RADIO
Welcome back to another midweek edition of the Daily Sports Recap, where I have once again been blessed by the sports gods, as Cleveland has double-dipped into the metaphorical off-brand ketchup of "laugh at our pain."
Cleveland Cavaliers Lose to Philadelphia 76ers 95-92...
Really, Cleveland? The Sixers? The Sixers? The team that is so bad Adam Silver has to do pressers about how "tanking isn't a problem in the NBA" every time they take the floor?
On the roller coaster ride that has been the Cavaliers' season, we've gone from "they're done" in the first week, to "simply unstoppable" a couple of weeks later, to "FIRE THE COACH" last week, to "let's lose to Philly" this week. Has no one thought of marketing The Cavalier 2015 to Cedar Point yet? It would make a killing.
...And Then They Trade for J.R. Smith
I guess Iman Shumpert too, but that isn't nearly as funny.
So Cleveland's looking around for trade options to improve their team, and they decided "let's raid the Knicks?" In terms of problem-solving strategies, that's like trying to get an alcoholic to quit drinking by offering him crystal meth. Sure, maybe he's not drinking anymore, but now he's holding you at gunpoint for the contents of your wallet. It's not an improvement.
And who looks at a team that's having trouble coming together as a cohesive unit and thinks "you know what, maybe 40 contested jumpers a game are just what this team needs?" LeBron may have been injured, but surely that doesn't stop him from fulfilling the GM part of his Cleveland duties. Did he get hopped up on pain meds before working out the deal that sent away Dion Waiters to acquire Smith and Shumpert? Multiple sources* have confirmed for me that this is a bad trade for the Cavaliers.
*Multiple sources may or may not be the Cavs fans I know posting on my Facebook wall. I guess we'll never know.
NFL Head of Officials Says Holding "Should Have Been Called" on Pass Interference Non-Call
To recap, the play consisted of Dallas LB Anthony Hitchens planting his facemask into Detroit TE Brandon Pettigrew's chest while Pettigrew tried to make a catch over Hitchens. The referees initially threw a flag, but picked it up after an officials' conference following the play. NFL head of officials Dean Blandino said that defensive holding (which is a less severe penalty) should have been called on the play, but refused to confirm whether or not pass interference had actually been committed.
Which I'm sure is consolation to most Lions fans. It's impossible to say whether or not that play would have swung the game for Detroit, but it was a big reversal on a fairly critical down, and the Lions were yet again unsuccessful in their quest for a second playoff win in 57 years.
I'm sure it's also cold comfort to those living in or close to Detroit. Acknowledging an uncalled defensive holding penalty is totally going to undo all the fire damage to their property and un-tear gas their eyes.
