Sports B(C)S

Yes MSG is going internatonal tomorrow (ok, only Canada) to catch U2, so got to cover a lot today as no guarantee I post again before Saturday.  Scroll to the bottom if you just want the Kardashians and the sordid EScaPades(N).

So let’s start with the BCS.

1	Florida	7-0
2	Alabama	8-0
3	Texas	7-0
4	Iowa	8-0
5	USC	6-1
6	TCU	7-0
7	Boise State	7-0
8	Cincinnati	7-0
9	LSU	6-1
10	Oregon	6-1

Florida, Alabama and Iowa all should have lost, and, it is hoped, they will.  Seems just in a year like this one.  Texas will not lose as they don’t play anyone. Oklahoma State does not have Dez Bryant, because he, like PacMan Jones and Michael Crabtree, sought out advice from Deion Sanders, and that does not end well for anyone, except, perhaps, Deion.  So Dez gets to sit out the year, and despite another year of eligibility, will turn pro.  In fact, Yes MSG predicts that Dez has already attended his last class at OSU.

And exactly how is USC 5 when it lost to a mediocre Washington team?  Anything to stop it from being TCU and Cincinnati I guess. But perhaps Oregon will take out the Trojans and then we get to see how rigged the system is.  Would a one-loss Oregon pass undefeated TCU, Cincy and Boise? 

Here is hoping for a complete mess!

And what about those NFL QBs?

Favre had a fumble returned for a TD and threw a pick six, so at least he finally lost.

the Niners decided that Shaun Hill was not going to lead them to the Super Bowl.  Really?  Look, I appreciate that he is a gamer, but unless you are Trent Dilfer backed up by a sick defense, you are not winning the Super Bowl with Shaun Hill.  Now whether you win with Alex Smith….who knows. 

You remember Alex Smith?  First pick in the draft when the Niners should have taken Aaron Rodgers.  At least he was not as bad a draft pick as JaMarcus, Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Vince Young, Brady Quinn (who cannot beat out Derek Anderson – seee below), Matt Leinart, etc.

(OK, not a QB but instead of rehashing how stupid it was to give Matt Cassel, of the 72 QB rating, $63M, let’s talk about the troubled Larry Johnson.  I will not comment here, but this is a great article by Joe Posnanski)

Quick Soccer Interlude.

I know everyone says Europe is so much more sophisticated and mature than the USA.  In many walks of life it may be but definitely not in sport.  I was catching a bit of the Champions’ League and the advertising around the stadium basically says “Say No to Racism.”  Really?  We have to s-p-e-l-l that out for people?  Apparently we do.  Seems that Euro soccer fans like to chant racist things against opposing players, especially when African or of African descent.

I am not saying that racism is dead here in the USA, but having attended sporting events for almost 40 years, I have never heard anything that would require this kind of advertisment.  Unless it was, of course, “Say No to Racism (sponsored by Budweiser).”

Tough call for the next topic, but let’s go with Basketball and save the Sexual Escapades at ESPN for later.

So the NBA started this evening, which will fortunately allow me to avoid all the Yankee worship* that starts tomorrow. 

*Sorry, but the Yanks spent $420M on Sabathia, Tex and Burnett (toss in Jeter and Arod’s contracts and you are already at salaries of $900M (no, that is not a misprint)), so I just enjoy it more when the Yanks spend $100+M on the Giambi’s and Kevin Brown’s of the world.  I hope the Phils take ‘em, but nevertheless, the salary discrepancy numbers are ridonculous.  In fact, if you want a good baseball story, check out Dodgers owners, the McCourts, divorce proceedings.  Here is a little sampling:

Jamie McCourt’s filing states she is seeking reinstatement as the team’s CEO as well as access to perks including travel by private jet, stays at five-star resorts and use of the Dodgers owners’ suite. She wants $321,000 a month in spousal support if reinstated to her former position. If not, she believes she should be paid nearly $488,000 per month.

First off, Cleveland lost at home, with Shaq and LeBron, to the Celtics.  So now the Cleveland sports fan has realized:

• The Shaq-uisition (get it?) was a disaster.  The Celts are better than the Cavs. LeBron will sign elsewhere next offseason.  Add to this….
• The Browns are absolutely atrocious, and their QB, Derek Anderson, has a QB rating of 40.6, and their coach is an a-hole.  Was better when Modell moved the Ravens (nee Browns) to Baltimore
• The Indians were one win from the World Series in 2007, with, ironically, CC Sabathia going, and still lost three straight to Boston.  Now they have to watch two ex-pitchers, CC and Cliff Lee, go against each other in game 1 of the World Series.  Excuse them if World Series ratings are rather low in Cleveland
• They live in Cleveland

In other BBall news:

- Blake Griffin is hurt and not playing; but of course, he is a Clipper

- Baron Davis is banged up after a single game.  Of course he is, he is Baron Davis, AND he is a Clipper

- Lamar Odom married Khloe Kardashian.  He would have done better choosing Door Number 2 or 3 or 4 on Let’s Make a Deal.

Khloe Kourtney  Kim  Bruce

Finally, before we move on the Steve Philips Lewisnky-type scandal, check out this article on how Antoine Walker may have blown $100M in career earnings, and how his mom may not be the best Forensic Accountant out there.  The fact that Antoine had a “VC” (Walker Ventures LLC) and a Real Estate company (AW Realty LLC) might have been two warning signs.  I mean, with $100M in earnings, and say $40M net after taxes, agents, splurging, etc.  I would rather invest in real estate than just take my $4M a year in interest. 

Finally Mr. Phillips of ESPN.

ESPN seems to have a sordid history of sexual misconduct — Phililps, Harold Reynolds, Mike Tirico (he survived as he is the equivalent of the star Running Back), Stu Scott — but some of this story takes the proverbial cake.  The New York Post has the most comprehensive coverage, and the letter his mistress wrote his wife is Fatal Attraction.  It is disturbing and absolutely compelling in itself.  And in true Lewinsky style, his choice in mistresses seems to be as good as his selection of players while GM of the Mets.  Judge for yourself, but I think he just traded in his job and marriage for a .220 hitting shortstop who is never making it to AAA, much less the Big Leagues.  Not to mix sports metaphors, but this is the Infidelity equivalent of Ryan Leaf.

You are an Ex_GM, a good looking 46 year old, you made millions, and this is your choice?  His wife is probably pi$$ed AND embarra$$ed!  More the latter I expect.

Go Cards!!!

Yes MSG tries to avoid the overly salacious.  Unless it is truly entertaining in a tragic sort of way — you know, like Travis Henry fathering 9 kids with 9 women, and then playing himself out of the ONE career that might have allowed him to actually pay the child care bill.  He then follows this up by becoming a bad drug dealer who gets caught and sent to prison.  Hah! 

But this is ephemeral.  No one will know Travis in 6 months if they even remember him now.  But Rick Pitino?  I was going to ignore this story.  Athletes, and Coaches having affairs and one-night stands is de rigeur not unusual.  But consider these details:

• Pitino is devout Catholic who brings a Priest to road games with his Louisville Cardinals
• Pitino is a married father of five
• Pitino is one of the most successful college basketball coaches of all time and a “molder of men”

But he is willing to risk it to:

• Have unprotected sex with a woman he had just met in a restaurant
• He shows no class by engaging in this act on the floor or in a booth, while his assistant is close enough to hear — all those millions and you cannot get a room at the Hilton?
• He gets her pregnant
• He pays for her abortion (forget your personal view on Choice, he is a devout Catholic.  Last time I checked, this was a no-no.  Certainly far worse than your starting power forward missing bed check

Then it gets even stranger

• Turns out she is like in her 40s — no offense Rick, but anyone can score a Cougar, shouldn’t yours have been Ms. Kentucky or something?  I am as disappointed in you as I was in Clinton’s choice of Lewinsky.
• Turns out, I guess, that she also meets the Louisville strength coach that night
• Turns out, that despite having banged his boss and then undergoing a far from routine medical procedure within the next month, she MARRIES the strength coach six months later
• Turns out, the strength coach knows all about her incident with Pitino.  Can we call this a disturbing case of hero-worship
• Turns out, the strength coach and the Cougar are now in divorce proceedings.  Isn’t that surprising tragic so predictable it would not have made it into the Made for TV Movie script?

So now the questions are

• Should Pitino be fined?
• Should Pitino resign?
• Should the University President at least not be so publicly obsequious by praising Pitino’s honesty (6 years later after an extortion threat), and how he has the coach’s back?

But Yes MSG’s only question is:

• Can I get tickets to the first UK (Coached by Calipari) v UL basketball game played in Rupp Arena?

[For a funny take on this, plus Reggie Miller's pursuit of a 'fashion designer', click on Jason Whitlock's column here.]

I Love Shawn Marion

Yes MSG has a son, Yes RPG.  And while he is a talkative kid, like many 3.5 year old boys, he is limited in his affection.  Essentially not providing enough hugs, kisses and “I Love You’s” to satisfy his mommy.  But the other night we are sitting around and I bring up ESPN.com and it has a picture of Shawn Marion, (erstwhile) Toronto Raptor, on the home page.

Yes RPG: “Who is that daddy?”

Yes MSG: “Shawn Marion of the Raptors.”

Yes RPG: “I love Shawn Marion.”

Well then.  If Shawn Marion, aka The Matrix, is worthy of my son’s affection, then Yes MSG is obligated to break down the trade for his loyal reader.

Now remember, in the NBA trades are not normal.  They are done for salary cap, trade exemption, expiring contracts, but rarely for on the court value.  To use a school lunch playground example:

It is never: I will trade you my peanut butter and jelly sandwich for your corn dog.

It is always: I will trade you my corn dog and a snack to be named later to you, if you give Jimmy your 25 cents bus money, and he can then get home, and on Friday, bring me a dessert.  I will then trade the future dessert rights to Becky in exchange for a kiss on the cheek for me, and her soccer ball for you.  OK?

But let me try to break down the Marion trade simply:

Toronto:

Gives: Shawn Marion, Kris Humphries, Nathan Jawai, Cash $$$

Gets: Hedo Turkoglu (the Free Agent Signing becomes a Sign and Trade, enabling them to potentially resign Carlos Delfino), Devean George and Antoine Wright

Dallas:

Gives: (Marion a 5 year $39M deal, which is far less than the $17+M he made last year; hope he can feed his family); Jerry Stackhouse and Cash $$$

Gets: Shawn Marion, Kris Humphries, Nathan Jawai, Greg Buckner, Cash $$$

Memphis:

Gives: Greg Buckner

Gets: Jerry Stackhouse, Cash $$$, 2nd round draft pick

Orlando:

Gives: Hedo Turkoglu

Gets: $7M trade exemption since a Sign and Trade and not just a Free Agent loss, Cash $$$

Got it?  So the majority of the trade is Who Cares?  In fact, if not for the fact that The Matrix was my boy’s favorite athlete for 30 seconds I would not have bothered. So to net it all out:

• Cash $$$ was traded the most!
• Toronto will suck less with Hedo than with Shawn and Toronto’s large Turkish population may buy tickets, but will be out of the race by the All Star break
• Orlando gets something — $7M trade exception — which they can use to fill the holes in Vince Carter’s game as he is Hedo’s replacement — they remain competitive in the East
• Dallas gets another soft outside player to go with Dirk and Josh, and, while improved, will not be a factor in the West.

Toronto and Orlando should have gone the Corn Dog for Peanut Butter and Jelly route.

NBA Offseason

Sorry loyal readers.  I have meant to dissect the NBA draft for weeks now, but vacation and a child who refuses to go to bed and allow his father to write caused a delay.  But considering the draft was not that interesting — one “sure” thing in Blake Griffin and the rest a great debate on Ricky Rubio means that adding in the free agent signings makes this more meaty.

But before I begin, I saw that ESPN has a new show about Sports Nation or something, with some attractive blond and Colin Cowherd discussing topics of the day and asking the opinion of the listening public.  You know what I think, if you want to listen/read uninformed opinions from the general public about sports and other topics, then READ MY BLOG!

Now, let’s start with some free agent dealings:

• Jermaine O’Neal of the Heat decided not to become a free agent and to instead accept his $23M option for 2009-10.  Duh!
• Carlos Boozer (the injured one) decided to re-up with Utah and so did Kyle Korver.  Duh!
• Lakers sign Ron Artest.  Big signing.  They lose Ariza but at this stage Artest might be a more impactful player when you are going for a repeat.  They need to sign Odom too.
• Pistons sign Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.  Who cares.  40 wins tops.
•  ’Sheed signs with the Celtics.  Cavs blew this one, but more on that later.  Doubt that gets the Celts another title as all the main players with the exception of Rajon Rondo are 32+, but does make them more competitive if they can pace themselves and Sheed decides to buy into KG’s program.
• Hedo goes to Toronto.  So he stiffs Portland as his wife wants to live in Toronto.  Will say it is nice to see a player prefer a more international city, or perhaps it was the $3-5M more over 5 years.  Then again, if Hedo went for the money, he is in need of a tax accountant.  As high tax as Oregon is, Canada is higher.  Then again it was perhaps the universal healthcare.  Regardless, Toronto gets moderately better and Orlando gets arguably worse depending on Vinsanity — more on that later.
• Birdman resigns with Denver.  Good to see quirky grad of Blinn JC, who had a drug issue (suspended two years), and who has a hair and tattoo problem get $26M. 
• Nobody wants AI.  Oh well.  Hope his money was in CDs.

And of course the trades:

• Vinsanity to Orlando.  So Vince takes Hedo’s place.  He is more athletic with a more diverse game — good.  Cannot play D (neither can Hedo), rebound or make those around him better, but should be interesting with Rashard and Superman II.  Good risk for Orlando, but considering Vince gets $50M in three years, why not resign Hedo for 5 with the same funds?  Vince not worth it.
• Richard Jefferson to the Spurs.  Still figure the Spurs don’t have enough to overtake the Lakers (with Odom), but getting RJ to spell/help Ginobili, Timmay and Mr. Longoria in place of the ancients sent to Milwaukee was a smart, last ditch effort.  Great trade; will not be enough.
• Shaq to the Cavs.  As I wrote before, I love this trade as it will make for an exciting Eastern Conference race.  Shaq is too old and fat, even if he were motivated, to make the difference in my opinion.  He can, however, play D on Dwight Howard, unlike the corpses that were Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace.  So great sideshow as we all hope for a Lakers-Cavs (Kobe v Shaq/LeBron).  Normally Yes MSG wants the underdog, but I admit that this final would be great.  And it would even happen ifThe Cavs got another outside scorer for LeBron.  Say, Richard Jefferson or Ron Artest or even Sheed.  Someone who poses a matchup problem, can play defense (Artest at least) or do a variety of things.  No way Bron, Shaq and Mo Williams get the job done.  Any hope of keeping Bron relies on winning a title in 2010, hence the Shaq trade, as that had better be a one-year deal.  But Danny Ferry better be a better GM than player and get a wing soon.

Now on to the draft.  Isn’t it amazing that with all the basketball players coming out each year that there is only 1 guy considered a possibility for stardom.  Obviously, some other players are going to do well, etc. however, I still think it wild that it is Blake and your Pupu platter.  Then again, with only 360 active players on roster, competition is tight.  Then again, when Sean Marks in on the Hornets, it is confounding that more guys don’t make an impact

1. Clippers – Blake Griffin.  Appears to be the athletic real deal.  Will come down with a rare form of ecoli wiping out his rookie season as he does play for the Clippers.
2. Grizzlies – Hasheem Thabeet.  First Tanzanian to play in the NBA.  Should have lots of opportunities to block shots, which is good, considering that is his only skill.
3. Thunder – James Harden.  Awesome beard.  Perhaps a good complement for Kevin Durant too, but that is second to the beard.
4. Kings – Tyreke Evans.  So they sign Beno Udrih for a ridiculous $30+m to play point, then draft a one-and-done to play point even though he is not a natural distributor and is kind of a ball hog.  Hmmmm?  That robbery by the refs against the Lakers in 2002 still haunts this franchise.  Hello Las Vegas.
5. Wolves – Ricky Rubio.  People are split on his skill, but he is an exciting pick with lots of upside.  Of course, not a good sign that his first comment about Minneapolis was that his mom thought it cold.  Expect him to stay in Spain while he negotiates his buyout from both Joventut (Spanish team) and the Wolves.
6. Wolves – Jonny Flynn.  Rubio insurance.
7. Warriors – Stefan Curry.  Cannot wait to see how Don Nelson misuses and destroys this promising rookie a la C-Webb, Brandon Wright, Anthony Parker, etc.  Please fire Don; he is a lame duck anyway.
8. Knicks – Jordan Hill.  They wanted Curry.  Hill is David Lee insurance.
9. Raptors – DeMar DeRozan.  DeMost interesting pick by a Canadian team.
10. Bucks – Brandon Jennings.  Could not qualify for US College, went to Italy, did little, says Rubio is overrated, has a sweet hairdo.  Think Kid n Play.  Bucks will suck less with him, but not saying much for the franchise that selected Andrew Bogut, Yian Jianlian and even Big Dog Robinson with 1st round picks.
11. Nets – Terrence Williams.  Anyone who wears Sponge Bob clothes around campus has the maturity to be an excellent NBA player.
12. Bobcats – Gerald Henderson.  His dad stole the ball from Worthy in 1984 to save the series for the Celts against the Lakers.  That will be Gerald’s legacy too.
13. Pacers – Tyler Hansbrough.  I like his energy and dedication, but at #130, not 13.  Really Larry Bird, this is the best you can do at 13.  Take a flyer on someone from the Congo.  A 12th man is not what keeps the Pacers from the title.  Of course, all the recent reports about whether the “Pacers are too white” being discussed on ESPN are pretty funny.  So thanks for that Tyler.
14. Suns – Earl Clark.  Rep for not giving 100% in college; that translates well to the NBA.
15. Pistons – Austin Daye.  First of all, I remember his dad, Darren, at UCLA, so f-u for making me feel old.  Second, 6′ 10″ and 190lbs.
16. Bulls – James Johnson.  Read that with all the James and Johnsons that have played in the NBA, this is the first James Johnson.  Will be his legacy.
17. 76ers – Jrue Holiday.  Heralded recruit out of high school.  Did nothing in college.  Considering the teaching that takes place in the NBA, hope he majored in Turkish.
18. Wolves – Ty Lawson.  Wolves want to ensure that no one has any point guards – that is their strategy.  OK, they traded him to Denver.  Will be interesting to compare his successful career but supposed limited upside, with Jrue, who did nothing but has ‘more’ upside.
19. Hawks – Jeff Teague.  Another Wake player which speaks well to the Deamon Deacon underachievement last year.
20. Jazz – Eric Maynor.  Beat Duke in NCAAs two years ago.  Enough for me to like this pick a lot.
21. Hornets – Darren Collison.  Um, well, I….who cares; pick 21.
22. Trailblazers – Victor Claver.  Never heard of him, and no point in reading about him now as the only reader who made it this far is me, the author.
23. Kings – Omri Casspi.  First Israeli taken in first round.  Doubles Jewish population of Sacramento.
24. Mavericks – BJ Mullens.  Spent one uneventful year at Ohio State.  Will be a towel waver in Oklahoma City, where he was traded.
25. Thunder – Rodrigue Beaubois. Call this the Tony Parker pick.  Speaks French, may be Tony (or Frederic Weis).
26. Bulls – Taj Gibson.  Hope he is good enough to be worthy of the coming Taj Mahal nickname.
27. Grizzlies – DeMarre Carrol.  Has his work cut out to be better than DeMar DeRozan, who has him by two capital letters.
28. Wolves — Wayne Ellington.  After four first rounders, I am too tired to comment.
29. Lakers – signed Artest and need to sign Odom, so drafted Toney Douglas and sent him to the Knicks, where he will carry Lebron’s bags in 2010.
30. Cavs – Christian Eyenga.  I actually think he is from COngo.  Pacers should have taken him.

Second Round.

OK, kidding!

Lakers in Six

The title says it all.  I really want the Magic.  Heck, I wanted Magic – Nuggets.  After all, I was the one who called the Cleveland LeBrons pretenders on May 5th — really, look it up.  And part of my take is the fact that I cannot stand the Lakers, so figure they will win it just to spite me.  However, there is some logic there too.

If you recall my Epsilon Dog post below (one that was mimicked by Michael Wilbon on one of the NBA programs I have heard), I believe this is where the Lakers have the advantage.  You are drafting in the playground, in what order do you choose the players:

1. Adonal Foyle — Magic (OK kidding)
2. Kobe – LA
3. Dwight – Orl
4. Pau – LA
5. Hedo – Orl
6. Rashard – Orl
7. Lamar – LA
8. Ariza – LA
9. Pietrus – Orl
10. Bynum – LA
11. Fisher – LA

LA takes six of the Top Ten.  But it is more than this, it is matchups.  Cleveland only had the corpses of Big Men to guard Hedo and Rashard outside.  LA has Kobe, Ariza and Odom, not to mention Pau in a pinch.  They also have Bynum down low.  That means more contested 3s from Rashard and Hedo.  Since Orlando lives and dies with the three, a risky strategy in the best of times, this will cost them.

Now I expect Dwight to abuse Bynum down low, to the extent that he cries the entire off season, takes his $68M contract, and is never a force again.  However, Pau will abuse either Rashard or Hedo, meaning that Dwight will have to play him a lot.  Can you say “foul trouble”?

Then there is Kobe.  Who on Orlando guards him?  I like Courtney Lee, but don’t see that working.  Dwight cannot play Kobe outside, and the only “D” that Rashard and Hedo know is when they sign their names on checks. 

LA is vulnerable at the point, but Rafer Alston is not consistent enough to take advantage.  Now if Chris Paul were on Orlando, but he is not. 

Finally, the pressure is on LA, but I think they respond; Orlando is playing with house money and are just happy to be there.  Probably subconsciously figure the east is theirs for years — not true as Hedo bolts this summer, but that is another column.

Anyway, LA has a couple of stinkers in it, with no show Bynum, and disappearing Odom.  And Orlando will have a game where they miss nothing from 20 feet, but that only happens twice.  And with the 2-3-2, Lakers just need to win their two at home as one win in Orlando is almost guaranteed.  Coming back home for 2 chances to win one, they close it out, to my grand disappointment, and win in Six.

Of course, the subsequent question is what this means to Kobe’s legacy.  With a title sans Shaq, does he vault a level?  Sure, but a few points are overlooked in this argument:

• Shaq won his 4th title less with Dwyane Wade (sic) and more because of the MOST ATROCIOUS OFFICIATING I have seen.  Wade got every call, even 30ft from the basket.  It was so egregious that I stopped watching it.  (This, of course, parallels the game 6 win over Sacto by Shaq/Kobe Lakers in 2001 when LA took 27 free throws in the FOURTH quarter.  So Shaq ahs two and Kobe one title thanks to NBA officiating incompetence.)
• Kobe will have won the title over some seriously weak competition.  Seriously, not his fault, but Houston without McGrady and Yao, the Nuggets, and a 3 point shooting Magic hardly constitute the Knicks, Pacers, Jazz, etc teams that MJ contended with.  This Laker squad benefits from the fact that San Antonio is old as the Spurs of a few years ago would have swept them.  Who guards Duncan?  And Bowen always gets under Kobe’s skin.  Anyway, Kobe gets his title, but in a weak league year.

Let me know how I did in a few days.  My satellite provider is in a fight with the local ABC affiliate so I will not watch any games (or any NHL Stanley Cup Finals too as I don’t have Versus), and I am not certain if there are other ways of keeping up with sports.  Will Kobe twitter during the games?

But this will allow me to read up more on GM, my next big blog treatise.

Go Magic!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The NBA is Craptastic

These NBA Playoffs are now horrible.  Really, the quality of play is so poor.  Lebron v Orlando is painful to watch.  And the Lakers – Nuggets series with each team trading poor performances is not exactly bringing back memories of 1980s Celts-Lakers, or even 2008 Celts-Cavs.

First of all, all the pundits are talking about how this Lebron team is disappointing; how this upset could happen.  What?  See my two posts below, one from a month ago almost, talking about how Lebron’s team is basically him and that if it actually won the title, it would be the weakest champion of all time.  Yes MSG ahead of Barkley et al.

The Epsilon Dog

It’s LeBron and it’s Not Debatable

Actually, you can extend this to all four semi-finalists.  Michael Cooper, defensive stopper from the 80s Lakers (and current WNBA coach, but we will not discuss that), was interviewed recently, and when asked if this version of the Lakers could beat his version, his response was hilarious.  Kindly stated, but basically his response was:

What?  No way!  We had Kareem, Magic, Worthy.  Who and how would they guard that?

He is right.  All these teams are super-flawed.  Heck, Orlando can win it because it has two 6′ 10″ guys who can shoot threes (they cannot post up or rebound, but that does not matter if you go against Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom).

Lebron’s team is weak, as stated previously.

The Nuggets are inexperienced and hard to root for in a way.  Love Chauncey Billups, and Melo, but Kenyon Martin and JR Smith are despicable.  If you watched Lakers-Nuggest game 4, I could not believe the attitude.  First of all, indefensible fouls commited, and technicals.  Those cost them game 3, and could have cost them game 4.  I don’t like Kobe, but he will make them all pay in Game 5 at Staples.  Furthermore, these guys strut after hitting some threes, and ‘laugh’ when called for T’s.  Grow up guys or you will blow the series.  No one ever won a 7 game series in 4 games when you have already lost one at home.  So you hit some threes and do the chicken dance?  What a bunch of tools (fools)!

And the Lakers have Kobe and hope someone else fills in.  Still soft, although I think Gasol gets a bad rap as he never was going to bring toughness.  I still figure the Lakers beat the Nuggets in Game 7; then it really depends.  If they get Orlando, they may have trouble.  If they get the LeBrons, they win in 6.

Kobe could end up being vindicated by winning a title with no-Shaq, but again, the team that wins this year is going to be, in the words of Roger Clemens, misremebered, if remembered at all.

There is one difference though, I think the Lakers have to win this year or the window closes.  The other three have next year, especially Orlando and Denver.

In summary, maybe the fact that Dish Network is not showing ABC (current contractual disagreement) is not such a bad thing.

The Epsilon Dog

Ohmigosh – LeBron’s Cavs go down in game 1!!!

Really, this is a shock?  Even Yes MSG in a previous post said that if LeBron won the title, it would be with (one of) the worst supporting cast in NBA history.  So when any team relies so heavily on a singular superstar, one should not be surprised when it is challenged in the playoffs.  Sure LeBron is the ALPHA Dog, but who is the  Beta?  Unfortunately, the breakdown does not work in Cleveland’s favor.

1. Alpha Dog: LeBron
2. Beta Dog: Dwight Howard
3. Gamma Dog: Hedo Turkoglu
4. Delta Dog: Rashard Lewis
5. Epsilon Dog: Mo Williams
6. Zeta Dog: Mikael Pietrus
7. Theta Dog: Anderson Varejao
8. Iota Dog: Rafer Alston
9. Kappa Dog: Delonte West (could be Iota, kind of a tie)

I could go on, but Orlando has 3 of the top 4 guys and 5 of eight.  Cleveland supplements this with Cinderella (Zydrunas Ilgauskas — get it glass slippers, fragile feet), Ben Wallace and Joe Smith’s cadavers, and Wally (I was actually athletic in the MAC) Szczerbiak.

Sure, Cleveland may come back and win based on LeBron’s sheer force of will, but my point is that Cleveland is not going 16-1 in the Playoffs.  In fact, none of these teams could compete with Shaq’s Lakers or many of the other recent champions, like the Spurs, that usually had Alpha (Duncan), and at least Gamma and Delta (Manu and Parker).

Here ends your Greek Basketball Lesson!

Dirk Destroys the Dream of Any Wannabe Pro Athlete

Yes MSG is filling up the RSS feed these days.  Sure, I could talk about Game 7 of Pens-Caps (not competitive at all) or Denver dropping the Mavs, or tonight’s LA Kobes versus the ICU of Houston, but instead, I am detoured by the Nowitzski story of his (ex) girlfriend.

I will not go into the detail, as you can read it here, but the sordid saga does bring to mind some questions to all of us who would like to be Max NBA contract players with all the benefits that theoretically accrue to such status,  or even just NBA bench warmers, figuring the benefits, while more limited, are certainly greater than we currently see as Tech workers (or equivalent).  To wit:

1. Dirk, why are you dating someone who once dated Tony Banks – a journeyman QB in the NFL mostly known not at all, or if so, for fumbling a lot
2. And more important, Dirk, why are you dating this woman?

Look, I am not saying she could not be attractive, but you are going to make over $150M in your career and you play hoop for a living.  Sure, you are German, probably lack personality, have a soft game for someone your size, and none too good looking, but still.  We, the wannabe fan base, expect more.

Very disappointing Dirk.  This is why the Hoop Gods gave D Wade all those calls in the Finals in 2006 and you were summarily eliminated by the Nuggets this year. 

If Mark Jaric, who is equally unattractive and has less game, can land Adriana

Well, we expect better from you.

Of course, the best player in the history of the game, MJ, had an affair with Karla (below), so maybe this problem is more widespread than I had known.  Now I am fearful. 

Thank God for Marko Jaric (first time in history that sentence has been written).

Breaking News!!! (Really???)

Tim Floyd, coach of the USC Trojans Men’s Basketball team has been accused of paying a ‘representative’ of recruit OJ Mayo $1000.  BFD.

I could have written this story years ago, and it will be accurate into the foreseeable future:

Coach (fill in name of major college program) accused of paying a representative of prized recruit (fill in name of recruit) $(fill in amount) to play at (coach’s) school

So you can imagine the accuracy by filling in Tim Floyd, OJ Mayo (or Demar Rozan, or Thaddeus Young, or Taj Gibson or Daniel Hackett).  What is surprising is the amount — $1000?  Really?  For a guy who was considered the next LeBron, and was second in Rookie of the Year voting?  Good value buy for Floyd.

When you think that when Kentucky coach Eddie Sutton paid, via now respected (which is another story on its own) ex-Timberwolves coach Dwayne Casey, thousands for Chris Mills, you have to wonder what happened to inflation in illegal payments to recruits.

As a Cal grad, I remember vividly how Todd Bozeman paid $30,000 like 15 years ago to the father of Jelani Gardner.  Heck, he was not even the best Jelani in the Pac 10; that would be McCoy of UCLA who at least played in the NBA as opposed to flaming out in the Pac 10 and then transferring to Pepperdine.

And what is more insulting beyond the absolutely crap investment that was Jelani Gardner — he might as well have been the first internet stock — is how Cal sucked.  At least USC won with its bought players.

And what is MOST insulting is how Cal got caught.  When Bozeman figured out that Jelani sucked, he essentially benched him.  Well, Jelani’s father was none too pleased.  So what did he do?  He turned the program in despite the fact that HE TOOK THE MONEY, profiting on his son’s supposed athletic ability.  So Cal suffered, Jelani suffered, transferred and sucked, and his dad kep his $30K and his dignity.  Hope the IRS went after him.  But at least there was one great quote out of the whole process from Jelani’s dad when complaining about his son’s lack of playing time:

“That’s no way to treat an All-American”

Not exactly “Bitc& set me up” but not bad.

No Fav-ruh

I recently received a request from a reader, which is actually a pretty big deal when your readership numbers in the single digits.  This reader requested a blog posting about Brett Favre. 

As this reader is from North Dakota (or is it South?), and has no sports teams within thousands of miles, obviously the Pack represent the closest thing to the “Big City” in his life.  And I would hate to disappoint him, BUT I HAVE TO. 

We have been through this before, 3, 4, 5 times.  Really, just go read any item in the Wisconsin Post Gazette dated May 12, 2006, 2007, 2008 and it will get you up to date.  So until Brett signs with the Purple, leave me alone.  Oh, but keep reading my blog.  And as a compromise, I will link to this hysterical article on the Favre Comeback/Retirement/Comeback story, so knock yourself out Dakota.

And if one of my remaining 6 readers want a Clemens article about his ‘alleged’ steroid use, see the paragraph above, substitute Arrogant, Egocentric Pitcher for Overly Sensitive Diva-esque Quarterback, and you have your answer.

Now if you want to read something good about a more contemporary insensitive, overly egotistical, detached, yet talented superstar, read this article by Tim Keown about Kobe Bryant:

Leave the scowl at home, Kobe

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By Tim Keown
Page 2The strangest moment of the NBA playoffs took place during Game 3 of the Lakers-Rockets series, when Kobe Bryant hit an 18-foot turnaround jumper from the left elbow with Shane Battier’s right hand in his face. Bryant immediately began shaking his head with a look that indicated he smelled something really bad. This — as you know — is Kobe’s dismissive face, the one he now makes after nearly every basket.

But that wasn’t the strange part — after all, how can something be strange when it happens anywhere from 10 to 25 times a game? The strange part came afterward, when he started back downcourt and turned to the TNT broadcasters at center court and yelled toward commentator Doug Collins.

	We get it Kobe, no one can guard you. Now keep quiet and play the game.

“He can’t guard me,” Bryant said. Shaking his head, his mouth curled downward in a semicircle of disgust, he stared down Collins and said it again, “He can’t guard me.”

There was a pause on the broadcast. OK, that was meant for us, you could almost hear them thinking. So … what do we say now? They couldn’t ignore it, because it was clear to everyone watching that they were taken aback and that Kobe was the reason. Kevin Harlan acknowledged that Kobe was targeting Collins, one of the most even and knowledgeable minds in the game. When Harlan asked his partner what it was all about, Collins sounded genuinely perplexed. “I’m not sure,” he said, and they quickly and quietly moved on.

And that’s the deal about Kobe: None of us is sure. How can a guy with that much talent play with such little joy? Why does he feel he has to put on that phony tough-guy show all the time? Underneath all that pre-fab armor, who is he? Does he even know?

It’s sad, maybe, but Kobe will never be appreciated in a manner commensurate with his ability. He’s in the process of turning himself into an antihero. (In many respects, he is similar to Alex Rodriguez, another tin-eared superstar.) Everything he does reeks of insecurity, which is a really weird trait for a guy who — along with LeBron James — is a once-a-decade basketball talent.

Unlike LeBron, though, Kobe can’t let his game speak for him. He has to accentuate everything with the facial expressions and the dismissiveness. It’s not enough for him to beat someone; he feels compelled to belittle that person in the process. That’s why one of the best things about the Lakers-Rockets series — and, really, it’s turning into a 700-page novel — has been Shane Battier’s reaction to Kobe’s antics. And that reaction is this: zero. None. He acts as though he can’t hear or see any of it.

Hey, Kobe, we know you’re great. You know you’re great. Shane Battier knows you’re great. How about letting someone else say it first every once in a while? The way it works now, you’re telling us so often that we’re getting tired of it. Let us be the judge of whether someone can or cannot guard you. It’s pretty self-explanatory, to Doug Collins and everybody else.

You see, I want to be able to enjoy Kobe’s talent. I want to see it the way I see LeBron’s: transcendent, mostly pure and emanating outward. It probably will never happen, though. Kobe won’t let it.

For a guy with such a constant flow of creativity running through his game, it’s amazing to see how calculated he is about his image. He comes across as though he’s reading a script, and he’s all wrong for the part (maybe Alan Alda reading a part meant for Harvey Keitel). There are just too many false notes, and the worst part is, he actually seems to believe this is what people want from him. This is the persona he has cultivated, and he’s going with it no matter what. It’s really kind of sad.

And this is where Kobe veers from the arrogant antihero routine perfected by someone such as Barry Bonds. Bonds didn’t care what you thought about him. He thrived off the anger he generated. But this preening, jaw-jutting, head-shaking character is what Kobe believes people want.

Maybe it’s his attempt to answer the questions of the Lakers’ toughness. I don’t know, but in the playoffs, his performances generally follow one of two themes: (1) He takes over the game and taunts everybody in sight, demanding that all acknowledge his greatness or (2) he steps back and intentionally doesn’t take over a game, in which case his attitude seems to be, “See what they look like without me?” Either way, it’s a tough act to embrace.

In the wake of Sunday’s Game 4 disaster, when Battier and Ron Artest did guard Kobe — and after which Magic Johnson said the Lakers defiled the team’s honor — it’s a good bet Kobe will be at his contrived best in Tuesday night’s Game 5. He’ll probably dominate, and he’ll undoubtedly let us know.

But here’s a radical idea: Stop with the smugness and the arrogance. Play your game and let your talent speak for itself. You might not know this, but it does a much better job than you do. And if you’re not going to enjoy what you bring to the court, at least give us half a chance.