A-Fraud: Give me Kobe over A-Rod any day
Pay-Rod, Slappy McSlapperson, Me-Rod, Gay-Rod, and now this???? How did Hill come up with A-Fraud? I can just imagine her sitting at the typewriter:
"Pay-Rod? Nah that's been done before. What rhymes with 'A?' Hmmmmmmm. Play? Pay? Gay? Nay? Nope. Let's try two syllables. Cache? Dismay? Buffet? Dang. What about three syllables? Disarray? Fish Filet? Puppet Play? Well, Fuck. Oh I know! I'll keep the 'A' and Rhyme something with 'Rod.' Facade? Nah... let's see..... AHA! I'll call him A-Fraud because he's not the real deal!"
Say what you will about Kobe Bryant, but at least he's not a mercenary who wants all of the money, but none of the pressure, and doesn't perform in the playoffs.
In other words, at least he's not Alex Rodriguez.
According to this, last year Kobe Bryant made 17.7 million in salary, 16 million in endorsements, for a grand total of 33.7 million. In the same time frame, A-Rod made 22 million in salary and 6 million in endorsements, totalling 28 million. And that's not even considering that A-Rod plays in an uncapped league and plays in twice as many games per year as Kobe.
Both players are generally viewed as selfish, whiny divas. But as we approach the unusual sports phenomenon of having the best player in baseball head to a new team and arguably the best player in basketball also potentially on the move, understand that A-Rod and Kobe are two very different creatures.
I'll take this Ford F-450 work truck over that Yamaha Crotch Rocket any day. But am I a Construction Foreman or a Yakuza henchman? Who cares?
A-Rod's decision to opt-out of New York is far more self-absorbed than Kobe's finagling to get out of Los Angeles.
Here's where the comparison completely falls apart. Yes both players are guys who seem to be consumed with padding their stat lines. Kobe is notorious for throwing up low chance lopsided jumpshots while being tripled covered. Even if Kobe has a %50 chance of making said shot, he's hurting his team by shooting instead of passing to an open player with an opportunity to make a higher percentage shot. A-Rod just gets lots of walks, hits, and plays above average defense. When he makes a play (which happens A LOT), he's helping his team every single time.
Or to quote this anonymous internet poster:
Baseball is great partially because it's the only sport where, on the field, every single player can be completely greedy and do what maximizes their personal value every single play and it's to the team's best interest. Every other sport is a zero sum game, where every shot you take is one your teammate doesn't--in baseball, every hit you get provides another opportunity. There's no clock besides individual failure. If Ayn Rand and Adam Smith fucked, she'd give birth to a baseball
Despite Kobe's flaws, we at least know he is consumed with winning championships. A-Rod is consumed with being A-Rod.Maybe A-Rod wants to get out of New York because they have an aging, below average pitching staff on a team who made the playoffs this season entirely because of the merits of A-Rod and his 14 wins above replacement.
And what the fuck does "A-Rod is consumed with being A-Rod" even mean?
Kobe doesn't always demonstrate his aspirations maturely. It also can't be ignored that a key aspect of his championship ambitions is that he has to be the guy in the lead role. But if the worst you can say about Kobe -- whose competitive streak was cloned from Michael Jordan's -- is he no longer wanted to play alongside a once-dominant, but injury-prone center, it's not exactly a sign of the apocalypse. And considering some of the things that Lakers owner Jerry Buss has said about Kobe in recent weeks, we've seen that Buss is his own man -- if he really wanted to keep Shaq, he would have kept him. Buss' main concern was dumping another $100 million into the fourth Fu-Schniken.
Are you serious? Last time I checked, Shaq went on to win another title with Miami. "Hey don't fault the guy because he drove the other player who was largely responsible for all those championships out of town. He just wants to win. And also sell Nutella"
But does anything in A-Rod's history or demeanor suggest he's remotely obsessed with winning the way Kobe is? A-Rod seems more obsessed with being loved than winning. He wants all the perks, but none of the responsibility. He wants 100-plus RBIs, and to eventually be the home run king. Just don't expect him to bring any of the necessary intangibles it takes to win something meaningful.This argument has been beaten into the ground. A-Rod has shown up in the playoffs. Several times before. It's not him out there pitching meatballs to David Ortiz and Travis Hafner. Give me Yadir Molina or David Eckstien any day. They know how to win!
Sounds like a perfect fit for the Chicago Cubs.
Get it? Because they haven't won a World Series in a really long time. The Cubs and their 100+ million payroll also definitely don't care about winning it all. Just like Buffet-Rod!
A-Rod isn't a leader, comes off as insecure and teams mysteriously seem better off when he's gone.I'll take a 177 OPS+ hitting infielder over a "clubhouse leader" any day.
Also no mystery here:
2000 Mariners: Lost in ALCS (with a 101 Team ERA+)
2001 (post A-Rod) Mariners: Lost in ALCS (with a 118 Team ERA+)
2003 Rangers: 69 wins (team ERA+ of 88)
2004 (post A-Rod) Rangers: 87 wins (team ERA+ of 111)
So I guess A-Rod causes pitchers on his team to suck. That means we should expect a 120 ERA+ season from the 2008 Yankees.
The only thing Jemele has proved here is that she is mystified by the impact pitchers have on the success of baseball teams.
Kobe? The three-time champion thrives under pressure and the low opinions some people have of him.
How many championships has Kobe won since the rape accusations? Oh, none?
Kobe was criticized for brutally assessing the Lakers' lack of progress. But when A-Rod was a Yankee, the only thing that seemed to bother him was his own personal slumps.
Wouldn't you prefer a player who gets upset about losing more than a player who seems fine with it as long as he can stare at his pretty statistics and pay stubs? Can you blame Kobe for complaining about any plan that included passing on a skilled player who could help the Lakers in the present in favor of the long-term coddling of Andrew Bynum? Has A-Rod ever exhibited that kind of passion and determination? Has he ever given answers that didn't sound rehearsed?I thought A-Rod said he'd take a pay cut to play for a winner? Once again, maybe he's sick of playing on teams who cannot put together a competent pitching staff. I think he's a bit greedy when it comes to his salary, but isn't the same true of Kobe? They're both the highest paid players in their respective sports.
Even if A-Rod somehow wound up playing for the world champion Red Sox -- and if you're listening Boston, adding this guy to your clubhouse is akin to putting Britney Spears on "Nanny 911" -- it would be difficult to interpret A-Rod's actions as that of a man driven to win.
Jemele made it three quarters of the way through this column without making an awkward pop culture reference. Of course it wouldn't be a Jemele Hill column without at least a couple of FOX reality shows/pet rock/Celebrity DUI comparisons thrown in for good measure.
A-Rod, of course, has the right to chase as much money as he wants. It's not his fault if the market dictates he earn an astronomical figure. There's no denying there were times he was unfairly brutalized in New York. The stalking by the tabloids was unacceptable, as was the fascination with his personal life. But the problems he had there will follow him into his next clubhouse.
I can't wait for two things:
1) The yankees finish with 80 wins in 2008 and miss the playoffs
2) A-Rod is appreciated in his new city for his eye-popping, guaranteed to improve whatever team he plays on performance.
It's fair to accuse A-Rod and Kobe of being types who can't operate in a locker room unless they control it.
The difference is, there've been signs that Kobe has outgrown some of that. A-Rod doesn't seem like he ever will.
One thing I can assure you, dear reader, is that Jemele Hill will never make a well written argument based on real facts instead of baseless accusations.
What a gigantic shitstain of an article.
ReplyDeleteit's your faithful 6th reader checking in...
ReplyDeletethanks for demolishing jemele's shittiness, on another note though:
"Even if Kobe has a %50 chance of making said shot, he's hurting his team by shooting instead of passing to an open player with an opportunity to make a higher percentage shot."
if kobe did have a 50% chance of hitting a shot, that would be above his career average, so i would say go for it - especially considering no one on the team averaged 50%+ from the field, except big men, whose usage rate/ turnovers ration was just as bad, if not worse, than kobe's
that aside... i'm both amazed and deeply appreciative to be what i consider one of the first well executed references to yakuza henchmen
fyi, those usage/turn over stats were referencing last season, as per hollinger on espn and databasebasketball.com... and it should read: "appreciative to be witness to what i consider..."
ReplyDeleteI bet you have at least 12 readers. Maybe even eleven.
ReplyDeleteReading Jemele Hill columns is like imagining Wilford Brimley washing his underwear. By hand.
Don't credit Jemele with coming up with "A-Fraud", that nickname has been around for years.
ReplyDeleteif kobe did have a 50% chance of hitting a shot, that would be above his career average, so i would say go for it - especially considering no one on the team averaged 50%+ from the field, except big men, whose usage rate/ turnovers ration was just as bad, if not worse, than kobe's
ReplyDeleteYeah that's exactly why I used 50 percent as an arbitrary value. Kobe making this theoretical shot will improve both his FG% and his point total. But assuming he's triple covered, a pass to a wide open big man in the paint would still be a higher percentage play. The big man may be a 35% shooter, but I assure you he's a much better shooter wide open in the paint.
The point of the illustration on my part is to show how a player being selfish in the game of basketball is way different then another player being "selfish" in baseball.
and the other thing is that I can only think of 2 ways in baseball a player can be selfish.
ReplyDelete1) He swings for the fences instead of taking an easy walk. That's not really a problem for A-Rod because he gets a shitload of walks. Also, most people (players invluded) realize stats like OPS and EqA better determine a player's value (over BA). So guys don't shoot fr higher batting averages as much anymore.
2) as a fielder, a player hogs balls in the infield instead of letting another player with a better chance to make the play have at it. And that really doesn't happen either.
"But does anything in A-Rod's history or demeanor suggest he's remotely obsessed with winning the way Kobe is?"
ReplyDeleteYou know what Jemele? There are two unbelievable obvious answers to that question:
1) When trade talks were going on with the Boston Red Sox, A-Rod volunteered to reduce his contracted salary by $12 million. The players association wouldn't allow it stating it created a bad precedent.
2) When traded to the Yankees, A-Rod, the defending AL gold glove (for what it's worth) shortstop and better defensive player than Jeter volunteered to change positions and play 3B.
I guess if you look past the volunteered pay cut of $12 million and the offer to change positions (even though he was better at SS than Jeter), then Jemele is right on. Honestly, what an idiot.
Thanks for the support, Jones. I'm not sure we're into double digits just yet, but I'm willing to bet we're at least up to eight or nine by now.
ReplyDeleteSince Jemele wants to give Kobe a free pass for running Shaq out of town, let's look at what happened to the Lakers after that:
ReplyDelete2005- missed playoffs (oops!)
2006- lost in first round (4-3)
2007- lost in first round (4-1)
How convenient, these 3 years line up nicely with A-Rod's little adventure into the Bronx. What did his teams do in the playoffs?
2005- lost in first round (3-2)
2006- lost in first round (3-1)
2007- lost in first round (3-1)
Well, I think that settles it. Kobe's heart burns with the fire of an eternal champion. A-Rod is a pussyass bitch who can't even tie his own shoes, let alone carry his team to a title.
I'm pretty sure that if A-Rod played with Shaq he'd have 3 rings by now, too.
I hope A-Rod gains 40 pounds in the offseason so that "Buffet-Rod" becomes a mainstream staple.
ReplyDeleteno pnoles buffet-rod is the obvious nickname for miguel cabrera. Get it, because he's like a fat A-Rod? LAWLS FACIAL!
ReplyDeletei like k-rod because he is a rod who k's
ReplyDeletethat is my favorite nickname about things that are
Damn Eriz - I had written a long post on this that I haven't gotten around to posting.
ReplyDeleteOf course - since I have different points with the same conclusion (Jemele Hill is a boring old biddy) - i'll probably post anyway.
You probably know this already, but his Jemele rant was posted on The Roundup in The Big Lead.
ReplyDelete-JD
Old pitching staff?
ReplyDeleteThe Yanks head into the year with three ultra talented guys under 23 and Wang 27 in the rotation.
Who else has that?
Eh - it was either scrap it or post it - I've posted it:
ReplyDeletehttp://goodguyatsports.blogspot.com/2007/11/this-sounds-like-work-of-crazy-old.html
Hey bo- they may not be as old anymore (as long as Pettitte walks) but you can't just assume Hughes/Cahmberlain/Kennedy are all going to contribute effectively next year. As of right now their rotations is Wang, an ineffective Mussina, and ?????? The young guys will give it a shot, but don't be shocked if they have the same kinds of problems up front as they did last year.
ReplyDeleteWang is, BY FAR, the worst "ace" of any team with realistic playoff aspirations.
ReplyDeleteHe's probably not even the 8th best starting pitcher in his own division...and that's being generous...but he's expected to lead a dominant rotation? no way...
Damn with all the JHill hating you prolly will love this?
ReplyDeletehttp://thestartingfive.wordpress.com/2007/11/06/interview-with-jemele-hill-the-kev-dog-special/
Most recent anonymous- I checked that out. Too bad the interviewer didn't ask her about the shitbomb of a column Eriz addressed here. I'd love to see her try to justify some of this crap.
ReplyDeleteAlso, here's all you really need to know. Within the first 5 or 6 paragraphs, she mentions twice that she agrees with Skip Bayless about something. Game over, Jemele... game over.
Both players are generally viewed as selfish, whiny divas. But as we approach the unusual sports phenomenon of having the best player in baseball head to a new team and arguably the best player in basketball also potentially on the move, understand that A-Rod and Kobe are two very different creatures.
ReplyDeleteFor example, Kobe likes his women to be young and unable to fight his strength, whereas A-Rod likes strong women who look a lot like a young Kobe.
Jarrett- facial
ReplyDeleteWow, you just defended A-Rod's postseason performance. You realize that ruined any credibility you might have, right Eriz? He was something like 4 for his last 41 before that meaningless, all-too-late home run in the ALDS vs the Indians. Everyone knows he's choked hard in the postseason with the Yankees.
ReplyDeleteWTF?
You dismantled nothing - Ms. Hill makes some good points, and your only point of contention is that she rightfully called out your lover A-Fraud. Deal with that..
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, most recent anon...I think you commented on the wrong article here.
ReplyDeleteBecause from the article I just read, I noticed that Ms. Hill makes a lot of assumptions about character in making her point. She also neglects two arguments AGAINST Kobe: he hasn't won since Shaq left, and he forced Shaq out of town.
Yeah, see, we're talking about the JEMELE HILL article. Up there.
Clearly she's in love with Kobe, I can't take anything she says seriously since she said Kobe Bryant is a better scorer and player than Michael Jordan.
ReplyDelete"I'll take this Ford F-450 work truck over that Yamaha Crotch Rocket any day. But am I a Construction Foreman or a Yakuza henchman? Who cares?"
ReplyDeleteFuck, that's hilarious! I honestly laughed out loud when I read that.
Just came across this site by googling "jay mariotti kobe rape" and I'm glad I did. Good page!
And just to throw my 2 cents in, Kobe is still a rapist and I will never "get over" that fact.