Fear the Turk

by Anthony Strait, OTSL Panelist

The summer breeze is a mist of fresh air that marks both the beginning of a journey or the end of one. Around NFL training camps the sense of hope, renewal and optimism flows as rich as the Gatorade leaving the buckets.  Men young and old push themselves through the grueling heat as if they embraced the proverbial kitchen and coaches watch them with careful eyes.  All for the chance to earn a spot among the elite group of men who will be allowed to embark on a road that 32 teams hope will take them to Atlanta and the Super Bowl.

The intensity of the summer heat is followed by a stormy cloud that leaves many thunderstruck and a wake of destruction in the broken dreams of many.  For that gray cloud of NFL atonement holds no sure form, just the words that could be confused with daggers: "Coach wants to see you...bring your playbook."  It is called The Turk and it is the Turk who for five weeks becomes the most powerful force in an organization.  It is the Turk who bears the news that allows men to continue the dream or pick up the pieces of said dream.

The identity of the Turk can vary from team to team.  It can be a young intern tagging along with a head coach or even the equipment manager with acne.  Perhaps it is a young coach looking to work their way up the ranks who is tasked with being the voice of doom.  How about that very nice secretary whose calm demeanor becomes a double edged sword?  Whomever it is, who takes on the role, they realize that it is not a easy job to track down a player to tell him his dream is over.  No one even knows for sure where the term originate.  The closest and perhaps most logical explanation can be found in a quote from 2001 by Pittsburgh 970AM's Scott Paulsen:

    

“I imagine that the NFL started using "Turk" because of theTurkish soldiers of the 17th and 18th century and their long, curved scimitars.

It's a wonderful visual. Beware the Turk. He comes late at night,armed with a long, curved sword that he'll use to cut you from the team!"

    

While clearly not the actual origin of such a name, it is arguably the best description.  The Turk with his or hers daggers stalking the halls, acting as the Grim Reaper and beginning to "cut" down targets one by one in a slow agonizing manner.

For 700 players cut day might as well be called another name: D-Day.  They will be trying to avoid the inevitability of the Turk catching up to them.  Perhaps turning the phone on vibrate and pretending to accidentally miss that call helps.  Maybe going into physical hiding is the way to go.  For the younger players, getting cut from a NFL roster could be their first taste of football failure.  For the veterans, the realization of going from making millions to nothing in a second is enough to leave anyone humbled.  The idea that a man will be told by one individual that their dream will not continue is a gut punch even if some land on other teams.  For the Turk, the delicate balance between compassionate human being and strictly following instructions is part of the role.  Anyone who has ever watched Hard Knocks should know these encounters aren’t pretty.  Players are angry, heartbroken and even dumbfounded when they are told the coach want to see them.

There are stories of guys who were cut threaten physical harm to coaches, as was the case when former coach Lovie Smith cut a guy while an assistant in Tampa Bay.  Friendships between teammates are tested when both players are on the bubble.  It all leads to a simple sit down with the coach, a hand shake, and a trip to the secretary to confirm your booked flight home.  The Turk does the job no one wants and the players never want to be on the other end.

But there is hope for those who do get the ax.  Guys like Kurt Warner, Wes Walker and even James Harrison have been cut from teams and put together stellar careers.  Even a famous movie star like Dwayne Johnson was once cut from his CFL team.  There is always the chance a player gets added to the practice squad.  It’s the NFL version of a paid internship.  Run the other team’s playbook and make everyone look good.  Those who survive the final cuts breathe a sigh of relief as their dreams continue.

September 1^st looms as final cut down day before the start of the regular season.  The rosters begin to shrink after the second preseason game and continue until every team is down to the required 53 players.  In the meantime, the Turk is watching with keen eyes.  He or she is stalking his potential next victims during the dog days of August.  The Turk is the voice of NFL doom and it is his (or her) responsibility to carry out a hit job on the coaches’ orders.

The players will spend the next few weeks looking over their shoulder for the most powerful being in training camp may not be far behind.  They are the Turk and cutting down dreams is their business.  And between now and September 1^st business will be good and plentiful.

Reversal of Fortune

By Anthony Strait, OTSL Panelist

          The NBA Draft is one of sport’s most premier events in one of the biggest cities. The draft is a night where childhood dreams become reality. Kids who dream of making it to the NBA realize it on this night. Brooklyn becomes basketball central as the future meets the present and the teams take the first steps towards the next season. The night can also remind you that the National Basketball Association is a business and as such, personal feelings go out the window. Players who were drafted are often traded for one another and deals involving future picks are made. Five years ago saw such a trade take place and to this day change the fate of two franchises. The Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets will forever be linked by an “all-in” draft night trade that saw the rebirth of one team and the demise of another.

            

           Entering the 2012-13 NBA season there was a sense of renewal around the Nets. The move from New Jersey to Brooklyn gave a doormat franchise a chance to start over. Its best years had come a decade earlier with consecutive NBA finals appearances, but had fallen on tough times towards the end of its 35-year stay in Jersey. A new owner; new logo and colors; along with a brand new arena; and the Nets were ready to take a bite out of a market that had largely been dominated by their cross-town rivals the New York Knicks.

The Nets started the season hot out of the gate, including a win over the Knicks. After a blistering November the Nets went cold in the month of December. The Nets fired Coach Avery Johnson after losing 10 of 13 games and replaced him with PJ Carlesimo. Led by Deron Williams and All-Star Brook Lopez, the Nets rebounded to finish with a 49-33 record. They entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the East, but after taking three games to one lead in the series the Nets faltered. The result was a first round upset loss to an injury-plagued Chicago Bulls team which included a 99-93 game seven loss at home. Despite the disappointing end, the first season in Brooklyn was largely considered a success.

The Boston Celtics run among the elite in the league was coming to a slow end. Age had begun to catch up to their Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. After a NBA championship in 2008 and a return trip to the finals in 2010, Boston would slowly decline. The Celtics had one more push in 2011-12 but fell to the Miami Heat and their Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in the conference finals. The 2012-13 season saw Boston struggle through injuries and inconsistency. Rajon Rondo played only 38 games due to an ACL injury. The Celtics won just 41 games and did not win the Atlantic division for the first time in five years. The Boston Marathon bombings rocked the city and the country that April. The Celtics, like many of the Boston teams, looked to galvanize a city in mourning. Despite strong efforts from Pierce and cutting into a 3-0 series hole; the Celtics ultimately fell in six games to the Knicks in round one.

With the contract of Coach Doc Rivers also expiring, the loss marked the end of the run of the Celtics Big Three. While Boston was looking at a lengthy rebuild, Brooklyn - thanks to its success - felt it was one key move or two away from contending for a championship. Looking to make a big splash to steal the backpages from the Knicks; the Nets decided to go all in at a title run. The NBA draft took place on June 27, 2013 in the Nets backyard, the Barclays Center. Brooklyn was looking to make that move that would put them over the top and entrusted GM Billy King to make it. The Celtics were more than accommodating, or so it appeared. With Rivers now a coach for the Clippers, the rebuild could start in earnest. The Nets were already developing a reputation for dealing to Win Now at the cost of future help for the team. They traded draft picks to sign Deron Williams and gave up a ton to acquire Gerald Wallace in 2012. But it would pale in comparison to the move they made on draft night.

The deal seemed like a home run on Brooklyn’s end. The Nets received Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and D.J. White from the Celtics. In return the Celtics received Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans, three first-round picks (2014, 2016 and 2018), plus the right to swap first-rounders in 2017. Brooklyn was immediately elevated as a favorite to dethrone the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference. The Nets, with the trades, watched their payroll skyrocketed to $200 million dollars including luxury tax. Garnett’s inclusion required him to wave his no-trade clause but it also made the trade much more complicated for Brooklyn. The Celtics received what they needed to rebuild, with new coach Brad Stevens tasked with guiding the historic franchise through its growing pains. A key to this trade was that the picks were unprotected, meaning the Celtics could swap their own draft pick for the Nets should they finish with a worse record. The Nets were praised for the move and tickets sales went through the roof as many anticipated a deep playoff run.

The 2013-14 season began with championship expectations for Brooklyn but things went bad from the start. Lawrence Frank was removed from his assistant coaching duties by new coach Jason Kidd. Deron Williams sprained his ankle in the off-season and missed training camp and most of the preseason. New guys Garnett and Pierce, discontent with the culture and structure of the organization, only grew as the season rolled on. Brook Lopez would be lost for the season with a broken foot while, in-fighting among Kidd, the front office, coaching staff along with locker room turmoil, cast a shadow on a team many felt was a contender. The team got out to a 10-21 start but rebounded to win 44 games and the six seed in the East. The won their first playoff series in several years by defeating Toronto, but lost in five games to Miami despite winning three of four regular season meetings with the Heat. Joe Johnson emerged as clutch while Pierce played well and Kidd grew as a coach. But after just one season the plug was pulled on the “all or nothing” Nets.

Jason Kidd moved on to Milwaukee after a failed power play and a falling out with Nets management. The team itself disappointed on and off the court and the organization lost more than $144 million. As a result owner Mikhail Prokhorov closed the check book, a major reversal from his reputation of sparing no expenses. The Nets lost much of the assets acquired from those trades for nothing as Pierce, Shaun Livingston, and others either left as free agents or were traded. Kevin Garnett would be traded back to Minnesota halfway through the next season. Lionel Hollins was brought in to replace Kidd and clashed with everyone including Williams, who was now a shell of the All-Star he was earlier in his career. The Nets made the playoffs in 2014-15 despite a losing record but were eliminated by Atlanta in six games. Just like that, the biggest trade had blown up and left Brooklyn in shambles.

The Boston Celtics entered the 2013-14 season basically devoid of any real talent. With Brad Stevens at the helm, the Celtics would finish 25-57 and miss the playoffs. It would be the last time to date that Boston would miss the playoffs. The following year saw the Celtics ship the last piece of the Big Three era out of town as Rondo was traded to Dallas and Isaiah Thomas was acquired from Phoenix. Boston won 40 games and returned to the playoffs before being swept by the Cavs. The 2015-16 season saw another increase in wins as the Celtics won 48 games but again failed to advance past round one. The next season saw the wins increase to 53 games as Thomas became a MVP candidate. Boston advanced to the Eastern Conference finals before losing in five games.

The draft picks the Celtics got out of the trade have led to some key players being added that largely contributed to the success of the team this past season. Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown were draft selections Boston made by swapping picks with Brooklyn which came due to the Nets having one of the worst records the last three seasons. Perhaps the biggest came in 2017 as the number two pick went to Boston instead of Brooklyn and Jayson Tatum was selected. Tatum became an emerging star and rookie of the year candidate as the Celtics made it back to the conference finals. Added depth helped the team overcome injuries to Gordon Haywood and Kyrie Irving. The 2018 draft was the last season the Celtics owned the Nets draft pick but was used in the trade to bring Irving to Boston from Cleveland. The Cavs drafted Collin Sexton with the number eight pick. The Nets also regret the draft picks given away in other deals which led to the Portland Trail Blazers selecting all-star Damian Lillard. A pick traded to the Lakers resulted in Kyle Kuzma being drafted. While Boston was able to rebuild almost right away, the Nets have felt the weight of a gamble that failed since that fateful night in 2013.

After years of what-ifs and miscues, Brooklyn will have its own draft picks and cap room next summer. The Celtics for their part are contenders in the Eastern conference and will be again going into the 2018-19 season. Five years later this trade is viewed by many as one of the worst trades in history as it left one team crippled for years while boosting the rebuild of another. The Nets, in a bid to win a championship under unrealistic expectations, became a cautionary tale in the business of NBA trades and their short-sighted moves became magnified with each budding young talent they missed out on. Danny Ainge cemented his reputation as one of the best front office executives by turning the Celtics into contenders and adding young talent for the future. 

Next summer both teams will be on equal footing entering the offseason as five years later Brooklyn finally has a light at the end of the tunnel. One of the worst trades in the modern era of sports will be completely paid in full.

The Demise of U.S. Soccer

by Anthony Strait, OTSL Panelist

This month all eyes will turn to Russia as one of the most exciting events will take place: the FIFA World Cup. 32 of the world's best teams will compete through group play and then the knockout rounds all in hopes of reaching the finals in Moscow. 20 of the 32 teams will be making consecutive appearances -- including defending champion Germany -- while countries like Iceland and Panama will make their first tournament appearances. It’s a three week event that brings the world together via love for native land or love of soccer. The FIFA World Cup played on a fresh pitch is a celebration that all of us love to witness.

The United States, however, will not be a part of that celebration of the beautiful game. For the first time since 1986 the men's soccer team will be no more than mere spectators to a tournament they had been a participant in for five straight cycles. The U.S. had plenty of chances, time, and opportunity to show the world that they belonged among the world's best. Why shouldn't they have felt confident about their chances? Each of the last two World Cup tournaments saw the U.S. reach the round of 16. However, inconsistency with coaching, failure to develop talent, and possibly unearned arrogance all came to a head last October. With a berth at stake, everything that was wrong led to one of the most embarrassing results ever and four painful years to regroup.

In the last four FIFA World Cups the United States were led by four different coaches, all of whom brought different degrees of styles with various results. Steve Sampson led the group into the 1998 World Cup in France. That team lost all three group play matches and was more known for the controversy of then captain John Harkes having a affair with a teammate's wife as the reason why he was cut prior to the tournament. 2002 saw U.S. Soccer fare much better under Bruce Arena; making the quarterfinals for the first time since 1930. 2006 saw regression under Arena as the team only scored one goal in three group play matches and were quickly eliminated. Bob Bradley led the team into the 2010 World Cup and won its group for the first time since 1930, but was upset by Ghana in the knockout round. In 2014 Jurgen Klinsmann was the coach of team USA. His tenure started out with the questionable decision to leave Landon Donovan off the team, opting instead for youth. The U.S. advanced to the knockout stage but again would lose their round of 16 match. Klinsmann's coaching style was criticized by many who felt it was too conservative.

It seemed like the United States were on the right track as far as developing into a soccer power, but then the team struggled and Arena was brought back after Klinsmann was let go following consecutive losses. The losses seemed to mount after the 2014 World Cup, starting with the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. They dropped home losses to Mexico and Costa Rica which made qualifying much more difficult. They had to win on the road at some point.

The roster the U.S. carried also showed a total lack of depth and flaws in player development. Goalie Tim Howard was a hero for his play in Brazil but had clearly lost a step. At the same time it can be said that too much was put onto the shoulders of 19-year-old Christian Pulisic. There are no in-betweens for the U.S. roster as it was heavily dependent on veterans or guys just not ready. The gap of talent of players in their 20’s showed during this stretch as team USA’s inevitable doom loomed over them.

It all came down to one result; all the ups and downs and coaching changes came down to one match. The U.S. simply needed a draw against Trinidad & Tobago to qualify for Russia. On a less than ideal pitch that was mocked by the USA Soccer 's social media page, it was Trinidad & Tobago who scored the first two goals. The U.S. would get one, but draw no closer. Combined with wins by Panama and Honduras, the shocking 2-1 loss left the U.S. on the outside of the World Cup. You can also say it left them on the outside of the elite soccer nations as years of progress went down in flames. Arena resigned three days later and now the United States is at a major crossroads. They elected to go younger starting last month with a friendly but it should have been done after the fact.

So now this is what we are left with. The United States, with all of its vast resources, can't get 11 solid players together with any consistency. While the rest of the world looks forward to the World Cup in Russia; the U.S. is back to the drawing board to try and get to the elite status it thought was within reach just a few years ago. Their female counterparts have done it correctly, incorporating younger players like Mallory Pugh alongside veterans like Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd.

Maybe the men should have taken notes. Perhaps they need a coach who will play with more of the attacking style needed on the grand stage. The U.S. men's team should really take their time figuring it out; they will have about four years to work with.

Lord Stanley

by Anthony Strait, OTSL Panelist

            It is said that it is the most coveted prize in all of the four major sports. It weighs in at 34.5 pounds and stand at 35 inches tall. The bands are engraved with the names of those who were fortunate to survive the gauntlet and lift the spoils of victory above their heads. We are two weeks into the journey for one team of “destiny” to add its story to the countless others that make up those silver bands. It is the holy grail...it is the Stanley Cup.

            No other trophy in sports carries more traditions and stories than Lord Stanley. Originally awarded in 1893, it was commissioned one year prior and named after Sir Fredricks Arthur Stanley, Lord Stanley of Preston who was then Governor General of Canada. Originally known as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, the first nineteen winners were determined by challenge games and league play. The Montreal Amateur Athletic Association was the first team to ever win the cup, a bowl in its original form. Since 1910 - when the National Hockey Association took possession - the cup has been the symbol of hockey supremacy. Since 1926 only teams in the National Hockey League have competed for the ultimate prize.

            The road to the cup is often referred to as the toughest road in all of the sports. For two months 16 teams will compete to see who can survive. The playoffs is in itself a wild ride worthy of the satisfaction that waits at the end. So many variables can shape as well as determine if a team has destiny on its side. Upsets happen regularly in the playoffs and the team with home-ice isn’t guaranteed victory. The 2016-17 Chicago Blackhawks became victims of this notion by capturing the best record in hockey. Then they ran into a Nashville team that got hot and the Blackhawks were swept in embarrassing fashion. Things can change on a bad hop like it did to Mike Richter in the 1992 playoffs that turned the tide of a series. Plenty of heroics echo through time, and speaking of time, you play on until a team can score the tie-breaking goal. The point of sudden death is as synonymous as the euphoria of surviving to take the next step. Though it all it ends with a healthy handshake.

            To reach the end of the journey is to enrich you in the many traditions that are engraved in silver. The many faces that have sipped the spoils of success from the top bowl. To be a winner in the end is to be the toast of the town for a day whether it’s a big city or a small community. The childhood dream of spending a day with the trophy has grown as big as the expectations of a fan base chanting “WE WANT THE CUP”. It's enough to send chills down your spine. The cup is the symbol for "team" and one that brings a team together like it did for the 1997-98 Red Wings. A team that made the journey and made sure everyone knew Vladimir Konstantinov was the biggest member. It can feel light as a feather like it did when Ray Bourque waited 22 years to lift it high above his head like it was touching the heavens. Of course you don’t touch the cup until you win it or it’s the only one you touch but don’t tell Stephane Matteau or Sidney Crosby who broke that rule and suddenly their teams won the prize.

            The cup is so perfect yet it is imperfect to its core. Misspellings during engraving and even “X”-ed out names add to its legend and charm. Unlike the other trophies, the cup has its own identity that can never be duplicated in part because the cup itself is never duplicated. The 1980-81 Islanders is spelled “ILANDERS” while the 1983-84 Oilers has a named covered by a series of 16 Xs. The irony is that it takes 16 wins from April to June to have your name engraved in its barrel ring and you hope it’s spelled correctly. 2,528 names are engraved in the rings in total. The older ring is removed and placed in the Hall of Fame to join the original bowl and locked away in a vault. A handful of women have had the honor of having their names engraved. The keeper of the cup is as popular as the men who win it, and as a player you forget to shave for a while but the reflection off it looks like a million bucks.

            To sacrifice for the cause is to be unselfish. To survive and advance is to be one step ever so closer yet still so far. The delight of the final seconds ticking off is only matched with the captain skating over to claim the ultimate prize. The team photo is as etched in time as the names that will join countless others on that very cup. You keep it for a full year, only to try to do it all again the next year. To drink from it is to savior the moment, and to hold it is to hug something you love so much that you never want the moment to end. This cup has history and a name…its name is Stanley and every kid dreams of meeting him one day.

The Madness of March

By Nolan Toppin, OTSL Executive Producer

To my colleague and friend, Jay Kaplan, March Madness has always been "The Most Wonderful Time of The Year!"  I'm sure it is, for the millions and millions of people who fill out brackets in their office pools for bragging rights.  Then you watch the games to see how the games unfold.  But I always had a question: do you like to root for the favorites or the upsets?  This just happens to be one of those years in which there are more upsets than favorites.

My personal choice leans more towards upsets, and I don't claim to be an expert on college basketball.  It makes the tournament more interesting.  All of or at least most of the favorites were eliminated after the first two rounds.  Teams like Virginia, Xavier, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Michigan State, and Arizona.  That's the excitement of the tournament.

Like Tom Hanks, who played Forrest Gump once said, "You never know what you're gonna get."  You also never what's gonna happen.  Take for instance, UMBC, which could stand for

U MUST BE CINDERELLA, as opposed to University of Maryland-Baltimore County.  Since seeding began in 1979, Number 1 seeds were 135-0 versus Number 16 seeds.  Until UMBC did the unthinkable, knocking out #1 Overall seed Virginia in a rout.  It may NEVER happen again; but they will ALWAYS be a part of history, as well as a trivia question.

Then there is the University of Loyola Chicago, an 11 seed, making it to the  Final Four. This is only their 2nd tournament appearance since 1963; and that year they won it all.  These are just two schools that most people would not know or ever heard of.  With one of them possibly making the best Cinderella run ever.  No matter who wins this year, it certainly

has been a memorable tournament; one for the ages.

The First Unicorn

by Anthony Strait, OTSL Panelist

March 5^th, 2018. The Brooklyn Nets are at home hosting the Chicago Bulls at the Barclays Center. On this night the Nets were honoring one of the best players in franchise history. Of course to do that they had to go back to their New Jersey Nets days. For a whole generation of fans attending, their fondest and perhaps earliest memories involved teams that featured Jason Kidd. So you can forgive them when they reacted to getting a Drazen Petrovic starting lineup action figure with a look of bewilderment. After all, Petrovic’s time with the team occurred in the early ‘90s back when the Nets played in East Rutherford. What they perhaps didn’t know is just how good Petrovic was; long before even stepping onto a NBA court. Before Kristaps Porzingis was dubbed “The Unicorn”, Petrovic just may have been the first unicorn in the NBA. Petrovic’s story is more of a lasting legacy than a “What If”… a great talent whose career and life was cut tragically short.

           

Born in Sibenka, Croatia, Petrovic’s path to basketball started early as his oldest brother and current Brazil national team coach Aleksandar pursued the sport. By the age of 13, Drazen was playing in the youth selections of the local professional club and by 15 he was on the main team. With Petrovic leading the way, Sibenka reached the finals of the FIBA Radivoj Korac Cup on two separate occasions. In 1983 at 18 he led Sibenka to a win over Bosnia for the Yugoslavian club championship; but it was taken away the next day by the National Basketball Federation citing refereeing irregularities.

           

It would be the move to Cibona and playing for the KK Cibona National Team where he would establish himself as one of the best Europe had to offer. Following a mandatory year in the military, Petrovic would win both the Yugoslavian League Championship and the Yugoslav National Cup. During this time he was also a member of the Yugoslavian National Team that would win bronze in the 1984 Olympic Summer Games and Silver in 1988. Playing for the national team saw Petrovic team with future NBA players like Vlade Divac and Toni Kukoc. In the ‘80s and early ‘90s Petrovic became a star in Europe and a hero for many in what would later become the war-torn disintegration of Yugoslavia.

            

With his success overseas, it was only a matter of time before Drazen would grace the NBA. The Portland Trail Blazers drafted Petrovic in 1986 but it would be another three years before he would debut in the NBA. The Blazers bought out his contract with Real Madrid and he joined the team for the 1989-90 season. With a team that boasted Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter and veteran Danny Young, Petrovic struggled to get playing time in a new limited role that he was not accustomed to. The following year only became worse as Danny Ainge was brought to the team in a trade.

            

It wasn’t until a three-team trade that sent him to the Nets that Drazen Petrovic began to flourish in the league. Although initially coming off the bench, the Nets started Petrovic in the 1991-92 season. Paired with second year star Derrick Coleman and rookie Kenny Anderson; the Nets saw a 14-win improvement from the previous season and made the playoffs for the first time since 1986. Petrovic averaged close to 21 points per game and shot 44% from 3-point range, which was second in the NBA. His work ethic and on-court aggressive nature made him a team leader. His unique skill set of deadly outside shooting, improved defense and sheer passion for the game simply made him stand out at a time where European players were not in high demand in the tougher NBA.

It all came together the following season for Petrovic as his scoring went up to 22.3 points per game. He led all guards shooting a blistering 52% field goal range and again shot 45% from three. Petro as he was dubbed by fans stateside, made All-NBA third team despite not making the All Star team. The Nets again made the playoffs and looked like a team on the rise in an Eastern Conference dominated by the Chicago Bulls.

            

Petrovic was a pending free agent and traveled to play with the Croatian National team following the Nets first round loss to Cleveland. He played for the now independent nation in the 1992 summer games in Barcelona and helped win silver, losing only to the legendary U.S. Dream Team. Frustrated by his contract not being extended, he contemplated leaving the Nets and NBA behind for good.

There were rumors that he agreed to contract offers from at least two Greek teams. Amidst it all, the Croatian team competed in EuroBasket that Summer and won the tournament. The team flew to Frankfurt, Germany for a connecting flight to Zagreb, Croatia. Drazen decided to forgo the flight to spend more time with his girlfriend. On June 7^th 1993 Drazen Petrovic, along with his girlfriend and another female passenger were involved in a car accident. The two female passengers suffered major injuries, but Petrovic died at the scene, his life cut short at the age of 28. The NBA was hit hard by tragedy that Summer. Boston Celtics young star Reggie Lewis died of an apparent heart attack over a month later. Perhaps the most shocking loss would occur later that Summer with the tragic murder of Michael Jordan’s father James Jordan. Many attributed this, as well as fatigue, as factors in Jordan walking away from the game a few months later.

Petrovic’s untimely death wasn’t just felt in the league as the loss of a young budding star. In Europe and in Croatia, his passing was devastating. The impact he had, not just as a star, but as a symbol of hope for anyone playing in Eastern Europe hoping to succeed in the NBA was astronomical. The Nets retired his number 3 following his death and wouldn’t see another franchise changing star for another decade until the trade for Jason Kidd. Petrovic would be enshrined posthumously into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2007 he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame.

In Croatia Petrovic’s life is celebrated with the Drazen Petrovic Memorial Center. His impact is felt today as he is viewed as a crucial contributor to the influence of the European players that we see in today’s NBA. His tomb has become a sanctuary for those who knew him as a teammate and friend. The Cibona stadium was renamed in his honor as were several streets. He was the subject to a 2010 ESPN 30 for 30 documentary which was put together with help from his former teammate Vlade Divac. The documentary explored their friendship which was brought together by basketball but torn apart by the realities of civil war. Younger Eastern Europe players hear the stories and watch highlights along with reading old news clips just to get a grasp of how good Petrovic was during his career.

As the Nets defeated the Bulls on Drazen Petrovic night, the team honored him with a video tribute. For many it was the first time seeing him in action, while those who remembered saw a glimpse of something that was special. His mother was presented with a commemorative basketball as the retired number of her son was hung in the Barclays Center rafters. His 43.7% 3-point shooting is still third all time to Hubert Davis and Steve Kerr. Who knows what might have been, but we see what doors were opened when we think of Kukoc, Dirk Nowitzki, Goran Dragic and many other international players who have changed the way the NBA is being played. 

Drazen Petrovic’s role as basketball icon, hero, and pioneer is the stuff of mythical proportions. Like a unicorn, we couldn’t believe what we saw, but when we wanted to see more … it was gone and it left us far too soon.

Six Overtimes

By Antony Strait, OTSL Panelist

Visitors who roam the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden are normally treated to quite the scenery. In the 100 and 200 levels the greatest moments to ever take place in the building line the hallways amongst the concession stands and restrooms. From Marilyn Monroe to the Grateful Dead, if it happened at the Garden it had to be special. There have been a number of great college basketball games that have taken place there, in particular one that took place the night of March 12, 2009. That night a basketball game that tipped off at 9:36pm local time didn’t end until literally the next day at 1:22am. You can’t help but think when you see that glass display and hallway plaque “Where was I when that game went to six overtimes?”

            

It was the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament and featured two traditional powerhouse schools. The Syracuse Orange had put together a 28-win regular season and were led by their legendary head coach Jim Boeheim. The UCONN Huskies won 31 games, were ranked 3^rd in the AP poll, and were led by their own legendary head coach in Jim Calhoun. Both teams had NBA hopefuls that would play vital roles on this epic night, including a UCONN freshman whose Big East glory was still ahead of him.

            

In regulation the game itself played like a match-up between college basketball powerhouses. The Huskies led by three at halftime behind guys like A.J. Price, Stanley Robinson, and Hasheem Thabeet. The Orange countered by outscoring UCONN in the second half by the very amount they trailed at halftime; 37-34. Paul Harris, Eric Devendorf, Jonny Flynn and Andy Rautins spearheaded Boeheim’s offensive attack while anchoring his signature Zone defense.

The game wound down and almost ended in regulation. That UCONN freshman I mentioned earlier? His name is Kemba Walker and as if it was a sign of later greatness, he tied the game at 71-71 with a layup. 1.1 seconds remained when Harris ran the baseline and threw an inbound pass that was deflected by UCONN’s Gavin Edwards. The ball landed into Devendorf’s hands and he fired off a 28-footer that found nothing but nylon as time expired. As Devendorf leaped onto the announcer’s table and Syracuse celebrated, the officials needed to go to the video review to confirm that the shot came before the time expired. After review the shot was waived off as the ball was still in Devendorf’s fingertips as the buzzer sounded. The game went to overtime. Of course, no one knew that the night had only just begun.

The numbers from this game were dizzying to keep up with. A combined 93 free throws attempted by both teams, with the Orange hitting 40 of their 51 attempts. The teams took 209 shots over the course of the evening. Both teams would have multiple chances to win the game in overtime. Neither one, however, was able to end the night or take full control of the contest. Rick Jackson’s dunk tied the game for Syracuse and Walker’s game winner fell short, leading to a second overtime. Flynn had a chance to win the game for the Orange in the second overtime but came up short. In the third overtime it seemed like UCONN had finally seized control of the game jumping out to a six point lead. Syracuse rallied back, capped off by Rautins game-tying three pointer to send the game into a fourth overtime.

The game was not decided in the fourth overtime or the fifth overtime. In the sixth overtime, with the night stretching well past midnight, Syracuse - thanks to Rautins three-pointer - took their first lead since the end of regulation. Rautins’ dad Leo played in a triple overtime Big East tournament game two decades earlier and now his son had topped that and then some. Syracuse held on and won the game 127-117, but it felt more like they simply survived a war of attrition. 3 hours and 46 minutes was the official game time and many inside Madison Square Garden were simply exhausted at 1:22am the next morning. 244 combined points with 102 scored in the six overtime periods. Eight players fouled out and six players registered double-doubles. Jonny Flynn scored 34 points and played 67 minutes for the Orange while A.J. Price led UCONN with 33 points and 10 assists.

A lot has changed for both teams and the conference since that fateful night inside Madison Square Garden. Syracuse now calls the Atlantic Costal Coast (ACC) home while UCONN now plays in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The Big East is now strictly a basketball conference and even the venue that held this epic game went through its own renovation. Many of the major players in this game did not fare well afterwards and were either out of the NBA or failed to make it into the league after this night, with one notable exception. Two years later Kemba Walker led one of the most miraculous runs in NCAA tournament history. He became a star in the Big East tournament, leading the Huskies to five wins in five days to win the Big East tournament title. Three weeks later, Jim Calhoun was hoisting his third national championship trophy and Walker would take his talents to the NBA where he’d eventually become an all-star.

The annual Big East tournament is upon us yet again and the Big Apple stage awaits for new stars to emerge. Nine years to the day of this marathon, fans who see the displays and artifacts from that night have an appreciation for those who participated and left literally everything on the line.  The only disappointment was someone had to lose that night, even as both teams received a standing ovation from the exhausted 19,000-plus crowd as they staggered to shake hands and leave the court after almost four hours. Basketball fans and historians who long for the glory days of the Big East became the biggest winners as they witnessed history. Who knows, maybe the Huskies simply ran out of time…otherwise they could have gone well into the morning rush hour. 

The Fallen King

by Anthony Strait, OTSL Panelist

They say that a king can elevate those around him to unimaginable levels of greatness. A good king can also be elevated by those around him to protect his kingdom in times of peril. For 13 seasons a king resided in New York; his kingdom is the small piece of real estate between the pipes at Madison Square Garden. Henrik Lundqvist earned the nickname “King Henrik” because he did what most kings do: give their people hope. Rangers fans and opponents alike knew with Lundqvist in net, the Blueshirts were always in line for victory; and since 2005, 33^rd Street and 7^th Avenue was Henrik’s castle.

The 2017-18 season however has seen the Rangers struggle to possibly their first non-playoff season in seven years. Like a kingdom defeated in battle, the front office waved the white flag in the hopes of a brighter future. Core players like Rick Nash and Captain Ryan McDonagh have been traded in an attempt to rebuild. King Henrik has become a victim of father time; no longer capable of carrying his team through an entire NHL season. Now the Rangers and their fans must face the inevitable future where the king finally relinquishes his crown and steps aside. The thought of Lundqvist being traded is as real as it has ever been.

The Rangers struggles are not all on Lundqvist shoulders, but when you have been the franchise player for over a decade the blame goes with the territory. Defensively New York has been a nightmare, allowing 34 shots against per game. Injuries and inconsistent play have left the great goalie to play beyond what he is capable of at the age of 35. Lundqvist has been pulled at least four times since the All-Star break and he has shown signs of losing a step. Shots that he stymied in the past with ease now find the back of the net with more regularity. His record as of February 27^th is a mediocre 23-21-5 and he’s allowing close to three goals per game.

But for a three month stretch however the King showed that he was again up to the challenge of leading the Rangers on the quest for that elusive Stanley Cup. He posted a save percentage of .927 in November, .936 in December and .921 in January. It was his play that helped the Rangers stay competitive in the season’s first half. It was enough to land him in the All-Star game as the Rangers representative. Lundqvist had once again lifted the Rangers on his shoulders as he had done for so many years, but at the age of 35 and with declining talent around him, it would not be sustainable.

So now the man who has won a Vezina Trophy and holds a record for consecutive game seven wins yielded to a rookie making his second start in the NHL. For a man who has carried a team for so long, this was not the ending anyone pictured. It seemed like only yesterday the King was at his best as the Rangers won their first Eastern Conference title since 1994. The man who led Sweden to an unlikely gold medal in 2006 and holds several team and league records now sits helplessly and watches as the kingdom he built crumbles.

Such is the cruel fate to a season that went horribly wrong just days after a fun, emotional win in the Winter Classic. The team’s future is uncertain and Lundqvist’s own future with the Rangers is no longer a sure thing. His salary may be difficult to move in a trade, but with a decline is there a remote chance of him becoming an expensive has-been backup? Such is the unfairness of royalty. One cannot stay at the top forever. The Rangers are at the bottom of a tough Metropolitan Division and will, in all likelihood, miss the postseason. Another year lost for Henrik in trying to win his first Stanley Cup championship.

The fall of a king can be attributed to many factors. The loss of manpower; father time; decline in those around him; and self-sabotage. This season Henrik Lundqvist has been the victim of all of the above. The king will spend the last two months of the season watching the very kingdom he built at the corner of 33^rd Street and 7^th Avenue collapse.

Lundqvist’s future with the team may be in doubt but his legacy is not. It’s more than enough to have him in the Hall of Fame one day. It truly is good to be the king…until the head that wears the crown can no longer bear the burden.