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The Mulligan: Why no one gets an April do-over
Dirt bikes during the season? Maybe Madison Bumgarner should have learned from all the other athletes before him that wasn't a great idea.  AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

The Mulligan: Why no one gets an April do-over

Welcome to The Mulligan, where we take a look at the athletes, coaches, teams and whomever else in sports who need to be given a do-over for a bad beat that might not have been entirely in their control. This month, we look at why, upon further review, no one earned a mulligan.

April has come and gone, and there was no shortage of nominees for the month’s Mulligan. Our staff threw out NBA names like Larry Sanders, Paul George, Doc Rivers and Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander. The expected Phil Simms/Tony Romo/CBS suggestions rolled in, as did the Cleveland Browns, and the MLB submissions were highlighted by Madison Bumgarner, umpire C.B. Bucknor and the Toronto Blue Jays. Even aging goalie Tim Howard received a vote.

However, after examining the potential nominees, we ultimately decided that no one truly deserved a do-over in April. Below, we detail why all of the aforementioned athletes got exactly what they deserved.

NBA

Paul George, Indiana Pacers .Yes, Paul George averaged 28 points, nearly nine rebounds, more than seven rebounds and almost two steals per game against the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round, and yes, he got very little help from his teammates in the lopsided sweep. Sounds mulligan-worthy, right?

Well, Paul forfeited any and all mulligan privileges by repeatedly calling out his teammates, whether we’re talking C.J. Miles, Lance Stephenson or anyone else. Oh yeah, he also reportedly told his teammates he really wants to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. No wonder his teammates provided little help — they already know George is prepared to throw them under the bus on his way to Tinseltown with virtually no remorse.

Larry Sanders, Cleveland Cavaliers. After leaving the NBA right as his star was rising in order to pursue other passions the news that Larry Sanders was making an NBA comeback with the defending champions of all teams was surprising to say the least. Unsurprisingly, he lasted just four weeks, getting dismissed from the team after missing the team bus to the airport in mid-April.

A man who was repeatedly suspended for drug use and left the NBA on his own accord as a youngster has to do everything right to have a successful comeback. Missing team transportation with the playoffs looming is not the right thing to do. No mulligan for you, Mr. Sanders — or should I say Mr. Kind of Flaky?

Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers. Yes, Rivers was without Blake Griffin again for a full playoff run, and yes, the Clippers seem perpetually cursed, neither of which is Rivers’ fault. However, when you repeatedly can’t figure out how to complement Chris Paul’s considerable gifts on a yearly basis, you deserve what you get. Plus, rumor has is Rivers is set to return to the L.A. sidelines next season, so what, exactly, does he need a mulligan for?

Leslie Alexander, Houston Rockets. Every NBA owner has seen Mark Cuban fined over and over for confronting or criticizing referees, which means every owner knows you can’t do that. Alexander did it anyway in his team’s first-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sorry, no do-over for you, Mr. Alexander.

NFL

Phil Simms/Tony Romo/CBS. OK, Simms was blindsided by CBS hiring Tony Romo and bumping him from the top announcing duo with Jim Nantz to the studio show, but Simms has also been a target of widespread mocking among NFL fans for his often obtuse commentating. Meanwhile, both Romo and CBS willingly made the decision on a union without any “getting to know you” period. All parties involved here are at fault.

Cleveland Browns. The Browns just had what was widely regarded as a very good draft, and while trading for Brock Osweiler just because isn’t the ideal situation, chances are he won’t be the team’s signal-caller for long. Truth be told, we mostly like what the Browns have done this offseason, and Hue Jackson is a good coach and a guy who can work with DeShone Kizer. Everyone loves piling on the Browns, but it appears they don’t need a mulligan because they’re, unbelievably, doing a lot of good things right now.

MLB

Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants. Athletes are typically not at fault for getting injured. That is not the case with Madison Bumgarner. How many high-profile athletes need to get seriously, career-threateningly hurt on two-wheeled vehicles before players realize maybe they should leave the motorized bikes in the garage (or on the showroom floor)?

From Jason Williams to Bobby Hurley to Ben Roethlisberger, Jeff Kent and beyond, there’s no shortage of serious motorcycle/dirt bike injuries. Add Bumgarner to the list. He shouldn’t be messing around on dirt bikes during the season.

C.B. Bucknor, Umpire. Without question, C.B. Bucknor had a horrendous month of April. He extended a game after all the players thought it had ended following a strikeout, calling the supposed strike a foul ball — only the hitter’s bat never came close to making contact with the ball. That prompted Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth to let Bucknor have it after the game.

That wasn’t the only high-profile terrible call Bucknor made this April, nor was it the only time a player openly criticized him on the field.

The thing is, Bucknor doesn’t deserve any do-overs because he’s been doing this his entire career. Players, managers, fans and broadcasters despise him equally. The only thing a do-over would accomplish is giving Bucknor another chance to botch another call. No thanks.

Toronto Blue Jays. Coming off back-to-back postseason appearances, the Blue Jays got off to a horrid start this season, closing April with the worst record in baseball. You may be inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt given those two straight playoff appearances, but you shouldn’t.

Toronto not only failed to add any significant talent this offseason in the arms race that is the AL East, but the team let its 2016 leader in home runs and RBI, Edwin Encarnacion, sign with the Cleveland Indians in free agency. The Blue Jays did this despite watching their offense drop from first overall in runs in 2015 to ninth in 2016. So far this season, they're in the bottom four in the AL in runs, and it’s nobody’s fault but their own.

MLS

Tim Howard. You know that thing we mentioned earlier about owners knowing better than to confront refs? Yeah, the same can be said about professional athletes and fans. Don’t tell Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard that, however.

Howard was suspended three games by MLS after a verbal altercation with a fan following his team’s 3-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City. Sorry, Tim, but you can’t get into with fans no matter how boorish or offensive they’re being. At one time considered among the best keepers in the world, age has negatively impacted Howard’s play, and apparently, he’s become a bit of a grumpy old man as well.

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