Strange Uniform Appears in Browns’ Team Shop
December 6, 2011MLB Rumors: Quick-Hitting the Indians’ Winter Meetings
December 7, 2011While We’re Waiting serves as the early morning gathering of WFNY-esque information for your viewing pleasure. Have something you think we should see? Send it to our tips email at tips@waitingfornextyear.com.
On the talent gap debate- “As the second-longest tenured player on the roster and unofficial team leader of the Browns, Josh Cribbs can easily offer the most valid of any criticisms regarding his team. After another depressing AFC North loss on Sunday, Cribbs was asked how far away the Browns are compared to the rest of the division. “A big gap,” Cribbs said. “It’s a big gap.” It’s possible that Cribbs’ statement was as pure as any critique that could be flung at the Browns – especially after a performance in which the Ravens exhibited complete domination. Of course, Cribbs would know, given that the Kent State product is now experiencing his third tour of rebuilding with the Browns.” [Kolonich/The Orange and Brown Report]
–
Those who were fascinated by MACtion football this year, this is a great piece on NCAA attendance minimums- “Joel Nielsen thought he was taking over a model athletic department in the MAC in 2010 when he became the 11th athletic director in Kent State’s history. Kent State was finishing an academic year in which it become the first school to sweep the Reese and Jacoby Trophies, given each year to the conference’s top men’s and women’s athletic program. “It is a privilege for me to have inherited such a tremendously talented group of people whose singular focus is on being the best at whatever they do,” Nielsen said in a press release. “Today is a day for the entire university to be proud.” But beneath the surface of the athletic department, hidden by the region’s best baseball program, nationally-ranked golf teams and the conference’s premier men’s basketball power, there was a tumor lurking. Kent State had a serious football attendance problem and it had to be corrected fast or else it would put the whole department in jeopardy. [Cahill/Ball State Daily News]
–
Has a prospect like LaPorta ever became a hit after this much exposure in the bigs? A historical analysis at Let’s Go Tribe.
–
Interesting look at NBA free agency and the fan’s role- “Let’s look at three types of bad contracts: Pippens, Poseys, and Possessions. The Pippens are guys acquired to be paired with a budding superstar: take Carlos Boozer, Kenyon Martin, and the dreaded Larry Hughes. At some point, these guys were acquired to complement an ostensible franchise player—Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James, respectively. Kenyon Martin can’t be blamed for his ineffectiveness to lead Melo to the finals—he simply has bad knees and a limited skill set. But he also has a terrible contract that had to be acquired for the Nuggets to make it seem like they were adding pieces around Melo. Boozer, the topic of much disgust around Chicago, was acquired by the Bulls to be a sidekick for Derrick Rose after the Bulls lost out on LeBron James, for whom Boozer declined to sidekick in Cleveland. Of course, after Boozer left Cleveland, the Cavaliers lost out on a weak offseason sweepstakes to net Michael Redd (who would have also been a disaster in the long run), and signed consolation bad-shot-taker Larry Hughes, also a future Bull.” [The Classical] (Hat tip- @WFNYScott and @JESkeets)
–
On the Marlins suddenly spending like crazy- “But like Scrooge, when he woke up on Christmas morning, Loria has changed seemingly overnight. Scrooge awakes after being visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future and sends a Christmas turkey to his long-suffering employee Bob Cratchit and joins his nephew’s family for Christmas. Loria, was visited by the Ghosts of Baseball Future and Miami-Dade County, who showed him a vision of what baseball in Florida could be like in a shiny new ballpark. So Loria is using the financial windfall that he expects to receive to bring big names to play there. Heath Bell and Jose Reyes are already in the fold, and they’ve offered a 10 year contract to Albert Pujols. There are reports that they’re also out on CJ Wilson, Mark Buehrle, and Javier Vazquez.
It’s a remarkable turnaround for Loria. Is it permanent? Who knows? Scrooge’s outlook was changed forever by his experience that night, and he became filled with Christmas spirit for the rest of his life. Loria, on the other hand, seems to be leaving himself an out by refusing to hand out no-trade clauses, which would potentially allow him to gut the team like Wayne Huizenga did in 1998.” [Common Man/Getting Blanked]
–
Finally, great piece on the details of the amnesty clause. [The Point Forward]
7 Comments
I don’t see the fans having a role in the mess that is the NBA. You can’t get two fans to agree on who to draft or trade to save your life let alone what to pay. No the NBA is a mess because of the owners, players and most importantly agents. Even after a labor stoppage things are going right back to where they were with Chris Paul demanding to go to NY. I wish they would have lost a year but oh well.
Really like this NBA free agency article, but I think he left ou one important one: “The Kemp.” Where the team decides that to compete and hold fan interest it needs an alpha big name star, some alpha, any alpha, price is no object. And then the player, who would have played on Jupiter if they offered the most cash, just dogs it.
Tribe did it with Keith Hernandez, Browns with Andre Rison. Fans were salivating over those moves too.
One question about the amnesty clause? Can the Heat use it on Lebron and then resign him for $1? freeing up another max contract slot?
216- Any player that is an amnesty clause casualty is essentially waived, meaning another team could claim him.
Harv 21: Another fantastic example of the Kemp would be Amare Stoudemire’s max contract with the New York Knicks. Stoudemire’s clearly a good player, but he’s not worth $20 million a year.
Amar’e Stoudemire was a Pippen that was brought in to lure the Jordan, it seemed like.
I could definitely see Lerner selling the team within the next five years. Hopefully to someone who gives a darn.