Basketball's Canadian side

The father of Basketball, Dr. James Naismith

Here's a fun fact that not many people are aware of: basketball is Canadian. Sure, you might tell me that it was first played in Springfield, Massachusetts and not on Canadian soil, which is fair enough, but the fact that the sport was the brainchild of a Canadian born innovator, Dr. James Naismith is reason for me to believe that the sport is Canadian. Naismith was born in Ontario and if my limited knowledge of Canadian geography is correct, he was born in present-day Mississippi Mills, Ontario.

There would be no LeBron James and no Kobe Bryant and definitely no Steve Nash if it wasn't for Naismith's invention on a cold winter day in Springfield in December 1891. And ever since then, the sport has not looked back. At least 10 players in this original game of basketball were university students from Quebec, (according to an nba.com article from March 2002), thus ingraining Canada and Canadians into the sport's earliest days. That very same article cites how quickly the sport spread into Canada; like maple syrup on warm pancakes, if you must. This hockey- obsessed country has participated in Olympic basketball from as early as the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, Germany, three years before Naismith breathed his last breath.

Another great story that I came across while doing my research was the fact that Naismith had just 14 days to invent the game. According to his resume, the game was invented "under orders from Dr. Luther Gulick, head of Springfield YMCA Physical Education, to provide an athletic distraction for students. Gulick demanded that it would not take up much room, could help its track athletes to keep in shape."

Probably a more well-known fact is that the first ever game in the sport's most elite league, the NBA, was played on Canadian soil in Toronto between the New York Knickerbockers (now the NY Knicks) and the defunct Toronto Huskies. Of course, the league was then known as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the Huskies were only around for one season, but as I've said before, the sport was already showing its Canadian side.

Modern-day basketball fans in Canada have to contend with the struggling Toronto Raptors. I've often seen lots of vintage Vancouver Grizzlies memorabilia around the halls of Fanshawe College itself, proving the fact that the sport is indeed ingrained in Canadians. Videos of the famous pairing of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady in the late 1990s still sends shivers down my spine: I guess you could call that the heyday of the Toronto Raptors.

US Patent #1,718,305 will be remembered as the basketball granted to G.L. Pierce in 1929, almost four decades after the game was invented. While Naismith's 'original 13 rules' might have been modified several times over the ages, the joy and excitement that the sport of basketball brings hasn't diminished one bit. It's a Canadian invention, after all.

Originally Written for the Interrobang: http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.php?storyID=8723&sectionID=4&issueID=209
Image Credit: http://www.peoplequiz.com/images/bios/James-Naismith.jpg-5864.jpg

This Is It...

Surprise MVP Candidate: Kevin Love

So here we are; the last issue of the Interrobang for this school year. While the NBA season will still go on, it won’t be possible to write more about the league. In that regard, this will be my playoff preview, if I may call it that.

At the time of writing, just two teams have clinched playoff spots: The Chicago Bulls and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Hardly surprising there, I would say; these are the two teams I fancy to top their respective conferences. Miami sits second in their conference and they should qualify next, but one team that has caught my eye is the San Antonio Spurs. They sit second in the West and have played just 50 games (at the time of writing). Remarkable, considering many view them as an ‘aging team.’

On the other side of things, three teams are already out of playoff contention: the New Orleans Hornets, the Washington Wizards and the Charlotte Bobcats. The fourth worst win percentage (at a modest .340) is Toronto. At this moment, they look to be the next team headed out of playoff contention.

Jeremy Lin is out injured; he’s expected to be out for six weeks. That could be six long weeks for the New York Knicks as they sit in eighth place in the East and the Milwaukee Bucks are right on their tail. The NBA playoffs begin on April 28 and if the Knicks do squeeze into the playoffs, they will be up against the Bulls, and honestly, they would be massive underdogs in that matchup.

If the league were to end with the standings as they are, there is one matchup that will be interesting to watch: the L.A. Lakers against the Dallas Mavericks. Remember Dallas swept the Lakers aside last year in their conference semi-final matchup, so Kobe Bryant and company will be out for revenge. By no means has this Dallas team impressed me so far, so I won’t put it beyond the Lakers to take the series this time around should it occur.

All this discussion leads me towards another key question that basketball fans always seem to debate about: who will be this year’s MVP? I’ve come up with a few candidates who could take home top prize, but by no means is this list definitive:

• Kevin Durant: He missed out on this award last year. While Derrick Rose was a worthy winner, remember Durant didn’t get half as much coverage as Rose did. So for him to win the NBA MVP award will be a huge boost indeed.
• Derrick Rose: He’s arguably Chicago’s key player. Rose is one of the reasons why Chicago is running riot in the NBA this season. He scores when called upon and distributes the ball well. He’s another definite MVP candidate, but his injury layoff could hamper his chances.
• Chris Paul: He had his stellar seasons at New Orleans, and now that Paul is in L.A., he’s clicking well with the Clippers. Based on the Clippers’ season, he could end up with this award, and that is something that will drive the Lakers mad.
• LeBron James: James is always going to be on the MVP candidate list, he is that big a player. His offensive efficiency is excellent, while his rebounding and defence has been outstanding. He showed what he can do when Dwayne Wade was out, but the one thing James wants more than anything is the NBA ring that has eluded him all these years.
• Kevin Love: I’m going to take a huge gamble and place Love on this list. While most people expect the MVP to at least make the playoffs, this year Love has improved his game. I credit the Ricky Rubio effect as the key to this transition. While Minnesota’s failure to possibly make the playoffs could ruin Love’s chances for the award, his stats still show what he is capable of.
• Kobe Bryant: Kobe, Kobe, Kobe. He’s played injured and he’s scored key points to help the Lakers win games, so it’s no surprise that he is on this list as well. He’s leading the shortened NBA season in scoring. He’s also broken a couple of records this season, which adds to his credentials. So, I guess, while I might not be his biggest fan, this list would be incomplete without Bryant.

The league is winding down to an end, and Kentucky’s Anthony Davis tipped to be a first overall pick in 2012, which isn’t surprising, given his potential. This shortened NBA season is surely putting up some surprises. It’ll be sad when the season is over, but then you just have to wait a few more months for it to happen all over again. Amazing!

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8433&sectionID=4&issueID=203
Image Credit: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/news_cut/content_images/love_buzzer.jpg
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHfUQMv6uW0

Squeaky Bum Time

The top two teams in their respective conferences: Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls

It’s been little over four months since the NBA lockout ended, and it’s almost that time when we get a rough idea who’s making the playoffs and who isn’t going to. The league has entered into its fourth quarter and it’s time for the final push that could make or break a season.

One team that has already made the playoffs is the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have been on fire this season and have crept up to favourites in my book. The Bulls’ key man and reigning MVP Derrick Rose has missed a few games recently due to injury. Having watched the Bulls play Denver, one couldn’t help but notice that Rose was being missed. It seems strange, but it’s true; the Bulls look like they need Rose back as soon as possible. While the playoff spot is secured, the top seed in the East is still a position up for grabs.

The New York Knicks, on the other hand, are still fighting, and with the rise of their go-to man, Jeremy Lin, all eyes are on the Knicks. Milwaukee looks to have pulled a smart trade: Monta Ellis is ensuring that the Knicks have all the pressure on them as the Bucks are closing in on eighth place in the East. New York will have to go without Amar’e Stoudemire, who suffered a back injury that could keep him out of the playoffs, should New York make it. Carmelo Anthony has been awful this season, to put it nicely. I was surprised when he made the All- Star team. It’s clearly his poorest season as a professional.

In my last article, I mentioned that Derek Fisher was traded to Houston, which was true at the time. Since then, he has moved on to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who claimed him off waivers. This is a move that could help the Thunder, as Fisher has a lot of playoff experience. In my reckoning, Fisher would play as the backup point guard, considering that Russell Westbrook is on the roster for OKC. They currently occupy top spot in the West and should clinch their own playoff berth soon.

Let’s be real here, the Toronto Raptors are going nowhere. Canada’s only team lacked the finesse needed to challenge for a playoff spot, constantly relying on Andrea Bargnani to deliver the goods. The Raptors are currently sitting 12th in the East with just 16 wins. They have, however, ‘stunned’ fans by dishing out the odd victory, most notably their win against New York: a 96-79 win that snapped New York’s fivegame winning streak. They also almost upset the Bulls, only to be undone by a somewhat lucky basket for Luol Deng in the dying seconds of overtime. A couple of good performances could maybe see the Raptors sneak into a playoff spot but I wouldn’t count on that happening. In the Raptors’ 117-101 defeat to the Orlando Magic, a loud cheer erupted when Toronto scored 100, not because they were leading with seconds to play, but because free pizza is offered to fans every time the team scores 100.

On a side note, the game that featured Atlanta and Utah was the first game to go to quadruple overtime since 1997 when Phoenix beat Portland. Atlanta beat Utah 139-133 in this game.

With most teams having fewer than 20 games left in the regular season, it’s crunch time. There are still playoff spots, particularly in the West, which could be claimed by a number of teams. If I were to make a prediction, I’d say that Chicago and Oklahoma will top both their conferences while the much-talked-about New York Knicks will only barely scrape into the playoffs this time around.

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8381&sectionID=4&issueID=202
Image Credit:
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxHy-tkwVEg

Movers and Shakers

The LA Lakers traded long time guard Derek Fisher to the Houston Rockets

The 2012 NBA trade deadline came and went and it left some basketball fans like me wondering things like would Dwight Howard be traded? Would Pau Gasol be traded? Which team would strengthen their squad up in the hope of lifting the trophy at the end of the playoffs? It’s questions like this that are asked around every trade deadline, whether it’s the NHL, MLB or the NBA. There were some moves that came as a surprise, and some that didn’t cause such a big uproar.

Derek Fisher to Houston: This was the biggest move that took place on deadline day. The longtime L.A. Lakers point guard was dealt to the Houston Rockets for a first-round pick in 2012 and reserve centre Jordan Hill. Fisher was a virtuoso at leading former Head Coach Phil Jackson’s triangle offense before the Hall of Fame coach retired. Fisher struggled to adjust to new coach Mike Brown’s system, as he lacked the explosion and quickness to effectively run Brown’s traditional offense. Interestingly, Fisher was subsequently bought out by Houston and is free to sign with any team.

Ramon Sessions to the L.A. Lakers: This was the other deal that the Lakers were involved with on deadline day. Point guard Sessions and small forward Christian Eyenga moved to California for two-time NBA champion Luke Walton, former three-point contest winner Jason Kapono and a first-round pick in 2012. Sessions should fit nicely into Brown’s plan. It should be noted that Kapono was put on waivers by Cleveland.

Monta Ellis to Milwaukee: This wasn’t a deadline day move, but it was one of the most talkedabout trades. The Golden State Warriors gambled by trading Ellis, their leading scorer, for injured Milwaukee Bucks centre Andrew Bogut. The Warriors have made the playoffs once since 1994 and haven’t had a true centre in years. The Warriors will be fearful of the fact that Ellis could become an all-star in Milwaukee. But it’s a gamble they took and if Bogut can stay healthy, it could be one that pays off. As part of this trade, Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown also went to Milwaukee while Stephen Jackson joined Bogut in Golden State (only to be traded to San Antonio on deadline day).

Leandro Barbosa to Indiana: You know that things are not going your way when you trade two players for a second-round draft pick. Such was the case for the Toronto Raptors. Barbosa and Anthony Carter join the high-flying Pacers who are looking to secure the playoff spot they currently sit in. To be honest, I’m surprised that one of the big teams did not swoop in for Andrea Bargnani, who has clearly been Toronto’s go-to man in an otherwise lacklustre season. The Raptors will have Indiana’s second- round pick in 2012.

Nenê to Washington: Brazilian centre Nenê was dealt by Denver to Washington, leaving many to question his contribution to the Denver franchise. This trade might haunt Denver in the short run, for Nenê is a playoff veteran but with JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf moving to Denver from Washington, it could ultimately pay off for the Nuggets.

Marcus Camby to Houston: The Portland Trailblazers, who are already without centre Greg Oden, traded their other centre Camby to the Rockets. Camby has expressed desires to end his NBA career in Houston. In return, Portland received point guard Jonny Flynn, centre Hasheem Thabeet and a future second-round draft pick. The Rockets are in a playoff position and are hoping to make a playoff run. For Portland, it looks to be a season of rebuilding after the team parted ways with head coach Nate McMillan as well.

Gerald Wallace to New Jersey: When I said rebuild mode for Portland, I meant it. The Blazers sent Wallace to New Jersey in exchange for former Utah centre Mehmet Okur, forward Shawne Williams and a first-round pick in 2012. Okur is a centre who loves to shoot, so that could help Portland on offence, but for a team in a mini state of crisis, 2012 doesn’t look to be all that good a season for fans in Rip City.

There were three other trades in the NBA that I didn’t talk much about: Stephen Jackson to San Antonio, two days after the Golden State Warriors acquired him; Nick Young left Washington and will line up for the L.A. Clippers; and the Memphis Grizzlies sent Sam Young to Philadelphia and acquired Ricky Sanchez in return. The stage has now been set for the 2011/12 NBA season to burst into life, and the season should live up to all the hype it has been promising.

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8330&sectionID=4&issueID=201
Image Credit:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyXPOUwRkn7y_wThRsweX_QbQx37g-jtDoH-GAYxE9fBmcZl47T6GLnLZ_Nj4SeN4CoHmlVp0mlbrIOTxiZ-OLgmgOVacQjexZ-0ZG5M7804jLPp77W15tsAQ5Z_BGtI6-I-wmGqoLro/s1600/derek.jpg
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TdZHffwOF8

NBA Watch: NBA All-Star weekend a mixed bag for fans

A NBA Fantasy Draft could see LeBron James and Kobe Bryant on the same team

The NBA All-Star game took place in Orlando on February 26, and for some basketball fans, like myself, it was a weekend of fun and excitement, though for some other people I know, it was a rather drab event. For starters, if you look at the difference between the NBA and the NHL All-Star games, there are some experts who are calling for an "NHL-style All-Star game for the NBA." ESPN's Sarah Spain, for instance wondered how many people remember whether the East or the West have more wins? I know I don't. (She cited it at 36 wins to the East and 24 to the West, but really, how many of us care?)

I would love to see the NBA adopt an NHL-style All-Star game where two captains are chosen and they draft a roster full of players. Imagine a game seeing Dwyane Wade take on LeBron James, or Kevin Durant face off against teammate Russell Westbrook. Something like that would only be possible if the NBA does away with their current East vs. West format. The NHL All-Star Draft has been around for two years now, and I'm sure it's nerve-racking for seasoned professionals to sit and wait to hear their name being called out, something basketball players should go through as well.

I've got no problems with the All-Star weekend, although I will tell you that I miss the slam dunk contest. Remember Vince Carter in 2000? Remember "Superman" Dwight Howard in 2008? Those are two classic contests that come to my mind instantly. Even Blake Griffin last year wasn't bad. This year, however, I did not enjoy the show. Not to take anything away from Jeremy Evans – he tried to put on a show, dunking two balls over teammate Gordon Hayward as well as the dunk over comedian Kevin Hart, which he completed in a Karl Malone jersey – but you have to remember that JaVale McGee dunked three balls simultaneously while Blake Griffin jumped over a car last year. There were significant changes to the rules this year: no judges, 100 per cent fan voting and only one round with three dunks per contestant as opposed to the traditional tworound contest. All of this promised something new but sadly it all fell flat as we saw a lot of attempts we've seen before but with diminishing returns. The biggest problem, in my opinion, was the absence of judges. To base the competition entirely on fan voting was not the best move.

The three-point contest is the other prolific event of the All-Star weekend, and it was Minnesota all the way. Kevin Love gave the struggling franchise something to cheer about as he took home the honours. The franchise has had little to cheer about ever since Kevin Garnett left in 2007. What makes Love's victory even sweeter is the fact that he rotates playing as a centre or as power forward – positions that do not demand a great shooting percentage. The fact that Love won this contest also shows that he not only has range, but shows that teams need to respect him on the line, a move that draws big defenders away from the paint, which could open up possibilities under the basket.

The All-Star game itself promised much with the classic East vs. West matchup (or as some columnists put it, Durant and Bryant vs. James and the East). As an exhibition game, it promised a lot of fun and it did deliver, with the East having to cut a 21-point deficit to just one point, but failing to convert that into the win. James finished the night with 36 points while his teammate Wade finished with a triple-double. The real winners of the night were Durant and Bryant. Durant took home the MVP title, another feather in his cap, while Bryant took home a scoring record, breaking Michael Jordan's record of 262 points.

I guess that even though the All- Star weekend is a lot of fun for athletes and fans alike, it's about time the league brings about some sort of change. A fantasy draft is a great way to show off player personalities, make way for never-beforeseen matchups (remember the Sedin twins playing against each other in last year's NHL All-Star game?) and add another level of behind-the-scenes access to the game's superstars. It's time for the NBA to follow the NHL's lead and step into the future. After 61 years, it's time a change was made. Are you listening, David Stern?

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8253&sectionID=4&issueID=199
Image Credit: http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/11/57/16/2552744/3/628x471.jpg
Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aNj8KYn3-U

So what's the deal with Jeremy Lin?

Linsanity is sweeping the nation.

'Linsanity' is sweeping the nation. New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin is something of a surprise package in the NBA so far. He's the first Harvard product to join the NBA since 1953/54 and was signed by the Knicks as an emergency backup at guard after he was cut from the rosters of both the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.

"He (Jeremy Lin) has been an unheralded prospect, a hometown sensation, a scrutinized ethnic symbol and a basketball curiosity, at once intriguing and underestimated and ultimately discarded," wrote Howard Beck in The New York Times. But what is it that makes Lin the phenomenon that he is turning out to be? His story is a remarkable one, owing to the fact that he is the first American player of Chinese or Taiwanese descent. Lin is a Harvard alumnus, but unlike most superstars who end up in the NBA, he went to university without any athletic scholarship.

Lin has already been given his own nickname: "Linsanity." Coincidentally or not, that word has a lot of similarity with "Vinsanity," the nickname given to Vince Carter. Looking at Lin's stats for the month of February, he's scored more than 20 points on nine occasions, his best being 38 points against the L.A. Lakers on February 10. Lin's sudden outburst of form in the month of February was reason enough to earn him a call up to the 2012 NBA All-Star Rising Stars Challenge held in Orlando. The Knicks are 8-3 since Lin became their starting point guard, a run that includes wins over the Lakers and Dallas. Lin was also the reason why the Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors as he scored a last-second threepointer. He's already appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated for two consecutive weeks and even made the cover of Time. "He's legit," Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach Rick Brunson told the N.Y. Daily News. "That kid can play." Lin, however, had a quiet game during the All-Star Weekend, scoring only two points, but that won't in any way subdue his already growing fame.

"I am definitely surprised that people are still talking about Linsanity or whatever," said Lin during a news conference. "I think, hopefully, as the season progresses it will go from that to New York Knicks. And hopefully the Knicks can win basketball games and we can make a good push after the All-Star break and people will start talking about the Knicks and not necessarily me." Lin is trying his best to avoid the media's attention from distracting him when it comes to playing the game. The New York Knicks are, in my books, still a work in progress, despite featuring the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, but with the potential that's on the roster, the team could be major contenders in future seasons.

I came across a hilarious article the other day. Lin is now an ice cream flavour. Don't you find that strange? The ingredients include vanilla frozen yogurt and lychee honey swirls, though the sports blog Deadspin claims that the flavour previously included bits of fortune cookie. It's been confirmed that the fortune cookie bits will be replaced by bits of waffle cones after allegations of racial insensitivity spread amongst critics. What annoys me is the fact that the flavour is reportedly only on sale in Boston because I would love to sample this new 'Linsane' flavour.

Whatever the future of this massive bandwagon, Lin's rapid rise to success will go down as one of sports' 'fairy tale' success stories. It will be interesting to see whether all the media attention he's receiving will affect his game, but one thing is certain (and I know it's clichéd): it's been a "Linsane" season so far.

Originally Written for the Interrobang:http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8219&sectionID=4&issueID=198

Image Credit:http://www.thesportsbank.net/core/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Jeremy-Lin-knicks.jpg

Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAFLP9ejvDE

A Canadian Icon...

Steve Nash

Born in 1974 in far-away Johannesburg, South Africa was a person many people would grow to love. That is Canadian basketball player Steve Nash for you. He may be 38 years old and on the verge of retirement, but he's been a top basketball player throughout his career. I'll begin by sharing an anecdote with you: NBA 06 had a demo that featured Miami and Phoenix. You got it: that is where I came across this 6-foot 3-inch player who impressed me. True, it was a video game, but when you look at his stats and his dedication, it paints a clearer picture.

"My heroes were Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. I think they were just so competitive and creative. Especially Isiah, he was somebody that wasn't very tall. He had played the game mostly on the floor and it made me feel that I could find a way to do the same." These were words by Nash when he reflected on his amazing journey back before the 2007/08 season. True, it's been an amazing journey for one of Canada's best basketball players of all time. He's scored over 16,000 points in his 15-year career, but the thing that he's remembered for a lot is his dedication. "I think they (his family) are really proud. I think they realize how hard I worked. They saw me going out there and shooting all hours of the days and night, shooting in the rain, dribbling in the garage. They realize how much time I put into it. I think that they are proud, not so much that I made it, but more because they know it took a lot of hard work," said Nash in the same interview.

Nash might not go down in the record books as a point scorer, he will go down as a top assist-getter: he's closing in on 10,000 (at the time of writing, Nash has 9,524 assists and leads the NBA in assists for 2011/12 with 272 in 26 games).

Not many people are aware of this, but Nash suffers from a medical condition called spondylolisthesis. That condition causes muscle and back pain and is the reason why he always lies on his back when he's on the bench – to prevent his muscles from stiffening. Yet his grit and determination have given us plenty of reason to celebrate his career. The two-time MVP was recently voted to the 2012 All-Star Game, which would be his eighth appearance. Phoenix has not been playing well at all this season – they sit 13th in the West – yet Nash is an All-Star once more. I don't think it's necessary to mention why; that fact is easily summed up when you read stats and look at the effort he's been putting in at each game. People were predicting an appearance at the All- Star Game for Nash, so you can hardly say that you are surprised. It was on its way, and I am one of those people who's waiting to see Nash link up with Blake Griffin and Kevin Durant on the courts in Orlando on February 26.

Another talking point for many is whether Nash would agree to move from Phoenix. He's clearly the franchise player over in Phoenix, but a championship ring has eluded him all his career. That debate is ongoing, but one thing is certain: whatever the outcome be, Steve Nash will always be remembered as one of basketball's greats.

Originally Written for the Interrobang: http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8168&sectionID=4&issueID=197
Image Credit: http://server2.noble-hs.sad60.k12.me.us/~adella/mysite/images/nashpass.jpg
Video Credit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwhwr4zZ1zw

NBA Watch: Justifying the NBA All-Stars

This is what greatness looks like. NBA All Star Starters 2012

Come the end of February, the NBA will host its 61st All-Star Game in Orlando, Florida. It's the first All-Star Game being held in the Eastern Conference since Atlanta in 2003, and fans and pundits are gearing up for the showpiece event. The starters have already been confirmed and I'm not too surprised by the votes that came in.

Eastern Conference

Derrick Rose: I've said it time and again; Rose looks to be the focal point of the Chicago Bulls. The 23-year-old Chicago native is in his third consecutive All-Star season and I see him maintaining that run for a number of years to come. I'd have been surprised if the reigning league MVP didn't make the NBA All-Star game.

Dwyane Wade: Shooting guard and eight-time NBA All-Star, Wade has been good this season so far, averaging 21 points a game. It's always nice to see players with potential perform. He's making a return from injury and I believe that the injury was a boost for team chemistry.

LeBron James: I'd have been surprised if James wasn't voted into the NBA All-Star game; this guy has been on fire this season. He's an eight-time All-Star, like his teammate Wade, and I'm sure he'll have plenty more. The only thing that bugs James right now is the fact that he's missing an NBA ring.

Carmelo Anthony: To be really honest with you, I haven't heard much about Anthony this season. True, he's averaging 22 points a game, which is great, but most of the news that I've seen out of New York has been concerning Amar'e Stoudemire, so this is great news for the former Denver man. This will be his fifth All-Star appearance and he is surely going to try to make the most of it.

Dwight Howard: Superman Howard is one of the most coveted players in the league. I know the Los Angeles Lakers were eyeing him during the off-season. This will be the sixth straight All-Star appearance for the player, who's won three NBA Defensive Player of the Year Awards. Howard has started all but one game in his career, and that is something special. He's definite All-Star material and he proved it by getting the most votes at a little over 1.6 million.

Western Conference

Chris Paul: The transfer saga of the off-season, Paul is doing justice to the faith that the Clippers put in him. An All-Star appearance, his fifth in a row, is justified. Paul might not have the flashiest point per game stat, but at nearly nine assists a game and almost 19 points a game, he's impressive.

Kobe Bryant: Another perennial All-Star, Los Angeles Lakers' main man Bryant somehow always seems to find form every year. A 40-point night with an injured wrist seems to be the order of the day. Bryant is definitely up for a lot of praise once he eventually retires, but before that day comes, I expect more MVP-type performances from the Lakers' lynchpin.

Kevin Durant: What can I say about Durant? It's hard to criticize him because he's been great so far in his short career. You could say that Durant is the face of the Oklahoma City team and their success largely depends on his form. Remember, this is a guy who's started every game he's ever played and he's only 23. Having played in three All-Star games in a row, Durant definitely has many more to come in the future.

Blake Griffin: Big Griffin has been a beast. The Clippers have one of the best young players in the league. His recent monster dunk over Kendrick Perkins went viral, and is only one of the reasons why he is an All-Star. There is a mean swagger to his style of play and his dunking ability is one of the best I have seen in quite a while. One thing is certain; Griffin will have a successful career in basketball's big leagues.

Andrew Bynum: Bynum is another player whom I haven't heard much about this year, probably because most of the news from the Lakers concerns Bryant. Looking at his stats, Bynum is averaging 17.1 points per game, his best ever. He's polled in over a million votes, so basketball fans are noticing his efforts. This year marks Bynum's first All-Star appearance, so the 24 year old is definitely progressing in the correct direction.

The weekend of February 26 is definitely going to be a big one for basketball fans, given that the league is a truncated one because of the lockout. The rest of the All- Stars will be announced in due time. Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge are amongst my favourites. The NBA website reports that Canadian Steve Nash could make the cut at 38, and I know I would love to see that materialize.

Originally Written for the Interrobang: http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8098&sectionID=4&issueID=196
Image Credit: http://www.nba.com/media/hoop/all-star_starters_670.jpg
Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IESl5n54n0A (West)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFt6QNs_6l0 (East)

NBA Watch: Short Season, Big Men

He's the Dark Horse and you know it.

Last week I looked into the teams that are favourites to run away with the NBA title. This week I thought it best to look at the individual players who are tipped to shine during the current NBA season:

LeBron James: Miami's James is always a favourite to shine year after year. This year he's showing how he plays without Dwyane Wade, who many predict will also have a big year. James is averaging almost 30 points a game this season and with his presence on the court, more and more people are taking notice each day.

Kevin Durant: Let's be honest here, I don't know what to write about Durant. The 23 year old is in his fifth season and he's only getting better each day. Durant played a lot of basketball during the recent NBA lockout and it shows. He looks a lot tougher than ever before and has added a lot of moves to his arsenal. Durant has started every game of his NBA career and he's averaging 26.3 points this year; he's the best all-round player in the league after James.

Derrick Rose: The Chicago Bulls finally have a good team; their last championship winning side featured Michael Jordan. Rose looks to be the focal point of the Bulls' side and on his day, the reigning league MVP can destroy any defence in the league. Chicago will be looking to continue last year's exquisite run and I will not be surprised if Rose is battling it out for another MVP trophy.

Dwyane Wade: It's often been taken for granted that a great NBA team has three big-name players as their focal point. In Miami's case, part two of their 'big three' features Dwyane Wade. James and Wade can put on a show that you won't get to see elsewhere. Wade is averaging 20 points this season and Miami fans will be hoping he keeps this form.

Russell Westbrook: The Oklahoma City point guard is a player you'd love to hate. Westbrook is lighting up the league. He's averaging more points per game than Wade, and along with Durant, these two young athletes are the reason why Oklahoma City could be the team that challenges Miami right to the very end. His teammate Kendrick Perkins sees Westbrook as a scoring point guard and he's not selfish, though many fans deem him to be so.

LaMarcus Aldridge: Brandon Roy has retired. Greg Oden is out injured. It seemed to be a lot of gloom for the Portland Trailblazers. Aldridge was the only one standing from Portland's 'big three,' and he has stepped up to the plate. Aldridge is averaging 22.6 points per game, which is the highest he's managed in his career so far. Portland could be on its way to another playoff campaign, and Aldridge will have a huge part to play.

Kobe Bryant: The Los Angeles Lakers guard is another perennial favourite to have a big season. The one thing I have noticed is that he always seems to have an injured hand and yet he has 40 point nights. Bryant is averaging 30.2 points a night yet the Lakers sit eighth in their conference (at the time of writing). I had this huge discussion with a friend of mine who's a self proclaimed "NBA Guru" and he cites Bryant as "a very lucky player," because of the fact that many of Bryant's bad shots are still converted. Whatever happens, Bryant and his Lakers will be challenging once again.

Blake Griffin: Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers is my dark horse for this NBA season. He's got this mean swagger when he plays and his dunk on Kendrick Perkins, which went viral on YouTube, is an example that proves this statement. Griffin has the promise to be the next big star in the league. The Clippers have added Chris Paul to the roster and the man from Oklahoma is on his way to becoming a top NBA player.

It is hard to compile a definitive list of players to watch out for in the NBA every season. There are top players that I've left out that will have good seasons but personally I feel not as good as the players I've listed above.

Originally Written for the Interrobang: http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=8040&sectionID=4&issueID=195
Image Credit: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqByFK-wdOBAbW2jUeGtyRJqEcAlax75YrH5yBD4ExFykGdLz5GDyowuRsBg6P2utZ2C6N7r2WyIDjimTmSssGgbLVW9pIZxBGCOuXebSaUQO-zoXWnu7DCrbTYrZdbScju4GPvco9WZd/s1600/blake+griffin+car+dunk3.jpg
Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l10Bo-X0WNM

NBA Watch: Gunning for Glory

Basketball's Biggest Prize?

The NBA season is just over a month old, and I feel it's about time we take a good look at the teams that are favourites to win the title at the end of the season.

Miami Heat: LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade – it doesn't get any bigger than this. The Heat came within inches of winning the title last season but came undone against a resurgent Dallas Mavericks team. James is showing how effective he can be without Wade. The Heat are favourites for another long playoff run and with Mario Chalmers, rookie Norris Cole and Udonis Haslem, chances are high that the Heat will storm their way to an NBA title this time around.

Los Angeles Lakers: Off the court, the Lakers' long-time Head Coach Phil Jackson retired following the end of the last season and he was replaced by former Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach Mike Brown. The Lakers boast two of the biggest men in the league, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, on their roster and they show that they can punish teams inside the paint. Metta World Peace and Matt Barnes have proved that they can shut down any five-star offences. Oh, and a certain Kobe Bryant averaged 43 points per game when the Lakers were up against worthy playoff opposition. After being blanked 4- 0 by Dallas last time around in the conference semi finals, this proud franchise will be out for revenge (and a title) this time around.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Two words: Kevin Durant. Durant had been playing an enormous amount of basketball during the NBA lockout, and it shows. He looks a lot tougher than ever before and has added a lot of moves to his arsenal. In my opinion, he's the best allaround player in the league after James. Also look out for Russell Westbrook, he's lighting up the league and he's a player you'd love to hate.

Chicago Bulls: The Chicago Bulls haven't won an NBA championship since 1998. It seems like a long time ago that Michael Jordan was on the roster of that championship winning team. Fourteen seasons later, the Bulls finally look like they have a title contender. With Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Derrick Rose, the Bulls are tough to beat at home; Rose can destroy any defence in the league, and Deng can shut down anyone from James to Bryant on a given night.

Portland Trailblazers: LaMarcus Aldridge is on quite the run. It's hard to catch him, and he makes scoring look easy. Given the fact that the Blazers lost key man Brandon Roy to premature retirement, this team looked beaten before the start of the season. Gerald Wallace will run, jump, punch and claw his way to productive nights and usually does so every time the Blazers play. Nicolas Batum and Raymond Felton are big-name spare parts, but in all, despite the loss of Brandon Roy, the Blazers look built for a long playoff run.

Outside chances: The Dallas Mavericks, defending champions of the NBA, the Boston Celtics and the Memphis Grizzlies will all make the playoffs comfortably, but I don't see them going on a very long run. The Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs too should make the playoffs. The Spurs lost key man Manu Ginobili to injury and his return is still not finalized.

The games are coming in thick and fast, and I, for one, know it's going to get exciting as the season goes on.

Originally Written for the Interrobang: http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=7997&sectionID=4&issueID=194
Image Credit:http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/replicate/EXID24107/images/Laker-Parade-2010-Celebration-Kobe-82.jpg
Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UekSQkajhsU

NBA Watch: Fleshing out the early NBA season

Nowitzki vs Wade, it all begins.

Hey guys, I hope this column will be part of a regular weekly NBA column. I'll give it my best shot and cover the NBA season to the best of my ability, both reviewing and previewing the biggest action from basketball's premier league.

It wasn't long ago that many of us thought that there would be no NBA season. With the lockout and the constant breakdown in negotiations, many basketball fans (including myself) almost came to the conclusion that there would be no season. You could sense the disappointment from many players as they expressed themselves on Twitter. Kobe Bryant was thought to be on his way to China and Italy. Virtus Bologna was an Italian club that was confident in their abilities to land the five-time Larry O'Brien trophy winner. (For those of you who are unaware, the Larry O'Brien trophy is what the NBA Champions get; it's the NBA's version of the Stanley Cup.)

Anyway, all said and done, there was good news for basketball fans as the lockout ended on December 8 and the NBA was to begin on Christmas Day. It wasn't any ordinary beginning; Christmas Day had some pretty big matchups, including a rematch from the last NBA finals, a series that featured Miami and Dallas. Dallas did not have the best of starts as they fell to 0-3 in the space of a few days, a woeful record despite having the likes of Dirk Nowitzki (who was named the Finals MVP at the culmination of the 2010/11 season).

If anyone asks me, and I've had quite the few discussions with several people, the unluckiest team prior to the start of the season as the Portland Trailblazers. The reason why basketball pundits agree is simple: while most teams were building and acquiring their own 'Big Three,' the Trailblazers lost their big three. Greg Oden is still out injured and LaMarcus Aldridge is back to playing, but the biggest blow came when Brandon Roy announced his retirement at the age of 27, due to a degenerative knee condition. It was indeed disheartening for basketball fans around the world, for while the NBA tweeted pictures of the star players in almost every franchise, there would be no such picture for the Trailblazers. Of course, the team has done its best to move on, and after beating both the Lakers and the Clippers, you can sense that there's a swagger going around in Rip City.

This article would not be complete without mentioning the Chris Paul saga. He was running out of contract in New Orleans, and the Hornets preferred to deal him out to teams and get someone in return rather than let him leave for free. Suitors came, suitors went. Trades were agreed to and then nullified by NBA Commissioner David Stern, until the Clippers and the Hornets agreed on a deal on December 14. The saga was over and Paul was on his way to pair up with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, among others.

Basketball isn't as huge as hockey is here in Canada, yet all Canadian eyes are on the Raptors, who haven't really been playing the best basketball. I'd say the exception is Andrea Bargnani, who averages 22.3 points per game at the time of writing. In their game against Indiana on January 13, the Pacers had Danny Granger ejected from the game and were still able to hold out for the win. I guess in the Raptors' defence, they didn't have Bargnani, who was out with a strained left calf.

Originally Written for the Interrobang: http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang_article.asp?storyID=7976&sectionID=4&issueID=193
Image Credit: http://www.sportsbully.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/031.jpg
Video Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4BOuX92KpY

Do Athletes Deserve The Salaries They Make?

Alex Rodriguez

It is common human behaviour to want more. More money, more amenities, we all want more of everything. That is human nature, but not all of us are equally fortunate. Some of us get paid enormous amounts of money for little or no work while many others (in fact a huge majority of people) have to work very hard to earn their keep. This I can illustrate by a simple example. Alex Rodriguez is a thirty-six year old man of Hispanic descent who was born in New York but grew up in Miami. He entered the workforce directly out of high school. He currently has a job in New York City and has been living a comfortable life since the young age of eighteen. ^[1] What is his profession? He plays baseball. A majority of people from Rodriguez’s background have to struggle to make ends meet while Mr. Rodriguez is pocketing close to $27,500,000 per year, a figure that some of us can only dream about. Why the disparity? That is the question!

            Athletes have a number of reasons why they earn such large amounts of money. In today’s financially struggling world, people tend to lose their jobs and their livelihoods very easily. Ordinary middle class people might have to work for close to forty hours a week, mostly sitting behind a desk filing through stacks of paperwork and pocket something in the region of $50,000 to $100,000 a year I would say. People are paid for the value of the work they put in. There is huge demand for sports as a pastime so athletes are values very highly by a larger audience. However, such a statement often leads to a rather thought provoking follow up: With education such a vital field in today’s world, why do teachers get paid poorly? It’s quite an interesting question to put forth!

            The supply of athletes is very rare. The supply of outstanding professional athletes is still rarer. It is basic economic knowledge that when the supply of one commodity is very limited, the price for that commodity will be very high. Teachers are available in abundance; this is one of the main reasons why they get paid a lesser salary compared to a professional athlete. Of course this will lead to the argument regarding emergency workers – policemen, paramedics and firemen. Do they deserve a higher salary because of the nature of their work? Firemen and policemen are exposed to a huge number of risks each time they go out on call, while paramedics help save lives. Yet the average firefighter in America earns around $40,000 to $60,000 a year. ^[2]

            A professional athlete’s life is not just a bed of roses. It has its own thorns too. Young athletes hoping to make it to the big leagues sacrifice a lot of their teenage years training and preparing themselves for a disciplined life. They often tend to put in hours of hard work and sacrifice each day, something that ordinary people might not do on a daily basis. Injury is another demon. An athlete could suffer a career ending injury which could force them out of the game for good. Former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann’s injury comes to mind. ^[3] An athlete could also suffer an injury that might heal but cause a massive dip in form. The case of Canadian born English soccer player Owen Hargreaves immediately comes to my mind. ^[4] Some athletes have even lost their life as a result of a horrific incident during a sporting event. Italian MotoGP racer Marco Simoncelli, who was killed a month ago in Malaysia when he lost control of his motorcycle, is an example. The recent Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash which killed an entire team is another example. ^[5][6] There exists this high risk factor amongst most athletes. Economic policy usually indicates that a high risk means a high reward as well. This leads to athletes demanding such a high salary. In the case of Alex Rodriguez or LeBron James who were drafted right out of high school, a career ending injury could completely ruin them. Tiger Woods also comes to mind for different reasons. It wasn’t an injury of any sort that ruined his glowing reputation. It was a car accident and numerous allegations of marital infidelities that caused his downfall. A UC Davis study says that the Tiger Woods scandal cost shareholders of companies like Nike and Gatorade close to $12 billion. ^[7] This scandal cost us everyday citizens a lot of money but because of the ‘Tiger Woods’ brand name he amassed huge amount of money for himself, so technically he can still live a comfortable life with no real worry.

LeBron James

            Athletes are ‘skilled labourers’. As absurd as this may sound it’s true. There is only one LeBron James, one Peyton Manning and one Albert Pujols. The demand for such athletes is so high that their prices escalate to astronomical figures. There might be other youngsters who aspire to make it big in the professional leagues at some point in their lives but chances that they will be better than the best is rare. Hockey is still looking for the next Wayne Gretzky. A high paying salary does not guarantee success in a sport. This adds to the risk element I was talking about earlier. Team owners and officials put a lot of trust into big name players and pay them large amounts of money. However, the nature of sporting events does not guarantee their success each year. English soccer club Manchester City have spent millions of pounds in the last few years and have only managed to win one trophy, the FA Cup in 2011; their first trophy since 1976. ^[8] They have just announced a record £197 million loss, the biggest loss in English Soccer History. ^[9] Money can’t buy happiness and neither can it guarantee success.

Jokes Apart: We'll see money like this soon if it continues...

            I’m sure there are people who believe that being excessively skilled in a particular sport is not a good characteristic. Yet, it could be these very people who pay large sums of money to go and watch their heroes in action or spend even larger sums of money to dress the way their favourite athletes dress. Believe it or not, even a simple action like buying a ‘Maple Leafs’ or a ‘Blue Jays’ jersey contributes money to the coffers of the sporting franchise and a large sum of this money is often used to pay the high salaries of the players. Even watching the team play on television, sitting in the comfort of your living room with a glass of pop in one hand and a bowl of popcorn, contributes money to professional teams albeit in smaller amounts. Sporting franchises often sign huge television and radio deals with major sports broadcasting companies that bring in a lot of revenue to the sports teams. Much of this money is again used to pay salaries, so indirectly we pay athletes salaries too. Personally, I feel an athlete is entitled to earn as much they can provided they earn it legally. I love to play soccer and even though I always dreamt of playing professional soccer, I know I will never be able to make it to the level of goalkeepers like Peter Schmeichel, Oliver Kahn and Lev Yashin. ^[10][11][12] This is why they were professional athletes and I will never be one. They had the skills to make it big, which means that they were entitled to high paying salaries as a result. If as citizens we are against the high salaries of athletes citing them as a “ridiculous waste of money” the only suggestion I can come up with is for those individuals to completely boycott sports teams. This would include complete and total boycott of watching sports teams play and buying sporting merchandise. This is the only way I can see sports franchises and athletes losing a part of their revenue. ^[13]

Fire Fighters: Deserving a higher pay?

            As I mentioned earlier, it is often thought that noble professions like fire fighters, policemen, doctor’s even soldiers deserve more money than a rookie professional athlete who is just starting his career. The answer to this claim is the same: there is a larger demand for emergency workers compared to the demand for outstanding professional athletes. Because of the lower demand for noble professionals (in most areas of the world) they get paid less compared to professional athletes. This is completely fair in my opinion as every profession is unique in its own way. It is due to the rare supply of good athletes that a renowned doctor might earn $35,000 a year while a rookie sportsman might earn $250,000 a year. Every athlete is also aware of the fact that they are unique. If one franchise is unwilling to pay their demands (except in the case where it is outrageous) they know that someone else in the global market will be willing to meet their demands.

            In connection with the ‘Tiger Woods’ brand that I mentioned earlier, another way athletes can earn huge amounts of money is via their own brand name. The ‘Air Jordan’ range belonging to NBA superstar Michael Jordan is another classic example. Michael Jordan reportedly earned $40 million a year from endorsements alone. ^[14] It wasn’t Michael Jordan’s basketball skills alone that earned him huge sums of money; it was his economic potential that brought him a lot of wealth too. This merely proves the fact that fame sells, and sells big. Some people might call this outrageous, but Jordan was able to earn most of his money through his brand name and there isn’t much that any of us can do about it. David Beckham is another huge global name in world sport. He reportedly earns $40 million a year even though he is in the twilight of his career. ^[15]

Mr. Basketball Himself...

To summarize, I feel that most people will always be divided in their opinion whether or not athletes deserve such high salaries for the little work they do. Pros and cons to such an economic question will always exist. It is my personal opinion that an athlete is justified to earn as much as he or she can legally because it is their right to do so. Critics will always exist no matter where we go. It is basic economic principles that lead us to debate over this issue. In short, since the supply of outstanding professional athletes is very low and demand is high, their salaries tend to go up astronomically. Athletes endure huge sacrifices and take a lot of risks as well: such actions will cause their salaries to only go up higher. After all, ABBA puts it so eloquently:

“Money, money, money

Must be funny

In the rich man's world.”

References:

[1] Why Do Athletes Make So Much Money? (http://mcamp.hubpages.com/hub/athletesalaries)

MCamp, HubPages

[2] Do Professional Athletes Deserve Multi-Million Dollar Salaries? (http://wg.serpmedia.org/pdf_2ATE/WB2ATE_individual_units/full_color/WG2ATE_Part4.pdf)

Strategic Education Research Partnership 2010

[3] The Hit That Changed a Career

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/17/AR2005111701635.html)

Shapiro, Leonard, Washington Post Staff Writer. November 18^th 2005 

[4] Anxiety affected Owen Hargreaves - Sir Alex Ferguson. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/9163714.stm )

 BBC Sport, 7^th November 2010

[5] Marco Simoncelli's death was unpreventable, says MotoGP's safety officer. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/24/marco-simoncelli-death-motogp-tributes)

 Weaver, Paul. The Guardian UK. October 24^th 2011

[6] Top KHL squad killed in passenger plane crash in Russia.

(https://rt.com/news/passenger-plane-russia-reports-005/#)

RT (erstwhile Russia Today). September 7^th 2011.

[7] University Of California Davis: Graduate School of Management. (http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20091228005221&newsLang=en) December 28^th 2009

[8] FA Cup final: Manchester City 1 Stoke City 0 Match Report. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/8514022/FA-Cup-final-Manchester-City-1-Stoke-City-0-match-report.html)

White, Duncan. The Daily Telegraph, May 14^th, 2011

 

[9] Manchester City announce biggest ever loss in English football. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/nov/18/manchester-city-biggest-ever-loss)

Conn, David. The Guardian UK. November 18^th, 2011

 

[10] Peter Schmeichel.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Schmeichel)

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[11] Oliver Kahn.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Kahn)

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[12] Lev Yashin.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lev_Yashin)

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[13] The Coming Revenue Revolution in Sports

(http://www.willamette.edu/wucl/pdf/review/42-4/williams.pdf)

Williams, Jack F.

[14] A Multiple Product Endorser can be a Credible Source. (http://fulltext.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/1999/cjsm/v3n1/redenbach31.htm)

Redenbach, Andrew. Cyber-Journal of Sport Marketing, February 2, 2009

[15] The World's Highest-Paid Soccer Players. (http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2011/04/20/the-worlds-highest-paid-soccer-players/) Badenhausen, Kurt. Forbes, April 20^th, 2011

Photo Credit:
Alex Rodriguez: http://jimssports.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/5111506200514821.jpg
LeBron James: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE22VtJH20VXoz_SSG61kxdYKfNCHvDo-EAE_aGVNr2lGc5BzxCpU1nmUU_RW1XUn9w1wDAmT2k5492F3vFouyrMAzqeaSwEEgpUZDcq1hNpWB68j5qSj-OlTs2bd2SZd61MKHxNUod8Y/s1600/highest_paid_athletes_11.jpg
Man City Money: http://www.sabotagetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/sheikh-mansour_1217186c.jpeg
Firefighters:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoKKjQoQqnCTcSYOZuslfjTTWUiMB7Y6u-b1GIDaRmVAQmSw5nnFuCxjFeXUPbyOxYRRFWC7_N09LC5R9w17B504Ktiys6C3Sx-Oug72yhzKIvq0Cnh7cqID-xMTo-ekaee3bQ5fclI5K/
Michael Jordan: http://thebestten.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/michael-jordan-xx3.jpg

Note: This piece was part of my economics term paper, which fetched me a grade on 83%. Feedback and comment are appreciated as always. I've only been studying economics for three months now and it isn't going to be by major in future either.
Also, excuse the faulty spacing of the references. For some reason I can't seen to fix it properly...