Two completely unrelated topics in sports have been nagging at me this week: the NBA trades and MLB’s steroids problem.
In my opinion, NBA trades have devastated New Orleans and San Antonio, two cities I adore.
The Hornets have had a tough year as it is, but then to go and rip Baron Davis right from under them? That’s just wrong.
I knew there had been something in the air for a while, but it didn’t hit home until I drove by the New Orleans Arena and saw workers removing Davis’ huge mural from the side of the building. It brought a tear to my eye.
The second Davis returned to the Hornets from being injured, he was taken away from the team, this time for good. When you think about it, though, the Warriors didn’t get much considering he’s 25 with constant knee and back injuries. I estimate he probably only has a good four years left.
It would have been nice if Davis could have lived out the rest of his career here in New Orleans in his MTV Cribs mansion. Then the Spurs traded Malik Rose to the New York Knicks. I know that he made too much money and is an undersized power forward, but he meant so much to the city of San Antonio.
Rose gave an interview about his trade and started to tear up when thinking about leaving the team he has been with for more than seven years. It’s not his fault the Spurs pay him too much and Knicks owner Isaiah Thomas made Coach Greg Popovich a deal he couldn’t refuse. The difference in Nazr Mohammed and Rose’s salary is $20 million; so yes, it was a good business deal.
Sometimes good guys finish last and the unlucky ones end up playing for the Knicks.
Then the not-so-good-guys play baseball and use steroids. As spring training gets underway, some players are trying to find time in their practice schedules to appear in a Washington hearing to discuss the MLB’s new drug-testing policy that went into effect March 3 or finding excuses not to show up.
Rafael Palmeiro’s excuse for not attending the March 17 hearing was, “March 17th is my wife’s birthday.” Wow.
Sammy Sosa has yet to “make a decision,” while Jason Giambi, the poster boy of baseball’s steroids problem, has said that it’s unlikely he’ll attend the hearing.
It was pretty funny when the crowd began chanting “Steroids! Steroids! Steroids!” when Giambi got up to bat at Monday’s over-hyped exhibition game between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Then he had to go and hit a home run but that just made him look even guiltier. Good one Giambi.
Barry Bonds was not “invited” to appear in front of the committee. Does this mean that he’ll get away with his possible drug-induced home-run record, surpassing greats like Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth?
Looks to me like the House Government Reform Committee needs to listen to the words coming out of its own mouth: Just say no.
Congress is starting to deliver subpoenas this week to players including Giambi, Sosa and Mark McGwire to testify. I hope Bonds is next and when it’s all over, I hope he gets the chair.
