commentary – Page 2 – Journo James's Journal

David Stern, the Most Overrated Sports Commissioner

Post author:journojames
Post published:March 8, 2012
Post category:Op/Ed/Commentary Sports

Originally published Nov. 6, 2011

It’s Day 128 of the NBA lockout and there’s still no resolution between owners and players. Instead, NBA Commissioner David Stern offered the players’ union what sounded like an angry ultimatum. He basically told them to accept a chance to earn up to 51 percent of basketball-related income by Wednesday or face a deal that would be much worse. Frustrated players responded by contemplating the possibility of decertifying the union and filing an antitrust case against the league.

What a mess.

davidsportstraveler — NBA Commissioner David Stern, Photo courtesy of Sports Traveler

No matter how the lockout is settled, this basketball fiasco has shown that Stern is the most overrated sports commissioner in America and that his legacy has deservedly been tainted.

The blame game surrounding this messy financial fight all seem to be directed towards either the billionaire owners or the millionaire players. But, why has Commissioner Stern, more or less, dodged most of the criticism? Isn’t he ultimately the most responsible for this debacle?

Recently, Bryant Gumbel of HBO’s “Real Sports” did, in fact, harshly criticize Stern for his mishandling of the lockout. (more…)

Boxing, More Circus Than Sport

Post author:journojames
Post published:March 4, 2012
Post category:Op/Ed/Commentary Sports

Originally published Oct. 16, 2011

dawsonvshopkinsgrantland — Down goes Hopkins, Photo courtesy of Grantland

It was Saturday night. The boxing ring in the middle of Staples Center was ready, waiting for the aging fighters to take center stage for the main event. It wasn’t a glamorous bout that was highly publicized, but the crowd of 8,400 hardcore boxing fans in the arena still passionately cheered. They weren’t expecting much, but they still believed enough in the dying sport to buy the expensive tickets to see the contest. They were just hoping for a legitimate fight between champion Bernard Hopkins and challenger Chad Dawson.

You’ll never guess what happened. Okay, maybe you will. These poor fight fans were fooled. Again. The sport of boxing took another swing Saturday night and missed badly, slipping in the process and doing another embarrassing pratfall. (more…)

Dodger Game and Stadium Report

Post author:journojames
Post published:March 3, 2012
Post category:Op/Ed/Commentary Sports

Originally published Sept. 4, 2011

You can stop believin’.

The Dodgers beat the NL West cellar-dwelling San Diego Padres Monday night, 4-1, at Dodger Stadium behind Clayton Kerhaw’s complete game effort. The boys in blue have now won six of their last seven games.

clayton_kershawgamblingbeat — Clayton Kershaw shuts down the Padres, Photo courtesy of Gambling Beat

Don’t be fooled. They may be playing better of late, but there are ominous signs. These signs indicate the Dodgers will continue to struggle for the foreseeable future before they truly get better and contend again for the playoffs.

It starts at the top. The current disastrous ownership dispute between owner Frank McCourt and baseball Commissioner Bud Selig continues. The silence and lack of news from both parties is deafening and worrisome. The longer this stalemate lasts, the more difficult it will be for this team to move forward and for the better. (more…)