Ladies day

Posted on February 27, 2012 by jimberrysports

     Most guys don’t want to give props to girl sports.  However, its time to give it up for the women’s basketball team at the University of Miami.  For two straight seasons, they have been a powerhouse.

     This season, they have gone undefeated at home. After the ACC tournament, the lady canes will head into the NC-double a tournament as one of the favorites to win a national championship. That’s serious stuff.

   Last year, coach Katie Meier was imploring fans to come out and watch her team. This year, she hasn’t had to. Although attendance at UM is never huge, the lady canes have built a following. No dunking.  Just good fundamental basketball.  Some of their stars like Sheniece Johnson and Raquina Williams might have the WNBA in their future, but most of these young ladies are just playing for the love of the game..and each other.

     In a guest post for self-esteem blog girlIamallthat.com, I wrote about how female sports can play a big role in female self esteem. So many young ladies face problems of insecurity. Not the girls who play for UM.   You can just see their poise and character, especially when they are down in a game but come back to win.

   When you look at some of the more prominent female sportscasters, you can see an on-air confidence rooted in sports.  Cheryl Miller ? confident for sure.  Ditto for Doris Burke. So sports fans..check out the lady canes.  If you’ve got a daughter, let her play ball or the sport of her choice.

  She might have a championship in her future.

 

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What am I..chopped liver ?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by jimberrysports

My name is Matt Moore, and frankly..I’m getting a little tired of people always talking about how the Dolphins need a quarterback. What am I..chopped liver ?

Didn’t I come in last year and turn around the season, and win the respect of the entire team. Weren’t we a winless team coached by a dead man walking until I took over and led the team to a strong finish. Shoot, maybe if I had started from the beginning of the season, we would have made the playoffs.  That’s why I’m getting a little ticked off when folks keep talking about the Dolphins quarterbacking needs as if I’m not here. HELLO..PEOPLE  !  What am I, chopped liver ?

I usually put the ball on the money, and if my diva Pro Bowl receiver hadn’t dropped so many passes, my respectable quarterback rating could have been even higher. How dare he give me an indirect slap at the Pro Bowl by saying he played so well because he had “elite” quarterbacks throwing him the ball. I wish he had “elite” hands, and an “elite” attitude.

I’m not saying I’m an All-Pro. I can get better. But with a new coach, a seasoned offensive coordinator, and a few more weapons (like a game breaking tight end) I believe I can hang with the best of ‘em. I know I struggled a bit sometimes in the second half, but did you see pass rush I was under.  It felt like my offensive line WAS chopped liver.

I can’t believe anybody would think a broken down Peyton Manning, an untested Matt Flynn, or an unproven Robert Griffin the third is better than me right now.  I deserve to prove I can keep this job, and I welcome all the competition. If I beat ‘em out, show me some respect.

I’m Matt Moore the quarterback. And I’m NOT chopped liver.

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Whassup bruh

Posted on February 20, 2012 by jimberrysports

I’m beginning to understand the fascination with Jeremy Lin. It’s not just that he’s an Asian-American dude who’s ballin’ in a sport dominated by brothers. It’s that he actually PLAYS it like a brother.

We’ve seen plenty of white guys who could play some basketball. Larry Bird took no prisoners. Jerry West was lethal. Steve Nash and John Stockton…impeccable. In terms of Asian players, Yao Ming was an All-Star, but he was just a big tree. No flavor.

None of those guys really played with a “brothers’ kind of swag. Lin is hitting fadeaway jumpers, then trotting backwards with his tongue wagging..ala Michael Jordan. He’s taking it to the rim and dunking strong. He’s penetrating inside and hanging between defenders before dropping in teardrop layups….brother style.

In his post game interviews, he’s certainly gracious. But haven’t you noticed a little “brother swag” in the way he speaks. He’s got a rhythym in his game all the way around. The fact the he went to Harvard and went undrafted and played under the radar adds to the story. The fact that other teams passed on him and that he was sleeping on his brother’s sofa adds to the script.

But the fact that this dude of Asian heritage has some playground in his game…now THAT is what makes his game and story sexy.  He’s got a game the “brothers” respect. Even Lebron James told me yesterday that Lin is a good player.  Lin also has a story that makes everyone else stand up and take notice.

When you see a brother who can dance, you’re impressed. When you see someone of another heritage dance LIKE a brother, you take note even more.  No matter his background, Lin has earned his street cred the hard way.  When the Knicks come to town Thursday to play the Heat, I know what I’ll say to Jeremy Lin.

Whassup bruh.

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Whassup Bruh…

Posted on February 20, 2012 by jimberrysports

I’m beginning to understand the fascination with Jeremy Lin. Its not just that he’s an Asian-American dude who’s ballin’ in a sport dominated by brothers. It’s that he actually PLAYS it like a brother.

We’ve seen plenty of white guys who could play some basketball. Larry Bird took no prisoners. Jerry West was lethal. Steve Nash and John Stockton…impeccable. But none really played with a “brothers’ kind of swag. Lin is hitting fadeaway jumpers, then trotting backwards with his tongue wagging.  He’s taking it to the rim and dunking strong. He’s penetrating inside and hanging between defenders before dropping in teardrop layups….brother style.

In his post game interviews, he’s certainly gracious. But haven’t you noticed a little “brother swag” in the way he speaks. He’s got a rhythym in his game all the way around. The fact the he went to Harvard and went undrafted and played under the radar adds to the story. The fact that other teams passed on him and that he was sleeping on his brother’s sofa adds to the script.

But the fact that this dude of Asian heritage has some playground in his game…now THAT

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Don’t hate the player…

Posted on February 15, 2012 by jimberrysports

      So, it has started. Jeremy Lin has been a sensation all of two weeks, and already somebody is startin’ to hate. Boxer Floyd Mayweather says Lin wouldn’t be gettin’ this kind of hype if he was African-American.  Floyd says a lot of black ballplayers can do what he does, but they don’t stir the same frenzy.

     Yes, Floyd..there are some brothers who play some serious point guard. Derrick Rose. Rajon Rondo. Russell Westbrook. Deron Williams. There have been some white dudes who could handle it too…like Steve Nash.

   But none of them came from the END OF THE BENCH to start rippin’ it up…in NEW YORK CITY nonetheless.  Yes, Lin is a story because he’s an oddity. How many Asian-Americans have you seen shoot the rock like he does ? That doesn’t mean we should resent the pub he’s getting.

   Certainly, Lin’s African-American team mates don’t mind. They’re lovin’ it. They know that the Knicks looked dead in the water until Lin took the court. In his first six games, Lin has scored more points than any other NBA player in more than 30 years.

Lin would be a good story no matter what his background is. He’s an undrafted player who got cut by two other teams before getting his shot. The fact that he’s of Asian descent and went to Harvard makes the story all the more unlikely. Certainly, the NBA loves that Lin’s story has worldwide appeal. But its unfair to think that the league will give Lin undue hype simply because of his ethnicity. 

Floyd Mayweather should do what President Barack Obama is doing. Give Lin his props.  Based on what we’ve seen so far…he got game.

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Sports and music

Posted on February 13, 2012 by jimberrysports

    Whitney Houston’s tragic passing took me back to the Super Bowl at Tampa, Florida in 1991. I remember because I was there. It was the first Super Bowl where security was amped up to a high level because the US was in the Gulf war.

    Everyone was feeling patriotic when Whitney stepped up and sang her resounding Star Spangled Banner.  Actually, she didn’t just sing it. She BELTED it out. It stuck with you.  The dramatic game between the Bills and Giants was decided on a missed field goal by Buffalo’s Scott Norwood. Still, afterwards, players on both teams were talking about Whitney. Her version was SO good, it actually became a hit recording.

  It was one of those moments that reminds you of how sports and music always dance together. I tune out the endless hip hop at NBA games. But I remember real singers bringing their “A” game at major sporting events.

  Marvin Gaye at the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles in 1983 was another such moment. Marvin sang the anthem as only he could, with unmistakeable soul.  Its the only time I ever recall an audience clapping in unision during the anthem. We were at a basketball game, but Marvin took us to church.

 Prince singing “Purple Rain” IN the rain at the 2007 Super Bowl. You couldn’t have scripted that any better.  Great theatre. It took our minds off of the fact that this was the soggiest Super Bowl in history.  

Whitney’s gone, but my memory of how she blended sports and music will stick with me. As athletes often say about each other…she had game.

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Blame Lebron

Posted on February 10, 2012 by jimberrysports

Somebody backed into the side of my car the other day. I’m blaming Lebron James. The other driver must have been listening to sports talk radio talking about Lebron.

James now says he gets blamed for everything. “If you go to the store and your brand of milk isn’t there, blame me. “, he says. “I’m an easy target.  The Heat forward was responding to Kendrick Perkins ripping him for tweeting, and Larry Bird for saying that he would choose Kobe over Lebron to “win.”

He’s right. Lebron is an easy guy to blame for just about everything. The Heat are not undefeated, and its his fault.  Couldn’t he have scored 50 points and blocked some of those Orlando three pointers the other night ?

James says it doesn’t bother him, but I wonder. Kendrick Perkins says Lebron tweets because he wants to be liked. Well, what’s wrong with that ?

Are you supposed to want people to DISLIKE you ? What Lebron has to realize is that he made this uncomfortable bed. When you proclaim yourself the King before you actually earn a crown, people WILL take shots at you.

Its why Lebron should tell Chris Bosh to stop talkin’ out loud about the Heat being the best team in the NBA. They have not proved that yet,so stop saying it.  You just set yourself up for the haters to hate.

Bosh is confident. For that..I blame Lebron. In fact, why not blame Lebron for all of the Heat’s ills. They need a center. Shane Battier can’t make a shot. Erik Spolestra doesn’t adjust too well as a coach when they’re getting blown out.

All of that is Lebron’s fault. Maybe in June, the Heat will break through and win it all, and Lebron will get a break, but I doubt it.

If  they win the NBA championship in five games, it will be Lebron’s fault they didn’t sweep. And if they fall short again,  don’t blame Pat Riley for suspect offseason moves, or give credit to the Bulls, Thunder, or whoever else might take them out. No..no..take the easy road. Blame Lebron.

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The book of Eli

Posted on February 7, 2012 by jimberrysports

    When I first met Eli Manning, it was the week before his brother Peyton played the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl five years ago.  While everyone  was casual chic on South Beach, Eli walked around in a suit and tie. Yes, he looked dorky, but he was being himself.

     Now that he has surpassed Peyton with two Super Bowl rings, Eli still comes across kinda dorky…but he’s still himself.  At the team’s big victory parade in Manhattan,  Eli’s Giant teammates hammed it up.  Eli still politely talked about a “team win.”   He’s no motivational speaker. He’s just himself.

  In this era of athletes who are quick to promote themselves WITHOUT winning anything, Eli is a refreshing throwback. He’s the guy who won’t brag even when he can. It’s just not his nature.

  What a contrast he is to the head coach of that other New York team. The Jets Rex Ryan talks big. Eli just PLAYS big.  Now that he has whipped the glam Tom Brady and gruffy Bill Belechik twice, Eli can walk on water in New York.

  However, he’s no Tim Tebow, being interviewed again in a prime time special. He’s just Eli. Nondescript….but quite effective on the field, especially in crunch time.   The New York pressure cooker has not changed him. He has drowned out the noise, and stayed true to himself.

      Maybe somewhere Eli does have a personality. I remember people thinking his big brother Peyton Manning was also kind of bland, until we started to see his wacky sense of humor. 

    With Eli..what you see might be what you get.  He may never be a GQ magazine cover boy. That’s OK.  There’s nothing wrong with just being a solid quarterback who lets his play do all of the talking.

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Attention K-Mart shoppers

Posted on February 3, 2012 by jimberrysports

Attention NBA K-Mart shoppers. K Mart is now available. Forward Kenyon Martin has been granted basketball freedom by FIBA…the governing body for international hoops.

K Mart ran off to China for a payday when the lockout hit, and thought he would be stranded over there for a while longer. But now, Martin is a free agent ready to latch on with an NBA team…and the Heat’s Pat Riley is dangling a contract offer.

Riley has also offered a deal to Joel Pryzbilla…a seven foot lug who last played in Portland.  I doubt Martin’s ego will allow him to settle for being fourth fiddle  on a Heat team with three big stars. My guess is he signs with the LA Clippers.

What I am more intrigued by is the Heat admitting what other teams around the league undoubtedly know…the Heat is still lean up front.

Chris Bosh has plenty of skill, but he’s not a banger. Udonis Haslem bangs, but is undersized. Eddie Curry is still a work in progress.  Did Dexter Pittman MAKE any progress ?

That leaves only Joel Anthony..a hard working guy other teams are not afraid to leave open to double team Heat stars.  To become truly unbeatable, the Heat need a big man who can catch it and dunk it. Period !

K Mart is not what he was from his alley oop days with Jason Kidd, but I would take the chance.  The Heat must pull out all the stops this season, because if they don’t win it all this year…..I don’t EVEN want to talk about it.

They SHOULD be K Mart shoppers..even if means overpaying a little bit for the merchandise.

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Peyton’s new place ?

Posted on February 1, 2012 by jimberrysports

  Get ready South Florida. I got a feeling its coming. Peyton Manning hype.  It sure looks like the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback and the Indianapolis Colts are about to part company.

Manning has tried to put a good spin on his relationship with the Colts, but c’mon. How much sense does it make for the Colts to pay Peyton $28 mil to stick around AND draft Andrew Luck.  Why would Manning want to remain with a Colts team that is clearly heading in a new direction.

Should they follow through with their football divorce, Manning will become the hottest NFL free agent since Reggie White.  The Dolphins will get in the Manning sweepstakes. The question is…SHOULD they ?

I say NO.  Stay away from an old quarterback who has missed a year after his THIRD neck surgery in two years. Too scary..too risky for me.  But I’m betting Dolphins owner Stephen Ross won’t be able to resist.

Manning would sell tickets to an empty Sun Life Stadium, re-excite Dolfans who miss those Dan Marino days, and give the Fins instant Super Bowl hope.

But what if he can’t play. Then the Dolphins are right back where they are…with no franchise quarterback.  Taking the Manning shortcut could blow up in their faces.

The smart money says go find a young Peyton Manning.  The Dolphins new head coach Joe Philbin is known for offense. Let him coach up a young QB, and not play caretaker for an older one who may be fragile and set in his ways.

And….do you REALLY trust that Dolphin offensive line to protect Manning. I’d feel better with somebody who can run away from the pass rush.

In my book, there’s only one good reason for the Fins to get in the Manning sweepstakes. Keep him away from the New York Jets.  For the Dolphins to play third fiddle in a division with Tom Brady AND Peyton Manning….now THAT might get me to change my mind.

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