WHAT'S WRONG WITH A 50-50 SPLIT?
Come on now! You hockey guys are pretty close to making a deal, aren't you? So let's split the revenues down the middle, agree to negotiate the minutia of the CBA in good faith while the games are being played, and start the season already. That way we can concentrate on the Crosby's and Ovechkin's and push Messrs. Fehr and Bettman into a conference room to hammer out the final details. A 50-50 split is a partnership, something the two sides need to establish if there can be any hope of a successful, profitable relationship down the road.
In the meantime, basketball fans are getting ready for what will be a full 82 game schedule after last year's 66 game sprint-to-the-finish in the NBA. The league has tons of cache with the likes of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard joining the Lakers, Linsanity trying his luck in Houston, Lebron and company looking to defend their title, and the Toronto Raptors hoping to win over fans with a new look. I'm going to give coach Dwayne Casey a pass from last year because of the compressed schedule and his inability to evaluate his new team without the benefit of a training camp, even though I skewered him on the air many times because he rode Andrea Bargnani too hard until the big guy broke down. Twice.
This year's edition of the Raptors is fraught with weak spots, but that's also the case with a lot of other teams in the East. At the point, you've got Kyle Lowry and Jose Calderon, with John Lucas III available as well. Not too concerned about that group.. At the shooting guard, I'm worried about Demar DeRozan, who is not a very good shooter, especially from 3 point land. He is the key this year, along with Bargnani, who seems solid at the 4 spot, provided he stays healthy (see left calf problems). Landry Fields is a similar player to DeRozan and is more of a swingman who can drop the occasional 3. Look for him to alternate between the 2 and 3, depending on DeRozan's performance. Up front, Amir Johnson and Ed Davis are similar players and will take time away from each other while Linas Kleiza will get some time at the 3, provided he's healthy (don't get me started) Rookie Jonas Valanciunas will take some pounding in the paint, but looks like a future star. He'll need some back up from Aaron Gray, Jamal Magloire and Amir. Rookie Terrence Ross will need some time to develop as a shooting guard, and will likely be the guy at the very end of the bench. If Casey can get this group to play tough defense, they could win 40 games. If not, they'll be hard pressed to win 30.
I'm afraid this years World Series will be a bit of a dud, just like the Championship series this year. The Yankees were swept by Detroit in a terrible series (but good for Yankee haters). St. Louis really has San Francisco in a tough spot, up 3 games to one with a chance to win the series at home tonight. All that drama from the early part of the playoffs has faded, with pitching becoming the key element. Detroit's starters are so good, we can overlook their shaky bullpen. St. Louis has the experience of last year's World Series run. If the Cards win tonight, I'm going to pick Detroit to win the World Series in six games, with Justin Verlander as the MVP. There. I said it and I feel better now.
Have a great weekend!
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