Hello, everybody! Sorry that this is a little late, but if you haven’t seen it yet, my show Views From The II is off to a great start! My latest guest co-host, Chuk Okafor, chimes in with yours truly and dishes out some solid sports commentary on the latest news from college football, the NBA and the NFL. Plus, the thing that you love, you need and, quite frankly, you have to watch: Bye Felicia! Check it out!
Views From The II – Episode 2
Hello, everyone! Another episode of Views From The II, with my special guest Karlo Graziano. We talk San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Lakers and more Bye Felicia! Check it out!
The Debut of the Views…
At long last! Here’s a look into my debut video show, Views From The II, with fellow hosts Akeem and Wes, produced by George Ochola. This is a triple threat special, as three talking heads will approach both sides of some big sports debates! Don’t forget to subscribe to the Views, as more shows are on the horizon!
Two views. One goal. No holding back!
Durant another example of “titles define legacies” trend clouding NBA superstars’ careers
LeBron James, arguably the greatest basketball player in the world, brought a championship home to Cleveland this year with a memorable NBA Finals comeback. Kyrie Irving, the rocket fuel behind the Cleveland Cavaliers’ championship engine, emerged as a breakout star with numerous spectacular Finals performances.
Kevin Love, a double-double machine in his days with the Minnesota Timberwolves, well, got himself a ring. Having being brought to Cleveland to be a major cog in the Cavaliers’ championship run, he was all of 8.5 points per game and a game off the bench in the Finals, not the superstar that he was promoted to be when he was traded to Cleveland. The cycle of media-driven standards for the league’s major studs to be defined by the number of team championships won has become a form of mind control on the brains of today’s talents. One of those under such hypnosis is Kevin Durant, who has succumbed to the pressures of no rings and all scrutiny. Making his decision to walk away from Oklahoma City and his greatest ally, Russell Westbrook, for the team that ended his season, the Golden State Warriors, Durant, despite his amazing statistics over what should a Hall of Fame career, has become a statistic. He’s just another guy chasing a championship and is no longer the guy demanding one.
Too many people staring from the outside of sports don’t understand just how difficult and precious it is to get to a championship game or series. Losing the big game seems to diminish the road to getting there. When we all think about the Buffalo Bills in the early 90s, we’re constantly reminded in media chat about their four consecutive Super Bowl losses, and led to forget about the greatness displayed in four straight AFC Championships. Even James, who reached his sixth consecutive NBA Finals series this past June, was barely acknowledged for such an historic streak, mainly because the “Chosen One” is supposed to simply be measured by winning championships, not competing for one. This amplified popularity contest powered by tabloids, columnists and marketing maniacs has made for must-see TV every championship opportunity, but it has done nothing to define the goals and ideals of these individuals. Everybody wants to win a championship, indeed. But at what they’re willing to sacrifice for the judgmental media and marketing community? I think that’s ballyhoo circulated to an all-time high.
Some of the greatest competitors in sports never won titles, and they’re royalty. Take Dan Marino, for example. He’s easily regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the sport. Nine-time Pro Bowler. Former league MVP. Five-time passing yards leader from the regular season. A man who led his Dolphins lineup to a Super Bowl appearance in only his second year of professional football. Marino was a guy that future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning idolized, and continues to admire to this day. His legacy was set on his arm and his ability to command his teammates to be great. You win some, you lose some. Some players may never get there, and no greater contradiction can be emphasized from the public eye than Marino and … definitely these individuals I’d love to mention who emphasized championship play most years they were together.
Karl Malone and John Stockton were a gratifying yin and yang in the NBA for 19 years. They have two Finals appearances as a dynamic duo—one more than Westbrook and Durant—and have never been tarnished by their losses in such series. Sure, they lost to the legendary Michael Jordan and the dominant Bulls twice in a row in the late 90s, but those Bulls were something else. The Bulls were on a throne of greatness that wasn’t close to be challenged. The bottom line is that Malone and Stockton did some things just as great: put the Utah Jazz on the map, place money in the pockets of countless franchise employees and boost an economy in a state that wasn’t used to basketball money.
Durant, along with Westbrook, did those things for the state of Oklahoma. However, the difference is that Malone and Stockton made the Jazz their careers. Durant didn’t want to make Oklahoma City his career. That’s fine, but the reasoning is atypical to today’s pop culture: get the fame now, accept the consequences later. Franchises used to be built and preserved on the blood, sweat and tears of particular legends. Nowadays, franchises are morphed and restructured on a dime (and millions of dollars), as superstars have become more business partners than basketball players. There’s nothing wrong with craving a championship, but there can be something wrong with a superstar’s road to a championship.
Durant is great, indeed, and could go down as one of the best ever. But a view of greatness can get foggy when it’s shrouded in more greatness. That fog consists of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. If (and likely when) the Golden State Warriors win the NBA championship again next season, Durant would surely be a big reason in that extra made shot, that extra rebound, that extra offensive efficiency getting this team over the Finals rival Cavaliers. However, despite being a big reason for making an outstanding Warriors team even better, how can we look beyond what he was getting there? James, who also jumped ship for a smoother championship road, led the Cavaliers to a title after being a great player on a Dwyane Wade-led Miami Heat squad that won two titles in the “Big Three” era with Chris Bosh. Tim Duncan led the San Antonio Spurs to several titles. Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to their first championship. Kevin Durant? He’s helping a team that’s not his. No debate about Curry being the head honcho at Oracle. When the Warriors win, he gets the ultimate glory. Durant will get the acclaim, but Curry is on a different pedestal because he earned that prestige, much like Durant earned his coming up in Oklahoma City.
I can easily understand Durant joining the Warriors in order to learn about what a championship team is made of, but he did enough on his own (and with Westbrook) to understand that himself. James was a two-time Finals MVP with the Heat, but Wade was the catalyst of making the championship rampage even possible. Heat fans would always relate Wade to being the heartbeat of the team more than James. Durant was the heartbeat of the Thunder, despite the heroics and undeniable abilities that Westbrook brought every night while they were that dynamic duo.
The media does a great job of individualizing team sports. The culture of team sports has always been collectivistic, but media outlets won’t promote that in graphics. Franchises live and die on the measures of success and championships. The competitors that work hard for that success don’t need to be judged by the same criteria. Durant can raise the O’Brien trophy as many times as possible with the Curry-led Warriors, but his legacy won’t move an inch. He bought into the demands of those who are too blinded by trophies to see that glory comes in more ways than one. Winning one as the man is a lot different than winning one as a man. Robert Horry won six NBA championships. Think about it, people.
B.C.’s Heisman Watch: My Top Five Contenders – Week 11
There are a number of things that are taken into account when selecting Heisman candidates: breakout games, dominance, consistency, and how much he’s accounted for the team success. My list has players that demonstrate all of those traits, which is the reasoning behind what will be a quite shocking turn of events after an equally surprising shake-up from last weekend’s slate of games. A few major losses and a couple of startling decisions have shifted the College Football Rankings in a considerable way. As the rankings move around, so do my top five Heisman picks, as one change won’t affect my outlook towards this player, while another change is well deserved, and I’ll explain why for both. Here’s my list of Heisman candidates for the Heisman Trophy (brace yourself):
5. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma.
This first surprise of my list comes with quite a boom (Boomer Sooner, that is)! The 6’2” junior has been spectacular for the most part this season, throwing for at least three touchdowns in eight of nine games. His No. 12-ranked Sooners have one blemish on their record this year—a 24-17 upset at Texas—but Mayfield had a solid 20-of-28, 211-yard outing with one touchdown pass in the loss. Beyond that, he has decimated defenses with major throws and major scores, his best coming at Kansas State last month (20-of-27, 282 yards, five touchdowns, no picks). Mayfield’s strongest game may have statistically been his worst, as he led a 17-point comeback for an Oklahoma win at Tennessee, despite completing only 48 percent of his passes and throwing two interceptions (he also threw three touchdown passes and ran for another). With nothing but ranked teams left on the regular season slate (No. 6 Baylor, No. 15 TCU, No. 8 Oklahoma State), Mayfield has a lot more ground he could cover in his candidacy for the Heisman.
4. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor.
There’s no end zone that this man can’t find. Coleman was on the cusp of losing Heisman heat before a couple of discouraging performances by other candidates and a monstrous game of his own not only saved his spot, but also elevated his status. Despite losing Seth Russell for the season, Coleman was able to pick up where he left off with his best game of the season, catching 11 passes for 216 yards and two touchdowns from the arm of true freshman quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who made his first career start. Coleman is now eight touchdown catches from setting a FBS record. It will be a tough road (next three games: vs. No. 12 Oklahoma, at No. 8 Oklahoma State, at No. 15 TCU) to get there, but there’s no shadow of a doubt that more outstanding outings will only strengthen this stud receiver’s chances at hoisting the big trophy.
3. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama.
My top-five list has been a revolving door for Henry, who may just stay here after decimating a tough LSU defense for 210 yards on 38 carries, with three touchdowns to boot, in a decisive 30-16 ‘Bama win over the Tigers. Henry’s scoring streak has hit 14 games, and after being left out of last week’s list, he is definitely in the mix for surpassing the two men before him for the Heisman, as his performance has pushed the Crimson Tide to No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings. His next opponent, No. 17 Mississippi State, held him to 36 yards last year. Henry’s statement game was against LSU, but his masterpiece could come on the Bulldogs’ field Saturday. Leonard Fournette, in my opinion, is still the best back in football, but Henry is making the bigger impact for a team that is surely and strongly in contention for a national title.
2. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson.
While the Tigers have clawed their way in the national title picture, so has Watson in the Heisman race, going from a random prospect to a sleeper favorite. Clemson wouldn’t be No. 1 in the College Football Playoff ranks without his versatility and tremendous playmaking, as evidenced in his 297 yards in the air and 107 yards on the ground in his team’s 23-13 win against Florida State. Watson hasn’t thrown a pick in three straight games, and those games have also seen him thrown seven touchdown passes and scramble for at least 54 yards. It’s a Cinderella rise for this talented quarterback, who wasn’t able to showcase his abilities for a full season due to injuries (culminated with a torn ACL). He has only one hurdle to overcome on his way to this award, but games at Syracuse, vs. Wake Forest and at South Carolina can pad a resume that could turn more voters his way.
1. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State.
He’s no Fournette, but he doesn’t need to be. Elliott stirs the drink for No. 3-ranked Ohio State, who has gone through a back-and-forth quarterback drama between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones, as the former was suspended for a DUI charge over the weekend of the team’s bye week. He certainly improved upon his 2014 numbers at Minnesota last year by rumbling for 114 yards on 26 carries with a touchdown this past weekend. Elliott has a 14-game streak of 100-plus rush yards, and that’s sure to continue Saturday at Illinois. He is the difference between Ohio State being in the College Football Playoffs and it being in just a bowl game.
Missing: Leonard Fournette (No. 1 last week) and Trevone Boykin (No. 2 last week).
Don’t be too shocked, folks. Fournette was riding just about the highest of any player in the nation before entering Tuscaloosa, being held to a paltry 31 yards on 19 carries. Yes, Alabama had the nation’s top run defense, but Heisman contenders shine in losses as well, something that Fournette didn’t do. Meanwhile, Boykin was simply awful at Oklahoma State, tossing four interceptions in a dismal 49-29 loss in Stillwater. One can’t play that bad and remain relevant in the Heisman voting, while others are making marks elsewhere.
B.C.’s Heisman Watch: My Top Five Contenders — Week 10
When it comes to the 2015 Heisman race, Week 9 presented an upsurge for the quarterback, as two signal-callers had statement games to considerably improve their candidacies for this award. With bye weeks sidelining four other candidates, the nation got to see two tremendous performances change the landscape in this chase for the Heisman, and college football fans abound witnessed the season debut of the College Football Playoff rankings, which shakes things up even more. Here’s my list of five candidates for the Heisman, entering Week 10, and with consideration towards the College Football Playoff rankings:
5. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor.
Coleman’s bye week did nothing to hurt or help his Heisman stock. His huge season can’t be discredited due to Seth Russell’s unfortunate season-ending neck injury; he still remains one of the country’s elite receivers, needing ten touchdown catches to break Troy Edwards’ season mark of 27 from 1998. If he can put on an impressive display at Kansas State Thursday night post-Russell, he could sway me into moving him up a slot.
4. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson.
Watson is the lone addition to this list, as Alabama’s Derrick Henry was removed completely from the list after placing at No. 4. Watson had arguably his best game of the season, throwing for five touchdowns and no interceptions, while completing 76 percent of his passes and rushing for 54 yards and a score in a 56-41 shootout win at North Carolina State on Halloween. Watson doesn’t have overall daunting numbers (1,936 pass yards, 20 touchdowns, seven interceptions), but he’s the focal point of a championship-level offense and the leader of the current No. 1 seed in this year’s College Football Playoff.
3. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State.
Unlike Coleman, this bye week did no favors for Elliott, who moved down a spot due to a certain quarterback’s dominant game last week. However, the 225-pound stud has the opportunity to give Buckeye fans a reason not to worry about the quarterback controversy between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones by handling visiting Minnesota this Saturday. Elliott rushed for 91 yards with no touchdowns at Minnesota last year, so more’s expected of him to gain traction in the Heisman race.
2. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU.
Currently rated as a 6th or 7th-round pick in next year’s draft, Boykin continues to throw shade on analysts who believe he’s a preseason roster cut, recording his sixth straight 300-plus-yard passing game, throwing for 388 and three touchdowns, while scrambling for 84 more yards and a touchdown in a 40-10 rout of West Virginia. While his TCU team has been slighted in the College Football Playoff ranks with a No. 8 spot, Boykin has kept on ascending to greater heights behind center, throwing for at least three touchdowns and no interceptions in four games this year—and he has more time to pad his Heisman resume Saturday at Oklahoma State. With the preemptive favorite playing a tough top-10 team Saturday, a good Boykin performance could close the gap for No. 1.
1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU.
No game, no foul. Fournette is the college game’s premier player and has the closest reach to that Heisman trophy. He still leads the nation in rushing yards, and can do more damage against the Heisman competition with a good game against fellow National College Football playoff contender and SEC rival Alabama.
B.C.’s Heisman Watch: My Top Five Contenders
It’s hard to argue that football is pass-happy and option-crazy, filled with quarterbacks that can throw for 300 and run for 100 every game. Receivers are now expected to get multiple catches for 100-plus yards on a regular basis, while running backs have been reduced to down-to-down, situational commodities. However, in this college football season, we’ve been taken back in time to remember the days of rushers that simply run through the competition, one handoff at a time. Three of them will surely have their names called on the first day of the NFL Draft, as they have dazzled all year with spectacular play after spectacular play. The age of the running back is as strong as ever during this college football season, as these three backs are in strong contention for this prestigious honor. Here are my top five candidates for the 2015 Heisman Trophy Award, ranking from fifth to first:
5. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor.
The 5’11”, 190-pound wideout has an eye-popping 18 touchdown catches (leads FBS) in just seven games so far this year. He had his first game under 100 receiving yards last week vs Iowa State, losing his quarterback Seth Russell to a season-ending neck injury. It’ll be interesting to see how Coleman fares in Heisman contention without Russell, and three consecutive statement games (vs. Oklahoma, at Oklahoma State, at TCU) on the horizon.
4. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama.
Already with 180 carries this season (172 all of 2014), the backbone of the Crimson Tide offense has been making the most of his touches, despite defenses loading the boxes to force the average Jake Coker to beat them with his arm. His 236-yard, two-touchdown outburst at Texas A&M is clearly the highlight of his season, but he has four other 100-yard games to boot. With four games this year scoring multiple touchdowns on his resume, Henry will need to keep punishing defenses on the ground to keep one-loss Alabama in the College Football Playoff race, which will push his Heisman candidacy even higher.
3. Trevone Boykin, QB, TCU.
With Seth Russell out for the season, Boykin is the current active leader in passer rating amongst FBS quarterbacks this season with 180.7. The senior has been nothing short of amazing through seven games, throwing 25 touchdown passes to just five picks. Games at Oklahoma State, at Oklahoma and at home against Baylor will be make-or-break (Heisman-wise) for Boykin, who certainly has to be eliminating some doubts on the pro level for several NFL scouts.
2. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State.
The gap between this back and my No. 1 choice for the Heisman is very small, as Elliott could make a case for a dual honor. Elliott has been a handful this season, bouldering for at 100-plus yards per game and registering a 6.8-yard-per-carry average. He’s the difference between the Buckeyes being repeat National Champions or just being a very good team that meddles with the rest of the contenders.
1. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU.
No need to watch any more film of Adrian Peterson from his Oklahoma days, because Fournette has been the closest resemblance to Peterson since he went to the NFL. The 230-pound sophomore is the best running back in the country, and he could be the best player in the nation, topping 200 yards in three straight games this season—despite battling defenses stacking the box to stop him. He has his toughest test yet in Tuscaloosa against Alabama on Saturday, and another strong effort (and win) against the Crimson Tide could already convince voters to hand him the Heisman when he leaves the stadium.
Stephen A. Smith’s defensive rant towards Durant offensive to journalism
I was watching “Carlito’s Way,” a classic gangster movie, several weeks ago and took note of a plot-shifting scene between Al Pacino’s and Sean Penn’s characters. Pacino played Carlito Brigante, a former gangster out of prison trying to go straight, while Penn played David Kleinfeld, his lawyer. Kleinfeld murdered a mob boss and his son after promising to aid in the boss’ escape from prison, with Carlito only observing the betrayal and carnage.
Carlito then approached Kleinfeld and demanded that he admit he ripped off the mob boss, who was one of his clients. Kleinfeld admitted it, and Carlito gave him a short, real-talk speech: “You’re not a lawyer no more, David. You’re a gangster now. Whole new ball game. You can’t learn about it in school. And you can’t have a late start.”
The correlation of this scene to the topic at hand is a strong one, as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith shifted completely away from the role that got him to his current status, and into a role that is counteracting the very significance of the reputation he was most lauded for. Defending the credibility of his reporting in a rant against impending free agent Kevin Durant, who called him a liar amidst his report regarding Durant’s free agency plans, Smith spoke rather openly and, in some ways, out of insecurity. From the perspective of viewership of his co-hosted show “First Take” with fellow critic Skip Bayless, his words were tart and unyielding. However, his journalistic makeup unraveled before us all, as his defense went from intense to unsettling, from his mantra as top-shelf ESPN reporter to ego-driven celebrity commentator, from our curiosity about how Smith develops his stories to our disappointment in realizing now that Smith is about being the story and not about reporting it. You’re not a reporter anymore, Stephen A. You’re an entertainer now.
As unpopular as it seems from a media standpoint, Durant was reasonably predictable in denying any rumors pertaining to him already considering signing with the Los Angeles Lakers next summer, due to still being a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Smith would be foolish to think that Durant would back up his report, true or not, and cause public turmoil within the organization. It only makes sense that Smith would cite unnamed sources “close to the situation” as the base of his reporting, which is a general method for countless reports in countless junctures. However, even as a 20-plus-year veteran in the journalism field – as he so boastfully reminds us every time – he showed a lack of journalistic prowess in his comments that followed, stating publicly that “I don’t need to talk to you to write about you.”
In the classic media sense, that is an epic no-no. The average reader of news typically expects direct sources to back up stories. Sure, we almost more than naught find our information through various outlets, but we don’t toot our horns about it. Smith’s braggadocious language suggested that he as a reporter will always be bigger than his sources, which is a complete tale-can-wag-the-dog theory. Breaking news, Stephen A.: Durant doesn’t need to talk to YOU. His associates and friends don’t need to talk to YOU. They have what you want, and that’s information; he can hold it against you at his own will.
Durant did have an anti-media tirade during the NBA All-Star Weekend earlier this year, saying some things that – I believe – were both damaging and truthful in some senses. There are some reporters that act like they know more than the source they’re covering, but Durant was wrong to assume all reporters and writers fall into that category of smart-ass. Smith, unfortunately, is leaning into that category, yet not completely. He’s a very accomplished reporter and television personality who has had his high points, but has also had low points. One of those low points involved his stance on the Ray Rice domestic violence case, for which he advised us all to acknowledge that women are often not held accountable to their actions that lead to such ugly incidents. While not condoning any women being hit by men, he already put a foot right to his mouth, speaking without filter in a politically-correct environment. He can represent himself all day, but he also speaks on an ESPN platform, which was the likely cause for his one-week suspension as a result of his words.
There’s no substitute for experience, but with success can come hubris. Smith’s experiencing that right now, as evidenced in his critical reaction to a very common situation for reporters. Initially, Smith’s report about Durant’s free agency plans was meant to bring attention to the future of this scoring machine, but Smith’s willingness to engage every conflict or spectacle in his direction, particularly this one, took that attention away from where it deserved to be and placed on it an undeserving subject: himself. Journalists have a responsibility to their community as a teller of events first and everything else second. Smith didn’t show such form in his obvious sensitive approach towards this situation and created an identity crisis from the eyes of the journalists out there that admire his work. Smith questioned Durant’s credibility, honesty and integrity in his response, but we must question the same out of him as a reporter. What is Smith presenting to us: the genius of his reporting or the power of his celebrity? There’s a fine line between the two, and that line is blurred from the eyes of this individual.
Bayless’ position is quite clear: he’s on television to draw ratings and psycho-analyze sports’ biggest moments and people. He’s no reporter anymore by any means. Smith, meanwhile, continues to toe the line between reporter and critic while disregarding the differences between the two realms. For the sake of his reputation, he has to choose one – much like Bayless did years ago. He can’t cover a story and be one at the same time; it’s professional blasphemy and journalistic skullduggery. And most of all, he must realize that the battles he fights with these sources over credibility is a war that he loses almost every time, especially when he fights back by literally striking back with threats such as “You don’t wanna make an enemy out of me.”
The last time I checked, we reported and written things with keyboards, not boxing gloves. Smith is being the very thing he vehemently opposes: personalities who think they can say whatever to whomever because of their stature. With media and sponsors breathing down his neck every second, it’s harder for Durant to have thick skin, but I’m certain he tries hard to maintain that level of tolerance. Smith’s reputation as a reasonable media member is based on how well he can manage his emotions under such scrutiny. A reporter/source relationship is a consumer-centric one; the source holds the key to a reporter’s practice being executed. Sources don’t need reporters as much as vice versa. From a plural standpoint, the world needs media, but it doesn’t need Stephen A. Smith every waking second. Any reporter can be refused. That includes Mr. Smith.
Smith entered this situation very rationally and professionally, reporting what he’s learned about Durant and bringing intrigue to an already-fascinating chain of events involving this heralded superstar. He came out of this situation a completely different person and from a completely different position. He became emotional within the confines of a professional situation that doesn’t lend consideration to his feelings. Smith became the thing he covers, and this “First Take” is all that we can see now. He’s a personality, an entertainer that is making things harder for journalism graduates like me to believe in him as a consistent professional in the field that we love so much. Smith may not want enemies, but his celebrity – not his journalistic background – will draw those enemies. Durant and others may not want to make an enemy out of him, but they certainly reserve the right to no longer make a dependable reporter and media member out of him, either. Like Smith tells those who challenge his very professionalism: Get over it, because you do no favors to your reputation by doing the same.
ESPN lacks true courage with decision to award Caitlyn Jenner
When I reviewed the criteria of the ESPYs’ Arthur Ashe Courage Award, I assumed that the deserving winner has made contributions that transcend sports. These winners inspire through perseverance and rise above struggles. Amputee and Army veteran Noah Galloway had such hurdles. The late Lauren Hill battled with her back against the proverbial, cancerous wall. Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly rose to the occasion when cancer made its way into his life…twice.
Meanwhile, Bruce Jenner, despite being a proud representative of the country as an Olympic gold medalist in 1976, has done his part by playing a part of a woman. In an age where lesbian and gay acceptance in society has hit an all-time high, there are plenty of “Caitlyn Jenner” stories that go unnoticed in the public eye. Jenner’s story isn’t about perseverance, but more about self-revelation. It did take courage for Jenner to make such a drastic change in his life, but it didn’t set any tone for anyone to be inspired, particularly because that tone has already been set. True courage is measured by how much encouragement follows, not how publicity it garners. ESPN may award courage to Bruce Jenner, but it shows cowardice in acknowledging even greater stories, even bigger obstacles, and even better candidates.
ESPN has arguably been the poster child for sports coverage for decades. Its place in the history of television is epic, but like many historic franchises in media history, it’s displayed its share of both famous and infamous moments over the course of time. We can go on forever about those categories, but this specific moment, placing an undeserving, reality show-driven, publicity-monger on a pedestal that includes renowned college basketball coach Jim Valvano and legendary civil rights activist Nelson Mandela, is one that many will refuse to get over. Jenner may appear to be an object of adoration today, but he’s been a subject of controversy for an even longer period of time.
There’s no doubt that being married into the circus atmosphere of the Kardashian family provides enough drama (good and bad) for anyone to handle, but can we all remember the fatal car crash in Malibu, CA earlier this year that Jenner was able to walk away from, both physically and reputation-wise? This tragedy, which killed one and injured others due to Jenner’s failure to observe the road consistently, is a public relations nightmare for both Jenner’s team and the ESPN public relations department that has to defend our newly-crowned Arthur Ashe Courage Award winner, but the prestigious network seems to overlook that, especially considering that Jenner dealt sibling channel ABC plenty of heavy ratings in April 2015. I doubt there’s any coincidence that Jenner got his “just deserts” by receiving such an award by ESPN in the aftermath of his interview with 20/20’s Diane Sawyer, as he revealed his transgender dreams and aspirations to the world. Call it whatever you want, but it can certainly deserve a rash of scrutiny and backlash from anyone who realizes what true adversity is, what pure courage is, and when the fix is in.
If any man has a hidden desire to be a woman, he doesn’t really need to look to Caitlyn Jenner for inspiration. The LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community hasn’t been hiding anywhere over the past decade, representing about 4 percent of the country’s population, with a considerable amount in that category being transgender. As a homegrown Californian, I can barely travel a block in an area like West Hollywood before seeing gay and lesbian individuals (not to mention drag queens) proudly walking the streets. At my alma mater of California State University, Long Beach, there is a specific graduation ceremony for LGBT individuals. If you ask me, the courage has been there for transgender people to go public. They don’t need to watch a reality show or follow Jenner’s Twitter account to summon any bravery to come forth with such a revelation.
ESPN wasn’t thinking of Arthur Ashe and the previous winners that demonstrated inner strength and positive influence. Instead, it took the easy way out, weaseling into a ratings-filled bonanza by prostituting Jenner’s gender and identity struggles through one big, “heartfelt” presentation. Its excuse for such a troubling decision? ESPY Awards producer Maura Mandt stated the obvious by saying that Jenner is “one of the greatest athletes of our time,” while adding, “One of the biggest platforms the Arthur Ashe Foundation has is educational, and I think in this choice we have the opportunity to educate people about this issue and hopefully change and possibly save some lives. I think that is why it was the right choice.”
The key term is educational, but what is Caitlyn Jenner exactly teaching here? He had the platform to reveal his true nature to the world because of the celebrity that follows it. The average Joe doesn’t possess the cameras or fame to ease him into a transgender lifestyle. That person doesn’t have the guarantee of a reality show based on his life-altering change to further explain his story. The learning lesson is lost on many minds because of the lack of credentials behind the teaching experience.
Someone like Hill, who died of brain cancer this past April, teaches the world that life is precious and courage is a coveted trait. Hill, who played basketball for Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, OH, desired to play the game she loved, despite her terminal illness. She played in four games, but won the hearts of millions across the world. She could’ve fought her cancer alone, but chose to show many who could identify with her that heart is a talent that should never be compromised. Through Hill’s influence and effort, she was able to raise $1 million for pediatric cancer research, while earning both scholarly and athletic honors. That is what Arthur Ashe, a legendary tennis player who educated awareness of HIV and AIDS before his AIDS-related death in 1993, was about.
One could also look to Galloway, a double amputee who served in the Army for five years, for a life lesson that life isn’t about how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up after being knocked down. After years of service that culminated in duty in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom), he became a personal trainer and motivational speaker, guiding others both physically and emotionally. Having lost his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee in a bomb attack, Galloway had leeway to exempt himself for the normalcies of society. Instead, his message was simple: No excuses. Noah Galloway would’ve proudly been a fine addition to the hall of Arthur Ashe Courage Award recipients.
Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly, who fought cancer twice and MRSA once in a span of nearly a year and a half, is mainly recognized for his achievements on the gridiron. However, not much national attention is paid towards a foundation that he and his wife Jill founded in 1997 as a result of the death of their son Hunter James Kelly that year. Hunter’s Hope was established to raise awareness of Krabbe disease, a condition that affects the myelin sheath and, ultimately, the nervous system of the body. Kelly’s son died at 8 from this disease, but increased understanding of this condition has led to an Institute in the boy’s name being established at the University of Buffalo in 2004. Kelly was a champion on the field, but has demonstrated so much greatness off of it by having the will to battle through his own struggles, while being a beacon of hope to others. A story like that deserves such an award.
Sure, it’s easy to piggyback off of last year’s winner, Michael Sam, and continue a trend to acknowledge the mettle of famous LGBT individuals. But Sam’s situation was far consequential than Jenner’s, as he was the first openly gay athlete of a sport that has mostly consisted of heterosexual men: American football. Sam’s professional football career could’ve been over before it got started, as the distractions and uneasiness towards other players (many of whom are devout church-goers) could’ve buried his chances of having a career in the field he loves.
Sam faced hurdles and adversity; Jenner just represents a hurdle to the purity of what courage is. “I Am Cait,” which will follow Jenner’s transition into womanhood, will sure gain a cult following. But ESPN has lost a plethora of believers in the way it honors bravery and perseverance. It could’ve made a tough decision with a number of more deserving candidates, but it chose the simple route of ratings. The Arthur Ashe Courage Award and the overwhelming applause may go to Caitlyn Jenner, but there should be no handclaps for ESPN’s cowardice in its decision to make a mockery of true adversity.
Lakers’ true future begins when Kobe’s era ends
The definition of insanity is doing something the same way, over and over again, and expecting a different result. The Los Angeles Lakers franchise is under a state of insanity at this period, unable to move forward because of its heralded star and the delusion of grandeur that follows him. Kobe Bryant is arguably one of the greatest basketball players ever and makes a claim to be the greatest player in the rich history of the Lakers franchise.
While his greatness has been glowing over this organization, it’s also been casting a shadow over it. Bryant’s will and refusal to lose to anyone, let alone Father Time, has isolated not only himself, but the franchise as well. Nearing age 37, Bryant has rightfully believed (and sometimes proven) that he is still a big dog in this yard of superstar basketball. And we all know how big dogs like to run their own yards; other big dogs only create tension and competition for what ultimately matters to them most: dominance. That’s how Bryant presented himself to free-agent targets like Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and, more recently, LaMarcus Aldridge.
Bryant’s message is sent loud and clear to stars that this once-attractive franchise used to sway with ease: Play for the Lakers, compete for championships, but battle behind me. These words may not be Bryant’s, but the intentions are becoming quite evident. Bryant, facing the swan song of his 19-year career, can’t and won’t concede his era to anyone, even at the expense of a deteriorating Lakers franchise that needs a new direction, a new identity, a new leader. Until the Lakers as a whole accept this, they won’t move forward. The historic age of Kobe Bryant as the man in purple and gold has to become history for any star to believe that his era can come of age in a Lakers uniform.
The allure of 16 championships, along with an extremely attractive market for endorsements and other business opportunities, has no clout with the common free agent anymore. As Bryant has begun to wear down over the past few years, so have the Laker lineups that have uncharacteristically been non-competitive. There are various reasons behind the last two seasons being the worst in franchise history (27-55 in 2013-14, franchise-low 21-61 last season), with many fingers being pointed at the son of the late and great Jerry Buss. Jim Buss’ decision-making has been porous at best during his current tenure, but how much can he be faulted when hopes and aspirations of keeping Dwight Howard, luring Anthony and/or James, and enticing Aldridge and Greg Monroe are stifled by Bryant’s continuous desire for someone to compromise his star power for a secondary role?
Bryant, who engaged in a tug of war for supremacy in Los Angeles with Shaquille O’Neal throughout their tumultuous, yet momentous three-title journey in the early 2000s, found that sidekick in Pau Gasol, which led to two more championships to boot. One could say that Gasol needed Bryant as much as vice versa, but Bryant in his prime brought more intrigue, more infatuation from recruits who craved a bigger stage to perform on. This isn’t the case today, as an aging Bryant couldn’t command a Pau Gasol out of Howard two summers ago. Howard, who was traded to the Lakers in the 2012 offseason, already had issues with Bryant leading up to the two becoming teammates. Believing that he was acquired by the Lakers to be the next franchise star, Howard gave management an ultimatum: either Bryant goes, or I leave. Still clinging to the mystique that Bryant can single-handedly lead this franchise to one more championship, the Lakers turned their proverbial cheeks away from a center who commanded double teams, is a defense and rebounding machine and has already led a squad to the NBA Finals (Orlando Magic in 2009). Howard, despite having a slight goofy demeanor on the court, could have been a cornerstone for this franchise, a captivating draw for future prospects that would help propel the Lakers back to prominence. All it took was for Bryant to concede power that’s already leaving him, injury by injury, season by season.
While Anthony and Bryant are dear friends, the complication was not lost in yet another stumble of a Lakers offseason last year, as Anthony sat with Lakers brass, watched as team president Jeanie Buss and company appealed to his and his wife La La’s Hollywood business tastes, not to mention the recruiting power that Los Angeles brings to each free agent’s table. However, Anthony knows Bryant’s nature, that he too is an alpha male. Two of those types of personalities can only spell tension in a team culture. O’Neal and Bryant had the luxury of Phil Jackson’s “Zen Master” influence to keep them together — and winning — for as long as possible. It’s comedic to believe that Lakers head coach Byron Scott can do the same for these two massive egos. Anthony has been used to having a city behind him throughout his NBA career. Denver and his native New York have done that for him. He has never taken a step back to allow someone else to fill the spotlight. Allen Iverson didn’t even have the star power to usurp Anthony in Denver.
On the court, Anthony and Bryant would’ve been a tremendously frustrating tandem for opponents to deal with. Unfortunately, that would’ve been the case for Lakers management to deal with as well. Power struggles do nothing but weaken powerful structures in the end. Somebody has to be the No. 1; both Bryant and Anthony stake claim for that position. So, for a fellow leading scorer like Anthony, why mess up a good thing? Jackson, as team president of the New York Knicks, had a franchise for Anthony to lead as the on-court general, coupled with millions of dollars in tow, and a hometown that adores him. A five-year, $120-plus million contract is signed for Anthony to remain in New York, and the Lakers have lost yet another battle, courtesy of Bryant’s tight grip on the Lakers franchise…as it began to hang upside down.
Trust me, I’m a staunch supporter and fan of Bryant, being one of very few people in Los Angeles to support his demand to be traded from the Lakers back in 2007. He wasn’t in a position where drastic measures weren’t taken to give him help on the court, prompting a drastic decision on his behalf. However, the NBA landscape is now about speed and versatility, essentially a young man’s game. The younger the star usually means the brighter the future. We can all tip our caps to Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak and management’s recent efforts to find pieces through the NBA draft that are capable of being standouts in the coming years: Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and this year’s No. 2 overall pick D’Angelo Russell.
Despite the promising future, these latest moves forward have been suppressed by the back step that is Bryant’s pride. As harsh as that reads, even the casual Lakers fan can sense that the latest star recruits — Aldridge and Monroe — can see the writing on the wall. Bryant wants another Gasol, which is something that was communicated to Aldridge in the Lakers’ first meeting with the All-Star power forward. We must all remember that Gasol was a trade acquisition, not a free-agent signing, and lived on the trading block for his final three years on the team before eventually walking on his own terms. Can we all agree that the “Pau Gasol Lakers role” isn’t the best proposal to make to any standout big man in the NBA? Besides, the last free agent that the Lakers signed to become their franchise star was O’Neal. Free agents like Aldridge and Monroe are thinking in that regard, not to be complimentary pieces.
Bryant’s selling point to free agents is the championship culture the Lakers used to have, but two consecutive seasons of failure cheapens that presentation. As much as the Lakers have depended on him every regular season, he hasn’t been able to be much of a factor during the offseason, scaring away potential stars with ego and keeping the Lakers stagnant with a superiority complex. There’s no doubt that superstars would love to play with Kobe Bryant. They just don’t want to play behind him.
B.C. Conversation 