SportsWrite

After watching the start of the season for both the Celtics and the Cavaliers, I simply cannot wait to see these teams meet in the playoffs this spring.  I think these two teams are definitely the two best in the NBA, in spite of any case Lakers apologists might make.

The Celtics just won’t lose anymore.  They look more intensely focused than ever.  Contentment with a single title is not a quality of this teams.  And the Celtics are much more than the Big Three than at this time last year, thanks to the full blossoming of Rajon Rondo and solid contributions by guys like Eddie House and Leon Powe.  Yes, they had a close call at Atlanta last night, but considering that it is December and the game was played in an arena in which the Celtics couldn’t win a game for their lives in the playoffs, it was an awesome performance.  You would be smart to not bet against the Celtics repeating this year.

But as good as the Celtics have looked, the Cavs have looked equal to the challenge.  The Cavs have been absolutely destroying everyone.  And I don’t think there is any doubt who the best player in the NBA is now, again in spite of any case Kobe fans might make.  Think about it.  Questions about his defensive intensity have dogged LeBron throughout his career, and it seems as though this is the year he finally got pissed off enough to do something about.  He has been totally dominant on defense this year.  His free throw percentage is up around 80%.  His excellent all around play is the same as usual.  And because the Cavs have wrapped up most games so early, his minutes are down to 35 per night.  So, he’ll be even more fresh when the playoffs come around.  Would anyone dare bet against a defensively focused, fresh LeBron come spring?  I think not.

Which is why this all sets up to be a fantastic matchup come spring.

It’s good to see that Penn State finally gave Joe Paterno a contract extension for three more years (give or take a few years, according to the reports.)  I know this has probably been said many times before, but I’ll say it again:  JoePa has more than earned the right to coach at Penn State as long as he wants.  Even if that means till the day he dies (it probably does.)

What I think people sometimes forget is that he isn’t simply an old coach just hanging on as long as he can without the results to warrant it.  He still runs out a solid football team year after year, and still wins lots of football games.  Sure, he has had a couple rough years recently, but by and large he still gets it done.

Gone are the days of powerhouse schools dominating year after year after year, like the Alabama, Nebraska, Penn State, Oklahoma teams of old.  Penn State has averaged 10 wins per season the last four years and been Big Ten champions twice in that time.  If not for a last second Iowa field goal this season, we would be talking about Penn State in the national championship game.  Same story in 2005, when a last second Michigan touchdown prevented another undefeated Penn State campaign.

So, essentially, Penn State plays New Year’s Day bowls regularly and every few years contends for the national championship.  In today’s college football landscape, that is a pretty good record.  No one is a perennial national championship contender now, not with the parity present.  What would Nebraska fans give to have Penn State’s record the last few years? Or Alabama? Or Tennessee? Or Miami?

That’s why JoePa deserves to coach at PSU as long as he wants.  In addition to his previous achievements, he gets results about as good as anyone could ask for in the modern college football world.  Just let him keep coaching.

I have to say that I am disappointed, although not entirely surprised. I guess, ultimately, it probably was a forgone conclusion that Sabathia would sign with the New York Yankees, what with the $160 million they were offering.

But I was holding out hope that he would land somewhere else (perhaps the Dodgers), where he would be given a true chance to succeed.  ESPN’s Buster Olney made the comment today, and I paraphrase, that from the moment Sabathia first steps onto the mound, the fans and the city of New York will expect nothing but absolute perfection from him.  This kind of expectation can be extremely burdensome and certainly can affect performance.

I just wonder how fans in New York will react if, during the 2009 playoffs, Sabathia flames out like he has the past two years in Cleveland and Milwaukee. Will they give him a free pass and attribute it to him just needing to adjust to New York, the pressure and the lifestyle?  Or will they treat him like they have treated Alex Rodriguez since he came to New York?

I genuinely like CC Sabathia and I do hope he lives up to expectations while he is a Yankee.  I really do.  I just don’t think it’s very likely.