Snap, Crackle, and Pop

The uncertain fly in the ointment in any athlete’s career is the possibility of, impact of, and recovery from injury. Whether a setback is temporary, prolonged, or career ending, they all have a profound effect on the sport and the athletes most connected to them in the sport. Three recent injuries have rocked the world of sports. The severity of the injuries are the inverse of the status of the players injured, but have impacted their respective sports profoundly.

WHOA TIGER!

Tiger Woods is the most accomplished and famous golfer of his time. While he is past his prime, he won more tournaments in 2013 than any other golfer and re-surged back to the world’s #1 ranking. Tiger has been nagged by injuries in recent years. He recently had back surgery that forced him off of the PGA Tour.

Woods returned for the Quicken Loans National tournament, missing the cut.Woods then competed in his first major tournament in the British Open, though he struggled and flamed out after a promising start in the first round. Woods recently withdrew from the final round of the Bridgestone invitational this past weekend due to pain in his back. Woods was three under par through the first three rounds.

There is much speculation about this recent setback for Woods. Will he participate in the upcoming PGA Championship? Will he be on the Ryder Cup team next month? The big questions are: 1) Can he be the #1 guy in golf again (on the course) and 2) When will it happen? This latest setback at best raises uncertainty about the future of Woods (and the popularity of golf as a whole) and at worst is another step in the decline of the greatest golfer of the 21^st century.

Tiger's final shot at the Bridgestone. Not unlike a few unfortunate consumers of the tire.... 1

PAUL GEORGE

Indiana Pacers forward Paul George’s injury was so gruesome that I could not create a catchy subtitle for this section in good conscience. George suffered a compound fracture of his leg in international competition with Team USA, preparing for this year’s World Cup. He will miss the 2014-2015 NBA season.

George is a young guy and unlike ligaments, tendons, vertebrae, and joints, broken bones (particularly in young, healthy men) usually heal fully. George should be back at a high level one day. However, the window for the Pacers to win a title may have just shut with George’s injury. The competitive landscape in the NBA’s Eastern Conference is shallow and with LeBron James’ return to Cleveland and the breakup of the Heatles, the two time conference runner ups appeared to have their best opportunity to advance to the NBA Finals in spite of losing guard Lance Stephenson to free agency.

Now, George will not play next season. All Star forward David West, the veteran leader of the team, will be in his mid-thirties by the time George returns. The uncertainty hanging over the Pacers makes them a less attractive free agency destination to attract supporting players. It may be time to rebuild in Indianapolis.

James Harden, huge beard, right, comforting Damon Lillard, left. 2

ANOTHER CAREER CUT SHORT

New York Giants running back David Wilson was an embattled player in just his second year in the NFL. He began last season with an acute case of fumble-itis that jeopardized his status as the starting running back. He suffered a neck injury in Week 5 of the 2013 that ultimately ended his career.

David Wilson had spinal fusion surgery following the injury. He was cleared to return to football contact activities in late July. He suffered a burner in practice last week (a compression of the bones in the neck/spine). Today, Wilson and the Giants put out a statement indicating that he would be placed on injured reserve, meaning he cannot play this season, and that doctors are advising him not to play football again.

David Wilson is only 23 years old and it appears that his NFL career is over. Wilson came into the NFL in 2012 after demonstrating a wealth of potential at Virginia Tech. While he never had a breakout in the NFL, and in spite of the aforementioned struggles last season, Wilson demonstrated the talent to be a serviceable, productive, long-term NFL player.

In spite of the increased focus on player safety, football is a dangerous, high impact sport. It is a dangerous game. The future of no player is certain and careers can end in a flash. Wilson’s sudden departure from the game is another banal reminder of that dark reality.

Giants Training Camp 2014.... In just hours, Wilson's career will be over. 3

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Paying an NSF Check

Indiana Pacers star forward Paul George insinuated that the game officials cost his team a win in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the three-time defending conference champion Miami Heat. The Heat appeared to outplay the Pacers from start-to-finish in Game 4. Don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk. 

PAYING WHAT YOU OWE

George wrote a check with his mouth that he could not cash on time. Last night, in a season-saving, 93-90, Game 5 win at Indiana, George made good on that check. Still, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver slapped George with $25,000 in “NSF fees” for criticizing the officials. The series heads back to Miami for a pivotal Game 6. In my opinion, the team that wins this game wins the series. The Miami Heat will be that team.

George settled up with "The Bank" last night. 1

BUFFOONERY

Yesterday, we discussed the difference between great theater and sophomoric drama in the NBA playoffs. George’s redemption act was part of great theater. Lance Stephenson’s shenanigans during this series (and this season in general) have been downright childish.

Prior to Monday’s Game 4, Stephenson implied that he could get into Heat star forward LeBron James’ head. LeBron inconspicuously dropped 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 12 point Heat win. Last night, Stephenson thought that blowing in James’ ear during a stoppage in play was an effective defensive tactic.

Early foul trouble, limiting James to 24 minutes of play, appeared to be The King’s greatest impediment, not Tropical Breath Lance. Future Hall of Fame Heat guard Ray Allen described Stephenson’s continued silly antics as, “buffoonery.” Some people learn their lessons after burning a hand on the proverbial hot stove. Sir Lance A Little is not one of them.

Dude...seriously? 2

THE BANK IS STILL OPEN

If the two-time NBA champs were supposed to be in despair and desperation following a missed opportunity to close the series out and clinch their fourth consecutive Eastern Conference Championship, one could not tell from the demeanor of the players in the post-game press conference. In fact, without the benefit of the final score, I couldn't tell they lost.

Confidence is a hallmark of a champion. The Heat are the champs and they are justifiably confident. Against the Pacers, how could they not be? When one key player took a big step forward, another kept pulling them in the other direction. The bank closes tomorrow night.

Paul George may sign one more "check" but these ladies should be done signing anything for this year if the Heat take care of business in Miami in Game 6. 3

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The Pacers: Indiana’s Babies

Lance Stephenson is in LeBron James’ head? The Pacers beat the Heat in Game 4 if the refs don’t give it away, according to Paul George? Roy Hibbert would have scored more than zero points (again) if the game plan called for it?

Let’s try an exercise, fellow readers. Point your finger. Point it anywhere. Just one…. Now look at the other fingers on your hand. Old sayings become old because they are timeless and true: whenever you stop to point a finger, there are three more pointing right back at you.

George has 25,000 reasons to learn from his past mistakes. 1

THEATER vs DRAMA CLASS

I’ve always said that the NBA Playoffs make for the best theater of the major North American team sports. The NFL has the best action. MLB offers more unexpected twists. But the NBA delivers the best theater.
There is a difference, however, between adult delivering an athletic theatrical performance and people acting like they’re in a high school drama class. If you’ve followed the 2014 NBA Eastern Conference Finals and/or the Indiana Pacers for any stretch of this playoff run, you know where they fall. It would be funny if it weren’t so silly.


GREAT EXPECTATIONS

The Pacers were one game away from advancing to the 2013 NBA Finals. In 2014, they raced to the best record in the Eastern Conference. They split the four game regular season series with the three-time defending conference champion Miami Heat, with the home team winning every game. The Pacers set themselves up to dethrone the two-time NBA champions.

Indiana has a young team. Power forward David West is the only Pacers’ starter over the age of 28. He is one of only five players on the entire roster over the age of 30. He appears to be the only grown up in a Pacers’ uniform. In a game in which the most respected “talking” is done with one’s game on the court, too many of the players appear to have gotten that concept backwards.

The Pacers began to wilt near the end of the regular season. Conspicuously poor performances, a lack of accountability, attention grabbing headlines in the media, and an undertone of finger pointing threatened to derail the regular season goal of clinching home court in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Indiana started off with a 46-13 record. They limped to the end of the regular season with a 56-26 record, nipping the (coasting) Miami Heat by two games for the top seed in the conference.

Seeing zeros in Hibbert's box score is becoming less unusual with each occurrence. 2

HUH?

The Pacers fell behind the 8th seeded Atlanta Hawks, 3 games to 2. The Hawks had a sub-.500 record in the regular season. Nonetheless, with center Roy Hibbert becoming an offensive black hole and players looking disconnected, the Pacers went into Atlanta for Game 6 facing elimination.

The Pacers are vastly superior to the Hawks in talent. They couldn’t drop a best-of-seven to the Hawks if they tried (though it appeared they were at times). The Pacers cleaned up the glaring messed a Forrest-Gumped their way into the second round against the Washington Wizards, offering more of the same underwhelming basketball in Game 1 of that Eastern Conference Semifinals series.

The Pacers appeared to return to their pre-meltdown form in Game 2, with small forward Paul George and Roy Hibbert having breakout playoff performances. After beating the Heat in Game 1 of the Conference Finals, the NBA appeared to have the showdown that it expected between these two teams for much of the regular season.

Yes, David West. It's like that. 3

THE CREAM RISES TO THE TOP

Miami is leading in this series three games to one. In each of Miami’s three wins, they appear to get better and beating Indiana and Indiana seems to get better at beating itself. For all of the talk that the Pacers have done leading up to and during this series, all they have to show for it is a trip home for Game 5 facing elimination and Paul George’s pockets being $25,000 lighter after criticizing the officials following a Game 4 romp by Miami, 102-90, that was never as close in the 4th quarter as the final score may indicate.

Here are the cold, hard facts, Pacers Fan: The Heat are a better NBA basketball team. The Pacers have a better, younger collection of basketball players. NBA championships are won by teams. They are led by their starts, but the titles are won by teams. The Pacers appear to be drowning in their own immaturity and searching for a key to beating a two-time champion with three or four future Hall of Famers on the roster. They will never find that key until they tune out the superficial and trivial and focus on beating their opponent in every possession, every quarter, and in each game.

The Pacers are not going to sniff the Finals until they stop reading their own headlines and, instead, write the headlines that they wish to see themselves. Thirty-three year old All-Star David West is the team’s veteran leader and an example the younger players should follow. Much like one can only lead a horse to water, West can only show his younger counterparts how (and how not) to carry themselves deep in the post season. The Pacers will never drink the refreshment of a conference championship until they grow up and focus. It is not a coincidence that the key players of the two front runners in each conference, the Heat and San Antonio Spurs, are either near or over the age of 30. It shows.  

Don't pack up for the summer yet! The Heat cheerleaders have a few more games on their schedules this season. 4

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Retweet of the Day - May 24, 2013

Paul George has been the talk of the sports world during the NBA playoffs. He's been an offensive catalyst for the Indiana Pacers during the playoffs, helping them reach the Eastern Conference Finals. George also contained Miami Heat forward LeBron James at key moments of Game 1 of the series. However, the final play was James blowing by an over-pursuing George for the game winning basket as time expired.

Still, George has become a household name for any NBA fan since Wednesday night. In addition, NBA players during the past couple of seasons, have made very...distinctive fashion statements in post-game appearances. George may have raised the bar. This is reflected in today's retweet, by ESPN's Jemele Hill (@jemelehill):

"Just saw Paul George's post game outfit on @PTI. Did he think he'd be hosting Soul Train after the game?"

I'm thinking Jackson 5 backup dancer.

Image from Ms. Hill's Twitter account (@jemelehill) at www.twitter.com.