It the End of the World As We Know It

The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Prepare for plagues of locusts and the four horsemen of the apocalypse! Prepare for the Detroit Lions to actually win a game!

OK, so it is not the end of the world, but the world is just not right when this happens.

HSPA announces annual contest winners

Indianapolis - The Hoosier State Press Association on Saturday named The Noblesville Ledger the state's top daily newspaper in its annual journalism contest. The Dearborn County Register of Lawrenceburg was the top nondaily newspaper.

The newspapers joined other winners of the HSPA's annual contest honored at a luncheon in Indianapolis.

Under the Best Sports Columnists division for daily papers with circulation of 40,000+ your winner was:

Bob Kravitz, The Indianapolis Newspaper Monopoly

See what a sad state our sports writing in Indiana is. How the hell does Bob Kravitz win this award let alone any award other than Fucktard of the Year?!? (FYI - Voting for said award to be held later this month.) I feel for the two guys from the Post-Tribune in Merrillville who lost to Bob. I guess the Hoosier State Press Association must really hate you guys to put Bob ahead of you.

I am curious as to which column(s) that the Indianapolis Newspaper Monopoly sent in for this contest. I know that not every Kravitz article is usable only as the lining of a bird cage. Yet, I am perplexed as to what he could have written that actually won an award. The man is a hack journalist that half-asses his articles and somehow co-hosts a sports talk radio show, which also explains why most sports talk radio shows suck nationally and locally. We do not bash every Kravitz article but we have pointed out way, way, way too many issues with many of his articles, if you can call them that.

I'm not saying that we should run right out and start building shelters and stocking up on supplies, but this cannot be a good sign of things to come!

BTW - No, it not Bash Bob Kravitz Week or Month or even Year. We are hear to point out bad writing and Mr. Kravitz is the local epitome of bad writing. He just seems to get most of the focus because we see more of his "work"...unfortunately.

Bob Kravitz Is a Lazy SOB

I wrote an entry a couple of days ago on Bob Kravitz's usual half-assed attempt at an opinion article on the IHSAA and the cost to hold the Indiana state high school football finals at Lucas Oil Stadium. What I didn't realize until a short time ago is that he essentially plagiarized another article from his own newspaper to pull his "facts" from and then just added his opinion.

The shit-hack did not do one fucking bit of work to follow up on what was written in the other article. As Kravitz did was pull the information he needed out of the article by Michael Pointer and add his own opinion/spin.

I am just so totally flabbergasted and pissed off at this moment. For the love of God, man! Can't you do just a minuscule bit of journalism here? I know we enjoy picking on Bob Kravitz and his articles, but typically they are written so poorly that we just can't help it. But in the previous articles I've lambasted, it has been because he backed up his opinions so poorly or half-assed the article. This is the epitome of why Bob needs to go.

Was there no way that Bob could call Blake Ress, the commissioner of the IHSAA, to get some additional information to help back his point? We know that the IHSAA had to spend over $261K on the finals, but did they actually make money or lose money? We don't know. Bob didn't bother to ask that question. Bob ignored the paragraph in Pointer's article stating that if the finals drew over 50,000 fans (2008 attendance was a record 56,050), the finals would most likely stay at the stadium. Bob also ignored the paragraph where Patrick Early, vice-chairman of the Capital Improvements Board in charge of Lucas Oil Stadium, who stated that he would be willing to talk to the IHSAA about making it more affordable but had not seen a proposal yet. Funny, but those two paragraphs take some of the wind out of Bob's sails and he just conveniently ignores them.

Sadly, I've seen the comments on the article on the Indianapolis Newspaper Monopoly's website and while many people tend to feel the way we do about Bob, there were too many people that agreed with him for all the wrong reasons. Kravitz articles unfortunately are good at stimulating the conversation on the topic. Therefore, his editors and bosses think he is good.

I hesitate to go out and start an official FireBobKravitz.com website or petition, but more of us need to speak up and let it be known that we need a better sports opinion writer for this great town of ours.

I feel better now that I've ranted. I think I'll go to bed now.

Let's Finish What We Started

We've all done it before at one time or another. Working on a document and when we did not have a the exact figure we put in XXX or $$$ to note we needed to add that fact or figure in. Either because we were in a hurry or sheer stupidity we forgot to go back and put that in. For most of us, that error may have been noticed by one or two or maybe a dozen people tops, right? Well, leave it to Phil Richards of the Indianapolis Newspaper Monopoly to make that type of error where thousands of people will see your stupidity!

In the Sports section of Monday's paper an article on the Patriots-Colts game had a table showing Peyton Manning's stats versus the Patriots since 2003. Granted it is a nice table. Unfortunately, Phil the fucktard forgot to go back in and add in Peyton's stats for last night's game before it went to press. There at the top of the able next to yesterday's date are a row of X's all the way across. In the column right next to it we have all of the stats from the game, so Phil cannot say that the game ended too late and missed his deadline. Did we fall asleep before the end of the game? Were we updating our My Space page and forgot? Did we get sidetracked on HotChicksWithDouchebags.com and lost track of time?

And once again we have a prime example of editors asleep at the wheel. Is there anyone proofing anything anymore? Come on! A cursory glance at the page should have been able to catch this error. It was the first thing I noticed on the page!

Honestly, I do not know if Phil did the table or not, but someone at the Indianapolis Newspaper Monopoly really screwed the pooch on this one. And they wonder why their readership continues to decline.

Sunday, Monday, Happy Days!

According to Kirk Herbstreit of ESPN, Marvin Harrison should just pack up and go home to Philly. Appearing as a guest host on the Tirico and Van Pelt Show on ESPN Radio today, Kirk had this to say during a recap of the Colts "comeback"versus the Texans yesterday:

"Marvin Harrison has jumped the shark."

I know that several people at ESPN have been quoted this year stating that Marvin is done, as noted previously in this blog, as well as a local so-called columnist for the Indianapolis Newspaper Monopoly.

I will admit that at 36 years old, Marvin is not the receiver he was in his prime. However, I am not ready to send Marvin walking either. Marvin is still a great possession receiver and can still beat defenders downfield as evidenced yesterday when he had a sure touchdown if Peyton had only thrown the ball better.

He has lost a step, no doubt, but he is also still recovering from knee surgery. Marvin still draws the top defenders many times, so getting open deep will force him to either run better routes or shorter routes.

Marvin's numbers ARE down this year, but they are on par with his numbers from last year prior to his injury.

2008 - 4 games, 17 receptions, 164 yards, 1TD, 1 fumble lost.

2007 - 4 games, 17 receptions, 231 yards, 1 TD, 0 fumbles.

The 17 receptions this year is tied for second for Colts receivers with Anthony Gonzalez.

The Colts also have Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark on the roster. Also, Peyton has not helped matters by under throwing passes, passing to Marvin while he's well-covered, or passes that will get him decapitated. I have also seen Marvin open and then Peyton throw to another receiver.

The team as a whole has been playing like crap. Peyton is still recovering from his knee surgery and the O-line is still a work in progress. When the team finally starts firing on all cylinders and Marvin is left out of the offense, then we can start debating whether he has "jumped the shark" or not.

Marvin will not go to the Pro Bowl this year, but when I need a catch on 3rd or 4th down, Marvin is still the receiver I would look to go to first.

Best of Both Worlds

No, this is not a Hannah Montana entry.

Personally, one part of the Olympics I have enjoyed the most is the fact that Bob Kravitz has been in China reporting on the games for The Indianapolis Newspaper Monopoly and has taken a break from his spot on the Kravitz and Eddie show on WFNI 1070. While I do not listen to that show as much as another local sports talk show, I have listened more since he is not on the air. Its been nice.

The second best thing is that Bob is half a world away in China. Unfortunately, his columns are still being printed, albeit only every two or three days.

Since we have Yao Ming in the States, is there any chance China can keep Kravitz???

Ahhh, one can only hope.

The Quick Blueprint for Fixing the Pacers

According to Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Newspaper Monopoly, sorry I mean Star, he has the blueprint for helping make Larry Bird’s three-step plan come to fruition. The Pacers are in a world of hurt right now. They have a decent, but not team-changing first-round pick at number 11 meaning they could get a good player, but probably not a right-now impact player. They are over the salary cap as usual. They have too many high-priced, high-injury players on their roster that they would love to trade but will most likely find few takers. To top it off, their players are developing a rap sheet to start rivaling the Bengals and Cowboys.

Let’s take a look at what Mike has on tap to fix the Pacers…

As ball bounces, so go the Pacers

Bird's plan to fix team launches Tuesday with the NBA draft lottery

Larry Bird has a three-step process to improve the Indiana Pacers.

Well, at least it is not a 12-step program.

How soon the Pacers take advantage of the first step, the draft, will be determined as early as Tuesday when they find out if luck is on their side during the NBA's draft lottery. Bird, in his first offseason with sole control of basketball decisions, said the Pacers plan to use the draft, free agency and trades to try to end their two-year hiatus from the playoffs.

You know, like every other freaking team in the NBA. I see nothing revelation revealing here so far. Nothing to see here people…keep reading…

The Pacers can speed up the process if the ping-pong balls bounce their way in the lottery, which Bird and new general manager David Morway will attend.

I miss the days of the NBA lottery when they put the envelopes with the team placards in a hopper and David Stern pulled the “blank” envelopes out one by one. You know the one…the “fixed” draft lottery in 1985 when the Knicks got the first pick and the Pacers got “hosed”. Who wants to leave something this important to chance and some ping pong balls?

The Pacers are slotted to pick 11th. They have about a 1 percent chance of winning one of the top three picks in the June 26 draft. There is also a small chance they could fall to No. 12, 13 or 14.

There is also a 1 percent chance they can make the playoffs next year. But, there is a 99 percent chance a Pacers player will be arrested by the time the playoffs roll around next year. Bets anyone?

The Pacers won't be big spenders on the free agent market because they are over the salary cap. Pulling off a trade won't be easy, either, because they don't have an enticing roster.

Too bad Isaiah Thomas isn’t with the Knicks anymore. He was probably the one person Larry could talk into taking the dead weight off the Pacers’ roster. The Pacers need a team like the Tennessee Titans. The Titans keep signing the Colts’ free agents that are mediocre at best. Makes me laugh every time I see them sign another Colts reject.

The Pacers' situation isn't ideal, but it isn't unique.

Playoff teams Atlanta, Utah and New Orleans were in a similar situation after the 2004-05 season. Each rebuilt through the draft, free agency or trades.

The Hawks and Hornets spent a long time outside the playoffs and had plenty of drafts, free agents and trades in order to get to where they are now. It was not just the past three seasons. Utah struggled after John Stockton retired and Karl Malone left and bottomed out in 2004-05 season.

As the Pacers try to retool, here are three blueprints to follow:

New Orleans

In 2004-05: 18-64.

Now? Contending for spot in Western Conference finals.

How: The Hornets' future changed when they drafted franchise player Chris Paul No. 4 overall in the 2005 draft. The Hornets, who had the fourth lowest payroll in the league at $32.1 million at the end of the 2005-06 season, gave Paul a perimeter threat when they offered former Pacer Peja Stojakovic a five-year, $64-million deal minutes after the start of free agency in 2006. They agreed to a trade with Chicago four days later that brought Paul's alley-oop partner Tyson Chandler to New Orleans. Fifth-year forward David West improved his scoring average each season and made first All-Star appearance this season. The Hornets finished with the second-best record in the Western Conference and are a win from playing in the conference finals.

The Hornets have turned themselves into quite a powerhouse and have the players that can keep them at the top for a while. The Hornets were able to draft a MVP worthy player in Chris Paul with the #4 pick in 2005 and surround him with the right kind of players to make a formidable team. They had salary cap room and trade-able players. Kudos to the Hornets front office.

Atlanta

In 2004-05: 13-69.

Now: Reached playoffs for first time since 1999.

How: Like New Orleans, Atlanta used the draft and two key trades to rebuild. The Hawks whiffed by passing on Paul and Deron Williams, but their plethora of lottery picks -- Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford -- finally paid off this season. The biggest move came when they acquired Joe Johnson in a sign-and-trade deal with Phoenix in August 2005. Johnson has been an All-Star each of the past two seasons. They shored up their point guard spot when they traded for veteran Mike Bibby in February. The result was the Hawks pushing the Boston Celtics, who had the best regular season record, to seven games in the first round and establishing themselves as a young team on the rise.

Yes, the Hawks have improved and yes, they made the playoffs, but they finished with a below .500 record at 37-45 and only made the playoffs because they are in the Eastern Conference. The eighth-seeded Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference were 50-31 for crying out loud. They may have finished better than the Pacers, but it is not like they are necessarily going to light up the East next year.

Utah

In 2004-05: 26-56.

Now? Reached second round of Western Conference playoffs.

How: All-Star Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur arrived in 2004-05 as free agents and still are there. So is Andrei Kirilenko, so the Jazz didn't need as much revamping as fine-tuning. The biggest difference is at point guard, an area the Jazz had sorely lacked in since future Hall of Famer John Stockton retired in 2003. Utah fixed that problem when it picked Deron Williams at No. 3 in 2005. The Jazz have made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, including getting to the Western Conference finals last season.

The Jazz only had one losing season this decade and that was in 2004-05. They found the piece they needed in Williams to help turn the team around and have had a winning record since.

What all three of these teams had in common that the Pacers currently don’t? The fact that all three had a top 4 pick in 2005! What pick do the Pacers currently have? The 11th with a 1 percent chance of making that a top 3 pick.

The Hawks have had five first round picks in the last four years with an average pick of 5.4. Actually, the average pick is 4 if you base it on picks not including those as part of trades. Personally I think you should be better than Hawks have been with where the Hawks have drafted.

The Jazz last four drafts average first round draft pick is 14 while the Hornets average first round draft pick is 11.75. Basically middle of the road and benefited from the top 4 picks in 2005.

The Pacers have had only three first round picks in past four years since last year’s first round pick went to Atlanta at #11. The Pacers average first round draft pick average for the last four years is 21.

So Mike, your blueprints for retooling mainly hedge on the need to have a top 4 pick in the draft along with free agent signings (the Pacers are over the salary cap) and trades (of which no one wants the players we need to trade). While your blueprint may be the right path for the Pacers, they are 0 for 3 on your blueprint.

I have a blueprint for becoming a millionaire which is buy a lottery ticket (so about the same chance as winning as the Pacers getting a top 3 pick), schmoozing with Bill Gates (need to figure a way around the restraining order) and robbing a bank (notice my picture is not available, don’t want to be traced). I am 1 for 3 on my blueprint, but those damn ping pong balls are just conspiring against me in the lottery.

So I figure I have a much chance of becoming a millionaire as the Pacers do off turning their team around right now.