Can New Coach David Fizdale Really Help In The Knicks’ Rebuilding?

In a move frowned upon by many league players, coaches, and NBA fans, the Grizzlies fired coach David Fizdale last November. This was after a string of losses and what seems to be irreconcilable differences with its star Marc Gasol. In any case, the reasons Memphis management gave don’t add up.

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In the wake of another firing, that of the Knicks’ Jeff Hornacek, the team has hired Fizdale to take the helm in New York. Getting Fizdale is a move that’s lauded by many; his coaching style is gritty and reminiscent of Gregg Popovich. Conversely, he also believes in maintaining relationships with players and their families outside the court. 

At 44, Fizdale is relatively young for a coach and still occasionally dons rapper shirts. But he does not mince his words during game time. He’s not afraid to bench superstars for poor play: clearly, an issue that didn’t sit well with the ego of certain players in Memphis. He also has an excellent track record as assistant coach in various league teams before a decent 50-51 win-loss coaching stint in Memphis. 

All in all, Fizdale’s hiring is a great move for a Knicks franchise keen on rebuilding via its young talents in Kristaps Porzingis, Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr, and its two draft picks, Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson. And fans are not complaining. He should be able to bring order in the madness and, hopefully, bring New York back to the playoffs in 2019. 

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Hi, Christopher Halajian here, from Mattiuck, Long Island. For a few years, I lived in Rhode Island as well, but my loyalty to New York sports teams has never wavered. More reads about sports in the Big Apple here.

Summer Soccer Games For Kids In New York City

In the United States, soccer has become a hit only recently, well, compared to old American favorites baseball and American football. However, the trend shows the ever-increasing popularity of the sport in the country. The Major League of Soccer, or MLS has been gaining traction and attracting top talent all over the world, and the U.S. Men’s Football team, though failing to qualify for this year’s World Cup, is still being supported by a great number of Americans.

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In New York City, there are a number of places in which parents can bring their kids to play soccer. There are turfs for summer soccer school, and indoor facilities for children who want to try futsal. Parents too, are learning that there’s much more to soccer than just being something that keeps their children busy for the summer.

As with a lot of team sports, soccer is a way for children to experience being part of a larger group. Summer soccer camps allow kids to assess their own strengths and personalities. Kids tend to discover if they’re tough enough for defense, if they have a penchant for passing the ball around, or if they have the quickness and skill to score goals. Children also get used to physical training and learn to appreciate “The Beautiful Game.”

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For us, enrolling kids in summer soccer school is as good as any class you can get them into.

My name’s Christopher Halajian, and I’m a college student studying sports management at NYU. Learn more about me and the stuff I love by checking out this website.

Analyzing The Interplay Of Fantasy Sports And Sports Management

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Fantasy sports are a fun game that allows groups of friends to play team manager of an imaginary team roster using the names and statistics of real players. The teams compete based on the statistical performance of real players in real games, which are converted into points. The team with the highest points wins.

Now, I’m not going to expound how much more complicated real team management is compared with the stuff in fantasy leagues or how complex dedicated players can be in terms of the math involved. However, fantasy sports are still very much a subject of interest in sports management.

Sports managers are just beginning to realize how profound the impact of fantasy sports fans to the business side of sports. Fostering engagement with the fantasy sports community, therefore, is seen as something sports managers and franchises should consider.

Fantasy sports players share many things in common with other sports fans. One study suggests that fantasy players are often more passionate toward their favorite teams in real life than the players they select for their fantasy teams. Catering to these fans, however, shouldn’t just rely on what has worked for average sports fans.

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One thing that separates fantasy sports fans from other fans of sports media is that they are heavily invested in statistics. This turns out to be one of their crucial advantages as a demographic. Fantasy sports hosts often rely heavily on sports teams for access to this data.

Because of their need to fill their spreadsheets and improve their scores, people playing fantasy sports often tune into sports games religiously. The greater exposure to sports opens up many opportunities for marketing.

Christopher Halajian, wine connoisseur and sports management student. Catch up on me and my interests on Twitter.

The Sports Fan’s Quick Guide For Visiting New York City

Every city has its own sports history and legacy, but New York City might as well be among the most sought-after ones with its singular pride of producing greats like Babe Ruth in baseball, Patrick Ewing in basketball, and Olympians from boxing to gymnastics. Here’s a quick rundown of what to do and what to expect in the Big Apple when it comes to sports and athletics.

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A crash course in NYC sports isn’t complete without appreciating the city’s world-renowned stadiums. Yankee Stadium is home to one of America’s most popular baseball teams and features the beloved Monument Park, while Madison Square Garden is the prime destination in the city for athletic events like basketball and hockey, as well as concerts and entertainment events. Citi Field hosts the New York Mets, and one can catch year-round tours and the Mets Hall of Fame Museum.

The NBA Store on Fifth Avenue isn’t one to be missed – a one-stop shop for NBA merchandise that anyone can ever imagine. Niketown, Nike’s five-level store, also offers tons of fresh gear, gadgets, and souvenirs along with a basketball court on the upper level.

Other athletic and fitness activities in the city include bicycling on the streets of Manhattan and many parts of Brooklyn, alongside New York’s major parks. Central Park, for instance, has a six-mile circular drive with a number of decent climbs. Belmont Park is an inviting part of Elmont, just on the Long Island side of the Queens border, for gourmet food and drinks while watching the horses. Brooklyn Boulders, too, is a celebrated climbing gym with a thriving local community.

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Christopher Halajian is a student at NYU raised in Mattituck, Long Island, and taking up sports management. While still learning the ropes about the billion-dollar business of sports, he wants to start a simple sports website. Read more of his sports writing on this page.

What We Can Take Away From The Knicks’ Current Tanking Ways

This season has seen NBA commissioner Adam Silver outright warning teams that the league will not tolerate tanking. The term refers to the act of deliberately losing games in the hopes of getting a better lottery pick for the following season’s rookie draft.

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Though some teams’ respective managers and owners have been more vocal about tanking (and have been fined accordingly), it’s no secret to NBA analysts and fans that this is ongoing and can even be said to be rampant in the league. Teams eliminated from this year’s playoffs seem to consistently lose, with defeats more than half their total wins.

This is most obvious in teams like the Grizzlies, Mavericks, and the Hawks, but the Knicks is not that far behind. The team is obviously out of playoffs contention with a 25-45 record as the regular season winds to a close. It didn’t help their cause that their franchise player, Kristaps Porzingis, got a season-ending ACL tear at the start of the year.

Knicks management understands that they will most likely get a better chance at a good pick with their current record. With Porzingis not expected to be back until midway next season, they could spend the coming off-season dealing with their huge salary cap (not helped by Hardaway Jr.’s outrageous contract) and scouting for more perimeter shooters.

It might take a good two more years for the Knicks to be competitive again in the East. But by then Porzingis will have reached his prime. And, hopefully, the team will have likewise completed the supporting cast needed to bring the team back to the playoffs.

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Hello, Christopher Halajian here. I’m a student at NYU currently taking up sports management. My loyalty has always been with New York teams, so I like writing about them. For related reads, visit this blog.