Sad Melody: Why the Knicks need to trade Anthony

February 13, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

After another year of frustration, it’s time for a change in New York

Trade Carmelo Anthony! These three words will ignite anger within an already frustrated fan base, and rightfully so. Trading the biggest star the Knicks have had since Patrick Ewing may seem blasphemous, even crazy, but it needs to be done. While the Knickerbockers star is still in the prime of his career and having one of his best seasons ever, the harsh reality is that this is the perfect time to break down this lackluster basketball team.

If the NBA has taught us anything this past decade, it’s that you can no longer win with just one star player on your basketball team. Look at all the last 10 champions, they’ve had at least two usually three superstar players.

Melo’s frustration in New York might make him go somewhere else this summer

The league is changing. Unless you are one of the few elite teams in the league, you just mill around in mediocrity. Let’s face it. Even when this team played well the previous two seasons, they weren’t serious title contenders. Sure they might win a round in the playoffs, but this is New York, that doesn’t cut it. With Carmelo in his prime, and a stocked Draft class coming up, the Knicks should try to make a deal.

Am I saying the Knicks have to trade Melo? No, but if a team gives them a good deal with either draft picks or young talent, the Knicks would be foolish to pass it up. Let’s face it, the Knicks are nowhere near contending for an NBA title and need to reload. If anything shouldn’t the Knicks get some value before Melo leaves? As an unrestricted free agent this summer, there is a good chance Melo will leave. He’s already hinted that he will test free agency and there will be more attractive offers and situations out there for him. If LA calls, why wouldn’t Melo go? Instead of losing him and not getting anything in return, the Knicks need to maximize this opportunity and restart the rebuilding process. Knicks fans may not want to hear it, but it needs to be done.

Michael Sam: I’m Gay! And I’m going to Play!

February 11, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

Michael Sam will usher in a new era in pro football

“I’m Gay and I’m gonna play”! I remember that line from the movie Valentines Day a few years ago. While I sat in the dark theather and watched that terrible movie, I remember laughing at this great one liner, but thought to myself “is there a gay player in the NFL”? The answer could finally be a yes after NFL Draft prospect Michael Sam announced earlier this week that he was gay, and could be the first openly gay NFL player in history. While this may not be Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier, this another wall that sports could tear down for the gay and lesbian community. While some experts and GM’s have already said that the announcement could hurt Sam’s draft stock, because they are supposedly afraid of him becoming a media distraction like Tim Tebow, the fact of the matter is that this young man should be commended for his actions.

After hearing anonymous GM’s saying that Sam could now fall out of the draft because of this announcement, I was flabbergasted. If anything shouldn’t this make him a more attractive draft prospect? A man who is this honest and is not afraid of the attention? In an era where criminal records and domestic disputes are glanced over is a prospect has a great forty time, it is absurd that a general manager of any team would over look a player based on his sexual preferences. Sam has tremendous talent and potential, and unlike other prospects has a clean record and a great personality. Shouldn’t this boost his stock rather then hurt it? If teams are so afraid that he could disrupt the locker room just look at Mizzou’s season last year. Sam told his team that he was gay in August and did the team implode or have locker room issues? No, far from it. Instead the played for an SEC title game while Sam was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

At the end of the day there is only one thing that matters in the NFL, production. If Sam can come into the league and be a highly productive player, no one will care about him being gay. Sure, there will be a few people that will hate him, there always are people that will judge us because of our differences, but America has become a nation of tolerance. If anything, Sam represents a beacon of hope that America is truly striving towards a society of equality and fairness. Fans don’t care about sexual preference, arrest records, skin color, or religious backgrounds of their players. At the end of the day it is about what the players do on the field but more specifically win. Sam could change the landscape for the next generation of athletes, but if he really wants to make an impact it will come on the field this fall, and not in the headlines this February.

Haunted: Manning’s legacy in limbo after another Super Bowl loss

February 3, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

This could be the game that hurts Manning’s legacy

What defines a legacy? For most athletes it’s the numbers on the back of their player cards that usually justifies their greatness. But for the truly great, the cream of the crop, stats aren’t enough. Peyton Manning is one of those athletes. If you were to judge him on statistics alone, without question he is the greatest quarterback in NFL history. However, after being named the NFL’s most valuable player for the fifth time in his career, Manning would enter Metlife Stadium with the chance for NFL immortality. A few hours later, the almighty quarterback looked like something we haven’t seen in 2013, a mere mortal.

Losing is one thing, but what the Broncos did was an even bigger disgrace, they didn’t show up. Can someone check did they even get off the plane or bus? Despite two weeks to prepare, the Broncos didn’t even put up a fight. Sure, the botched snap resulting in a safety swung momentum early, but despite two early trips to the red zones the Broncos still were only down 8-0. The stage was set for Manning, a chance to come back and prove his greatness to the world. But that didn’t happen. Manning’s turnovers at key moments of the game would finish off the illusion of a comeback as the Broncos were embarrassed by a 43-8 whopping by the Seahawks.

Once again, Manning, the best quarterback in the game fell short. This time he didn’t fall short, he tripped right out of the gate and seemingly damaged his reputation in one game. It doesn’t matter how many yards, touchdowns, or wins Manning has in his career. The only way to exorcise the critics or questions about his legacy is to hoist another Lombardi trophy. But now at the age of 38, with already declining health, Father Time is catching up to Peyton Manning. If he wants to be considered the greatest quarterback ever the only way to do this is to win another Super Bowl. When you are the best in the sport you are expected to win. Is it fair? Not necessarily but it is expected.

With such a miserable performance on his resume, and millions of NFL fans who are upset about the lack of a game on the field, Manning needs a win so that people forget this. If not, it will be the defining moment in a career of futility and what could have been. He might be a great quarterback, but Manning’s post season demons are keeping him from being one of the greatest players in NFL history.

Time to put up or shut up

February 1, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

Richard Sherman has written a huge check with a mouth, but can he cash it in on Sunday?

Instigator, playmaker, ball hawk, controversy, and an A$% hole are just a few adjectives that describe Richard Sherman. While he may be one of the most beloved person in Seattle, his comments and antics have made him an NFL villain everywhere else. He’s the arguably the best cornerback in the NFL, and if you disagree he would probably go into a rant about how he is the best in the game. However, unlike most divas who are all flash and no substance, Sherman backs his talk up with even bigger plays. With eight interceptions this season, and countless passes defended, Sherman is the boisterous leader of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” defense.

However, The Legion will face their toughest opponent yet

Controversy and talent that go hand in hand

in the upcoming Super Bowl against Peyton Manning and his vast arsenal of playmaking receivers. Sure Sherman could take one of those receivers out the game, but with so many options and Sherman only being one man, the Seahawks’ secondary will be put to the ultimate test. Sherman is putting an even bigger target on this group after his controversial post game comments following the NFC Championship game. It also doesn’t help when he calls Michael Crabtree a “sorry receiver”. But in the midst of the his rants and comments could Sherman be actually helping the Seahawks by shining the spotlight on himself?

Whenever someone has mentioned the Seahawks have been mentioned these past two weeks the name that always pops up is Richard Sherman. However, the cornerback may be doing a huge service for his team. Think about it. No one has talked about Russell Wilson’s post season slump

It’s time for the Legion’s leader to step up

or the fact that he’s a second year pro. Instead of the media burning a spotlight on the young quarterback and his flaws, the cameras and media have all been focused on Sherman. If anything, Sherman has been putting all the pressure on himself rather than have his teammates take on the enormous media scrutiny.

With all this talking, it’s time for Sherman to start walking. Should he struggle or give up big plays during the Super Bowl, his reputation will take a major hit. It’s like the Jets a few seasons ago. When Rex Ryan was winning, that bravado and swagger was accepted because they could back it up. But when the losses start to pile up, that swagger and bravado crashed harder than a lead balloon. It’s not about talking in the NFL, it’s about getting the job done. So Richard Sherman, you think you’re the best cornerback in the NFL? It’s time to prove it on the biggest stage in the world, Super Bowl XLVIII.

Last Hoorah: Should this be it for Peyton Manning?

February 1, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / 1 Comment

If Peyton Manning wins should he retire?

It was a season to remember. With fifty-five touchdowns and over five thousand passing yards, Peyton Manning crafted the most masterful season in NFL history. Many experts may say this is the best that Manning has ever been, the pinnacle of Mount Everest for the quarterback position. Now only one win away from a Super Bowl and football immortality, the question is if Peyton Manning hoists the Lombardi Trophy, should this be it?

At the age of 38, Peyton Manning isn’t exactly a spring chicken. True he probably could continue to play a few more seasons given the lack of punishment he has endured being hit as a quarterback. Still, there is one important aspect that tends to get overlooked. Peyton Manning’s neck is a cause for concern. Two years after major neck surgery, Manning has already said that he will visit doctor’s this offseason to see how much his neck has deteriorated. If Manning wins this Super Bowl, and the doctor’s tell him that his neck has deteriorated significantly, then I think he will strongly consider retirement. He will have finally won multiple Super Bowls, and a Super Bowl for two different franchises. This is a feat that has never been done before. Plus, would another Super Bowl really mean that much? He’s in an elite club with only a few quarterbacks that have won multiple Super Bowls. Add in his regular season success, Manning would have to be considered one of if not the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

What would be a more fitting end to Manning’s career then a Super Bowl victory? If he loses this sunday I have no doubts that he will be back under center, even with the health concerns. He needs one more Super Bowl victory. Let’s say they win this Super Bowl and he comes back. What if he gets hurt next season and can’t play again? What if he can’t win another Super Bowl? Wouldn’t it be better if Manning if Manning left in the prime of his career rather than limp out pathetically at the end? While many football fans want to see Manning continue his career, me included, there is a time where even the greats have to make the difficult decision to retire. Don’t be surprised if the Broncos win the Super Bowl, that Peyton Manning may not be under center for them in 2014.

Ranking the NHL’s Stadium Series Jerseys

January 26, 2014 / Rich Sports Talk / Leave a comment

7: Pittsburgh Penguins

Why not bring back the powder blues?

For the Winter Classic the Penguins have been known to wear their old school powder blue uniforms or some combination of the powder blues. It was a surprise when they released a jersey with none of these elements for the Stadium Series game. True it may not be as important as the Winter Classic, but it would have been nice to see the Penguins in their old school blue jerseys. What makes it worse is that they just basically rolled out a watered down version of their current jerseys. The only change is the striping on the jerseys which is boring. If anything, they could have gone with the old black and yellow color palette instead of basically the same exact jersey colors they use all the time. With so many options for the Penguins, it was disappointing that this was the best they could come up with.

6: LA Kings

Grey and boring

Even though black and grey is a great color scheme, the Kings somehow screwed this up. Instead of doing a solid black jersey or bringing back the old Kings logo during the Gretzky era, the Kings just put out a grey jersey that looks like it should be a practice jersey. With weird LA should logos, the old crown logo, there just isn’t much to say about these uniforms. They’d have been better off with more black or going back to the old school purple and gold. The would have been awesome to see the purple and gold on the ice again.

5: New York Rangers

Really? Let’s just rip off the Hartford Wolf Pack

The Rangers Winter Classic is one of my favorite jerseys of all time. I had high hopes for the Stadium Series hoping they would bring back a cream colored jersey or another old school look. Instead, the Rangers created a new look that looks like a combination between their old 90s alternates and the Hartford Wolf Pack. Silver? Really? The silver makes no sense, I’d rather see cream than silver. If they were going in this direction, they should have brought back the old statue of liberty logo instead of the New York script across the chest. With better logos and colors, the Rangers struck out when it came to Stadium Series jerseys.

4 Chicago Blackhawks

Back in Black

The Blackhawks had the best Winter Classic jerseys with their classic logo and design. This year, the jerseys are good, but nothing special. It just feels like a lazy attempt. Just a basic black jersey with the current logo. Sure the black looks great with the red and black, but it would have been nice for the Blackhawks to bring back their old logo or jerseys. While it’s not the worst jersey, it’s by no stretch the best.

3: Anaheim Ducks

Orange is tough to pull off, but the Ducks do it well

These jerseys by the Anaheim Ducks are very good. I love the orange color which both pops, but at the same time isn’t obnoxious like some orange jerseys can be. The burnt orange color is something different that you never see in a uniform and looks great with the black, gold, and white trim. The reason this jersey isn’t higher is the logo. While the Giant webbed D is good, we’ve seen it before. True it’s better than the “Ducks” script jersey, but I would have like to see them use the old Mighty Ducks logo with the mask and interlocking sticks. I have always been begging the Ducks to bring back that logo and think that would have been a great time to bring it back. Had they used that logo, they could have been on the top of the list, but without it they stay at number three.

2: New York Islanders

Old school and new school meet for a great combination

Given the Islanders’ illustrious uniform history which includes some of the worst jersey disasters in hockey history, I was skeptical when it came to their Stadium Series jerseys. However, the Islanders jerseys are incredible and the one jersey in the Stadium Series that should become the team’s third uniform. This would be so much better than those stupid black jerseys the Islanders have. With the classic blue, orange, and white colors, this jerseys looks beautiful. Add in the horizontal stripes on the arms and pants, clean white shoulder stripes and this is an aesthitically pleasing jersey. Then the logo, finally a team that tried something new. I love how the Islanders incorporated the NY part of their logo with a modern twist on the chest. Overall this is a great jersey, and I hope the Islanders keep using these after the Stadium Series.

1: New Jersey Devils

A Classic

The Devils jersey may not be new or innovative, but it’s nice to see at least one team honor their heritage. Sure Christmas colors may not sound like a winning combination on a hockey sweater, but the Devils make it work. The red, white, and green is simple and beautiful. These jerseys pop with their red color scheme and the green and white highlights are crisp and mesh well together. Sure it may look like Christmas on ice, but who doesn’t love Christmas? Finally the Devils have one of the best logos in hockey, so why mess with perfection? Great logo, great jersey, clearly the winner. Do you agree or disagree? Which was the best Stadium Series jersey and which was the worst? Comment and like below!

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Author: Rich Sports Talk