Author Archives: Kaleb Page

About Kaleb Page

Kaleb is a Senior, sport management major with a minor in journalism at Bowling Green State University. Including his involvement in the Maxwell Project, Kaleb is also an active member of the Sport Management Alliance and the Bowling Green Radio Sports Organization. He enjoys watching all types of sports competition from the traditional forms of basketball and football to the emerging areas like mixed martial arts. His favorite teams are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Cincinnati Reds, Ohio State Buckeyes (football &basketball) and Columbus Crew SC.

Welcome to the 2015 Maxwell Media Watch

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by Dr. Nancy Spencer

Welcome to the Richard A. Maxwell Sport Media Project as we enter the 2015-2016 academic year at BGSU. This year marks the fifth year of providing opportunities to undergraduate students who write blog entries critiquing practices of sport media. As faculty adviser for this project, I am very excited about prospects for the coming year. A number of Sport Management students have already expressed interest in writing blog entries and we hope to sustain the high level of writing that has characterized this Project in the past. I would like to introduce the students who will be spear heading our efforts this year. Kaleb Page is a senior and the most recent recipient of the Collins Scholarship for Journalism. He was a regular writer last year and was named “Most Valuable Blogger” as a result of his consistent efforts in providing excellent critiques. This year, he will continue to write blog entries but will also be in charge of managing the schedule for posting students’ blog entries. Jasmine Redman is the graduate student who will be assisting with these efforts by editing and providing feedback as needed.

In the coming year, we hope to have at least two blog entries posted per day. In addition, we will be inviting faculty members as well as professional journalists to submit guest entries about specific topics. As in the past year, you will be able to post comments in response to blog entries that appear on the Maxwell Sport Media Project. If you are new to our Project, we invite you to peruse the site and check out the Welcome page that includes information about the Mission of our Project as well as biographical information about Dick Maxwell whose inspiration fuels our efforts. We are indebted to Dick Maxwell for establishing and supporting this project

We look forward to an exciting year ahead and hope that you will carefully read and reflect upon the topics that our students and guest writers post in the year ahead. Thanks for your interest.

 

Sincerely,

Nancy E. Spencer, PhD, Associate Professor in Sport Management Program

A Year in Review: The Last Post

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By Kaleb Page

May 8, 2015

As finals week approaches, so too does the end of posting for the Maxwell Media Watch.

This experience started back in the fall and it was one that allowed me to do what I’ve always loved to do: talk sports.

I wanted to use this final post to not only look back on what I did this year, but to also reflect on all the important people who made things possible.

My first post of the year was on the media overreacting to the Patriots collapse early in the season to the Kansas City Chiefs. That will always be a special post to me since it was my first one and I think I really critiqued the situation well (doesn’t hurt that I was right too).

There have been countless posts over the year and each one had its elements I enjoyed a lot. I tried to mix up my approach as much as I could, and spread my sports thoughts across everything from football and basketball to soccer and mixed martial arts. I enjoy a wide range of sports and hopefully for those who read you enjoyed what I had to say from sport to sport.

While it was nice to have this platform to post every Tuesday and Thursday, it would not have been possible without the many important people around me and the people who put this all together.

First, I would like to thank Mr. Maxwell, Kaitlin Rohrs, Steven Kubitza and Dr. Spencer for doing what they did this year. Mr. Maxwell gave us such a great platform to use and fine tune our writing ability. Rohr, Kubitza and Spencer each had a hand in making this whole year a smooth one along with given good advice on how to make us better (me included).

It was a great experience and I truly do have to thank those mentioned above for providing this opportunity.

Aside from the architects of this, I also want to give a shout out to all of the other bloggers as well. I enjoyed reading other works from fellow sports minds and getting perspectives that I necessarily never thought of before. I wish you all the best moving forward in whatever you happen to do and hopefully we all can look back at this as the starting point to something special.

Now it’s time to thank the most important people, my family and friends. I have the best support around and I am so thankful to have the mom, dad and brothers that I have. It means a lot to also have an extended family that has supported this as well and continues to read posts. I work hard for all of you and I hope I set a good example to be proud of.

For my friends. Thank you for reading my posts during the year when you had the chance to do so. I know we are all busy and don’t get the chance to talk as much but thank you for the support and I enjoy seeing your successes as well. (Oh and Joda Green, great comments this year. Just some classic comments this year.)

In the end, thank you all for reading, commenting or even giving my post just a quick glance. It means a lot as I chase a dream that is on a high level of attainment. It has been a great ride this year and I hope to have more material in the future for you all to look at.

Thank you all very much.

UFC: Trouble at the Top

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By Kaleb Page

April 30, 2015

Athletes finding themselves in compromising situation and then getting in trouble for their actions.

Let the yawn out now.

It’s essentially a different day but the same story in the world of sports. No matter what the sport may be, there are athletes getting in trouble for breaking the law, PEDs, etc. almost every day.

On Sunday UFC Light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones was involved in a car accident in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The accident broke a woman’s arm in the vehicle that was struck.

The accident became a bigger issue when Jones left the scene of the accident and from reports he came back to grab to grab a handful of cash and then flee again. When cops searched the car, once they arrived, they found marijuana and a rental car slip linking the car to Jones.

The Albuquerque police placed a warrant out for Jones thereafter. On Monday, Jones turned himself in and faces a felony hit and run charge.

There were some reporters that said Jones should have his title stripped and a suspension placed on the fighter. Especially after a recent positive drug test that showed the fighter had cocaine metabolites in his system and now this incident.

On Tuesday, that exact punishment was dealt out by UFC President Dana White.

This is the first time a fighter in UFC has had their title stripped for conduct outside the octagon. Even though this is unprecedented, I think it is important for them to take the stance they did.

Right now Jones is not in the right place and needs to focus getting himself right before he even thinks of fighting again. I know he is possibly the best fighter right now and has a legacy that grew into what it is.

However, right now he is hurting his legacy with his actions and if he truly wants to be the greatest ever then he needs to become a better person.

A better person in the sense of knowing who he is and bringing himself back to earth a bit. He came on the scene as the freak athlete that learned his way to stardom through watching YouTube videos on the sport. He needs to get back to being the hungry and humble newcomer that rose to the occasion.

While it is tough to keep that mindset when you are anointed the most untouchable guy in the division and are having that type of rise; I think it is important for him to look himself in the mirror and change.

As for now there is trouble at the top and UFC 187 will have a new headliner.

Stepping into Jones’s place is Daniel Cormier. A fighter Jones beat in at UFC 182 and will be an interesting match-up with the powerful striker Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.

OKC Pulls the String on Scott Brooks

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By Kaleb Page

April 24, 2015

Being a professional coach these days comes with more scrutiny than ever before. With 24-hour news cycles, social media and podcasts, there is no shortage of debate on how well a coach is actually coaching.

For much of professional coaching, especially in the past, the leash on a coach was at least three to four years. However, given the right circumstances that leash can be shortened or it can get the extension.

Scott Brooks was fired Wednesday by the Oklahoma City Thunder. After seven seasons as the head coach, the team decided to fire Brooks and look to go in a different direction. It’s surprising given what Brooks did in his time as a coach. He had a career record of 338-207 (.620) and was the NBA Coach of the Year in 2010.

When Brooks started his career with the Thunder back in 2008 the team was an awful 22-47, for the next six seasons Brooks coached a team that hit at least 50 wins four times. That doesn’t include the 47-19 season (2011-12) that had the team in the NBA finals facing off with the ‘Big Three’ in Miami (the Thunder would lose).

This season for the Thunder, in the much tougher Western Conference, was a roller coaster ride. Every time your looked to see what the team was doing, there seemed to be a debilitating injury. For a good 90% of the season the team was without their superstar Kevin Durant (last year’s MVP). Russell Westbrook battled many injuries (missed 15 games) to still battle night in night out, make a push for the MVP and becoming a nightly triple-double machine. It also didn’t help that versatile big man, Serge Ibaka, fell to injury keeping him out for the big stretch run toward the playoffs.

Despite the setbacks, the team was in contention all the way up to the final game of the season for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. Even though Brooks took this team from nothing to something. It still wasn’t good enough to stay off the chopping block.

Now, there’s the argument that Brooks had long enough with a lot of talent to get more Finals appearances and even an NBA title. However, I’m not picking up what they’re putting down.

If anything Brooks deserved at least another year. He was the original guy that was the voice leading this group of young talent, and it was in the hardest conference in the association.

To be honest I think the real look into scrutiny should be at GM. Yes, GM Sam Presti is a bright mind at that position but there are some questionable moves that have put this team down this so-called path.

Let’s look at this team when they got to the NBA Finals. When they were in the Finals this team had Westbrook, Durant and James Harden (Yeah…you read that right). Now imagine, that team still together as a dynamic big three and even a big four if you factor in Ibaka. However, the GM took part in a three team trade that sent Harden to Houston and got Kevin Martin in return.

Yeah, let’s just say that didn’t pan out with Martin being an afterthought and leaving after just one year.

You could even look at the trade that let Jeff Green go and gave the team Kendrick Perkins. A deal that wrapped up so much money in Perkins, that it could have been used elsewhere (i.e. James Harden).

I know the coach is the figure-head of the team, and he will take the fall 9 times out of 10. In all honesty, it looks like there needs to be some changing elsewhere as well.

…But I guess that’s none of my business. (Enjoy Shaq and Charles Barkley’s take)

 

Bryan Price Drops Some Bombs

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By Kaleb Page

April 24, 2015

The good old-fashioned coach tirade. It’s a work of art when done right.

Whether its Jim Mora shouting about the playoffs or Dennis Green yelling about losing after letting the Bears of the hook, the tirade when done right is something to behold.

However the one that came from Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price was far from that. Prior to Monday’s game against the Brewers, Price did his normal pregame presser. However, this day would be far from normal when it came to Price and the media.

In an article by Yahoo Sports, the actions of Price came as a surprise since the manager is known for being very respectful toward reporters.

The tirade was targeted at a Cincinnati Enquirer report that released information on Devin Mesoraco being unavailable for the big national league central match-up with the rival St. Louis Cardinals prior to that series starting. It also had to deal with another report about a call-up to replace Mesoraco that Price was hoping to keep hidden.

When the reporter asked similar questions in that regard towards the health of the club, it set the fire into a blaze.

What resulted was a 5 minute and 34 second tirade with a good 77 uses of the ‘f-word’ sprinkled in there for good measure.

It was immediately hit with backlash, and it was deserved because there is no need for all of that. I understand that there will be times were managers and media clash, but to go this far is quite far.

Now granted he didn’t attack the reporter personally or get overly vulgar, but at the same time there is a higher standard that managers have to hold themselves too. It’s another thing too that baseball has more of a family vibe to it so something like this will draw the ire of more people than some other sports might.

Since the time has passed Price has made an apology and looks to move past the situation. I hope so because Price was a nice manager one that seemed unfazed by the pressures of the job.

Well this occasion proved that thought wrong, but hey you have all that scrutiny on you 24/7 and see if you don’t lose your cool. Let us not hold this one moment over his head forever.

In the words of Fox Sport’s Ken Rosenthal: “Price wasn’t the first to crack, and he won’t be the last.”

Hopefully this is just the case a rare flare up by a manager who is far from this embarrassing moment.

Until then, look for a parody version of Brian Price on an episode of South Park dropping some bombs…’f bombs’ that is.

Nobody Wins: The Aaron Hernandez Trial

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By Kaleb Page

April 20, 2015

As I got back to my apartment from class Wednesday afternoon the anticipated verdict in the Aaron Hernandez murder trial was in. After many months of legal debate between the prosecution and defense, the verdict was here.

Hernandez was convicted of first degree murder. A sentence of life in prison without a chance at parole.

Quite the unforeseen ending in what early on seemed like a person with promise of a bright future.

Hernandez, coming out of the University of Florida, was looked at as a potential first round pick and had the upside to be a difference maker for many years to come. However, there were red flags involving drug use and the people that he would be around. This meant that the once first-round talent dropped to the fourth round.

Waiting there was the New England Patriots organization, an organization that could take the risk on bringing in a guy like Hernandez and possibly find a way to shape his life in a positive way.

“Personally, I’ve always had concerns. He’s still finding himself. With the right people around, if he keeps his head straight, he’ll do very well.” – Doug Pina, Aaron Hernandez’s high school football coach

That line of thinking seemed to be working as Hernandez grew into a fixture on the Patriots and grew as a better figure on and off the field. His accomplishments, coupled with his maturity, granted him a big contract extension.

The deal was made in 2012, and it was a deal to lock up the budding superstar tight-end. The deal was five-years at $40 million ($16 million guaranteed, $24 million incentives/other). This extension would allow Hernandez to be a Patriot for a long time and focus on being one of the best in the game.

“I just hope I keep going, doing the right things, making the right decisions so I can have a good life, and be there to live a good life with my family.” -Aaron Hernandez’s comments after signing his 5-yr $40 million extension

SI.com’s article broke down that quote further, and it just is bizarre to read that quote and see what the reality is today. Did he do the right things? Did he make the right decisions? Will he be there to live a good life with his family?

Across the board the answer is no.

I think it goes without saying that killing anyone is a horrible thing to do. Especially someone who is only at the age of 27 (Odin Lloyd). Odin Lloyd was a friend to Hernandez, a friend that was killed for what reason? As everyone searches for answers there seems to be none.

Simply a senseless killing that ruined many more lives than that of the defendant (Hernandez) and the deceased (Lloyd).

The list of those who are also essentially sentenced to their own version of life in prison could go on and on. Whether it is the mother of Odin Lloyd who raised her son by herself and held a close bond that made Lloyd tell his mother happy mother’s day and happy father’s day because she represented both figures to him. She is sentenced to a life without seeing or hearing from her son ever again.

It could be said too for the young daughter Hernandez has. A daughter that will really never know who her father is, and once she grows up to the point of where she can comprehend this moment in time; how will she view her father then?

It is sad to see these types of things happen in the world today. No matter if you are a friend/family member of the Hernandez family or a friend/family member of the Lloyd family, there is only one final verdict for all.

Nobody wins.

Russell Wilson: Two Sport Possibilities

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By Kaleb Page

April 15, 2015

It hasn’t happened since the 80’s and 90’s.

Back when Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson did it, the feat was amazing because it was a top flight corner in the NFL also playing outfield in the MLB and an electric MLB talent running over grown men in the NFL.

Today another athlete presents a possibility of doing the same, and if he succeeded it would be just as impressive or even more so than the predecessors.

Russell Wilson as we all know is the starting quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks and a Super Bowl champion.  As one of the rising stars in the NFL and playing essentially the most important position in all of sports, you would think that his time would be consumed entirely on the position.

However, you would be wrong.

Wilson also has interest in playing the game of baseball, and not just as a little exploit like you see when he shows up to Texas Ranger spring training. Instead he might make the plunge head first into the game.

“You never want to kill the dream of playing two sports,” Wilson said.”I would honestly play two sports.” (Interview with HBO’s Bryant Gumbel)

The NBC Sports article went through the nearly impossible task Wilson would embark on if he decided to do both sports. The article pointed out the fact that times have changed and for certain the Seahawks organization would not want to see their franchise quarterback out there risking injury.

Another key point the article made was that Wilson isn’t nearly the baseball player that Sanders and Jackson were. Which I guess I’ll take that opinion since I can’t say I’ve watched Wilson enough on the diamond.

Would if be interesting to see Wilson go for playing two professional sports?…absolutely.

Only two players have done it that have left any impact to still be remembered, and Wilson could do something similar. It could be a huge opportunity for himself to build his brand and become a bigger sports icon.

At the same time let’s be real.

The sports world of the 80’s and 90’s is a complete 180 from what we have today. With the constant scrutiny of how players play and what preparation they put in; does Wilson have the room for error?

I highly doubt it, especially if he would play baseball and then have to turn around and begin playing in the NFL at the biggest position. A turn around that would not allow for much of a grace period or a smoothing out process.

In the end, go for your dream Russell and do what you want.

Just be ready to be taking a lot of heat if it backfires.

The video below is from last year when this debate heated up again with baseball picking up and Wilson joining a team.

A Decline in College Basketball?

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By Kaleb Page

April 14, 2015

As this edition of the college basketball season comes to a close, it is time to reflect back on what we all saw.

I guess we should start off by giving a round of applause to the Duke Blue Devils for taking down a tough Wisconsin squad; a squad that just came off a thrilling win over the nearly untouchable Kentucky Wildcats. At the same time it is important to look at the collective product of college basketball.

To be honest it was a sore sight to watch this season. Between free throw shooting, offensive production and fluidity; this season was rough.

For awhile now Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has been all over this subject and a proponent of changing a lot of aspects to rules involving college basketball. He even went as far to say the D-League should be an introductory step before the NBA (possibly eliminating the one and done rules).

Now would I go that route; not necessarily. I think the rule of just one year is bad for college basketball. It should be similar to how it once was with if you are good enough to go you go, but this time players should have an evaluation period so they don’t make the mistake of coming out of high school when they shouldn’t. This one and done culture is not good for the collegiate game.

It cheapens the product because not only is it just delaying the inevitable but it is possibly taking away spots from kids that have the talent to go to a Kentucky or Kansas; kids that need to be and want to be there for multiple years. It will only help the college game and NBA game by letting those talented guys in right away, and then allowing guys who want to build in college the chance to do so.

In Cuban’s interview on Bleacher Report, he went on to list his new list of changes to the game. His first order of business was bringing down the shot clock closer to what the NBA has.

“If they want to keep kids in school and keep them from being pro players, they’re doing it the exact right way by having the 35-second shot clock and having the game look and officiated the way it is.” -Mark Cuban

With the scoring of college basketball being the lowest its been since the pre-shot clock era (Grantland Sports), Cuban’s quotes above and below make a lot of sense. Cuban’s take on tempo with games and how offense is in college, is something I look at when watching college basketball (not as extreme as him though).

“It’s horrible. It’s ridiculous. It’s worse than high school. You’ve got 20 to 25 seconds of passing on the perimeter and then somebody goes and tries to make a play and do something stupid, and scoring’s gone down.” -Mark Cuban

Will the NCAA partner with the NBA to make these changes and bring basketball standards to a better level? Only time will tell.

Why should the NCAA feel rushed when they have a 35 second shot clock to work with.

Out of the Woods: Tiger at the Masters

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By Kaleb Page

April 8, 2015

If you happened to be tuned in to the sports world over the weekend an announcement was dropped in the golfing community.

Stop the presses!

Tiger Woods is back for the Masters.

Over the Easter weekend Woods announced he officially would be in play for the green jacket, but his ranking of 111 in the world doesn’t speak the volumes an announcement did when he was still in the top 10 in the world.

Now that is my opinion, but if you look elsewhere like on SportsCenter or Fox Sports the announcement brought a halt to anything going on and a breaking news notice. Now granted it is Tiger. Tiger will always draw a crowd no matter what the situation and its understandable because he once was the unstoppable force of golf.

However, I think the major outlets could be going down the wrong path with this Masters. If things are going to be focused on Tiger and his chase for another green jacket, aren’t we losing evolving the game of golf?

Especially in the fact of new fans and excitement toward what stars are on the horizon.  It will be interesting to see how the likes of Rory McCIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Dexter Fowler and Jordan Speith do when the event starts on Thursday.

Those are the young guns to look for at the event along with guys like Bubba Watson, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia who have been around awhile and will make their push for the jacket later in the weekend.

Is it weird that I’m essentially saying leave Tiger be and instead focus on someone else? I’d like to think I’m not the only one. Do I want Tiger to find his stride again…for sure, but is it the time to be all eyes on him…no.

At this rate we will never see the Tiger of old and like most things in life we hype up, the hype is too much and then we become underwhelmed by what we ultimately get. Instead we should be hyping up the field (all the other golfers I mentioned above). It not only will create a better story line to follow but it would also set up for something even more special.

Now the scenario is hypothetical but say with the focus on others and their success, it creates huge buzz for new fans and makes an interesting dynamic if another story arises. A story of epic proportions that was built the right way by actual substance rather than hype. One involving an epic final day at the Masters.

Listen closely through the woods. The legend is coming for the jacket.

Do you hear it?

It’s that unmistakable roar of the Tiger.

 

I Got 99 Problems but a Fight Ain’t One

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By Kaleb Page

April 3, 2015

For years and years the talk of Mayweather-Pacquiao seemed like a far-fetched idea that would never materialize into what we all want to see.

Then the gift was given via social media on February 20, 2015. It was time, time to see what so many still debate over. Mayweather or Pacquiao, Pacquiao or Mayweather?

Set for May 2, 2015 the fight of the century will take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand. For Mayweather the fight holds a lot at stake. Not only does his unbeaten record of 47-0 hang in the balance, but also does the thought that Mayweather is the best fighter in the world and nearly untouchable.

As for the ‘Pac Man’ an equal amount hangs in the balance as well. There were the grumblings in the past that Mayweather was running from Pacquiao, and if Pacquiao defeats Mayweather the legend of Manny Pacquiao will grow substantially since he will be the first person to defeat Floyd.

As the hype continues to build and the days dwindle until May 2, a new release may cause some to take a second opinion on how bad they actually want to see the fight.

Reports from Deadspin.com have this fight as on of the most expensive pay-per-view buys in the history of boxing. The negotiations are on going but a standard definition Mayweather-Pacquiao pay-per-view will be sold for the modest price of $89. Now if you are feeling the urge to splurge, the fight will also be offered at the high-definition price of $99.

Is that price too much? The article poised the same question and did say it was a hefty price but when the fight of the century comes along doesn’t it warrant a big price?

It is harder to do like you could if say a UFC event was taking place and you wanted to watch it without shelling out a lot of money. With UFC events you can watch pay-per-views, Fox Sports One fights, etc. at your local Buffalo Wild Wings.

Unless this pay-per-view does it that way as well, which I haven’t seen any boxing fights that way in recent memory, it looks like the only way to watch is paying the price.

The price is reasonable given the demand. It’s smart business on the part of not only the promoters but the fighters as well; since they will see a cut (primarily Mayweather) of the buys along with the gate towards their purse.

The price is also reasonable if you have a group of friends over and split the cost, and if you are going to spend the money you might as well get the high-definition (smart move to just make it $10 more). So get some friends, some food, and enjoy boxing at its highest level.

I got 99 problem but the price ain’t one. (well, sorta)

As for my analysis and prediction on the fight you can read below. It will be interesting to watch this fight unfold and as always in a fight; anything can happen.

  • If Pacquiao can find a way to cut off Mayweather almost like Miguel Cotto did when he fought Mayweather, he can naturalize the speed with which Floyd moves around the ring. From there Manny needs to find a way to open up Floyd, since ‘Pac Man’ is a southpaw he can look to use his own movement to get Mayweather out of position setting up a straight left or a solid hook. Ultimately, Pacquiao has to find a way to touch a man with great defense and with the power Manny possess he can find a shot to drop Floyd. That is a big if as it is hard to touch Floyd as the last person to really give Floyd was Cotto. If Manny wants is to win it will be by KO.
  • For Mayweather its simple use the speed, length and defense to your advantage. Take the counters that you can from the southpaw and exit, stuff that Floyd is exceptional at doing. Not sure if with this fight Floyd will go for that KO in later rounds, but it is unlikely as the amount of power is not as high as Manny’s. Floyd has to put on a show with his feet and not walk his way into a powerful Pacquiao hook or uppercut. However, Mayweather has more ways of taking the fight and just has too much speed.

Final Decision: Mayweather wins by decision. 

Hard to not pick a guy who is that good and undefeated.