There's nothing I hate more than people not getting the credit they deserve. For this reason I chose to dedicate todays blog to pro scouts everywhere. I think the job of a scout is one of the toughest jobs in pro sports. You spend countless hours traveling from one game to the next. You watch hundreds of hours of game film, all building up to the big day; the draft. Then, its time to do it all again for the next season. While some people think having a rich owner who is willing to shell out big bucks for superstar athletes is the best way to win a championship, just ask Karl Malone, Gary Payton and the Lakers how that worked out. Or ask Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and then countless other Yankee's investments how many championships they've won since being bougth by the Yankees. Terrell Owens, Tank Johnson and Pacman Jones are in Dallas still wondering how they didn't even make the playoffs.
The point is this: a good scout will win over a rich, free spending GM 90% of the time (The Celtics seemed to manage just fine buying their way to the championship thank you very much) Lets examine a few examples of this theory shall we?
Success:
In 2003 the Florida Marlins won the teams second World Series title in the teams brief 11 year existance, defeating a New York Yankee team with a payroll over three times as large. The team with a slew of talent brought up through their farm system was able to beat the team notorious for shelling out big bucks for superstar players. Homegrown talent for the Marlins included the likes of Alex Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Dontrelle Willis and Brad Penny.
Failure:
After being upset in the NFC Divisional Playoff the Cowboys entered the 2008 season as one of the favorites to make the Super Bowl from the NFC. With the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants, the always talented Philadelphia Eagles and the ever present Dallas Cowboys, the division seemed up for grabs. Leading up to opening day the Cowboys made a dew controversial moves to improve their defense. Tank Johnson and Adam "Pacman" Jones were picked up by the Dallas Cowboys after their previous teams had dropped them because of off-field trouble issues. The Cowboys started off hot, but before long trouble began to brew in the Dallas heat. Star wide receiver Terrell Owens (who had been picked up by the Cowboys two years prior after he was released by the Eagles for causing trouble within the organization) had issues with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and quarterback Tony Romo. Adam Jones was suspended by the team in October for fighting with a team assigned bodyguard and was released at the conclusion of the season. The team lost the season finale to the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that kept them from making the playoffs.
Success:
After being swept in the first round of the playoffs in 2007, the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies were able to capitalize on their second chance at a World Series title. The Phillies were led by a slew of players from their minor league organization including Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels, Brett Myers and Jimmy Rollins. Aside from a few minor midseason acquisitions, the team was comprised of many players who had only ever called Philadelphia home.
Failure:
The New York Yankees, for some years now, have been infamous for offering players more money than other teams can afford the year after the players breakout season. In 2006 this had resulted what looked like an American League All-Star team. Players the Yankees had "bought" included Johnny Damon, Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi and Randy Johnson. While the team enjoyed some success as AL East Division Champions, they were eliminated in the Division Championship by the Detroit Tigers.
While this is not meant to bash on teams who have the means to go after stellar free agents, as that can prove effective when done properly, I would merely like to applaud the most underrated man in sports; the pro scout.
January 28, 2009
January 27, 2009
First Blog
Hello and welcome to the Sports Scoop. This is my first time blogging but hopefully people will read this and leave comments which may spark intellectual sports discussion. I will update this blog as often as possible. Hopefully once a day, but we'll see how it goes.
Today's topic: College basketball.
Over the years I have noticed a few trends of the teams that have success in the March Madness tournament. First, not always does the best team win it all. To win the tournament you must win 6 games. One bad game is all it takes for the mighty #2 seed to lose to that team you've never even heard of before.
To have success you need 3 critical components:
1. Good Foul Shooting- This includes the big fella too. It's not enough anymore to have 2 or 3 good foul shooters. To have success in the tournament your team needs to be able to convert on their free throws in the clutch (Just watch Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts).
2. A Floor General Point Guard- You need a coach on the floor executing the plays just as they were drawn up. A guy who, while he may not be the best, is the smartest player on the team. He needs to know where the 9 other players are on the court at all times and anticipate what the next move should be. (See Juan Dixon)
3. A Go-To Big Guy- Well, if your point guard is as smart as he ought to be he will feed your big man down low all day long. A dominant big man can not only create scoring chances for himself but can kick it out for three when he gets double (or if your lucky triple) teamed. He also sets the tone for your team on the glass. Most importantly, however, he must stay out of foul trouble. Opponents feast on a team whose big man is sidelined with foul trouble. (I.E. UConn's Emeka Okafor)
This being said, who are the favorites for this years National Championship, you may ask. Of all the teams I have seen this season, only a few teams stick out as legitimate National Championship contenders.
UNC- North Carolina has all three keys to success. They shoot nearly 75% from the free throw line and are led by their two best players; point guard Ty Lawson and center Tyler Hansbrough. Their fast break offense and tough defense will make them tough to beat in March.
Pitt- While shooting only 65% from the line, Pitt has experience on its side. Senior guard Levance Fields leads the team's three-headed monster attack. Fields, along with sidekicks Sam Young and DeJuan Blair can break down your defense with the fast break or half court offense.
Marquette- With three players averaging over 16 points per game and a free throw percentage in the 70's, Marquette will be a team opponents will not want to face in March. Seniors Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal looked to lead the Golden Eagles into the final four for the first time since a guy named Dwayne Wade.
Why not us?
Notre Dame- Luke Harangody is great, Kyle McAlarney is good too, but the team relies on too much on the three ball.
Duke- Kyle Singler is not a threatening big man. Period.
Wake Forest- Too young and inexperienced. Should have much better luck next year.
While I realize there are other good teams (Oklahoma, Texas, UConn) these teams stuck out to me either because I thought that they were either legitimate title contenders or were being overhyped by the media. Oklahoma, Texas, UConn, among other teams certainly have a chance to cut down the nets in March. But when its all said and done, I look for North Carolina to take its second title in 5 years.
Today's topic: College basketball.
Over the years I have noticed a few trends of the teams that have success in the March Madness tournament. First, not always does the best team win it all. To win the tournament you must win 6 games. One bad game is all it takes for the mighty #2 seed to lose to that team you've never even heard of before.
To have success you need 3 critical components:
1. Good Foul Shooting- This includes the big fella too. It's not enough anymore to have 2 or 3 good foul shooters. To have success in the tournament your team needs to be able to convert on their free throws in the clutch (Just watch Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts).
2. A Floor General Point Guard- You need a coach on the floor executing the plays just as they were drawn up. A guy who, while he may not be the best, is the smartest player on the team. He needs to know where the 9 other players are on the court at all times and anticipate what the next move should be. (See Juan Dixon)
3. A Go-To Big Guy- Well, if your point guard is as smart as he ought to be he will feed your big man down low all day long. A dominant big man can not only create scoring chances for himself but can kick it out for three when he gets double (or if your lucky triple) teamed. He also sets the tone for your team on the glass. Most importantly, however, he must stay out of foul trouble. Opponents feast on a team whose big man is sidelined with foul trouble. (I.E. UConn's Emeka Okafor)
This being said, who are the favorites for this years National Championship, you may ask. Of all the teams I have seen this season, only a few teams stick out as legitimate National Championship contenders.
UNC- North Carolina has all three keys to success. They shoot nearly 75% from the free throw line and are led by their two best players; point guard Ty Lawson and center Tyler Hansbrough. Their fast break offense and tough defense will make them tough to beat in March.
Pitt- While shooting only 65% from the line, Pitt has experience on its side. Senior guard Levance Fields leads the team's three-headed monster attack. Fields, along with sidekicks Sam Young and DeJuan Blair can break down your defense with the fast break or half court offense.
Marquette- With three players averaging over 16 points per game and a free throw percentage in the 70's, Marquette will be a team opponents will not want to face in March. Seniors Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal looked to lead the Golden Eagles into the final four for the first time since a guy named Dwayne Wade.
Why not us?
Notre Dame- Luke Harangody is great, Kyle McAlarney is good too, but the team relies on too much on the three ball.
Duke- Kyle Singler is not a threatening big man. Period.
Wake Forest- Too young and inexperienced. Should have much better luck next year.
While I realize there are other good teams (Oklahoma, Texas, UConn) these teams stuck out to me either because I thought that they were either legitimate title contenders or were being overhyped by the media. Oklahoma, Texas, UConn, among other teams certainly have a chance to cut down the nets in March. But when its all said and done, I look for North Carolina to take its second title in 5 years.
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