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June 8, 2010While 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
He’s not a businessman, he’s a business, man: “James is not as crass as, say, so-and-so jumping teams for cash in the nineties. There are sound business reasons to work the mini-max, the Super Summit, and the shadowy plan to customize his destination as much as makes sense. This isn’t pure self-interest. While it affects a limited number of players, this is somewhat earth-shaking, changing the way that not only the team and individual sync up when it comes to loyalty and such, but also the very question of who owns who. Who is accountable. Earning the right to a star, as opposed to simply danging cash in front of his face and expecting him to jump, alone, on to the next one. But—and here’s the problematic one—history in sports has always been the history of institutions, or at least individuals against the backdrop of institutions (i.e. franchises). After Jordan, we worried it might devolve into Mad Max. Instead, though, we’ve gotten something more rational and, if done with tact, hard to argue with. In James, we have a player who has positioned himself against all history.” [Shoals/Free Darko]
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An excellent story regarding Jim Joyce on the night of the perfect game. Lengthy, but worth it. [Free Press via BLS]
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Risk vs. Reward? “I think that Tom Izzo is a great basketball coach. I think he designs excellent defensive schemes, and that he is very good at getting his players to play focused, intelligent basketball that takes advantage of weaknesses in the opponent. All of these skills would be very useful as the Cavaliers look to improve their in-game effectiveness, particularly in the Playoffs. That is why he was on my short list of candidates I wanted the Cavaliers to interview in Part I of the CavsHQ Season Debrief. That said, I wish I was more confident that he would make a great NBA coach.” [Cavs HQ]
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Ahtyba Rubin continues to impress… [Fred Greetham/The OBR]
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Nets fans are starting to change their tune a bit: “I can’t take this LeBron James hype anymore. In fact, it’s much ado about nothing since I believe James is just going to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers anyway. If money talks, then the Cavs, in fact, do have an edge since they can offer LeBron $30 million more over the life of a max contract. “But what about the marketing opportunities in New York?” Stop it! Like he wasn’t and couldn’t continue to build his “brand” from Cleveland. C’mon LeBron… just admit you’re staying already!” [DV/Nets Are Scorching]
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And finally, more on The Big Ten expansion: “The potential growth of the Big Ten no longer exists in a vacuum, not after Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott told reporters in San Francisco after league meetings on Sunday that he’d been cleared by league presidents to pursue any expansion angles. Given that multiple reports have the Pac-10 contemplating an offer to six Big 12 schools, including Texas and Oklahoma, it was little surprise that the Big Ten might be moving up its originally stated 12- to 18-month expansion timetable stated in December.” [Doug Lesmerises]
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Image: Jon Cole/WFNY
25 Comments
I can see how these college conference expansion helps those indivdual conferences but I have a hard time seeing how it benefits the fans. I think the huge mega-conferences will overwhelm all of college football.
The Pac 10 needs to expand, if USC is bad again, then they have nobody in their confrence.
@1 – Who?
The whole conference expansion thing is dirty, but after reading Dan Wetzel’s piece on Yahoo I kind of admire/fear Delany. He’s straight gangsta.
@Clown Baby – OK, this isn’t all that well thought out or reserrched (spewing half-assed, unresearched opinons on the internet? Shocking!)so bear with me.
Everything Ive read seems like there is about to be wholesale raiding of the Big 12 and Big East by either/or the Big 10 and Pac 10. The speculation is that will lead the SEC to start picking apart the ACC (Miami and FSU to the SEC). The ACC, Big East and possibly the Big 12 may cease to exist as we know them.
Is all of that bad? Maybe. Maybe not. But I have a hard time seeing how those moves will re-enforce traditonal rivalries. More of the new conferences would be huge in numbers and geography (think the current Big East in basketball). I have a hard time seeing how that benefits fans. 3 dominating conferences (Big 10, Pac 10 & SEC) and all the rest picking up scraps just leaves me cold.
Mark – I totally agree and from the sounds of it everything you said seems likely to happen. I was being fesicious in my first comment….CFB hasn’t cared about the fans for a long time.
The rule changes that have shortened the gameplay but made it more fan TV friendly and the out of conference games that take the place of conference games where powerhouses destroy inferior teams for a win and a paycheck are examples. The problem is that they know they can do that and we’ll keep coming back. So yeah, they are going to dismantle the conference structure, we’ll all complain and write scathing comments but we’ll all be in front of the TV on Saturday afternoons this fall.
the ACC is a lot stronger than some are portraying them. don’t expect them to be ‘raided’ by the SEC for the mere fact that their university presidents love their academic reputation.
also, the more I think about it, the more I actually think Notre Dame may just join the ACC to stick the middle finger at the Big10 (to keep with their history).
@ Clown Baby – Sorry, I missed your obvious snark in your 1st comment. I agree with everything you said, especially the idea of sitting in front of the TV each Saturday, eating it up. I am very guilty of complaining about the quailty/substance of something and then demanding more of it. Oh well. At least I am aware of it and embrace my hypocracy.
If the Pac 10 snatches up Oklahoma and Texas, and the SEC grabs the best of the ACC, what’s left for the Big 10? Notre Dame? Nebraska? The Big 10 started this whole expansion talk and once the dust has settled, they may not really gain any ground.
9 – It’s not about who has the best conference, it’s about there being fewer conferences. If the best teams leave the Big 12/ACC the remaining teams will band together to create some sort of sub-conference that will most likely not be invited into the BCS. When that happens, the money is split amongst fewer teams. The Big 10 still wins.
My current thoughts on who ends up adding who:
Big10 – yes, this means they failed (w/o ND or TX). It’s not what I want here though, it’s what I’m thinking is most likely right now.
Missouri (AAU member)
Nebraska (AAU member)
Syracuse (AAU member)
Rutgers (AAU member)
Kansas – lying in the weeds, they are a possibility. Either us or for SEC. (AAU member)
Pac10
Texas
TxTech
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Colorado
Baylor – thank TX lawmakers
SEC
Tx A&M – don’t be surprised. A&M feels it made a mistake 15 years ago by joining BigXII instead of SEC.
Louisville
West Virginia
Kansas State – despite good athletics currently, this is the biggest ? here as they don’t add much to the table $-wise. Cincinatti the other option (OH market and Kentucky rivalry)
ACC – look at these schools. Don’t they just ‘feel’ like ACC schools?
Notre Dame
UConn
Pittsburgh
Navy
and, if I could just ignore all logic of the strings that come along with some of the schools, here is who I would want the Big10 to add (from supposedly available schools):
Notre Dame
Texas
Navy
Nebraska
University of Toronto
* yeah, I said a Canadian school. they fit geographically, they are an AAU member, they would bring in a ton more $$$ (as the Canadian school in the ‘American’ league), and they have been starting up a football program.
Now that is how you shoot across the bow of the other conferences.
10 – I guess I’m thinking in terms of conference strength both on the field and in terms of revenue. With the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, the Pac 10 could possibly have at least 3 BCS Bowl contenders every year. In addition, Texas football ranks 1 and 2 in revenue and profit respectfully. I understand that all BCS conferences will benefit money-wise, but if you are looking at the expansion in terms of making the conference stronger both on the field and financially, the Big 10 might still end up being the 3rd strongest of the “big three”.
Yeah, the B10 would definitely be the weakest conference, but they would also be making a lot more money. From my understanding, that is Delany’s A#1 job…make money for B10 schools. It sounds like this re-alignment would definitely clear the way for a playoff system. BCS schools are basically breaking even/losing money now, but the bigger schools can afford to. Once the smaller schools are out of the way and the pie gets bigger, the super conferences could institute playoffs and make insane bank. None of this is coming from me, I’m not that smart. Highly recommend the Yahoo article.
The news out here in Denver this morning reported that Carmello is looking to resign with the Nuggets for another 3 years (his contract is up after the ’10-11 season).
Nice to see a star player not holding a team in limbo.
I’ll definitely check the Yahoo article out. Keep in mind that I’m here in Columbus. The Big 10 expansion has been talked about ad nauseum since December around here…we all feel like experts 😉
Oh… an no artical would be complete without:
“– Melo said he doesn’t know what team James will sign with.”
http://blogs.denverpost.com/nuggets/2010/06/06/melo-on-his-contract-team-usa-nuggets-and-lebron/
Being in ACC country, I have heard rumors about VT, FSU and Miami all going to the SEC. Maryland is being eyed by the Big 10. BC is really in limbo. The football strength (therefore $$$ strength) of the SEC really gives it a huge advantage over the ACC. And all of those schools are well with in the SEC geography and really good football powers.
You can see why the ACC, as a football conference, could be in real trouble.
What about the West Virginia, Pitt and other Big East schools to the Big 10 rumors from earlier in the year?
18- The talk around Columbus from many in the media since the announcement from the Pac 10 (many of whom are speaking more from a “we want the Big 10 to get stronger” perspective) is that we need a high-profile team now in order to compete. Many Big East schools have been mentioned in the past, but most of the talk has focused around Notre Dame, Texas, Missou, and Nebraska as being the strongest additions. Big East schools are now mentioned when the talk turns to expanding to 16. Basically any school that has a football team that is not in the SEC or Pac 10 already has been brought up as possible additions.
the ACC is in a weaker position than the Big10, Pac10 and SEC for sure. they are still stronger than the BigXII or Big East though.
don’t let the academic angle out of the picture. the Big10 would never accept West Virginia, Cincinatti, or Louisville because they are not strong enough academically. the ACC also likes it’s academic reputation and that would be part of the equation (and why some may say no to the SEC).
you also have to think about what the school would bring to the SEC. Would Miami and Florida State really bring more $$$? The Gators already deliver TV sets in Floria. maybe they’d do marginally better, but not grossly.
VaTech would make some sense as the SEC would expand their footprint with them, but would their lawmakers allow them to leave Virginia after fighting so hard to get them in the same conference (another factor in these state schools is that lawmakers have some sway).
What conference would want BC? Big market, but they are pretty far out there for travel. I suppose if the Big10 went nearly all-east and went after BC, UConn, Syracuse, Rutgers, and Mizzou?
Maryland is desirable for their TV footprint, academics, and decent athletic history. But, I do not think they would jump unless they felt the ACC was falling apart. And, I don’t think it will.
That’s part of the fun of all this though. I might be completely off-base with everything above.
@Rick-
I’m not a business man, I’m a business, man. Let me handle my business, damn.
/Jay-Z’d
I am trying to decipher Shoals (Deciphering Shoals 101).
Is he saying that – as opposed to a story of individuals on a backdrop of organizations – that the NBA MIGHT wind up on the backdrop of Lebron James (and Nike?)?
It’s a brash concept.
If it happens, I think his wording is too open-ended to say that he told us so.
Gotta love Tuba Rubin. The first sign that he was going to be good was when Romeo actually played him as a rookie.
Hopefully, he’ll continue to grow (as a player, not as a fat man) in his third year with the club.
Rubin “impresses” (Shaun Rogers facing suspension on weapons charges), Veikune “impresses” (D’Qwell unhappy with contract), Robiskie impresses (No quality offseason FA/WR’s added). Jus’ sayin’
Abe, are you speculating that Rubin, Veikune, and Robiskie are impressive compared to the scout team and ball boys?