wouldnt it be better to talk about the biggest sports deals of the week? at least then it would "seem" related to the legal "nexus" of this blog?

Phil is the greatest coach of this generation. To even compare Doc to him is like comparing The Rolling Stones to the Jonas Brothers.

You nailed it in the last sentence: if the players are inconsistent, they are toast. That has nothing to do with Phil. It comes down to execution by the role players (by that, I mean anyone not named Kobe), especially Gasol, Odom, Vujacic, and Fisher.

Joba needs to go back to the 'pen. This is classic Steinbrenner (Hank, this time) micromanaging, when he obviously has no idea how to run a successful baseball club. Mo is almost done with his career, and Joba can take over for Mo like Mo took over for Wetteland.

Cedric Benson should have been cut regardless. The arrests are the icing on the cake that is made up of a crappy NFL career. The real issue is this: why would you use the word "amongst?" Is that designed to make you sound more intelligent? "Among" will do just fine, thanks.

Heading into the NBA Finals, it was generally understood that this coaching matchup was even more one-sided than when Gregg Popovich matched wits with the immortal Mike Brown. It is surprising how well Doc adjusted in Games 4 and 5. However, part of Phil's problem is that Kobe is acting like Kobe again--selfish, showing up teammates, etc. Phil needs to put that to rest if the Lakers are to have any chance at winning this in Boston.

Doc Rivers is terrible. What adjustments did he make to get the Cs back in those games?

Benson may not be a stellar running back, but I think the larger problem is with the Bears' offense in general. I can't imagine any back doing well in an offense that features such a dismal passing game. They had a pair of awful quarterbacks and no solid options at receiver (a situation which is even worse this year). If they bring in Travis Henry, his numbers will look like Benson's in no time.

Go Tigers!

tigers and white sox are in the AL Central

Yankees have Mo's replacement in the minors. His name is Mark Melancon.

Also, every pitcher in the Yankee system under 25 that suffers an injury has a set number of innings they have to throw each year in order to develop their arm strength and recover from that injury. Joba needs to throw more innings. Should he do that in games that matter or in the minors/after the games?

bad idea

yeah, he was saying the Tigers are so sweet that they'll win the AL east AND central

In Leyland We Trust.

Travis Henry? This guy has no credibility.

This post had a lot of page views because everyone was rushing to comment on how stupid it is.

Anyone who thinks Joba belongs in the bullpen is a complete idiot. There is no game to save if the starting rotation can't get you a lead. And assuming Joba is a good pitcher (which looks like a good assumption right now), why would you only want him to throw one inning when he can throw 7 or 8? The Yankees had a good rotation when Mariano was setting up Wetteland. Joba in the rotation looks like an even beeter idea now that Chien Ming Wang is hurt.

to play agent provocateur:

Is phil jackson really that "great" of a coach. Based on the numbers of rings, its hard to say that he is not.

For each of those rings, however, he had incredible talent: 6 with Jordan and 3 with Shaq and Kobe. In either case, he had the most dominant player in the game at the time. Is Phil Jackson a great coach then or merely a lucky dude who fell into jordan and was able to ride that succcess into LA where he again had the best talent in the game at the time?

Let's see...pitch 80 innings in the pen, or 200 innings as a starter? Starters are almost always more valuable than relievers. It's also easier to find relievers than starters. Unless he shows he can't do it, he's more valuable as a starter. But Joba was a starter in college and a starter in the minors. They made the right move for the long term.

Let's see...pitch 80 innings in the pen, or 200 innings as a starter? Starters are almost always more valuable than relievers. It's also easier to find relievers than starters. Unless he shows he can't do it, he's more valuable as a starter. But Joba was a starter in college and a starter in the minors. They made the right move for the long term.

Really, Lat? You can't do better?

wait a second, you're going to post about sports on this blog and not mention what TIGER FREAKING WOODS did this weekend?!?

10:37 - That is a ludicrous argument. You could say the same about any successful coach. Red Auerbach had Bill Russell and Bob Cousy. John Wooden had numerous players, including Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton, and Gail Goodrich. Behind (or in front of) every "great" coach is incredible talent.

I agree with 10:23 - the Bears offense sucks a big one. They need an entirely new offense to get anywhere this seaon. Getting rid of Benson and signing Henry is just a beginning. They need a QB, WR, etc.

"Phil Jackson Has Been No Zen Master In The NBA Finals."

How is this a bold statement when you qualify it with "in the nba finals."

Thanks Captain Obvious.

"Phil Jackson Has Been No Zen Master In The NBA Finals."

How is this a bold statement when you qualify it with "in the nba finals."

Thanks Captain Obvious.

"Phil Jackson Has Been No Zen Master In The NBA Finals."

How is this a bold statement when you qualify it with "in the nba finals."

Thanks Captain Obvious.

Ha, ha. Edelman obviously wrote this before Wang got hurt yesterday. There's a chance he could miss months, if not the whole season. He might have the same Lisfranc injury that shelved Bruney for the year. After losing their ace, The Yanks have to have Joba in the rotation.

They should also make a play for Sabathia, as long as they don't have to move Cano or Melky for him.

"Phil Jackson Has Been No Zen Master In The NBA Finals."

How is this a bold statement when you qualify it with "in the nba finals."

Thanks Captain Obvious.

Anyone up for starting a legal tabloid about news, gossip, and colorful commentary on law firms and the legal profession?

Anyone up for starting a legal tabloid about news, gossip, and colorful commentary on law firms and the legal profession?

It's AIPAC's fault that the Lakers are down 3-2. If those Jewish movie producers hadn't put so much pressure on Jerry Buss, the Lakers would have won the series by now.

Attacking Jackson because he had Jordan is legit. However, post-Jordan, Jackson has proven he is an elite coach.

When the Lakers hired Jackson, they were flundering, despite having both Shaq and Kobe. Jackson united the team and drove them through the playoffs.

Jackson should be given a medal for dealing Kobe, an overrated player, and forcing Kobe into the finals with players with whom he doesn't play well. And losing Shaq because of Kobe's ego was killer to the team.

Attacking a basketball coach for having good players is stupid. no one wins with bad players. The point is, Jackson has won with one truly great player (Jordan) and a lot of very good players (Shaq, Kobe, Pippen, Gasol, etc.) who, without him, are not in the NBA finals. Without Jackson, Jordan's teams don't win so many championships (prolly 2, not 6), and Lakers take 0.

I'm a Celtics fan, but even I think Jackson and Red stand toe-to-toe as the two greatest coaches in NBA history.

can we get a cooking column on atl?

If I wanted half-baked discussion of sports qua sports I'd go to ESPN.com. The innane ramblings of their "writers" are better than this. I thought this was a legal blog, Lat.

10:49

yes.

i can go to espn.com for sports.

next story how about some law today

Yankees's rotation will be fine if they get Sabathia. Sorry, but Kyle F-ing Farnsworth in the 7th and 8th is not a good option. They need Joba in the pen.

This is worthless- you people opined that Kobe should not have been MVP- that is just insane..

This is horrible. I bet this guy hasnt watched a NBA, MLB or NFL game in years.

"So that's my opening brief. File your respondent's brief, or amicus brief, in the comments.'

That's the lamest/saddest thing anyone has ever written.

More law jokes!

"as long as they don't have to move Cano or Melky for him."

LOL, typical idiot Yankees fan. Please don't Trade Robbie Cano! He might put up a .600 OPS this year. And Melky...a career .723 OPS is good for an outfielder, as long as he plays horrible defense, right?

Sports commentary doesn't preclude legal discussion. These posts are all gravy.

@ 10:21...Kobe being selfish is not the problem. Nor are the role players. Kobe needs to find a way to score, is all. The C's are all over him like cops on a celebrity rapist.

10:34 et al:

Lat doesn't really care why you come here to post, so long as they come here to post. Page views are page views, and the more you get the more ad space you can sell.

So keep coming in to complain.. It only reinforces the decision to have this feature.

"mediocre starting pitching" on the 1996 Yankees? Are you on crack?

Benson the latest of offensive first round draft disasters: Rashaan Salaam, Curtis Enis, David Terrell, Cade McNown, Rex Grossman? et. al.

please get rid of this feature. it has nothing to do with why i come to this site. the "sports and the law" are enough sports for me, this crosses the line.

The invidious hand of AIPAC is without doubt behind this feature. AIPAC is obviously seeking to undermine associate moral by diluting ATL's content with boring and irrelevant sports posts, thereby reducing traffic, eventually causing the downfall of Lateral Link, and preventing efficient movement of associates between firms. This will ultimately lead to the collapse of the entire US economy.

if you don't like it - then don't read it. There are hundreds of other people that DO enjoy this feature and there is no substantive reason why it should be removed.

That being said - all three things are acceptable, though I believe that Jackson is a great coach who has done a great job handling the biggest players/ego's in the game.

Do NBA coaches really do anything? Who listens to them?

NBA sucks, college bball is so much more fun to watch.

If we are going to read about sports here, can we at least have something on Euro '08?

If this feature is going to have any chance of working, you need to have someone writing it who is knowledgeable about sports.

1) What is the evidence that Joba is more valuable to the Yankees in the pen? An analogy to what worked in 1996? Seriously? Starters are clearly more valuable than relievers as a general matter and Edelman should have focused on why that would not be the case here.

2) This is coming about one year too late and is far from a bold statement. There was talk that Peterson should start over Benson last year.

3) Again, is this really a bold statement? Is anyone claiming that Phil has been a Zen master in the Finals? He's made some questionable decisions (leaving Radman on Pierce to get repeatedly torched) but much of the Lakers failings have been do to the poor defense and lack of aggressiveness on the part of the Lakers foreign triumverate (Gasol, Vujacic, and Vlade).

Did Peter King license the "Monday Morning Quarterback" title to ATL? Am I missing something here? Any trademark lawyers looking to make a few bucks?

Guys in my high school conspired with AIPAC to cause Lat to start generally unpopular non-legal posts on his legal gossip blog all the time, it was no big deal

1) Starting pitching is a greater need for the Yankees right now, especially after Wang left the game yesterday with an injury. When Joba puts it together, and throws a few quality starts, we'll see how many people will want him back in the pen.

2) Ced Ben was productive when he played, at least to the NFL average. Consider the offensive line he played behind last year, along with the rest of the dismal offense. Its hard to defend his behavior, but he has plenty of good yards left in him if someone would actually block for him (see his career in Austin)

1) Starting pitching is a greater need for the Yankees right now, especially after Wang left the game yesterday with an injury. When Joba puts it together, and throws a few quality starts, we'll see how many people will want him back in the pen.

2) Ced Ben was productive when he played, at least to the NFL average. Consider the offensive line he played behind last year, along with the rest of the dismal offense. Its hard to defend his behavior, but he has plenty of good yards left in him if someone would actually block for him (see his career in Austin)

"NBA sucks, college bball is so much more fun to watch."

There are many reasons why I watch and enjoy college basketball, but a desire to see high level play is not one of them. I honestly don't know how anyone could compare the two. It is like night and day. Going from the NBA to college is like going from watching HD to watching a radio.

Edelman appears to be a nothing but a SportsCenter level fan. He doesn't really know sports, but he watches SportsCenter once a week and parrots what he hears there. That's fine, except he's writing a sports column. I'm embarrassed for him.

People complaining about this post are likely harboring resentment over being ridiculed by athletes in high school.

I repeat the sentiment that this is a law bog. Many great sites for sports, and this is not it. Further, the "bold claims" are laughable - not bold and not original. I thought it was some sort of tongue-in-cheek post when I first read it....get rid of it

Joba needs to be in the pen. The decision to turn a reliever into a starter should be made in spring training. I am sick of the hype around Joba and I bet he is too.. Bottom line, he is a great middle reliever and a mediocre starter.

The Cards can trade the Yankees some of their relievers turned starters t hough.

(1) why not discuss the legal implications of NBA referees possibly fixing games?

(2) US open playoff is kind of important and could certainly lend itself to a "bold" prediction like "mediate/woods wins by x strokes"

(3) if we boycott this column, will it go away?

11:48: Psychology major in college, now ranked in bottom 1/3 of a TTT.

Actually, last week most commenters agreed this column is an idiotic idea.

quit being a laker hater

joba should defanitely be starting. the 90's yankees had good starting pitiching besides the troika (john sterling for the back end of bullpen). he seems the type to give you lots of quality innings which you just do not get anymore.

phil is overated!! nothing to talk about. All of the great coaches today would have those rings. pop from SA would have them. look at his team he has duncan and some others etc. but then again coaching/managing is generally overated. yes obviously winning is not possible without good players and so all "great" coaches had great players, but thats the point; all "great" coaches are overated.

now that said pat riley even though he screwed ny and van gundy in miami and now we cant stand him, was if one could say a great coach. look at what he did with the 90's knicks. the only great player was ewing and look at their track record. he is a coach that gets more than the max out of his players.

people don't visit this page to read some hack's sports opinions. espn.com and the multitude of other sites are bad enough. For the record i was a college athlete and not someone "picked on by athletes in high school."

Number 2 should beging: Even if Cedric Benson WERE not arrested . . .

Number 2 should begin: Even if Cedric Benson WERE not arrested . . .

10:22 -- Rivers surrounded KG with four shooters in the third quarter of Game 4. This spread the floor and the Lakers, because Jackson made no counter adjustments, had no answer for it. The rest is history--literally, as the Celts mounted the greatest comeback ever in the NBA finals.

I'm a Lakers fan, but I have to agree with Edelman here: Doc Rivers has out coached Phil Jackson in this series.

I can't believe this column having nothing to do with the law hasn't been cut yet

I only view this page to post how much this feature sucks!

It's one thing to have a column discussing sports law issues, but this is getting a bit too WFANish for my taste.

11:53 As to (3): Yes. Thats the whole point. Pageviews = money.

12:47, see above. Lat is happy with you coming to post that it sucks as long as you refresh the page.

Remember how when Lat is having a caption contest or naming contest or something similar, he continuously chides us that the entires should have something to do with the law? Funny, that...

I can't believe a collection of educated people can be this fucking stupid.

You hate the piece, but come and post/view it multiple times, thereby solidifying its place in the weekly lineup. You know and understand this, but still come and complain.

assuming the yankees are in win-now mode (do they have any other?), they should keep Joba in the rotation and trade Phil Hughes for Huston Street.

Agree that it would be great to see another setup/closer combination like Mo and Wetteland - it made the Yankees dominant that year. If they were tied going into the 7th, or even a run or two down, you could always figure they had a good shot and the win.

However, their starters right now are truly mediocre, unlike in '96 (from your link: Pettitte 21-8, Rogers 12-8, Gooden 11-7, Cone 7-2... sounds like a pretty good rotation to me). They need a great young arm in the rotation more than they need a setup guy for Mo.

To those bitching that pure sports stories have no place on a legal blog:

Calm down people--it's not that big of a deal. You would think the author of this posting pissed in your Cheerios. He's just trying to have some fun, and he has quite insightful posts (although it would have been nice to see some mention of one of the most exciting golf majors ever). It's fun to see what fellow law type people think about sports stuff.

You complainers act like your whole sense of the world is messed up now that sports postings are on a law blog. It's almost like you have OCD.

Yeah--take a deep breath. It's OK. There's a war going on, there's an idiot in the White House, gas is almost $5 a gallon and the slow economy has led to less legal work. Those are real things to worry about. Sports on a law blog, not so much.

1:51: Waa! Don't pick on the article writer! Waaa! It hurts his feelings! Waaa!

Shut up, TTT.

1:51 - Insightful posts? Are you shitting me? And this new groundbreaking feature of ATL still sucks...

How about instead of a post describing Cedric Benson's drinking troubles we get something legitimately related to the law: The trial in which the City of Seattle is attempting to specifically enforce its lease agreement with the Sonics started today.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008000147_sonitrial16web.html

I don't find it that difficult to skip the posts that don't interest me and read the ones that do. Now you try!

The argument that Phil Jackson is overrated is overrated. He took the Bulls to the finals after the previous coach failed to do so with the same talent. Including Jordan. All due respect to Pat Riley, his management of the Heat this year was Isiah-esque.

as an avid sports fan, let me just say how stupid this feature is. No one comes here for your take on sports -- if we want that, we go to deadspin or any of the other dozesns of quality sports blogs.

Do any of you guys advocating Joba going back to the Pen even follow the Yankees? Wang is out for at least six weeks with a torn tendon/ligament in his foot, and the Yankees have no aces. If they don't trade for a pitcher in the next couple weeks, Joba is the best thrower they got. Better to get 5-7 innings from him per game than just one as a set-up man.