Tom Nakashima's Blog

We do get aroused by the NFL Combine. Hey, we just got through the Super Bowl, didn't we? Doesn't matter. We want names, speculation, new irons in the fire.… anything that'll give us hope for next season. And we are enthralled with the 40 yard dash times to the point of obsession. No, speed doesn't guarantee anything, but we hang onto that number like it's scripture. A guy could be implicated in a barroom murder… he could cheat seniors out of their life savings…. he could father nine children in six states… But if he can run a 4.29/40… he'll be the talk of the combine.

Wat Misaka must be enjoying the non-stop coverage of the exploits of Jeremy Lin. Mr. Misaka, now nearly 90, made quite a mark in NBA history himself more than 60 years ago. An American born player of Japanese ancestry, he became the first person of color to be drafted into what would become the NBA. This was 1947, when Japanese Americans were the hated minority in this country. My family had spent the war years in internment camps, but Wat Misaka had not, as he was born in Ogden, Utah. (for the most part, only Japanese Americans on the West Coast were imprisoned.) Playing for the University of Utah, Wat starred when his team won the NCAA Championship in 1944. After leaving school for a stint in the US Army, he returned to help Utah win the 1947 NIT Championship at Madison Square Garden. I imagine the New York fans liked what they saw. So much so that Wat Misaka was selected by the New York Knicks with their first pick in that year's draft. Though he played in only three games before being cut, he not only instilled pride in the Asian American community… but fierce loyalty from his teammates. And now, 60-some years later, an Asian American makes headlines again… for the New York Knicks. You can learn more in a recent a documentary film, Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story, by Bruce Alan Johnson and Christine Toy Johnson.

No, he's not Yao Ming, the gifted 7-footer from China. He's an American born basketball player who happens to be of Asian heritage. The last time I looked, there aren't many of these fellows making headlines in the NBA. Oh, there are talented Asian players in the Rec League, in D-ball, maybe in Division IV. But this is the NBA. You know, the one with Kobe, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwight Howard. No, Jeremy Lin, after being let go by Golden State and Houston…. is now rocking the rafters in New York, no less. Yes, he will eventually come back down to earth, but for now…. I'm thrilled for you, kid. As I said… New York, no less.

In Giants Fandom, all things are possible. We know this because the euphoria of the 2010 World Series still lingers. Oh yes it does. So now that the glorious 49ers season is over, let's get to real business. Giants pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training a week from tomorrow… finally. I know the Arizona Diamondbacks have gotten stronger. So have the Rockies. Actually, everybody believes they've improved their ballclub. We get it. All I know is… the Giants have to be better. How could they be worse? Their anemic offense finished LAST in the National League in runs, RBIs, on-base percentage and hitting with runners in scoring position. With two out/runners-in-scoring-position… the Gigantes hit .173! That's the worst average in the history of the game! Well, at least in the 37 years of that stat. I think you get the picture. So here they come…. Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Angel Pagan, Freddie Sanchez, Tim Lincecum, Aubrey "I'm in shape" Huff, Panda, Melky Cabrera…. I can't wait. As the Cincinnati Kid said…. "Okay, let's see it."

In Sports Talk Show Hell, we just can't leave it alone. Who's thebetter Manning now? Is Peyton taking a back seat? We wanna know what you think. Really? I don't. The Manning brothers have done something a lot of great quarterbacks will never have a chance to do, win the Super Bowl. I still think Peyton Manning in his prime might be the best quarterback/offensive coordinator in football. And is Tom Brady now a bum? Had Brady engineered a last second touchdown to win on Sunday, he'd be no less than the Second Coming. As it is, he gets to drown his sorrow by going night night with Gisele Bundchen. And Eli Manning, Peyton, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers… they all had help. No one wins the Super Bowl alone. Oh, and John Unitas never won a Super Bowl, and he did alright for himself. But for the moment, Eli Manning is the reigning king. Let him enjoy it.

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For the NFL and NBC, it turns out Madonna was the least of their problems. If you didn't know M.I.A. before, you know her now. I'm going out on a limb here, but it looks like she's an attention whore who loved flipping off the camera during half-time. The NFL and the network had to immediately apologize for the "inappropriate, obscene gesture." You have a classic Super Bowl battle that goes down to the final play… Madonna is prancing around better than performers who are twenty years younger… and all some people want to talk about is this? And by the way, since the infamous Nipple-gate, TV is in delay… radio is in delay.. the whole freakin' broadcast world is in delay. How did you guys miss this? Did the director say "Hey dump her!" And a guy goes…"Uhhh, which button is that?" Too late. This is why the #*(< we get Up With People.

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I used to watch the Pro Bowl when I was a kid. It was never exactly scintillating, but I think the game's actually gotten worse. Way worse…. to the point where the NFL should be embarrassed. Of course no one wants to get hurt. We get it. The thought of having Larry Fitzgerald , or Drew Brees or Patrick Willis suffering a career ending injury in a game like this makes me shudder. So let's change things up. I think players should still be honored with Pro Bowl selections. They've earned it. And what's not to like about a family vacation to Honolulu? Let's keep that. But instead of an actual game, I propose a Fan Fest. Maybe a Hawaiian Buffet, kalua pork, lots of umbrella drinks…. and a chance to get autographs and photos with their favorite players. How about a skills competition thrown in there… to raise money for charity? Jeff Price of the Sporting News has a great take here.

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Most of us have a great capacity to forgive. But when it comes to Terrell Owens, that's a challenge. Here's a player who's earned around $80 million during an NFL career that has showcased his incredible talent… and his toxic, alienating, self-centered behavior. Is it just me, or is it hard to feel sorry for this guy? Jeff Arnold writes in ThePostGame that Owens says he's now broke and lonelier than ever. In a GQ profile, Owens blames his agent for bad business decisions, and says "the media never allowed me to change." Right.. it's the media's fault that you're not a better person. "I don't have no friends. I don't want no friends," Owens said. Well, maybe the former is a result of the latter. What a waste.

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I'm with Donte Whitner, who said.. "It's not the end of the world. But right now it feels like it." How will yesterday's crushing overtime defeat be remembered? Not for a terrific performance by Eli Manning. Not for the superb catches by Victor Cruz. Not for the 49ers' epic failure on third downs. Make no mistake, it'll be remembered for Kyle Williams, who coughed up two valuable possessions in crunch time. Is it fair to put the blame on one player? No. There were plenty of other opportunities that were lost… but those gut wrenching turnovers were the most obvious. For Kyle Williams, how much of a burden will this be? You're about to find out. How long will fans grumble about it? Oh, at least twenty years. Ask Roger Craig, whose fumble against the New York Giants in the 1990 NFC Championship Game cost the 49ers a chance to "threepeat" in the Super Bowl. Roger's brilliant accomplishments overshadow that one speck in his career. I hope one day the same will be said about Kyle Williams. Think about this…. The New York Giants got terrific play from Eli Manning and perhaps the most talented receiving corps in football, they played stout defense…and they still should have lost. The 49er defense stopped them with sudden death on the line. It just wasn't enough. To Jim Harbaugh and his band of overachievers… thanks for a phenomenal season.

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Of course the 49ers may see their glorious, surprising season come to an end this weekend. The mighty New Orleans Saints just may be the best team in football right now… what else is new? But I had a dream about Home Field Advantage. Game Time: Candlestick Park. The grass hasn't been cut since the Giants left. And why is there 4 inches of standing water on the turf? Even Michael Irvin said it can be "a squishy mess" at the Stick. The 49ers linemen will try and keep Alex Smith safe, as they've been outfitted with 9 inch cleats… and the ball Drew Brees gets to use is slightly deflated. Oh, and Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter have been practicing with Pro Glides, special shoes custom made by those people who make the airboats in the Everglades. The running backs plan to glide into the end zone in front of 60,000 screaming fans. The Saints are outraged… but hey, there's nothing they can do. Who's got it better than us?

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