few weaknesses in his game but taking away the easy paint baskets, and that’s the lack of a consistent jump shot. It’s not that Antetokounmpo can’t hit from the outside, it’s just not to the point where teams are going to say they need to get out there before he releases. Just imagine if the Greek Freak does get a consistent mid-range jumper (doesn’t even have to be a three-pointer). If that happens, he becomes almost unguardable, and that might be something the rest of the league is not ready for.

For now, Antetokounmpo is more than pretty good. Keep in mind this is his first time getting this far in the playoffs, Before this season, he hasn’t made it out of the first round. While I don’t think anyone is above criticism, to crush him on his performance is over the top in my eyes. The Greek Freak wasn’t destroying things on the court, but I don’t think he vanished either, and for all of the hot take artists out there, it’s time to be realistic instead of trying to cause click bait. By the way, he’s probably going to win the NBA’s Most Valuable Players award later this month, so I think he’s doing okay.