The World of Sports according to Wex (and other trivial matters)#links

The World of Sports according to Wex (and other trivial matters)#links

I have been away for some time but now intend to get back on track by writing about the Blue Jays and Raptors, 2 teams not going in the same direction. Stay tuned for the news.

US Open 2009

Well, I've been away for a while, but it's time to get back to some writing. The 2009 edition of the U.S. Open gives me much to consider.

Andy Roddick has had a terrific year and has improved his fitness level and his backhand. He has reached heights that i didn't think he would approach, but his failure in the Open is not a shock to me. He is a top 10 player but that's all I'm prepared to concede.

The Williams sisters need a PR guy in their corner. They don't even know how to handle an interview properly. Serena's painted on smile and attempt to win over the viewing crowd by saying nice things about Melanie Oudin is so obvious as to be obnoxious and it is also clear to me, at least, that she is jealous that Oudin is seen as the face of U.S. tennis when Serena is the best female player from the U.S. (and maybe anywhere). The Williams sisters just don't get it, never did and never will. They had the oppotunity to make such a valuable contribution to tennis but failed miserably, lost in their own selfishness.

Novak Djokovic doesn't get his fair due. Not only is he a top 4 player in the world (in my opinion), he is an engaging personality and fabulous athlete who will win major titles in the not too distant future. He could even win this US Open even though he's not at the top of his game yet, but his intelligence and physical skills make him one of the few players I love to watch.

The excitement over Melanie Oudin is not surprising but overstated. She eked out a win against Sharapova when Maria made 60 unforced errors!! How was she even able to be in the match? 60 errors is more than 2 sets all by itself. Petrova has made a career out of losing big matches and Jankovic can't get out of the way of her own whining. Don't get me wrong. Oudin took advantage of the situation by winning when she could, but I'm not sold that she has a long career at the top of the ladder. Expectations will go through the roof based on her recent performance and at 5'5" and no real weapons, I see a career top 20 player of whom all will refer to her performance at the 2009 US Open as the highlight of the career.

Nadal's performance against Montfils last night showed the greatness of the man. He lost the first set in a tiebreaker and then demlolished Montfils by running him ragged. Nadal is the most physical player I have ever seen and he proved without a doubt that he has returned and is ready to resume his rivalry with Federer. That is a good thing since both these guys have contributed greatly to the popularity of men's tennis. They are great ambassadors to the game of tennis and while I am an avid Roger Federer fan, I also respect and root for Nadal (except when he plays RF). I see a Federer/Nadal final and it should be a good one. The Williams sisters should take notes from these two guys.

Federer has been so good throughout the Open that I worry that he will have a letdown before the final. His game has come all the way back and with Nadal not at 100%, presumably, I think Roger gets the edge if they meet in the final.

The fact that Melanie Oudin and Kim Clijsters have succeeded in this tourney shows the problems with the women's game. Too many double faults, too many weak players after the top 5 and too few competitive matches, even at the quarter final round does not bode well for the sport. Now there are rumors that Justine Henin will return ................... and why not? She can likely be top 10 within 3 months and command the kind of money that she can't make outside of the sport. But women's tennis is in trouble and the governing body has to take positive action to boost the responsibilities of the players to "sell" the sport more than they have done in the past. This is where Clijsters excels. She is a top athlete, personable and engaging who brings instant credibility to the game. I'd love to see her win it all (which would be a killer for women's tennis) but don't believe she is ready to get by Serena just yet.

Stay tuned.

U.S. OPEN

The quarter final matchup between Serena Williams and Justine Henin is now complete and if there were any questions as to who is the better player today those questions were emphatically answered by Hennin's destruction of Serena 7-6, 61 last night. As usual, Serena was her sullen self in losing, and the world worst sport when she suggested she made too many errors and Henin made too many lucky shots. Get over yourself Serena. You are a fat horse who needs to get yourself into proper condition if you expect to beat people like Henin. I am not a Henin fan. She abuses the rules (her coach was siignalling when to challenge line calls again last night) and she tries to get into the head of her opponent too many times, but there is no question that her tennis skills are outstanding and she is at least as tough mentally as Serena. Serena's father was at it again last night and had to be removed from bgis courtside seat. The women just can't get it right. They should take a lesson from the men.

The men's side has been terrific and there have been competitive matches since the opening day. Roger has been ......................... Roger. He is the greatest player of all time, a fact being corroborated by Sampras' desire to play exhibitions against him, presumaly in an attempt to disprove Federer's greatness. Forget it Pete. Federer's all round ame far surpasses anything you ever did, and he has been a greater ambassador for the game than you could ever have been. His respect for tennis sets him apart from you. You are lucky that you are an American, since the U.S. press have made you greater than you ever were. Too bad Nadal went out last night, but Ferrer played great and no man is immune from losing to anyone in the top 25. Tonight Roddick will seek revenge against Federer, but I'd be surprised if the match is very close. Roger has too much game for Roddicks one dimensional serve. His serve will keep it close for a while, but 4 sets would be an accomplishment for Roddick.

Women's tennis

Well, the Rogers Cup has just finished in Toronto and notwitstanding the best efforts of Venus, Serena and Maria to shaft the event, it came off with a degree of success and a wonderful final with the title going to Justine Henin. I have been a critic of Henin since she pulled out of the Australian final a couple of years ago, and she came close to pulling out of this one as well with a sore shoulder. But, to her credit, she gave a gutsy performance throughout the tournament and was full credit for the championship.

The women's tour has to act fast.

Make the players play a mandatory schedule of 10 tournaments a year, with the players setting out which tournaments they will play at the start of each year.

If a player has to withdraw from a tourmanent because of injury, they must not play any tournaments or exhibitions for a period of 21 days.

Failure to play in a tournament previously designated as one which they would play results in a 90 day suspension of their right to play in any tournament.

Failure to play the required tournaments results in a "no ranking" status.

After the U.S. Open, a tourmanent of champions is held for the best players throughout the year, followed by a 3 month "off season" for all players.

All woman must attend promotonal events at tournaments as designated by the tournament director.

Since the women can't seem to get it right, it's time to mandate what they must do. The failure to act in this fashion could kill women's tennis. It is on its death bed now.

Woman's tennis = scumbugs

The women are at it again - digging their grave a little deeper with the upcoming Rogers Cup in Toronto. With a field supposedly having the best players in the world (with most confirming), the withdrawals have begun. Mauresmo first and today venus Williams. No surprise there.

Venus Williams is too stupid to understand her role in the promotion of tennis. She is a great "taker" from the game but refuses to give back by appearing at as many tournaments as possible and selling the game when needed. I would have bet everything I had that she would not appear and I'm sure the list of withdrawals is just beginning to swell. Too bad for the tennis fans in Toronto, who should know better than to support women's tennis when the women themselves don't support it. The WTA seems to be toothless when dealing with their players and the women need a body with real strength because they don't have any idea of the damage they have caused to the sport. I have said it on many occasions - the Williams sisters are the most talented women ever to play tennis - and they have done the most damage to the sport. Perhaps barring them from the next "major" would be an appropriate punishment.

The men, on the other hand, continue to put on an impressive show in Montreal where most of the top players did appear and the matches have been very competitive (unlike the women who rarely have a match worth watching, unless you enjoy seeing finals end up 6-1, 6-2.) the men are bolstered by the fact that Federer and Nadal and Roddick understand the importance of showing up and selling tennis to the fans. Roger is the greatest of all time (I have said that in this Blog for 3 years) yet he continues to show up and play almost everywhere as well as provide interviews etc. He is a tremendous ambassador for the game, with class that few women have demonstrated.

I take take away equal money for the women. Pay them according to the walk up gate and let the players police those idiots who pick and choose when they want to play.

I hope Venus loses in the first round in the U.S. Open.

MAPLE LEAF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

There is a revolution going on in Toronto and most of the inhabitants are unaware of it. It's the changing of the guard from the old (Toronto Maple Leaf hockey club) to the new (Toronto Raptor basketball team).

Don't get me wrong. Toronto is still a "Leaf" town and will be for some time, but I see a day, perhaps 20 years down the line when allegiances will be shifted, and much of that has to do with the way the teams are being marketed today. Forget that basketball is a far more popular sport worldwide and that most countries around the world have basketball teams.

To get a ticket for a Maple Leaf game in Toronto costs hundreds of dollars, and since most of the tickets are owned by "corporate accounts", you have to be either rich or in contact with those who have tickets. There are thousand of young people in Toronto under the agre of 18 who have never been to, nor will ever get to go to an NHL hockey game because it is just too expensive.

On the other hand, basketball is being played at every elementary, and high school, as well as most playgrounds, and playoff tickets for this year's series against the Nets could be had for less than $75.00 per ticket. There are few teenagers in the city who wish to go to a game who are precluded as a result of the price of the tickets and the overall availability of them. The significance of such details is that in 20 years time, you will have a new generation of sports fans who will have attended basketball games in Toronto, and, as a result of not being able to attend a Leaf game (let's ignore the fact that the team in not competitive) will be diehard Raptors fans, with a memory of the history of this franchise. Assuming this team can continue to have the kind of success it has had this year, I predict that the Leafs may be the ugly duckling in the city by the year 2030. That's a long time away and guys who are running MLSE will be long gone by then and likely don't give a damn right now, but their successors will be hard pressed to duplicate the financial success as a result of the poor marketing of this team.

Go Raptors Go!!!

Goodbye College Basketball

Another season of college basketball is behind us and it was, as usual, exciting. Florida won for the 2nd year in a row (no surprise) and Greg Oden proved he will be a great player for a long time and likely will make some NBA team a contender in a very short time. Don't believe the hype. He won't stay in school and I'd be shocked if Durant doesn't join him in the 2007 NBA draft. Neither of these guys has anything to prove at the college level, and rather than risk injury, they will ply their trade for pay in 2007/2008. There will be a slew of underclassmen who will join this group and this years's draft will be one of the deepest of all time. Some mock drafts have Glen Davis going late in the 2nd round, which gives you and idea as to how strong the talent is.

The Raptors, coming off their best season in years need help in the rebounding department, and Davis would be a perfect fit. He could be the modern day Charles Barkley, both on and off the court. For all the hype, I'm not convinced Joakim Noah will be anything but an average pro and I don't think Josh McRoberts will reach that level. Noah is a good leader, but I am hard pressed to see what skill level he brings at an NBA level, although he appears to be a good passer and runs the floor well for a big man. He is not strong enough to play the 4 or 5 and doesn't have the offensive repertoire to play the 3. Perhaps there is more development to his game to come, but I would stay away from him if I had a lottery pick.

I love Oden, Conley, Durant, Horford and Brewer and think all 5 will be solid, if not great, NBA players. Conversely, I'm not excited about Aflalo, McRoberts, Noah, Jeff Green or Aaron Gray. I can't comment on the Euros because I haven't seen them play except on tape.

So good bye to the college game and looking forward to next year already.

2003 Draft

A lot has been written about who would be chosen from the 2003 draft if it were reheld today.

I, for one, would still draft Lebron James over, Wade, Bosh and (ahem) Darko. Leaving Darko out of the mix, because it is clear that drafting him at #2 was a mistake, let's examine the other players.

My prior posts have paid homage to the fact that I think Wade may be the best player in the league and I still believe there is truth to that belief. However, his reckless play on a 6'4" body leads me to believe that his career will not be that long. It will be great while he plays at such a high level, but I suspect that within 3 years, he will be the Grant Hill of the NBA.

I have a bias to Chris Bosh who should play at a high level for many years and will likely lead the Raptors to the playoffs (and maybe further) for a long time. But Bosh isn't yet the go to guy that someone like Lebron james is - someone who can score regardless who is on him and can beat you in many ways. Bosh will rely on supporting parts and will be great at it as well as being the ultimate team player and leader. I would have taken him 2nd in this new draft.

Lebron is still the man and while he has been disappointing in many ways, he will play for a long time and will lead the Cavs to success. he cannot be defended when he goes to the basket and creates all kinds of mismatches on the court. Too strong for most, he is too fast for those who are nearly as strong. he still has a long way to go before he is the force that we all felt he would be, but heck, he is only 22. I don't see injuries curtailing his career.

So, in the end, I take Lebron again.

Mark Cuban v. Dwayne Wade

You have to love Mark Cuban. What other NBA owner (or any other pro team owner, for that matter) would come to the defence of his star player Dirk Nowitzki. For those who missed it, Dwayne Wade accused Dirk of being the reason the Mavs lost to the Heat in last year's NBA final due to his inability to come through in the clutch. Cuban responded on his web pages by questioning Wades leadership ability and defended Dirk's leadership skills. Both guys were wrong, but what the hell - it made for great press.

Nowitski didn't have the best series but Wade was terrific and in a short series, he has shown an ability to be the kind of player who can carry a team on his back. The fact tha6 he had help didn't hurt and some questionable officiating also led to the manner in which the final result was obtained. Cuban alluded, indirectly, to these "uncommon elements". Wade should have kept his mouth shut. He is a great player, one whom I called the best in the NBA last year, and he generally exudes "class" both on and off the court. My take is that he is not very "media savy" and may have let bis thoughts get away from him. An apology might have been the best thing to do IF it was done immediately, but now it's a tad late.

Cuban was right to defend Dirk, but to take personal shots at Wade, one of the top drawing cards in the NBA was trivial and consistent with the playground attitude that Cuban has shown during his tenure as owner. It's ok to say that Dirk is a great leader, shown by the fact he carried that team to the NBA finals, but to start questioning Wades ability to lead doesn't quite cut it, particularly when Wade sports a championship ring these days. But I love the controversy. Even the Fan590 in Toronto spoke of it Monday morning and that morning show talks hockey, hockey, hockey, even in the middle of July with the Jays in the running, Wimbledon playing, and NFL teams at training camp.

So Cuban got what the NHL can't - exposure!