The Things I Miss in Sports, and more.

DO you ever watch professional sports and think back to the old days. Well for me, the old days wasn't that long ago, but the ever changing sports universe looking markedly different than it did 10 years ago, or even 10 months ago. Free agency, higher contracts, and failing leagues (i'm looking at you NHL) have contributed to the altered state of professional sports. While looking at the leagues, I wondered what was missing that was so great in previous seasons. Maybe some of the ideas should be brought back, maybe some shouldn't. But just know, I miss them.

- The Good, Old Rivalry: They just don't seem to be there anymore. In college, they will always be there. UNC/DUKE, Florida/FSU, USC/UCLA. Most of them are due to geography. But in pro sports, it is too uncommon. The Boston Celtics are intruiging due to their offseason acquisitions. However, why does that automatically mean that everyone they play now can be a rival? Their so-called rivalry will not flare up with the Lakers until they both make the Finals AT LEAST one more time, against each other. Boston/Detroit looks like it may match up better in the East. Dallas and San Antonio in the NBA also have a good rivaly going, but it's not like it was in the 80's, where there were so many. Even the NHL is lacking anymore. You have your Rangers/Devils, Rangers/Flyers, Wings/Avalanche. But think back to the mid 90's. They were much hotter. Rivalries in Baseball are fake anymore because of free agency. There are a few in the NFL with the entire NFC East mired in hatred. Packers/Bears, Chiefs/Broncos, and Steelers/Ravens aren't bad either. But the passion is still not there. Think back to Bird/Magic, Jordan/Wilkins, and so many more. Wouldn't life be better with a rivalry or two?

- Short Shorts:
Hear me out. When was some of the best basketball played in the history of the great game. The 1980's, my friends. Barkley, Bird, McHale, Jordan, and Purvis Short! He fit right in. SEE HERE Purvis Short's Shorts
What I am trying to say here is we've become too worried about appearance. The NBA used to be simpler. Guys weren't worried about being gangster and embarrased about having shorts above the knee. They went out there and played "balls out" basketball, clearly no pun intended. We can thank the Fab 5 for the long shorts. But as the shorts have gotten longer hasn't the game gotten worse? Now by no means do I think the NBA is a free fall, but we need to get back to that simpler time. Scores were higher, players were better shooters, and short shorts reigned supreme.

- Running and Gunning, and not just the NBA:
The NFL is on the right track. Higher points means people watch the game. Would you rather see a 9-6 field goal fest or a 45-42 barnburner with long scores and big yards? The answer is simple. The NBA once consisted of every team scoring over 100 points per game in a season. Take 1984-85 for example: Every single team scored at least a buck, with the low being 102.1 by Seattle. The high that season: Denver at 120.0 per game! This season, 21 teams average under 100 points. with Miami at just 92 per. That's sad. What happened to the wild run and gun style that the NBA used to employ. We need that back. Baseball tried to have numbers shoot through the roof and all that got them was the George Mitchell Report. Chicks dig the long ball. The NHL in the 1970's, 80's and early 90's was one big shootout as well. Take the year 1984-85 in the National Hockey League. Wayne Gretzky set the record that season for points scored with 215. He scored over 200 four times in his illustrious career. Compare that to 2003-04, which was not that long ago. Not one player scored over 100 points that season. Scoring is down across the board, except for the NFL, where the overall product is at its peak. Take note, other leagues. More scoring means more people in the seats.

- Loyalty and Integirty:
This is something that waved bye bye to the sports world. Loyalty to one team left when free agents began moving from team to team, treating the game more like a business than ever before. Integrity was lost, if it really every existed, when the cocaine movement of the 80's screwed the NBA, and now the Steroids Scandal of the 00's in Major League Baseball. What we have on our hands is a business. And with any business comes the opportunity for profit. We can't turn down more money in this world because the future is far too uncertain. So with that being said, when there is money to be made, there is loyalty to be lost. It's just the way of the world, and it's ok by me. However, that takes away from the committment and dedication to one team. Just for a second think of the Tony Gwynn's and Mario Lemieux's of the world. Great players staying with one team for 15 years or more. It no longer happens. We need someone like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or a David Wright to stay with one team to show us that loyalty still lives on.

Fun Fact of the Day: The Philadelphia Flyers lead the league as of this writing with 42 fighting majors on the season. Broad Street Bullies, anyone?