Author: Chris McGlynn

Counting down the most successful sports city

Chris McGlynn MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

So following the Super Bowl and now starting the long four-month lull until another championship game is played, I thought it might be interesting to reflect back on the last 15 years of sports champions. More specifically, I am ranking the top ten sports cities in the US since 2000. This includes the five largest sports leagues in America, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS. The rankings will mainly rely on championships won by a single city but I will also take into account appearances in the finals as well. Let’s see if your city makes the list.

The cities just missing the cut are Houston, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Houston has two titles, both coming from their MLS club the Dynamo. The Astros made a World Series run in 2005 but got swept. The Texans haven’t helped. Philly has four appearances in the big game but only one victory. The Phillies won the World Series in 2008 but then lost the next year. The Eagles lost in 2005 as did the Flyers in 2010. Baltimore has two titles but both came from the Ravens. The Orioles did not do enough to really pad Baltimore’s resume.

#10 Kansas City 2 total titles in 4 total appearances
Not exactly a massive market but Kansas City has been a pretty solid sports city since 2000 when it comes to success. The forgotten team here will be the MLS club. The Kansas City Wizards, who is now Sporting KC, won the MLS Cup in 2000 and later made it to the 2004 final. 13 years later, Sporting KC left its mark with a MLS Cup victory. Then just this past year, the Royals made a shocking run to the World Series, eventually losing to San Francisco. The Kansas City NFL team, the Chiefs, could have boosted this city up the list some but they have had very little playoff success since 2000, not coming anywhere near the Super Bowl.

#9 St. Louis: 3 total titles in 5 total appearances
The St. Louis Rams were actually the first team to win a sports championship in the new millennium, taking home the 2000 Lombardi Trophy (which I ranked as my most exciting Super Bowl game of all time). The baseball team in St. Louis has done most of the heavy lifting though as the Cardinals have been among baseball’s best in the past 15 years. The Cards have two World Series titles from the 2006 and 2011 campaigns. This MLB team also came up just short in both 2004 and 2013, at the hands of the Boston Red Sox on each occasion. A little help from the Blues in the NHL could’ve pushed St. Louis above the next few cities on this list.

#8 San Francisco: 3 total titles in 5 total appearances
The San Francisco Giants have been baseball royalty over the past five years. In that time span, they have nailed down three World Series titles. San Francisco also made a trip to the Series in 2002, eventually losing in Game 7 to the Anaheim Angeles. The football team in San Francisco is pretty good as well. The 49ers came close for years to making it back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995. They finally accomplished that goal in 2013, but came up short against the Baltimore Ravens. Close, but no cigar. That Super Bowl victory could have vaulted San Francisco past the number seven city on the list.

#7 Pittsburgh: 3 total titles in 5 total appearances
If this were an all-time list, Pittsburgh would have to be higher up on it. As it is only since the year of 2000, the city takes a drop. This has still been a successful city though when it comes to sports titles. The Steelers have earned two of them, in 2006 and 2009. They also came up a touchdown short in 2011 of winning another one against the Packers. On the ice, the Penguins have been one of the top teams in the NHL for some time now. They are perennial contenders and managed to make a Stanley Cup run in 2008, losing to the Detroit Red Wings, before returning the following year to beat those same Red Wings. Unfortunately, the Pirates haven’t been much help to the Pittsburgh cause in a while. Pittsburgh has been good, just not as good as…

#6 San Antonio: 4 total titles in 5 appearances
Amazing that a city with only one professional sports team can make the list. Well that’s what happens when the San Antonio Spurs are that one team. After a win in the NBA Finals in 1999, the Spurs watched as the Lakers won three consecutive titles to open the 21st century. The Spurs retaliated by winning three out of the next five. After an eight-year finals drought, San Antonio got another shot at a ring in 2013, eventually losing in Game 7 to the Heat. The rematch the following year though fell the other way giving the Spurs their fourth title since 2000.

That is the bottom half of the list. Check back in tomorrow for the top half of the countdown.

NBA Cornerstones: Center

Chris McGlynn Basketball, Cornerstones, NBA , , , , ,

Cornerstone players will be a recurring theme on Second Look Sports where I look at each position in a certain sport and I choose a cornerstone player to build my franchise around. I have a couple of parameters for this selection though. I will factor in age, potential, injury history, experience, reputation and production. I think this should be a fun and interesting topic to discuss on here. I hope you guys agree.

The selection- DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
Honorable mentions- Nickolas Vucevic, DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond, Gorgui Dieng, Hassan Whiteside

It is hard to find a really reliable big man in the NBA. There were a couple of good candidates for this one but Cousins clearly stands out above the rest. The 24-year old is coming into his own this season. He has always had solid production but this year, the former Kentucky product has begun playing at a completely new level. His potential is still there as well. Cousins is still learning how to have a bigger presence than he already does as a rim protector as well as avoiding turnovers. If he manages to do those two things, he could be an elite player in this league.

The thing that really sets Cousins apart from the rest is scoring ability. He is averaging 23.7 points per game this season, tied for sixth in the league among all players and tops among centers. He is outscoring Chris Bosh by almost three points per game and putting up the same number as Stephen Curry. Those are incredible scoring numbers, especially as a center. He shoots below what a lot of other centers convert but Cousins also takes several more shots per game. He is solid at the line as well. A lot of centers are liabilities in their free throw shooting, making it easy to simply foul them and make them earn their points from the line. You can’t do that with Cousins; he hits nearly 82 percent of his free throws, best among centers in the league.

Cousins is a nuisance under the basket as well. He is averaging 12.5 boards per game this year and has averaged at least 11 rebounds a game in 3 of his 5 seasons. As a distributor, Cousins is pretty adept at moving the ball around. He averages just over three assists per game, which is tied for fourth in the NBA for centers. That comes at a price though. His high usage rating (33.4 percent) might lead to great scoring numbers and a solid amount of assists but it leads to a dangerously high level of turnovers as well. Cousins has the most turnovers in the NBA this year. He is averaging four per game making him one of the few centers with an assist to turnover ratio that is less than one.

Some of those turnovers are made up for though on the defensive side of the ball. Cousins averages the second most steals per game among centers, averaging more than 1.5 per game. He is only 0.01 steals per game behind Nerlens Noel the most among centers. Cousins, while not an elite shot blocker, also has some credentials protecting the rim. He is averaging 1.64 rejections per night this year and shows some promise to keep growing. His totals have increased yearly over the past three seasons. He is also a dominant low post defender. With his 6 foot 11 inch, 270-pound frame, it is not a simple task to back down Cousins. He is rock solid inside and refuses to let players get an easy bucket in close.

So while the selection might not be perfect, Cousins is the best of the bunch. He has battled injuries but continues to come back and produce well each time. He is an elite offensive weapon, which is rare in today’s NBA for centers. He is a top rebounder and solid distributor. Cousins’ all-around game makes him a worthy selection and great player to build around. You see his total value in his incredible Player Efficiency Rating at a 24.8, which ranks eleventh in the league and second among centers. He has the versatility to fit in various styles of offense and play alongside just about anyone. His defensive prowess can anchor a team as well with his generally above average play. There is no doubting that Cousins is great and his physical tools should have him as a perennial All Star for years to come.

For more Cornerstone selections, click here.

Nothing is sacred in football

Chris McGlynn Football, NFL, Social Issues , ,

In a week where we have seen the world of football surrounded by talk of the Patriots’ legacy being tainted for underinflated footballs and Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank admitting to the use of fake crowd noise, cheating in the NFL has been on everyone’s mind. The legitimacy of the game so loved in the US sure takes a hit but at least it was not a single player at the heart of the controversy. However, we have a new story coming to light about the man many say is the single greatest player in league history.

ESPN released a video a few weeks ago about the evolution of receiving gloves in the NFL. A little over a minute in, Jerry Rice admits that he used to put a little stickum, a banned substance by the league, on his gloves to make sure they had that extra bit of grip. The NFL officially outlawed the substance in 1981. Rice joined the league in 1985. At no point could the Hall of Fame receiver have played using stickum without violating NFL rules. Rice would have been great regardless but once again, this is a matter of going to any length for a competitive edge.

For some context, Hall of Fame receiver Andre Reed explains in the video that using stickum would allow you to completely control a football. It did not require you to grip it so much as simply touch it for the ball to stick to your hand. It made hanging on to the football both when catching it and when running with it much easier. Receiver gloves nowadays act in a similar manner but not to the point where players can palm a ball without gripping. Not to mention that gloves are not illegal to use in the NFL.

Back to Rice, he holds just about every meaningful record for a receiver in NFL history. A few have fallen but not many. The question now raised is does this taint what Rice did at all? He acknowledged that what he was doing was unfair, saying, “I know this might be a little illegal guys, I just put a little spray, a little stickum on ’em, to make sure that texture is a little sticky.” It is not the biggest thing in the world for a receiver to have used stickum but it is illegal. What makes it worse is that Rice knew he was breaking the rules. It was something the league did not heavily enforce at the time. However, using stickum is not all that different from having underinflated footballs or fabricated crowd noise. It gives you a slight edge that may not affect the outcome of a game but will go down as an unfair advantage.

This all boils down to the culture of the NFL. It is a win at all costs league. It seems that every era has some sort of scandal and they almost never seem to be the same. Players and teams are continually finding new ways around the rules all the time. It really tears down the integrity of the NFL if you ask me. This league has more scandals than any other in the United States and likely the world. It is disappointing to me as a fan to see the sport that I love more than any other tarnished over and over again by a list of infractions that is slowly building each year.

On a different level, it is really unfortunate to find out that an NFL legend like Rice was using stickum. It does not change his credibility as an elite player because Rice was still one of the most cerebral and dedicated football players of all time. It does make you think a little thought about the level of his success. It also makes you think of this year’s Patriots. There was no doubting that New England would have been good because of its talent and preparation. But the controversy leaves you wondering what if. The issue is that the Patriots have caught a lot more flack for this. In my eyes, if you want to put an asterisk next to the 2015 Super Bowl champions go ahead. But you better be putting one next to Jerry Rice’s records then. Cheating is cheating, no matter who does it, when it happens or how strongly it is enforced. Holding one example accountable means that you must hold all other accountable as well. That is just the culture of the NFL now. Find a way to get an edge, and do the best you can to make sure you don’t get caught.

Klinnsman’s stinging criticism

Chris McGlynn MLS, Soccer, USMNT

The US Men’s National team manager made headlines last night after a press conference with FOX Soccer in which he took yet another shot at MLS. Jürgen Klinnsman criticized the league’s nine-month season claiming it severely hurt player development and fitness. He urged MLS officials to alter the season to be structured as an 11-month season, comparable with the rest of the world’s leagues operate. He felt that the inadequate training that MLS players are subjected to is a major reason for last week’s loss to Chile in an international friendly. “The MLS season goes nine months, and they should take a month off but then they should then go back to preparing themselves for their next year. A couple of guys haven’t done that and that’s why they are looking a little bit shaky right now. But we’re going to get them back on track and hopefully they learn out of it,” Klinnsman explained. While his words are another stab at MLS, Klinnsman might have a point.

The US went to half against Chile winning the match 2-1. The Chilean team stormed back and scored twice in the second half to come away with a 3-2 win. It was an international friendly, so it really doesn’t mean anything, but the United States is still fighting to prove that it belongs on the world soccer stage. Klinnsman was not wrong that the US looked a little out of shape in the second half of the match. He made the comparison to other major American sports, pointing out the expectations set forth for them. Klinnsman said, “Soccer is not there yet where the NFL or the NBA or the NHL are in terms of peer pressure. They don’t have that same sense of accountability here in the U.S. that they would have in Europe.” He is right. MLS is not there yet and the nine-month cycle probably is not helping.

The American soccer system has, for whatever reason, resisted conforming to the world format of soccer. The 11-month structure gives players time off during July and into August. My best guess is that MLS authorities have recognized that the summer months tend to be rather slow as far as sports go. The NBA and NHL wrap up in June and the NFL is in the lifeless part of its cycle, leaving just Major League Baseball. Competing with just one sport during those months makes it much easier for the league for the league to draw viewers and sponsorships. Unfortunately, MLS, as a result, finds itself out of sync with the transfer window that every other country uses. It leads to a confusing mismatch of off seasons that forms a disconnect. This means that while US teams are trying to build their rosters heading toward the season, as they are right now, the European leagues have ended their transfer period. It no longer allows players competing in league around the world to make the jump to the MLS right when teams are looking to add valuable pieces. It instead seals off MLS clubs from building to the potential that it could. This might not have been Klinnsman point but it plays into his argument.

Getting more specific regarding player acquisition and player development vastly differs from the US to Europe. The youth soccer system in Europe most notably does not include college soccer. Most European teams sign players to contracts as young as 16 and simply loan them to other teams in lower divisions to gain experience. College soccer is a great program in the US, but the level of competition and the availability of resources are well below that of youth systems in Europe. The development process simply is not strong enough to make it a top choice for the world’s best players. However, I think the culture of college soccer could change. In a world where college basketball players only spend one year in school and college football players frequently leave after their junior year, MLS could begin to see a shift to this model. Three out of the top six picks selected in the MLS SuperDraft were students who were leaving school early. That might not seem like much but it is a start.

The simple fact is that this isn’t basketball, hockey or football. Soccer does not have the nationwide popularity the other major sports do. It could come eventually. American soccer is growing in popularity and support. We saw that this past summer with the 2014 World Cup. MLS is slowly beginning to allure more fans with rising attendance rates and larger television deals. I have mentioned the impact that the stars of the 2014 World Cup for the US could have on MLS popularity. This is a big year for MLS. It has all the right ingredients to take another large step in the direction of being nationally recognized as a major US sport as well as a competitive domestic league on the world stage. Does the MLS need to switch to an 11-month system to really push its success? Maybe. I don’t think it would hurt and it would certainly help with getting on the same page with the National team manager. If you ask me, eventually they will have to, if the league truly wants to be taken seriously. Klinnsman has a point. Change is needed in MLS. It is coming. Just not as soon as he would like.

The state of the Red Bulls

Chris McGlynn MLS, Soccer

It started with Thierry Henry announcing he would not be returning. From there, the 2014 Red Bulls slowly fell apart. Head Coach Mike Petke was dismissed. Erik Alexander and Abroise Oyongo were traded to Montreal. Even Tim Cahill left for China. This team will resemble nothing of the 2014 version. That might not be a bad thing though. It was clear that it was time for change in New York. They have some pieces to build around in Bradley Wright-Phillips and Dax McCarty. Here is what has changed and what could happen next surrounding this MLS club.

Everything starts from the top down; Jesse Marsch replaced Petke. This is not Marsch’s first MLS gig as he headed the Montreal Impact in their inaugural season in 2012. Previous to that, Marsch had worked under former US Men’s National team manager Bob Bradley as an assistant for the 2010 World Cup and 2011 Gold Cup. Having some experience will be key if the Red Bulls want to even come close to matching last season’s success. The bigger issue for Marsch is that he probably still does not have his entire roster in place.

Marsch’s squad may have lost Oyongo and Alexander in the trade with the Impact but they did receive an allocation spot and midfielder Felipe Martins. Martins is a huge asset, as he will be the one running the midfield. He finished eighth in MLS last season with ten assists on the year. New York did not waste any time in using the allocation spot either as it snapped up Sacha Kljestan from Belgium’s Anderlecht. Kljestan has a history in the MLS, as he was actually an all-star in 2008 for Chivas USA. He also has 46 caps for the US National team. This might not be a huge splash, but he will be an experienced player ready to work and provide valuable leadership to New York.

Additionally, the Red Bulls have plenty of room to improve. With Henry and Cahill leaving, New York now has two designated player spots available to fill some major holes in the starting eleven. DP slots are available for teams to sign players that fall outside the threshold of the salary cap. The fact that Red Bulls have two of them is a big deal. That means they have the wiggle room to bring in big name talent. New York was in play for US international Jozy Altidore when it was clear he wanted a return to MLS but he is headed to Toronto instead. Rumors are that Marsch and company are looking for a top striker to pair with Wright-Phillips and probably a defensive back to help solidify the defense alongside Roy Miller.

New York could target a few different players. A young, yet difficult to acquire option would be Billel Omrani from Marseille. The 21-year old only has 4 appearances this season for the French side. He is a taller option at six foot flat making him an asset on crosses into the box and set pieces. He could be a good compliment to Wright-Phillips and a player for New York to keep around for a while. Another more feasible option would be attempting pry Anthony Stokes from Celtic. Stokes has been a great scorer and set up man at the forward position. He will likely not be too keen to leave the Scottish side he has played for since 2010, but the 26 year could be a very good fit next to Wright-Phillips in the Red Bulls attack. Can’t overlook as well his experience playing for the Republic of Ireland. International caps are very valuable, no matter who they are for.

On defense, the Red Bulls would be smart to target Tommy Smith from the English Championship team Ipswich town. The 24-year old is an international player for New Zealand and has the versatility to play left or center back. Another potential pickup would be 28-year old Danny Simpson from Leicester City in the Premier League. Simpson was part of the Manchester United youth academy as a teenager and the 28-year old would bring lots of experience to New York with his 107 total Premier League appearances.

The season is still roughly 6 weeks away so Marsch will have plenty of time to make some moves to solidify his roster. The Red Bulls are in a position where they could leave one of the DP slots open as well in hopes of landing a player in the summer transfer window. Either way this team is still far from a completed product. Keep an eye out for more new faces to make their way to New York in the coming months.