Three Point Play

SHOOTS

The Butterfly Effect is a theory that suggests that something as simple and pleasant as a butterfly flapping its wings can cause, in due time, something as large scale or chaotic as, too be sensitive, a snowstorm halfway across the globe.

The opposite of the Butterfly Effect is an elbow in the chest.

I read and heard some rumblings earlier this week about Andrew Bynum’s hard foul on Michael Beasley last Friday night. I dismissed it as hard play by one of my favorite centers in the league; although I did wonder why the foul was being examined so closely and thoroughly by the media.

Last night I saw the highlight during TNT’s NBA action, and I immediately thought not only about how physical this game is, but how these encounters quickly dissolve due to every player’s understanding of just how physical this game is. No one is trying to hurt anyone.

Bynum crossed this line through his obvious attempt to “finish him!” (Justin Case: original Karate Kid) by intentionally delivering a WWE-style chest blow while the defenseless Beasley was mid-air. I do not remember the last time I saw something as cheap and dirty as that on the basketball court, including the incident I witnessed at the park yesterday when two players engaged in a UFC-type flailing walrus imitation at mid-court after one of them set an extra-heavy-duty, shoulder-first bulldozer of a pick, in a pick-up game, at mid-court.

At least that girl was trying to set the pick.

Bynum’s lack of control cannot be excused. If you clearly attempt to harm, and to be clear, the big center did exactly that, since he had his mind made up before Beasley was in the air that his elbow would land squarely across his chest while he was en route to the rim-he had him lined up, then you immediately miss the next two games or more depending on just how disgraceful the contact is.

I suggest this rule be named the Bynum Effect.


SCORES

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Atlanta Hawks last night, 114-81, in a game that was decided by halftime-if not the first quarter. MVP front-runner Derrick Rose finished with 30 and 10 in 29 minutes.

The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat should examine these documented statements recorded by the Bulls and realize that they are difficult to dispute. Chicago is the beast right now.

The issue that causes the most concern is that there is one player in the league right now with the speed, power, vision, shot, quickness, and confidence to lead his team single-handedly if necessary. One player who most accurately displays the physical ability to dominate at will, much in the same manner as the legendary Michael Jordan. And, much like his Airness, this player has a chance to prove that he may be the best player in the league while older, more accomplished players from Los Angeles and Boston and Miami attract the attention.

If Rose continues to mount impressive victory over spectacular play over big win on top of clutch performance, he may be laying the foundation for what could be the best career this league has seen since the last great Chicago Bull.


AND 1

The NFL has approved a rule change which would place the ball at the 35-yard line on kickoffs. The extra five yards given to the kickers is considered an insurmountable advantage which would render the kick return game as useless.

While this may be true, there is one way to counter this advantage and truly pronounce the return game as relevant again: return the ball.

Sounds simple enough. If you catch it, run it. Too often we see a teammate cautioning the return man to take a knee, unless the runner is only a yard or two in the end zone. If you truly have the ability to gain more than 20 or 25 yards, then just do it.

As for the rule itself?

I say, “It’s just the NFL- No Fun League anyway. Aren’t those guys fighting over bmillion dollars or something like that? Why do they bore us with their rule-changes and draft plans now? How about settling on an agreement and assure the fans that you’re not as greedy as you seem to be while restoring order to the sports calendar, because most of us are beyond put off by the recent antics of spoiled, grown babies seemingly pillow-fighting on a trampoline on the beach, while pretending to flex their muscles for the whole world to see, however failing to digest the bigger issue here which is: popularity is a fleeting sensation…?

Ask MLB how popular America’s pastime is right now. Football is the best sport in the country. But basketball is not far behind, while soccer is truly the most popular sport in the world. The NFL and the players better lower themselves back down to earth and stop believing that any publicity is good publicity.”

There, I said it.