Around the Arena (Qualifying Game 1 Started, Topic 1 Posted)

To the first question, no, he's not worth $110 million, though he is a very valuable addition. Maybe 6 years and $80-90 million, but not nearly $20 mill/year.

But are the Magic legit contenders in the East? Looking at the roster, it would seem they have at least a shot - to make a run for the Eastern Conference finals. Even with Lewis, they're still behind Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Miami (at least if Shaq and D-Wade are both healthy, otherwise scratch them from this list), and possibly Boston for the next year or two, and possibly others (Washington, for example) as well. That leaves them in the playoffs, but not as a serious contender for the NBA Title. They will have the ability to make a potential playoff run, but I don't think they have any legitimate chance to pull it out against 2 or 3 superior teams in the East, let alone top it off against whoever comes out of the West (be it San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix, or whomever). Just not enough there for the Magic.

The loss definitely hurts the Sonics for the next year or two - but given their youth coming out of this draft, particularly guys like Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, it won't matter. They wouldn't challenge for the title this year anyways, what do a few less wins the next couple years mean when you're prepped for the long haul?

 

Well, again, I'm sticking to my guns here. As I mentioned before, he was still being wooed by the Houston Rockets as well, so again, he was going to get the maximum amount available which is $110 million for six years. Is this a really extraordinary amount? Well, with the way that the league has its salary cap set at $55.63 million per team, and the Magic planning to lock up Howard today for $85 million over five years, then getting one of the most coveted free agents in Lewis for $110 million for six years is a steal for the Magic and it gives them their main players to build a team around.

As far as the Magic being contenders in the East, well, it is right now the weaker division in basketball, with the Southeast Division having two just teams (the Heat and Wizards) finishing above them last year, and Washington only by one game. So, they will for sure get second place in their division this year, and they will definitely make the playoffs. I can see them at least getting out of the first round this coming year. It will take a few years though for them to reach the Finals, but this is expected. Unless there are a rash of injuries to the other teams in the East to their star players, then it will take a couple more years for the Magic to catch up to Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, and Miami and challenge them for a spot in the Finals.

 

Rashard Lewis is a good player and has emerged as an all-star from seattle. but there is no way he's worth 110 million, if he's worth that much than how much are superstars going to be worth?

The Magic improved greatly be signing Lewis and he makes them a decent team. If he a Dwight Howard play well throughout the year and they get at least a smidgeon of help from the other players then they will contend. They are a good bet to be a playoff team but not quite enough to make an NBA finals run. Remember they did loose grant hill to Pheonix and Darko Milicic to Memphis, that will hurt them a bit.

If Lewis had stayed put in Seattle the Sonics would have contended right away. But they will now have to wait a few years to make significant noise in the playoffs. in the end it could turn out to be a good move though because this will give durant more room to grow and will probably help the chemistry in the Sonics lockeroom.

 

Ugh.

A pointless signing that does nothing for the Magic in the present, and completely obliterates their future.

 

whoa, whoa, whoa, whao. watch out. your not in the game, friend

 

My bad. I thought outsiders could add thoughts if they wanted to. I thought I saw someone doing it in the first game. Sorry if that's not the case.

 

*horn sounds*

Let's see how we did that round ...

RX_Sith: +3 (that sounded like inside information, +3 (good stuff on Seattle, too). I'm not sure you told me anything of your own thoughts on Orlando contending, though
TLS: +2 (good money stuff), +2 (he certainly isn't a franchise changing player, but he also doesn't need to be ... just a great sidekick), +2 (Sonics should be looking at the future, and for that money, you're right, let him go)
Rogue...: +2 (he's money, just not max money, I agree), +3 (I agree, they can get an upset or two in the east playoffs, but probably aren't top tier even there), +2 (very true ... long term bonus, short term hit ... will it hurt Durant?)
Sith: more good chiming, but I'd much rather you wait for a second post until everyone has a first post in
reched: I'm a little confused. You say he's not that great. But you also say the Magic improve "greatly" by getting him, and also say that the Sonics could contend right away if they kept him. Even in the West? Confusing stuff. +2 only

Scoreboard

This round:

Rogue...Jedi: 7
RX_Sith: 6
TLS: 6
rechedelphar: 2

Overall:

Rogue...Jedi: 17
RX_Sith: 13
TLS: 11
rechedelphar: 6

Buy or sell is next ...

(Zizz, I don't mind posts from non-players. Just as long as they don't detract from the game or bait/flame)

 

According to Scott Boras, Alex Rodriguez is "assured to reach #30 million annually".

Are you buying A-Rod at 30 million plus?

 

Shouldn't TLS have gotten 6 points in that round?

 

This is definitely a BUY! A-Rod is assured of soon becoming the first-ever $30 million-a-year baseball player. His agent, Scott Boras, yesterday told The Post that even if Rodriguez does not opt out of his contract after the season, stipulations exist in the pact that all but guarantee that Rodriguez's salary will climb to a minimum of $32 million for both the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The language in Rodriguez's record-breaking contract says that for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, A-Rod will receive $27 million plus the higher of $5 million or $1 million greater than the annual average value of the non-pitcher with the largest annual average value package. Thus, Boras explained, even if Rodriguez does the minimum and agrees to give up his free-agent rights to stay with the Yankees for the next three seasons, he would be guaranteed $32 million in each of the final two of those years. If Rodriguez opts out, there are a lot of people from Boston to Anaheim hoping A-Rod sticks it to the Yankees. This is why the Yankees have agreed to negotiate with A-Rod now. He'll only be worth even more the longer that the Yankees wait. Rodriguez holds the fate of many in his powerful hands. Hicks of the Rangers could be off the hook for tens of millions. Moreno's Angels could instantly be the team to beat. Yankees GM Brian Cashman could officially find himself in rebuilding mode with little chance of contending. So, the Yankees need to get him signed to an extension as quickly as possible before he has second thoughts of opting out and bringing the Yankee Empire to its knees.

 

The numbers look great. They really are outstanding. Thirty home runs by the all star break. Eighty RBI. He's doing MVP caliber things. But how are the Yankees doing this year? And the Rangers before that? And the Mariners before that? As great an individual player as A-Rod is, this is a major SELL for me. The man is locker room poison, plain and simple. He's a more subtle Terrible Owens. The Yankees had established leadership when he came in, and now they seem like a team in disarray. Chemistry is a problem with him and whoever he's paired with (see Derek Jeter). Plus he's 32 years old! As great as he is, he will start declining at some point in the near future. For a team like the Cubbies, who would be in the A-Rod Sweepstakes, who have a payroll of about 120 million, I just don't see giving this guy a quarter of that.

 

This is tough, in my opinion. A-Rod's putting up the numbers that show that he is the best in the game, but I don't think any single player, no matter how good, is worth upwards of $30 million.

Comparing him to TO, in my opinion, is ridiculous. TO goes into a clubhouse and destroys the atmosphere, etc etc, whereas A-Rod just goes in and plays. Sure, the Yankees have problems this year. But there is no way you can blame A-Rod for their troubles. The closest you can come to that is A-Rod's reception in New York, which should be blamed on the fans, not A-Rod. The only problems he's really likely to cause on a team are financial, with teams not being able to afford other good players to put around him.

But you also have to keep in mind that his agent is Scott Boras, who is known for getting really big contracts. Since the question could technically be taken either of two ways, I'll answer it thus: I'm buying that A-Rod will get $30 mllion/year, but selling that he should. As in, I wouldn't pay that much for him, but someone will.

 

sell. A-Rod is having an MVP season and in his prime but 30 million dollars is too much for any player. Rodriguez is playing great yet where are the yankees? Out of playoff contention. 30 million is way too much for a lone player. 30 milion would be better spent on 2 or 3 solid players as opposed to a superstar. This year teams like the Mets, Tigers, Indians are winning with multiple solid players, not an MVP. A-Rod has been on loosing teams all his career and despite his outstanding numbers he sucks money from an organization where the money would be better spent elswhere, like pitching

 

This year teams like the Mets, Tigers, Indians are winning with multiple solid players, not an MVP.

I agree with most of what you're saying, but I have to point out that I think Jose Reyes, Magglio Ordonez, and Victor Martinez (all of whom are at least in the running for MVP right now) might disagree with you there.

 

RX: +3 (good stuff on the language in the contract), +1 (bold claim that any player (even A-Rod) can bring the Yankee Empire to its knees)
TLS: +3 (good point on the lack of real team success)
Rogue: +2 (I would agree no player is really worth 30 million) +2 (A-Rod is no TO, that's true) -1 (buying and selling? that's plenty of face-sitting) +1 (at least you sit on the fence well)
reche: +3 (overall just good, good stuff) ... (but Rogue did point out that those other teams have MVP-type players ... of course, they aren't carrying team-crippling salaries, either)

Scoreboard

This Round:

Rogue...Jedi: 4
RX_Sith: 4
TLS: 3
rechedelphar: 3

Overall:

Rogue...Jedi: 21
RX_Sith: 17
TLS: 14
rechedelphar: 9

 

And we go from a $30 million man, to a $50 million man, and from baseball to soccer ...

<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/David_Beckham.jpg/800px-David_Beckham.jpg" width=300 height=250">
David Beckham arrived in LA today, set to join the Galaxy, and send the nation into a soccer revival. Are you buying David Beckham as a big star capable of elevating soccer to new highs in the USA?

 

You have to sell this all the way. No other option. If any sole player could do it, Beckham could be the one as well as anybody - but its not happening. If a dozen players of his quality came over, it might have an effect, but soccer is not going to pass football (that is, American football), baseball, or basketball anytime soon in the US, no matter who it is coming over to play here. It might pass hockey or something like that, but it won't be able to touch any of the three major sports. Will Beckham help soccer? Sure, but it'll still an afterthought to the US populace.

 

This has to be a huge sell. The Big 3 are too well entrenched, all the way to college. Football won't be supplanted anytime soon, and neither will baseball or basketball. Beckham was smart to take the money, but any impact he has won't be visible. Now his wife, on the other hand... She could end up being the major star of the two as far as Americans are concerned.

 

Believe it or not, I'm going to buy this initially with a huge sell off later, and here's why. The Galaxy are 3-5-4 and one of the worst teams in the league. Becks immediately becomes the best player in the league. Soccer currently is a niche sport in America, and now with Beckham, he has already sold 250,000 jerseys in five days. That's the equivalent sales of Iverson in an entire NBA season a few years back. Or maybe it's the fact that MLS now has average season attendances on par with the height of NASL. If Becks can even manage NHL-esque numbers for the Galaxy, then this is a win for soccer in America. Will it last? NO! And that is because soccer isn't this country's sport and it never will be. Soccer is a great sport in Europe, Asia, South America, etc...it just won't catch here in America. He isn't even good...mediocre at best! Once the novelty fades off, soccer will again fade back to its niche status. Now, if his wife wants to become a cheerleader on the sidelines and become the gimmick that soccer needs, then hey, who knows what might happen at least short term.

 

buy. People underrate the size of soccer in this country. The most popular youth sport is soccer and now teens and youg adults are beggining to get into it. The MLS needs a star, Beckham is one of the 3 biggest soccer stars in the world and his arrival will bring attention to the MLS. The MLS still needs work, from my experience people that follow soccer still follow the European leagues (as do I). But the reason nobody beleives the MLS will work is because of the media. Media influences everything and ESPN's constant talk of America not caring about soccer is hurting the sport. Lately Sportscenter has been showing more soccer highlights which is a step forward. So the bottomline is Beckham will help the MLS get recognized and if other stars come, like Ronaldo is talking about coming to the US in a year or two then the MLS will become a well followed sport.

The meat of the MLS season is in the summer when it is not competing with the NBA or the NFL. Only baseball and there is always a way to follow just 2 sports at a time. It dosen't have to compete with baseball it can just be alongside it. middle aged people may not like soccer but it is increasing in popularity among teens every year. (Hell at my school it's like the only sport anyone talks about).

The MLS does need to be made more entertaining though. I love soccer but i find it hard to get into the MLS. It just dosen't seem like there is anything to play for. the MLS should get together with the Mexican and the south american leagues to make a kind of America's champions league similiar to the European's champions league. Where the elite MLS teams face of against the top clubs from, other American nations. The MLS should partner with the minor leagues in the US and create relegations and propmotions, just like the european leagues.
Beckham and other stars will help the MLS succeed and in a few years the MLS will take roots and become mainstream (that is if the middle-aged American can stop being stubborn and except it)

 

Rogue: +2
TLS: +2
Sith: +4 (fantastic breakdown in your prediction)
reche: +3 (good info) +2 (good solutions, too)

Scoreboard

This Round:

rechedalphar: 5
RX_Sith: 4
Rouge...Jedi: 2
TLS: 2

Overall:

Rogue...Jedi: 23
RX_Sith: 21
TLS: 16
rechedelphar: 14

And we've got a fight on our hands to survive the buy or sell cut ... let's see which of you two wants it more ...

 

The streaking Chicago Cubs now find themselves only 3.5 points out of first place, and 3 back in the Wild Card race. This has some thinking this could be the Cubs year. Are you buying hope for a World Series title for the Cubs?

 

World Series? nope. Have to sell on that. They do have a good team this year, and I expect they will continue to vie for a playoff spot, and even get one, especially if the Brewers slip up during the second half. However, the Cubs are as likely to slip at this point as the Brewers, meaning they will probably[/b] not make the playoffs at all. Even if they do, they won't make it all the way, and if nothing else, this certainly has history on its side. Its now 2007, and the Cubs haven't won a WS since 1908. That means that when they don't win it this year, it will be an even 100 (and counting) year-long draught without a title. Sure, the Red Sox and White Sox ended their long streaks recently, but that has no bearing on the Cubs. They may come close (see: 2003), but they will not win the World Series this year.

 

Am I buying hope for the Cubs? I think that all Cubs fans always have hope of their beloved Cubbies making it to the World Series, so since you weren't specific, I'll buy it mainly because they are forever hoping that the Cubs can make it back to the Series. Now, let's look at the schedule for the remainder of the season.

1. Chicago Cubs
Home games: 41 of 75
Games against teams at .500 or better: 24
Biggest hurdle: The Cubs have a stretch of tough games in August, but keep this in mind -- they do not currently have a game scheduled against a team with a record of .500 or better after Sept. 6.
Big Finish: Six straight road games, at Florida and Cincinnati.

2. Milwaukee Brewers
Home games: 38 of 74 games remaining
Games against teams at .500 or better: 24
Biggest hurdle: The Brewers begin a three-series, nine-game road trip on Aug. 20
Big Finish: Three home games against the defending champion Cardinals and four at home against the Padres.

Based on the above, it looks like the Cubs do at least stand a chance of making at least the playoffs and even winning the division. The Cardinals have always done poorly the following season after winning the World Series, so I give them no chance of catching the Brewers or Cubs. It's really between those two teams, and if Milwaukee suffers any kind of collapse, then I think that the Cubs offense can power them to the lead in the weak Central Division. If the pitching holds up, and Zambrano starts pitching well, then I think the Cubs can overtake the Brewers and win the division. As far as the World Series, it really depends on who's hot at the time. Just look at the Cardinals last year, only 83 wins and they beat the heavily favored Tigers. Once you reach the show, anything can happen.

 

and it appears that neither of them wanted it more ... which means ...

Rogue: +2
RX: +3
reched: -1
TLS: -1

Scoreboard

This Round:

RX_Sith: 3
Rogue...Jedi: 2
rechedelphar: -1
TLS: -1

Overall:

Rogue...Jedi: 25
RX_Sith: 24
TLS: 15
rechedelphar: 13

And so we say goodbye to rechedalphar. I'd tell you to waive goodbye, but you'd have to do it with a sock cuz ... he gamebanned. Out of Bounds is next ...