Sunday Musings: Win Now and Other Ramblings.....

Deep Thoughts with Mr. Iguodala and Mark Price: Hopefully Coming to HBO

Win Now: While NBA can be divided many ways - The Haves and The Have Nots, The Spenders and The Savers, The Win Nows and the Win Laters but this year its become fairly clear that these cleavages have aligned themselves perfectly. If you are already on top go for broke next year, if your not close no need to improve...just wait awhile. Yes Detroit seems to be the odd exception but its becoming clearer by the day that Detroit isn't fully conscious. The Mavs double downed on age and experience by roping in Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion. The Spurs sign the AARP card holder Antonio McDyess. The Lakers opted for Ron Artest. Celtics for Rasheed Wallace. Not to bad mouth any of these players but the upside (let alone long term value) is certainly questionable. Jason Kidd had a good year last year but expecting 3 more good years of 36 year old is hardly a sane idea. It only makes sense in the win now mind set. I'm uncertain if that will continue on after the uncertanity of the looming free agencyapalooza, CBA renegotiation, economy stabilization is made clear but next year the race for who is a contender could be over by November.

More Big 10 Blues: Piling onto the why the Big 10 has struggled since 2002 is this piece out Missouri on the recruiting woes of the Big 10....as its ranked dead last among the Big 5 over the past 7 years.

Looming Labor Battles: The NBA isn't the only major sports league that seems to be facing looming labor battles. The NFL appears to be headed towards brutal negotiations 2010-2011 if not a lockout. Labor negotiations almost always go down to the last minute but shrinking monetary pies probably mean this round will be more intense.

UFC: As a living underground fighter legend I was surprised when the UFC got the Bristol Red Treatment (i.e., when ESPN tells the little people what they should do ad watch)of hyping the ultimate fighting pay per view. At well over 1.25 million buys mixed martial arts is hardly fringe anymore and quickly positioning itself among the second tier of sports. I'm never certain exactly how to gauge a sports' popularity relative to others (revenue? attendance? nielson ratings?) but its apparent that ultimate fighting is at least moving to the NASCAR will it become mainstream level of several years back.