Brad Simmons
Brad Simmons is a photographer/producer for WRAL-TV whose resume includes trips to nearly every major sporting event held in the country.
By Brad Simmons
Sep 15, 2009
Much has been made of Serena Williams’ outburst in her semi-final loss at the US Open. I really don’t see what the fuss is about.
There were a lot of factors that fueled emotions to boil over.
Both Williams and her opponent Kim Clijsters sat around all day waiting to play a match they didn’t know would even be played.
Clearly Clijsters outplayed Serena for much of the night. Williams was on the ropes and the match was all but over.
Then it happened…Serena serves, foot fault called by the lines woman and the bottom falls out. Many have characterized this as a meltdown. She felt she had been wronged and clearly was upset and let the lines woman know she wasn’t happy about the call.
Should this be any surprise? Sports are emotional. Athletes pour every bit of themselves into getting to the professional level. When you put your heart and soul into something and it doesn’t pan out, then something’s going to give. That’s just competitive nature.
Only one person knows if it was a foot fault and clearly Serena Williams disagreed. Unfortunately there was no camera angle that confirmed the fault. So who’s to say who was right and who was wrong?
The commentators, Dick Enberg, Mary Carillo and John McEnroe, had their opinions on the outburst. Enberg saying something to the effect of Champions don’t act like that. Hello, Dick, do you realize who is sitting beside you? Only
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
By Brad Simmons
Aug 13, 2009
Depending on whom you ask, Sonny Vaccaro could be the greatest basketball ambassador of our era or he could be the problem with basketball in today’s society.
He is probably best known for his time at Nike, where he helped Phil Knight build the shoe company into one of the world’s most powerful companies.
Vaccaro signed Michael Jordan to Nike. Most people would call that a career.
His marketing genius helped jump start outfitting college and university teams into the multi-million dollar business it is today.
You could count Jim Valvano as one of the first coaches to buy into Vaccaro and Nike with much success. Well, there was the unitard, and we all know how that turned out.
Regardless, his time at Nike could be as great a run in business this side of Microsoft.
After an unceremonious split with Nike, he moved on to Adidas where he was instrumental in landing Kobe Bryant as a client. Not too many people can claim both Jordan and Bryant as clients.
He formed the ABCD basketball camp that showcases the top high school players in the country and has turned AAU hoops into the super highway to Division I basketball.
After leaving Adidas for Reebok, he continued his influence with grassroots basketball, helping youth players with advancement in the game.
He has worked with the three largest shoe companies in the world and flourished in all of them. He has been
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
Jul 1, 2009
The Detroit Pistons are looking for a new head coach. They might not have to look far. Former agitator Bill Laimbeer recently resigned his post as the head coach of Detroit's WNBA franchise and has expressed interest in pursuing an NBA job. Could this be the return of the Bad Boys?
The Detroit News says that's a possibility.
By Brad Simmons
Jun 11, 2009
I recently read a column on whose stock is rising and whose is falling after the NBA draft combine. In it, one of the risers was UNC’s Wayne Ellington and one of the fallers was Duke’s Gerald Henderson.
The NBA combine is much like the NFL combine, a meat market where they test things like vertical leap and bench press as well as interviews with NBA brass.
Ellington brought his “A” game to Chicago, registering a 38-inch vertical leap and bench pressing 185 lbs. 13 times. That got some NBA big wigs’ attention.
His stock is labeled as a riser and rightfully so. Take that and his run through the NCAA tournament and you’ve got yourself a mid to late first rounder. I can buy this assessment.
Gerald Henderson by contrast only registered a mere mortal 35-inch vertical leap and 8 reps in the bench press. Apparently not what a lot of NBA people had in mind for the 6’4” guard. The column stated that Stephen Curry bettered Henderson in both categories. So his stock is marked as falling despite a pretty good body of work at Duke.
I was fortunate enough to see many Duke games in person and on television, and I just don’t see how one day in Chicago, barring a 30 pound weight gain, can make or break a draft prospect. Henderson’s All-ACC performance last season allowed him to forgo his senior season for the NBA.
I don’t think anyone doubts Henderson’s
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
By Brad Simmons
Jun 8, 2009
The NBA draft is later this month and we all know Blake Griffin will be the number one overall pick. But the most intriguing pick this year will be teenage sensation Ricky Rubio from Spain.
Rubio made the world his stage with his play in the Olympics, helping lead Spain to the silver medal.
What makes this interesting is that Rubio is only 18 years old.
It’s funny how 18-year olds in the United States aren’t eligible to enter the NBA draft until they are a year removed from high school, and and unless they turn 19 during the calendar year of the draft - yet Rubio is in the mix for this year’s draft.
NBA rules concerning international players obviously differ from those of U.S. born players.
Rubio is eligible for the draft because in every country but the US, teenagers as young as 15 play on their professional league's rosters, and with pro experience comes eligibility.
That means that Joe Player from Anytown High School USA has to wait a year before he is eligible just because he happens to live in United States.
Where’s the fairness in that?
The United States has always considered itself the gold standard in basketball, yet the NBA doesn’t feel that domestic 18-year olds are as good as international 18-year olds.
In the interest of fairness, the NBA should drop the age requirement rule and allow the future Kobe Bryants and Kevin Garnetts to take their
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
By Brad Simmons
May 28, 2009
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning reacts after throwing the game-winning touchdown pass during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl XLII football game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Giants won 17-14. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The 2004 NFL draft may surpass the 1983 NFL draft as the best quarterback class in history.
The ‘83 draft has been widely regarded as the best collection of signal-callers to enter the NFL, sporting three Hall of Famers.
John Elway was the #1 overall pick and won two Super Bowl titles in five trips to the big game with the Denver Broncos.
Though he never held the Lombardi Trophy, Jim Kelly led the Buffalo Bills to an unprecedented four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the early '90s
Dan Marino took the Dolphins to a Super Bowl and held the league record for career passing yards and touchdowns when he retired.
All three have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In the last few years, however, the heralded trio from the ’04 draft has staked its claim to greatness.
Eli Manning was the #1 overall pick and has a Super Bowl title with the N.Y. Giants.
Ben Roethlisberger has a pair of rings in just five seasons in the league.
Philip Rivers, though he doesn't own a title, continues to rack up tons of yards. The former Pack QB also tied for the league lead in touchdown passes this past year. Rivers has also led the San Diego Chargers deep into the playoffs each year he has started, including a trip the AFC championship game in 2008. Partly because of the N.C. State alum's accomplishments, the expectations for this upcoming season have the Chargers
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
By Brad Simmons
Apr 23, 2009
As we sit here and “wonder” if Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Gerald Henderson are going to leave school and pursue an NBA career, word of another early departure has grabbed headlines. Jeremy Tyler, a junior out of San Diego, will forgo his senior season to pursue his professional career.
Here’s the thing: Tyler is a junior all right, from San Diego High School. The five-star recruit will skip his senior season of prep ball and head overseas until he is eligible for the NBA draft in two years. He has not signed with an agent or any team, but several European teams have shown interest.
The 6’-foot-9center is ranked as high as No. 3 for his position and had verbally committed to Louisville.
One of last years top recruits Brandon Jennings skipped college to go overseas for the early payday and the pro experience. But, this is an unprecedented move for a prep basketball player to drop out of high school and turn pro.
Both these decisions were driven by the NBA rule that prohibits players from jumping straight from high school to the league. I appreciate what the league is trying to do with this rule but the NBA needs to realize they can make all the rules in the world but there will always be people that will find a way around them.
By Brad Simmons
Apr 9, 2009
Today we reported that Stephanie Glance would not be hired as the full-time head coach of the N.C. State women’s basketball team.
This decision on which direction to take this proud program has been a tough one from every angle.
The legendary Kay Yow, one of the great pioneers in all of basketball, suggested to the athletic administration that her top assistant, coach Glance, be named to take over when Yow was no longer able to coach.
Glance did a fantastic job keeping the Wolfpack women together during what had to be an almost impossible situation to handle. She and her staff should be commended for carrying on through some of the saddest days in the history of the university. Coach Glance was graceful, and the players mirrored that despite their great sadness.
It is apparent now, that the administration has decided to go in a different direction. With the climb to national prominence by Duke and North Carolina, it is imperative that N.C. State get a coach that can put the people in the seats and the players on the court to run with both triangle rivals.
A couple of names have floated around as possible candidates to take over at State:
1.) Kellie Harper - the head coach at Western Carolina and played under the all-time winningest coach in basketball history, Pat Summitt, at Tennessee. She is young and has head coaching experience.
2.) Shea Ralph - A former UConn great currently on Geno
…
Click here to read the rest of the post
Apr 4, 2009
Why do athletes and celebrities put themselves in situations that can potentially ruin their careers and possibly their lives?
Here comes my disclaimer: We all make mistakes. No one has ever accused me of being Mr. Perfect, nor do I claim to be.
Plaxico Burress shoots himself in the leg at a nightclub with his own gun during the 2008 NFL regular season. If you’re in the middle of the season, why are you at a club and why do you have a gun on you? I hate that he shot himself and put others in danger, but why put yourself at risk?
Donte' Stallworth, another NFL wide receiver, is cruising down a Miami street and hits and kills a pedestrian. Turns out, Stallworth was under the influence of alcohol. He had just avoided being released by the Browns, earning a $4 million roster bonus. So he goes out and celebrates and now Stallworth, just like Burress, face a strong possibility of jail time for their actions.
You would think the fiasco with Michael Vick would have straightened some of these guys out. Obviously that hasn’t been the case.
These athletes and celebrities have the world in their hands, millions of dollars and lifestyles people dream of, but many times, their falls from grace are self-inflicted.
By Brad Simmons
Apr 3, 2009
The Carolina Hurricanes have won 14 of their last 19 games, earned points in 16 of those games, and are currently on a 10-game winning streak at home. They have gone from the outside looking into the playoffs to fifth in the standings.
And has anyone even noticed?
Unfortunately for the Canes, they sit right smack dab in the middle of Tobacco Road and UNC’s bid for a national championship.
The much maligned move to bring Paul Maurice back to the Canes’ bench has paid off, as the club is playing its best hockey of the last three seasons.
Rod Brind’Amour is back to his relentless self, Chad LaRose is providing a non-stop energy that makes him a fan favorite, and Eric Staal and Ray Whitney are doing what they do best - making things happen.
On Monday night a new champion will be crowned in college basketball, and hopefully, arguably the hottest team in hockey will start to get the attention it deserves as they themselves push towards the postseason.
