Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Meltdown in Miami
However, if it's the truth you're looking for, then you've come to the right spot!!
The Miami Heats recent meltdown after yet another loss comes to me as, how do I put it, not a shock. For a team that has arguably the three best players at their respective position on their team, they should not be losing at all. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh are not the big three that anyone anticipated. Turns out, LeBron "King" James never "took [his] talents to South Beach" after all. He brought his emotions, however.
The fact that players were crying after their loss to the Chicago Bulls disgusts me. They could have beaten the Bulls. They missed two shots in the last 10 seconds of the game. They have nobody to blame but themselves. I know everyone on ESPN says that its great that they cried because it means that they care. Well, yes, that is true. But they have also realized that they are not the best team in the league. As a matter of fact, they may have even gotten worse as the year has gone on.
In the beginning of the season, you could expect a meltdown like this (without the crying) as the team still had not gelled. But after blowing a 20+ point lead to the Magic and self-destructing to the Bulls, there is definite reason for panic in South Beach.
To be completely honest, even thinking about the Heat in the playoffs makes me sick. Sure, they will end the regular season with enough wins to make the playoffs, but they won't make it out of the first round. Erik Spoelstra has lost control of his team. He has lost control of the media. He may have even lost his job. You can have the talent, but if you can't coach the talent then the talent is worthless.
So my message to the Miami Heat: nobody is going to show you any sympathy. You get paid millions of dollars to play basketball. You have nothing to cry about. Suck it up, man up, and go play basketball.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Allow Me To Explain...
First off, the fact that the deadline was extended by 24 hours last night means very little. The only thing that it could mean is that the owners have finally budged and are willing to talk. The two sides (players and owners) are still very far apart in terms of money distribution. In fact, that figure is approximately $25,000,000 (million) apart.
The owners and the NFLPA are trying to figure out how to evenly distribute $9 billion across three groups:
- Owners
- Players
- Retired Players
Here is where they stand right now:
The players have asked the owners to extend the negotiation period by 7 to 10 days. We are currently still waiting for the owners to either except or decline that offer. The players could also decertify the current union. Doing so would seemingly bring the NFL apart at the seams. That would allow every player in the NFL to bring law suits against their owners.
Having that type of power provides great leverage for the players. The owners desperately do not want that to happen. Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady are at the forefront when it comes to saying that they will be bringing law suits to the ownership. This is most likely nothing more than a ploy to scare the owners. It seems to be working.
What does this mean for the future of the NFL?
Nothing can happen until a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) has been reached. There will be no signing of any players until there is a new (CBA). The future of the NFL is in a conference room in a high rise in Washington DC. No free agency, no trades, no player moves what so ever until a new CBA has been reached.
I hope that makes things a little easier to understand. If not, just comment and leave a question.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Let Them Play!!
The answer to that question is no. The NFL owners are by far the most greedy people on the face of the planet!! They are worth a whopping $40,000,000,000 (that's $40 billion) and, by the way, they want more. They are asking for $1,000,000,000 more (that's $1 billion). But lets take a look at this.
Most owners in the NFL own MULTIPLE homes, yachts, (some) vineyards, and ranches. What do they do? Oh that's right!! They sit on their thrones in their stadiums and count their money while that team that they own plays on the field down below. When we look at NFL players we see men that go to battle every Sunday. When NFL owners see an NFL player they see dollar signs...haha "dollar signs".
This lockout would greatly affect the economy. I know I know...you don't understand how. Let me throw some numbers at you:
$160 Million-Amount that it would cost each NFL City
3,000-Number of jobs that it would cost each NFL City
93,000-Number of job that it would cost NATIONWIDE!!!
In a country where we are looking anywhere and everywhere for jobs, this could be a huge step back.
If the owners feel like bullying the players, the joke is on them. They are the ones that need the money the most. They have millions and millions of dollars invested in the things other than their "beloved" NFL franchise. If they want to be greedy, that's fine. As long as they know where they put their money, it's all up to them.
Currently, the owners have submitted an offer that would extend the period so the players and owners could talk about the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). This could potentially avoid a lockout.
At the end of the day, it all revolves around the dollar sign. The NFL owners want more of them and the players aren't willing to budge just yet. The only way that the players could pull everything apart is if the NFLPA decides to decertify the current agreement. The world will most certainly shift if that occurs. The odds that the owners and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) reach an agreement in the future are slim. The odds that their is no NFL football this fall, not sure.
Everything that I just said probably got mixed up in your head. It got mixed up in mine, too. Basically the owners and the NFLPA need to figure out how to evenly distribute 9 billion dollars to...
- The Owners
- The Players
- Retired Players
There! Does that make any sense?
So tomorrow morning when you wake up it's gonna feel like any other Friday. You're going to get up and go to work or go to school and carrying on with your daily life. If the lockout occurred, 93,000 people will be out of work, owners will still be billionaires, and players will be filing law suits against the NFL.Monday, February 28, 2011
Thanks For Everything Clinton!!
Clinton Portis was on contract to make $8.3 million next season. Portis only played in 13 games over the past two injury plagued seasons. At that price, it just would not be worth it. The Redskins would be taking to big of a financial hit to risk on a 29 year old (30 year old on Sept 30th) running back.
I think we all can agree that Portis just can not run like he used to. The crafty and fiery running back from the magical 2005 playoff run just is not quite there anymore. Ever since he suffered a concussion against the Atlanta Falcons in 2009 sidelined him for the final 8 games of the season. Enter Mike Shanahan and looked as if Clinton Portis would return as an elite. His body had other plans, however. After suffering a groin and an abdominal injury sidelined him for all but 5 games in 2010, it looked as if maybe his career as a Redskin was grim.
But let's look at the positives, shall we? Clinton Portis gave Washington an incredible 5 years. His comedic style during press conferences were always entertaining. How could we forget "Coach Hanky Spanky" or "Southeast Jerome"? My point is, he may not have always had the best work ethic, but he sure knew how to lighten the mood when needed. In 2005, Portis gave us a playoff run that we will never forget. Who can forget when he scored in the games following Sean Taylors death in 2007 when he pulled up his jersey revealing the Sean Taylor tribute shirt. Let's also not forget his ever so graceful cartwheel in the end zone following one of his signature plunges into the end zone.
Don't expect Portis to be completely done with football yet. I'm sure he will be signed somewhere in the league by this fall (as most former Redskins are these days).
So thank you Clinton Portis for all the you gave the nations capital. You gave us the worst of times and the best of times. You showed us what it's like to have a winning football team on the field. Good luck with the rest of your career. Thank you for all the memories.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
And the winnner is...

Thursday, January 27, 2011
Behind The Scenes
I had just gotten out of the shower and I was getting into the back of my dads suburban. We were about to make our way to the metro station to catch the train to go into DC. It was raining but we really had nothing to worry about.
2:30 P.M. @ Metro Station:
We boarded the train that we were going to take to the metro center. At the metro center, we were going to get off the train and then walk three blocks down to the Verizon Center.
3:00 P.M. @ Verizon Center:
I stood outside the "Media Gate" on the corner of G Street and 6th Street. I had finally arrived. I was told to call the director and he would give me further instructions. He said he would be at the gate in about ten minutes to give me my "press pass" and then we would go from there.
3:10 P.M. @ Media Gate:
A man walked up to the gate and asked me if I was Brian Skinnell. I told him yes and that he must be the Director. He handed me a "press pass" with my name written on it in red sharpie. He told me that with this badge I could go virtually anywhere "but on the court" in the Verizon Center. I then said farewell to my parents he escorted me back to the TV truck where he gave me a mini tour.
The TV truck was located just around the corner from the court (you could actually see the court from the truck). I was given a quick tour of the truck and met the producer, director, sound guy, and any other important people that help put the game on TV. We then walked out to the court and he showed me where the TV broadcasters for the game, Quint Kessenich and Brooke Weisbrod, would be sitting for the game. He also pointed out where I would be sitting for the second half of the game. My chair was to the right of Brooke. By this time it was about 3:45 and I told the man that I was going to the Green Turtle to eat dinner with my parents and that I would be back later.
4:55 P.M. @ Verizon Center Floor:
After a wonderful dinner, I then sat in on a meeting between the director and the cameramen. All the meeting consisted of was going over what cameraman had what job during the game.
5:05 P.M. @ TV Truck:
The director and I were standing outside the TV truck awaiting the arrival of Brooke and Quint. They were supposed to arrive at 5 but, because of traffic, arrived a few minutes late. Brooke and I then walked out to the court and I helped her get everything together so she and Quint would be ready for the game. They then recorded the game intro, halftime show, and what you hear after a commercial break. I then decided to see what all my press pass could do...
I figured since all the other press people were going back into the press room why can't I? So got up from the table to see what all was in the "Press Room". On my way back, I walked past Austin Freeman, co-captain for the Georgetown Hoyas, as well as numerous other players and coaches for both teams. I had to remain calm and look professional (was NOT easy).
Standing outside the "Press Room" was a security guard. "Oh well," I thought, "Guess I got as far as I could!" But I decided to see if just maybe he would let me in. I walked up to him and showed him my badge. He stepped aside!! So there I am in the "Press Room". There are reporters and news people from everywhere talking to each other and eating chicken parmesan, which was excellent!! I hung around for a few minutes, talked to a few people, ate some food, grabbed a few freebies, and walked casually back to the table.
6:55 P.M. @ Back to the TV Truck:
I decided to watch the first half of the game in the TV truck and then move out to the table for second half. In the truck, I sat to the left of the producer. It was organized chaos. People were shouting numbers and codes across the room. People were flipping switches and pressing buttons. One guy was yelling "10...9...8...7..." to countdown the seconds till the end of a commercial break. I don't even think these guys had time to breath. I thought that sitting in the production truck would be boring, but I was completely wrong!
7:55 P.M. (about halftime) @ Verizon Center Floor:
I hung around in the truck for part of halftime then made my way back to the floor to sit at the table. They had a seat all ready for me when I got there. It even had my own headset so I could listen to the announcers communicate with the guys in truck. I was not allowed to speak, however. Sitting court side for the second half was one of the coolest experiences of my life. I literally mean court side. My foot was resting on the hard court. Only the teams and the referees were closer than I was.
8:55 P.M. (end of game) @ Verizon Center Floor:
I said farewell to Quint and Brooke and thanked them for letting me sit with them during the game. They said that it was great that I wanted to get into a profession like theirs and gave me some helpful pointers. I then made my way back the truck to grab my jacket and say thanks to the guys in the truck for letting me observe them. They said they were only a phone call away if I needed anything.
9:15 P.M. @ The Green Turtle:
I met back up with my parents and then we made the long journey back to Herndon VA; and reality.
That was an experience I will never forget. I did some incredible things and met some incredible people. I was also extended an offer to join them when they come back on February 23rd to produce another game at the Verizon Center. I would like to thank the people that sat in the truck as well as Quint and Brooke for letting me sit with them during the game. I had no idea what to expect when I showed up at 3. But what happened was incredible.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Opportunity of a Lifetime
Tomorrow the Georgetown Hoyas and the St Johns Red Storm basketball teams will square off on the hard court in the Verizon Center. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN2. Yours truly will be in attendance. But, if you think I'm going to be sitting in the stands, you're wrong. Allow me to explain...
About a year ago I decided that I wanted to be a sports broadcaster for the ESPN family of networks when I grow up. To prepare myself for my future, I have been announcing freshman and JV football games (I played varsity), girls/boys varsity basketball games, and even girls/boys varsity soccer games at my high school.
About six months ago my friends mother told me that she knew the director for ESPN2. She said she would contact him and see if maybe I could at least meet him and he could tell me what to expect if I pursued this field. What happened next nobody ever saw coming. The director then emailed the man in charge of the internship program for ESPN. For about a week, the two men emailed back and forth about me and how they could help me in the future. They concluded that by announcing games I was already strengthening my resume. They also said they couldn't really do anything about the internship until after my junior year of college. To be honest, I never really thought that they were just going to give me an internship. All I wanted was just to talk to the man!!
My friends mother then reported to me about all this going on and I decided to drop the director a line...join the conversation.
He told me that next time he was down in this area producing a game he would be glad to meet with me and let me sit in on a production. Fast forward to the new year, 2011. I hadn't heard from him in about a month so I dropped him a line to make sure he didn't forget about me. Let me tell you, the reply made me drop to the floor:
"Hey Brian,
Thanks for checking in. I have a 7pm game 1/26 at the Verizon Ctr. Let me know if its something you could make. If so I will check on protocol to see how and if its ok to sit in the production truck or court side with announcers.
Let me know,"
Of course I responded with an ecstatic, but professional, YES!!! The opportunity of a lifetime. Very few people ever get to experience something like this and tomorrow I get my chance.
The details of what exactly I will be doing are very vague. But I do get my own credential and get to go into the Verizon Center media gate as a member of ESPN2!!! So tomorrow when you're sitting at home, or at wing night, around 7 o'clock, make sure you've got your TV set to ESPN2. You never know, you may see, or even hear, someone familiar.