Ray Rice And Stephen A. Smith: How They Are Alike

Late last week Ray Rice was suspended by the NFL for his role in a domestic violence incident involving him and his then fiancé.  The suspension was just two games!.  The suspension has outraged many people including a lot of analysts at ESPN.  The general thought is why did he get just a two game suspension for doing what he did to his now wife.  Yes the charges were dropped but the incident was caught on video.  Ray Rice deserved at least a six game suspension to send the message to our youth that it is not okay to put your hands on a women for any reason.
This has turned into a big deal and everyone is weighing in on the situation.  One person's opinion that I don't agree with is Stephen A. Smith.  And guess what I'm not alone.  Last week on his show first take Smith decided to comment about the Ray Rice suspension.  He use big words and tried to sound smart, but let me rephrase what he said.  He said that if women know that their man may hit them that they should not provoke them.  Yes you read it right, it's not a misprint.  Now to me Smith's statement was wrong in so many ways.  First off a women is never to blame for a man hitting her.  A real man will never put his hands on a women.  My next point it that Stephen A. Smith needs to be punished for his actions.  I know he is not going to be on TV for a week but like Ray Rice that's not long enough.  Smith makes $2 million a year, you think he's even going to miss a weeks worth of pay.  A precedent needs to be set  for both Rice and Smith. 
My final point.  If Ray Rice was a fourth string running back he would have been cut the second that video hit the Internet.  The fact that he is a star running back should not give him a pass to do something so ruthless.  This brings me back to Smith.  His comments weren't blown up and made a big deal of like they should have been.  But had an unknown reporter had said them he would have been attacked by the media way more than Smith was.  Again the fact that Stephen A. Smith is very popular and good and what he does should not give him a pass to be arrogant.  You can be confident, but there is a thin line between the two and last week he crossed it.  This guy is so arrogant he uses his middle initial.  The bottom line is he said something that didn't need to be said and is totally untrue.   

Lebron To Cleveland.....Are You Serious?

Lebron James has finally decided where he is going to play next season.  He will play for the Cleveland Cav's.  After another long drawn out process he chose the Cav's over returning to the Miami Heat.  As expected Cleveland fans are excited and feel that their king has come home.  But I'm not sure that I like the idea of him returning to Cleveland.  To prove my point I have a story for you.
Years ago I knew a guy that had a smoking hot girlfriend.  He was extremely grateful that he was able to get such a beautiful girl that he showed it by worshiping the ground she walked on.  He did everything for her.  As time went on the relationship was decent, it wasn't good, it wasn't bad but it worked for them.  Then one day she decided things weren't working out.  She gave him the typical "it's not you it's me speech"  and said she "wanted to see other people".  My friend was heartbroken, but live goes on and so did he.  She spent the next few years in and out of relationships traveling the world and experiencing life.  But something wasn't right, see while she did all these wonderful things she just wasn't happy.  So one day my friend gets a call from the girl.  She explains to him all the experiences she had since him.  She told him that she missed and wanted him back.  My friend who hadn't had any luck with the ladies since she left took her back.  Like most people I thought my friend was a fool for taking her back.  So now I'm going to tell you my friends name.  His name is the Cleveland Cav's and his girlfriend is Lebron James.

The Other Basketball Team In Phoenix

With free agency in the NBA in full swing and all the talk about where Lebron James will end up the Phoenix Suns are a hot topic again.  Everyone in Phoenix has high hopes for the 2014-2015 version of the Phoenix Suns.  But wait, they are not the only show in town.  That's right Phoenix has another team that call U.S. Airways Arena home.  It's the Phoenix Mercury!
In case you didn't know the Phoenix Mercury are our WNBA team, and they represent the state of Arizona well.  They are currently 14-3 and hold the best record in the WNBA.  They also have two of the games best players in their starting lineup in Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.  Both are completely dominating the league and are being rewarded with starting spots in this years WNBA All-Star Game, which will be played here in Phoenix next Saturday.  The Mercury is having another memorable season and is looking to bring another Championship to the valley, something the Suns have failed to do.  The WNBA isn't nearly as popular as the NBA but with Taurasi's scoring ability and the fact that at 6'8 Brittney Griner can dunk, and does so often,  the Mercury are worth the watch.  They are an exciting team that is keeping many fans occupied with basketball this summer. 

The Free Agents that Weren't

We are now in July, so you know what that means.  Yes, NBA free agency.  The hot free agent by far is Lebron James.  He recently opted out of his final year in a five year contract.  Every team wants him but only a few teams are actually in the running for him.  The smart money should be bet on Miami or Cleveland, if I had to guess I'd say he is going back to Cleveland.  Another team that has a long shot of getting James is the Phoenix Suns.  The Suns are a team a lot of guys would want to play for.  The Suns can afford him and another superstar.  They already have a decent nucleus that lacks that "superstar", and they have a great young coach in Jeff Hornachec.  The Suns have also never won an NBA title, and in this day that may actually lure James to Phoenix.  Being able to say that you were the instrumental piece that brought Phoenix there first NBA title looks pretty good on your resume when you are being considered as the best player to ever play the game.  The Phoenix Suns have reached out to Lebron James agent, so the idea of him in Phoenix is real, it may not become a reality but here in Phoenix everyone is waiting to see what James is going to do.
The city of Phoenix isn't new to the idea of having the leagues best player.  The question is will it actually happen.  A few years ago Peyton Manning was a free agent and considered joining the Arizona Cardinals.  He visited Arizona before he signed with the Denver Bronco's. 
This is where the James situation gets familiar for fans in the state of Arizona.  We are always so close to getting the big name and then it doesn't happen.  If you need another example besides Peyton, google a pitcher with the last name Tanaka.  I think James and Manning's situation are so similar that Lebron won't come to Phoenix.  I think Lebron is just using Phoenix as a bargaining tool much like Manning did with the Cardinal's.  The other thing is Manning was never going to cone to the NFC and possible have to face his younger brother in the NFC title game. (I know wishful thinking)  The same goes for Lebron, the Eastern Conference is far more easier than the West.  Do you actually think Lebron will come to the West, where he'll have to face San Antonio before the NBA Finals?  I don't think so.  So while it's fun to imagine Suns fans get it all in now because in a few days this will all be over when Lebron resigns with either the Heat or the Cavs.

Winning Over A Nation Through Soccer

Earlier today the United States was eliminated from the World Cup after 2-1 loss in extra time to Belgium.  True soccer fans and experts didn't give the U.S. men's soccer team much of a chance to win but just like the previous games we hung in their and almost shocked the world again.  Even though we lost the USMNT brought the average American sport fans closer together these last few weeks.  They were everything we love in sports.  An underdog with with under rated players that just made you want to see them succeed.  And they did.  They weren't expected to get out of the first round.  With a win over Ghana, a team that has dominated them the last few World Cups, and a draw to a much more experienced Portugal team they did just that.
We had a lot things that didn't go our way including injuries in just about every game, and some very questionable calls that did not go our way.  Even though America did advance today they did let the world now that we will be ready for 2018.  They have made the sport of soccer popular here in the U.S. and lets hope the popularity continues into the next World Cup.