#74: What's a Gimmick and What Isn't?

Plus: WNBA CBA talk, NWSL title game, hell yeah, Trinity Rodman

There were multiple reasons that I was excited to go to the NCAA Tournament last year in Alabama.

I mean, it's March Madness, so that alone is reason enough. But when I saw the field that would be playing in that region, I was even more excited.

Specifically, I wanted to see how Kim Caldwell's hockey lineups looked in person. I pitched a story idea to my editor at The Athletic for an in-depth piece on it since it was her first year at Tennessee and there is a microscope on teams as they reach the Sweet 16.

True hoopers knew of Caldwell's system. But the casual fans were about to really learn about it.

I was told to go in a different direction, which I did. I was hoping to write the story for another outlet, but I have to say, the job that Emma Baccellieri did on her story on Caldwell and her offense this week for Sports Illustrated was so beautifully done, that I don't think I would have done it justice.

I've been trying to find a time to work that system into my newsletter.

Which WNBA team would benefit from it?

Would it work in the WNBA or NBA?

Building a dream team to use in the system

Which three-on-three team of Winnie the Pooh characters would win in a basketball game, and would Kim Caldwell's system be a good fit for this exhibition? (The text exchanges I have with Ally are unique).

I just couldn't find the hook for it.

But after reading Emma's piece, there was one word that stuck out to me: gimmick.

Yes, that's it.

That's how we'll incorporate it.

See, whenever something new or unconventional is introduced in sports, it's easy to write it off as a gimmick. It's something without staying power and something that isn't built to last.

All it takes is finding a way to stop it, and it's gone.

We'll look at some different ideas introduced and implemented and whether or not they are gimmicks in just a few minutes, but we really need to explain Caldwell's system first.

I remember sitting on press row, talking to Andrew Hammond, Sports Editor of AL.com (and a fantastic dude) and telling him "watch this."

As soon as the game started between Tennessee and Texas, a new group of five players went to the scorer's table to check in for the Vols, hence the hockey lineup name.

What Caldwell does is have a group of players go all-out for every second they are on the court, full-court pressing on defense, pushing the pace on offense, taking a high volume of shots.

And then, at a stoppage, a new group comes in and does the same thing.

I've wondered how star players would react to it (which is why it wouldn't work in the NBA with the fragility of the male ego), but Emma does a great job breaking down that by the time the players are subbing out, it's because they are exhausted and need a rest and they aren't being pulled from the game just because.

The approach makes so much sense if you have the buy-in from the front office and the team. It allows fresh legs to constantly work in throughout the game, setting up for your closing unit to come in at the end of games.

With the discussion around what the NBA can do with the amount of soft tissue injuries early in the season, suggestions of a minutes cap have been introduced. What if I told you that using this system allows your players to stay fresh and limit the exposure to injuries? It also allows teams to build a deep roster, needing to turn to their reserves throughout the game.

They are already so damn good, but imagine if the Oklahoma City Thunder used this approach. Their roster is so deep, filled with players who would be starters or regulars on other rosters across the Association.

They are the team who could introduce this system to the NBA, but being that they are the defending champs and off to another great start, that won't happen anytime soon.

Could it work in the WNBA? I think so. I asked a team executive who told me, "Yeah, it could. You'd have to definitely build the right team for it and give the coach a grace period ... something that we don't have."

So yes and no. Cool!

But being that sports are copycat leagues, it won't be surprising to see another college program – men's or women's – try to adopt the same system that Caldwell has in place.

It's not a gimmick. It has staying power.

Chip Kelly's offense
Man, what a time to be alive when Chip Kelly was at the helm at Oregon. It wasn't just the unlimited number of jersey combinations that had Oregon in the national conversation, but it was also the offensive system that Kelly had in place.

It was a high-speed, up-tempo, no-huddle offense that resulted in a ton of plays taking place. We saw a lot of other schools attempt to copy this approach to varying results. The spread offense wasn't invented by Kelly, but you could argue that the success that he had at Oregon with his offense increased the usage of the spread offense – especially with utilizing the running backs.

The problem with it is that Kelly hasn't had the same success with it since leaving Oregon. Be it in Philadelphia, Las Vegas, UCLA – it just hasn't hit the same.

I'm going to lean slightly toward gimmick with this one, but it's close.

Wildcat Offense
Where were you on the day that Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown ran all over the New England Patriots while introducing the Wildcat Formation?

It was 2008, and I was in college, watching football at my girlfriend's place, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

The Dolphins were having their running backs take the direct snap, running option plays, and the Patriots had no answer for it.

It was a moment. It was memorable.

It was also a gimmick.

I was excited when Madden put it in the next version of the video game, but that's exactly what it was – a video game offense.

The Wildcat Formation wasn't anything new, as we saw it in college many times before. But in the pros? It was different.

The Dolphins continued to run it, and other teams followed suit.

But it didn't have staying power. Defenses started to develop schemes around it, and the fad fizzled out.

Karl Smesko's ATL System
I think people had different understandings about what Smesko's Above the Line (ATL) offense was going to be when he took the Atlanta Dream job.

They envisioned this game-breaking offense that only attempted three-pointers.

Don't get it twisted – they were jacking up threes a ton in Atlanta, but the offense is more than that. It's an offense that puts a focus on getting the open shot, with an emphasis on the three-pointer and cutting in the lane for an open layup.

Defensively, it's about communicating, switching when needed, and pushing the ball in transition.

These are staples of any team, but the Smesko system adds some wrinkles to it and termination that differs from other systems.

It's not a gimmick. It's a balanced system executed at the highest level

Tush Push
Granted, I don't watch the NFL, but it seems like the Philadelphia Eagles found a loophole in the system that allows them to basically convert on short yardage whenever they need to.

It was such a loophole, that the Green Bay Packers challenged it this offseason, unsuccessfully.

Now, from what I understand, it requires having the perfect quarterback and offensive line for the situation, allowing the Eagles to execute it to perfection.

Usually, that doesn't mean it's going to last. That has all the makings of a Capital G gimmick.

Other Gimmicks:
Swinging Gate
Triple-option offense
Ghost runner

The Latest WNBA CBA Discussion

There has been a lot of good reporting around the latest WNBA CBA discussions, led by ESPN, The Associated Press, and The Athletic.

The latest reports show that the league is offering a max salary of $1.1 million.

As the two sides continue to meet this week, can confirm via sources with knowledge of the CBA discussions that the league’s most recent proposal to the WNBPA included a max salary of more than $1.1 million.

AP first on it.— Ben Pickman (@benpickman.bsky.social) November 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM

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Sounds good, right?

On paper, yes, of course. When you go from just under $250,000 as the max to over a million, that's a huge increase.

But it's also leaving out key details.

I appreciate friend of the newsletter Sonja Jacobsen for pointing this out on Bluesky:

The NBA's latest offer to the WNBA players is "highly lucrative". For the NBA owners!!

Really... this deal promises to make the NBA owners millions!!
wagesofwins.substack.com/p/highly-luc...

[image or embed]— David Berri (@wagesofwins.bsky.social) November 19, 2025 at 8:45 PM

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David Berri does a great job breaking it down in his Substack (I won't link to any of them for obvious reasons, so you can find it yourself).

So what does that mean? Well, I'll turn it over to Sonja.

As Kelsey Plum once said, the players aren't looking to make what the NBA players make. They want the same share of revenue. As Sonja points out via David, the increase would go from around 7% (I've seen the number 9% before, to be fair) to 17%.

That's still well below the 50% of revenue share that the NBA players have.

So with that, the max salary is still lower than what the actual average salary should be.

The reporting that ESPN, AP, and The Athletic all have is sound. But I know information fed from the side of the league – the NBA and WNBA are the same here – when I read it.

The WNBA is the best sports league in the world. I'll die on that hill. I'm also OK if they go on strike and don't play this season.

Hold the line.

You've earned more. You deserve better.

Can We Talk About Trinity?

My Blue Jays, of course, shit the bed in Game 7 of the World Series, so I'm still stuck with one championship win as a fan since 1993.

But this weekend, the Washington Spirit have a chance to right last year's wrongs in the NWSL Championship.

The Spirit will take on Gotham, as Gotham looks to continue its Cinderella run (don't call them an underdog, though).

But before the teams take to the pitch in Kansas City, the NWSL Awards took place on Wednesday night.

And I want to appreciate Trinity Rodman and the creativity behind her look.

Using her kit as part of her look is just the chef's kiss. I'm going to take this as all of the confirmation I need that she's not going anywhere (I'm biased and just hoping, really).

Speaking of the Spirit, we can't forget that the reason they are in the championship game again is because Hal Hershfelt is a friend of the newsletter.

Seriously, go back and read/watch/listen to our conversation from earlier this year.

Until Next Time

This stupid little newsletter keeps me busy from the scary issues that are happening right now.

But we can't lose sight.

Release the Epstein Files unscrubbed.

Ask your MAGA people in your life (if you have any) why Trump won't release them. Ask them how they feel about "quiet. quiet, piggy."

And protect trans people. Now and forever.

Enjoy the NWSL title game this weekend.

And fuck Riley Gaines, forever.

I'll see you Monday.

I love you awesome nerds. Be kind to yourself.