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| This issue, TSAReport.com’s Dave K. Far-El sums up the hotly contested NBA playoffs, and he talks about the contradictions to animal deaths in sports. Far-El asks the question that Michael Vick fans want answers to: “Is there any ethical difference between Mike Vick and dog fighters, rooster fighters and racehorse trainers?” Tyreke Evans, one of the nations top high school basketball player talks about his game and his road to the NBA. Check it out! |
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IT'S SPRINGTIME, MUST BE TIME FOR THE NBA PLAYOFFS
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It's spring time, so that must mean it's time for the NBA Playoffs. Oddly enough, I have found the 2007-2008 Playoffs to be more exciting than usual. Why? Outside of the fact my beloved Philadelphia 76ers unexpectedly made the playoffs, here are a few more reasons: In the East, the Boston Celtics were predicted by many to reign supreme. Yet, they were extended to a 7 game series by the 37-45 Atlanta Hawks. Pretty much the same can be said of the Detroit Pistons and they were pushed to a 6-game series by the 40-42 Sixers. The two teams, Philadelphia and Atlanta were absolutely counted out by most scribes and not only did they make the playoffs but they did pretty well for themselves. Of course Cleveland gave the Washington Wizards their annual butt whipping by dismissing Washington in 6 games, and Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard showed Toronto Raptors that he is Superman. Out West, if you didn’t win at least 50 games, forget about the playoffs. In Phoenix, it was sad to see Big Cactus Shaq bow out in the first round of the playoffs. Of course it's difficult to go far when your point guard cannot guard anyone....ahem Steve Nash. Not to mention they did lose to Mr. Duncan and the Spurs. It was also somewhat difficult to watch Allen Iverson and the Denver Nuggets get swept by Mr. MVP Kobe Bryant and his new look Lakers. How poetic is it to see A.I. and Denver get swept, and wonder about their future. Meanwhile, in the East, his former team the Philadelphia Sixers seemed to have risen from the ashes! Personally, I wish he was never traded, but change sometimes can be good. Of course there was the usual ritualistic first round ouster of Tracy McGrady and any team he plays on. This time it so happened it was the Houston Rockets being ousted by Utah and their stud point guard Deron Williams. Speaking of studs, isn’t it also ironic that the Dallas Mavericks would bring in Jason Kidd only so he can get abused by Chris Paul and his former coach Byron Scott, whom Kidd got fired from the New Jersey Nets. Sometimes there is such a thing as poetic justice and this was just the first round. If the second round is half as good as the first, it'll be a great way to bring in the summer because my NY Yankees just aren’t' cutting it right now!
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Tyreke Evans Shines Again
Words by L.A. Sharp
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Even with the greatest basketball player of all-time in the building, Tyreke Evans managed to be the brightest star in attendance. With his silky smooth drives to the basket, pinpoint passing and effortless scoring, Evans once again shined on the biggest stage for high school hoopers. After capturing the MVP in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American game just weeks before, Tyreke was honored with a similar distinction in Jordan’s All-American Classic. With this honor, Tyreke may have cemented his status as the best high school prospect of 2008. “That’s big winning the MVP for both games,” a humble Evans said. “I just went out there to have fun and play the game the way it’s supposed to be played, and I think I did a good job at it,” said Tyreke.
With the electric Brandon Jennings of Oak Hill Academy leading the opposing team, Tyreke was not short of competition in the game. Jennings, who’s headed to the University of Arizona next fall, pleased the Madison Square Garden crowd with dazzling passing and blinding speed. Although listed at only 6’0”, Jennings had an array of dunks in the game and consistently played above the rim. But Evans would not be undone, in the end, his team took the game, and he took all the honors. “I just wanted to pass the rock and get my teammates involved, you know, the commentators were getting on me a little bit,” Tyreke said while smiling. Next fall Tyreke will be attending Memphis University, and along with that comes the unenviable task of filling the vacancy left by probable lottery pick, Derrick Rose. “I just want to get there and do whatever coach Calipari needs me to do, because I know he can make me a better player, said Tyreke. When asked if he could lead the Tigers back to the Final Four Evans said, “Definitely. I’m already out here trying to recruit a few players, we need all the players we can get, but I definitely think we can get back.” Confidence and talent are common in today’s athletes, but humility is not. Tyreke possesses all these qualities and hopefully the glare of big time NCAA lights doesn’t go to his head. Because if not, he could very well follow in the footsteps of Derrick Rose - one phenomenal freshman year, followed by NBA employment. “It all depends how much hard work I put in. Hopefully when I go down there it will show, but if I put the hard work in I think I will need maybe one or two years, but like I said, nothing will be done without hard work.” Words to live by.
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WHEN THE EIGHT BELLES TOLL
Words by Dave K. Far-El
While reading about the death of racehorse Eight Belles, I had to ponder a few things. Other than the "legal" vs. "illegal" issues, ethically speaking, is there any difference between Mike Vick and dog fighters, rooster fighters and racehorse trainers? All of the aforementioned do what they do to the animals for financial gain. In each sport, when the animal is hurt it is put to death. Of course, fighting deaths "appear" more vicious than horse racing, but being put to death is being put to death. Most dogs put to death in dog fighting are because the dog has injuries to such an extent that it is the "humane" thing to do. Yes, these people are playing God with the animals by deciding which injuries are serious enough to merit death. In nature, when a horse breaks its leg, I'm pretty sure it doesn’t go off and die in the woods. Are horses even meant to "compete" in races with a little man riding on it's back? I cannot recall reading about or seeing horses racing one another in the name of “competition.” Meanwhile, I have witnessed puppies "play" fighting with each other on a regular basis, no matter what the breed of dog it is. Go ahead, put two puppies together and watch them play, the first thing they do is go at each other's ears, faces and throats. It would appear there is more of a chance that a dog's natural instinct is to fight and hunt as opposed to a horse’s natural inclination to being run in the Belmont. Most dogs trained to become better fighters actually look forward to fighting anything moving, especially another dog. You have to whip a horse to make it run at top speeds, not to mention the steroids that are given to the horses. Yes, horses are given steroids too. When reading the comments given by the trainers, it's interesting to note how they speak about the horse in human terms, about it's will to "compete" and how hard the horse worked to become a great race horse. Oh, really? Since when can a horse tell a human that it wants to race for a living? Imagine, with all the modern technology we have available to us today, the most that could be done for Eight Belles when it broke it's two front ankles was put it to death on the race track for all to view. Put to death, not because it had terminal injuries but because, in essence, the horse could no longer be a profitable racehorse, so the trainers played God and decided the extent of the injuries was too much and death was the only option. So once again, I have to ask myself – is one act more ethically acceptable based on "legalities.”? Maybe it's just me; maybe it's just something for me to ponder while I wait for football season to start.
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TSA BLURBS
I’LL SEE YOU IN COURT
Boston College defensive end Brady Smith pleaded not guilty to rape charges and breaking and entering with an intent to commit a felony on-campus. College officials have suspended him from classes and the football team. · The drunken driver Souksangouane Phengsene, convicted in the 2000 death of Minnesota Timberwolves swingman Malik Sealy, was sentenced to another eight years in prison on a separate drunken driving charge and a probation violation. · The Philadelphia Eagles sued their former wide receiver Terrell Owens for bonus money he has not repaid the team. The suit for nearly $770,000 was filed in U.S. District Court. Owens lost in arbitration earlier this year, a ruling calling him to repay $1.7 million in bonuses the team paid him when he played in Philadelphia in 2004 and ‘05.
LETS TALK SPORTS
The “Sugar” Shane Mosley versus Zab Judah May 31 fight has been canceled after Judah seriously injured his arm in an accidental fall. Judah (36-5, 25 KOs), the former undisputed welterweight champion hoping for a career comeback, severely cut his right forearm and needed 50 stitches to close the wounds, which will keep him out of training for four weeks. · Police shocked with a stun gun and arrested Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Al Reyes after he fell against a ceramic pot in a bar, got up and picked a fight with a man he thought pushed him. The club has not planned any disciplinary actions against the pitcher. · According to witnesses, Michael Gianatassio was knocked out unconscious by Miami Dolphins fullback Reagan Mauia. Gianatassio was hit in the parking lot of a restaurant after being asked, “What are you looking at?” The victim was treated at a hospital and released. Mauia was charged with battery and released on $1,000 bond according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Mauia fled, but a witness took a photo of his vehicle, which allowed the sheriff’s office to track him down. · The owners and players of the MLB announced that they have agreed to modify their drug agreement, calling for more testing and a strengthening of the authority of the independent administrator overseeing the program. The Independent Program Administrator, Dr. Bryan Smith has the right to authorize up to 375 tests during the off-season. · Some of college basketball’s brightest stars, including Kansas State’s Michael Beasley and UCLA’s Kevin Love, are featured in Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s new documentary, “Gunnin’ for That No. 1 Spot.” · An anonymous buyer paid just over $375,000 for the final home run ball hit by embattled American baseball home run king Barry Bonds. · Arvin Kenti Edwards, the man charged with shooting three people outside a Las Vegas strip club has denied he was involved and accused Adam “Pacman” Jones of framing him to avoid identifying the real shooter. · Florida State wide receiver Preston Parker was arrested on gun and drug charges of carrying a concealed firearm and possession of marijuana under 20 grams according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff Office web site. · The cable network HBO is bringing its “Hard Knocks” franchise back to Cowboys training camp this summer, and HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg is predicting top ratings for his five-show series. HBO predicts that with T.O., Pacman, Tony Romo, Jessica Simpson and of course, billionaire Jerry Jones the reality series will be a hit. · The Buffalo Bills will receive $78 million, more than double their calculated 2006 operating income to play eight games in Toronto over the next five years. · Zara Phillips, a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, will compete for Britain in equestrian at the Beijing Olympics. Her father, Mark Phillips, won a gold medal in the three-day event at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Her mother, Princess Anne, won the European title in 1971 and competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the same event.
SPORTS BIZ
The New York Yankees were rated as the most valuable Major League Baseball franchise, by the Forbes magazine. The Yankees retained their number one status, according to Forbes, by being valued at $1.3 billion, up nine percent from their list compiled last year.
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Some of the information provided is courtesy of AP, Reuters, and, Ticker. |
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