Shawn Kemp All Stars

As we all frantically analyze the upcoming Final Four, I came across another rather amazing story of proliferation and waste. 

Do you recall Kenny Anderson?  Considered at the time of his high school graduation the best schoolboy hoopster to come from NY City since Lew Alcindor (Kareem).  [Of course, considering he was followed by Stephon Marbury and later Sebastian Telfair, I question NY's ability to create points, but that is another column.]  Anyway, Kenny spent a year at Georgia Tech, making it to the Final Four, before embarking on an NBA odyssey of 7 teams and 14 years.

But what was impressive was that during his career he managed to have 7 kids with 3 women (hence his own wing in the Shawn Kemp HOF), and earn $60M.  Yet, in 2005 he filed for bankruptcy.  This would make him, in the words of my valley corresopndent P-Dub, worthy of the Mike Tyson HOF too, as Mike supposedly blew $100M.  [Note - if Kenny paid even $30M in taxes, and blew $1.5M a year + some child support, he still should have $5M+ left over.  So good for you Kenny, exceeding expectations on all fronts.]

I am not positive, but Kenny could be the first to have a branch in the Kemp and Tyson Halls; kind of like Bo Jackson, in a parallel universe.

Notes on Elite Eight

Have to bang this out as my kid watches Elmo.Tennessee’s loss pretty much kills me as I am going up against those who picked UNC — wow, really going out on a ledge there.  However, a Louisville upset, and an Xavier (bigger) upset, and a Kansas National Title, could resurrect me.

Stephen Curry.  I am amazed that no one has made any indian food jokes, but I guess Chicken Curry, much less vindaloo, is still not that common in most of the USA.  Regardless, this guy has 103 points in 3 games and 77 of them in the second half.  If you have not gone to cbs.sportline.com to see the highlights of the destruction of Wisconsin, I recommend it.  His letting the defender drive by, then calmly nailing a 3, was classic.  The other stud is the point guard, Richards, who had the following line against Wisconsin — 10 points, 13 assists, ZERO turnovers.  No wonder he led the nation in assists.

The Louisville, UNC, Kansas and Memphis games were complete domination.  Memphis looked like it was playing against high schoolers.  You know when you watch someone in the NCAAs, who seems like they have some kind of game, then they get to the pros, and look like the most uncoordinated person ever to step foot on the hardwood.  That was what Memphis did to Mich State, and to some extent, what KU did against Villanova during their alley-oop fest.  Michigan State went on a 17-0 run in the second half, and cut the lead to SEVENTEEN.  And did you see Memphis’ PG Derrick Rose double pump reverse dunk?  He is a point guard for goodness’ sake.

UCLA game was never in my mind in doubt, but fun to watch them struggle against WKU’s press.  Only Love looked like he belonged on the court.  Collison did not look like an NBA star.  Nevertheless, the only team left that can press like that is Louisville, so UCLA has a long way before having to worry about that again.

I give Louisville a better chance of upsetting the Tar Heels than X over UCLA but we will see.

Memphis looked too dominant for Texas, and figure the Davidson run ends tomorrow.  However, this is what I think, not what I want.

Dream Final Four — Louisville, Texas, Xavier, Davidson — brackets be damned

PS – For those of you who read all/most of my posts, my West Virginia shirt arrived; then they promptly lost in the Sweet 16 when their best player and 80% free throw shooter missed the clincher and the end of regulation.  I am the COOLER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Just In

My only comment is (and yes, I recognize this is puerile): “WHAT?”

Matsui could miss first two weeks of season with injury

8 hours ago

HOUSTON, Texas (AFP) — Kazuo Matsui, the first Japanese infielder signed in North American Major League Baseball, could miss the first two weeks of the upcoming season for the Houston Astros because of an injury.

The Astros put second baseman Matsui on the disabled list retroactive to March 21, the National League club announced on Wednesday, while he recovers from surgery to repair an anal fissure that took place on March 17.

Astros general manager Ed Wade said Matsui might need a full month to prepare for a return to the lineup, which would sideline him for the start of the season.

Matsui will be re-examined by team doctors on Friday.

“I have to get better first, I have to get going,” Matsui said. “I want to play in a game as soon as possible. I will try my best to be ready.”

Matsui played last season for the National League champion Colorado Rockies after joining the New York Mets for the 2004 season.

Firing You Up for The Sweet 16

Knowing that most of my readers remember this song when it first came out, I thought it too apropos to include the YouTube video to get you psyched for the Sweet 16 to Final Four games.  Of course, after watching the video, you may have some of the same observations and questions I had below.

 For your viewing pleasure — Journey’s Separate Ways [note, Sony has disabled embedding this video as it is toooooo hot!]

1) The air band at the beginning was awesome
2) That Steve Perry could go sleeveless with no guns — can you imagine 50 cent doing that
3) The woman was played by the lead singer of Flock of Seagulls
4) Drummer Steve Smith was ahead of his time, going with the Grunge look
5) Neil Schon’s fro was no match for Sammy Hagar
6) Who the F are the other two guys?
7) Why filmed on the dockyards?
8) Was this directed by Michael Bay or McG, who started in videos?
9) That these fashions made me wish I had grown up in the 70s

and 10) I hope not to see any pictures of me in similar garb on the web
 

Political Interlude

With a couple of days until the Sweet 16 begins, I thought I would update you briefly on the goings on with politics.

Topic 1 — Hillary’s “Experience”

The former First Lady has recently discussed how she ‘negotiated peace in Northern Ireland, attempted to get Universal Healthcare, and how she remembered “landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.”

 Unfortunately, this story was not exactly accurate, as Hillary ‘misspoke’ or in the words of Roger Clemens, “misremembered.”  All I can say is it is pretty embarrassing when the comedian Sinbad, throws your story ‘under the bus.’

“And one of her companions, comedian Sinbad, told The Washington Post he has no recollection either of the threat or reality of gunfire.”

What I do know, based on the photo evidence below, is that Hillary was gaining experience as First Lady in many areas other than ‘fashion/beauty.”  What is up with those eyebrows?  Isn’t it the first thing you learn at cosmetology school that the hair and eyebrows should be at least of a similar color.

Topic 2 — Obama’s Race Speech

The UberMensch of political humor — Jon Stewart — put it best.  He said that Obama spoke to the American public about race as if we were adults.  In its entirety, it is a pretty impressive speech. 

Of course, most political pundits, while applauding the speech as the most significant since MLK (take that Jesse and Louis), admitted that from a political standpoint, it would probably hurt him with the white audience.  (Sarcasm alert) Great.  We always complaining that politician say nothing, speak in sound bites and play to the lowest common denominator.  Finally we have one who tries to tell a story, demands longer than 10 seconds of attention, and it will potentially hurt him in the polls.  I guess Pennsylvania will tell.

Sometimes the fact that you get the government you deserve is a painful realization.

Topic 3 — Public Official Admissions and Denials

When we last left off, Spitzer had resinged, Paterson admitted affairs, and McGreevy was claiming sexual depravity with his soon-to-be ex-wife.  But that is not all.

- Paterson has now admitted using cocaine and marijuana in his early 20s — about 30 years ago.  Not too surprising or relevant in my opinion; different generation.  Nevertheless, infidelity and drug use all within the first two weeks in office is pretty impressive.  Not Spitzer-esque, but impressive nonetheless.

- And we have a new entrant – Kwame Kilpatrick, Mayor of Detroit.

Currently indicted on 12 felonies relating to perjury, etc.  The best part is his denying of an affair with a co-worker, for which he allegedly perjured himself.  But the evidence is so web 2.0 — text messages.  You can find them online, and they are pretty salacious.  How this is saved and accessed, I have no idea.  Good thing all my explicit text messages are written in hieroglyphics.

He, unfortunately, has not given us a catch phrase yet, but still time.

Perhaps after the NCAAs, I can set up a bracket of depraved venal public officials — easily a field of 1024.

Curry-ed Hoyas

So I was so enthralled with the array of skills that Stephen Curry displayed this weekend that I could not even be shocked by the Detroit Tigers paying Miguel Cabrera a reported $153M extension.  After all, that is only about $500K per pound — not bad.

Curry lit up the Zags for 30 in the SECOND half, and then did the almost same to the Hoyas, by leading his team back from a 17 point SECOND HALF deficit to win by 4.  He hit some LOOOONG range bombs and showed nice moves around the basket.  This was also against the best defensive team in the nation.  And from a guy who no one wanted two years ago.  Can someone explain this to me?

UNC, NC State, Duke, Wake Forest — all did not need him?  And supposedly he wanted to go to Va Tech, where his dad, Sharpshooter Dell Curry went, but Va Tech did not offer a scholarship.  Gee Coach Seth Greenberg, I have a dead eye shooter and steady ballplayer who might benefit your 19-13 NIT bound program; is that something that you might be interested in?  No?  You prefer the NIT?  OK.  Lucky for 1700 enrollment and Sweet 16-bound Davidson.

Now this time of year is the most fun and the most difficult for me.  Why?  The games are super exciting — Tennessee-Butler; WKU-Drake; San Diego-UConn — but I am also reminded of how poor my team is, and how it never wins a game it shouldn’t, whereas, teams like UCLA always win the ones they should.  I call this ENVY!  Seriously, I was certain that UCLA would beat Texas A&M even as the time dwindled down.

Love was unbelievable with blocks (despite no vertical) and turnaround J’s, and Collison’s runners were remarkable.  Continuing with the pain, add-in the Brook Lopez (the one without the Sideshow Bob hair) leaner with 1.3s remaining to give Stanford the victory over Marquette, and it was a lost weekend for me with the exception of the Duke loss.

I am forced to revisit 1996 — when my team had UNC on the ropes, up 10 with 10 minutes to go, then promptly collapsed.  Admittedly, we had Shawn Marks and (NFL All Pro) Tony Gonzalez while they had Antawn Jamison and Vince Carter, but still…..

So I am forced to ponder between watching my men’s team in the second round of the NIT (Not in Tournament) versus last year’s runner up — Ohio State, or watch our women’s team, ranked around the Top Ten, in the second round of the women’s tourney.  I am so despondent that I am actually considering women’s hoop, which, sorry to say, I find atrocious. 

Ok, for my female readers who stumbled upon this, I apologize for what appears to be overt sexism, but that is not the case.  It is just that the women’s game does not have the athleticism of the men’s game, which is not the case in all women’s sports.  Soccer and Volleyball are much more palatable.  And no, I don’t think I am better than the women…..Anyway, who am I kidding, I don’t have female readers, back to the post.

[Update, Cal was eliminated from NIT and NCAAW -- great ]

The state of affairs led me to, and this is true, go online this morning and buy a West Virginia t-shirt.  I need to have something to wear from a school that is good in Basketball (Sweet 16) and Football (plays in New Year’s Day games) and that is Blue and Gold.  I may post a photo when I get it.

On to bracketology.  As promised, I had my two year old son and his friend Mac select a bracket based on pictures of the logos.  This had some good aspects and some not so good, so we may refine for next year.  But we did learn:

- “Happy” animals win over ferocious or non-animals.  That is why we have the University of Maryland Baltimore County RETRIEVERS in the Elite 8.  That is also why we called the Siena upset over Vandy.  It also is why they chose Belmont’s Bruins to upset Duke, and would have been correct if not for Gerald Henderson.

- Other notable selections.  Xavier into the Sweet Sixteen.  Called the San Diego upset over Uconn.  But they have no one left in the South, as they were big fans of Miami and Oral Roberts — two diametrically opposed schools when it comes to religion.

Nevertheless, these 2 two-year-olds have 7 of 16 teams still alive — which is just short of Dick Vitale (who has 9) and famed Bracketologist Joe Lunardi (10)

The Final Four — UCLA, Kansas, Louisville (instead of #1 UNC), and Miami (instead of #1 Memphis).

My son picks Kansas over UCLA

His friend Mac picks the Happy Bear (UCLA) over the Jayhawks.

We will see how they do!

The Highs of Being a Blogger

People often ask me what it is like to be a Blogger? What kind of satisfaction do you get from your important role in bringing the truth and a unique, valued perspective, to the general public?

Well, it is fairly hard to put into words, but, perhaps, this video gives you the visual evidence of the emotions I go through at the end of each post.

NCAA Tourney Preview

Well, we are hours away from the Big Dance (that is if you don’t consider the NIT the Big Dance as I enjoy a quite tight contest between New Mexico and Cal), so I better get out my preview.  Now this could be your traditional preview with predictions, however, those are easily available at www.si.com or www.espn.com or many other sites.  Plus, I am not a licensed Bracketologiest and I don’t want to be held responsible for you losing your child’s tuition in your NCAA pool (if gambling were legal).

So here are my random thoughts.

1) Academics.  So it turns out that of the four #1 ranked teams, only UNC actually graduates over 50% of its players. 86%.  Memphis, UCLA and Kansas are all around 40-45%.  Rather shocking.  No, not that those three are so low, but that UNC is so high.  Schools that are higher are Notre Dame, Xavier, Butler, etc.

2) Easiest Bracket. UCLA.  Duke, Xavier and Connecticut are ranked 9th, 12th and 16th — total of 37 if you add them up.  The other three #1’s face a 2, 3 and 4 that total for Memphis is 34; for Kansas 33, and for UNC 39.  Wait you say, 39 is greater than 37, so UNC has the easiest bracket.  But this is where my amateur bracketology degree comes in.  UNC faces Tennessee as the #2.  What?  They should have been a #1 anyway.  UCLA faces Duke.  Duke stinks.  Totally unathletic and if they do not hit threes, forget it.  Admittedly UNC faces a weak Washington State, but all the UCLA teams are playing poorly down the stretch.  Disagree if you want, but it is my blog!

3) Games to watch.  Only handling the first round (Thursday and Friday).  [Reminder, if you are not spending your day at a sportsbar, go to cbs.sportsline.com and watch online.]  My choices are based on either Fab Freshman, or interesting, in my opinion, matchups.

a) USC-KSU: Beasley-Mayo.  Last game for one of them; I predict Beasley.  Need I say more?

b) Gonzaga-Davidson: Dell Curry’s son — look for the Davidson upset.

c) Butler-South Alabama: Butler coach is 12 years old and they play great team ball.

d) IU-Arkansas: Eric Gordon, fab frosh

e) Marquette-UK: Just figure this will be super competitive and fun to watch.  Plus, most either love or hate Kentucky.

f) Drake-Western Kentucky:  Drake is a good team oriented mid-major, and Western Kentucky graduates 100% of its players.  Yes, 100% over the 4 years of the study.  Sure, they may have majors in Horseracing, the film Deliverance, and Ashley Judd appreciation, but 100% is 100%.

4) Other observations:

- Wisconsin is good but soooooo boring; hope they lose

- Hope Notre Dame loses too; not because I don’t like Luke Harangody, but I don’t like Charlie Weis

- Cannot root for Louisville as Pitino is too slick

- Pull for Tennessee as Bruce Pearl is Jewish (if that is important to you) and he was once blackballed for turning in another program for cheating in recruiting.  Wait, let me get this straight.  He is in competition for a recruit; the other side noticeably cheats; he reports it; he is the bad guy?  C’mon, this is not the Mafia; there is no Omerta.  Someone was trying to get an illegal edge and got caught. Good for Pearl.  he is like the Elliot Spitzer  David Paterson Larry Craig Marion Barry  (To be named) of College Basketball

- Kansas, in my opinion, is the most athletic all around team that should win it all, so they will not. 

- Get an early look at ‘Nova as Jay Wright will only be the best dressed coach in round one

- You CANNOT root for Memphis.  Watch them for Derrick Rose and the other talented players, but Calipari (along with Floyd at USC) seems so unethical that I think he should be coaching the Riker’s Island 5; in fact, maybe he is.

- Pitt.  I have always had a soft spot for Pitt.  No idea why, but pulling for them.  Bobby Knight picked them to win it all.  Agree? No, but I like the General’s boldness.

- Stanford – Cornell.  <Insert SAT joke here>

- Texas.  I cannot stand UT but that is a Mack Brown carryover.   They take this bracket.

- UCLA.  Good players.  Standup citizens.  Great coach.  So why do I despise their success?

- Baylor.  Nice to see them in the tournament as the last time their basketball team made the news was when one player shot and killed another

- Connecticut.  Like Calipari, Floyd and Pitino, not a big Calhoun fan, although a good coach (even if suspensions of players are inversely proportional to importance to the team).  Check out Hasheem Thabeet — 7′ 3″ swatter

- Again, I say check out the mid majors even if you (and I) have no idea where Drake, Butler, Western Kentucky (the city smart a$$), and the others are

Lastly, one goal was to have my 2 year old pick my bracket.  However, I got home too late to have him pay attention long enough to pick 63 games.  He will do it later; and remember, even if after the first round or two, it is not like he is going to cheat

Hope you win your pools!

What is the deal with NY (NJ) Governors?

The Spitzer saga has been well documented, but his successor, David Paterson, used his first day to point out that he too had been unfaithrul to his wife, with numerous partners, and she unfaithful to him.

 Paterson went on to add that one of the women was a state employee, but NOT a direct report to him, and that he did not help her get promoted or anything.  Oh, he also added that he did not think he used state or campaign funds for said flings, but he was sure that if he did, he would have reimbursed the campaign.  This, despite the fact, that his campaign credit card was used for the hotel on 94th that was used for the liaisons.  Paterson pointed out that the hotel was also a place for campaign staff to sleep.  (The jokes and innuendo are too obvious even for me.)

Anyway, he did not outdo Spitzer by any means, but a valiant effort at showing he belongs in politics.

Not to be outdone, though, is Ex NJ Governor McGreevey.  Remember him?  He was the one who came out of the closet to admit that he had an affair with another man, destroying his political career and his marriage.  Well, with all the salacious goings on in neiighboring NY, he must have felt like the little brother left out.  So McGreevey and one of his ex-lovers now claim that they engaged in, to put this delicately, menage a trois with the soon-to-be-ex Mrs. McGreevey.  Classy!

The Missus has denied it, but either way, what is the point of announcing this?

I hate to think what the Governor of Connecticut is going to announce.

As a final word, I received the following from my most loyal reader, who I have nicknamed, “Dad.”  While he claims that he did not do the math, this was pretty good view of Spitzer’s fiscal conservatism, especially when compared with Bear Stearns.

Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s paying $4300 for an hour with Kristen has been ridiculed.  It occurs to this observer that on further inspection, it may not have been such a bad deal after all. Today, Sir Paul McCartney’s ex-wife Heather Mills was awarded $48 million dollars by a London judge.They were married in 2002.  Now Sir Paul is over 60 years old, and I am going to give him a generous benefit of doubt that they made love 4x per week, and I shall also assume that he was able to last 30 minutes each time (another generous assumption).  That equals 2 hours per week, or 104 hours per year.  Over 6 years that comes to a total of 124 hours. Simple math divides the total amount she got by the hours above, and it turns out that Sir Paul paid $76,923.08 per hour.  It seems like, at a measly $4300 per hour,  Eliot got a real good deal after all.

Of course there is late word from Silda Spitzer that Eliot’s costs may not all be in yet…… Put that one in the bank.

Forgettable Spitzer Sting

Just as I did in the post below linking the “World’s Oldest Profession” with Social Networking Sites, I was looking for a new angle on the Spitzer situation, but there is nothing to be had there.  Alas, therein lies the story, and one I must get to quickly with NCAA Selection Sunday only two days away.

The problem with the Spitzer saga is there is no memorable catch phrase or sound bite.  Yes, it is intriguing that he was brought down by the very institutions that he once prosecuted — Banking and Prostitution; yes, Ashley Alexandra Dupre may have a tv movie in her story; and yes, even at the cost, Spitzer’s taste was 100x better than Clinton’s.  But how do we capture this moment?  I, for one am at a loss.

For instance, Roger Clemens trial will be remembered, ironically, for “Misremembered.”

Mark McGwire for “I am not here to speak about the past.” 

These are entertaining, and slightly defining, but I was hoping for something equal to what I consider the top two “oops I have been busted” phrases of all time:

#1) Bitc& set me up!!!!  Marion Barry when caught smoking crack as DC Mayor in the late 80s.  This is the all time quote and everyone should know it; just like Jordan’s shot against the Cavaliers in the conference finals.

#2) I have a wide stance Senator Larry Craig, noted ‘conservative,’ who was caught and plead guilty to soliciting in a men’s airport bathroom; he used this when going back on his original confession.  Look Senator Craig, you may be a tall guy, I have no idea, but unless you are Yao Ming, no way your feet extend LATERALLY under the divider and on to another man’s foot.  Nevertheless, I thank you for this phrase and hope that it some day reaches the status of Mayor Barry’s, because, to date, it has not received enough exposure.  It is kind of like an Indie film that really deserves to be a blockbuster — like Sideways or something.

Anyway, too bad Spitzer does not have a phrase like these, as it could lead to his rejuvenation, just like Mayor Barry, who was subsequently elected again.