Cassell and Latrell Should Leave

When the owner of your team calls your acquisition a "failed experiment" you know you haven't exactly impressed. And that's precisely what Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said about former All-Stars Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell...with emphasis on the "former."

I can't blame Taylor for venting his frustration, especially after last night's game. In the Wolves 116-100 win over Golden State Latrell Sprewell looked like the best player on the court (with the obvious exception of Kevin Garnett, of course). About two months ago, this would have been good news. But not now.

A while back, Sprewell made his famously ignorant comment about how he couldn't feed his family on his multi-million dollar salary. He had been offered $21 million over three years. But the Wolves didn't drop down on their knees and beg him to stay, so he pouted and played at a 50% effort level, maybe. Now the Wolves are about to be eliminated from the playoffs and Spree is going to have to find another team. One that wants him. Suddenly he's playing like the Sprewell of old. I'd rather see the slacker. At least then Sprewell wouldn't attract some attention from other teams. It's pathetic, but he just might win in this situation.

And Cassell can go too, for all I care. He started complaining about his contract just 1 year after he signed it. He's the kind of cancerous player that complains about every call, yells at his teammates when things aren't going well and pouts just as badly as Sprewell.

When the Wolves are officially eliminated, which will happen any day now, Taylor should follow through with what his comments imply. He should get rid of Cassell and Sprewell.

NBA Shouldn't Install Minimum Age

Indiana Pacers power forward Jermaine O'Neal recently said he thinks David Stern's effort to install an age limit of 20 is racist. Although I see no connection to race (in fact, the comment strikes me as completely ridiculous) O'Neal is right about the age limit.

Why would Stern, the commissioner of the NBA, want to raise the minimum age? The player carrying the most responsibility for the future of the league just turned 20 in late December. If LaBron James hadn't been allowed to play last year, the NBA may still be searching for someone to fit the title "The Next Michael Jordan."

The league doesn't need a higher minimum age requirement, it needs a strong minor league system.

There is no good reason to raise the minimum age. If a player isn't ready for the NBA, then he won't make the team. He can either stay in college, or play in the minors. If its structured like Major League Baseball, each team will have affiliate teams at different levels. An 18 year old can be drafted out of high school and go to the minors, or if he's good enough, the NBA. He can also choose to go to college.

It has worked for baseball for many years. Basketball should give it a try too.

Tiger Overcomes Enemies

The final round of the 2005 Masters will rank up there with the best ever. It had a comeback (two actually), a completely amazing and improbable shot (Tiger's birdie on 16) and a playoff hole. But what stuck out most to me is the ability of Tiger Woods to overcome all obstacles.

Tiger is one of golf's most loved characters but make no mistake about it, there are plenty of people out there who will consider their trip to the course incomplete until they personally witness Tiger fail. If you watched Tiger and Chris DiMarco play the 18th (during the 4th round) you witnessed a perfect example.

Tiger was a long iron away from the green and clinging to a one-stroke lead on the final hole. He approached the ball--with complete concentration--and a car alarm went off. Tiger calmly backed away from the ball to regroup. The alarm shut off immediately. At this point, it could have been an accidental fluke with terrible timing. But when Tiger approached the ball a second time and the alarm went on again--this time continuing for several seconds--it was obvious that someone was trying to break Tiger's concentration.

The second time Tiger, understanding what was happening, tried to ignore the alarm. He proceeded to make one of his worst shots of the tournament and bogey the hole.

I've never been able to understand why golfers are so sensitive about the smallest of distractions. As a baseball player, I remember the crowds on the road--Texas A&M and Oklahoma stand out--and the distraction the fans tried to create while we were at the plate. As if hitting a 90-mile-per-hour slider isn't tough enough, fans are cracking jokes or insulting your family. People are whistling and jeering and whatever else they can think of to ruin your concentration. But someone makes a peep during a golfer's back swing and suddenly the fan caused the bad shot? To me, it doesn't add up.

That being said, I was angry for Tiger during the final round of The Masters. The car alarm prank was bush-league. Whereas I was originally pulling for DiMarco, the car alarm stunt changed my loyalties. The alarm had me so uptight that I was afraid to watch. It put my nerves on end. I didn't want Tiger to have to shoot. And worst of all, it had its desired effect.

I was happy to see Tiger fight through it. Yes, everyone likes an underdog, but no one wants to see an uneven playing field. And I didn't hear any alarms going off during DiMarco's swing.

It was good to see Tiger pull through.