SportsFullCircle

It feels good to be back. I know, it seems like I go on my tri-monthly hiatus, but I’m hoping to stay with you guys on a consistent basis.

I Hope They Serve Turkey In New Jersey

While not quite along the lines of the Tucker Max memoir of a similar name, Deron Williams may have enough material for a book of his own. Reports have circulated this morning that the New Jersey point guard may have agreed to a contract with Turkish squad Besiktas, a contract that would enable him to play for the team during the NBA lockout.

While the deal has not been acknowledged by the Nets themselves, the agreement could be the first step of a process that we really only saw once before, and that being during the 2004 NHL lockout. During this time, many players opted to play in Europe and make a salary rather than stay in the United States, waiting for a deal to be reached. The season was ultimately canceled, thus proving the decision to be a smart one.

With the NBA in peril at this moment in time, a one-year deal with a European or Asian squad may be a great option for NBA players, especially those who are unhappy with their current contract situations (Williams will be a free agent following the 2011-2012 season, which itself may never happen). In fact, the Besiktas team is the same one that former star Allen Iverson played for during his short tenure in Turkey. Alongside, it has not been uncommon for some players in the NBA to head overseas in search for money, such as Josh Childress, who played in Greece after receiving a $20 million contract over three years (something he’d be lucky to even sniff in the NBA).

With no end in sight for the NBA lockout, Deron Williams may have just become the first perennial figure to start a new movement. Will Europe or Asia become more than vacation spots for the NBA players in search of a short-term job?

The Jeter Machine 3000

I’ve been a Derek Jeter fan my entire life. From his debut in 1995 to today, it’s been an unbelievable privilege watching the Cooperstown-bound shortstop progress.

Now, with him being just three hits away from a sure ticket to the Hall, it is a surreal experience, not just for himself (I would imagine), but for baseball fans alike. Whether you are a supporter of the 37 year-old or a heckler, it is impossible to have an ounce of disrespect for this man. He is the epitome of what is right with the game of baseball, and one of the few true franchise players in all of sports today.

Yes, it may be uncharacteristic of him to “sell-out” his quest for 3000 to HBO. Yes, it does seem unfair that he have an All-Star Game spot this year despite hitting under .260. Yet even so, he is Derek Jeter. And while not many are deserving of that treatment in sports and life, Derek is a man who’s passion and integrity pushes him towards eternal glory.

Ride on captain.

Vince’s Punk

If you did not realize by now, I am a fan of wrestling. Furthermore, I was a fan of wrestling in its glory days of the 1990′s, where hectic bouts and pure insanity unfolded on a weekly basis.

At times, I have been critical of WWE’s booking during the relatively new PG-era. They have gone with predictability, and have ultimately let down many over the course of the last year (yes, even with The Rock making his return and promising a match a year in the future).

Then this happened.

Whenever I watch RAW live, I usually sit at my computer taking care of important papers, or tweeting. As this was going on, I instantly stopped everything I was doing and appreciated the craftsmanship that CM Punk possesses while delivering a promo.

Furthermore though, I was blown away by the reality of it. Often times, I have to defend wrestling for being fake, but those few moments produced more truth than Ron Killings has at any time during his recent heel turn. I knew immediately it was a worked shoot (or to those unaware, a promo that is somewhat scripted with real-life references to make it same as if it is genuine), but it didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate it. Punk had previously announced he was leaving the company on July 18th, and my goodness did it seem like he was going out in style.

Unfortunately, Punk would cross the line too far on a recent tour of Australia and New Zealand, as he dropped a homophobic remark on a fan. This led to a WWE spokesperson confirming his legitimate departure (which up to that point, had been a question of kayfabe or not), and potentially ruining the storyline.

Even so, I still marvel in this promo, as it provided one of the few times that I can say that while watching the product, I was legitimately suspended in a state of disbelief in shock. After all, that’s what entertainment is supposed to be about. Right?

Final Thoughts

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