Sky Rockets In Flight

At what point did mediocrity become the automatic precursor to a 10 million or more per year contract?

Gil Meche? Career record of 55 and 44, and hasn't won more than 4 games than he's lost in any season of his already illustrious career. Add to this blossoming Hall of Fame resume a trip to Kansas City, and he's on his way.

Ted Lilly? Throws left handed, also has a poor career record (only 1 game over .500), and has never wone more 2 games than he's lost in any season. Again, I repeat, he throws with his left hand.

Who is next? Honestly. Jeff Suppan, for instance. What would an aging, no speed, ass clown such as this demand in this market? 12 million per? He does have experience, and you know how valuable that is nowadays.

What about Jeff Weaver? He did pitch well for half of one season in his entire career. I'd say 11 per for 5 years seems right.

And, where does this leave the actually good pitchers. Someone like Barry Zito, of all people, should be angered by these signings. Because, on a relative scale, while he'll still make more than these guys, he should make about 30 million a year. I don't think many would argue that Zito is at least 3 times the pitcher that Gil Meche is, in terms of just about everything from value, to age, to throwing hand, to off field activities (baking and playing the guitar). Why shouldn't he be paid as such?

Speaking of contracts and money, we naturally flow to the NBA, where Allen Iverson's days as 76er appear numbered, quite literally. Although we've heard these rumors for years now, these are legit, at least that's what they are saying now. So, in this light, we here at Putting It In Reverse would like to suggest a few possible landing spots for the Answer.

1. Boston Celtics....Why? Well, name one player on their roster that you'd keep other than Paul Pierce. Still thinking? Stop. The point is, they could offer basically everyone on their roster, and I'm sure that Doc could suit up again if he had to.
2. Chicago Bulls...Tell me why the Bulls are so afraid to trade Kirk Heinrich and Luol Deng. First, they arleady have Andres Nocioni, who is way, way better than Mr. Deng. Second, who gives a shit about Kirk Heinrich if you are getting Allen Iverson? Enough said.
3. San Antonio Spurs...No, no. There's not a good reason here. I just wanted to put it down.
4. New York Knicks...Would a list of this sort be complete without them? Here's all they have to do. Offer up David Lee, Channing Frye, Renaldo Balkman, Mardy Collins, and Nate Robinson (basically any remote traces of unselfish, untainted talent they still have left) and see if that can spring free the great A.I. If that doesn't work, I'm sure that Allan Houston's contract can be reworked, a loop hole found to fix the situation somehow.

Why Everyone Hates the NBA

Sure, go ahead and celebrate Kobe Bryant's most recent scoring barrage. This time the targets were the almighty Utah Jazz. In dropping 52 points, Bryant nearly out produced the Jazz's previous opponent, the San Antonio Spurs.

Personally, I'm happy for Kobe. I've never really disliked the man, and I'm wholly aware of how great he is, so I have no problems saying that I love watching him. Checkered life outside of the arena? Sure, but who in the NBA doesn't have one. Excluding, of course, A.C. Green.

However, I urge you to watch the highlights from this game again. About two minutes in, take a look at one of his many earth shattering dunks. I'll give you a minute to get to the page, and watch the video.

OK.

In classic "area code" defense, there wasn't a Utah Jazz defender within about 20 minutes of Kobe on this play. He simply catches the ball at the free throw line (not that that area is a central portion of the court on offense), takes a power dribble, two steps, and throws it down. By this point, a couple of defenders have made there way over to the rim (see the picture above). Yet, its clear that they're not really offering up much of a defense here.

Let's get one thing straight. I'm not, by any means, suggesting that Kobe ripped apart the Jazz because they weren't trying to play defense. I don't watch or care enough about the Jazz to make a statement like that. Rather, its plays like these that have people turning off the NBA and turning on the NCAA every day.

All 5 Jazz defenders were on the floor at the time, by the way. Which truly begs the question, how did the best player on the floor (and the league) catch a pass in the middle of the offensive area without a player within arms length of him?

Sadly, I can't answer that question.