A USC Football Fanatic

I had the great opportunity of meeting Roy Nwaisser, who has attended over 200 straight USC football games. My video below delves into his streak:

'A' for Effort

[Originally published on SportsTalkBuzz.com]

If the beginning of the 2009-10 season for the Los Angeles Lakers was a school exam, it would be a take-home quiz comprised of multiple choice and true-false questions.

Up to this point, eight of the Lakers’ first 14 opponents currently have losing records, and two of them are just one game above .500. To put dressing on the salad, they’ve won their last six games by almost 18 points per contest (and by “contest” I mean cake walk).

But like a take-home quiz counts toward the final grade, the Lakers’ 13-3 start counts toward their record at season’s end, a record that could determine home court advantage throughout the playoffs for them (see: last season’s championship run) or for their potential Finals opponent (see: their 2007 title tailspin) should they reach that round for the third straight year.

While some of their true tests don’t begin until a few weeks from now – when the team embarks on a five-game road trip – the Lakers are wisely taking advantage of their favorable schedule, much like most students utilize a take-home quiz to improve their grade.

For one thing, Phil Jackson can straighten out his crooked bench, which has struggled to maintain large leads and keep Mr. Momentum in purple and gold. Furthermore, Jackson has time to establish a consistent rotation now that Pau Gasol is back from injury.

What’s more, Lamar Odom – who is averaging just six points, six rebounds and three assists since retreating to his sixth-man role in wake of Gasol’s return – can use the next handful of games to figure out how he can be more effective as the second unit’s go-to guy.

But perhaps the greatest advantage of playing lesser opponents at the start of the season – not to mention hosting 17 of the first 21 games – is the ability to rest veterans like Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Ron Artest during most of the fourth quarter (if and when the Lakers are handily defeating teams late in the game), thereby preserving their legs and limiting injuries for the second half of the season, which features an eight-game roadie at the end of January and 11 of 15 games in March away from Staples Center.

Sure it’s hard to accurately assess the Lakers as it pertains to the long-run, just like it’s hard to assess a student’s overall performance based on a take-home quiz, even if that student achieves an A on it.

But as far as I’m concerned, an A is an A – and that’s exactly what the Lakers have earned thus far.

Josh Hoffman is a college junior working to become a sports journalist. You can contact him at jhoffmedia@gmail.com.

Once the 'Answer', Now a Question

[Originally published on SportsTalkBuzz.com]

If you look at his accolades alone, Allen Iverson is one of the greatest players of his generation.

For starters, he was named Rookie of the Year after being drafted number one overall by the 76ers in 1996. Then, during the 2000-01 season, A.I. averaged 31 points per game en route to his second of four scoring titles, notched the league MVP award and almost singlehandedly took his team to the Finals. What’s more, his resume also includes 10 all-star selections – two of which concluded in MVP honors – and three All-NBA first team tallies.

Pound for pound, Iverson may be the most successful scorer in NBA history (his 24,020 career points are good for 17th all-time), and while it’s impossible to tangibly measure heart and desire, it’s also impossible to question whether or not those of the Answer are up there with the best of them.

But as much admiration and respect as I have for Iverson and his “Leave it all out on the court” mentality, A.I. deserves to be in the “Greatest Players of His Generation” discussion as much as George W. Bush deserves to be in the “Greatest U.S. Presidents in the Last Century” debate.

In basketball you’re primarily judged by the number of rings on your fingers, not the number of individual awards hanging on your wall or in your trophy case. Either Iverson never got that memo, or his legacy means about as much to him as physical abuse prevention means to Rihanna.

You see, Iverson has always had the talent it takes to win a ring – or three – but it’s his me-first, team-last attitude that has been his biggest burden throughout his 14-year career. That, and his unwillingness to adapt to the team’s needs, embrace its philosophy, make personal sacrifices and do everything else that characterizes an NBA champion, let alone a champion in any team-oriented sport.

Everywhere Iverson has played – Philadelphia, Denver, Detroit and most recently in Memphis – he has never bought into the team concept, which the sport of basketball is basically all about. Unlike football and baseball, you have a small number of players who play both offense and defense. And everyone has a defined role: the go-to guy (or girl), the lockdown defender, the beast on the boards, the floor general, the shot-blocker, the spot-up shooter, the low-post threat – you get the point.

Championship-caliber teams have players who are both willing and able to adapt to the team’s needs, embrace its philosophy and make personal sacrifices. For instance, on the Lakers, everyone and their neighbor knows that Kobe is the go-to guy – including Ron Artest, who played that role on the Kings and Rockets (at least when Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady were both sidelined). Accordingly, Artest has become Los Angeles’ lockdown defender, allowing Kobe to save more energy for the offensive end – and as a result, the Lakers are an even better team now than they were a year ago. (Scary, I know.)

On the 76ers, there was never a shadow of a doubt that Iverson was the go-to guy. That was what the team’s needs called for and that was what the role in which he excelled. But when Iverson was traded to Denver three years ago, head coach George Karl needed him to be the floor general (AKA a pass-first, shoot-second point guard) since Carmelo Anthony already was the designated go-to guy. Iverson was incapable of meeting Karl’s needs, the Nuggets never reached their full potential and the Answer’s career from there on out was questionable at best.

Yesterday it was reported that Iverson plans to announce his retirement from the NBA – this coming after he signed a one-year deal with the Grizzlies, which resulted in a three-game stint and subsequent mutual termination of his contract. After being left unclaimed on waivers, the Knicks were rumored to have interest in signing Iverson as a free agent, but less than a week later word out of New York was that he isn’t the answer to any of the Knicks’ many problems (pun intended).

Allen Iverson used to be an all but guaranteed future Hall of Famer. Now, the Answer’s once-rightful place in Springfield, Mass. is in serious question.

Josh Hoffman is a college junior working to become a sports journalist. You can contact him at jhoffmedia@gmail.com.

In Need of a Pau-Wow

[Originally published on SportsTalkBuzz.com]

Last week, Pau Gasol’s early-season absence wasn’t exactly an immediate cause for concern.

After all, the Lakers dismantled the upstart Phoenix Suns on Thursday night en route to their 7-1 start and sixth straight win, Andrew Bynum returned from a minor injury to tie his then-season highs in points (26) and blocks (3) during that game, and the bench mob supplemented the starting five with an average of 42 points in each of the previous three contests, including the aforementioned.

Also last week, Phil Jackson joked that Gasol could be out until Christmas.

While it may have been funny then, Lakerland certainly isn’t getting the last laugh now.

On Friday the Lakers were walloped in Denver, only to come home two days later for an upset special courtesy of the Houston Rockets. In those two embarrassments they were outscored by a combined 46 points in the second half alone.

(Let that marinate for a second.)

Then tonight, it appeared as though the Lakers’ championship form had resurfaced. Instead, they let their 28-point stranglehold slip to seven, gave the fans a reason to stay for the remainder of the game and realized that there are still plenty of wrinkles to iron out.

Like Derek Fisher’s age, which is becoming more apparent than Rush Limbaugh’s political party affiliation. On Sunday Rockets’ point guard Aaron Brooks lit up the Lakers for 33 points, his new regular-season career high. (Last season he stung the Lakers for his playoff career high of 34 points.) Simply stated: Brooks made Fisher look like he was about ready to enlist in an old-age home.

The rotation also is a glaring weakness. With the injury bug continuing to prey on Purple and Gold (the latest: Luke Walton’s pinched nerve will sideline him for at least six weeks), Jackson’s second unit has to shoulder more of a load – a load it has struggled to carry time and again.

Now 8-3, the Lakers will welcome the Chicago Bulls to Staples Center on Thursday night, a game that may feature Gasol’s regular-season debut. But we’ve been hearing that from Lakers camp for some time now – that the he may lace them up next game. If he doesn’t, the Lakers will be without the Spaniard for a 19th consecutive game, counting the preseason.

In that case, the Lakers – as they say in Spanish – “a falta de pan, buenas son (las) tortas” (will just have to make due).

Josh Hoffman is a college junior working to become a sports journalist. You can contact him at jhoffmedia@gmail.com.

Look Out: Bynum-ite!

[Originally published on SportsTalkBuzz.com]

Friday night marked the ninth straight game Pau Gasol missed due to his once-minor, now-mysterious hamstring injury that has sidelined the Spaniard since Oct. 9. At this point, who knows when the two-time all-star will return?

But really, who cares?

The Lakers – winners of six of their last seven – are 7-2 behind the Black Mamba’s league-leading 31 points per game, including three 41-point performances. They’re averaging 110 points in those six wins after falling short of the century mark in their first two contests.

And that’s just scratching the surface. If you dig a little bit deeper, you’ll notice that Andrew Bynum is quickly coming into his own.

Now in his fifth season, the 22-year-old has posted 20-plus points on four occasions and double-digit rebounds in all but one of the seven games he has played. His 21.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game rank second and first, respectively, among all centers. But Bynum’s most impressive stat, perhaps, is his +26.43 efficiency rating, which is fifth-best in the entire league, not to mention tops for centers.

Unfortunately for Bynum, knee injuries have hindered his last two campaigns, resulting in 79 regular-season absences during that span and leading to inconsistencies in his overall performance – or lack thereof. For instance, in those two seasons he combined for only 34 double-doubles in 85 games. To add insult to injury (no pun intended), Bynum was essentially a non-factor throughout last season’s playoff push when he failed to record double-digit rebounds in any one game and totaled less than 10 points in 18 of 23 outings.

So which Andrew Bynum will emerge this season? The promising big man or the injury-plagued tease?

Whether he continues to blossom or otherwise withers, I can promise you one thing: With the resurgence of the Celtics, Lakerland will definitely care.

Josh Hoffman is a college junior working to become a sports journalist. You can contact him at jhoffmedia@gmail.com.

Kobe vs. LeBron, Not Kobe and LeBron

[Originally published on SportsTalkBuzz.com]

I recently read an article that suggested the Cleveland Cavaliers trade LeBron James to the Los Angeles Lakers for the youthful but promising Andrew Bynum.

This isn't the first time I've heard the orgasmic Kobe-LeBron tandem talk and I'm sure it isn't going to be the last.

But I'm also sure Kobe and LeBron will never don the same uniform aside from that of Team USA.

Unless you've been scuba diving for the past few years, it's no secret that – whether the Cavs win their first-ever Larry O'Brien Trophy, fall short of the playoffs or finish somewhere in between –

King James will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end .

Depending on how the Cavs conclude the season will dictate LeBron's future with or without the franchise. I see it shaping up in three potential ways: (1) The Cavs win the title and LeBron immediately re-signs with Cleveland; (2) the Cavs advance to the Finals but lose for the second time in four seasons – in this case, the chances that he re-signs are a coin flip: 50/50; and (3) the Cavs fail to make the Finals and LeBron vacates the premises faster than a mother and her newborn child would vacate a burning building.

Since the third scenario seems most likely at this point, LeBron's top prospects appear to be the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets. It is well-documented that he loves the bright lights and basketball mecca atmosphere of Madison Square Garden. Plus, he's always wearing that damn Yankees hat. But really, New York's roster isn't anything to write home about, let alone mention during cooler talk. And with next season's salary cap plummeting even more than it did this season, the reality that the Knicks will be able to sign LeBron and another free-agent superstar without significantly going over the cap is quickly becoming a fantasy.

Then there's New Jersey, an organization with few attractions besides the team's relocation to Brooklyn and rapper Jay-Z, minority owner of the Nets and LeBron's good friend.

Regardless, neither franchise puts LeBron in prime position to rack up championship rings.

Which is what continues to stir the "Kobe and LeBron together on the Lakers" pot.

There's no shadow of a doubt that the two would make a dynamic duo, as well as that LeBron's first of probably many titles would be everything but gift-wrapped and guaranteed.

But here's why LeBron will never become a Laker as long as Kobe is still around: Kobe was the best all-around player when LeBron entered the league. Everyone including LeBron knew that. Now it's a toss-up, but Kobe has one distinct advantage: Since they've been in the league together, Kobe has made it to the Promised Land. LeBron hasn't.

And trust me, LeBron doesn't want Kobe's help in getting there.

Josh Hoffman is a college junior working to become a sports journalist. You can contact him at jhoffmedia@gmail.com.