Adam Silver Weighs Heavy Hand in First Major Controversy as Commissioner

Adam Silver took over for former NBA Commissioner David Stern on
February 1 of this Year. Stern had served as commish for 30 years

Some detractors complained about Adam Silver's desire to investigate the controversy regarding racist comments made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling late last week. The issue was as close you could come to a one-sided one, yet Silver decided to wait before acting. Yet any fears that Silver's decision regarding Sterling wouldn't be harsh enough subsided after the commissioner's lifetime ban and $2.5 million fine came down yesterday. Silver was undoubtedly tossed a bowling-ball sized pitch for his first major controversy to deal with as commissioner. However, the uncompromising way in which Silver handled the controversy serves as a statement for the direction the NBA is headed, and a win for everyone involved. 

Silver used his power as commissioner as broadly as possible in dealing with Clipper's owner Donald Sterling. His lifetime ban and $2.5 million dollar fine importantly creates a no-tolerance attitude by the NBA in regards to bigoted remarks such as Sterlings. It reaffirms the idea that the NBA is a player driven league, as well as appeases the black community, for which, Mike Wilbon has claimed, the NBA is the second most important communal institution behind the Church. Yet Silver's no nonsense punishment provides a winning platform for players, fans, and the Clippers organization. 

Reports were made during the early stages of the controversy that several NBA owners would use their leverage to oust Sterling from their ranks. Silver has given them a carte-blanche to do so, if not encouraged it. Silver claims he fully expects "to get the support [needed] from the NBA owners to remove him." Sterling's removal will require a 3/4s vote from the remaining owners. Acting to remove Sterling from ownership is of paramount importance to league owners, who are slated to face an increasingly "owners vs players" bargaining process in 2017.

Oprah Winfrey reportedly
has interest in Clippers

Additionally, Silver's move has allowed sponsors the opportunity to jump an board with the Los Angeles Clippers organization. For companies who backed out of support for the Clippers the statement has been made. With Sterling effectively removed from any aspect of the Clippers organization, sponsors can realign themselves with the popular sports franchise. Early reports of the many celebrities (from Oprah Winfrey, Magic Johnson and Sean Combs to Matt Damon) interested in purchasing the franchise boast positive returns of the teams viability.

Clippers Protest before Game 4 in Oakland, CA

Yet, perhaps the most important impact of Silver's decision is the one it will have on the players. Several playoff teams had voiced their displeasure with Sterling's actions, most notably the Los Angeles Clippers themselves, who staged a silent protest before their Game 4 matchup with Golden State. Recent reports have claimed the Golden State Warriors were willing to walk-off before the tip of Game 5, and that there was support from several teams to boycott last nights games. Silver's decision regarding Sterling has taken an incredible amount of pressure off of these players, showing the league office is behind them. It is difficult to say whether these teams will be able to completely return to business as usual, particularly the Clippers. However, Adam Silver has given them a much better opportunity to do so. 

Adam Silver has dealt with the Donald Sterling controversy in a terrific fashion, helping build confidence in his early tenure as NBA commissioner. He has been hailed as now both a commissioner of both the players and the coaches. It will be interesting to see how this move will impact incidents in other sports, and across the nation. 

Injury Woes, Braves Struggles Ring Similar Tune For Nationals

Zimmerman? Out 4-6 weeks. Wilson Ramos? Also out 4-6 weeks. Fister? Tuning up for activation. Span? Seven day disabled list. Werth? Worrisome groin strain. Early season injuries have become a familiar problem for the team many picked as preseason favorites in the National League East. The Washington Nationals are no strangers to injury. One year removed from winning 98 games, the Nationals saw their record slip to 86-76 in 2013. Injuries were a large part of the dip, as the team saw Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth, and Wilson Ramos all miss extended time. Their record with all three in the lineup? 33-20, or the winning percentage of an 100-win season. 

Ryan Zimmerman (3B) fractures his thumb in
a game at Atlanta on April 12. Out 4-6 weeks.

Early injuries in 2014 could spell trouble for a team facing a season-long fight with NL East rival Atlanta for the division crown. In a division containing improved rosters in Miami and New York, the Nationals have little margin for error while their stars get healthy. 

Luckily, the Atlanta Braves have had their own trouble with injuries to start the 2014 season, having already lost pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy for the season. Yet, the Nationals have failed to capitalize in two series with the Braves so far, going 1-5 while posting a minus-16 run differential. The Nationals have handled their business elsewhere, sweeping series with the division rival Mets and Marlins. However, the team can't afford to post a record against Atlanta similar to the 6-13 record they posted in 2013. 

The Nationals will next face the Braves at home on June 19. They will look to get back on track against Miami as they lead the first game of a 3-game series, 9-2, heading into the stretch.

What's In a Name - Examining the Redskin's Name Controversy

In May of 2013 Snyder claimed the team
would "never" change it's name

It's hard to believe that something not involving new head coach Jay Gruden, free agent acquisition DeSean Jackson, or third year quarterback Robert Griffin III is capturing the headlines in Washington the way the current debate over the team's name is.  The current controversy over the NFL franchise based in our Nation's Capitol has intensified over the past year. Last May, team owner Dan Snyder stoked the fire, claiming the team would "never" change it's name. Since then, an intensified effort by Native American organizations and supporters alike, including an advertisement released during Superbowl Week, has been made to hasten change. Further fueling the debate was the recent backlash associated with Snyder's formation of the Washington Redskin's Original American Foundation, a move many have called pandering.

Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of the entire saga, has been Snyder's opposition to even discussing a change. What is clear, is that the name "Redskins" and caricature used as the teams mascot is disparaging to at least a marginal group of Americans. In a day and age, now 50 years removed from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the idea of a professional sports franchise using a racial epithet as its mascot is unacceptable. The continued use of such a word constitutes a blemish, not a bright spot, upon the legacy of one of the NFL's most storied franchises.

Yet, the tide may be turning in the fight to change the name of the Washington Redskins. Recent rejections by the U.S Patent Office of products using the 'derogatory' slur, and the support of D.C mayor Vincent Gray for a name change exemplify growing support on the side of Native American groups. However, apathy on the part of fans continues to be one of the largest deterrents to changing the name. Though numerous rebranding campaigns have taken place, my personal favorite could serve to bridge the gap between fans who view the name 'Redskins' as one full of proud tradition to a more considerate name, the Washington Redhawks.

New Cleveland Indians Primary Logo

Washington has fallen, pitifully, behind in terms of sensitivity regarding sports mascots in recent years. The Cleveland Indians recently demoted their "Chief Wahoo" logo, opting for a block-C as their primary representation. Yet, DC sports fans need look no further than the city's professional basketball team for a positive example of rebranding. Late Washington Wizard's owner Abe Pollin's decision to change the teams name from the Bullets to the Wizards in 1995, due to the violent overtone of the old name, is indicative of the type of man he was. Snyder's insensitivity towards the impact of the franchise's name fits well with the insensitivity he has shown towards the fan experience at FedEx Field. 

Sometimes change comes slowly. And in the case of the Washington Redskins, a name change has been a long time coming. The price to rebrand the Washington Redskins will be extreme, but the positive impact it will cause far outweighs the cost. 

  

The House That Calhoun Built - Exploring UConn's Legacy

Kentucky, UNC, Duke, UCLA, Michigan State, Indiana, Kansas. If you were to ask someone to list the greatest college basketball programs of all time you would probably get a list similar to that one. A few others might grace the list, from Louisville to Connecticut, to the occasional Florida and Georgetown or even wildcards like NC State. Yet the discussion on the upper echelon of college basketball is largely set. Connecticut's magical run in this years tournament raises questions of whether they can finally break into the highest tier of college basketball legacy. The guys over at FiveThirtyEight have made it clear UConn's Men and Women's team combine to be the the best program of all time. Yet, given their recent accomplishments, the Men's team alone makes a excellent case for the best program in the last twenty years. Here's why:
   

Jim Calhoun has led the Huskies to three
National Titles and four Final Four appearances

In May of 1986, the winningest coach in Northeastern University basketball history packed his bags for Connecticut. Jim Calhoun would spend the next 26 years coaching the University of Connecticut Men's Basketball team, building the program into, arguably, the best of the past 20 years. During Calhoun's tenure, the Huskies made 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, 13 times reaching the Sweet Sixteen. Combined with nine Elite Eights, four Final Fours, and three Championships, Calhoun built a Hall of Fame career coaching the Huskies. Following Calhoun's departure from the school, former Connecticut guard Kevin Ollie has taken the helm. The success garnered by Ollie in his first two years as head coach, including two 20 win seasons, and an NCAA Championship offers hope for a bright future at Connecticut, assuming he chooses to re-sign.

However, what has been most impressive about the Huskies over the last twenty years has been the era in which they've played. Without taking anything away from the great John Wooden UCLA teams, or any team to win consistently before the 1980s, the Huskies have accomplished more than anyone else in, arguably, the most balanced era of college basketball. Since the '94 tournament, the Huskies have appeared in 9 Elite Eights, and 5 Final Fours, while posting 16 twenty win seasons. Over that span, the Huskies have never had a losing season, and won 30+ games eight times. In an era where twelve programs have won an NCAA Championship in the past twenty years, Connecticut leads the pack with four titles, followed by Kentucky with three and Duke, North Carolina, and Florida with two. Yet despite their on the court excellence, for many, UConn doesn't fit the bill as an elite college basketball program. Perhaps this years championship can change some minds.