Overcoming challenges and adjusting to change: A perspective on Troy Aikman's career

Troy Aikman was born with club feet. He spent his first three years wearing leg braces. Eventually, thanks to good medical treatment, Aikman grew out of the condition. According to medical research, 1 in 1000 newborns are born with club feet. It's an ironic way for a gifted athlete to begin his life. However, it symbolized the need to overcome challenges in life and in sports. Aikman, like all people, has experienced changes and challenges. He has overcome these challenges throughout his life. His life, like all lives, has been marked by change and transition. In the midst of these changes and challenges, Aikman developed his character and personality.

Aikman was born on November 21st, 1966 in West Covina, California. He liked living in California. He liked riding his bike and developed a strong interest in baseball. In fact, his first dream was to become a professional baseball player. He was a pitcher and a shortstop. Initially, he showed little interest in football.

When he was 12, his parents informed him that the family would be moving to Henryetta, Oklahoma. The family would move to a farm and make their living as farmers. After dealing with leg braces as a child, this became the second major challenge of Aikman's life. He did not want to move away from his friends or from the comfortable California lifestyle that he and his family were used to. However, moving to Henryetta, Oklahoma and working on a farm, would be instrumental in developing Aikman's work ethic and character. As a youth, Aikman did not like his daily farm chores. Milking cows and feeding the pigs did not appeal to a young middle school student. However, Aikman respected his parents and learned about responsibility through these daily chores. It's a lesson that would ultimately serve him well throughout his life.

Growing up in Henryetta, Oklahoma helped him to develop as a person. While speaking to a group of high school students in Henryetta in 2012, Aikman told them "The person that I ultimately have become, things that helped me do some things that helped me do some things athletically were really shaped here in this town...I learned about hard work. I learned about integrity. I learned about character. I learned about your word meaning something...In the process of all that it was supported by this wonderful community... There are a lot of good people here." Aikman clearly was appreciative of the role the Henryetta community played in his development as a person. The people in the community helped him to become a good and responsible person - traits that would serve him well in life and athletics.

Aikman's father got his son his first paying job at 13. When he was 13, Aikman's father told him he was going to learn how to weld. He and his father were taught how to weld by a man who had his own welding company. After being trained, both Aikman and his father worked welding jobs for this company. This job was another opportunity for Aikman to develop his character and learn more about life. Eric Celeste, from "D Magazine" says "So began Troy Kenneth Aikman's first paid job. The pattern of early responsibility had been set." Aikman's father introduced his son to a job and another challenge. It was another challenge that Aikman was given. Through hard work and the guidance of his father, Aikman overcame the challenge and learned from the experience.

Aikman decided to play football because it was his father's favorite sport. Aikman did not consider football until the 8th grade when his father told him that tryouts were approaching. Aikman told Skip Hollandsworth of "TexasMonthly.com" that "Deep down inside I wanted to prove that I was as tough as he was." So, his participation in football began. He created and accepted yet another challenge.

Aikman also experienced success off of the field. In 1983, as a 17 year old, Aikman became Oklahoma's high school typing champion. Cheryl Hall, a business columnist for the Dallas Morning News, says Aikman was inspired to take typing class because of a teacher named Jean Froman. According to Hall, "His year older sister, Tammy, was supposed to be their high school's contender. She was the better typist, but she balked at the thought of competitive pressure." So, Troy Aikman went to the competition instead as the school's representative. After the competition was over, Aikman was announced as the state champion.

After high school, Aikman was offered a chance to join the New York Mets as a baseball player. Despite his love of baseball, Aikman decided to accept a scholarship at the University of Oklahoma. Coach Barry Switzer offered Aikman a scholarship the first time they met.

Aikman played for the Sooners during the 1984 and 1985 season. However, the offensive style of the team did not suit Aikman. According to Tom Coyne, AP Sports Writer, "Aikman ended up working out of a modified wishbone and never felt comfortable. In his first start as a freshman when the starter was injured, the 17 year old Aikman went 2 of 14 passing for 8 yards with three interceptions as the second ranked Sooners lost 28-11 to a Kansas team that entered the game with a 2-5 record." This must of been a challenging experience for Aikman and the Sooners. It was a rude welcome to college football for Aikman and it all but ended the Sooners national championship hopes.

Despite this initial setback, Aikman began the following season as the team's starter. He guided the Sooners to a 3-0 record before experiencing a season ending ankle injury. The following year, the Sooners were fully committed to the wishbone offense. So, Aikman decided to transfer to UCLA, which implemented a more traditional passing game.

Aikman remained undaunted after his struggles at Oklahoma. Aikman persevered and experienced a lot of success at UCLA. Robby Kalland of CBSSports.com says "Over two seasons at UCLA, Aikman completed 64.8 percent of his passes and threw for 5,298 yards, 41 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. In 1987, Aikman was named the PAC-10 offensive player of the year as the Bruins went 10-2 with a win in the Aloha Bowl over Florida. In 1988, Aikman won the Davey O'Brien Award as the top quarterback in the nation and was named a consensus All-American while finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting. The Bruins went 10-2 again in 1988, winning the Cotton Bowl against Arkansas to end the season." Aikman led the Bruins to back to back double digit winning seasons. He led them to back to back bowl victories and established himself as the consensus number one draft pick in the 1989 NFL draft. After, a slow start to his collegiate career, Aikman finished strong.

Aikman was drafted first by the Dallas Cowboys. This was a new beginning for the Cowboys. Their legendary coach, Tom Landry, had been fired after 29 seasons. Jimmy Johnson, formally of the University of Miami, was taking over the Cowboys. They were a rebuilding team. Aikman completed his first season 0-11 and was injured for 5 games. It was a difficult season for both Aikman and the Cowboys. Leading a rebuilding team was another challenge for Aikman.

The second season was better for Aikman and the Cowboys. The team was a much more competitive team. Aikman threw for 295 yards against the Los Angeles Rams and 354 yards against the Phoenix Cardinals. Both were victories for the Cowboys. The Cowboys were 7-7 after 14 games and had a chance at the playoffs. A big improvement from the previous season. However, in game 15, Aikman separated his shoulder in a loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. Without Aikman the following week, the Cowboys lost to the Atlanta Falcons 26-7. The loss against Atlanta knocked the upstart Cowboys out of the playoffs. Aikman finished with 11 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions. He also had 2,579 passing yards. The numbers were not great, but it was clear that Aikman was adjusting to the pro game. He was developing his professional abilities and the Cowboys seemed poised to take the next step towards the playoffs.

In his third season, Aikman and the Cowboys would indeed make the playoffs. The Cowboys finished 11-5. Aikman finished with 11 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. It was the first season that he had more touchdown passes than interceptions. He also completed 65.3% of his passes and threw for 2,754 yards. His completion percentage went up each of the first three seasons. Additionally, he threw for more yards each season. Clearly, Aikman was improving as an NFL quarterback. The Cowboys were also improving. However, for the third straight season, Aikman had been injured. He missed four games in 1991. He was ready to return for the Wild Card game against the Chicago Bears. However, coach Jimmy Johnson opted to go with back up quarterback Steve Buerlein, who guided the Cowboys to a 17-14 win at Chicago.

Buerlein started the following week against the Detroit Lions with less success. When the Cowboys were trailing 14-3, Johnson decided to replace Buerlein with Aikman who did not experience any more success than Buerlein. The Lions beat the Cowboys 38-6. The Cowboys could not score a touchdown against the strong Lion defense. Despite the injuries and the playoff loss, it was clear that both Aikman and the Cowboys were improving. The team seemed ready to go deep into the playoffs the next season.

The 1992 season would be a memorable one for both Aikman and the Cowboys. Dallas finished first in the NFC East with a 13-3 record. In 1992, Aikman threw 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He completed 63.8% of his passes and threw for 3,445 yards. He had a quarterback rating of 89.5. It was the most touchdowns and yards of his career.

In 1992, the Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles 34-10 at home in the playoffs. The following week, the Cowboys upset the San Francisco 49ers 30-20. In the fourth quarter of the game against San Francisco, the Cowboys lead 23-20. On the first down play, with everyone expecting a run, Aikman hit wide receive Alvin Harper on a slant route for a 70 yard pass play. It set up a 6 yard touch down pass to Kelvin Martin. The Cowboys advanced to the Super Bowl against the Buffalo Bills.

The Cowboys would beat the Bills 52-17 in Pasadena, California. The Cowboys' defense harassed the Bills into committing a Super Bowl record 9 turnovers. Aikman finished the game with 273 yards and four touchdown passes. He completed 73.4% of his passes and finished with an astounding quarterback rating of 140.7.

In his fourth season, Aikman had lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl championship. Additionally, Aikman was named the game's MVP. His career seemed far removed from the challenges of his rookie season or the disappointment of his time at the University of Oklahoma. Perseverance had been rewarded for both the Cowboys and Aikman.

The Cowboys began the next season with two straight losses. Running back Emmitt Smith was holding out for an increase in salary and the Cowboys could not replace Smith's contribution. Repeating as champions seemed to be a difficult task for the Cowboys. However, after Smith returned, the Cowboys improved their overall play. The Cowboys won 7 straight before they lost two games in a row - including a loss to the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving Day. However, the Cowboys rebounded by winning their final five games. Despite a slow start, Dallas finished the season 12-4.

In his fourth season, Aikman had one of his best campaigns. He finished with 15 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions. It was the least number of interceptions for a season that he would throw in his career. He completed 69.1% of his passes and he threw for 3,100 yards. His quarterback rating was a career best of 99.

The Cowboys beat Green Bay 27-17 in the divisional championship game and defeated San Francisco 38-21 in the NFC championship game. Aikman completed 28 of 37 passes and threw for 302 yards against Green Bay. He had three touchdown passes and two interceptions against the Packers. He completed 14 of 18 passes for 177 yards against San Francisco. He had two touchdown passes and no interceptions against the 49ers. He left the game against San Francisco with a concussion. It was uncertain if he would play in the Super Bowl, where the Cowboys would once again play against the Bills.

Concussions are dangerous for anyone. They can do permanent damage to the brain and make a person more susceptible to future concussions. To this day, Aikman has said that he cannot recall playing in this game against the 49ers. When he was talking to his agent, Leigh Steinberg, in the hospital, he did not know why he was there. Steinberg explained to him what had happened. Five minutes later, Aikman asked Steinberg the same question.

The NFL is more aware of it's responsibilities towards player safety than it was in the early to mid 1990's. The league is trying to reduce hits to the head and do it's best to protect the players. Additionally, players today are more aware of the dangers of playing football. It is a tough situation that the league and players are going through. The league is trying to be more respectful of the players, as the players weigh the pros and cons of playing football.

Aikman would play two weeks later against the Bills in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Cowboys won 30-13. Emmitt Smith was named the game's MVP. The Cowboys trailed 13-7 at half time, but their defense shut out the Bills in the second half. The Cowboys became the first team to win the Super Bowl after losing their first two games. Aikman finished with pedestrian statistics. He was 19 of 27 for 207 yards. He had no touchdown passes and one interception. This game belonged to the running of Emmitt Smith and the defense of the Cowboys. However, Aikman had an efficient game and provided leadership on the field. The Cowboys had won back to back Super Bowls. Aikman and the Cowboys were both at the top of their profession.

Despite winning two Super Bowls in a row, the owner and head coach of the Cowboys could not get along. Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson parted ways after Super Bowl 28. Both are headstrong people and they were not able to get along any longer. Johnson had built a strong team that could endure the change. However, it was not a change that Aikman favored. Aikman felt that Johnson gave the team a lot of needed discipline. He did not believe that the discipline was as strong under Barry Switzer, the team's new coach.

The Cowboys finished the 1994 season with a 12-4 record and another NFC East title. Aikman had 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He threw for 2,676 yards and completed 64.5% of his passes. He finished with a quarterback rating of 84.9. Once again, Aikman had an efficient year for the Cowboys. Once again, he provided stable and consistent leadership for the talented team. Yet again, the Cowboys were Super Bowl contenders who were expected to go deep into the playoffs.

The Cowboys defeated the Packers 38-9 in the divisional championship game. The Cowboys' defense shut out the Packers in the second half. Aikman finished with 23 completions in 30 attempts. He threw for 337 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Once again, the Cowboys were going to the NFC championship game. For the third time in a row, the 49ers would be their opponent.

The beginning of the 1995 NFC championship game was a disaster for the Cowboys. Due to various mistakes, the team found themselves trailing the 49ers 21-0 after only 7 minutes and 27 seconds of play. San Francisco defensive back Eric Davis intercepted Aikman's pass on the opening drive and returned it for a touchdown. On the next possession, the 49ers recovered a fumble by Michael Irvin which lead to a touchdown pass from Steve Young to Ricky Watters. Finally, Kevin Williams fumbled the ensuing kick off, which lead to a rushing touchdown by William Floyd.

It was arguably the most deflating beginning to a Cowboy game in their history. The dream of an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl championship had seemingly been shattered in just over 7 minutes. The Cowboys outplayed the 49ers the rest of the way. However, the damage had been done. Despite playing well the rest of the game, the Cowboys lost to the 49ers 38-27. The 49ers would go onto win Super Bowl 29 against the San Diego Chargers.

Entering the 1995 season, the Cowboys faced the challenge of getting back to the Super Bowl. They had won two Super Bowls in a row and made it to three consecutive NFC championship games. They were hoping to have a fourth good year in a row and a return to the Super Bowl.

In 1995, the Cowboys finished 12-4 and won the NFC East. Aikman threw 16 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. He completed 64.8% of his passes and threw for 3,304 yards. His quarterback rating was 93.6. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 30-11 in the Divisional Championship game and defeated the Packers 38-27 in the NFC Championship Game. Aikman played well in both games.

The Cowboys defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-17 in Super Bowl 30. Aikman completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards. He had one touchdown pass with no interceptions. He played an efficient game and helped the Cowboys' offense to remain steady throughout the game. However, the Cowboys intercepted three of Pittsburgh passes. Larry Brown was named the game's MVP. Brown intercepted Neil O'Donnell, the Steeler quarterback, twice in the second half. Both interceptions lead to touchdowns for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys are the only NFL team to win three Super Bowls in four seasons. However, the Cowboys have not made it back to the Super Bowl since their victory in Super Bowl 30. The Cowboys would win only one more playoff game with Aikman as their quarterback. 5 years after the victory in Super Bowl 30, Aikman retired at age 34 because of persistent back problems.

Aikman now works as a commentator for football games on Fox Sports. He provides insightful commentary on the game and gives a balanced review of both teams playing in the game. He shows respect for the game and the players, but also points out mistakes that are made by either a specific player or a coach. Aikman brings an understanding of the game to the telecasts.

In 1995, Aikman wrote a children's book entitled "Things Change." It attempts to help young people deal with the changes and challenges that they face. It is an attempt to help young people to overcome adversity.

Aikman's life has faced challenges both on and off the field. Aikman has done his best to overcome those challenges. He has done his best to deal with change and difficulty. Aikman has done his best to consistently persevere through struggles and change. Adjustments and struggles are never easy. However, with perseverance and steadfastness , anyone can overcome challenges.
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The Rock's father and grandfather helped pave the way for his successfull wrestling career

Dwayne Johnson, aka "The Rock" is a third generation wrestler. His father, Rocky Johnson, and his grandfather, Chief Peter Maiva were professional wrestlers. "The Rock" continued the family tradition and became the most successful wrestler in his family. However, his father and grandfather were arguably just as talented.

Rocky Johnson, the Rock's father, had many skills has a wrestler. He could beat his opponent in different ways. He was a fan favorite, and was considered a scientific wrestler. However, he could brawl with his opponent if he needed to. Johnson was a body builder who possessed outstanding strength and agility.

Johnson had a repertoire of effective wrestling moves. Johnson could implement an arm drag take down or use a high toss to escape a lock. At times, he beat his opponent with a hip toss, a drop kick or a body slam. Other times, he won with a back body drop or a sunset flip. Drop kicks or the full Boston crab were often his finishing moves.

Johnson and Tony Atlas won the World Wrestling championship over the Wild Somoan brothers. The match went back and forth between the two teams. The Somoan brothers, Afa and Sikka, were managed by Captain Lou Albano, who consented to the match under the condition that neither side could be disqualified. Albano tried numerous times to interfere with the match. While one of the Wild Somoan brothers held Atlas, Albano tried to hit Atlas with a chair. At the last minute, Atlas maneuvered out of the hold, and Albano inadvertently hit the Somoan brother with the chair, which knocked him to the canvas. Atlas proceeded to pin the Somoan brother, which gave Atlas and Johnson the tag team championship. This is one of the highlights of Atlas and Johnson's career.

Rocky Johnson said that he knew that his son would be a good wrestler. Johnson said "It was in his blood. I was a wrestler. His grandfather was a wrestler and he played football, and he said "My love is wrestling.'I said ok, I'll train you." Johnson said he knew his son would be a star because when he came home from breaks in college, he always wanted to train.


Chief Peter Maivia is sometimes overlooked. Since he wrestled in the 1970s and early 1980's many wrestling observers do not know much about him. However, he had a very successful and interesting career. maivia's bio on the WWE website states that "while the third generation of that family-The Rock- is the most well known, it all started with his grandfather, the legendary High Chief Peter Maivia." His bio states that Maivia "quickly took to his profession, winning numerous championships in the South Pacific and Hawaii before finally coming to the Unites States in 1970." Maivia experienced success as a tag team wrestler and as an individual wrestler.

After experiencing great success in San Francisco and Los Angeles,Maivia wrestled in Texas before he joined the WWE in the late 1970's. His WWE bio states that in the WWE Maivia wrestled (Superstar) Billy Graham for the WWE championship while he formed "a successful tandem with Bob Backlund." Maivia also helped train Graham, Wild Somoan Afa and Rocky Johnson- his future son in law.

In 2008 Chief Peter Maivia and Rocky Johnson were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Both inductions began with a speech from The Rock. Maivia was inducted posthumously because he died in 1982. Rocky Johnson received his induction and gave an acceptance speech.

The Rock spoke about his grandfather with sincerity. Regarding Maivia, the Rock said "He was many things to many people, but to my family he was everything." During the induction a brief clip of Maivia was shown to the audience. Several wrestlers discussed Maivia's contribution to professional wrestling. During the clip, the Rock said "My grandfather was the first Somoan wrestler to become known on a world wide basis." The Rock continued by saying that Maivia had a "magnetic personality that inspired me to be part of this business, inspired me to be a professional wrestler. My dad and my grandfather are the cornerstone of my career." The Rock continued by saying that he wanted to make his family proud through his wrestling.

Atta Johnson, Peter Maivia's daughter and the Rock's mother, formally inducted her father into the hall of fame. She said " My father was a soft spoken, gentle giant of a Somoan man with a loving generous heart and a beautiful, beautiful voice.He always had a uekele handy , and with a smile and a song that man lived his life to the fullest." Johnson went on to recognize the dedication of all of the professional wrestlers to their chosen profession. Regarding her family, she said "We have loved this wrestling business all of our lives. Here we are. The Hall of Fame. I love you."

The Rock began his speech about his father by saying "What the "soul man", my dad, was able to accomplish during his career was no small feat. At a time of tremendous racial disparity, he was able to cross all lines and become one of the most dynamic and formidable performers of his generation."

Then The Rock discussed some of his personal memories of his father's career . He said "I remember night after night watching him perform all over the country , being awed by his quickness, by his agility. He was an amazing performer. He moved like no one else. And I remember watching him when I was a kid. He used to throw these amazing drop kicks and I used to say to myself when I become a professional wrestler I want to throw a drop kick just like that." The Rock joked that when he first tried to drop kick an opponent, he only reaches his knees. He soon realized that he could not incorporate drop kicks into his wresting repertoire.

The Rock ended his speech by discussing how proud he was of his dad. The Rock said ""My dad was a hero to me. And I thought like all professional wrestlers he was larger than life." Then The Rock remembered some of the famous matches that his father was involved in. Finally, before he introduced his father, he said "There was nothing like watching a Rocky Johnson comeback."The Rock's speech was sincere and genuine.

Rocky Johnson walked onto the stage accompanied by a great applause. Johnson said "I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would ever be standing here accepting this award." Johnson went on to describe how he grew up in a small town in Canada. He described his experience in the National Wrestling Alliance and his eventual move to the WWE in 1983. He talked about how proud he was of himself and Tony Atlas for becoming the "first black tag team champions of the world."

During the speech the fans shouted "Thank you Rocky!" Rocky Johnson responded by saying "Without you, I would not be standing here." Rocky Johnson proceeeded to say that he believed his father in law was watching down on them from heaven. Johnson said "I know he is looking down on all of us with a smile on his face."Johnson then expressed gratitude for becoming the first non-Somoan high chief. He thanked his son for all he had done for him and thanked him for continuing the family's wrestling legacy.

The Rock benefitted from the wrestling legacies of his father and grandfather. Both inspired him to develop his wrestling skills. His father trained him to be the best wrestler that he could become. The Rock would not have been as successful without the examples of his father and his grandfather. Additionally, The Rock continued the legacies of his father and grandfather.

Building a successful baseball team

Building a baseball team is not easy. Many good and hard working people contribute to the process of building a successful team. A franchise needs a supportive owner, an insightful general manager, a team of good scouts and talent evaluators and an encouraging fan base. When teams are successful, there is enough credit to go around to make everybody happy. Egos must be left at the door. Everyone involved must be dedicated to a common cause.

An owner needs to empower the general manager to make baseball decisions. A good owner gives the franchise financial support. A good owner needs to hire the right general manager and empower that person to make baseball decisions.

A general manager needs to provide the vision for the franchise. He or she needs to create a blue print for improving the organization. Once the plan is created, the organization needs to implement it. Developing minor league players is probably the best way to rebuild a team. They are paid lower salaries than free agents. A team can have control of a minor league player for 6 years at a reasonable salary. After the rookie contract is over, a team needs to decide whether or not to re sign the player. Drafting the right players and developing them well is the best way to build a team. Once a core is in place, then a team can supplement the core with free agent signings.

Free agents can fill in the gaps that a team has. Free agent signings can shore up weaknesses. However, they are not a substitute for developing players from within. Many have observed that free agency is not an efficient way to build a team because free agents often demand long term lucrative contracts. Also, free agents are paid for past performance. They often do not play as well in the future. Teams try and sign players who are under the age of 30 because players over 30 are more susceptible to injuries.

During the 2008 offseason, the New York Yankees made three free agent signings and made one trade that illustrate how the right moves can supplement a team's core. They signed pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J Burnett and signed first baseman Mark Teixeira. Additionally, the team traded for outfielder Nick Swisher. All four players were still in their prime with presumably good years ahead of them. Sabathia was a true ace that season and Teixeira was an MVP candidate. Burnett also pitched well and helped them win the World Series. Swisher added more offense to a core that included Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, Jorge Pasadena, Robinson Cano and the newly acquired Teixeira. Burnett, who did not pitch well for the Yankees after the 2009 season, helped them win the World Series by winning game two after the Yankees had lost game one. These additions helped solidify an already strong team. They show how free agent signings and trades can supplement a core and help a team win a championship.

David Kaplan wrote about how the Chicago Cubs were rebuilt the last few years. His book "The Plan" chronicles the path that the Cubs took to rebuild their team and eventually win a World Series. Kaplan points out that the Cubs hired an experienced and accomplished team president in Theo Epstein, who helped guide the Red Sox to two World Series championships. Additionally, the Cubs hired Jed Hoyer to be their general manager and Jason McLeod to be their Senior Vice President. Kaplan points out that the Cubs build a strong front office. This helped the organization sign the right free agents and draft good players.

In addition to having the right people in front office positions, the Cubs hired the right manager. Joe Madddon had guided the Tampa Bay Rays to their only World Series appearance in 2008. They lost to the Philadelphia Phillies. However, making the World Series was a landmark achievement for a small market team like the Rays. The role that Maddon played in helping the Rays become successful did not go unnoticed throughout baseball. Maddon was hired by the Cubs to help them make their first World Series since 2008

Epstein told Kaplan that the Cubs benefitted a lot of from Maddon's managerial style. Epstein told Kaplan that the payers respected and admired Maddon. He created a relaxed environment that worked for new players and veterans. The Cubs needed this approach at this time. Maddon was uniquely suited to this team at this time. His approach worked for the Cubs.

The Cubs also made key trades and free agent signings. They traded for pitcher Jake Arrieta in 2013, two years before they hired Maddon. Arrieta struggled with Baltimore but the Cubs believed that he would benefit from a change of scenery. The Cubs believed that he was a better pitcher than what he had shown in Baltimore. The insight shown by the professional scouts and the Cubs' front office paid off. They were right. Arrieta started in the minor leagues for the Cubs in order to work in a pressure free environment. Also, according to Kaplan, the Cubs' pitching coach Chris Bowie helped Arrieta alter his pre game routine.

Signing free agent Jon Lester was also important for the Cubs. Kaplan says "Lester believed in the Cubs brain trust and he was confident that in time the Cubs would be winners. His big question though, was just how soon they would be contending. He had won two World Series rings with the Red Sox and he wanted more." However, Lester believed that the Cubs' leadership would help them become a top notch team. According to Kaplan, Lester also believed that the Cubs were assembling players of good character who were good teammates.

Both Arrieta and Lester helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. Both are good examples of how trades and free agent signings can help a team to win. Both show the importance of an organization making sound and good decisions.

The Cubs' organization also drafted good players and developed them well. Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Kriss Bryant, Addison Russell and Javier Baez were all developed within the Cubs' minor league system. They all contributed to the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship. They added youth and enthusiasm to the lineup. They added energy and talent to a Cubs team that had veteran leadership with Lester, Arrieta, Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist. The Cubs were a good blend of veterans and young players. The roster reflected a combination of good trades, wise free agent signings and good player development.

Scouting is an inexact science. It is difficult to project how high school or college players will play at the professional level. It's hard to measure how dedicated each player is and whether their skills will translate to the next level. Amateur scouts travel to watch high school and college players. Then the scouts fill out reports to give people within the organization. There is no substitute for seeing a player in person or talking to the player. However, even after seeing a player and meeting them, it is difficult to project how they will do in minor league baseball. All scouts and organizations can do is make an educated assessment of the player's abilities.

Teams look for offensive players who can hit for power and average, run well, field their position well and throw well. These are commonly referred to as "5 tool players." Players that can do many things well are sought after. Players that are versatile and multi talented are appreciated by major league organizations. Mike Trout, of the Anaheim Angels, is the best example today of a "5 tool player." He can hit home runs, steal bases, get on base often and field his position well. Bryce Harper and Manny Machada are also multi talented players.

Likewise, it is difficult to project how well a minor league player will adjust to the major league level. A pitcher may be able to get minor league hitters out, but may struggle against the major league hitters. Or a hitter may hit minor league pitching, but struggle against major league pitching. A hitter at the major league level will face pitchers who throw better breaking balls. Also,
pitchers at the major league level may have a better assortment of pitches.

After a player makes it to the major league, a team has to decide how patient it will be with the player. If a hitter struggles, should the team demote him to the minor leagues? Or should the team be patient with him and help him work through his struggles? If a pitcher is giving up too many runs, should the team continue to have him pitch at the major league level? Or should the team demote him to the minor leagues and ask him to develop another pitch? Player development is an ongoing issue for any organization. A player's development never ends completely. No matter how much money a player makes, he can still develop his skills.

Deciding when to bring a player up from the minor leagues is also important. A team has 6 years to work with a player that the team has drafted. So, an organization has time to develop the player. Some wonder if bringing up a player too early would ruin a player's confidence. If a player struggles, will the player lose confidence in his abilities? If so, can a player regain his confidence?

However, sometimes a young player can inject enthusiasm into a big league team. A young and talented player may be able t help a team immediately and inspire the team's veteran core. These are some of the considerations that an organization has when dealing with minor league players. During the month of September, major legue teams expand their rosters to 40 players. So, this can often be a good time to bring up minor league players.

A team also needs an overall strategy. An organization tries to answer these questions: How are we going to win games? Will we win with an emphasis on power? Will we try and play for the 3 run homerun? Or will we try to advance the runner through bunting, sacrifice flies, hitting runners over and stealing bases? What basic offensive approach will we have? The approach on offensive is dictated by the talent on the team. If a team has a decent number of power hitters, then playing for the three run home run may work. However, if the team is build around speed, then another approach will probably be better.

Organizations have to decide how they will develop pitchers as well. Will they limit the number of innings a pitcher can pitch when he is developing? Will organizations put young pitchers on a pitch count in order to preserve their arms? Or will organizations encourage young pitchers to pitch many innings in order to strengthen their arms? Experts disagree on what works best. Some believe that a pitcher should gradually build up arm strength. While other experts believe that pitchers would be stronger if they threw more innings at the minor league level. Both approaches seek to avoid injury. However, no matter what approach is taken, injuries may be impossible to avoid because pitchers throw so fast today. The speed that pitchers throw at may cause injuries no matter how a pitcher is developed. Former pitching coach Rick Peterson and former pitcher Ron Darling are among those who believe that overthrowing and pitching so fast are what is leading to injuries of pitchers.

The strategy used for the bullpen is also important. During the 1980s pitchers became more specialized. Tony Larussa and other managers used relief pitchers in specialized roles. Some were closers, while others were set up men. Still others were long relievers. Then later on, some left handed pitchers would only pitch to left handed batters. They became known as "left handed specialists."Closers pitch one inning to end a game. They try to "save" the game. Set up men try and hold the lead. Long relievers pitch when the closer is out of the game early.

Some observers have even suggested that teams go to a 6 man rotation in order to give starting pitchers more rest. Some think this approach would preserve the arms of the starting pitchers. Some believe this would help prevent injuries or at least make injuries less likely. For the most part,teams go with a 5 man rotation. No team has tried to go with a 6 man rotation for the whole season. Since teams make extensive use of their bullpens, starting pitchers are not taxed too much. A 5 man rotation probably makes the most sense

When building a team, an organization has to consider it's home stadium as well. The Yankees have a short right field porch, s they look for left handed power hitters who can take advantage of the dimensions of Yankee stadium. Additionally, Yankee stadium yields many home runs, so it makes sense for the Yankees to acquire and develop pitchers who keep the ball low I order to induce ground ball outs. If a pitcher gives up a lot of fly balls, he would not be a good fit for Yankee stadium. This was the problem with Phil Hughes- a fly ball pitcher. Hughes gave up too many fly balls to be a successful pitcher in Yankee stadium. Conversely, Masihiro Tanaka is successful, in part, because he keeps his pitches low.

Building a successful baseball team is difficult. The Cubs went 108 years before they won another World Series in 2016. Their opponent, the Cleveland Indians, last won a World Series in 1948. Teams need to hire the right people and draft the right players. Additionally, signing the right free agents and making timely trades can help strengthen the team's core. Even with everything in place, it is difficult to win the World Series. Injuries can derail a team's chances, and other teams can have excellent seasons. When a team is in the World Series, a team needs to win because it may not get back for many years. Every other team in Major League Baseball is also trying to improve. The league will always be competitive.

Trying to improve a baseball team is a year long task. Organizations scout amateur players throughout the year. Additionally, organizations continually evaluate and develop their own players. They are looking at other teams for potential trades. Organizations are always trying to stockpile talent and improve their team.

Win or lose, organizations take pride in their team's accomplishments. They are proud of the players they develop. They are proud of their successful free agent signings and timely trades. It's especially rewarding when all of the hard work results in a World Series championship.

Thankfully, 38 Special continues to rock into the night

After 38 Special performed at Tioga Downs Casino on July 28th, lead singer Don Barnes held up his guitar and spoke to the audience. In the midst of applause, he said "You guys are awesome. Thank you for being a part of our lives all of these years." The audience felt similar gratitude towards the band. Thankfully, 38 Special continues to perform and tour.

Tioga Downs donated all of the proceeds to local veterans groups. Every year Tioga Downs donates the proceeds from one concert to local veterans groups. The concert was originally scheduled for July 1st, but it was rained out. It was good that 38 Special came back to play for the local area. They performed with enthusiasm and genuine respect for the crowd.

38 Special began the show with "Rockin' into the Night," which is usually how they begin their concerts. The concert also featured their hits "Second Chance", "What if I'd been the one", "Wild Eyed Southern Boys", "Like No Other Night", "Back Where You Belong", "You Keep Running Away", "Teacher, Teacher" and other songs. The concert concluded with "Hold on Loosely" and "Caught Up in You." The band sounded good and the venue had good acoustics.

Their repertoire is a strong combination of classic rock songs and commercially successful ballads. Some prefer the rock songs, while others like the ballads. Some people like both. They have created a unique and distinctive sound. The presence of Barnes has helped the band maintain continuity. Many fans associate the band's songs with his voice.

Barnes is the only original member still with the band. Founding members Jeff Carlisi, Donnie Van Zant, Ken Lyons, Jack Grondin and Steve Brooklins are no longer with the band. Originally, the band had two drummers- Grondin and Brooklins. Van Zant is the younger brother of Johnny Van Zant and Ronnie Van Zant- two of the founding members of Lynrd Skynyrd.

38 Special started recording albums in the late 1970's. Their first two albums were not commercially successful. The band tried too hard to be like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Allman Brothers - two southern rock bands that they respected. However, the band soon realized that no one could perform southern rock like those two bands. So, the band stopped trying to imitate those two bands.

Barnes told Melissa Parker of smashinginterviews.com that 38 Special purposely tried to change and expand their sound. Barnes said "In the 70's we started out as Southern rock with country tones. But it has been done by the best- Skynyrd, the Allman Brothers and Charlie Daniels." Barnes said that Ronnie Van Zant told the band to stop trying to be like other bands. Van Zant encouraged them to create their own sound. When 38 Special created their own niche, they became more successful.

Barnes left 38 Special in 1987 and returned in 1992. He left to pursue music that was less commercial. He favored a more traditional rock and roll sound. He told Greg Kretschmar that 38 Special had discovered "album oriented rock" and was moving in a more commercial direction. The band was recording more ballads, and Barnes favored a stronger rock and roll sound. As Barnes says, "I wanted to amp it up."

Barnes says that when he was growing up, he was influenced by Eric Clapton's music. He told Kretschmar "If you're going to pick someone, you picked a good one there." Barnes told Kretschmar "We came from the day of Hendrix, Clapton and Mountain, Leslie West, ZZ Top and Bad Company. That was more what I wanted to do. Great big guitars. Muscles and melody." Some of 38 Special's songs reflect Barnes' respect for strong guitar riffs and strong melodies. The guitar is a focal point of the band's sound as well as Barnes' solo efforts.

In 1989, Barnes recorded a solo album entitled "Riding the Storm." The band featured the Pocora brothers from the band "Toto". The band also featured other good studio musicians. Barnes recorded the album through A & M Records. However, during the recording and producing of the album, the record label was sold to Polygram records.

Unfortunately, the master copies of the recordings were destroyed. Only Barnes had a copy of the recordings. His son moved and kept the recordings. Eventually, Barnes found the copy at his son's house and was able to have the copy re mastered and sold this year. The band does 3 of the songs from the album on their set list.

The band has always taken pride in their live performances. In 2011, they recorded a cd entitled
"Live from Texas." The cd featured some of their best recordings from concerts in Texas. The cds were sold at live performances.

The current membership of 38 Special are very talented musicians. They include Barnes; guitarist Danny Chauncey; drummer Garry Moffatt; keyboardist Bobby Capps; and bassist Barry Dunaway.

Chauncey has been with 38 Special since 1987. Chauncey said that joining 38 Special was natural for him. He told Scott Greene that he got along with the other members of the band from the beginning. Chauncey had co-written the song "I Wanna Go Back", which had been a big hit for Eddie Money. So, he had a good reputation as a song writer. He told Greene "I was allowed to contribute (to the ) songwriting from the beginning as "I Wanna Go Back" was a hit on the charts for Eddie Money around the same time that I joined, so the guys knew I was a capable song writer." Chauncey has been with the band for 30 years.

Before he joined 38 Special, Moffatt was considered the best drummer in the state of Florida. Previously, Moffatt was in a band called Sons of Doctors in the Orlando, Florida area. Everyone in the band was the son of a doctor. Barnes told WNCX radio in Cleveland that when Moffatt joined the band he was very sarcastic, which was something the band had to get used to. Barnes said the other band members had less sarcastic personalities. However, after Moffatt joined, the other members learned to give the sarcasm right back to him. He has been with the band for 25 years.

Capps started working with 38 Special in 1988, and formally joined the band in 1991. Capps is from Nashville, Tennessee, where he is a co owner of a recording studio with Chris Henderson from 3 Doors Down. When he is not touring with 38 Special, he helps to produce and record albums by other artists.

Dunaway has played music with multiple artists throughout his career. He is the latest edition to the band. He joined in 2014.

38 Special give concerts in 100 cities each year. Their enthusiasm for their music has not wavered. They like what they do. They appreciate the opportunity to play rock music before appreciative and enthusiastic crowds. Thankfully, they continue to rock into the night.

The memorable name and game of World B. Free

In sports, certain names stand out. Certain players have unique names that  are memorable. A cool name can add character to a player's legacy. However, a cool name is not enough. A player must have talent in order to make his mark in athletic lore. Word B. Free was a talented player who has a memorable name.

In an interview with sixers.com, Free was asked why he changed his name from Lloyd Bernard Free to World B. Free in 1981. Free said "The name was given to me from the streets of Brooklyn, in the Brownsville section, for being one of the talents from there they thought might have a chance to make it to the NBA." Perhaps, his friends thought he would be "all world" as a player. In any event, it was a name his friends gave him at a young age. Free has said that even in junior high, he could do a 360 dunk. As Free said "My nickname was "All-World" for doing 360 slam dunks."He was dunking and leaping high in junior high school and in high school. His athletic talent was evident while he was in school.

He was asked by sixers.com what kind of significance the name has. Free said "That was very important to me. I saw how things were going and I just wanted the world to be at peace and be free." Free believes the name has social significance.

Free said that he had to fill out the paper work to officially change his name. He also said that initially some announcers did not want to call him "World" and that some players continued to call him "Lloyd." When players did not acknowledge the name change, it inspired him to want to score more points against them.

Free had an extensive basketball repertoire. He was good shooter, passer and dribbler. He moved well on the basketball court. He moved with a purpose.

Free could make left handed layups in the midst of defenders around the basket. Free glided along the baseline and would finish with a reverse layup. Free could make jump shots from the corner while he was being defended.

While in midair, Free would pass to an open teammate. Free was so talented in midair, that he became known as the "Prince of midair." Free could spin around a defender and then make a shot. Free could use the backboard, dunk, make lay ups, move around defenders, hit open jump shots, make decisions in midair and do other things on the court. Free was a very talented basketball player.

Free played for the Philadelphia 76ers, Buffalo Braves, San Diego Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets. He also played with the Miami Tropics of the American Basketball Association. Free averaged 20.3 points a game for his career in the NBA. He changed his name while he was a member of the Golden State Warriors.

Steve Tater writes that Free helped saved basketball in Cleveland in the mid 1980s. During the early to mid 1980's, the Cavaliers were a struggling team that played before few fans. Due to poor attendance, their owner considered moving the team to Toronto. He even had a name picked out. The team would be called the "Toronto Towers."

The Cavaliers' owner also considered renaming the team the "Ohio Cavaliers." According to Greg Popelka, under this scenario, the team would play home games in Cleveland, Cincinnatti, Toronto and Pittsburgh. Popelka also points out that the NBA considered merging the Cavaliers with the Indiana Pacers. Clearly both the NBA and Cavalier ownership were concerned about the team's poor play and lackluster attendance.

Tater writes "In the 1984-85 season, Free would carry the team on his back to the playoffs after a wretched 2-19 start. Tater writes "Helping the team make the playoffs for the first time in seven years was not his only contribution to Cleveland basketball. More importantly, it was the way he played the game that got people to actually become fans of the Cavs." Attendance increased during this season. Free brought enthusiasm and excitement back to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He gave hope to the team's fan base.

World B. Free is one of the more memorable basketball players from the 1970s and the 1980s. He played well on the court and he will always be remembered for his name. Currently, Free Is a community ambassador for the Philadelphia 76ers. He also helps the 76ers team in the area of player development.

Frank Deford's life as a sports writer

Frank Deford played sports when he was growing up. However, he soon realized that he was not good enough to play professionally. So he realized that he wanted to be a sports writer. He graduated from Princeton University in 1962. He eventually wrote for Sports Illustrated and started "The National" which was the first daily sports newspaper in the United States. After 18 months, the newspaper folded because it could not deliver copies to their customers. In any event, Deford had an interesting career as a sports writer. Deford died in 2017.

Deford and his wife Carol were married since 1965. Deford was survived by his wife, his son, Christian and his daughter, Scarlet Crawford. The Defords lost their first daughter, Alex, to cystic fibrosis. After the loss of Alex, Deford served as Chair of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundations board of trustees from 1982-1999. Deford also wrote a book in honor of his daughter entitled "Alex: The life of a child." Additionally, the Defords had two grandchildren.

His autobiography "Over Time: My life as a Sportswriter" was published in 2012. The autobiography chronicles his life as a sports writer and his perspective on writing.

When he graduated from Princeton, Deford applied for different jobs as a writer. He visited "Time.Inc." One of the references that he submitted said that Deford "was not very bright, but perhaps may have a passable way with words." Deford joked that the first thing the people at "Time.Inc" read about him was that he was "not very bright." This is not the first impression that every job applicant dreams of. However, Deford's writing ability was good enough to land him a job at "Time.Inc"

The person who wrote Deford's reference was blunt. Deford's basketball coach at Princeton, Cappy Cappon, was also blunt when he told Deford "You know Deford, you write basketball much better than you play it." Deford took such candor in stride, because he realized the assessment complimented his writing: Deford said "I wasn't hurt when Cappy Cappon told me I couldn't play basketball very well, because he didn't say just that; he also implied, in counterpoint, that there was something else I could do well: I was able to write." The exchange shows the importance of honesty. Deford was made aware of his limitations and his strengths through the blunt assessment of his coach.

Deford grew up in Baltimore - a city that he always respected. Deford said "As I grew older, I came to believe that my outlook had been affected simply because I came from Baltimore...There was, after all, a humility to Baltimore that was sweet and enriching; simply because Baltimore was, altogether, looked down on, we did not tolerate arrogance." As a teenager, Deford worked as a copyboy at the Baltimore Evening Sun. Deford recalled getting a tattoo as a youth. Deford said "I'm the soul of moderation, though, even when being extreme, and so the tattoo I got was rather small and in a discrete location, on the underside of my forearm."

Deford associated Johnny Unitas, former quarterback of the Baltimore Colts, with his upbringing in Baltimore. Deford said "No one is more associated with my youth than was Johnny Unitas. He meant so much to Baltimore."

Deford also enjoyed his time at Princeton. While he was there, Deford had two plays that were produced. As a student at Princeton, he covered sports and became the editor of a daily newspaper. One of his English professors asked the students to name the three writers that influenced them the most. Deford chose J.D. Salinger, Shakespeare and Red Smith. The professor was aghast that Deford would choose Smith, a sports writer. However, Deford always believed that the professor secretly admired Deford for his honest answer.

Deford wrote a lot while at Princeton. Deford said "In college, at Princeton, I continued apace with my writing. I had a couple of plays produced. On the newspaper, I wrote everything: stories, editorials, humor, columns, movie reviews. I covered the basketball coach, who told me I was no good, and the dean of students who threw me out once." Deford did not achieve the highest grades in college, because his study habits were inconsistent. However, he developed his writing skills while at Princeton. This helped him prepare for a career as a sports writer.

After Deford graduated from Princeton, Bill Bradley started there. Bradley was an excellent high school basketball player who had decided to go to Duke. However, he changed his mind and went to Princeton because it would help him to achieve his goal of becoming a Rhodes Scholar. Deford covered Bradley while he was at Princeton. Deford said "By the time Bill was a senior and became national player of the year, I had written even more about him. I liked him a lot. Yes, he was serious, an old soul, but he had a good sense of humor."

Deford said that Princeton seemed separated from other places. Deford said "Princeton was then a very contained place. You could not call it "isolated," for goodness sake, because it was only a hop, skip, and a jump from both New York and Philadelphia, but still it certainly had a sense of insulation." This may be true of many college campuses. Often campuses are designed to help students learn and study. A certain amount of insulation helps students to focus on their education. Nevertheless, this was a quality that Deford noticed about his alma mater.

Grandland Rice was a sports writer that Deford liked and learned from. Deford said that Rice "was the author of something like a thousand magazine articles, edited a magazine (American Golfer) put together a book collection of his works, had his own radio show, narrated movie shorts, provided endorsements, and picked the only certified official annual all- American college football team." Deford admired all of the writing that Rice did.

Deford also respected all of the events that Rice attended. Deford said "Rice beamed himself up everywhere - accumulating as many as sixteen thousand miles a year by train alone. It's amazing all the games he saw, never mind that he managed to actually have the time to write about them as well - and it seems, never, without taking off his grey fedora." Deford points out that during this time, without the internet and cable television, that a sports writer had to be at the events in order to write or comment about them. Rice attended so many events and wrote about so many events. It's amazing to think of the number of events Rice witnessed and wrote about.

Deford interviewed many athletes and ex athletes. Three ex athletes that he met and interviewed were Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and Bob Feller. Deford said that DiMaggio semed "uncomfortable around people. You never hear any endearing anecdotes about him." Deford was not critizing DiMaggio. He was simply pointing out a quality of his personality.

Feller and Williams were different than DiMaggio. Deford said "Feller and Williams had been the grandest of rivals. Feller told me how they would both just sit alone and contemplate, with utter delight, the joy of facing each other two or three days hence - the greatest hitter versus the greatest pitcher of their time." Additionally, Deford spoke of Feller's barnstorming days and Williams's outspokenness.

Deford was known as the editor of the "National Sports Daily." He thought it would be cool for the country to have a national sports paper. He received financial backing from a wealthy sponsor and they gave the paper a try. The paper had good writers and a good format. However, it was difficult to circulate the newspaper. Deford said "Unfortunately, we couldn't deliver the "National" at a reasonable cost. Readers in other countries buy their sports papers at kiosks, next to where they take public transportation. Americans want their papers on their doorstep at six-thirty, before they have breakfast and get into their car." Deford said that he knew the "National" would struggle when he ordered a subscription and it was never delivered to his house! The inability to deliver the newspaper to customers proved to be the undoing of the "National."

Deford did different things after the "National" folded. Deford said "After the 'National' folded, I worked on novels. I bounced around as a contact writer, for "Newsweek" and "Vanity Fair" However, Deford always seemed to return to sports writing.

Deford also wrote about the NBA. He covered games, events and different teams. Deford said "My first assignment in the NBA was with the Lakers. Young Leggert was going to write a story about the Laker-Celtic rivalry, and since he was going to travel with Boston, I was designated to go along with Los Angeles, embedded as Young's reporter. This must have made a strong impact upon Deford. It must have been a plum assignment to cover the rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics. There were so many good players and coaches on both sides. It must have been a dream come true for a sports writer.

Deford remembered the initial impact of the experience. Deford said "Anyway, I was supposed to officially meet the Lakers in the hotel lobby the next morning, where we would jam into cabs, our long legs all entangled, and go to the airport...This was, if you will, my debut as a travelling sports writer." One could only imagine what Deford was thinking. What a great assignment for a beginning sports writer.

In addition to covering the NBA, Deford played some basketball for the New York Nationals in an exhibition game against the Harlem Globetrotters in Italy. Deford said "I played against the Globies in Bologna. This violated my promise to myself that I would never, on a story, try to do with any of my subjects what they do for a living." Deford scored 8 points for the Nationals in a loss against the Globetrotters. After this game, Deford would jokingly tell people that he played some profressional basketball in Italy. In addition to being a talented writer, Deford always had a good sense of humor.

In 1992, Deford convinced "Newsweek" to put the Olympic men's basketball team on the cover of the magazine. He asked them to do this before they had actually won the Gold medal. After the United States defeated Brazil, the team appeared on the cover of "Newsweek" the next day. The magazine took a chance because if the United States' team lost the championship game, "Newsweek" would have looked foolish for putting them on the cover the next day. However, since the United States won, the editors at the magazine looked wise.

Deford was asked once in a while who he thought the best athlete of all time was. People often expected him to cite Michael Jordan as the greatest athlete of all time. However, Deford thought that Jackie Robinson was the best athlete of all time. Deford pointed out that Robinson was a hall of fame baseball player who also excelled in football, basketball and track while in college.

Deford had a very successful career as a sports writer. He offered good perspectives about many topics and events. On July 10th, 2013, former President Barrack Obama presented Deford with the 2012 National Humanities Medal. The medal citation said the following: "Frank Deford for transforming how we think about sports. A dedicated writer and storyteller, Mr.Deford has offered a consistent, compelling voice in print and on radio, reaching beyond scores and statistics to reveal the humanity woven into the games we love." The citation aptly described Deford's career.

What's going on in Cleveland?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are having a difficult off season. General Manager David Griffin's contract was not renewed; Lebron James has not lobbied hard for players to join the Cavs; and Kyrie Irving has asked to be traded. What's going on here?


Griffin helped guide the Cavaliers to three straight trips to the NBA finals including an NBA championship. James was supposedly surprised by the decision to not renew Griffin's contract. The Cavs expressed interest in Chauncey Billups becoming the new general manager. However, Billups has no front office experience. Talks did not lead to a contract.


One wonders why owner Dan Gilbert decided not to renew Griffin's contract. Some speculate that Gilbert is anticipating the end of James' time in Cleveland. Maybe he wants to begin a rebuilding effort with another GM. Still, it's hard to understand why the Cavs would not renew the contract of a GM who has presided over three straight Eastern Conference titles.


James, who is signed for next season, usually lobbies for top free agents to join the team he is on. He did this when he was  with Miami, and he has done this as a member of the Cavaliers. However, he has not done the same for this offseason. Could James be looking to leave after next year? Some believe that James wants to join the Lakers after next season. James has acting aspirations and may like to finish his career in Hollywood.


Irving has expressed the desire to be the focal point of his own team. Supposedly, he is tired of playing along side James. However, for the three years that Irving played without James, the Cavs were one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. So far, Irving has not proven that he can carry a team or even be the focal point of a team. In any event, Irving would like to take his talents elsewhere and be the major superstar of another team.


Many question the timing of Irving's request. Why not wait until after next year when James may  bolt for tinsel town? Irving is only 24 years of age, so he has many years to be the go to superstar of a team. Why not finish this current run in Cleveland? Only the Golden State Warriors are better than the Cavs. So, why not try one more year to win a title in Cleveland?


According to Chris Chavez of Sports Illustrated, "Irving was growing unpleased with Lebron James controlling the ball more than him. He was also upset that James had a friend that would travel with the team." However, in the years that they have played together Irving has had the basketball almost as much as James. ESPN points out that Irving led the team in shots per game and that it was the first time in James' career that he did not lead the team in shots per game. Also, Irving averaged over 24 points per game. So, Irving figured prominently in the team's offense. Additionally, Irving is not a top flight defender. He is a good offensive player, but an average to below average defender. James is a better all around player.


Irving has said he would like to be traded to the Miami Heat, the Minnesotta Timberwolves or the New York Knicks. It's hard for a team to get equal value for a top notch player like Irving. The T-Wolves will not part with Karl Anthony Towns who had a break out season last year. Perhaps, the T- Wolves would be willing to trade Andrew Wiggins. It would make no sense for Minnesotta to trade Jimmy Butler, whom they just acquired from Chicago.

Dave McMenamin thinks the T-Wolves will land Irving. McMenamin says "A trade package centered on Andrew Wiggins would be a poetic twist on the CAVS roller coaster ride since 2014. Jimmy Butler and Karl Anthony Towns, sources tell me, have been lobbying both Irving and the Wolves' decision makers to make a trade happen." Irving, Butler and Towns would be an interesting trio for Minnesota to build around.

Ramona Shelburne thinks Irving will be traded to the Heat. Shelburne says "Pat Riley and Andy Ellsburg are both creative and bold enough to find a way to get this done." Maybe the Heat can put together a package of draft picks and players that Cleveland finds acceptable.

According to reports, Irving's preference is the Knicks. Dan Feldman,of NBC sports, understands why Irving wants to join the Knicks. Feldman says "I can see why he'd want to go to New York- a big market in his home area, a team he could take over. Even as Porzingis grows in stature, he's not a ball dominant player who'd step on Irving's toes." If Irving would like to be the focal point of a large market team, then New York fits the bill. However, whether or not Irving could lead the Knicks deep into the playoffs remains an open question.

It's very difficult for a team to obtain equal value for a top notch player in a trade. Irving, despite his poor defensive skills, is a top notch offensive player. If the Cavaliers trade him, they will have to get high draft picks or a few good players in return. It will be difficult for the Cavaliers to find an acceptable offer. Now that Irving's trade request is public, the Cavaliers have less leverage in trade talks.

The Cavaliers decided to sign Derek Rose to a one year deal for the veteran minimum contract. Maybe they want him to be the starting point guard if they trade Irving. If they keep Irving, maybe Rose will be the back up point guard. They also could consider moving Irving to the shooting guard position, which may be a better position for him anyway. If they cannot trade Irving, then Irving and James will have to coexist. If Irving is back next season, he will have to meet with James to resolve whatever differences they have.

While Irving made news with his trade request, James remains the centerpiece of the organization. It makes sense for the Cavaliers to make one more title run with James. A player of his caliber does not come around very often. James is, arguably, the best player in the NBA. He is the most versatile player in the game today. He can score, rebound, dribble the basketball, facilitate opportunities for teammates, drive into the lane, hit outside shots and play stellar defense. The Cavaliers could never replace James. If James leaves after next season, then the Cavaliers will probably have to rebuild completely. However, for at least one more season, they are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. Boston, Washington and Toronto are almost as good as Cleveland, but all three teams remain a step behind the Cavaliers.