All Things Spring Part I
Hard to put a picture up for this post because there are so many things covered in it. The Sport Maharishi is back for a one-on-one, back and forth forum on all things spring in the world of sports--the Final Four, Tiger and the Masters, the NBA, and MLB Opening Day.
Forgive some rough transitions and references to earlier topics and try to connect it all. As always, thanks for your audience and time. We'll start things off with the Maharishi...
Sport Maharishi: Ay yo Guru (sorry, just had to channel my inner Jay-Z this morning, I'm also assuming you have a multi-racial fan base).
We are in the midst of what might be the greatest two-week stretch in sports. The NCAA Tournament is still going strong on the brink of the Final Four, Opening day is a mere 3 days away, the NBA is winding down and teams are jockeying for playoff positions (and LBJ and The Durantula are gunning for the scoring title), the Masters and the Tiger Woods comeback are a week away. To top it all off, the weather is getting nice, girls are wearing less (and more importantly are starting to have the bodies to do so) and the days are longer. This trumps the end of October (World Series, NBA and NHL season starts, NFL mid season, Halloween, shorter days, out of shape and pale girls, and colder nights). But I digress.
How excited are you for the Final Four? My favorite weekend in the tournament is probably the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, I feel there's a little less pressure and you are more likely to see a great game
And do you really think your Dukies have a chance to win this thing? I like Duke, I really do, but I'm not naive enough to believe they can put 2 really good games back to back. They are ove-rreliant on shooting, they don't have the athletes to hang with West Virginia, and I really think they are just happy to finally be here.
West VIrginia looks like a team with something to prove, Da'Sean Butler is an absolute stud who can carry a team, and the supporting cast I think is bigger (pause) and tougher than Duke's. I'll be rooting for Duke, but I just don't think they can get it done.
Sport Guru: Many happy returns to the Maharishi! Its good to have you back in the column, if only for the significant readership boost I get from your writing.
I am giddy about the Final Four, mainly because Duke gets to play. Yeah, the Final Four is usually fun to watch, but its hardly been appointment television for me the past couple years. But now I'm invested emotionally, and financially (you know, if gambling were legal). If you don't think Duke can win, you're blind. Look who else is in this thing! Who else has the inside/outside balance that Duke has? I think your assessment of Duke is outdated: they do rely heavily on shooting, but its not to the point anymore where they're shooting themselves out of games because of the presence they have inside. Say what you want about Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas, these guys are legit threats to reckon with inside, at least on defense. Here's my argument. Duke hasn't had this kind of presence on the defensive glass and in challenging shots since the Landlord Shelden Williams. Because of the ability to change shots and clear the boards, Duke doesn't have to score as much or be as hot from the perimeter to win games. I gave some statistics about Duke's rebounding and defensive scoring ranks in my last post. They've been great defensively all season, and are one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the nation--much credit to Thomas and Zoubek for their improvements this season.
I love the leadership that Jon Scheyer brings to this team as the point guard. In the NCAA tournament, you have to have an elite guard who can lead your team if you want to win. You cannot win this thing without one. Scheyer wasn't ready to lead last year, and the Duke guards just got blitzed by Villanova's great backcourt in the Sweet 16. This year is a different story, the maturity in Scheyer and in Nolan Smith has been dramatic. These guys have turned into legitimate scorers who know how to get their points aside from standing on the 3 point line launching wide open jumpers.
You say they don't have the athletes to hang with WVU, which is indisputable. I would contend that West Virginia is going to have a tough time scoring because (a) Truck Bryant isn't going to play and (b) they don't have anybody who can shoot the ball. Duke is already tough on defense; if you thrive on getting into the paint and scoring a lot from close range, you're going to struggle against Duke's bigs (I have to harp on this. I never know when Duke will have good big men again). The win over Kentucky was impressive, but in a similar type of situation against a much more experienced team, I don't know if they can pull it out. West Virginia seems kind of temperamental to me. They seem like the kind of team that is high risk/high reward, and I never know if they'll shoot themselves in the foot to lose a game, or if they'll execute perfectly and dominate. Believe it or not, I think Duke is more of a sure bet (if gambling were legal) in the semifinal.
What do you think about the other semifinal game?
I disagree with you on the best time of the sports year. I'm glad we disagree on this just to get a different perspective, but if we're talking about sports, the female talent argument, if you will, is irrelevant. I agree that this may put April over the top against the end of October, but it has nothing to do with sports. And this is a column about sports. I think.
I evaluate this on the feeling I get. The feeling I get during MLB playoffs, NBA tip off, NASCAR Chase for the Cup, college and pro football...I don't have that feeling during March Madness. At no other time of the year do you get as many sports leagues at crucial points of their seasons as in mid/late October. There is literally an appointment TV game on every single night in October. What's going on right now? The most boring part of the NBA season, yes, the Final Four, and the end of spring training. Remember, Opening Day shares a Monday with the end of college basketball, so there's very little overlap. Maybe I'm being too nitpicky with specific dates and such, I don't know. I'm still partial to October. Let's move on.
What are your thoughts on Tiger's imminent return to the links at the Master's?
Does he systematically destroy everyone? If so, does he start doing so on Thursday as opposed to Saturday or early Sunday? Could the media firestorm and personal turmoil be enough to shake even the most apparently confident and swaggerized (??) golfer in history? What happens when he hears that first boo or verbal dagger from the gallery, aside from that person getting stalked and immediately banned from the tournament?
I haven't the slightest idea how he is going to react. Remember, he hasn't played in months (allegedly), and he'll inevitably be rusty. The question is, how long does it take him to shake off the rust, and will he still be in striking distance in order to make a run? I don't think he'll pace the field all weekend long. If he wins this thing, I think it will come in the form of a furious comeback, something like a 7-under back 9 on Saturday, or a hole in one on the 12th and subsequent booming drive off at 13 to cap Amen Corner. I don't know how well Tiger blocks out personal distractions or failures or the fact that everyone knows his darkest secret to have tunnel vision on his game. We've never apparently seen him have to do that before, but now he will.
Maharishi: Whoa, slow down Guru. Ever heard of the expression 'less is more?'
In response to your Duke-related soap box: Really, Sheldon Williams-Parker is your benchmark for good big men? He went to 3 Sweet 16s and one Final Four, not exactly stellar if you are at Duke. He was embarrassed by Tyrus Thomas his Senior year. He has been a complete bust in the NBA. I'd venture that the only thing he's known for is being Candace Parker's husband. And I'm supposed to get all excited because I think Zoubek and the Plumlee brothers can match his talent and defensive presence? I'll pass.
I think you are overlooking Da'Sean Butler's ability to rise to the occasion and lead his team. They had no business beating Kentucky, a team with 4 first round draft picks. And personally I don't think the game was really that close, West Virginia was in control the whole game. Butler can shoot, Ebanks can get to the rim, and while I don't think Mazulla is going to go off for 17 pts again, you still have to respect him.
In the other semi-final, I like Butler, and it's not just because they are the 'underdog' or feel good story, I really think they are the better team. They have a bona-fide NBA player in Gordon Hayward (which is huge this time of year). Heck, Shelvin Mack might even be a first round lock the way he's playing. They have a solid big in Matt Howard, a slew of guys who can flat out shoot, and a coach who never seems to get rattled. I know Tommy Izzo is Mr. March, but they really struggled to get here- they struggled with New Mexico State, needed a buzzer beater to get past Maryland, had trouble with Northern Iowa (I still don't want to talk about it),
and needed a defensive collapse on Tennessee's part to reach Indy. Not exactly resonating victories. Butler on the other hand, with the exception of the Murray State game, outplayed all their opponents, including 2 very popular Final Four picks in Syracuse and Kansas State. They will have some pressure playing at home, but judging how they haven't lost since DECEMBER, I think Brad Stevens and his squad will more than rise to the occasion. Plus Butler is 8-2 when playing on Saturdays this year. How's that for gambling information?
But enough about basketball, let's talk Tiger. I don't think there's ever been a situation in sports when the debated outcome of a performance is so polarizing. He could sack up and tune out all the distractions and just say "F it, I'm winning this thing." Or he could crack (like most people would), get all bothered and completely choke. I tend to side with the latter. Golf, and maybe your favorite sport NASCAR, are unique in the sense that they are affected by so many variables that have a much greater impact on the outcome. For example, if Kobe is having an off night shooting, he can still get to the basket, shut someone down on defense or find teammates for open looks. (Whether or not they hit them is a different story, the Laker bench is horrible). When he came back from alleged rape charges I'm sure it affected his game. But there were still other areas he could contribute to that wouldn't be as affected by someone yelling "Pull out!" every time he shot the ball. If Pujols is having an off night at the plate he could pick up his defense, maybe draw a few walks and run the bases really well. Plus, just having him in the lineup strikes fear in pitchers and maybe changes the way the pitch to Holliday and the rest of their lineup. In football, individual players can step up and directly impact the outcome of a game. Shoot, Dexter Jackson won Tampa Bay the Super Bowl as a safety. I rest my case.
Golf is not the same. Let's say the people booing really gets to him on his putting. Can he 2 and 3 putt and still win the Masters? Absolutely not! Even if he kills his drives and is silky on his short game, poor putting will kill his chances. Maybe his putting is great but he shanks a few drives because someone yelled out "Cheater!." In golf, each subsequent shot is directly affected by the previous shot. He has to be on his game for 250 strokes. You know how hard that is? Yes he's Tiger, yes he's done some amazing things before. But playing through pain is completely different than playing through criticism and ridicule. I think he has a fair showing and maintains his composure, but on the inside it'll mess with him and I don't think he can block it out for 5 days. I don't care what kind of restrictions Augusta National have, people will still talk, and it will get to him. I know you're probably in the camp that thinks he can win, care to defend your side?
And don't try to downplay the importance of Opening Day. Yes it falls on the day of the National Championship, but it's still a big deal. Plus the Sox and Yanks open on Sunday with no major sporting events to compete with. Admit it, you're stoked baseball is back in your life. From a fan and fantasy standpoint, I think you are just giddy inside.
Guru: Don't waste your breath. You spent an entire paragraph refuting something completely unrelated to what I asserted about Shelden Williams. I never said anything about his tournament record or his individual hacks against anyone else.
The only thing that I would agree with is the whole Candace Parker bit. She married down.
A few thoughts on Butler-Michigan State before I address Tiger. Firstly, I want to establish that there's some serious Ewing Theory operating with the Spartans. Our previous Ewing Theory team was Purdue, but now they're gone after overachieving. The loss of Kalin Lucas' positive effect on Izzo's squad cannot be understated. Add that extra motivation to the unparalleled way that MSU handles the tourney every year, and I'm not shying away from declaring them my favorite in Indy IN SPITE of the presence of Duke. Don't take this as a slight to Butler. I can't say enough about Butler and the way that Brad Stevens has motivated his team to topple the Goliaths Syracuse and K-State. They have the makeup of a giant killer, but I think that the run stops here. The logical pick is Butler, but I've learned to never go against the Ewing Theory. Mark it down: Duke-Michigan State for the title on Monday night.
Back to Eldrick. I agree with the notion that its easier to compound one mistake in golf than in any other game. Also, golfers don't compete against each other. They compete against a course and then compare to each other. If Tiger were playing a game against a competitor, I think it would be easier for him to regain his dominance. It will be harder for him to get his game back against an inanimate, natural opponent that doesn't do anything to motivate or piss him off. Again I'll say it, I don't think he wins at Augusta. The more he plays, the better he'll be, but he has no lead up and not a lot of tournament preparation to the Masters.
What's next?
Baseball preview, NBA stretch run, LeBron vs. Durant
Your pick Maharishi....
(Stay tuned for Part II to come soon).
Forgive some rough transitions and references to earlier topics and try to connect it all. As always, thanks for your audience and time. We'll start things off with the Maharishi...
Sport Maharishi: Ay yo Guru (sorry, just had to channel my inner Jay-Z this morning, I'm also assuming you have a multi-racial fan base).
We are in the midst of what might be the greatest two-week stretch in sports. The NCAA Tournament is still going strong on the brink of the Final Four, Opening day is a mere 3 days away, the NBA is winding down and teams are jockeying for playoff positions (and LBJ and The Durantula are gunning for the scoring title), the Masters and the Tiger Woods comeback are a week away. To top it all off, the weather is getting nice, girls are wearing less (and more importantly are starting to have the bodies to do so) and the days are longer. This trumps the end of October (World Series, NBA and NHL season starts, NFL mid season, Halloween, shorter days, out of shape and pale girls, and colder nights). But I digress.
How excited are you for the Final Four? My favorite weekend in the tournament is probably the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, I feel there's a little less pressure and you are more likely to see a great game
And do you really think your Dukies have a chance to win this thing? I like Duke, I really do, but I'm not naive enough to believe they can put 2 really good games back to back. They are ove-rreliant on shooting, they don't have the athletes to hang with West Virginia, and I really think they are just happy to finally be here.
Can DaSean Butler get his team past Duke?
Sport Guru: Many happy returns to the Maharishi! Its good to have you back in the column, if only for the significant readership boost I get from your writing.
I am giddy about the Final Four, mainly because Duke gets to play. Yeah, the Final Four is usually fun to watch, but its hardly been appointment television for me the past couple years. But now I'm invested emotionally, and financially (you know, if gambling were legal). If you don't think Duke can win, you're blind. Look who else is in this thing! Who else has the inside/outside balance that Duke has? I think your assessment of Duke is outdated: they do rely heavily on shooting, but its not to the point anymore where they're shooting themselves out of games because of the presence they have inside. Say what you want about Brian Zoubek and Lance Thomas, these guys are legit threats to reckon with inside, at least on defense. Here's my argument. Duke hasn't had this kind of presence on the defensive glass and in challenging shots since the Landlord Shelden Williams. Because of the ability to change shots and clear the boards, Duke doesn't have to score as much or be as hot from the perimeter to win games. I gave some statistics about Duke's rebounding and defensive scoring ranks in my last post. They've been great defensively all season, and are one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the nation--much credit to Thomas and Zoubek for their improvements this season.
I love the leadership that Jon Scheyer brings to this team as the point guard. In the NCAA tournament, you have to have an elite guard who can lead your team if you want to win. You cannot win this thing without one. Scheyer wasn't ready to lead last year, and the Duke guards just got blitzed by Villanova's great backcourt in the Sweet 16. This year is a different story, the maturity in Scheyer and in Nolan Smith has been dramatic. These guys have turned into legitimate scorers who know how to get their points aside from standing on the 3 point line launching wide open jumpers.
You say they don't have the athletes to hang with WVU, which is indisputable. I would contend that West Virginia is going to have a tough time scoring because (a) Truck Bryant isn't going to play and (b) they don't have anybody who can shoot the ball. Duke is already tough on defense; if you thrive on getting into the paint and scoring a lot from close range, you're going to struggle against Duke's bigs (I have to harp on this. I never know when Duke will have good big men again). The win over Kentucky was impressive, but in a similar type of situation against a much more experienced team, I don't know if they can pull it out. West Virginia seems kind of temperamental to me. They seem like the kind of team that is high risk/high reward, and I never know if they'll shoot themselves in the foot to lose a game, or if they'll execute perfectly and dominate. Believe it or not, I think Duke is more of a sure bet (if gambling were legal) in the semifinal.
What do you think about the other semifinal game?
I disagree with you on the best time of the sports year. I'm glad we disagree on this just to get a different perspective, but if we're talking about sports, the female talent argument, if you will, is irrelevant. I agree that this may put April over the top against the end of October, but it has nothing to do with sports. And this is a column about sports. I think.
I evaluate this on the feeling I get. The feeling I get during MLB playoffs, NBA tip off, NASCAR Chase for the Cup, college and pro football...I don't have that feeling during March Madness. At no other time of the year do you get as many sports leagues at crucial points of their seasons as in mid/late October. There is literally an appointment TV game on every single night in October. What's going on right now? The most boring part of the NBA season, yes, the Final Four, and the end of spring training. Remember, Opening Day shares a Monday with the end of college basketball, so there's very little overlap. Maybe I'm being too nitpicky with specific dates and such, I don't know. I'm still partial to October. Let's move on.
What are your thoughts on Tiger's imminent return to the links at the Master's?
I haven't the slightest idea how he is going to react. Remember, he hasn't played in months (allegedly), and he'll inevitably be rusty. The question is, how long does it take him to shake off the rust, and will he still be in striking distance in order to make a run? I don't think he'll pace the field all weekend long. If he wins this thing, I think it will come in the form of a furious comeback, something like a 7-under back 9 on Saturday, or a hole in one on the 12th and subsequent booming drive off at 13 to cap Amen Corner. I don't know how well Tiger blocks out personal distractions or failures or the fact that everyone knows his darkest secret to have tunnel vision on his game. We've never apparently seen him have to do that before, but now he will.
Maharishi: Whoa, slow down Guru. Ever heard of the expression 'less is more?'
In response to your Duke-related soap box: Really, Sheldon Williams-Parker is your benchmark for good big men? He went to 3 Sweet 16s and one Final Four, not exactly stellar if you are at Duke. He was embarrassed by Tyrus Thomas his Senior year. He has been a complete bust in the NBA. I'd venture that the only thing he's known for is being Candace Parker's husband. And I'm supposed to get all excited because I think Zoubek and the Plumlee brothers can match his talent and defensive presence? I'll pass.
I think you are overlooking Da'Sean Butler's ability to rise to the occasion and lead his team. They had no business beating Kentucky, a team with 4 first round draft picks. And personally I don't think the game was really that close, West Virginia was in control the whole game. Butler can shoot, Ebanks can get to the rim, and while I don't think Mazulla is going to go off for 17 pts again, you still have to respect him.
In the other semi-final, I like Butler, and it's not just because they are the 'underdog' or feel good story, I really think they are the better team. They have a bona-fide NBA player in Gordon Hayward (which is huge this time of year). Heck, Shelvin Mack might even be a first round lock the way he's playing. They have a solid big in Matt Howard, a slew of guys who can flat out shoot, and a coach who never seems to get rattled. I know Tommy Izzo is Mr. March, but they really struggled to get here- they struggled with New Mexico State, needed a buzzer beater to get past Maryland, had trouble with Northern Iowa (I still don't want to talk about it),
The sight of Ali Farokhmanesh gives the willies to the Maharishi
But enough about basketball, let's talk Tiger. I don't think there's ever been a situation in sports when the debated outcome of a performance is so polarizing. He could sack up and tune out all the distractions and just say "F it, I'm winning this thing." Or he could crack (like most people would), get all bothered and completely choke. I tend to side with the latter. Golf, and maybe your favorite sport NASCAR, are unique in the sense that they are affected by so many variables that have a much greater impact on the outcome. For example, if Kobe is having an off night shooting, he can still get to the basket, shut someone down on defense or find teammates for open looks. (Whether or not they hit them is a different story, the Laker bench is horrible). When he came back from alleged rape charges I'm sure it affected his game. But there were still other areas he could contribute to that wouldn't be as affected by someone yelling "Pull out!" every time he shot the ball. If Pujols is having an off night at the plate he could pick up his defense, maybe draw a few walks and run the bases really well. Plus, just having him in the lineup strikes fear in pitchers and maybe changes the way the pitch to Holliday and the rest of their lineup. In football, individual players can step up and directly impact the outcome of a game. Shoot, Dexter Jackson won Tampa Bay the Super Bowl as a safety. I rest my case.
Golf is not the same. Let's say the people booing really gets to him on his putting. Can he 2 and 3 putt and still win the Masters? Absolutely not! Even if he kills his drives and is silky on his short game, poor putting will kill his chances. Maybe his putting is great but he shanks a few drives because someone yelled out "Cheater!." In golf, each subsequent shot is directly affected by the previous shot. He has to be on his game for 250 strokes. You know how hard that is? Yes he's Tiger, yes he's done some amazing things before. But playing through pain is completely different than playing through criticism and ridicule. I think he has a fair showing and maintains his composure, but on the inside it'll mess with him and I don't think he can block it out for 5 days. I don't care what kind of restrictions Augusta National have, people will still talk, and it will get to him. I know you're probably in the camp that thinks he can win, care to defend your side?
And don't try to downplay the importance of Opening Day. Yes it falls on the day of the National Championship, but it's still a big deal. Plus the Sox and Yanks open on Sunday with no major sporting events to compete with. Admit it, you're stoked baseball is back in your life. From a fan and fantasy standpoint, I think you are just giddy inside.
Guru: Don't waste your breath. You spent an entire paragraph refuting something completely unrelated to what I asserted about Shelden Williams. I never said anything about his tournament record or his individual hacks against anyone else.
Not the prettiest face
A few thoughts on Butler-Michigan State before I address Tiger. Firstly, I want to establish that there's some serious Ewing Theory operating with the Spartans. Our previous Ewing Theory team was Purdue, but now they're gone after overachieving. The loss of Kalin Lucas' positive effect on Izzo's squad cannot be understated. Add that extra motivation to the unparalleled way that MSU handles the tourney every year, and I'm not shying away from declaring them my favorite in Indy IN SPITE of the presence of Duke. Don't take this as a slight to Butler. I can't say enough about Butler and the way that Brad Stevens has motivated his team to topple the Goliaths Syracuse and K-State. They have the makeup of a giant killer, but I think that the run stops here. The logical pick is Butler, but I've learned to never go against the Ewing Theory. Mark it down: Duke-Michigan State for the title on Monday night.
Back to Eldrick. I agree with the notion that its easier to compound one mistake in golf than in any other game. Also, golfers don't compete against each other. They compete against a course and then compare to each other. If Tiger were playing a game against a competitor, I think it would be easier for him to regain his dominance. It will be harder for him to get his game back against an inanimate, natural opponent that doesn't do anything to motivate or piss him off. Again I'll say it, I don't think he wins at Augusta. The more he plays, the better he'll be, but he has no lead up and not a lot of tournament preparation to the Masters.
What's next?
Baseball preview, NBA stretch run, LeBron vs. Durant
Your pick Maharishi....
(Stay tuned for Part II to come soon).
