MMBSD: Sport Hiatus

Of all the weeks in the sporting calendar possibly the biggest hiatus is between the NFL championship games and the Super Bowl. Not because of the dearth of possible sport watching but after the constant barrage of football anything less than too much seems well empty. So there's really not that much to discuss from the past week but


Beli-Clones
With a number of Belichek offspring now inhabiting the NFL landscape an unfortunate outgrowth will probably be an expanded Belichek war on the media. Mumbles has long been known for his disdain for sharing information, talking with people, natural light, and garlic. While RAC and Weis may not have shared that hatred of "social interaction" it appears the next generation via Pioli, Mangini, etc. share that trait. Pioli has already spread the word to descend the iron curtain while Mangini has quickly installed Fortress Mangoldfinger. While in their own right coaches have might have a desire to keep these plans secret, lack of transparency and lack of information tends to fans into apathy mode (certainly not in line with an owner's or the NFL's bottom line). While Belichek can keep fan interest with multiple championships its a shame in the copy cat league that coaches and GMs that seem to take pride in their disdain of fans are controlling more and more jobs.

All-Star Fixation
In one of those odd news notes Gary Bettman (he's the head of the NHL which apparently plays hockey still) suspended a number of Detroit Red Wings for not playing in the all-star game. Meanwhile in the NFL land the 2010 Pro Bowl apparently will be played before the Super Bowl (one can only assume that the best players from the Super Bowl teams won't play). What is with the odd fixation of commissioners and all-star games? Does it potentially really bring in that much revenue or is just some bizarre re-arranging chairs fetish?

Top Heavy NBA
While we've reached the official halfway point for the NBA. The one thing I think we can safely conclude is that there is the top tier and then everyone else. I was ready to annoit Orlando as the favorite but the Celtics absolutely annihiliated them. Meanwhile I was expecting the Cavs to stumble without 2 starters. While they are not playing as well as they were, they continue to win. Meanwhile Andrew Bynum is starting to put together serious numbers for the Lakers. So there's Orlando, Cleveland, Boston and the Lakers. Its more than apparent that the NBA Champ will come from this quartet but its certainly unclear which one it will be. Should be a fun 2nd half of the season...

Half Way MVP: Lebron (Duh)
Half Way Coach of the Year: Stan Van Gundy (The Man has to get some props for meshing all the parts together)
Halfway Rookie of the Year: Co-Rookies OJ Mayo (19.1 points per game) and Derrick Rose (16.7 pts 6 assists) This is easily the toughest award to give out. Not only as these two having great years but so is Russel Westbrook, Brook Lopez, Greg Oden , Marc Gasul, etc. In fact I fully expect for the first time in a long time the Rookies to defeat the Sophmores at the All Star Game. Ultimately the award will go to the rookie that improves instead of hitting the fabled wall but at this point Mayo and Rose are in front of the others.


The Times They are Changing
National Signing Day (Feb 5th) when everyone can send a new set of wacky rankings that are based on crap. Feb (11th) UNC v. Dook. The Tar Heels Blue Devils matchup typically is the signal that College Basketball season is heading into the homestretch before the madness. NBA trade deadline (Feb 19th) the biggest name out there is the Cavs' Wally's World as his contract might reshape the NBA Championship race. Pitchers-Catchers report (Feb 20th) I leave the baseball folks to discuss if the normal excitement of spring training is improved or lessened with the World Baseball Classic (March 5th) or if the excitement over the WBC more than enough to compensate from the normal Spring Dreams routine.