[post on BartonHallBenchWarmers]
By now you have all read about the guilty admission and apology that came with the plea bargain that Michael Vick's legal team has deemed is the best strategy in the federal dogfighting investigation. Recall that only a few weeks ago, Vick came out of seclusion into the public and declared he was looking forward to clear his good name, admitting no guilt and no fault. As a non-follower of NFL, unable to be dazzled by his god-like athletic dimensions of Herculean scales, I wonder what exactly is the sports/media icon really sorry for. What heart-felt sincerity can be conveyed in an apology, just weeks after categorically denying all wrongdoings in front of cameras and adoring fans? When only after the other four charged co-conspirators have also been backed into a corner and signed plea bargains, raising the number of witnesses against Vick to seven, are a few words of apologetics muttered? Admitting guilt only when it is legally expedient is admitting one is sorry he is caught and nothing else. If he can commit the same crime again and guaranteed not to be caught, would he not do so again? This is the most egregious case of a man rising to the pinnacle of the sports pyramid, creating an ego beyond his human and societal limits in the process, committed a blatant felony, and attempted to selfishly save his kingdom by damage control and taking the most politically correct routes carefully prepared by his legal advisers. Is Vick a good kid caught in a bad situation? Maybe he once was, but as George Orwell famously said, "power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." The Michael Vick today has since long been a different being from the one who tossed footballs for the sheer joy of the game.
2007年8月21日火曜日
2007年8月16日木曜日
senior comebacks
[post on BartonHallBenchWarmers]
i am not sure if it is the summer heat getting into the hot heads of middle-aged male or just the atrocious sight of the Cavs getting whipped mercilessly by the Spurs that inspired a renewed fire of competitiveness in old and broken down bodies, but the recent announcements of many
bygone stars of the 90's to come back one last time for the ultimate glory is both understandable and pathetic at the same time. granted, shooters like Reggie Miller and Allan Houston are still better shooters than 90% of the current NBA crop, but the players are bigger and faster, and i am not sure how easily they can get their shots up like the good old days when they lighted it up w/ ease. (come to think of it, i don't ever remember Houston lighting anyone up, even as the lone gunman in the crippled offense in NY Knicks). More doubtful are players like Penny, who had relied on superior athleticism to outquick opponents to the rim, to return to form in the now congested half-court of oversized giants. Even more unlikely is the likes of Oakley, Shawn Kemp, who had relied on strength, size and guile to collect rebounds in the rough-'em-up NBA 90's. NBA has since made a concerted effort to reduce grab-and-hold physical plays, and at 6-9, he will be one of the smallest PFs in the game. know that Yao Ming can bench 310, Dwight Howard can do even more -- a sign that players are now specially trained and conditioned by an army of specialists around the clock to optimize their performance.
if we learn anything from MJ, it is that father time catches up to anyone, no matter how spectacularly talented one used to be in his youth. understandably, letting go is one of life's most difficult lessons --- one that we will all experience eventually. besides, it ain't so bad w/ spending time w/ family and playing golf?
i am not sure if it is the summer heat getting into the hot heads of middle-aged male or just the atrocious sight of the Cavs getting whipped mercilessly by the Spurs that inspired a renewed fire of competitiveness in old and broken down bodies, but the recent announcements of many
bygone stars of the 90's to come back one last time for the ultimate glory is both understandable and pathetic at the same time. granted, shooters like Reggie Miller and Allan Houston are still better shooters than 90% of the current NBA crop, but the players are bigger and faster, and i am not sure how easily they can get their shots up like the good old days when they lighted it up w/ ease. (come to think of it, i don't ever remember Houston lighting anyone up, even as the lone gunman in the crippled offense in NY Knicks). More doubtful are players like Penny, who had relied on superior athleticism to outquick opponents to the rim, to return to form in the now congested half-court of oversized giants. Even more unlikely is the likes of Oakley, Shawn Kemp, who had relied on strength, size and guile to collect rebounds in the rough-'em-up NBA 90's. NBA has since made a concerted effort to reduce grab-and-hold physical plays, and at 6-9, he will be one of the smallest PFs in the game. know that Yao Ming can bench 310, Dwight Howard can do even more -- a sign that players are now specially trained and conditioned by an army of specialists around the clock to optimize their performance.
if we learn anything from MJ, it is that father time catches up to anyone, no matter how spectacularly talented one used to be in his youth. understandably, letting go is one of life's most difficult lessons --- one that we will all experience eventually. besides, it ain't so bad w/ spending time w/ family and playing golf?
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