College Basketball - The media whores: Handling their business in 2011

The Blake Griffin Analogy

The NBA Slam Dunk Contest that Blake Griffin won tonight is a microcosm of how the system works in college football and basketball. Griffin was the favorite. Griffin was even the best and most exciting dunker. But Blake Griffin did not earn his victory on an even playing field. And in the case of tonight, he would not have won the contest on an even playing field.

The same concept holds true. The 'major' teams are often the favorites and even the best. But the playing field is not even and it often leads to unfair results.

And who or what enables this unfair playing field: the media or as they will otherwise be called in this article, the media whores.

Tonight, in the first round of the NBA of the NBA Dunk Contest, Blake Griffin needed a  good score on his second dunk to advance to the final. He had two minutes to complete the dunk and he was going to use about all of it if needs be to complete what may have been the greatest dunk in the history of the event. He was going to have Baron Davis throw it off of the back side of the backboard while he came flying from the side of the court and he would then complete a reverse back hand 360 dunk. He tried about six times and only came relatively close one time.

Hey. We don't fault Blake for trying though. We only wish that he completed the amazing dunk!

Finally on the seventh try, he settled for a ho hum tomahawk dunk. Now I've watched enough NBA Slam Dunk Contests to know that had that been anybody random ass clown throwing down a generic dunk on the seventh try that we would have saw sixes and sevens from the judges. Blake did throw down the dunk with decent power and that might have been enough to boost him into the eight and nine category had he just been a random ass clown.

But Blake Griffin is not a random ass clown. He's Blake Griffin and his average score was consequently a 9.2. His total score of 46 for the dunk gave him a two round total of 95. It was enough to beat the random ass clown, Demar Derozan (94 points) by a point. Even though Derozan threw down one of the best dunks I've seen in years for his second dunk (I did not see his first dunk); short of dunking from the three point line, he was not going to surpass Blake Griffin on this night.

Was Griffin the highest flying, most powerful, most exciting dunker in the field? Yes, yes, yes. But did he truly earn it on a level playing field? Absolutely not. But hey, the NBA and the sports media is swimming in more gravy with Blake Griffin winning the dunk competition.

How's that, you ask?

They cash in as soon as this weekend. More internet hits for articles and highlights. More people will actually tune in for tomorrow's All Star Game to see Blake Griffin's star. And long term. Well long term, let's just say that a bigger money path has now been blazed. Andre Agassi said it best when he said, "Image is everything."

Remembering Boise State Football 2010

Last season, the Boise State Broncos had one of the best football teams ever assembled (Just watch and see how many skilled players, let alone linemen they had that will go pro - It'll be sick!) But it did not matter. It flat out just did not matter. Had BSU beat a Nevada team that was essentially as strong of caliber as anybody else in the top ten then it would still not matter.

And I know what some of you lemmings and otherwise intelligent people are thinking. The Nevada Wolfpack were a top ten caliber team? Yes! They were 13-1 and their only loss was a close loss at Hawaii. Everyone out west, knows Hawaii is a notoriously tough venue (The Rainbows are always good at home even when their team sucks). But Hawaii did not suck. They were 10-4.

The Wolfpack also, had a running back duo that broke the career record for rushing yards. They were a team capable of pounding any team into submission on any given night. And quite frankly there is a reason that they were not on Oregon or Auburn's schedule. These teams from 'major' conference routinely stay away from their equals so that they can most effectively play the system. The University of Florida has not played a non conference game outside of the state of Florida since 1992! Shameless!

The general system

These team  from 'major' conferences are essentially no better than many of the teams from non 'major' conferences. But they have made a system that allows them to be recognized as superiors while the media whores who have vested interests in the facade prop them up. And yes, there is no bigger media whore than good ole 'wholesome' ESPN.

The RPI (College Basketball) Formula - A shameless double standard 'supplemental tool'

The RPI is predominately a measure of strength of schedule and quality of wins. When a team from a 'major' conference has a good RPI, it is used to justify anything and everything regarding their seeding in the NCAA tournament. When a non 'major' school has a good RPI, it suddenly becomes only a 'supplemental tool.' That is why despite being one or two in RPI for approximately the last month and a half (off the top of my head), BYU has not cracked the Top Five in the polls.

Look at an excerpt from bleacher report (not exactly a power house media outlet, but known). Look at how they shamelessly consider BYU to be some second class program from somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

BYU (23-2) is having an outstanding season, but one has to wonder how reliable the RPI is with the Provo, Utah school as its No. 1 team:

It's questionable at the least to understand how they rank higher in the RPI than Kansas RPI (No. 2), Texas RPI (No. 8), Ohio St. RPI (No. 3), Pitt RPI (No. 6) and Duke RPI (No. 7).

Just for clarity, Provo/Orem has the same population as Durham, North Carolina, where Duke is located.

One might miss that subtle shot if they are not used to recognizing the media whore's tactics. Yes even outlets like the Bleacher Report who were likely created to counter media whoredom, eventually realize there's more money in pedaling  to the bigger supply of johns (telling their primary markets what they want to hear).

How can a team from Provo have the best RPI? Oh clearly the RPI measure cannot be taken seriously?

Oh really?

The whores at ESPN will be rattling off Duke's RPI, UCLA's RPI, or whoever's RPI to justify their seedings or whatever else come tournament time. However, when a team like BYU cracks the top spot in the RPI, it's more like, what the _______ is wrong with that formula? They know that little if anything is wrong with the damn formula. But anytime a non 'major' school gets up there, they will have no problem pretending that the formula is broken.

I guess a little thing like having the best f-ing player in the country (Jimmer Fredette) and routinely kicking ass did not help them get to where they are? C'MON!

Even today, despite a poor shooting performance from that best player (who is always getting double and triple teamed and still routinely dropping 40's on teams), BYU went to Fort Worth and beat TCU by 23.

Tweny freaking three points!

Great teams make good teams look bad. That is what BYU did to TCU and that is what they did to San Diego State (a top ten team) when they beat them by 13, handing the Aztecs their only loss of the season.

Media Whore: Oh that doesn't matter though. San Diego State plays so many non 'major' teams. It doesn't matter that they have twenty seven wins to one loss! Clearly a Pittsburgh or whoever would too if they played out west.

I doubt it! The truth is that if the 'major' conference teams are better than it is a marginal difference at most. But the media whores would have you think it's a head and shoulders difference the way they routinely vote and the way the continually disregard the BYUs and San Diego States of the world.

Furthermore

Were it not for that one loss,San Diego State would likely be ranked one in the nation right now! Even the media whores would have a hard time denying the Aztecs that top spot. So BYU beat an elite team and has routinely spanked more teams than anybody, but it's not good enough to get them top five status?

No. BYU will take their token top ten spot and like it. Of course the voters won't like it. As long as BYU is there, they are taking up valuable real estate and robbing them of potential revenue.

Yes that is the reality. 'Overachievers' or rather teams from non 'major' conferences cut into the revenue stream.

Corrupt Math

ONE LOSS San Diego State is behind a THREE LOSS Texas team (four after their loss today).

One of the Longhorns losses came by seven points to USC! Yes USC! Are they not on probation? Did they not have scholarships cut. As a Southern Cali resident, I have not even bothered to watch them on television this year, if they are even allowed to be on television.

But they still have to pretend that USC is relevant. After all, they are from the 'major' magical Pac 10.

One can legitimately believe that Texas is better than San Diego State. That is not the issue. The issue is not that it is a legitimate belief but rather that the voters play this shell game every f'ing year. We always see the 'major' teams getting the benefit of the doubt. You can set your watch by it.

When the media whores give you these supposedly well thought out reasons for it, it is window dressing. They are just covering up the fact that as media whores, they get more money if Ohio State is ranked number one and not San Diego State.

Without knowing anything about schedules or the teams or anything, we already know that by the media whore system, Texas should be ranked higher than San Diego State.23-4 for Texas will almost always beat 27-1 for San Diego State. It's a gray area and that's all the room that they need to sell you that Texas deserves it more. They will only vote for San Diego State if there's a possibility that they would lose their pretend credibility. And since San Diego State does not have an average point differential of 35 and wins against six top ten schools then that is not an issue.

The Excusemobile: Emotional Effects!

We know how it goes too. San Diego State is a good team, but they just do not have enough quality wins yadda yadda yadda.

Quality? The RPI is a freaking measure of quality. But when BYU has a solid RPI, it's, 'oh well it's a just a supplemental tool. Yea that's it.' -

Consider this RPI analysis for ESPN whore, Eamonn Brennan.

The RPI is one of many resources/tools available to the committee in the selection, seeding and bracketing process. Computer models cannot accurately evaluate qualitative factors such as games missed by key players or coaches, travel difficulties, the emotional effects of specific games,

Emotional effects? Are you f'ing serious? Are you going to tell me that a team like BYU could be penalized because some kid was worried about his grandma being sick?

So if a team has a hard fought loss to Team A then that should factor into their loss against Team B? C'MON!

The TCU reality check

Here is something else for consideration. Today. BYU beat TCU by 23 on the road. Connecticut has not beat one Big East team at home or on the road by that great of a margin all season!

Yes, Connecticut recently piled on some losses so they are below BYU in the standings. But a three loss (not a six loss) Connecticut team would be unquestioned and be ahead of BYU (as I just explained). It really is automatic.

Okay, but is not this the same TCU that is going to be good enough to be a part of the Big East next season?

TCU gets how this BS works. That is why they parlayed their recent football success and will be joining the Big East next season. They'll have the same recruits (mostly). But they'll magically be 'major' and not icky non 'major' via The Mountain West moniker.

There is no such thing as merit in college sports. It's about the title. If BYU had the magical ACC title then nobody could deny them.

BYU realizes that it has gotten so bad and that is why they said f this. We're going independent. 'Maybe if we crush enough 'major' teams that are really not much better than the teams we play now then we'll get our due that is overdue.'

Who really gets screwed

Okay, so some of the cream of the crop teams are looking for and arguably finding loopholes to improve their situation. But who is really getting hurt in the long run?

How about the Colorado States, New Mexicos, Fresno States, Long Beach States, Gonzagas and UNLVs of the world. They are all fine and competitive institutions.

Those teams are consistently on par with Marquette, Louisville, Villanova, Syracuse, North Carolina State and Miami. The only damn difference is that they are not from a 'major' conference.

Feeding Lemmings

ESPN is going to keep enabling and fools are going to believe them. I had one message board poster tell me that the Boise State Broncos (football) did not have the big linebackers to compete for a full season in the SEC. The lemmings in those more vested markets actually believe such nonsense because that is the type of stuff that the media whores tickle their ears with.

Do the lemmings not bother to check out how many NFL players are coming from schools like Boise State? Sure there is arguably some marginal differences, but it really is not that pronounced. And it certainly is not enough for them to think that Auburn was absolutely better than Boise State this year. Quite frankly, I would not bet against Boise State. But thanks to the BCS whores (that includes the school presidents and atheltic directors of 'major' schools) we'll never get to know see what would have happened.

In fact, BSU beat the other Paper Championship Finalist, Oregon only one season before. Auburn certainly was not better than Adrian Peterson's Sooners, who the Broncos beat in 06 Fiesta Bowl.

Oh I forgot to mention that it is the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The systematic screwing of good teams is brought to you by Tostitos. Sort of makes you want to buy the store brand chips doesn't it?

Back To The BYU Basketball Reality

BYU has two losses this season. They lost a game in Southern California against UCLA. That was a game in which UCLA's big oaf center got four fouls and then he was allowed to throw elbows and bulldoze people and not get fouled out. Of course BYU played terribly that day and UCLA played well so I do not want to take anything away from UCLA.

Maybe we should consider what emotional trauma some of the BYU players may have been suffered from that game? (Sarcasm)

BYU also lost at one of the toughest places to play, New Mexico. The Albuquerque venue is basically the Rockies version of the Cameron Crazies. At one point recently, the Lobos even had the nation's longest home winning streak. But hey, we still got to consider New Mexico a non 'major' team (Code for: Not the media whores biggest seller).

By the way, UCLA (19-7) and New Mexico (17-9) are not slouches. BYU lost by single digits to good team on the road in games that they did not play well.

Heading into the New Mexico game, BYU was coming off of an emotional 13 point game at home against previously undefeated San Diego State. Do we not factor in the emotional nature of playing in that trap game?
Of course we do not do that! BYU is not a 'major' team. That double standard is preserved for the haves, not the have-nots. Instead, just mark it on the ledger that BYU lost to the lowly New Mexico and drop them in the rankings as far as you can possibly justify without too much of an outcry (Let's relegate blogs like this, that tell you how it is, to the fringe).

It does not matter that New Mexico (17-9) is not really lowly and that they would hold their own against any other 17-9 team in any other conference.

Speaking of 17-9, that is the exact record of St. John's, the team that beat Pittsburgh today. But will BYU jump ahead of Pittsburgh? Maybe, but probably not. After all, BYU has not beat all those 'major' teams that Pittsburgh has beaten.

BYU does not have the same strength of schedule as Pittsburgh. Never you mind that RPI weighs strength of victory and weighs it against performance. Perception needs to be reality. Reality being reality could be disastrous.

Reality

BYU is not  dominant team. Come tournament time, they might lose at any stage. But so might Pittsburgh or really any team in college basketball. So why do we pretend that one team is not worthy and one team is elite? It goes back the media whores. It's a set proposition. More johns are in the Big East Market (Yea that's how they came up with the name Saint John's by the way) (sarcasm).

That is not to say that every market does not have a wonderful amount of level headed and fair minded sports fans (they do). But like Colin Cowherd says, sports fans always back with their dog in the race.

If you can tell the majority of sports fans that their team is 'major' and the team in f'ing who the hell cares is not as good as you guys then they are going to accept it. It is that simple. Yes there are victims, but majority rules all the same.

Picture 1: Believe it or not, it is not the 'white bias' keeping BYU down.

Picture 2: The media loves selling the story of BYU' Jimmer Fredette as this year's Stephen Curry. The fact that his team is as good as any other team only annoys the media whores though.

Bonus

Another year, another paper championship for college football

The college football paper championship will be held this week. The featured teams are undefeated Texas and undefeated Alabama. But two deserving undefeated 'mid majors', number four TCU and sixth ranked Boise State will be playing in the proverbial 'F-Off Bowl.' Actually it is called the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Congratulations on sponsoring the corrupt college football ' Bowl Championship Series' Tostitos.

ESPN will spend the entire college football season talking about what top ten team could sneak into the championship game. But if a 'mid major' like Boise State or TCU make a run, they just run into the BCS bouncer at the door and are left outside the club, looking in at the windows of the party, the 'Citi BCS (paper) National Championship.' Congratulations to Citi for sponsoring blatant corruption as well.

From day one, the BCS never passed the sniff test. It was obvious that it was not fully inclusive and that it was a money system designed to prop up 'big conferences' and relegate 'mid majors' to obscurity. Furthermore, the millions of dollars going to outside controlling interests when a championship system could have been elementary and essentially free was more than upsetting to all fans and just about all of the participants.

Last season, Alabama was an SEC Championship Game away from a 'National Championship Game.' They lost and then lost to one of those pesky 'party crashers,' the undefeated Utah. Why was Alabama potentially worthy of a play-in for a championship and Utah relegated to no chance? Corruption, pure and simple.

This year we have two more 'mid majors' that held their own, Boise State and Texas Christian University which is located in Fort Worth, Texas. Boise and Fort Worth have larger populations than than some of the cities that host the 'major conference' teams. The 'mid majors' want to be a part of the championship system.

In 2009, the Mountain West begrudgingly renewed their participation in the BCS, or else they would have had valuable money withheld from them. But these teams are not scared of a little competish. They are not waiting for the next 1984, the year that undefeated 'mid major,' BYU won the National Championship when all other teams did not go undefeated. The 2006 Boise States, 2008 Utahs, 2009 Boise States, 2009 TCUs of the world are ready to put all their chips in.

This season TCU crushed their top 25 competition, beating BYU by 31 and Utah by 27. Boise State put on similar clinics against weaker competition. Shots Heard is not saying those teams would have won the championships and is not saying they would not have won championships. But they deserve a chance.

Shots Heard does not support corrupt systems. So once again this year, we will not watch one play of the paper championship. Nor will Shots Heard glorify the result in any way. We will only cast the due shame upon it.

Picture: The BCS paper championship is not even for the dogs.

Score one for The Evil Empire: BCS TKO's MWC / A summation of 2008 BCS Corruption

Contrary to popular opinion, The Evil Empire is not the New York Yankees. Rather it is the College Football Bowl Championship Series. Why? Simply put, so-call conference commissioners are ravaging any playoff hopes in the pursuit of money and power. It is a power play of such epidemic proportions that undoubtedly many dissertations have been written on this very subject.

The BCS is undeniably inept and corrupt. Remember last season when it became painfully obvious to the tartiest of dolts that there needed to be a playoff system in college football? Though it was clear to all honest and reasonable persons at its outset in 1997.

This week, the Mountain West Conference reluctantly signed onto the agreement, knowing that if they did not do so they would lose their potential consolation at-large bid and funds to help their football programs continue to evolve.

They did so, knowing that it would continue to be the same system that relegated a team like the 2008 Utah Utes (13-0) to the ranking of number two and snub them from a championship game that they so rightfully deserved.

We all remember how haywire the system was:

• USC was practically anointed to go to the championship game. They faced an uphill battle after losing at Corvalis to a good Oregon State football team that ended up being ranked #18. No amount of blowout victories could quite give USC redemption. Though, one could argue that cosmic justice was served as Pete Carroll, the USC head coach suddenly became an outspoken critic of the BCS. In USC's recent golden years of going undefeated a weaker conference, yet going unquestioned to the championship game, Carroll was unwilling to admit to the flaws that were grossly inherent in the system.
• Then how about Texas. They beat then #1 ranked Oklahoma at home, 45-35. Despite the belief of most pundits that Oklahoma would have easily won by ten or more on their home field, the BCS had no problem proclaiming Texas to be in the national championship game if they held serve.
• Alas then Texas Tech Red Raiders came onto the scene, beating the Texas Longhorns 39-33. Suddenly, they were championship contenders. And oddly enough, that loss not only propelled the Red Raiders, but it pushed the Longhorns behind the Oklahoma Sooners in the BCS rankings. What? As the great Gob Bluthe would say, "C'MON!
• Then when Texas Tech failed to punch their championship ticket, losing 65-21 at Oklahoma, all of the sudden the trio of Big Twelve teams that round robbin beat each other (Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech) were no longer in the championship picture. Instead we were looking at undefeated Alabama vs Florida. Undefeated Utah had beat Michigan at The Big House, beat #12 TCU and even if and when they beat #14 BYU it would not matter. Nobody was crying bloody rape about it, though we certainly saw that another Boise State type football team would not get the chance to leave it all on the field, with all due respect to the greatest game in college football history (as I am referring to rankings, not heart).
• And why was Utah, a viable championship contender completely denied any realistic shot at being in the championship game? If you said it is because there is no playoff system in place or you chose that the corrupt BCS that favors "big conference teams" then you'd be correct. In this case Utah's credentials were overlooked. They had to wait and see if the heavens aligned and one loss teams, USC, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and possibly even Penn State would all lose their second games. Preposterous.

• Florida would be the chosen one (literally chosen) after a win over then undefeated Alabama.. This despite Florida losing to unranked and unhallowed Ole Miss. Though to be fair to Ole Miss; they were a good Oregon State type football team that probably deserved to finish in the top 25 as they went 9-4, only losing by a combined 19 points in there four losses. But alas, the media's obsession with Tim Tebow and their desire for his 'pledge' to come full circle in a Disney type, high selling story clearly gave the Florida the edge over the undefeated Utah, and other one loss contenders like USC, Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama. And without getting into mind numbing details, the schedule strengths and wins were generally of a comparable nature.
  
• The third estate's marginalizes any "small conference team" that comes along, thus propping up the corruption that is inherent in the sytem, to paraphrase Monty Python. Face it, a BYU, Utah, Boise State, Fresno State or whoever can be the best team or one of the best teams. But it is basically like a top Nascar race car starting in the 50th position in a 20 lap race.
• In the end, Oklahoma got the nod as the other one loss team to take on Florida in the national championship
  

In the end, Oklahoma got the nod as the other one loss team to be in the national championship. And what happened to Alabama, who would have went to the championship and would have denied Florida a championship game by simply winning their conference match-up? They would lose their BCS game to none other than the undefeated Utah.

Utah, the team which according to the BCS merited no consideration to be in the national championship game beat Alabama, who would have been assured a championship game with an undefeated season. It was as if they saw the opportunity to punch a corrupt system in the face and they took it!

Although, other fans like myself simply did not dignify a paper trophy championship, with some due respect to Florida and Oklahoma. I did not tune into a single down of that sham of a championship. Many Mountain West administrators likely did not either.

But sadly, those same indignant administrators caved by signing into the BCS through 2013. Or perhaps they took what they viewed as the best option on the table for their conference. After all, without the possibility of an at-large bid into one of BCS non-championship games, the schools would suffer financially and practically.

They could have taken the higher road and been a martyr, but perhaps that was not prudent (for them personally, besides the teams they represent). Instead the Mountain West had their eight team playoff idea shot down by ten other conferences and Notre Dame. This happened amidst, Senate hearings into whether the BCS broke anti-trust laws. But in these crazy times when ABC owns ESPN, General Electric owns NBC, the government has big stakes in AIG and GMC and many sports are natural (supposedly regulated) monopolies, why would we expect anything to come of those hearings?

Fans, you have to tune out if you want to see change. Money is the only language the "big conferences" know.
Picture 1: BCS corruption drawing
Picture 2: Utah fans celebrate their 13-0 2008 season
Picture 3: 'Bribery'