Most Popular Articles

• Development Over Just Winning

  Oct 27, 2020 Andrew Williams 2 Comments

  Development Over “Just Winning”

   

   As we start off let me say that this is in no way a dig at any other AAU program nor another “What’s wrong with AAU basketball today” type article. This is merely a rose to a figure that has been a staple in the grassroots basketball community of Las Vegas for over 15 years. The amazing part is the more people we speak with the more we find the man at helm of this organization has been a pivotal part of their youth basketball experience year in year out,all without a major sponsor.  We sat down with the head Coach of the Las Vegas Lights to pay homage and gain insight on the program that defies the stereotypes of AAU basketball.

   

     Back in 2005 Coach Charles Micah Madison saw a need for his daughters to find an outlet for their extra energy. This outlet took the form of basketball for it was the passion of current Coach and former hooper Madison that spilled over to the Madison girls Mya and Shauntel.  After they graduated Coach told himself he will just keep the Lights on ( literally speaking) until “this group “ is gone, then another group came along, then another “it just kept on going” exclaimed the Coach. Coach Madison went on to elaborate on the present “ We used to just have a middle school team after that and let them go off to Highschool programs but now with the help of Coaches like my brother ( Coach Mike Madison), Coach Derris Macon, Coach Drew Williams and countless parents we now have grown to have our own Highschool program “.

  

      Fast forward 15 years we find Coach Charles Madison preparing his 7/8th grade team for their debut in the renowned Made Hoops tournament. A tournament that features a collection of the best AAU basketball teams in the country.  The Coach still finds himself sticking with his ideals of development over winning and make sure the education of the game is passed on through his Coaches and captains alike. “ We all love to win” chuckled the Coach. Madison expounded further “ To me the fun part is when we get out there and teach them the best we can and they apply the skills that we teach them. Then I’m fine win or lose the bottom line is that the kids learn.” 

      

    What attracts athletes and parents to the organization is that it does not feel like any other AAU program. There’s no big time facility or major shoe or sports sponsors, there isn’t a parade of star athletes fortifying the teams’s bank roll and success just a few Team Moms and  Team Dads and a team of dedicated coaches. One parent Quincy Branch summed up the collective feelings by saying “We have been apart of the Lights program for almost 4 years now and one of the main reasons I still think this was a good fit for Sanai is because Charles cares about the kids first. He really has a heart and a passion for development. Sanai was a shy, timid player when she first came on board and over the years she has blossomed as a player and a personality. Also I’m doing my homework, there was not one negative thing people in the basketball community could say about him which is a big reason why I don’t mind fully supporting him and the program. “. All the love, the learning, the development and the success has been achieved with one thought in mind “Hard workbeats talent when talent doesn't work hard.” To quote Tim Notke famed basketball coach.

   

  Now with the the second season of the K-2nd grade team featuring the beloved Coach’s grandson Jaden who knows who will be the last team to wear the Lights logo on their chest. Who knows when the last tournament will be played or what the future holds for the Vegas Lights basketball club. There’s one thing we do know Vegas Lights Basketball will always value team development over just wins. Lights Out!

   

   

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• Gene Therapy: NFL Scouting Combine 2022 | Speed Kills

  Mar 11, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  The moment we saw all of the receivers blazing fast times on day one of the on-field drills, we should not have been surprised by what we saw on the final day from the defensive backs. 13 prospects recorded sub 4.4 forties during the premiere drill of the combine. They wrapped up what will go down as one of the fastest NFL combines in history. But why?

   

  There's curiosity behind these turbo-charged times. Why now? What made this year different? Is this an anomaly or is this a turning point in history? Will this result in a recalibration of what is considered a fast time? It used to be that a sub 4.5 marked elite speed, and those that recorded times below 4.4 were considered freaks of nature worthy of track and field consideration. 4.2’s that was flirting with all-time greatness, the Prime Time, CJ2K elite that would net you an immediate shoe contract.

   

  This year a defensive end ran sub-4.4, that’s right, a defensive end!

   

  Overall, three players broke into the 4.2’s. Baylor cornerback Kalon Barnes was the fastest man at the combine, recording a 4.23. 28 players ran faster than 4.4 seconds and 36 players crossed the laser in under 4.5 seconds. That’s 67 players who ran under a 4.5 forty. That’s more players who ran sub 4.4 than they did in 2021 and any other combine in the 21st century. But again, why? The interesting part of evaluation is that the forty is not the best drill to assess talent at the next level because it is only a straight-line drill. The three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle are both much better drills to assess a prospect’s ability because they incorporate change of direction and acceleration. However, neither of those drills really show well on camera, they don’t do well with a simulcast. It is not easy for the laymen’s eye to decipher the difference between a good performance and a bad performance. At the end of the day, speed kills on the field and it sells off of it.

   

  Preparing for the event

   

  With the spotlight being shone on the forty-yard dash and teams proving that speed moves players up draft boards it is not surprising that more and more prospects are focusing less and less of their pre-draft workout on getting better at their craft and more time on being better at the 40. It has become its own competition with costly ramifications. Performance institutes seem to work on increasing explosion, stride length, form and leg drive. It seems to be working if we go by the numbers. More players are running faster times but at what cost?

   

  Dane Brugler, draft analyst for The Athletic, tweeted that there were only two receivers that ran sub seven seconds in the three-cone drill; that’s compared to 23 in 2017. The steep fall off can be directly related to the effort expended training for the 40. They spend less time training their change of direction because they know many novices don’t pay attention to it and those numbers don’t seem to move the needle on draft day. 

   

  We also see more and more prospects cherry-picking their events and it is not surprising that we see so many draft hopefuls only complete the 40 and maybe one of the two explosion drills (vertical or broad). They want to put their best foot forward and then maybe double back to the other drills at their pro day. It is a smart strategy when it pays off but it does not answer questions like it used to. There was a time where the combine was stressful because it was a one shot deal, a place where everyone got to do everything at one time. With their film in hand and the information gathered from the combine, an evaluator would have all they needed to give an accurate assessment of a player's potential at the next level. It also showed the ability of the player to perform under stressful conditions. Now prospects are choosing to piece out their performances over several stops which might help them produce better numbers but does not answer any questions that may be there regarding their internal makeup. It definitely makes it more difficult on an evaluator who would rather see things with their own eyes instead of relying on just numbers. 

   

  Evaluations are blinded by speed

   

  The fascination with speed has led to many teams missing on talented prospects because they fell in love with the speed of their contemporaries. In this draft University of Arkansas receiver Treylon Burkes was thought by many to be the top guy at the position. He ran a 4.55 40-yard time and people started backing off that prediction. It is funny because nothing about his football performance changed, he just ran a slower time than prognosticators believed he would. Because of that, many believe he has fallen below other receivers who have produced better times. That seems Counterproductive, especially when you consider the NFL player he has been compared to; Deebo Samuel. 

   

  Samuel ran a 4.48 forty at the combine in 2019 and received similar reactions. That caused him to drop out of the first round where he was projected to go. Marquise Brown and N’Keal Harry were both taken in the first round as Samuel draped into the second round and was chosen with the 36th overall pick. Samuel just finished an All Pro season for the 49ers and while neither Brown or Harry have been bad, they have not lived up to their draft status. AJ Brown and DK Metcalf were also taken late in the second round of that draft. So clearly there is no formula for a receiver that should be based on speed alone. 

   

  Every NFL Draft season mistakes are made because people get enamored with speed, at every position. Does it really matter that an offensive linemen ran sub five seconds on the forty, does that equate in any way to on-field success? The answer is no. But every year we marvel at those behemoths running items that used to be reserved for tight ends and linebackers.

   

  Speed kills, and when people believe that you lack it, it can kill so much more.

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

   

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• Could this be the worst Dunk contest ever, or a sign of the tides changing.

  Feb 22, 2022 Andrew Williams 1 Comments

  by Andrew Williams

   

  

   

   

  This time of year often brings a level of excitement to my world that can barely be described. This month hold my 3 favorite events I wait for all year. Valentines Day cause the mere over saturation of sappy teddy bears and crème filled chocolates tends to warm my normally cold heart. Second it’s Black History Month a time to celebrate my heritage and understand the sacrifices of my ancestors, but most importantly it’s the month of the All Star break. What a cherished time of year this is. Or it should have been. 

   

       All Star weekend often holds a level of mysticism. These giants of the game showcase their talents for the world while on lookers gawk in amazement before running outside in the yard and trying something they just saw their hero preform. Especially with extra legends added to the Diamond 75 year celebration the feel that this was going to best All Star weekend yet. Now the celebrity game gave what it was supposed to give. Myles Garret dunked everything and MGK missed mostly everything but very entertaining nonetheless. 

   

   I was even accepting of the 3 point contest demonstrating the new look NBA(Big men you can stretch the floor ). Watching Karl Anthony Towns win the 3 point contest though not traditional it was definitely entertaining. Then came the dunk contest. 

   

   Now let me start by saying the dunk contest has always been my favorite part of All Star weekend. I watched a rookie Kobe win in Cleveland, I grew up watching the battle of Air Jordan and the Human Highlight Nique Wilkins. I remember Vince putting his arm on the net. I even tried to emulate Dee Brown’s blind fold dunk. So when I tell you that’s my main event on All Star weekend, I truly mean it. I want to be blown away, I want my mouth to drop like Shaq holding a camcorder in the 90s. After all the Dunk contest usually headlines Saturday’s events, so it should be the best event. 

   

    Now going into the event I was not overly excited only one contestant was returning from last year’s contest and that was New York Knicks Obi Toppin ( who finished second to Anfernee Simmons). On the other hand with the likes of Houston Rockets dynamic youngster Jalen  Green,  Orlando Magics Cole Anthony and Golden State’s Juan Tosano- Anderson rounding out the field it might get interesting quickly. Unfortunately quickly never came. 

   

   With a myriad of missed dunk attempts a lot of the mystique was gone.  The excitement fizzled to the point Legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar had to excuse himself from such an awful display of dunk ability. Jalen Green was favored to win by Las Vegas book makers but failed to total higher than 85 in the first round. As a matter of fact out all participants in the contest all failed to register a 50 dunk. The winning dunk by Obi Toppin was safe and rather pedestrian and still scored almost 25 total higher than second play Juan Toscano- Anderson. I think the worst part about the dunk contest, the part that I felt  was like a taunt from the NBA was watching Ja Morant off an alley-oop gave us “the best and most jaw dropping, oh my goodness, jump out your seat” dunk, and this was during play in ASG. 

   

   Maybe once again I am stuck in time where we were not exposed to constant dunking stimulation. We didn’t have professional dunkers post 1 minute clips of the sickest dunks you ever seen. We didn’t have AAU lay up lines looking like LeBron and the Heatles. Maybe I just expected too much, maybe I took Aaron Gordon vs. Zach Levine for granted or maybe, just maybe this year’s dunk contest was trash. 

   

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• Gene Therapy: Jeff Garcia vs Mina Kimes | Put Away Your Capes!

  Feb 1, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  In this country there are a lot of heroes. Some heroes are essential. Good police officers, firefighters, doctors, nurses, teachers, and many of the other nameless, faceless workers who go through life tirelessly working for the betterment and safety of others. Some heroes are unexpected. The person who rescues a kid who swam a little too far out and is not caught in the current with little to no energy left. The ones that pull you back before you walk into the street and get hit by a car because you were not paying attention. The person that opens the elevator so that you can make it on before it closes. People who stand up for those that are being oppressed, discriminated against, ridiculed for no reason and bullied. Then there are the heroes that nobody ever asked for. The one’s who pick every opportunity to come to the aid of someone who never asked for help or has even seemed as if they needed assistance. Where I am from, we call it “Caping.” You know a lot of heroes' wear capes and that is where the verb comes from.

   

  Last week former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia was recklessly critical of ESPN football analyst Mina Kimes for her negative opinion on Jimmy Garoppolo. He questioned her ability to do the job and wondered aloud why anyone would ever hire her as a football mind. To be honest, he was completely out of line. Instead of engaging in a dialogue that could have produced a better understanding of her position and thus moved the conversation forward. He could have criticized without demeaning or degrading Kimes but emotions (and whatever he was drinking) clearly got the best of him. Within minutes of seeing Garcia’s rant, there were people firing back at him. Someone could have started a #GrillGarcia thread, sit back, and watch the replies pour in. It is a popular thing to do and Kimes is a figure that attracts all of the rescuers, so it was not surprising to see so many come to her defense. My only question is, why? Why do so many feel the need to defend Kimes against those that would attack her verbally? Why are they so invested in her?

   

  This is the part that we never seem to get to when it comes to equality. In all of the areas of sports that I exist in there is criticism. Some of it is constructive and definitely helps and some of it is just as ridiculous or worse than how Garcia attacked Kimes but here is the difference, nobody came to my rescue. Yes, I know I don’t work at ESPN or any other big-time network that is regularly consumed by millions but even in my little niche there were no heroes there for me. Why? Because this is a part of the gig. As an analyst when you give your opinion (regardless of whether it is based on facts or not) people will agree or disagree. The rational ones will disagree respectfully, but we live in an irrational society. So those responses come with the job. It is a job that Kimes and those like her are being paid handsomely to do. Does that mean you deserve to be ridiculed because you make a lot of money, no but it does mean you should understand.

   

  In my mind this is the final frontier of equality for women in male sports. A female reporter should be admonished if she says something that is off base or inherently biased because that is what would happen to a male reporter. If a male reporter can be criticized because he never played the game, the same criticism should be expected for a woman who didn’t. As women move into decision-making positions in male sports, are we expecting them to not be criticized when they make a bad selection in the draft or obtain a free agent bust? If they are not allowed to be criticized, then are we really treating them as equals? 

   

  And what are you saying when you run to Kimes defense every single time someone has something negative to say about her? What you think you are saying is “I have your back.” What you are really saying is, “I don’t know if you can handle this yourself.” That is an even bigger slap in the face than the criticism or ridicule. Ladies and especially gentlemen, Mina Kimes does not need you to defend her. She is one of the most intelligent, quick-witted, and self-deprecating people in sports broadcasting. She can more than take care of herself. When she decides that she wants to dignify stupidity with a response, it is normally something that shuts a troll down or exposes the hypocrisy or ridiculousness of a statement. She’s a wordsmith so especially on social media she does not need any of us to defend her. She’s a warrior and the keyboard is her weapon. She has the right to defend herself as much as she has the right to be defended and I am sure in an honest moment she would probably want it that way. I wonder if all of the heroes would have just shut up for a second, if she would have even bothered responding to Garcia’s comments. I’d like to believe she would not because why would she bring relevance to someone who has not been relevant in a very long time?

   

  It was an opportunity missed and that has been the case for many women in male dominated sports. Before they ever get the chance to prove that they are not fazed by the comments of the insignificant or the brain dead, here comes “Captain Save Her” swooping in to be her shield and knight in shining keyboard strokes. The hubris of men is amazing. To think that the only way a woman can feel protected and or comfortable is if a man is there is the type of archaic philosophies that led to the current inequalities in our world. In sports, the moment that we became ok with unathletic men giving us their sports takes, we should have been ok with unathletic women doing it as well. In the same breath if there’s a criticism of a male analyst that includes their lack of playing experience, then it is ok to lob that low hanging fruit at a woman. I would expect both people to handle it the same way. I don’t feel the need to save either one.

   

  The question becomes, why do you?

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

   

   

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• Gene Therapy: Sweet Sweet Fantasy!

  Jan 25, 2022 Gene Clemons 0 Comments

  

   

  by Gene Clemons

   

  The 1st time I ever tried sports betting I was convinced that it was the easiest thing in the world to do. After all, we were just picking games. I know basketball, I know football, I know baseball so how hard it could possibly be. The first time I looked at a betting line I was shocked by how complicated it looked. There were so many numbers on it. I saw the name of the team and then I saw nine to 10 other numbers that I had never seen before. I thought I was just picking the winner. 

   

  The reality was something far more complicated. I immediately realized why Vegas is so rich. We wander into this world as novice but with the ego and the hubris to believe that we know something that everybody else doesn't. And even further than that, we believe we know something that the people who have made trillions of dollars don't know. Only in America can a person walk into another person's profession and believe that they know the business better than that professional yet here we are.

   

  Fantasy sports were different for me as I began to participate because there was no money involved. It was for fun, for bragging rights. But a funny thing happened mid-way through the season. I noticed that not everybody was keeping up with their rosters. One season I remember losing out on making the playoffs because a team went on a four week win streak playing against people who never updated their roster. It was frustrating and ultimately not fulfilling or challenging. My response was to seek out a league that had financial investment. If there was money involved people would be in it to win it until the end. That definitely helped but what I found was that the amount of money really made the difference. A league with a $25 due was not going to keep anyone's attention over a season that lasts five months. The bigger the investment, the bigger the prize, the better the engagement.

   

  That led to the instant gratification of daily fantasy where the prizes are high, and investment could be low. That still achieved the same outcome of keeping people invested and wanting to play again. On a certain level, the daily fantasy contests with thousands of entries reminded me of those 10-team parlays that I used to play when I first began betting on sports. My little $10 bet had the chance to bring back 10 thousand dollars. The chances of me winning were slim to none but because I thought I knew sports and was invested in it mentally, I believed that it gave me an advantage. Clearly, I lost my money like the other dummies who thought the same thing, but I continued to play like that for much longer than I care to admit because of my arrogance. I had the keys to beat the system and that's how the casino has always won. That exact logic is why one day fantasy has made that industry so much money. Everybody believes they have the perfect combination to win it all and of course only one can.

   

  As sports betting slowly becomes legalized in every state, The negative connotations that used to surround sports betting dissipates. Fantasy sports and gambling sites like Fanduel and Draftkings allowed sports betting to be slowly accepted into a society that was obsessed with fantasy football. In essence fantasy was our gateway drug into gambling acceptance. As the money involved with fantasy wagers grew to astronomical levels people began to look at fantasy as a viable source of income and the world of the fantasy analyst exploded. The divide between fantasy sports betting and regular sports betting closed quickly.  Now as sports gambling casinos like MGM moved into the space with BetMGM and the many other sites that are ready to go at a moment's notice prepare for this inevitability.

   

  Sports betting and fantasy are definitely here to stay and are going to become a regular part of our sports world. In-game, real-time win probabilities are not just there to make the viewing experience better. These are tools that help influence the next level of sports wagers, the live bet or in-game wager. This allows people to place bets as the game unfolds. The level of engagement that this provides the user only brings them closer to the game and closer to parting with the money in their wallet. After all that's the end game, money. Most of these online sportsbooks will give you free money to bet. They call it free play and it is designed to get you used to gambling, suck you in, and ultimately make wagering on sports a part of your everyday life. This is not a bad thing, after all you can win, but it is a numbers game for them. The more that plays, the more they make, regardless of the game's outcome. 

   

  Like anything with gambling, the goal is to be smart and responsible. Whether it is fantasy, sports betting, cards or the stock market, if you are doing it out of desperation, there's a better than likely chance you will fail. If you are doing it for entertainment, you will probably still lose. However, if you approach it as a way to make passive income and you show it the respect you would for any other job, there's the opportunity to come out on top. Never wager what you can't afford to lose. Don't let greed overwhelm you. Little wins are always better than big losses. Parlays are normally losing propositions and the way the sports book would prefer you bet. Imagine if you could add an extra $400 a week to your income, would that make a difference? Of course, it would. So, think consistent winners instead of longshots with big odds. Be boring all the way to the bank or be the most exciting person in the poor house. Your choice.

   

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  Gene Clemons is a Sports Analyst and Contributor to CWN Sports. His weekly column and podcast - Gene Therapy focuses on Sports, Politics and Social/Urban issues.

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