Pay for Play?

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Ray Allen (left) and Dwyane Wade (right) feel that Team USA players should get paid for their services in the upcoming Olympic Games. Both future Hall-of-Famers are way out of line.

By Josh Kramer

Through the majority of the 20th century, only amateur athletes were allowed to compete in the Olympics.  Then the Dream Team arrived in 1992.  American superiority in basketball was demonstrated to the fullest.  Eventually, European countries began to catch up.  Now winning the Olympics is somewhat of a challenge for the United State every four years.

Dwyane Wade currently is making over 15.5 million dollars this season.  Ray Allen is currently raking in a meager 10.5 million this year. Yesterday, both said that they feel Team USA basketball players should get paid for their services in London this summer.  Is representing your country not enough?  A chance to play basketball in front of thousands of Europeans fans and millions watching on television in London not enough?  Is likely adding a gold medal to your collection not enough?  Is being a part of Olympic history not enough?  I have always been a fan of both Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen.  Wade’s very hard-nosed style of play since his Marquette days has always been admirable, while Ray Allen’s amazing three-point stroke dating back to his days at UConn has always been a thing of beauty.  Both are way out of line here.

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Food for Thought 2-7-2012

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Eli Manning (pictured above) likely stamped a ticket to Canton with an outstanding performance in Super Bowl XLVI.

By Josh Kramer

So long football season.  It has been real. Now America’s favorite sport goes on an extended hiatus.  Basketball takes center stage and baseball is on the horizon.  I think it is safe to say that the 92^nd edition of NFL football did not disappoint by any means and we are all as excited as ever for Year #93.   Here are the main items that have caught my attention over the past couple or days.

NFLP?

So maybe the big game was not as high scoring of an affair as many would have hoped.  I think we can all agree that it was far more entertaining than the BCS National Championship Game that we all had to suffer through nearly a month ago.  The fact of the matter is, the entire football world got to bear witness to an outstanding football game that came down to the final play.  Really, what more can you ask for?

Weekly Nickel 1-9-2012

Photo courtesy of sportsblame.com. Tim Tebow (pictured above) has once again taken over the sporting world. Nobody understands it, but the whole "Tebow Phenomenon" is quite entertaining.

By Josh Kramer

“Tebow Time” is back and bigger than ever.  The Twitter world and ESPN will be a Tebow fest for the next week as Tebow preps for Round 2 with Brady and the Patriots.  Sports are a funny thing.  But I have never been as perplexed as I am by the whole “Tebow Phenomenon.”  The whole thing seems ludicrous and almost fake, but it is real.  Though the sporting world will center its attention on Tim Tebow and the Broncos this week, there are plenty of other things going on.  Here are the events to keep an eye on.

Why men’s basketball is greater than women’s basketball

Photo courtesy of lakers.topbuzz.com.

By Josh Kramer

Now that title is a bit deceiving.  By no means am I saying that men’s basketball is better than women’s basketball.  Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Sure men’s hoop teams tend to be more talented, but the point here is that men’s basketball receives much greater viewership at both the collegiate and professional ranks than women’s basketball.  It is a simple fact.

Now why exactly does this happen?

Here are the five main reasons.

1. Women’s basketball is way too predictable.

“Elite Eight: Day 2 Predictions”

The Jayhawks will end VCU's Cinderella story today behind a big time day from the Morris brothers inside.

4 straight thrilling games in a row dating back to Friday night.  Will we hit 6 in a row today?  I am going with a doubtful.  But both games today should be uptempo and exciting.  Here is a closer look into the matchups that will give us our final 2 participants for the Final Four.

“Elite Eight: Day 1 Predictions”

I fully expect a thriller in the West Regional Final matchup between Arizona and Connecticut later today. But the X-Factor, and reason why the Huskies will win is the phenomenal play as of late by UConn super freshman, Jeremy Lamb (pictured above).

So my bracket has finally exploded over the past 2 nights.  I was doing pretty well through the first weekend.  But with 2 of my Final Four teams going down(Wisconsin, Ohio State),  I am now in the same boat as the majority of America.  I guess I can thank the Big Ten for ruining my bracket.  Either way, it has been an unbelievable tournament with phenomenal finishes thus far.  Last night’s late games were 2 of the best games I have seen all year.

“Madness Highlights Thus Far”

UConn star Kemba Walker made a name for himself in Maui. He continued his great play throughout the regular season and wowed New York in the Big East Tournament. Now he looks to take his team to the Final Four.

As if there is anything else going on in the wide world of sports that is on the same wave length as the NCAA Tournament right now.  Sure there is the Roger Goodell versus Kevin Burnett bickering, Spring Training, and NBA Action.  But none of these things compare to the first Thursday of the NCAA Tournament.  And yes I said the first Thursday, because it is no longer the first round technically.  It is the start of Round 2.  Whatever it is the start of, you got to love it.

No predictions today.  I will let my bracket play out a little.  But I wanted to check in and let you know my initial thoughts of this year’s edition of March Madness.

“Weekly Nickel”

I got the 22-year-old scoring machine Kevin Durant (pictured above) bringing home the All Star Game MVP on Sunday.

It is yet another Monday in the sporting world.  And things are as good as ever. Basketball is at full blow in both the Collegiate and the Professional ranks.  The hockey ice is beginning to heat up.  And Spring Training is upon us!

Lets take a look at this week’s top 5.