Everything Wrong With US Media Coverage

The Scoffayette

Everything Wrong With US Media Coverage

The Scoffayette

Everything Wrong With US Media Coverage

The Scoffayette

Mike’d Up: The ridiculously bad NBA dunk contest and the earliest of earliest World Series Predictio

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By Michael Kelley ’14 & Mick Kowaleski ’14

What’s the Deal With the Dunk Contest?

Kowaleski: The NBA Slam Dunk Contest befuddles me. Really, what the heck are they thinking? Instead of A-list dunkers like Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodola, LeBron James, and (for heaven’s sake) the defending champion Blake Griffin, the NBA is breaking out four newcomers to one of the most entertaining aspects of the All-Star Break: Derrick Williams (okay), Paul George (hm?), Jeremy Evans (wha?) and Chase Budinger (you’re joking).

This is supposed to be a showcase of the most explosive athletes in the NBA, traditionally exhibiting the talents of players like “Dr. J” Julius Erving, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jordan! I repeat, Michael Jordan was once a participant in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. I’m sorry, but with all due respect to Chase Budinger—I chuckle sadly whenever I think about his inclusion into the Dunk Contest—I seriously doubt he’s in Air Jordan’s class.

The NBA is depriving us of watching Blake Griffin try to top the car dunk from last year, or Dwight Howard bringing the cape back so Superman can take flight once again. And why in the name of David Stern has LeBron James still remained absent from this contest? Imagine Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, and King James competing in a Dunk Contest. IMAGINE IT.

Now wipe that smile off of your face. It’s not going to happen.

Kelley: IMAGINE IT, you say? I do that contest all the time in NBA 2K12 and its awesome. But honestly, TV ratings would go through the roof if these high flying superstars faced off in the dunk contest. It is a shame that Lebron has still not entered the contest, especially after a few years ago when he teased us saying he would give it heavy consideration. The guy, whose popularity and Q score, as some like to refer to, have gone down substantially ever since he took his talents to South Beach.

The guy is in a lose-lose situation though. If he wins, people are going to be saying that its all due to his star power and that the league set him up for the win. If he loses, the critics and haters get another item to rip on him for. But even the biggest Lebron hater knows he wouldn’t lose this one. Side fact: if Lebron were to win, it would be his FIRST championship in the NBA.

What the NBA has to begin to realize though, is that this contest is slowly losing popularity. With no brand names, there’s no face that the average fan automatically recognizes and puts a face to. No offense to Paul George or Jeremy Evans by the way but no one is cancelling weekend plans to watch these guys. For next year, it has to be a priority to slowly bring this dunk contest back to what it was in the heyday of Air Jordan, Dr. J, Clyde the Glide Drexler, etc.

The Earliest Bird’s Spring Training World Series Picks:

Kowaleski: The Atlanta Braves are my pick to win the National League, and it almost isn’t close. I see big things for the Braves…granted, a lot has to happen. Jason Heyward has to step up and be the player everybody knows he can be. The stellar bullpen rotation of Eric O’Flaherty, Jonny Venters, and Craig Kembrel have to return to their sub-2.00 ERA form that they had before Venters and Kembrel became exhausted in the final month of play. The offense has to find consistency (looking at you, Dan Uggla). And the starting rotation has to keep manager Fredi Gonzalez’s quick hook at bay to give the relievers rest. But (and I think this might put me in the minority), I see a huge amount of potential in this team, one that I think will be fully realized this season.

The American League goes to the New York Yankees. Maybe a homer pick, as the Rangers, Angels (plus Albert Pujols), and Tigers (plus Prince Fielder), are going to be tough and legit contenders. But the addition of Michael Pineda shores up a shaky rotation and that, coupled with the emergence of reliever David Robertson, gives the offensively high-powered Bombers a crutch should their offensive attack falter. This team will face the Braves in the World Series and come out on top.

Kelley: Ben Brown, a diehard baseball enthusiast, will be pinch-hitting for me this week. But if you’re curious to know who I think will win it all, it’s the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yea, I said it. Gotta stick with my hometown Pittsburgh. AJ Burnett for Cy Young.

Brown: Hear the Detroit Tigers roar! After losing catcher Victor Martinez to surgery, the Tigers reloaded with first baseman Prince Fielder and shifted incumbent first baseman Miguel Cabrera to third. The Tigers now boast a frightening 3-4 combo powerful enough to send homers into Ontario. Heading the rotation is reigning Cy Young Award and MVP winner Justin Verlander. And Doug Fister packs a punch in the two spot of the rotation. If Prince Fielder can live up to his surname at first and Cabrera makes the move back to third base, the Tigers will chew through their weak AL Central foes en route to a division flag.

But the Phillies will be tamed by the Tigers in the World Series. The Phillies will overcome Ryan Howard’s early absence and an offensive drought to just fend off the Atlanta Braves. The rotation will live up to the headlines and Jonathan Papelbon will provide much needed stability in the back of the bullpen. However, the vicious offense of the Tigers will expose the weak underbelly of the Phillies; their bullpen. Detroit’s 1-2 punch atop the rotation will be too much for the Phillies aging offense.

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