Yardbarker: Mike Brown

Robert Littal vs. Dwight Howard's Girlfriend Twitter Incident..You Make The Call

Fri, 29 May 2009 11:44:22 -0500

I must admit I might be the greatest Tweeter of all time. I have had some legendary twitter conversations for the Cheating Commandments to Mike Brown offensive sets, so if you aren't following me you definitely should start because you are missing out. Last night I was getting my Tweet on during the Magic vs. Cavs game (I normally twitter during every major sporting event in real time, http://www.twitter.com/BlkSportsOnline). I was doing what I do when I made a crack about Dwight Howard. ...

NFL's Best And Worst Owners

Tue, 12 May 2009 17:26:48 -0500

With the recent drama surrounding Mark Cuban during the Nuggets-Mavs playoff series, I think this bit of information is relevant right now. SI.com released its top 5 lists for best and worst owners in each of the major sports. For the NFL, the top 5 best owners are:

Mike Brown Is So Poor He Has No Middle Name

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:38:32 -0500

Just one of the fascinating asides in this transcript of court testimony (.pdf) given by Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown. Really, it’s a laff riot, at least for the first few pages. The Enquirer sums up the boring financial details here, but leaves out all the really juicy stuff. Like: Brown has no middle name. Not even [...]

Mike Brown Wins the Coach of the Year Award

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:02:28 -0500

Cleveland Coach Mike Brown received 55 of 122 first place votes from a media panel and won the 2009 Coach of the Year award with 355 points compared to 151 points (including 13 first place votes) for Houston's Rick Adelman. Orlando's Stan Van Gundy finished third with 150 points; he also had 13 first place votes, while Nate McMillan received 15 first place votes but placed fourth overall (127 points). Denver's George Karl (117 points, 11 first place votes) was the only only coach with more than 100 points (points were awarded on a 5-3-1 basis for the three spots on the ballot).

I would have voted for Brown first and Adelman second, just like the official panel did.

Brown received a lot of unwarranted criticism in the past few seasons but I have consistently said that his defense-first approach is the right way to build a championship team. I also reported that while some people think that "advanced stats" contain all the answers, Mike Brown Coaches by Feel, Not Numbers. Brown models his approach on the philosophy of his mentor, San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich, a four-time NBA champion who recently told me, "I would depend more on what I see and feel than on overdosing on stats."

Early in Brown's tenure, I mentioned that he and General Manager Danny Ferry were trying to turn Cleveland into "San Antonio East." In light of how Ferry's player acquisitions and Brown's strategies have turned Cleveland into a defensive powerhouse, it is interesting to look back at some of the things that Cleveland assistant coach Hank Egan--who also has a San Antonio pedigree on his extensive coaching resume--told me three years ago when Brown was just beginning to reshape the Cavs. In particular, Egan mentioned that it takes a year or more for a team to get completely in tune with a new defensive philosophy. Keeping that timetable in mind, I was one of the few people who correctly predicted that the Cavs would make it to the 2007 NBA Finals and I have consistently picked them to do better than most other analysts did; for quite some time people have failed to fully understand and appreciate the kind of team that Brown is putting together, so it is nice that now he is finally getting the recognition that he deserves.

Mike Brown Named Coach of the Year

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:12:38 -0500

Cavs head coach Mike Brown was named Coach in the Year in a near-landslide. "Offensively, the last three years, we weren't good mainly because of me," Brown admitted after Game 1 against the Pistons on Saturday. "I wanted to establish an identity here, and that was on the defensive end of the floor." The Cavs made a [...]

Bengals must trade Ocho Cinco now

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:30:36 -0500

So last year Chad Ocho Cinco demanded a trade by appearing on every talk show under the sun and explicitly demanding a trade from the Cincinnati Bengals. This year Ocho Cinco is going about it in a different manner — he is ignoring the Bengals all together.Ocho Cinco is refusing to return calls from the coaching staff and teammates, including Carson Palmer, in hopes to get his point across that he wants out of Cincinnati. Well, it's time for Mike Brown and the front office to finally grant Ocho Cinco his wish.The market for a wide receiver in his 30s that lacks break away speed, is coming off an injury-plagued season, has questionable hands and is a cancer in the locker room is virtually non-existent. The teams that would take Ocho Cinco will only dwindle after the draft when all those teams address their receiving needs from the college ranks.Continue reading "Bengals must trade Ocho Cinco now"

The Basketball Jones: Episode 420

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 11:07:05 -0500

On today's show, Tas and I question the Pistons' desire, Detroit's chances against the Cavaliers, how Flip Saunders will fit with the Wizards and whether Mike Brown should play his starters Wednesday vs Philly.

The Basketball Jones Podcast: Is LeBron Unstoppable?

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:03:30 -0500

On today's show, Tas and I discuss the Heat's postseason chances, why Mike Brown should be praised and whether LeBron can be stopped when that jumper is falling. We also argue about Coach of the Year candidates, "The Band-Wade" and which NBA player would make the best RuPaul.

Mike Brown Defeats Urijah Faber in a Stunner...or, Is Dewey Hammond Still Alive?

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:07:15 -0500

All I can say is - wow. Urijah Faber, arguably one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world took a few swift, strong blows from #1 contender Mike Brown in the first round before the match was called in Wednesday night's WEC event. Hopefully Faber comes back stronger, quicker, and better than ever after suffering his second-ever loss. As for Yardbarker editor and all-around Faber Fanboy Dewey Hammond - it's okay, buddy, it's all okay.

Top 11 things we have learned so far in the NFL this year

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:51:16 -0500

11. Do not doubt the Madden Curse. 10. Do not, under penalty of Severe Underachievement, tell a team that their beloved and successful head coach will retire at the end of the year. 9. When a quarterback lines up out wide in the "wildcat" formation, no team is allowed to jam him hard, because the league needs to encourage every team to eventually use this formation. 8. If a West Coast team plays on the East Coast with a 1pm start time, they are required to stink on ice, since ...

How much do you know about Urijah Faber?

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:57:49 -0500

Urijah Faber is arguably regarded as one of the best MMA fighters in the world. Can you answer 10 questions about the one hundred forty five pound superstar? Faber's next fight is on September 10 against Mike Brown.

Buyer's Beware: NFL Gets Tough

Wed, 21 May 2008 13:39:43 -0500

NFL Commissioner tells teams he will start fining them for player misconduct. Mike Brown should be announcing that his team is up for sale any day now.

10 worst owners in sports

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:08:17 -0500

I'm surprised that O's owner Peter Angelos didn't make the cut. Regardless, a strong case is made for each of the 10 cheapskates and/or idiots whose names are rightfully dragged through the mud. The Ford and Bidwell families, James Dolan, Donald Sterling, Dan Snyder, Mike Brown, Jeremy Jacobs, Jeffrey Loria, et al.

Mike Brown's Clipboard Masterpieces, #2

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:38:11 -0500

Mike Brown's contract extension means he's going to have plenty more time for "play-calling."

Contract Law: Meet Rich Rodriguez

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:49:09 -0500

Apologies to those who are just a few weeks removed from their contract law final. Feel free to stop reading now. By now you probably know that West Virginia University's Board of Governors is suing former football coach Rich Rodriguez (inset) in order to collect a $4 million buyout of his contract with the school. The lawsuit, filed in Monongalia County Circuit Court, says the university believes Rodriguez doesn't intend to abide by the contract. It also states that the university fulfilled the contract's terms and Rodriguez never gave it written notice, as required by the contract, that it had not followed the agreement. The buyout clause requires Rodriguez to pay $4 million to the school over a two-year period, with one-third of the total due 30 days after his employment's termination, which was effective Dec. 19 when Rodriguez formally accepted the head job at Michigan after seven seasons in Morgantown (where he led West Virginia to four Big East championships and a 60-26 record). Happier Times Rodriguez's agent, Mike Brown, has thus far declined to comment on the matter. But attorneys for Rodriguez are allegedly planning to argue in court that Rodriguez does not owe the school (or alternatively, that the $4 million sum ought to be reduced, a la the buyout of former Mountaineers basketball coach John Beilein, who ironically also bolted for Michigan) because he was fraudulently induced to sign a contract with false promises. And a key witness for Rodriguez will likely be Ken Kendrick, a longtime West Virginia athletics donor and close friend of Rodriguez who is also the managing general partner of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. "They baited and switched him," said Kendrick. Rodriguez and the university agreed to a seven-year contract on Dec. 21, 2002, and it has been extended twice since then. The latest revision was agreed to on Dec. 8, 2006, when Rodriguez was considering an offer from Alabama. The revised contract was to run through the 2013 season. Kendrick claims, however, that a university signed document contained promises allegedly made to Rodriguez when he last signed with the school that were never in fact met. Said promises, asserts Kendrick, included allowing players to keep textbooks for resale, a practice that occurs at some other schools; waiving a $5 charge for high school coaches to attend Mountaineers games; having authority over distribution of sideline passes (Kendrick said Rodriguez "negotiated" one for his wife, Rita); having authority to allocate funds from the 1100 Club for coaches; a commitment to increase pay for his assistant coaches; additional money to pay graduate assistants; and hiring an additional recruiting assistant. Kendrick pointed out that Beilein had his buyout reduced after last season, in part because WVU had failed to deliver on promises. But Stephen Goodwin, chairman of WVU's Board of Governors, stood by the actions of athletic director Ed Pastilong and WVU president Mike Garrison, and furthermore downplayed the laundry list of items that Kendrick claimed Rodriguez passionately implored the university to address during his tenure. "There were some very minor issues that [Rodriguez] raised with the administration?and people were working on them," argued Goodwin. Kendrick, however, disagrees. "Rich was boxed in by a university and athletic department that was arrogant, mean-spirited and intellectually bankrupt. This was 100 percent preventable, which is what makes it so sad. [Rich] was frustrated. Things weren't getting done. He'd never say it because he's a class act. So I'll say it." Scrounge around the internet rumor mill however and you'll find varying opinions about how "classy" Rodriguez really is. According to collegefootballtalk.com, for example: "The irony of all of this is that, as we understand it, is that Rodriguez refused to finalize the term sheet that was negotiated last year at this time to keep him in West Virginia, because he tried prior to the 2007 season to finagle more stuff. And what isn't being reported [by ESPN.com or other outlets] is the manner in which Rodriguez went about making his requests. There was, as we understand it, crying and screaming and incoherence from both Rodriguez and his wife. The real culprit, in our opinion is Rodriguez's agent, Mike Brown, who doesn't get a percentage of his client's happiness as a fee. Brown made it known last year that he thought it was time for Rodriguez to leave his alma mater, and we believe that Brown spent the next 12 months stirring up trouble. The kicker was the aftermath of the unthinkable loss to Pitt. Based on various conversations with folks in the know, it appears that Rodriguez's grief morphed into a finger-pointing campaign, which apparently set the stage for his agent to make the differences irreconcilable. The tragedy here is that guys who presumably are smart (like Kendrick and other boosters) have allowed themselves to form their opinions without hearing the whole story. And if the university is guilty of anything here, it's of having the class not to tell the world about the manner in which Rodriguez conducted himself over the past several months." Attorney Drew Capuder weighed in on the matter from a legal standpoint for MSNBC.com, as did attorney Tom Kirkendall over at thewizardofodds.com,: "This is really pretty straightforward stuff from a legal standpoint, although one has to overlay West Virginia state law on the contract issues. Whether Rodriguez has a valid fraudulent inducement claim largely depends on the terms of the contract. In most cases of a contract of this magnitude, it will contain a merger clause that will provide something to the following effect: 'The parties confirm that, in entering into this contract, they have relied only on the representations and warranties included in this contract and that all prior representations made between the parties ? whether oral or written ? are null and void and of no force and effect. This contract is the sole agreement between the parties and cannot be modified except in writing approved by both parties.' If such a provision is contained in the contract, Rodriguez's fraudulent inducement claim would be dismissed on summary judgment in most jurisdictions." But this analysis may be overly simplistic. For example, what about Beilein's case? Under that contract, Beilein's "buyout clause" was in fact what is more specifically labeled a "liquidated damage clause," whereby parties to a deal specify in advance an estimated value of how badly one party would be damaged if the other party breached the contract. In most jurisdictions, however, said clauses are only enforceable to the extent that the parties acknowledge that in the event of a breach, the nature of the agreement in question prevents an accurate measurement or estimation of the actual damages incurred by the nonbreaching party, and furthermore that the parties then proceed to make a reasonable estimation of the damages that would in fact result from the breach. The clause in Beilein's contract, however, lacked the proper requisite language, and furthermore tabbed liquidated damages at a seemingly capricious $500,000/annum for the contract's duration. Not surprisingly, Beilein's lawyer shot holes through the shoddy drafting and the court found partially in his favor. But what precedent does that hold for Rodriguez, since the language of his contract is presumably materially different? Most likely, very little. Furthermore, Rodriguez's attorney can argue that the mere presence of a merger clause per se is irrelevant. Rodriguez is claiming fraud, not breach. A merger clause prevents a party from claiming that the other party breached the agreement by failing to meet some unwritten obligations. However, Rodriguez could assert that he isn't arguing that WVU failed to do what it promised, but rather that he would not have signed the deal in the first place had WVU not fraudulently claimed it would do what it promised. The subtle difference could render the merger clause legally insignificant in the court's eyes.