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jaytalking-blog · 11 years

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The Greatest Ever...

The number 91 is something one might associate with as the runs scored by a cricket batsman or the points in a basketball game. But this is actually the number of goals scored by a certain Lionel Messi in the calendar year 2012. Yes 91!!! He not only surpassed Geurd Muller's long standing record of 85 but smashed it enroute to a record fourth world player of the year. Add to this that he already has 19 club titles and one Olympic Gold medal to his name. If he stopped playing football today, we surely would be talking about him as one of the greatest ever to grace the field. Unfortunately for his opponents Messi is still only 25 with his prime ahead of him and while for billions of fans around the world, well we cant get enough of him.

Arsene Wenger once famously was quoted as saying that “Messi is like a playstation player”. These comments were made right after Messi had just single handedly demolished Wenger’s side by scoring 4 goals in a champions league game. Watching him play brings a smile to your face, as he effortlessly glides past the opposition and wiggles his way through myriad of players. The beauty of watching him play is that he makes the game look so simple and yet most people are left thinking ‘how the hell did he just pull that off’. The sad part for the other great players of this generation is that they just so happened to be playing football at the same time as Messi. For the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Ronaldo would be left thinking as to what they need to do to win the Ballon d’Or. It is just not that the Barca Number 10 is a footballing genius but also the fact that he conducts himself with the utmost humility and dignity (a quality most superstar professional athletes seem to lack these days) which has helped endear him to the masses.

Having said that, despite all his achievements till date, you will still find a small section of sports enthusiasts doubting Messi’s abilities. Their argument hinges on the fact that Messi is what he is because he is playing in arguably the greatest club side ever. They further point to the lack of success that the Argentine national team has had during the past couple of years. I believe that this argument is baseless and lacks credibility. There is no denying the fact that Messi has greatly benefited by playing with the likes of a Xavi, Iniesta and Alves and yes he is lucky to have played under Guardiola. But to say that his achievements are over glossed is completely ludicrous. Messi is the best player of his generation by miles and is a shoe in for the debate of the three greatest ever. We forget that he has been playing 60+ games for the past four years straight and has shown a thirst and instinct to score like no one else before him ever has. Either which ways, one will always find his detractors who will never be satisfied. All I can say is that lets sit back and watch the Messiaah in action and admire and cherish one of the greatest athletes in sports.

#Lionel Messi #cristiano ronaldo #xavi #iniesta #Barcelona #Football

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jaytalking-blog · 11 years

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What's wrong with the Lakers

This was supposed to be the season when Kobe got his cherished 6th. The season when the lakers banished the disappointment of the past two seasons and raised another banner at the Staples center. This past off season, Mitch Kupchak was tasked with surrounding Kobe with the pieces that were required to achieve these goals. So what does he do, he goes out and gets the 3 time defensive player of the year and a 2 time MVP. With the additions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, the lakers assembled a starting line up of four hall of famers: 1. Steve Nash 2. Kobe Bryant 3. Ron Artest 4. Pau Gasol 5. Dwight Howard The season which started with the loftiest of expectations, has snowballed into one of a major disappointment. With 1/3rd of the regular season done, the Showtime Lakers are languishing 11th in the Western Conference with a under .500 record. In Hollywood, this is not how the script was written. There was talks of beating the Bulls 72-10 record. Training camp started with a huge buzz around the team. However, 5 games into the season, Mike Brown and his Princeton Offence were out of the window. The Lakers just could not get a handle on the complicated offence that he wanted to run. With Mike Brown out of the door, the grapevine was buzzing with the possibility of the messiah coming back one last time. Phil Jackson seemed like the perfect fit to take the new look lakers to their 17th World championship. However, things were not meant to be. Jim Buss pulled the plug on this Hollywood style reunion and in comes Mike D’Antoni. D’Antoni was the man who coached Steve Nash and the “run and gun” Suns to the Western Conference finals. He was the one who coached Nash to two successive MVP awards. 27 games into the his reign, the Lakers have a 14-13 record and are struggling to show any sort of consistency. D’Antoni’s style of basketball is not suited for the aging lakers. Kobe Bryant is having a MVP like season, where he is scoring the most he has in his career and is shooting lights out. Yet he is seeing his team struggle. Pau Gasol is having a difficulty in playing the stretch four in D’Antoni’s system. It is sad to see one of the most skilled big men in the game struggle so badly. Dwight howard has not altered the defence the way it was expected. Superman is not close to 100% and one can see his that his back is still not at its healthiest. Nash has missed a majority of the season and is just settling into his role. In addition, the Lakers bench has been torrid and has been one of the worst in the league. With a third of the season gone, most people have already written off the Lakers. However, I believe there is too much talent and too much firepower to pull the plug on them yet. It is difficult to write of Kobe on any given day, but especially when you surround him with three future hall of famers. I have always been a Laker’s fan and I still believe that this might be the season and the team that leads Bryant to his much hallowed 6th ring. However, for that to happen D’Antoni will have to alter the run and gun system and allow Nash and Bryant to run their own plays. Further, the bench will have to start having an impact and contribute meaningfully. But most importantly, the core four will have to remain healthy till June of this year.

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jaytalking-blog · 12 years

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Miami Heat's Woes

“Not one not two not three...” are the infamous words that were said in July 2010. The Miami Heat had a pulled a coup by getting Lebron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade and create a new super team. Expectations were already sky high and then that was said. Without having played a single minute of basketball, the tri-fecta made their intentions clear and announced quite emphatically their intentions of dominating the basketball landscape by winning seven (who is counting) championships. Fast forward to 2012 and the Heat are two losses away from getting eliminated the Eastern Conference Semis and yes they are still 7 championships away from their promise.

It is correct to assume that not having won, the last two years have been majorly disappointing for the Heat, but what has made it worse is the bold promise on which this team started their tenure on. When Derrick Rose blew his ACL, people expected the Bulls to lose and lose they did. They were however not mocked because they had never laid claims and promised world domination. So when Chris Bosh went down with an abdominal strain, many knew it would be difficult for the Heat to beat the resurgent Pacers, given the fact that the contest was now essentially a 2 on 5. However, now with the Heat staring at another trophyless campaign, the swords are out in full force. The dissection of this current team has reached epic proportions. What does not help is the fact the Wade is having his worst playoff performance. So unless, Lebron essentially does what he did in Cleveland (beat teams and win series on his own), the Heat are staring at another long summer of introspection. I wonder if they would do things differently in that fateful summer party (July 2010) of theirs. At least they were correct in saying “not one not two not three..” because the number currently is a big zero and for all practical purposes looks to be that way.

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jaytalking-blog · 12 years

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Season for the Ages

As the league moved to May 13th, there was still so much to be decided and all to play for. What we witnessed on that final day is arguably the greatest single day of football. Manchester City-- nearly managed to implode and gift the title to United. The blue half of manchester was ready to drown in sorrow and the perennial City jokes were about to start doing the rounds once again. City has been undoubtedly the best team in the country and all they needed to do was to beat Queen Park Rangers at the Etihad and the 44 year wait would have been over. QPR came into the game with a wretched away form and for all practical purposes it seemed like a walk in the park for City. However, what we witnessed that day will long live in the memories of all sports fans. With 92 minutes done, City were losing 2-1 and if it stayed that way United would have won the league. QPR had defended with gusto and managed to hold the blue army at bay. Enter Edin Dzeko and a towering header later the scores are tied. Miles away at the Stadium of Light, the United players and fans are waiting patiently knowing that in 2 minutes they are going to be crowned Champions of England. However, with one powerful swing of his right boot, Kun Aguero decided 3,500 minutes worth of football. A season’s effort came down to the 95th minute on the final day of what has truly been an unbelievable season. City had scored and the title was theirs. The scenes at the Eithad that day were unbelievable, the noisy neighbors, the rich upstarts had done it. They had usurped United and claimed the right to be called the champions of England. As dust settles on one of the most topsy turvy sports seasons ever, we can say that the best team did win the league.

It was just not the title that was on the line, but 3rd and 4th place were also up for grabs. Newcastle, Arsenal and Tottenham all had the chance to claim the final champions league places. Arsenal after their worst start to the season, were a victory away from sealing 3rd place. This would have been a tremendous achievement, given all the drama that has gone around their season. Losing their two best players-- Fabregas and Nasri at the beginning of the season did not help. Then came the thrashing at the hands of United, and everyone was already writing the Eulogies for Wenger. However, what we witnessed during the following eight months was Robin Van Persie’s class and his 30 goals which carried the Gunners through the season. They were able to come back from a 2-1 deficit and win which guaranteed them 3rd place. Tottenham finished 4th and as it stood had qualified for Europe’s greatest club competition given that Munich beat Chelsea at home to win the UCL. This brings us to the events of last night. Chelsea have had a quite sub standard year and finished 6th in the Premier League. In the middle of march, they were staring down the barrel of a horrendous season. Their young manager Andre Villas-Boas had just been fired and they were on the brink of elimination from Europe as well. The last three months and the reign of Roberto Di Matteo can only be described as unbelievable. He had managed to get the stalwarts, i.e. Drogba, Lampard, Cole and Terry to believe and believe they did. What started with an unbelievable 4-1 victory against Napoli culminated last night in Munich. Chelsea were just happy to be in the Munich, after the rollercoaster of the semi final against Barcelona, most people gave Chelsea no chance against a resurgent Munich side. The game started as most had expected. Munich were on the front foot from the beginning and the entire game was played in Chelsea’s half. However, for all their domination the score was still 0-0 until in the 83rd minute a Mueller again dashed English hopes. This time it was Thomas and not Gerd ( most England fan will know the legendary German). With five minutes to go, one could see the Allianz Arena readying itself for the biggest party of the year. What they did not realize that in Didier Drogba, Chelsea has one of the best big game players and by stretching every sinew of his neck muscles, Drogba was able to drag Chelsea back. 88 minutes gone and the scores are level. In extra time, one knew this was Chelsea’s year when Peter Cech managed to save an Arjen Robben penalty. The momentum had clearly swung and the Bavarians could feel it. However, Munich fans could take comfort in the fact that their team had never lost on penalties (in Europe) and Chelsea had never won on penalties. However, given the unpredictable nature of this season, it wasn’t this simple. Chelsea completed the most unlikeliest of victories as Drogba beat Nuer to give the pensioners their Holy Grail. Chelsea had won the champions league and the script seemed to have been written by a Hollywood writer. It was Drogba who scored the winning goal, and this seemingly dysfunctional Chelsea team had conquered Europe. They had given their owner-- the title he had spent close to a Billion pounds on. Finally, Chelsea were Kings of Europe and the old-guard of Lampard, Drogba, Cech and Cole had managed to wrest the title away from the Bavarians at home. The immediate impact of Chelsea’s triumph is that Tottenham do not make it to the UCL next season and instead the 6th place Chelsea will be defending their title. This past season has been an absolutely astounding year of football. A year in which Lionel Messi cemented his status as the best ever player by scoring 72 goals. A year in which Jose Moruinho and his Madristas were finally able to wrest the title away from Barcelona. A year in which the English title was decided by the last kick of the game. A Year in which Chelsea (yes Chelsea) were crowned kings of Europe. For all us football fans out there it has been a joy to watch and all I can say now is that I can’t wait for the European Championships to start in June.

#Chelsea; FC Barcelona: Bayern Munich; Real Madrid;

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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Are Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons Safe?

According to most observers, Pakistan has the fastest growing nuclear arsenal in the world. In their Congressional report titled ‘Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues’, Kerr and Nikitin note that the country currently has anywhere between 90-110 nuclear warheads and that Islamabad is frenetically producing fissile material, adding to related production facilities and deploying additional delivery vehicles (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). Adding to the uncertainty around Islamabad’s nuclear ambitions is the lack of a stated nuclear doctrine. However, its “minimum credible deterrent” is widely regarded as designed to dissuade India from taking military action against Pakistan (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011).

Given the ambiguity of Pakistan’s nuclear stance, the alarming pace at which it is adding to its arsenal and the increasingly deteriorating domestic security situation, there are grave concerns about the security of its arsenal. Kerr and Nikitin note that since 2001, Islamabad has sought to allay international fears about the safety of its nuclear weapons by taking a number of steps to increase their security. First, the country has overhauled its nuclear command and control structure. Second, it has implemented new personnel security programs. Also, in light of the proliferation network run by former nuclear scientist A.Q Khan, Pakistan has also taken steps to ensure that no further proliferation of nuclear related technologies and materials takes place. Pakistan has also strengthened its export control laws (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). However many concerns still exist. The durability of these measures has been often questioned. Many observers fear that there is the possibility of a radical takeover of the government or proliferation by radical sympathizers within Pakistan’s nuclear complex.

Chronic political instability in the country and it’s fight against the Taliban and Al Qaeda have raised concerns about the security of its nuclear weapons. However, US officials have generally expressed confidence in the security of these nuclear weapons. President Obama addressed this issue in an April 29, 2009 press conference, stating, “I’m confident that we can make sure that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is secure, primarily, initially, because the Pakistani army, I think, recognizes the hazards of those weapons falling into the wrong hands. We've got strong military-to-military consultation and cooperation.” He also recognized the sensitivity of the issue for Pakistan, saying, “[w]e want to respect their sovereignty, but we also recognize that we have huge strategic interests, huge national security interests in making sure that Pakistan is stable and that you don't end up having a nuclear-armed militant state” (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf also weighed in on the issue and recently told CNN that, “if Pakistan disintegrates, then it can be dangerous. Otherwise, if Pakistan’s integrity is there, and which I'm sure it will be there as long as the armed forces of Pakistan are there, there is no danger of the nuclear assets or strategic assets falling in any terrorist hands” (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). Islamabad has also sought out the cooperation of the US to help improve the security measures Musharraf had told journalists that, “ [Islamabad has] given State Department nonproliferation experts insight into the command and control of the Pakistani arsenal and its on-site safety and security procedures.”

According to some American Department of Defence Reports, Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are probably stored in component form which implies that the warheads and delivery vehicles are stored separately. Further, it is believed that the fissile cores of the weapons are probably separated from the non nuclear explosives. The veracity of these facts in unclear, but another report corroborates that the warheads and delivery vehicles are stored separately but in facilities close to each other. According to Kerr and Nikitin, separate storage does provide an extra layer of security and could prevent thefts, but also that it may be easier for unauthorized

people to remove a weapon’s fissile material core if it is not assembled. Further, they note that the dispersal of the assets may also create more potential access points for acquisition and may increase the risk of diversion (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). Despite the apparent security measures undertaken by Islamabad, there remains the very palpable fear amongst Western observers about the safety of Pakistan’s arsenal. In 2008, Michael Krepon of the Henry L. Stimson Center has argued that “a prolonged period of turbulence and infighting among the country’s President, Prime Minister, and Army Chief” could jeopardize the army’s unity of command, which “is essential for nuclear security.” During that time, U.S. military officials also expressed concern about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. However, more recently, American experts have expressed their confidence in the safety of Islamabad’s weapons, but admit that “vulnerabilities exist”. Assurance has come from this highest echelons of America’s military establishment, with General Petraeus stating on May 10, 2009, that “[w]ith respect to the—the nuclear weapons and—and sites that are controlled by Pakistan … we have confidence in their security procedures and elements and believe that the security of those sites is adequate (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). Despite the increasing violence in the country American officials believe that installations are still relatively safe. Asked about the security of Pakistan’s weapons following a May 2011 insurgent attack on a military installation in Karachi, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake stated June 21 that “there is much more heightened security around” Pakistan’s nuclear weapons facilities than at the Karachi installation where the attack took place. Despite these assurances by top American officials, there is no denying the fact that the Americans actually know very little about Islamabad’s nuclear program. For example, former CIA director Leon Panetta acknowledged that the United States does not possess the intelligence to locate all of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons-related sites. In the international community, there are mixed reactions with regards to the safety of Pakistan’s weapons, with the French and British expressing confidence in Islamabad’s ability to safeguard its weapons. However, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said in a March 24, 2009, television interview that Moscow is “very much concerned” about the security of Pakistan’s arsenal (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). Indian officials have sporadically expressed concerns about the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal with the most recent instance following the May 2011 insurgent attack on the Karachi military installation. Pakistan however, always maintains a defiant stand and expresses confidence in its security measures. Even after the unilateral American raid that killed Bin Laden in May, Prime Minster Gilani stated May 25, 2011, that the country’s “strategic assets are well protected...” In spite of Pakistani assurances, it is well believed that the Americans have a contingency plan in place if the weapons were compromised. U.S. plans to secure Pakistani nuclear weapons in case of a loss of control, were famously addressed by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s, “[we] have noted this problem, and we are prepared to try to deal with it” (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). However, such public comments have been limited and American officials have publicly stated that they have no intentions of seizing Islamabad’s weapons. As mentioned earlier, the US has limited itself to providing assistance to Pakistan to safeguard its weapons and facilities. This assistance, which many believe was offered after 9/11 includes, sharing of best practices and technical measures to prevent unauthorized or accidental use of nuclear weapons, as well as contribute to physical security of storage facilities and personnel reliability. In addition, it is widely believed that Pakistan requires at least three people to authenticate launch codes for nuclear weapons. Further, security at nuclear sites in Islamabad is the responsibility of a 10,000-member security force which is commanded by a two-star general. It is also reported that Islamabad has developed Permissive Action Links (PALs) for its warheads without American assistance. This system requires a code to be entered before a weapon can be detonated.

Despite these security measures, Islamabad not only faces the threat of theft or the weapons falling in the wrong hands but also the very real possibility of proliferation. These are very real fears as previously there have been instances of proliferation. In 2001, two British trained Pakistani scientists, Bashiruddin Mahmood and Abdul Majeed were detained by the Pakistani Authorities on America’s request. These two scientists had a long career in Pakistan’s Nuclear Program and held various senior posts. Mahmood had worked as the head of the Khoshab nuclear facility until he resigned in protest against the Pakistan Government’s willingness to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). His hard line views were further strengthened when he was once quoted as saying “[Pakistan’s nuclear capability] is the property of the entire Ummah {Muslim Community}” (Hussain, 2007). Under interrogation, both rogue scientists told the authorities that they had held a series of meeting with al-Qaeda and even met with Bin Laden to advice him on nuclear and biological weapons. After a series of arrests, both men were eventually freed in 2002, despite them having violated the secrecy oath during there many sojourns to Afghanistan.

This however, was only a “minor” transgression, when AQ Khan’s proliferation network came to light. Khan is accused of providing the North Koreans with centrifuge technology in exchange for missile technology. Additionally, it is believed that Khan exported centrifugal uranium enrichment plants to Iran. Drawings and other nuclear materials were also shipped out secretly. The most damning indictment of Khan’s proliferation came when US agents intercepted a German Ship named BBC China, carrying parts for a Libyan nuclear facility. Further investigations revealed that nuclear scientists in Libya were working on the project had a “full bomb dossier” from Pakistan. It included not only complete centrifuges and enriched uranium for weapons but also the design of the atomic bomb. The export of nuclear materials to Libya dwarfed the previous proliferation to both Iran and North Korea. Since, the revelations of Khan’s network, Pakistan has increased its effort to ensure that an operation like this does not resurface. One such step was that Islamabad adopted a new national export controls legislation which includes a requirement that the government issue control lists for “goods, technologies, material, and equipment which may contribute to designing, development, stockpiling, [and] use” of nuclear weapons and related delivery systems (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). The export controls legislation also includes a “catch-all clause”, which makes it mandatory for exporters to notify the government if they suspect that goods or technology are intended by the end-user for use in nuclear or biological weapons, or missiles capable of delivering such weapons. The legislation also includes numerous penalties for violators. In 2007, Islamabad with the help the IAEA, implemented “National Security Action Plan” to further limit proliferation.

The current status of Pakistan’s export network is unclear, however, many observers believe that it has been damaged considerably. in 2007, then Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte implied that the network had been dismantled when he asserted that “Pakistan had been a major source of nuclear proliferation until the disruption of the A. Q. Khan network” (Kerr and Nikitin, 2011). More recently, a State Department Press release noted that “[Pakistan’s network] is no longer operational”. Clearly, the United States is more or less satisfied with the steps taken by Islamabad to curb proliferation.

Given the myriad of conflicts that are plaguing Pakistan, there always does exist a slight possibility that the weapons fall into the wrong hands or there is another instance of proliferation. However, one must also credit Islamabad for taking increased precautions and stepping up security around it’s arsenal. However, in the increasingly unpredictable region, one must be ready for the worst case scenario.

#Pakistan #USA #Nuclear Weapons

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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My NBA Team of the Season

With the start of the season cancelled and no respite in site, all us NBA fans have to keep our basketball deprived minds busy. I have been trying but have failed miserably in this endeavor. However when I reminisce about last season, I think about some off the standout performances. Dirk Nowitzki’s unbelievable playoff performance is one such act that comes to mind. Thinking about all the amazing performances got me to come up with what I would like to call Jay’s Team of the Season. Coming up with such a team, not only requires a lot of effort but also a lot of balls as I would be leaving out some great players from the list (more on this later). An endeavor such as this requires a lot of heart and so here is my attempt at it:

Center Dwight Howard Selecting Superman as my starting center was the easiest pick for me. In Dwight, Orlando has the most dominant big man in the league. His defence has always been spectacular and his three consecutive defensive player of the year awards speak for itself. He has always been dominant around the rim but he but has also added an extra offensive dimension to his game making him a more complete player. His numbers clearly speak for themselves. He averaged 22.1 points per game last season, a good chunk above the 18 he has averaged throughout his career. His field goal percentage was also up as he shot converted close to 60% of his shots. He had a stellar season and was responsible for carrying his mediocre team into the playoffs. In Dwight, the league has the most dominant big man since Shaq wore a Lakers uniform. The similarities between the two do not end here, but there is a good chance that Dwight might follow Shaq’s footsteps and trade sunny Orlando for the bright lights of Hollywood. More on that here. Power Forward Dirk Nowitzki There was only one choice in my mind for the starting 4 position. Though this past season saw the emergence of some very talented and promising PF’s such as LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin and some stellar performances from Amare Stoudamire and Zach Randolph, the big German was my choice. Dirk has been a perennial all star and former league MVP, but his failures in the playoffs have also hindered his legacy. But what we saw last season from Dirk was simply awesome. His 48 point game against the Thunder in the first game of the Western Conference Finals was legendary. He shot an NBA record 24-24 from the free throw line and just missed 3 shots from the field. Dirk did not stop there and powered his team to their first NBA championship by outclassing the Heat. He averaged 26 points in the finals and consistently came up with clutch shots en route to his first finals MVP trophy. Small Forward Lebron James I am not a Lebron James fan and for anyone who reads my articles would know that by now. But there is no denying that Lebron is one of the best players in the league. James was second in the league in scoring at 26.7 points a game, to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists a game. Despite his phenomenal numbers, I am not picking King James solely on them. In Lebron I have a player who has the speed and vision to play the point and the strength and size to dominate most 4’s in the league. James provides my team with the sort of flexibility that all coaches would dream off. Yes, his fourth quarter struggles have been well documented, but what is lost in all the hoopla is the fact that Lebron did have a brilliant season and had a stellar playoff (barring the finals). His dismantling of the Celtics and the Bulls was amazing and barring his major disappointment in the finals, he had a fantastic first season in Miami and therefore gets the nod to start in my team. Shooting Guard Dwayne Wade

In choosing Flash at my 2 position, I am overlooking my favorite and one of the all time greats-- Kobe Bryant. But Wade deserves the starting position for my team as he had a stellar season. He was in my opinion, the best player on the Heat team. His performances on both ends of the floor were unbelievable and his numbers speak for themselves. He averaged 25.5 points, 5 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. As good as his numbers are, Wade was also the leader of his team and led them to the finals where he was the second best player on the court (after Dirk). Many people thought that with the arrival of Lebron, Wade’s role would diminish and his importance would fall. But anyone who followed the Heat this past season would vouch for the fact that Wade was still the alpha male of the team.

Point Guard Derrick Rose There were many contenders for this spot, but my favorite point guard was the reigning league MVP-- Derrick Rose. Rose who took the league by storm en route to the MVP award averaged 25 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds this season. He was the only player in the top 10 in scoring and assists. His numbers don’t do justice to the season Rose had. He took an average Bulls team and powered them to the best record in the league. He also took a team that starts Keith Bogans at 2 to the Eastern Conference Finals. His value to the Bulls is unmatched amongst any other player and he clearly deserved the “Most Valuable Player” award and therefore deserves to start on Jay’s Dream Team as well. Coach Tom Thibodeau Given the offensive firepower that my team has, I needed to select a coach who could also mould them into an amazing defensive unit. And therefore Thib’s was my choice as coach. The first-year head coach led the Bulls to a 62-20 regular season and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and all the way to Conference Finals. His record as head coach is awesome, but what is even better is the way he got the Bulls playing defence. No team held opponents to a lower shooting percentage or outrebounded them by a wider margin than the Bulls, who were also second to Miami in average scoring differential. Given his defensive reputation and his great man management skills, Thib’s I believe is the perfect man to lead my team. As I finish writing this article, I am back to reality and now face a long year with the very real possibility of no NBA action. However, to keep basketball discussions alive, I would like to hear back from you guys, about your starting five and what would you do differently.

#Dwight Howard #Dirk Nowitzki #LeBron James #Dwayne Wade #Derrick Rose

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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What If..

As November 1st comes closer, I along with millions of Basketball fans keep thinking about “what if.” What if the labor negotiations had been successful, then we would be watching the NBA champions Dallas Mavericks open the season against the Chicago Bulls. What if the labor negotiations had been successful, then we would get an opportunity to witness (pardon my use of the word, I couldn’t resist it) the Heat try and fulfill their “destiny” of winning their “first of multiple championships”. But as the battle between the Billionaires (owners) and Millionaires (players) shows no sign of reaching its logical conclusion, most of us (fans) have been left with the “what ifs”. It seems like there has been some movement forward between the two parties, but there is still a long way to go before any agreement can be reached. Chief amongst it is the Basketball related income and how it should be split. The previous agreement was heavily biased in favor of the players as they received 57% of the income while the owners received just 43. The players have made some concessions and agreed to reduce their demands and agreed to a share of 53%. But this figure is still millions of dollars away from what the owners have in mind. The owners have drawn their line in the sand and have decided that they will not move past their offer of a 50-50 split. Such an offer, if the papers are to be believed, has resulted in some friction amongst the players. Washington Wizards blocking and dunking machine, JaVale McGee was recently quoted as saying, “There’s definitely some guys in there saying that they’re ready to fold. But there are some guys — the majority are willing to stand strong”. After this quote went viral, there was a major uproar and most of the players led by Derek Fisher showed their displeasure immediately.

Logically speaking, most of us believe that there is going to be some divide amongst the players. The stars such as Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James etc have already amassed hundreds of millions and can live off their endorsement contracts, while some of the fringe players definitely need their NBA salary to support their families. So the united front being presented by the Player’s Union does seem a little hard to believe. In the past week, some additional developments have taken place. It is believed that the union and the league had some how managed to come to a conclusion and were ready to make a deal to save the entire season. It it widely being reported that the two parties had agreed in principal to a 50-50 split and were working on selling the idea to their respective members. This is where, things get a little confusing and according to many reports, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett walked into the owners rooms and said that this deal was not possible. The even split of BRI was off. The players wanted 53%. Or no deal. So once again, the NBA finds itself in the same position. The first two weeks of the season have already been canceled and with each passing day the likely hood of any NBA basketball this season looks less likely. The one thing that is for certain in the increasingly confusing negations is that the NBA (players and owners included) are doing an extremely good job of alienating the fans. What seems to be lost on both parties is that the fans are and equal part of the equation and without the support of millions of fans the league will be nowhere. The resentment amongst the fans is palpable and will be even more wide spread once November comes around. For me, personally the cancellation of the season will definitely make me lose some of my passion for the NBA (but not for Basketball). As the negotiations (or lack of) drag on, I am left wondering “What if Bryant, Pierce and Garnett had not walked into the room.......”

#NBA #Lockout #Derek FIsher #Kobe Bryant #Paul Pierce #Lebron James #Dwayne Wade #Kevin Garnett

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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D-Rose to repeat as MVP?

There are very few people who can argue that D-Rose was not deserving of his MVP award last season. Not only did he carry his team to the league’s best record, but also put up some stellar numbers. Everybody remembers the acrobatic and gravity defying points in the paint, but we forget how he improved his jump shot. His number’s speak volumes about his stellar season. He averaged 25.1 points per game during the season and 27.1 during the playoffs. Both were career highs and he averaged 4.3 rebounds per game which was another career high. His assists per game were also up and so was his FG percentage. So why did it come as a surprise to some people when he got the MVP award? The simple reason is that no one expected it. Here was this 22 year kid, who was no doubt a good player and athletically gifted, but he wasn’t clearly in the same league as the Durants, James and Bryants. Many people thought he was arrogant when famously shocked the world in pre-season by asking the question “Why can’t I be MVP”. He answered his critics by his performances by winning the award in the same season.

So the question everyone seems to be asking is whether D-Rose will repeat and bag back to back MVP awards, just like Steve Nash and Lebron had a couple of seasons earlier. The answer is-- Why not? Rose works as hard as almost any other ball player and his desire to win has been compared to that of Jordan and Bryant. When you look at Rose’s history, there are certain things that point in his favor. He has improved each of his off season that he has been in the league. Over his three seasons, he has increased his scoring annually by four points and has also increased his PER. Given how hard he works, there is no doubt that he will come back (whenever the season starts) as a better player. Add to that a level head, a team first mentality and the desire to win, then the sky is the limit for this shy kid from the south side of Chi-town. What we must remember is that the award is called the “Most Valuable Player” and not the “Best Player” award. Rose was definitely the “MVP” in the sense that without him the Bulls would have found it hard to even make the playoffs. Clearly, James and Durant had better numbers than Rose, but in terms of there value to their teams, none came close to Rose.

To make it back to back MVP titles will be difficult, as teams will be better prepared to tackle Rose and the “surprise factor” will no longer be there as now people will expect greater things from Rose. However, given his history of hardwork, his dedication and his desire to succeed, I will not be surprised if next year Rose is receiving his second MVP award.

#Derrick Rose #Lebron James #Steve Nash #Kevin Durant #NBA #Kobe Bryant #he

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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The Miami Basher's and their Little Secret

Most of us spent the entire last season indulging in “Miami bashing” and enjoyed whenever the Heat slipped up. But what we forget is that the same team was just two quarters away from winning the title, despite playing their first season together, having a squad full of has been and washed up players and missing their co-captain and fourth best player for 80% of the season (Udonis Haslem). We all celebrated with vigor when Dirk and his Mavs lifted the trophy in June. But subconsciously we are all worried as to what will happen this season when the Heat have a year under their belt and have been able to improve their squad. Whenever you put the leagues two best players and add a top 20 talent with them, you will get a great team. But what separates this team and makes them potential multiple champions is that the LBJand D-Wayde are both unselfish players who are craving for their first and second rings respectively. Their desire to win is evident and that is what makes them a scary proposition.

A lockout shortened season (if there is one at all) will only make them more dangerous. Because they wont have the grind of 82 games and wont be tired from carrying their team for majority of the season. Therefore, in a hypothetical 40 game season, the Heat can potentially steam roll their opposition given how athletically gifted they are and the fact that have an extended period of rest. I admit that I passionately hate the Heat and would love for this “experiment” to fail, but I am also a realist and understand that they are one heck of a team and will start out as favorites. I am also pretty sure that people who ate the Heat as much as I do (and there are millions of them out there) will also subconsiously fear the Heat despite outwardly displaying indifference towards their chances of winning. Thus, I think all us “Miami bashers” will continue to despise the team but will also continue to fear them and that is the little secret....

My reasons for hating the Heat:

1. LBJ’s decision

2. The arrogance they displayed when they were introduced to the Heat faithful in July

3. I genuinely feared them and knew they would seriously challenge the Lakers domination

#Miami Heat #Los Angeles Lakers #LBJ #D-Wayde

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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NBA "Jams" in India

The NBA is at it again-- trying to crack the second most populous country on the planet. After having successfully converted China into one of their biggest markets, Stern and his jolly men have turned their attention to us. This week marks the beginning of NBA Jam in India, as Steven A Smith does a four city tour starting with the capital. The NBA has made a conscious effort to bring as many players (ex players) and officials as it can to the country. They have even set up a dedicated NBA.com/india and tied up with corporates in the country. However, the piecemeal approach taken here is not going to bring a drastic change and see an upsurge in fan following. This approach will not see India becoming the next China (in purely basket ball terms of course). The league did not crack the Chinese market by Jam sessions like the one we are witnessing but by the arrival of a certain 7 footer. Yes, it was Yao Ming who broke the barrier and unleashed a billion “ballers”. And this is exactly what India needs...

We need for an Indian to make it in the NBA and make it big. It’s not going to happen with Steve Smith running some drills in a mall (of all places), but by years of coaching by the best coaches. Yes, because after Smith packs his bags and heads home, our young talent is going to go back to playing in pathetic conditions and the neglect will only retard their development. The NBA can take a leaf out of some of the football clubs books and follow their approach. Some of the English clubs have made the concerted effort to setup football academies throughout the country. They understand that nothing will help them break into the Indian market, like an Indian playing in the English Premier League. Therefore, the likes of Liverpool FC are about to launch the “Steve McMahon Football Academies” in the country. Young Indian talent will train under the tutelage of high class British coaches as well as some of India’s best coaches. This is not only an invaluable experience for the kids, but also from the Indian coaches/trainers to learn from their far more experienced counter parts. This approach will not deliver anything in the short term but in the long term the commercial benefits will be far greater. China stands as a case in point, and so does Korea (Football- Park Ji Sung). Therefore, though these Jam sessions are good publicity tours, the real benefits will only be realized when the NBA actually starts nurturing young Indian talent. NBA Jam Schedule - Sept 10-11: Delhi/NCR (Gurgoan) - Ambience Mall - Sept 17-18: Delhi - Select City Walk Mall - Sept 24-25: Bangalore - Forum Mall - Oct 1-2: Chennai - Express Avenue Mall - Oct 8-9: Mumbai – TBC PS: Football is Soccer (for any of you who might be confused)

#NBA #Yao Ming #EPL #Liverpool FC

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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Dwight Howard's Future..

Dwight Howard is arguably the best center in the league and has been for the past four seasons. The reigning defensive player of the year is not only a beast on the defensive end, but has also added an extra offensive dimension to his game making him a more complete player. His numbers clearly speak for themselves. He averaged 22.1 points per game last season, a good chunk above the 18 he has averaged throughout his career. His field goal percentage was also up as he shot converted close to 60% of his shots. His stellar season last year was equally matched by the mediocracy of his team mates. The trade for Agent Zero, Hedu clearly did not help the Magic’s chances as both players played extremely poorly. Not only did they handicap the Magic on the floor, but also have made the team’s future bleak given the size of their bloated contracts. The Magic do not have any cap space to add good players and will find it extremely difficult to offload both Hedu and Gilbert given the size of their contracts. In such a scenario, it is hard to forsee the Magic being contenders for the next couple of years (despite Superman’s Superhuman efforts).

With his impending free agency next year, the Magic will find it extremely difficult to keep D12 in the sunshine state. He himself has been coy about his future, but explicitly stating his desire of playing on a championship caliber team (which the Magic are not). So as the summer draws to a close, and no season in sight, the news about Dwights future has picked up steam (to satiate a basketball starved audience). He could either leave the team in 2012 and walk for free like LBJ did and leave the Magic with nothing, or the Magic can do the smart thing and engineer a trade for Superman and atleast get some parts in return (Like what the Jazz did). The smarter option would be for them to trade Superman and atleast leave some semblance of a squad in Orlando as Dwight will surely command some good pieces. It is the only move for the ball club as they should wake up to the reality that there is no way they can provide Dwight with a good supporting cast in the near future.

I am now going to take the liberty of hypothesizing the possible destinations where superman will take his “talents”. The Lakers could be a possibility and Dwight would not be the first big man to leave sunny Orlando for Hollywood (think Shaq in 1996). This would be a perfect fit for both as the Lakers would instantly be “revitalized” and superman would play with the mamba and also indulge in his off court activities. However, a sticking point would be the tradable assets that the lakers would have to part with. It is for certain that they would have to throw in Bynum, Gasol or Odom (2 out of the three) plus some other parts. It comes down to whether the Lakers would want to engineer such a move and get Superman to Hollywood. If I was running the Lakers J, then I would definitely trade for Dwight as it would immediately make the Laker’s the team to beat. Kobe would have a more than awesome “sidekick” (if u can call him that) and eventually this would be Dwight’ team to run. So all in all it’s a perfect match in an ideal world, but the possibility of such a trade is still relatively less.

The other team that I think has a very real chance of getting Dwight, is the New Jersey Nets. They have the cap space and they can offer Dwight the opportunity to be the face of the franchise in the big apple when the Nets move their next year. The Nets will try to do everything to lure Dwight as not only do they want him, but by getting him, they will have convinced Deron Williams to stay as well. The only issue is that they do not have the requisite pieces to trade for Superman right now, because most of their tradable assets were sent to the Jazz for the D-Will trade. The Nets would be a great fit for Dwight, because he will get to play with one of the best point guards as well as play in the biggest market of them all. Therefore, the chances of Superman playing in Brooklyn are high and we now have to wait and see how both parties progress.

There are some other teams that are being touted as possible destinations such as the Clippers, Mavs et all, but for all practical purposes, I do not see them being able to land Dwight. The next year is going to be very interesting and we will all have to wait to see where Superman lands up.

#NBA #Dwight Howard #Deron Williams #Orlando Magic #Los Angeles Lakers #New Jersey Nets

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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How to Increase Your Vertical?

The new age of sports is upon us, where athleticism matters as much as skill. Basketball is the same and the game has progressed from more fundamental skills to a much more physical nature. The current crop of NBA players apart from being talented ball players, are phenomenal athletes. The present day ball player is a physical specimen with phenomenal strength, unbelievable quickness and great jumping ability. Derrick Rose is one such prototype. The reigning league MVP stands at just 6ft 3 but has a vertical of 40inches. Combine his tremendous leaping ability with his quickness and strength, Rose has become one of the hardest players to guard especially in the paint.

Yes a lot of these players are athletically gifted, but there are also training methods to increase your leaping abilities. How does one increase their vertical and get the lift that is so essential in Basketball these days? The answer to that question is weight training. The two most important muscles to help you increase your jump are the calf and quadriceps muscles. The Quads provide the power in your jump, while the explosiveness comes from the calf muscles. To strengthen your quads, one can use the leg press machine, pushing weight outwards while controlling ones body. If you don’t have access to a machine, then no sweat you can strengthen your quads at home. Do the wall sit and use your own body weight to build strength.

Similarly calf muscle exercises can be performed both at the gym and at home. Toe raises are an effective way to strengthen you calf muscle and are easy to perform. Stand against a wall then, on one foot, push your body up and down, keeping the weight on the front balls of your feet. Repeat this any number of times until there is a nice burn in the muscle. Running sprints will also help to develop the calf muscle. Remember the world’s best athletes win championships not only on the court but also in the weight room. These simple exercises will help you strengthen your calf and quad muscles which will eventually add to your leap. This was a brief overview and in two days time I will furnish some more great tips to increase your vertical. Till then keep balling

#NBA #Vertical #Derrick Rose

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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Should Kobe Bryant Go Overseas?

Kobe Bryant turns 33 in a days time. Though the 13 time All-Star is no average 33 year old NBA player. The amount of ball Kobe has played in unbelievable. He might be turning 33 but has logged as many minutes as probably a 40 year old. The numbers are just mind-boggling and show the amount of mileage Kobe’s gone through in his 15 year career. He has played 1,103 regular seasons game and logged close to 41,000 minutes. Add to that, the deep playoff runs Bryant has fueled and then you can add another 208 games and 8,163 minutes to his already over worked body. Only 15 players in the history of the NBA have played more. Bryant has logged more playoff minutes than every single player in NBA history, except Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The next active player on that list is Tim Duncan, who is more than a thousand minutes behind. Bryant will have played more than Michael Jordan ever did, including the Wizards years. Oscar Robertson, Charles Barkley, Mark Jackson, Dominique Wilkins, Clyde Drexler, Lenny Wilkens, A.C. Green, Jerry West ... all retired before playing as much as Bryant already has. The strain has been showing and though Kobe does not admit it, his body has been showing times of breaking down. Bryant does not want to admit and his play more often than not does not show it, but the “Black Mamba” is after all human. All the long playoff runs, the ball he has played for the USA has clearly taken a toll on his body. Not only has he lost some of his jump and his speed, but the sheer number of injured body parts are what is the most alarming.

Kobe Bryant’s right index finger looks like that of an 80 something year old. The passion and desire for success has cost Bryant his finger as he has continued to play with the broken limb. The middle knuckle of that critical finger has been so debilitated by arthritis after so many seasons of overuse and misuse that he will probably never shoot without support on his finger. This past month, Bryant underwent a procedure called platelet-rich-plasma therapy to strengthen his ailing right knee. He has been bothered by an arthritic joint in his right knee for the past few seasons but has been unable to anything about it because of the consistent deep runs that the Lakers had in the playoffs. Don’t forget that this is not the first procedure he has undergone as this same very knee has undergone three procedures since 2003. The problem (if you can call it that) is that he want success so bad, that he plays through unbearable pain and gets the job done when most other players won’t even bother entering the court. I am not going to even begin to document his other injuries on the risk of making this piece sound like a medical rcorde. According to the Mamba, “Injuries don’t affect me,” “I’m not going to sit here and say I’ve got a (bad) knee, I’ve got a (bad) finger. I’m fine. I’m more than fine. I always keep playing”. Yes, you heard the man he will always keep playing.

With the lockout in place, Bryant finally has a chance to rest his body and work on strengthening and conditioning so to come back better than ever whenever the new season might start. But however, the past couple of months have been dominated by speculation as to whether Bryant will play in Turkey or China. Nike and his advisors want him to play in China, given his massive following and the chance to promote and even grow his already burgeoning brand there. Besikta’s (Turkish Club) have come in with a big money (relatively) offer trying to lure Bryant to play against better competition than what he would face in China. Though it seems like the Besikta’s offer is a no go for Bryant, the Chinese interest still seems to be given a lot of thought by his camp. I fail to understand the reasoning behind such a move. Clearly, partly missing his pay check will not affect Bryant’s life as he has made more than enough dough to keep him going. If it comes down to Bryant’s desire to continue to play competitive ball, then he can find much better competition on the street courts across the US. The quality of basketball Bryant will play in the US is exponentially better than anything he might face in China or Turkey. Someone should really take Kobe aside and tell him that his body needs rest. This is the best opportunity for him to try and “reheal” as much as he can. So I believe the Mamba should stay Stateside and give himself the best possible chance to come back whenever the seasons starts and try and get ring number six. If he wants to prolong his career a couple more years and still stay competitive then the Mamba needs the rest rather than playing for fun in China or Turkey. He will get enough time to grow his brand and the brands of his sponsors in other parts of the world, once he retires. This is not the time for such an exercise, but rather is the time to rest. His body needs it and Kobe will be well advised to not go abroad but rather stay home and rehab.

#Kobe Bryant #NBA

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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Third Wave of Democracy in Africa: Here to stay or just a fad?

Democratic reforms hit Africa like a tidal wave in the 1990s, sweeping away authoritarian regimes and the one party system that had dominated African politics since independence. In 1989, 42 of the 47 sub-Saharan states were either one party states or military dictatorships (Cheeseman and Ford, 2008). The popular wave began with the 1988 riots in Algiers and the 1990 release of Nelson Mandela in South Africa. By 1994, 40 out of the 42 had politically liberalized and 16 had even held free elections (Cheeseman and Ford, 2008). There was at that time widespread resentment among the populace due to the failure of both civilian and military regimes to alleviate poverty and provide basic services such as health care and education. Further, there was widespread anger directed at the political and bureaucratic class, as they were rightly perceived as highly corrupt. Economic stagnation led to further disillusionment (El-Khawas, 2001). Movements that directly and forcefully ousted incumbent non-democratic regimes were usually revolutionary, or in some other sense, militant. The dominant objective of these struggles was to promote democratic transition (Edozie, 75). Additionally, external events in the West, such as the end of the cold war and the crumbling of the Berlin wall, also provided a thrust for this “third wave” of democracy. Thus, it was a confluence of internal and external events that proved crucial to the spread of democracy in Africa in the early 1990s.

This period of democratization fostered both optimism and pessimism among Africanists. Optimism was generated due to a string of early successes, especially the convening of the “national conference” in Benin during 1990 that eventually resulted in a transfer of power from the Marxist dictatorship of President Kerekou to a multiparty democracy (Shraeder, 1996). “We must, in action, say that there is no obstacle big enough to stop us from bringing about a new African renaissance,’’ President Nelson Mandela of South Africa told a meeting of regional leaders in 1994 (Gilley, 2010). However, this optimism was short lived and in the next few years the democratization process in Africa stalled severely and, in some cases such as Somalia and Rwanda, resulted in ethnic violence which brought about the collapse of the state. I agree with a myriad of scholars that the democratization process has been largely disappointing.

In the years after 1989, most African nations moved away from single party systems and turned to multi party elections. In some cases there was a peaceful transfer of power from one incumbent government to another. Yet, these cases have been few, and mostly we find African governments rarely giving up their grip on power. Although it seems like democracy has been successful in Africa, on taking a closer look, one gains a clearer picture that this is not the case. In the first place, there is clear evidence that multiparty elections are controlled and distorted, when not actually rigged, by incumbent governments. For example in Nigeria’s 2007 election, there was evidence of mass voter fraud. Ballot stuffing was widespread, millions of voters were unable to vote because of a shortage of ballot papers, and on the eve of the vote, an army truck was stopped and found to be carrying thousands of ballot papers completed even before the polls had opened (Perry, 2007). A local alliance of civil society observers called for the cancellation of the vote. "The election was a charade," they declared (Perry, 2007).

The reasons for such continuing election frauds involve the weakness of the institutions responsible for maintaining checks and balances. In many cases, the political and economic structures left behind by the colonial rulers functioned abysmally. The Europeans had set up structures to ensure that they could extract the most human and natural resources from the colonies, without establishing any institutions to ensure good governance. Since, at independence, domestic populations were keen to assert themselves and consolidate their new-found powers, they failed to identify the badly functioning structures they had inherited. The political elites chose to keep these structures, which served only their own immediate selfish interests over long term success. Therefore, one finds that most of the institutions in Africa continue to be weak and act only in favor of political elites and are unable to serve as watchdogs or provide the requisite checks in the system. Similar to the case in Nigeria, in Ethiopia in 2005, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s Ethiopian People’s Democratic Revolutionary Party was defeated in parliamentary elections by the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy. Unwilling to face defeat, Zenawi hijacked that election and bushwhacked the opposition by simultaneously declaring victory and a state of emergency. In the following months, his security forces killed nearly 200 protesters and imprisoned over 30,000 others. The election commission and judiciary were unable or unwilling to sort out the mess. As President Obama once said, “Africa needs strong institution, not strong men” (Mariam, 2009). According to Said Djinnit, the head of the UN office for West Africa, the setbacks suffered in the democratic progress during the 90s are a result of weak institutions. He states that “The institutions are not strong enough to sustain it [multi party democracy]” (Djinnit, 2010).

Yet one country, Ghana, can serve as a model of multi party democracy and the role of institutions in promoting it. Since Ghana’s military rule ended in 1992, Ghanaians have shown the essential pre requisites for successful multiparty democracy. They institutionalized the rule of law and created a strong judiciary with extraordinary constitutional powers that made failure to obey a Supreme Court order a “high crime.” Ghana also established an independent electoral commission responsible for voter registration, demarcation of electoral boundaries, conduct and oversight of all public elections, referenda and electoral education (Boafo-Arthur, 89). For example, the Electoral Commission paid a great deal of attention to the question of voter registration, designing an exemplary process that involved all political parties. They started afresh and registered close to 9.2million voters at nearly 19,000 polling stations in 1996 (Diamond and Plattner, 164). Each polling station exhibited the list in order to allow voters to confirm their names. A decision to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections on the same day, and the use of see-through ballot boxes with numbered seals, further increased the confidence of voters and opposition parties (Diamond and Plattner, 164). These steps created a commendable, transparent process which assured the Ghanaians that results would accurately reflect their choices on Election Day. The Electoral Commission is just one of the many institutions in Ghana that have helped ensure the success of multi party democracy.

Secondly, due to the extreme ethnic complexity of most African states, democracy has been difficult to sustain. During the Berlin conference in 1884, Western powers met to decide how to split the African continent among themselves. Most of the current national boundaries in Africa were “drawn” at that conference. The astounding fact was that no input from any Africans was taken into account and the boundaries were drawn quite arbitrarily. Due to the insensitive nature of the process through which these boundaries were drawn, different ethnic groups were placed within the same nation. Even today, Africans feel the brunt of this “redrawing,” in that ethnic violence is pervasive and threatens the stability of many countries (Obadina, 2000).

Across the continent, ethnicity has a strong influence on one's status in a community. Ethnic conflicts are therefore often caused by attempts to secure more power or to access more resources. In multi-ethnic societies like Nigeria and South Africa, ethnic communities violently compete for property, rights, jobs, education, language, social amenities and good health care facilities (Irobi, 2005) Another major cause of ethnic conflict is psychology, especially the fear and insecurity of ethnic groups during transitions. It has been opined that extremists build upon these fears to polarize the society. Additionally, memories of past traumas magnify these anxieties. These interactions produce a toxic brew of distrust and suspicion that often leads to ethnic violence (Irobi, 2005). Democratic traditions in ethnically plural societies may be influenced by such keen competition, ethnic rivalries and jostling for power and resources. These societies therefore witness social conflict which takes the form of ethnic violence. I believe that democracy provides constitutional opportunities for the people to exercise their franchise freely in the selection of their leaders and representatives. In a perfect democracy, no group or individual is singled out for exclusion by undue manipulation of socio-cultural and biological factors (Anugwom, 2000). However, such has not been the case in Africa, as ethnic minorities have often been marginalized from every aspect of social, economic and political development. This situation has given rise to greater ethnic violence and created an extremely unstable atmosphere. According to Berman, Eyoh and Kymlicka, “there is little doubt that the wave of democratization in Africa since the 1990s has seen an increase rather than decrease in the visibility of ethnic politics and conflicts” (Berman, Eyoh and Kymlicka, 9)

Kenya serves as a good example to highlight the negative impact of ethnic violence on democracy. Kenya has witnessed ethnic violence in all elections except those of 2002. Many scholars agree that multiparty democracy served as a prelude to ethnic competition and has led to ““protracted transitions or outright conflict” in Kenya (Bikuru, Mbatia and Nderitu, 2009). The contentious elections held in 2007 resulted in the massacre of over 1,000 people as well as the displacement of another 600,000 Kenyans (Oluwafemi, 2009). What initially began as a reaction to the fraudulent elections soon erupted into a full blown ethnic conflict between the Kalenjins and Kikuyus. Just as in Rwanda, politicians politicized existing ethnic differences to gain political advantage. Many scholars agree that ethnic loyalties are core features of Kenyan politics. Indeed, control of the state is key to political competition because it means access to and disposal of resources, and patronage through which ethnic elites can remain in power. During the reign of Arap Moi in the latter periods of the twentieth century, the Kalenjin tribe accumulated unprecedented power and resources (Oluwafemi, 2009). As a result of this, the economic and political power of the Kikuyu faction was severely diminished (Berman, Eyoh and Kymlicka , 10). The failure of democratic governments to service competently and without bias the most elementary material and security needs of their citizens has compounded reliance of kinship and ethnic networks by individuals and groups seeking ways to cope with extreme economic hardship and for sanctuary from elite-orchestrated political/ethnic violence (Berman, Eyoh and Kymlicka, 12). The resulting inequity and injustice, frustration and animosity are what have haunted Kenya every few years in the form of violent conflicts, especially during election periods when the marginalized ethnic groups try to voice their anger. As a result of these observations, many scholars have admitted that it is extremely difficult to hold multiparty elections in such multi ethnic nations.

Botswana on the other hand has been one of the success stories of Africa both politically and economically. This country has always emphasized a non ethnic citizenship, a concept which has played a crucial role in reducing ethnic conflicts. According to Gyimah-Boadi, it is estimated that 80-90 percent of the Botswanian population speaks the same language (Gyimah-Boadi, 162). Though there are some ethnic groups in Botswana that are marginalized, especially those in the northeastern and northwestern parts of the country, the marginalization has been not as extreme as in most of Africa (Gyimah-Boadi, 163). In addition, Botswana has in place institutions which have played a crucial role in ensuring that democracy is sustained and minority groups are not significantly marginalized. For example, when the government expelled the San minority group from their lands, the Botswana High Court ruled that the eviction was illegal and compelled the government to restore the land to the San group.

It is important to keep in mind that many experts do believe that Botswana’s democracy is far from ideal, because of the extended period of rule by the same party—Botswana Democratic Party (Good, 44). However, I will not delve into this matter, as it lies beyond the scope of this paper. To conclude, the most significant democratic gains in Africa took place between 1989 and 1995. During this period, the average democracy rating for Africa, as measured by freedom house, improved by 18 percent (Freedom House). The next decade witnessed only slight gains, and since 2005, Africa has witnessed four consecutive years of democratic decline. I agree with some scholars who have termed this decline as the “democracy recession.” With a number of coups in the continent since 2005, beginning with the takeover by the military in Mauritania, and post election violence in several other countries including Ethiopia’s 2005 elections, Kenya’s 2007 elections and Zimbabwe’s political nightmare, and the recent unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar, democracy on the continent is facing serious setbacks. As I have mentioned above, there are common traits in the failures of democracy across the continent including the role of weak institutions and ethnic differences. Yet, there have been some successful countries, such as Ghana and Botswana. Thus democracy in Africa is at a crucial crossroad, and the performance of democratically elected governments across the continent will determine the future of democracy in Africa.

#Africa #Democracy #Ghana #Nigeria #Botswana #Kenya

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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Military Involvement in African Politics. Is it Trending Up or Down?

As part of the state formation process in post-colonial Africa, the military was established as part of the state apparatus with the primary mission of defending the “body politic against external aggression” (Agbese and Kieh, 1). The military was thus expected to be a nationalistic and non partisan force with its loyalty given primarily to the state. However, after the post colonial era, the military in most African states has become a factionalized, ethnicized and partisan force, one that is on balance detrimental to the body politic.

Stability is an essential ingredient for the development of any state, and the absence of this essential ingredient constitutes a major bulwark against the development of Africa. Today Africa can be called the “poster child” for frequent changes in regimes. The continent has witnessed 9coup d’etats in the last decade alone. According to Shraeder, the primary means for African military personnel to achieve power and influence over their political systems has been the coup d’etat (Shraeder, 202). These military coups are not a recent phenomenon, but have been taking place ever since independence. In the 1960s, prominent military takeovers occurred in Congo, Algeria, Ghana, Togo and Libya, to name but a few (Ngwane, 2006). This trend continued through the ‘70s and ‘80s, when military leaders such as Idi Amin (Uganda), Mengistu Haile Mariam (Nigeria), K. Doe (Ghana) and other, were involved in coups. However, by the beginnings of the ‘90s, the emergence of pro-democracy movements and several successful transitions to democracy led to “a rebirth of civilian regimes” intent on dislodging the military from politics and returning them to the barracks (Shraeder, 202).

According to Kieh and Agebese, the number of successful coups in Africa declined from 23 in the 60s to 19 in the 90s, and very significantly to just 9 in the 2000s (Agbese and Kieh, 44). To gain a clearer picture, see figure 1 and figure 2 in appendix. Military involvement in domestic politics has been greatly reduced from the previous four decades as military leaders are now looking to legitimize their rule by wielding the ballot box instead of the gun. In many African nations today, military heads have either stepped aside or adopted civilian, multi-party habits. Examples include Ahmadou Toumani Toure of Mali, Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, Mathieu Kerekou of Benin, Yahaya Jammeh of the Gambia, and Conteh of Guinea (BBC, 2003). The evidence clearly suggests that military involvement in African politics has decreased significantly in the past decade.

According to Shraeder, most coups have similar characteristics. First, military leaders have been able to intervene due to the weak nature of African states. Such weak states often gave rise to despots whose corrupt and authoritarian practices lead to widening gaps between the self interested policies of the incumbent regimes and the needs of their populations. Second, most military coups are carried out by the army instead of the other branches of the military. Third, there is a possibility of the contagion effect, i.e., that is, a coup occurs in one country, so there is an increased possibility a coup will occur in a neighboring country as well (Shraeder, 204).

There have been several reasons for the declining involvement of the military in African politics. Due to space constraints, I will focus on only two factors. First, the influence the West and financial institutions discourages military dictators in Africa. With the end of the cold war, the West, especially the US, has redoubled its effort to spread democracy. This, however, was not the case in the 70s and the 80s, when the US supported certain military regimes to counter the influence of the Soviets. For example, during the 1980s US military assistance to the government of Samuel Doe in Liberia nearly doubled. According to Rothchild, “for a time, Liberia became the largest recipient of US aid per capita of all the states in sub- Saharan Africa” (Rothchild, 249). Doe had come to power in 1980 by leading a military coup in which the then incumbent President, William R. Tolbert Jr., was killed. By aligning himself with the US, Doe used the aid to build up a strong army and political base, which he used to maintain power and brutally suppress any opposition threats to his rule (Rothchild, 249).

Since the end of the Cold War, unconditional American support for military dictators has diminished, and democracy promotion has now taken center stage in US foreign policy, making putsches less acceptable (Kurlantzick and Leighton, 2010). Post cold war, successive US governments have been promoting democracy in Africa through a variety of economic and diplomatic incentives. Using the significant leverage it has over weak African countries, the US has managed, to a certain extent, prevent military coups. African military leaders now are wary of usurping powers via a coup, as they now understand that they may well lose the support of Western nations. Given the weak state of most African economies, such western support is essential. For example, 70 percent of Chad’s budget comes from international donors. Even in Nigeria, with annual oil revenues in excess of $10 billion, the regime needs foreign investment and finance (Diamond, 1998)

In addition, the US has devoted considerable resources to try to strengthen the African Union, or A.U., which was established in 2002. The US is one of only two countries to have a dedicated ambassador to the A.U., and it is also the largest financial supporter of the A.U.’s peace-and-security program. The US believes the A.U. to be an essential institution to promote democracy and governance. With the help of the US, the A.U. has been able to act against unconstitutional government changes in Mauritania, Guinea, Niger and Madagascar.

Military coups have also become less commonplace because of the weak economies of most African states. Most African governments rely heavily on international financial institutions, such as the IMF or World Bank, to provide loans to ensure the economy continues to run. The loans are usually contingent and emphasize economic stabilization, democratization, good governance and cuts in military spending. These institutions are thus able to use their leverage over African countries to promote democracy, and to a certain extent, limit military involvement in politics. For example, the World Bank suspended loans to Niger after President Mamadou Tandja had been overthrown by a group of soldiers in February of this year (Kamara, 2010). Thus military leaders are fearful of engineering a coup, as they know they may lose funding, which is extremely important to the country.

Another reason for the decline of military coups has been that African citizens have been exposed to democracy. The third wave of democratization in Africa ensured that the majority of the African population has lived under democratic rule at some point or another; and therefore military regimes will never enjoy solid political legitimacy in the eyes of the entire populace. According to Boadi, active participation by the civil society and individuals has helped spread the process of democratization. Most civilians are now able to see through the claims of African military leaders that they are better suited to govern than are corrupt civilians. Concerning this issue, Shraeder states that there are many myths associated with military coups. First, it is not true that the military enjoys greater legitimacy. Second, military rule is not more efficient. Shraeder adds that most military leaders are as, if not more, corrupt than civilian leaders. The example of Major General Ibrahim Babangida, who seized power in Nigeria in 1985, validates Shraeders analysis, as Babangida quickly acquired the status of the “most massively corrupt ruler” in Nigerian political history (Shraeder, 211). The third myth is that the military is best able to maintain stability. Shraeder believes this is not the case and gives the example of the Ethiopian military regime between 1974-1991. Finally, the myth that the military is best prepared to promote development has been debunked (Shraeder, 214). A study by Kieh and Agebese evaluated military performance based on the traditional indicators of regime performance- respect for human rights, economic productivity, human needs and so on. Their findings support Shraeder’s argument that military regimes do not perform any better than do their civilian counterparts. In fact, in many instances, military regimes performed worse than had their civilian predecessors (Agbese and Kieh, 85).

It is clear that military rule has not been superior in performance to civilian rule, and therefore the population has made an informed decision to resist military rule. The emergence and subsequent strengthening of domestic civil society groups has helped as well. These groups are involved in educating the population and building a culture of tolerance and civic engagement (Boadi, 104). Also, these groups are involved in monitoring elections and thereby enhancing the democratic process, and therefore they have been successful in limiting military intervention in politics (Boadi, 102). Another factor that has helped mobilize public opinion against military rule has been the explosion of media sources. New communications technology, including social networking, cellphones, and the Internet, now allow the media in most countries to avoid censorship; allow the population to be better informed about the benefits of democracy; and allow the flourshing of nongovernmental organizations, many with links to the West. The emergence of a vibrant media, advocacy groups and especially independent research think tanks has helped break the monopoly African governments had over the “production and dissemination of information in Africa (Boadi, 106). For example, media pluralism in Ghana has progressively added pressure for greater political opening up in the country. The press has deepened their commitment to democracy by providing a platform for Ghanaians from all walks of life to openly engage public officials about public affairs, strive to ensure good governance, to inform the citizens about the past especially the harmful effects of military rule and protect the nation against the abuse of power and office (Boafo-Arthur, 89). Additionally, democratic struggles in other parts of the world, including the prosecution and punishment of deposed autocrats, now receive widespread coverage in African media, encouraging local pro democracy proponents (Boadi, 106).

A recent poll done by Afrobarometer found that Africans strongly support democracy, despite frustrations with unfair elections, corruption and unresponsive political leaders. In all 18 countries surveyed, the most common view was that democracy was “preferable to any other kind of government.’ On average, 62 percent said they favored democracy; only nine percent said a non-democratic government might be preferable in some cases and 12 percent said the kind of government did not matter to them (World Public Opinion). Therefore, we can see that public opinion is mobilized against military coups and favors democracy, despite the obvious failings of many civilian governments. As a result, military leaders are now forced to gain legitimacy through the ballot rather than the gun.

To conclude, military intervention in African politics has certainly decreased over the past decade and the trend is pointing downwards. There are many reasons for this decline, and, among these, I have focused on the changed role of the West and the domestic populations’ exposure to democracy. However, it is important to note that the problem of military coups in Africa has not gone away. During the past decade there were 9 coups in Africa, far more than anywhere else in the world. Also, the failure of democracy to help solve Africa’s problems is diminishing people’s hope in democracy. Bad economic performances, political instability and existing ethnic tensions often provide the right mix of ingredients for a successful coup. Thus, Africa must continue to develop its political, social and economic structures to ensure the threat of coups is eradicated once and for all.

Decade Number of Coup's

1950s 01

1960s 23

1970s 24

1980s 20

1990s 19

2000s 09

#Africa #Military #Politics

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jaytalking-blog · 13 years

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Is Chelsea moving in the right direction?

With a disappointing end to last season, most Chelsea fans were ready to for another tumultuous summer. As expected, Roman Abramovich fired Ancelotti bringing an end to Chelsea’s 6th manager in the last 8years. As the managers have come and gone, the only things that have remained constant with the club are- Stamford Bridge (hard to move that), Abramovich himself and the team’s core players. Chelsea’s core has remained remarkably intact in the last few years. John Terry, Frank Lampard, Peter Cech, Michael Essien and Drogba have been the stalwarts of the team. This remarkable stability is a double edge sword as yes there has been consistency in the first team but now the squad is old and looks tired. The “age” was clearly visible last season, when the squad looked tired and was unable to fire the club to glory in any competition. So with the firing of Ancelotti, most fans expected the same story to continue and expected the club to sign experienced and proven players, who would definitely bring quality to the team but not youthfulness.

However, all of us were in for a surprise. The new direction the club wanted to go in was visible when Abramovich coughed up €13 Million to pry Villas-Boas away from Porto. The 33 year old manager is as old as some of the Chelsea stalwarts. Not only did Chelsea, get one of the most talented manager’s in the game, but also got a manager who understands that the club needs the right balance of youth and experience to move forward. This philosophy is what differentiates Villas-Boas from Ancelotti. The latter has had a tendency to continue with an ageing squad as was visible with his time with AC Milan. This summer however, there has been a marked change in Chelsea’s approach in the transfer market. In came Oriol Romeu, the 19 year old defensive midfielder signed from FC Barcelona. The club also bought the highly rated Rumelu Lukaku, the 18 year old Belgian from Anderlecht. In addition to these two signings, Villas-Boas has earmarked Josh McEachran to play a vital part in Chelsea’s midfield. Chelsea had signed 24 year old Brazilian David Luiz in January and add to that 20 year old van Aanholt is also pegged to play a key role in the first team. Thus the club has also ensured that there is a good mix of youth in the defense which is marshaled by 30year old Terry and Cole. Daniel Sturridge has also been recalled after his successful loan spell at Bolton, and expect the 21 year old to really compete with the other strikers.

Therefore, it is clear that Villas-Boas wants Chelsea to head in a different direction. By including the youth players and the signing of some exceptional young players, he has signaled to the rest of the league that Chelsea are here for the long run and are to be taken seriously. He is not completely removing the “spine” of the team, but rather is slowly blooding in young talent to “speed” up his team’s play. By adding exciting talent, Villas-Boas has not only ensured that Chelsea compete right now, but also will be able to compete in a couple of years from now

#Chelsea #Football

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