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• Gene Therapy: March is My Type of Madness!

  Mar 20, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  I love football. As a player, coach, and writer, football has always meant so much to me. It has opened doors that I never knew were there. I am forever grateful and indebted to the game. But anyone who really knows me, they know that I am in love with basketball. As a kid growing up in inner city Chicago, the court was the sanctuary from all of the chaos (mostly). Throughout the years, basketball has remained a constant in my life. I grew up a Carolina Tar Heels fan. I wore #15 because of Reidel Anthony in football and Vince Carter in basketball. For anyone who loves hoop, the NCAA tournament is Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year. The tournament encapsulates everything great about sports. It's the convergence of all classes and all abilities where the outcome is simply based on what happens between the lines. We have seen impossible comebacks and massive upsets. Anything is possible during the madness of March. So, what makes it great?

   

  The Cinderella Factor

   

  The most obvious reason the tournament is beloved by hard core basketball fans and novice is because is the Cinderella factor. The team who is winning despite not having the same resources or talent of other schools. 11, 12, and 13 seeds have been the prime seeds to upset an opponent seeded higher. In that process we learn so much about the team, the players, the coach and the community. Many of these teams come from conferences with a single NCAA bid. So, if they don't win their conference tournament, they won't receive an at large bid (an invitation to join the tournament without an automatic bid). There are teams in these mid major conferences that will have a fantastic season where they only lose a few games, get to their conference tournament and get upset by a team with a .500 record.  Their dreams of making it on the big stage extinguished with one loss.

   

  But for the ones that do make it in, this is their chance. Maybe that higher seeded team underestimated their abilities. Maybe a big-time player was in foul trouble or having a bad day. Maybe a player on that underdog chooses that day to turn in the performance of his life. The ball bounces funny ways and when both teams look up, that double digit underdog is tied up on leading. Then the pressure begins to build for the favorites. They are supposed to win, so the victory celebration would be minimal, but if they lose, they become a cautionary tale, a meme, and their dream of cutting down the nets is over.

   

  That underdog has nothing to lose, nobody picked them to win, and, in most cases, they are expected to get blown out. When they begin to make their move, we learn about the quirky details about their school. The hurdles they've overcome just to be there. We are introduced to families and shown rituals that only make us invest in that lower seed's outcome emotionally. When they win one game, it's a cool story but they have to prepare for another game in less than 48 hours but if they win the second game, if they make the Sweet 16, they get their chance to be celebrated for an entire week and we get to take that ride with them. Even when it comes to an end, and unfortunately it always does, we are sad for the team but appreciative of the journey they allowed us to sit shotgun on.

   

  Breakout Stars

   

  The NCAA tournament has launched the careers of countless amounts of players. When you get the chance on the big stage you must take advantage. Everyone in and out of the basketball world is watching. This becomes the opportunity for players to show they can perform when the lights are shining the brightest. It was on the NCAA stage back in 2008 that a skinny kid from North Carolina made his presence known at Davidson. Steph Curry was overlooked by all the major colleges and universities because of his lack of size but his game was huge, and, in the tournament, he was a one-man wrecking crew as people were amazed at his confidence and assassin-like accuracy. He became a household name and a top 10 pick in the NBA draft. The rest of history. Carmelo Anthony was the top recruit in the nation when he went to Syracuse. He led the Orange to the 2003 NCAA Championship his freshmen year where he was named the Most Outstanding Player. and his performance on the NCAA tournament stage had people questioning whether they should take him over Lebron James. Mateen Cleaves in 2000, Mario Chalmers in 2008, Kemba Walker in 2011, Anthony Davis in 2012 and countless others have exploded on the scene thanks to the NCAA tournament stage.

   

  The Brackets

   

  The biggest draw of the NCAA tournament has become the fascination with filling out brackets. The gambling aspect has always been a draw in sports. It is the reason why fantasy sports are so popular in the United States. What started as office building fun and turned into a billion-dollar business. Whether people are into basketball or not, the brackets become a bonding experience and an opportunity for bragging rights. ESPN reported that they had 17.3 million brackets submitted for this year's tournament. Following your bracket is just another way engagement is built and people become personally invested in the outcome of these games. A bracket challenge could be as large as what ESPN, FOX Sports, or CBS sports put on, or it could be as intimate as a few of your good friends throwing a couple dollars into a hat. The range is endless and therefore the engagement is endless. Today, even when you have a horrible first weekend with your picks, there are secondary brackets that give people a second chance to pick their winners. That way people are engaged all the way through the tournament.

   

  Some of my favorite sports memories come from the NCAA tournament. The dominance of the early 90's UNLV Runnin' Rebels, the Fab Five phenomenon, the rise of Villanova, and my love affair with the Tar Heels are all memories that I have been fortunate enough to experience in my time. I've watched Gonzaga become a power and Georgetown become an afterthought.  Who will be the next team to rise? What player will put themselves on the map? What memory will we take from this year's version of Madness? I anxiously await and welcome all outcomes.

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

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• Gene Therapy: Guilty Until Proven....Guilty - The Case For and Against Deshaun Watson

  Mar 15, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  On March 11th a Harris County grand jury made up of 12 people sat and heard evidence presented to them for six hours and at the conclusion of their deliberation, they decided that there was no reason to go forward with sexual misconduct charges against Texans’ quarterback Deshaun Watson. It was a decision that marked the first legal action being decided in a case that has been tried in the court of public opinion for a year. The verdict had already been rendered. It was loud and almost unanimous; guilty! So of course, people were surprised to see this decision from the grand jury. After all, there were 23 women. They can’t all be lying, right?

   

  If we take a look at the timeline of this case, things never really seemed black and white and at best always felt like something wasn’t right. When the initial civil suit was filed, Watson’s attorney had documentation that they said showed that the accuser attempted to blackmail Watson about a consensual encounter and once he was non-compliant, the lawsuit was the next level of escalation. Shortly after the same attorney was able to get other women who were willing to file civil suits against Watson. As the suits piled up, so did the doubt about Watson’s innocence. After all, where there is smoke, there’s usually fire and this was quickly becoming a blazing inferno. But there was information that made no sense. The lawyer filing all of the suits, did not want to release the accusers' names to the defense. None of them made any criminal complaints and many of them met with Watson more than once. None of those things are enough to say a man is innocent, but it is enough to say there’s doubt.

   

  Shortly after the Houston police department opened a criminal investigation into Watson surrounding these allegations. Now things took a real turn. Media and those that were following the case felt as if this was the worst thing for Watson who was still actively trying to force a trade out of Houston because the team seemed as if they were going in a direction that Watson did not want to go. Some of the regular words and phrases that you heard used to describe Watson and his case were, “radioactive” “Not reliable at this time” “not worth the backlash”. Some people said that teams would be foolish to trade for him “given the uncertainty of his situation.” But the truth is that his situation was pretty simple. He had been accused of something that he emphatically denied and had not even been charged with a crime. So, the projections about Watson seemed to be based on a presumption of guilt and the risk associated with being linked to someone like that.

   

  So, after being drugged through the mud for the past year and called a “serial predator” Watson finally saw a victory. The grand jury decision meant that there would be no criminal case against him, and that allowed all of the trade discussions to pick up once again. Many teams are rumored to have shown interest and why not. For a team without a quarterback, Watson represents the lifeblood every team needs to make a run at a championship, and they all know that Watson not only has championship DNA, but he is also still one of the young guns in the NFL with room to continuously improve. But as soon as we began hearing the rumors about where he might end up, we started seeing the negatives pop up from people again.

   

  It's always amazing to watch people conveniently pull out their moral values in situations that are not warranted and don't really concern them. So many were too quick to condemn Watson and now, even with these new developments they don't want to admit that they may have been a little hasty with their condemnation. It is pride that gets in the way of people admitting that they could be wrong. As a result, they double down and in many cases get even louder. Trying to sway the people with their passion and anecdotal information rather than with the facts. This is what prolongs the embarrassment for all parties involved. For the accused, they never get the chance to put the incident in their rear view. For the accuser it is a reminder that they either were not believed, or lied and almost ruined someone’s life. 

   

  When Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and others died in a tragic helicopter crash, so many people came out to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man. Someone who had been taken from the world too soon and one that many believed had the opportunity to have a major impact on society well in the future. The stories talked about how much he loved being a father to girls and the responsibility he carried. There were stories about his support and advocacy for the WNBA and all of the countless philanthropic endeavors that he never wanted to be made public. But in the midst of all of the positive remembrance of his life and impact, there were still people who brought up the 2003 rape charge that was dismissed. Even in tragic death, people felt the need to bring up the lowest moment in an otherwise stellar life. That is the impact an accusation can have.

   

  In the end, there are no winners, there are only victims. That’s the sad part. The only people who will ever know what happened in those massage sessions are Deshaun Watson and those women. Everyone else is left with speculation. If we truly believed in the words “innocent until proven guilty” we would give those that have not been charged with a crime the respect of not being referred to as criminals. We must never forget that being accused is not the same as being convicted. The accused deserves as much respect and consideration as the accuser, especially when the evidence is he said, she said. It is ok to wait and see. Nobody is harmed by patience.

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

   

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• Gene Therapy: NFL Scouting Combine 2022 | Speed Kills

  Mar 11, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  The moment we saw all of the receivers blazing fast times on day one of the on-field drills, we should not have been surprised by what we saw on the final day from the defensive backs. 13 prospects recorded sub 4.4 forties during the premiere drill of the combine. They wrapped up what will go down as one of the fastest NFL combines in history. But why?

   

  There's curiosity behind these turbo-charged times. Why now? What made this year different? Is this an anomaly or is this a turning point in history? Will this result in a recalibration of what is considered a fast time? It used to be that a sub 4.5 marked elite speed, and those that recorded times below 4.4 were considered freaks of nature worthy of track and field consideration. 4.2’s that was flirting with all-time greatness, the Prime Time, CJ2K elite that would net you an immediate shoe contract.

   

  This year a defensive end ran sub-4.4, that’s right, a defensive end!

   

  Overall, three players broke into the 4.2’s. Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes was the fastest man at the combine, recording a 4.23. 28 players ran faster than 4.4 seconds and 36 players crossed the laser in under 4.5 seconds. That’s 67 players who ran under a 4.5 forty. That’s more players who ran sub 4.4 than they did in 2021 and any other combine in the 21st century. But again, why? The interesting part of evaluation is that the forty is not the best drill to assess talent at the next level because it is only a straight-line drill. The three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle are both much better drills to assess a prospect’s ability because they incorporate change of direction and acceleration. However, neither of those drills really show well on camera, they don’t do well with a simulcast. It is not easy for the laymen’s eye to decipher the difference between a good performance and a bad performance. At the end of the day, speed kills on the field and it sells off of it.

   

  Preparing for the event

   

  With the spotlight being shone on the forty-yard dash and teams proving that speed moves players up draft boards it is not surprising that more and more prospects are focusing less and less of their pre-draft workout on getting better at their craft and more time on being better at the 40. It has become its own competition with costly ramifications. Performance institutes seem to work on increasing explosion, stride length, form and leg drive. It seems to be working if we go by the numbers. More players are running faster times but at what cost?

   

  Dane Brugler, draft analyst for The Athletic, tweeted that there were only two receivers that ran sub seven seconds in the three-cone drill; that’s compared to 23 in 2017. The steep fall off can be directly related to the effort expended training for the 40. They spend less time training their change of direction because they know many novices don’t pay attention to it and those numbers don’t seem to move the needle on draft day. 

   

  We also see more and more prospects cherry-picking their events and it is not surprising that we see so many draft hopefuls only complete the 40 and maybe one of the two explosion drills (vertical or broad). They want to put their best foot forward and then maybe double back to the other drills at their pro day. It is a smart strategy when it pays off but it does not answer questions like it used to. There was a time where the combine was stressful because it was a one shot deal, a place where everyone got to do everything at one time. With their film in hand and the information gathered from the combine, an evaluator would have all they needed to give an accurate assessment of a player's potential at the next level. It also showed the ability of the player to perform under stressful conditions. Now prospects are choosing to piece out their performances over several stops which might help them produce better numbers but does not answer any questions that may be there regarding their internal makeup. It definitely makes it more difficult on an evaluator who would rather see things with their own eyes instead of relying on just numbers. 

   

  Evaluations are blinded by speed

   

  The fascination with speed has led to many teams missing on talented prospects because they fell in love with the speed of their contemporaries. In this draft University of Arkansas receiver Treylon Burkes was thought by many to be the top guy at the position. He ran a 4.55 40-yard time and people started backing off that prediction. It is funny because nothing about his football performance changed, he just ran a slower time than prognosticators believed he would. Because of that, many believe he has fallen below other receivers who have produced better times. That seems Counterproductive, especially when you consider the NFL player he has been compared to; Deebo Samuel. 

   

  Samuel ran a 4.48 forty at the combine in 2019 and received similar reactions. That caused him to drop out of the first round where he was projected to go. Marquise Brown and N’Keal Harry were both taken in the first round as Samuel draped into the second round and was chosen with the 36th overall pick. Samuel just finished an All Pro season for the 49ers and while neither Brown or Harry have been bad, they have not lived up to their draft status. AJ Brown and DK Metcalf were also taken late in the second round of that draft. So clearly there is no formula for a receiver that should be based on speed alone. 

   

  Every NFL Draft season mistakes are made because people get enamored with speed, at every position. Does it really matter that an offensive linemen ran sub five seconds on the forty, does that equate in any way to on-field success? The answer is no. But every year we marvel at those behemoths running items that used to be reserved for tight ends and linebackers.

   

  Speed kills, and when people believe that you lack it, it can kill so much more.

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

   

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• Gene Therapy: NBA - Is Philly Special?

  Feb 27, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  Ben Simmons and James Harden finally got what they were looking for and in doing so they have possibly changed the entire landscape of the NBA's Eastern Conference. While New Jersey will definitely miss what Harden brings to the table as a scorer and a facilitator, removing him from the lineup and inserting players secure in their roles, and willing to do some of the dirty work offensively and defensively that Harden was not committed to, can actually improve the team. Adding to that intrigue is the opportunity for Kyrie Irving to return to the team full time with New York relaxing their restrictions. For Philadelphia it is simple. They will actually get a player willing to play. While getting rid of a player who has been a tremendous distraction to their team since the end of their 20-21 season. 

   

  If Simmons can return to the court and become the player he was with Philly, he is a plus defender and elite athlete who could be a slasher in an offense that would not require him to play the point or dominate the ball. He also provides them with another ball handler who can facilitate with a second unit. The Nets also received help in the form of sharpshooter Seth Curry, who can provide even more off-the-ball scoring power or to compliment the on-ball offensive prowess of the team.

   

  My problem with Philly

   

  Although the "trust the process" days are over for the sixers, the stigma behind what they did still permeates the halls and affects everything. What they created was a culture of losing with zero accountability. The thought that you could purposely lose your way to a winning team is a flawed logic. While you may end up drafting valuable pieces, if you never teach them the value of winning, how do you expect them to build and sustain a winning culture? The process stunted Joel Embiid's progress as he spent too much time on the sideline and not enough on the court becoming the leader, and dominant force that we see today. Now he's spent the last few years figuring out the dedication necessary to be a champion. That's something Ben Simmons never learned (we'll put a pin in that).

   

  In steps James Harden who, because of his immense skill, has been able to skate by without absorbing full responsibility for his postseason shortcomings. Harden has never been the model of health and fitness (similar to Embiid) and when the lights were brightest, he seemed to shrink. But more damming is when it was time to collect responsibility, he's looked for the out and now for the second time in his career he purposely sabotaged his current team to force a trade to what he believes is a better option. That type of behavior doesn't scream champion, but this is what we sew being sold as legitimate championship contenders. Two supremely talented stars who have never won anything with a history of fitness issues and a track record of unavailability or coming up small in big moments.

   

  My Problem With Brooklyn

   

  This issue with Brooklyn is simple. They can't be relying on Ben Simmons, right? There's nothing about the Ben Simmons situation that would make me feel good about putting him on the court. I have long suspected Simmons was fool's gold. Choosing to go to LSU over all the major players who understand what the one and done life is all about, felt like he was afraid of the pressure that would come with attending one of those marquee universities where basketball is king.

   

  The second red flag came with his disinterested game at LSU and inability to elevate that program to a tournament level. Then there was his rookie season. While most believe that Simmons misses his first season due to injury, the truth is that he was capable of coming back but he (armed with the blessing of an organization dedicated to losing on purpose) decided that making a couple million dollars by sitting out and waiting until next season to play and possibly win rookie of the year was worth more than playing the second half of the season and gaining valuable experience. 

   

  Finally, after last season, where he was upset over receiving deserved criticism, he wanted out. He refused to show up for work this NBA season and when the Sixers began to fine him, he announced that he was dealing with mental health issues. The issue was that with Philly, Simmons was not expected to play this season but magically when he's traded to Brooklyn now, he's preparing to return. Did a trade really solve his mental health issues or is it fair to wonder if he ever really had issues. That's the type of element that Brooklyn is welcoming in.

   

  Instant rivalry 

   

  At the very least, this immediately becomes the best current rivalry in the NBA. Not since the Pierce/Garnett Celtics were bumping up against the Heatles'' has the Eastern Conference been so spicy. KD and Kyrie will definitely be looking to cook Harden when they match up and of course Harden will look to show them what they are missing. Of course, Embiid will jump into whatever beef as he is the biggest troll in the NBA and maybe, just maybe Ben Simmons will stand up and show the type of fire that could make him a legit factor in a series.

   

  As of now, the Sixers are the new Belle of the ball. Harden has come out doing all the things that make you fall in love with his talent and if you listen to Embiid, life has never been better, and the game has never been easier. We've seen this honeymoon phase before. The question is, will this marriage last or will the Wandering eye of Harden and his unwillingness to work on his flaws rear their head once again?

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

   

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• Could this be the worst Dunk contest ever, or a sign of the tides changing.

  Feb 22, 2022 Andrew Williams 1 Comments

  by Andrew Williams

   

  

   

   

  This time of year often brings a level of excitement to my world that can barely be described. This month hold my 3 favorite events I wait for all year. Valentines Day cause the mere over saturation of sappy teddy bears and crème filled chocolates tends to warm my normally cold heart. Second it’s Black History Month a time to celebrate my heritage and understand the sacrifices of my ancestors, but most importantly it’s the month of the All Star break. What a cherished time of year this is. Or it should have been. 

   

       All Star weekend often holds a level of mysticism. These giants of the game showcase their talents for the world while on lookers gawk in amazement before running outside in the yard and trying something they just saw their hero preform. Especially with extra legends added to the Diamond 75 year celebration the feel that this was going to best All Star weekend yet. Now the celebrity game gave what it was supposed to give. Myles Garret dunked everything and MGK missed mostly everything but very entertaining nonetheless. 

   

   I was even accepting of the 3 point contest demonstrating the new look NBA(Big men you can stretch the floor ). Watching Karl Anthony Towns win the 3 point contest though not traditional it was definitely entertaining. Then came the dunk contest. 

   

   Now let me start by saying the dunk contest has always been my favorite part of All Star weekend. I watched a rookie Kobe win in Cleveland, I grew up watching the battle of Air Jordan and the Human Highlight Nique Wilkins. I remember Vince putting his arm on the net. I even tried to emulate Dee Brown’s blind fold dunk. So when I tell you that’s my main event on All Star weekend, I truly mean it. I want to be blown away, I want my mouth to drop like Shaq holding a camcorder in the 90s. After all the Dunk contest usually headlines Saturday’s events, so it should be the best event. 

   

    Now going into the event I was not overly excited only one contestant was returning from last year’s contest and that was New York Knicks Obi Toppin ( who finished second to Anfernee Simmons). On the other hand with the likes of Houston Rockets dynamic youngster Jalen  Green,  Orlando Magics Cole Anthony and Golden State’s Juan Tosano- Anderson rounding out the field it might get interesting quickly. Unfortunately quickly never came. 

   

   With a myriad of missed dunk attempts a lot of the mystique was gone.  The excitement fizzled to the point Legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar had to excuse himself from such an awful display of dunk ability. Jalen Green was favored to win by Las Vegas book makers but failed to total higher than 85 in the first round. As a matter of fact out all participants in the contest all failed to register a 50 dunk. The winning dunk by Obi Toppin was safe and rather pedestrian and still scored almost 25 total higher than second play Juan Toscano- Anderson. I think the worst part about the dunk contest, the part that I felt  was like a taunt from the NBA was watching Ja Morant off an alley-oop gave us “the best and most jaw dropping, oh my goodness, jump out your seat” dunk, and this was during play in ASG. 

   

   Maybe once again I am stuck in time where we were not exposed to constant dunking stimulation. We didn’t have professional dunkers post 1 minute clips of the sickest dunks you ever seen. We didn’t have AAU lay up lines looking like LeBron and the Heatles. Maybe I just expected too much, maybe I took Aaron Gordon vs. Zach Levine for granted or maybe, just maybe this year’s dunk contest was trash. 

   

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