The NBA has locked out its players and it may be a long time before we see NBA basketball again. In order to maintain my sanity, I’m trying to remain optimistic and focusing on what will happen once play resumes, so I came up with a list of the top 20 free agents available onceContinue reading “Top 20 NBA Free Agents”
Author Archives: Paul Knepper
Vin Scully On Impermanence
Over the course of his 62 years in the booth for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, legendary broadcaster Vin Scully has covered some of baseball’s most memorable moments and uttered a bevy of indelible calls and insightful quotes. This famous line about “the Hawk” during a 1991 game between the Dodgers and Cubs isContinue reading “Vin Scully On Impermanence”
Missing the King
When baseball fans think of the great Yankee teams of the late 1990s, players such as Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Paul O’Neill and David Cone quickly come to mind. Yet, it was seldom used backup catcher Jimmy Leyritz who kicked off the dynasty with a memorable blast in Game 4 of the 1996Continue reading “Missing the King”
100 Greatest Sports Nicknames of All-Time
by Paul Knepper Nicknames have long played a prominent role in sports. They personalize the athletes for the fans, build camaraderie among teammates, add a humorous element to the competition and are essential to the myth-building of sports legends. There are many factors to consider when determining what makes a great nickname. Is it apropos?Continue reading “100 Greatest Sports Nicknames of All-Time”
Artest Just the Latest Athlete to Change His Name
by Paul Knepper Ron Artest has reportedly filed court documents to change his name to “Metta World Peace.” The enigmatic Lakers forward is just the latest in a long line of ballplayers who have officially or unofficially adopted a new name for any number of reasons. The first person to come to mind after hearing aboutContinue reading “Artest Just the Latest Athlete to Change His Name”
Steve Nash’s Showdown
by Paul Knepper Last night, two-time NBA MVP and owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS, Steve Nash, laced up his cleats at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan’s Lower East Side for the fourth annual “Showdown in Chinatown.” The event, hosted by Nash, is an 8 on 8 soccer match for charity, involving several NBAContinue reading “Steve Nash’s Showdown”
Another Side of Serena
by Paul Knepper We’ve seen many different sides to tennis great Serena Williams: exulted champion, sore loser, controversial superstar, celebrity fashionista, sarcastic diva, feisty competitor and devoted sister, to name a few. But we’d never seen the vulnerable woman beneath it all, until her first round victory over Aravane Rezai of France on Centre CourtContinue reading “Another Side of Serena”
The Greatest Show in Sports
by Paul Knepper Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal doesn’t have the pageantry of the Super Bowl, the tradition of Michigan vs. Ohio State or the rancor of Red Sox – Yankees; what makes their matches so spectacular is the quality of play. Theirs is a rivalry built on brilliance and artistry, desire and power, spins andContinue reading “The Greatest Show in Sports”
The Unremarkable Odyssey of Joba (Steve) Chamberlain
by Paul Knepper On August 7, 2007, the Yankees called up 21-year-old flamethrower Joba Chamberlain to fill their desperate need for a set-up man for Mariano Rivera. All the kid did was strike out 34 batters, while allowing just one earned run in 24 innings and help the Yankees recover from a dreadful start ofContinue reading “The Unremarkable Odyssey of Joba (Steve) Chamberlain”
Ten Greatest NBA Duos
by Paul Knepper Basketball is a team game, though often performed at the highest level when two players work in concert. The pick-and-roll remains the most productive offensive set and no play is more enthralling than an alley-oop. Rarely has a lone superstar carried a team on his back to an NBA championship. Shaq neededContinue reading “Ten Greatest NBA Duos”
Paul Knepper 