411 Sports Fact or Fiction 02.21.2007: Jason Kidd, the Franchise Tag, Spring Training, and More!

Posted by Dan Owen on 02.21.2008

The New Jersey Nets' Jason Kidd is finally headed back to Dallas, but was it a good trade for the Mavericks? Plus, could there be another big name moving before the NBA's 3:00 PM trade deadline on Thursday? All that and more in this week's edition of Sports Fact or Fiction!

Hey there sports fans. It wasn't a particularly active week for sports news, but hey, we've still got plenty to talk about. But before we get started, let's meet the participants.

Relative newcomer to the Sports Zone Chris Widner checks in with his take on the sports world Behind the Numbers.

Taking on Chris is Games and Sports Zones' stalwart Sean Garmer, who can also be seen in the Soccer edition of Fact or Fiction.


1. The trade for Jason Kidd vaults the Dallas Mavericks to the top contender for the the Western Conference Championship.

Chris Widner: Fiction

As a Mavs fan myself, I had been hoping this trade would fall through. At 34 years old, Kidd is still one of the elite point guards in the league but he's a step or two behind defensively when compared to Devin Harris. With Diop gone the Mavs are going to have to rely on Dirk for interior defense which is a scary thought. With this trade, the Mavs cannot afford to have an off-night offensively because this defense just got thin.

Sean Garmer: Fiction

I'm the biggest Mavs fan you will find on this planet (I live in Dallas), and I'm going to say no. Jason Kidd gives them experience at the point guard position that they didn't have with Devin Harris. Kidd is better defensively in the post, as opposed to Harris who was a great defender on the perimeter. Jason Kidd though is 34 years old, and that's the bad thing, you can't teach the speed and quickness that Devin Harris had. However, this trade works for what the Mavs wanted, that's to have a great player to come in and kick them in the butt, and show them what it means to win. As Avery said in the press conference yesterday they now have a quarterback, and that's what you want in your point guard. I'm just a little weary that Kidd isn't scoring as much, but maybe he will find that touch again once he starts playing for Dallas. I think the biggest loss in this trade, aside from Harris, and the Picks, was Diop. He played really hard, always scraped for rebounds and got blocks. The Mavericks lost a lot of size in this deal and that may hurt them in the long run. They need to go sign some free agent big men, or they are going to have a large problem with the Lakers, Spurs, and Suns of this world. Overall though, I believe it was a great trade for the Mavs, they got a fresh face in there, but I won't believe them being top of the West until I see it.

Score: 1 for 1


2. Jason Kidd will not be the last superstar to be traded before the 3 P.M deadline today.

Chris Widner: Fiction

The Vince Carter/Jermaine O'Neal trade sounds all but dead, so unless something changes drastically you've seen the last of the superstar trades this year. There's a lot of talk about teams going after Ron Artest, but it sounds like the Kings are asking too much for him at this point.

Sean Garmer: Fact

I think there will be another big trade done before that. There are a lot of teams that are looking for pieces. I don't know, Ron Artest maybe? Lots of talk of Vince Carter? I think something big is going to go down.

Score: 1 for 2


3. The NFL's system of being able to retain players with the "Franchise Tag" is a good system that should remain in place for the league.

Chris Widner: Fact

The franchise tag allows the team, and the player, an opportunity to extend time to work on a contract. Contracts in the NFL are a tricky thing because of the salary cap, injury concerns, and the lack of guaranteed money for the most part. So if the team is willing to pay the player big money for a year so that they can continue to work on a longer deal, then it's good for both parties.

Sean Garmer: Fact

I really like what the Franchise Tag does for teams. It allows them to keep a player and renegotiate the contract, and allows a team to keep a player they feel is vital to their squad. It may cause a little bit of bad blood with that player, but most of the time things work themselves out. This also allows teams to wrap up this player, and be able to use salary cap money to keep other key players. It may suck for the player because they can't leave to go get bigger money elsewhere, but for the league it is a very good thing.

Score: 2 for 3



SWITCH!



4. Baseball players that are coming clean about their steroid usage instead of denying it should see reduced punishments.

Sean Garmer: Fact

Yes, I understand that what they've done is illegal, and they should still be punished, but there is as much pressure for those that decide to come out and say they used steroids, as those that decide to keep it inside. The ridicule from fans and the media, possibly some ill will from the players as well. However, the chances that America will forgive them is more likely if they just say "I did Steroids" instead of going through all this denial and legal crap. Really, if we have to bothered with this news every single day, and then come to find out the person did use steroids, I really do hope you get a severe punishment. I really think the government should offer amnesty to the players so that they could say what is necessary, and then after that rules can be put in place. All this steroids talk hurts the game, I don't like Baseball, but anyone can tell that when the focus is more off the field, than on it, you have a problem. Also, this crap gets very boring when it happens daily.

Chris Widner: Fact

I think Sean brings up a very good point about this dragging on longer than really necessary. It has taken the focus off of the field and put it on the legal system. By all accounts there was a serious issue in baseball, so whatever it takes to move past that is good for the game and, more importantly, the fans.

Score: 3 for 4


5. Baseball's Spring Training is the best "pre-season" of all major sports.

Sean Garmer: Fiction

To me personally its Soccer because you get to see most of the players playing in big competitions for their national teams, along with the constant transfer talk that is going on for the clubs. Truly though, I don't think it is for American sports. Maybe before the NFL has gotten as big as it is now. The NFL hardly has an offseason between the combine, the draft, the free agent signings, training camp, and there is a reason that the preseason games are shown on television. People care about them, they want to see the younger players develop, who is going to be a surprise for their teams. Baseball has such a long season, the preseason matters even less, especially when all the talk going in hardly has anything to do with actual baseball playing. Johan Santana's trade has gotten nowhere near the coverage that the steroids crap has. If that's what is going to be the talk of every Baseball preseason, I really would rather not hear it.

Chris Widner: Fiction

The NFL pre-season is the best you're going to find as it's a good way to see the new players and the backups in action. You know how your team's starters are going to play, so it's nice to see what your other guys are going to look like. Although the games themselves don't matter at all, the play on the field means everything. Sean also has a good point about the national soccer teams being in action. Anytime you're playing for your country it's something you take seriously, so that's got to go ahead of pre-season baseball.

Score: 4 for 5


6. March is the best month for sports fans with Spring Training in full swing, the NFL's free agent signing period, both the NHL and NBA moving into all-out "Playoff Chase" mode, and of course the NCAA's March Madness.

Chris Widner: Fact

Let's add to that the MLS season starting, Champions League Quarterfinals, the European Leagues are entering the home stretch that makes it for a grand March. The NBA's playoff chase starts to get very good around this time, with teams trying to lockup their places for the playoffs. It means more in the NHL because their season is closer to ending than the NBA's. Then there's the big one of them all. Not many things touch March Madness in terms of excitement. The people that have their brackets out trying to win big prizes or in office pools, the true fans of the sport that watch every second, and lets not forget people like me, that get to see their school in the tournament, and dream big. Thinking how crazy would it be if we got to the Final Four! I don't watch much College Basketball, but when March Madness begins I'm watching almost every game. Every year when it gets to be March I start getting ready to get those brackets going and I get really excited. Then I think when this is over MLS starts, and yeah… I'm a sports freak what can I say. March Madness is one of a kind and it makes March a big deal in Sports. Just with all the things going on during that month it has to be the biggest in Sports.

Sean Garmer: Fact

The NHL and NBA are starting the final stretch of their seasons, and Spring Training has every fan anxious for the regular season. Throw in the NFL's free-agent period as well as the draft on the horizon and things are even better. I get to watch the PGA and remember what green grass and sunny skies look like, and NASCAR is in full effect. You have the most passionate playoff's you'll ever find with March Madness, and I just love filling out those brackets. I already have my tickets for the New England Revolution home opener, so yeah, March is the best month in sports.

Score: 5 for 6

Well, that's all for Week 3 of 411's Sports Fact or Fiction, be sure to check back next Thursday!