(Brief article from 2006-2007 season, when Kobe was tearing it up...)
Kobe extends 50 point scoring streak to 3 games
Portland and Minnesota felt it. Now it was time for Memphis to handle the unquestionable truth: When Kobe is on fire, there’s little you can do about it.
After taking the foot off the accelerator during last year's playoffs against Phoenix--and earlier this season as well, it appears Kobe is once again putting his cape on and carrying the Lakers on his back: A modern day Atlas holding Los Angeles on his shoulders.
Considering the output of his last 3 games (65 points on 23-39 shooting against Portland, 50 on 17 makes out of 35 attempts vs. Minnesota and, for good measure, 60 yesterday against Memphis, converting 20 shots from 37 tries), all the hoopla surrounding the early season talk about Kobe becoming more of a facilitator than a scorer is beginning to wane.
As we get closer to the playoffs, Mr. Bryant is shooting for the basketball history books. Let's analyze in more detail his torrid streak:
1) His 3 straight games of 50-plus points is a plateau that had only been conquered by three athletes. You may have heard of them: Elgin Baylor, Wilt and Mike. Now he only needs to have 11 more of these streaks to tie Chamberlain for the all-time mark of 12 times scoring 50-plus in 3 successive games. That’s a testament to how unstoppable a force Mr. Chamberlain was.
2) His newest 60 point effort gave him 4 for his career, tying him for 2nd all-time with his Airness himself (Wilt is far ahead with an astonishing 32). Considering Kobe is only 28, he should edge past Mike in no time.
3) It would only be natural to enquire how well is he doing in the career 50 point game department. How about a grand total of 17 in the regular season (and counting), second only to, yes, you guessed it, Wilt the Stilt--who has over 100, and Air Jordan—with a little more than 30 such extravaganzas.
The good news for the Lakers is that Kobe's torrential deluge of points has coincided with Jack Nicholson's favorite basketball squad posting 3 straight wins, a much needed renaissance after having lost 7 in a row. Considering that Los Angeles is 12-5 when Kobe unleashes a 50 point effort (and 5-1 this year) it's sure to be a good bet to expect more of the same in the remainder of the season.
Taking into account he has averaged 43.8 points in the 5 games following a 50-plus output so far this season, it might not be illusory to expect him pulling out another half century effort out of his trick bag in tonight's game against the Hornets.
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viernes, 26 de julio de 2024
viernes, 12 de febrero de 2010
Even if Kurt Warner retires, the Hall Beckons
(Written before Warner's last game prior to calling it quits)
Much controversy has been built around the recent rumor of Kurt Warner calling it quits after this post-season culminates, thus voiding the last year of his contract. Considering the same musings were ubiquitous after Arizona’s implausible Super Bowl run last season, apparently it’s déjà vu all over again. However, there’s one subtle distinction this time: Warner’s concussion midway through this season presents a health scare that might tilt the balance of an almost 40 year-old family man—as accomplished as any QB is expected to be at the NFL level—towards taking the less risky route and biding adieu to the game he loves.
Such situation would depend, in no small measure, to the success of the Cards in the playoffs—a Super Bowl victory would provide a perfect swan song to a storybook career. (And after gun-slinging his team to an epic 51-45 wild card victory against Green Bay on the strength of 377 yards and 5 TD passes, such an scenario is not as far-fetched as previously imagined).
Leaving such imponderables aside and regardless of how this season ends, one thing’s certain: Kurt Warner has earned his trip to Canton. In a shortened career that started in his late twenties after going undrafted and taking a circuitous detour through Arena Football and NFL Europe, he made the most of his maiden opportunity with the Rams, leading the Greatest Show on Turf to 2 Super Bowls in 3 years, winning one—and collecting 2 regular season MVP awards in the process. After injuries and lesser performances derailed his success, leading to being released by Saint Louis, and a failed stint with the Giants, he rejuvenated his career in Arizona, leading a young team without any semblance of a running game to the Big Show and, ever so cruelly, being left to impotently watch his defense fail to hold a lead in the waning seconds of the game.
Taking 2 different teams to a Super Bowl is no small feat, nor is it posting the 3 best passing yards game in Super Bowl history—or owning a 9-3 playoff record, for that matter—but when one combines such stellar postseason play with regular season numbers than rank among the most efficient ever in such metrics as yards per pass (7.95), completion percentage (65.5%) or QB rating (93.7), one can brush aside his shortened career (as evidenced by “only” amassing 208 passing TDs and over 32,000 yards) and without hesitation accept the self-evident narrative: Kurt Warner can hold his own with the legends of the game as one of the best passers to ever throw a football.
Much controversy has been built around the recent rumor of Kurt Warner calling it quits after this post-season culminates, thus voiding the last year of his contract. Considering the same musings were ubiquitous after Arizona’s implausible Super Bowl run last season, apparently it’s déjà vu all over again. However, there’s one subtle distinction this time: Warner’s concussion midway through this season presents a health scare that might tilt the balance of an almost 40 year-old family man—as accomplished as any QB is expected to be at the NFL level—towards taking the less risky route and biding adieu to the game he loves.
Such situation would depend, in no small measure, to the success of the Cards in the playoffs—a Super Bowl victory would provide a perfect swan song to a storybook career. (And after gun-slinging his team to an epic 51-45 wild card victory against Green Bay on the strength of 377 yards and 5 TD passes, such an scenario is not as far-fetched as previously imagined).
Leaving such imponderables aside and regardless of how this season ends, one thing’s certain: Kurt Warner has earned his trip to Canton. In a shortened career that started in his late twenties after going undrafted and taking a circuitous detour through Arena Football and NFL Europe, he made the most of his maiden opportunity with the Rams, leading the Greatest Show on Turf to 2 Super Bowls in 3 years, winning one—and collecting 2 regular season MVP awards in the process. After injuries and lesser performances derailed his success, leading to being released by Saint Louis, and a failed stint with the Giants, he rejuvenated his career in Arizona, leading a young team without any semblance of a running game to the Big Show and, ever so cruelly, being left to impotently watch his defense fail to hold a lead in the waning seconds of the game.
Taking 2 different teams to a Super Bowl is no small feat, nor is it posting the 3 best passing yards game in Super Bowl history—or owning a 9-3 playoff record, for that matter—but when one combines such stellar postseason play with regular season numbers than rank among the most efficient ever in such metrics as yards per pass (7.95), completion percentage (65.5%) or QB rating (93.7), one can brush aside his shortened career (as evidenced by “only” amassing 208 passing TDs and over 32,000 yards) and without hesitation accept the self-evident narrative: Kurt Warner can hold his own with the legends of the game as one of the best passers to ever throw a football.
After admitting to steroid use, is Mark McGwire HOF bound?
Finally, the worst kept secret in baseball is a secret no more. Mark McGwire has publicly admitted to using steroids intermittently in the 90’s, including the epic showdown against fellow slugger Sammy Sosa that caught the imaginations of millions, and revitalized the passion for baseball during that unforgettable 1998 season.
After countless allegations since his “vote of silence” pertaining to steroid usage in a series of Congressional hearings 5 years ago, Big Mac’s public image had taken a beating, as evidenced not only by his own isolation from the public eye, but by his repeated shunning by Cooperstown voters. As he prepares to initiate a new phase in his baseball career as hitting coach of his former team, the Saint Louis Cardinals, alongside his mentor, friend and staunch supporter, Tony La Russa, hopefully this (overly delayed) apology will bring some closure to the shroud of controversy and public outcry that has surrounded his persona for the better part of this recently concluded decade.
And, perhaps, this act of contrition may help pave the way to refurbishing his image and, just maybe, even allow for his eventual induction into the Hall of Fame. After all, America has time and again shown its propensity to forgive formerly beloved athletes and entertainers that, humans as they are, have committed mistakes and provided mea culpas (sometimes honest; sometimes induced by PR machinations). And, if McGwire’s steroid consumption chronology is to be believed, some of his best seasons prior to the beginning of the Steroid Era—circa 1993-94, came in years when he was clean: his 1987 record-breaking rookie season (49 dingers) and his 42 HRs back in 1992.
Moreover, considering that if one were to apply a “steroid premium” deduction to his numbers (say, a hefty 20%), he would have still attained the 50 homer plateau—twice! The fact is, Major League Baseball obligingly turned a blind eye to steroid consumption after the loss of public goodwill that succeeded the regrettable 1994 strike, resulting in an era where these substances were not officially banned, allowing for inflated offensive numbers where cheating became part of the clubhouse culture and, as such, implicitly condoned.
That does not excuse McGwire’s (and many others’) dubious behavior, but it’s only against this background that he and his fellow offenders must be judged. And in the end, history is likely to recognize that his on-field accomplishments, however illicitly aided they might have been, were otherworldly enough to warrant recognition alongside the pantheon of all-time greats that reside in Cooperstown.
After countless allegations since his “vote of silence” pertaining to steroid usage in a series of Congressional hearings 5 years ago, Big Mac’s public image had taken a beating, as evidenced not only by his own isolation from the public eye, but by his repeated shunning by Cooperstown voters. As he prepares to initiate a new phase in his baseball career as hitting coach of his former team, the Saint Louis Cardinals, alongside his mentor, friend and staunch supporter, Tony La Russa, hopefully this (overly delayed) apology will bring some closure to the shroud of controversy and public outcry that has surrounded his persona for the better part of this recently concluded decade.
And, perhaps, this act of contrition may help pave the way to refurbishing his image and, just maybe, even allow for his eventual induction into the Hall of Fame. After all, America has time and again shown its propensity to forgive formerly beloved athletes and entertainers that, humans as they are, have committed mistakes and provided mea culpas (sometimes honest; sometimes induced by PR machinations). And, if McGwire’s steroid consumption chronology is to be believed, some of his best seasons prior to the beginning of the Steroid Era—circa 1993-94, came in years when he was clean: his 1987 record-breaking rookie season (49 dingers) and his 42 HRs back in 1992.
Moreover, considering that if one were to apply a “steroid premium” deduction to his numbers (say, a hefty 20%), he would have still attained the 50 homer plateau—twice! The fact is, Major League Baseball obligingly turned a blind eye to steroid consumption after the loss of public goodwill that succeeded the regrettable 1994 strike, resulting in an era where these substances were not officially banned, allowing for inflated offensive numbers where cheating became part of the clubhouse culture and, as such, implicitly condoned.
That does not excuse McGwire’s (and many others’) dubious behavior, but it’s only against this background that he and his fellow offenders must be judged. And in the end, history is likely to recognize that his on-field accomplishments, however illicitly aided they might have been, were otherworldly enough to warrant recognition alongside the pantheon of all-time greats that reside in Cooperstown.
Excelsior, Sydney!
September 17, 2000: Opening Ceremony (Olympic Games)
What a finale for the opening ceremony of the Olympics, what an amazing spectacle! Magnificent! Awe inspiring! Humanity exalted!
The final image with the flame burning magnificently above the stadium shall remain impregnated in my consciousness forever, its indelible and inspirational message inextricably intertwined with my existence. Here is the way I interpreted the symbolism immersed in that momentous image:
A kaleidoscopic runway into the heavens, a spaceship carrying the torch of goodwill ready to depart our planet; its mission: to irrigate the cosmos with humanity's message of togetherness and fraternity...
Of course that’s a romantic idealization of our nature and our humble place in the grand, universal, scheme of things, but, for a brief instant, I held that image in my mind as if it were a reality and not a fictitious illusion.
Yes, it is only an illusion, an oasis of hope deeply buried among humanity's obvious deficiencies, but it’s a glimpse into a plausible, hopefully not to distant future, where humans have learned to live peacefully not only among themselves but among our close neighbors in space and beyond...
What a finale for the opening ceremony of the Olympics, what an amazing spectacle! Magnificent! Awe inspiring! Humanity exalted!
The final image with the flame burning magnificently above the stadium shall remain impregnated in my consciousness forever, its indelible and inspirational message inextricably intertwined with my existence. Here is the way I interpreted the symbolism immersed in that momentous image:
A kaleidoscopic runway into the heavens, a spaceship carrying the torch of goodwill ready to depart our planet; its mission: to irrigate the cosmos with humanity's message of togetherness and fraternity...
Of course that’s a romantic idealization of our nature and our humble place in the grand, universal, scheme of things, but, for a brief instant, I held that image in my mind as if it were a reality and not a fictitious illusion.
Yes, it is only an illusion, an oasis of hope deeply buried among humanity's obvious deficiencies, but it’s a glimpse into a plausible, hopefully not to distant future, where humans have learned to live peacefully not only among themselves but among our close neighbors in space and beyond...
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