Joe Johnson Lacks TigerBlood

This is more of a vent than a blog. I'm thoroughly disgusted in the Atlanta Hawks. I'm even more disgusted in Joe Johnson. I just spent two of the past three nights at Philips Arena. Last Sunday it felt more like Madison Square Garden with seemingly 75% of the crowd cheering for the Knicks. And Tuesday night was Staples Center South as most of the fans cheered on Lakers.

I'm so beyond frustrated that I don't even blame those fans. They came out to see superstar players. Guys like Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudamire and Kobe Bryant. The Hawks do not have a superstar. They have superstar contracts.

I hate to beat a dead horse, but Joe Johnson is the main reason this franchise is screwed. Sunday night vs the Knicks Joe Johnson had 14 points. Some dude named Landry Fields of the Knicks had 15 points. Landy Fields makes $473,000 this season. Joe Johnson makes $16 million this season. I wasn't an economics major at USC and even i know one team isn't getting a proper return on their investment while the other one is. Tuesday night vs. the Lakers Joe Johnson had 11 points on 4 for 14 shooting. That's one more point than Damien Wilkins. He makes $225,000 this season. Joe Johnson is a lifeless, emotionless, leaderless, overpaid guard with no killer instinct. He floats around the court like a bench player just trying to blend in and not screw up. The Hawks should have let Joe walk, blown this whole thing up and signed some run of the mill guard that can average 17 to 18 points per game, which is basically what Joe gives you. He's really no different than Jason Richardson, Stephen Jackson, Kevin Martin. The only difference is those guys probably play with a lot more emotion for less money.

This Joe Johnson contract is the worst contract this city has ever seen. Its more than just the actual numbers. He isn't an 'attraction' to the fan base. There isn't one fan in this city or any other NBA city that is paying money to go see Joe Johnson play basketball. $124 Million Dollar contracts are for guys that create a buzz when they walk on to the court in an arena. They get your heart pumping as a fan. Joe Johnson flat lines. Joe Johnson is a supporting actor forced to play the leading man -- and his body language suggests that makes him very uncomfortable.

As for some of the other Hawks - it's really simple. I've said it before, Jeff Teague is the type of player who wouldn't be on an NBA roster if he weren't on the Hawks. This is a 1st round draft pick. I will never forget watching Ty Lawson being selected one pick ahead of the Hawks on that night. Josh Smith - I'm really getting tired of that permanent sour look on his face. I would start with him as a trade piece if I were the Hawks. Marvin Williams - he isn't even worth discussing. For $35 million he will average 10 points and 3 fall downs per game.

The Hawks are stuck with this roster at least for the rest of this season. The Atlanta Spirit are like that group of guys who run up an large bar tab (bad contracts) and then skip out on the bill (sell the team.). I truly believe, until they can find a taker who sees Joe Johnson as their missing piece to get over the hump, and can afford his contract, the Hawks will be relegated to mediocre in the East.

Hawks Playing The Prevent

The NBA trade deadline is approaching this week (Thursday, February 24th). If you have lived in the city of Atlanta long enough, you know the Hawks aren't keen on making major moves. The last time they tried that they ended up with Danny Manning when they exiled the face of their franchise, Dominique Wilkins to the Los Angeles Clippers.

To use an NFL analogy, the Atlanta Spirit would much rather play a 'prevent defense' when it comes to major roster moves. They won't get burned deep by taking a risk. Status quo is safe to them. This current cast of characters is basically filming their sequel to last season's movie, and yes, we all know how it will end (with a loss in the 1st round or 2nd round).

Here is my big picture assessment of the Hawks problem. They don't have a centerpiece. They are lacking that cornerstone franchise superstar that you can build around. I know what your thinking - they paid Joe Johnson 'centerpiece' money. Remember what I said about 'prevent defense', well that was the formation the Atlanta Spirit called when Joe was to become a free agent. They knew he wasn't worth the money, but they felt their Plan B meant getting burned deep and losing him without getting a comparable replacement. Joe Johnson to the Hawks is the equivalent of that guy who owns a really expensive Ferrari, but only takes it out for a drive once a week. You paid a lot of money for this thing, but you aren't getting a lot of mileage out of it.

Look around the Eastern Conference and assess other team's centerpiece players. The Knicks have Amare Stoudamire (they could potentially end up with Carmelo Anthony as well). The Bulls have Derrick Rose for the next 10 years. The Magic more than likely will have Dwight Howard for another decade. Miami is set with Wade and LeBron. Those are franchise, superstar players. Line up Joe Johnson next to those guys and it just feels wrong.

As long as the Hawks continue to convince themselves that Joe Johnson is the cornerstone of this franchise, they will be stuck in mediocrity. If being one of the top eight teams in the East, but not contending for a championship, is ok with the Atlanta Spirit, then congratulations....you've accomplished that goal. However, if you want to become an elite team, you have to start taking risks. It's time to scrap the 'prevent defense' and become the aggressor.

Super Bowl Champs - It's Much More Than That

This is my first blog of 2011 and wow this one feels great! As many of you know, I grew up in Wisconsin. Sundays meant Green Bay Packer football. To witness them become Super Bowl Champs this past Sunday night was euphoric!

However, I don't want to write about how they were a #6 seed and overcame a ridiculous amount of injuries to key players all year long. I'd rather share why this is such an emotional victory as a sports fan. I exchanged text messages with a good friend of mine, who is a former NFL player (he will remain nameless, but let's just say his initials are W.D.). I asked why he was so shocked that I was overcome with joy and emotion after watching the Packers win. He said, "dude it's just a game." My response to that was, 'its much more than that.'

The NFL game is unique to other pro sports because your team plays one day a week. It's usually on Sunday afternoons. Growing up as a kid, this makes for the perfect scenario to find quality time with mom and dad and any siblings in the house. Watching the Packers win this Sunday night brought back memories of sitting on my couch as a 10 year old or 15 year old in Milwaukee with my parents, my brother and watching guys like Lynn Dickey at quarterback, Eddie Lee Ivory, James Lofton. No matter what happened throughout the week, I knew Sundays our family would be together because the Packer game was coming on the television.

I spent much of this past Sunday night texting with my brother. My dad called periodically to check my heart rate and to make sure I didn't pop one too many xanex pills! I even found myself thinking of my mom who passed away in 2002. I know she would be thrilled right now too.

"It's much more than that." This is about Emotions. Memories. Family. Tradition. It's a celebration of a journey. For me, the journey isn't the 16 game season, but rather the trip down memory lane.

My nine year old nephew watched the game Sunday night. He sat on the couch with his dad and grandfather. He saw the Green Bay Packers win. He may not appreciate it today, but 20 years from now he will remember this night. He may not remember the play of Aaron Rodgers or the interception by Nick Collins. What he will remember is how for one night in February he shared a special moment with family. He will realize it was more than just a game. "It's much more than that."

EXTRA! Reid All About It!

So I was listening to sports talk radio this past weekend (the national four-letter network that has taken over the world), and the on-air host made a statement that I can't stop thinking about. He was discussing the Philadelphia Eagles and said (I'm going to have to paraphrase here) that Andy Reid got lucky with Michael Vick.

That's not a fair statement. It's a statement that quite frankly discredits the character of Andy Reid. In the summer of 2009, the Philadelphia Eagles took a chance on Mike Vick. Thirty-one other teams passed. Most owners probably felt it wasn't worth the headache. It certainly would take the right type of coach to handle such a unique situation like this. Eagles' owner Jeffrey Lurie believed Andy Reid would be up for the task.

Andy Reid is all about second chances. Why? He has to be. Reid has two sons that have been to prison. One from a drug and weapons charge and the other from an altercation at a halfway house. There isn't one NFL head coach in the league today that has a better grasp on how prison can affect a young man, than Andy Reid. Make amends for your errors. Learn to live a new life. Mike Vick needed someone to open up that door to a new life and Andy Reid was right there to invite him in.

Not only did Andy Reid give Mike Vick a second chance in the NFL, he gave him a second chance to be a starter in this league. Sure, Vick got his break when Kevin Kolb got injured, but once Kolb got healthy, Reid stood by Mike.

The Mike Vick resurrection project wouldn't have worked out just anywhere. This project wasn't about playing time and depth charts. It's been about belief and encouragement. It's about faith and second chances. This journey is personal for Andy Reid. This story hits home. He deserves all the credit in the world for his team's success and Mike's success. There is nothing "lucky" about it.

Time To Say GoodBuy-Out

Calling all Georgia Tech alum! Calling anyone that is a fan of Georgia Tech men's basketball! We are starting a fundraiser. We need to raise money immediately. How much? Are you currently sitting down? I'll wait....

Approximately $8.1 million dollars.

That is how much its going to cost Georgia Tech to tell Paul Hewitt to clean out his locker. This program has reached it's breaking point. It's reached the point where we must now say: it's worth it.

I don't want to make this column about numbers. It's too easy to talk about his inability to get past the 2nd round in the NCAA tournament (in years his team has even qualified: 5 years out of 10). Yeah, I know, he took his team to the Final Four in 2003. That seems like it was at least seven years ago....it was. You know who else has gone to the Final Four since then? George Mason University & Butler University.

This season has been a disgrace and ACC play hasn't even begun. Hewitt's team already has losses to Kennesaw State, Northwestern and now in-state rival Georgia. Horrible, bad, trouble. For years, Hewitt has typically saved face in the offseason by landing a prize recruit. The problem is that window of opportunity with said star recruit closes so quickly, we hardly remember their name.

Ironically, while Georgia Tech was losing to UGA Tuesday night, I was at Philips Arena watching the New Jersey Nets, and former Paul Hewitt star recruit Derrick Favors. His stat-line: 24 minutes / 4 points, 5 rebounds. By the way, Hewitt's other prize recruits: Thaddeus Young has an NBA career average of 11 points and 4 rebounds. Javaris Crittenton...well, let's just say his NBA career bit the bullet (sorry, pun intended) and he now plays in China.

Coach Hewitt is always praised for his recruiting. However, it begs two questions: (1) is he good enough a coach to do something with these kids in the one year he has them? Calipari seems to do it. (2) why can't he convince these kids to stay more than one season? Coach K and Roy Williams seem to do it.

It's clear Georgia Tech is headed towards another subpar year. The ACC hasn't even been that competitive the past few years and this program had the chance to be one of those 2nd tier teams behind Duke and UNC. Instead, Georgia Tech has become nothing more than Virginia basketball or Clemson basketball. Irrelevant. A non-factor. Sadly, it doesn't have to be this way.

Bobby Cremins spent 19 years building this program into something special. Paul Hewitt is taking 10 years to slowly erase all the goodwill and credibility established by Cremins. It's time to stop the bleeding. This program is worth saving. It's ACC basketball in a fertile recruiting area.

There is an old expression: you have to spend money to make money. If the athletic department and alumni base at Georgia Tech are committed to producing a winning program, it's time to raise that $8 million dollars and make that 'donation'. It's worth it...

An A-PARENT Problem in College

LaMar Griffin didn't play college football at U.S.C. He didn't even attend U.S.C. However, LaMar Griffin is one of the main reasons the U.S.C. Trojans are sitting on probation with a two-year bowl ban and a loss of 30 football scholarships.

Who is LaMar Griffin? Reggie Bush's stepfather.

It's been well documented by now that Reggie's stepfather and mother, Denise Griffin lived in a house in San Diego registered to a 'wanna-be' sports marketer and agent. This was one of many red flags to anybody interested in bringing down the U.S.C. football program (namely Yahoo!Sports, the NCAA, the UCLA Bruin mascot etc...).

Flash forward to 2010. Cecil Newton is the man's name. Father to Cam Newton is his game. Reports and allegations have been all over the news the past week claiming Cecil Newton along with another 'wanna-be' agent began to market the services of his son to various schools in the SEC Conference.

Is it just me or is the common theme in these two stories, poor parental values? I understand not everyone is raised in the perfect environment. However, even when the economic or social climate is not favorable, the one thing these kids should be able to lean on in hard times is parental guidance and morals from a mother, a father, a step dad or a grandmother.

Cam Newton and Reggie Bush are elite athletes. Unfortunately with elite status comes attention and dollar signs. All of a sudden you become more than just a football player, you become a commodity. A revenue producer. You now have leverage. The question is what do you do with that leverage? There are plenty of schools and agents that have a promise and a plan. So what is an 18 to 22 year old to do now? Logic would dictate that you turn to your parents for moral support and guidance. "Moral?" Sounds rather ironic in these two cases.

How would things be different if Lamar Griffin and Denise Griffin had just said to Reggie, "son, I don't think we should take this man's money. I think as a family we can wait until you declare for the NFL. What's another 12 months?" Or how about, "Reggie, this isn't right. You are putting the USC program in jeopardy if wind of these payments get out." Where was the voice of reason on Reggie's right shoulder, while the devil had his ear on the left?

The same could be said for Cam Newton's father. Cecil Newton could have squashed all these potential problems with five simple words, "We Aren't Interested In Money."

Whether you are a student-athlete, a Heisman candidate or just a regular kid taking classes on campus, you arrive day one with the morals instilled from your home life. Reggie Bush and Cam Newton became larger than life stars. They became targets by people looking to make money off their success. It's just sad that those people were their parents...

(PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: @kidcue)

The Cost of Change

Sports fan are fickle by nature. We love to love and love to hate, and that's just in the first half of a ballgame. The minute players stop performing, we have one of two options: blame the player or blame the guy coaching the player. Typically player blame is only good for a game or two. After that, it has to be the coach, and we demand change.

Fans love to launch websites that start with http://www.fire---------.com/. It's therapeutic. Somehow we feel like we are part of the process in getting a coach fired. We post angry comments on team message boards with the hopes of rallying a fan base. Some of us even send email after email to local sports talk radio hosts hoping their complaints make it over the airwaves. (Now who would do such a thing like that??)

We must ask ourselves as fans - do we think owners or athletic directors read those boards? Do they listen to those radio stations? Perhaps some might, but more often than not, firings become financial decisions. How much will it cost them to fire this coach? How much will it cost them to get a new guy in here? Will I lose my fan base if change isn't made? Afterall, if fans get so angry that change isn't made and don't show up and spend money, it can cost you down the road (see Dallas Cowboys).

In the Atlanta area alone there are plenty of case studies. Paul Hewitt at Georgia Tech (better known as Teflon Don, once details of his contract were exposed), can't get fired because his contract has a unique clause that automatically renews him for 6-years...every year! If the school wants to dump him, they will have to pay him 6-years worth of salary at $1.35 million per year! So basically Tech fans are stuck without change.

On the pro level, the Atlanta Hawks decided to fill their recent coaching vacancy by shopping at WalMart where they found Larry Drew on sale for about $1.2 Million. This makes him the lowest paid coach in the NBA. Good news for Hawks fans, it's only a 2-year deal and if they want to make a change, it's an easier pill to swallow than coach Hewitt's at GA Tech.

Over in Athens, Georgia, Bulldog fans don't know what to do with themselves. They aren't happy with Mark Richt...of late, but unless they know they can land a 'flavor of the month' replacement, they don't want to take a chance. Or it could just be the fact that the athletic department would have to stroke Richt a check for $5 million to make a change.

Just last week we saw across this great nation in the midterm elections, it's human nature to want change. When things don't feel good we expect it. We demand change. How did the GOP accomplish this change? Was it in the message or in the money?

They say sports often mirrors society. It's clear that change is en vogue right now. Coaches are no different then congressmen or senators. If we want change, it's going to cost us!