Get out the Broom: The Lake Show Cancelled Early

What a series. For the Dallas Mavericks at least it was. The two time defending champs found themselves to be helpless against a much improved Dallas squad led by an extremely motivated Dirk Nowitzki and reborn Jason Terry. But as much of a rout the series appeared to be, there was not a single national analyst- with the exception of Charles Barkeley- who thought the Lakers would fall in usch spectactular fashion. Very few expected a Dallas win, much less a sweep, and for the anti Kobe Bryant crowd the emphatic sweep gave them even more ammunition. The Mavericks seemed like a team firing on all cylinders, dropping in 3s, playing timely defense, and executing their deadly pick and roll offense to perfection. But as much as this series proved to be a statement for Dallas- tagged with the unfortunate label of playoff "choke artists"- it was a powerful indictment of the Los Angelos Lakers, flying high not so long ago. What does it all mean?



1) Forget the notion of Dallas being too "soft" to make a run to the title this year. Amidst the chippy play of the Lakers, and the absolutely brutal clothesline of Barea by Ron Artest, the Mavs held their own on the defensive  end as they held the defending champions to 88 points per contest and did not wilt in the spotlight of the playoffs as they have in the past few seasons. This was not a team that shot their way to an unlikely upset, but rather a deep and talented squad dominating on both ends of the court against the two time defending champions.



2) Dirk Nowitzki may be the best power forward in the league. With the decline of Tim Duncan, and Nowitzki's continued brilliance- Ten straight seasons of 20+ points per game with the 10 time All Star forward never missing more than a handful of games in any season during his career- has him at least in the conversation, if not the favorite, for the best power forward in the game. A position, unlike center, which has no lack of talent around the league with perennial All Star candidates Amare Stoudamire of the Knicks, Pau Gasol of the Lakers, and Zach Randolph of the Grizzlies all qualifying at the position. If he leads the Mavericks to their first title in franchise history, there will be a very strong argument for Nowitzki as one of the best power forwards perhaps in all of NBA history. But that is a matter for an entirely different article. But just as intriguing is...

3) The decline of Kobe Bryant. Maybe this statement is a knee jerk response to the Lakers' loss to Dallas, but does anyone else think the great Black Mamba is nearing the end of his reign at the top of the league? There are already strong arguments for LeBron James and Dwayne Wade as better players, and even more shocking was the fact that for much of the past series Nowitzki, not Bryant, often looked and acted the part of the best player on the court for either team. Its been quite awhile since anyone has challenged Kobe Bryant in the playoffs when he had the level of supporting cast of the current Lakers- say what you want but Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Andrew Bynum still compose the best front court trio in the league- and it was a damning indictment of the five time champion as he clanged a deep three off the rim to end Game 1, and perhaps giving the Mavericks all the momentum they needed to easily handle the struggling Lakers.

4) Something is clearly WRONG with the Lakers right now. How can a team boasting arguably the best player of our generation, thought to be in his prime still, the most versatile player in the game (Lamar Odom), and two All Star caliber bigs in Bynum and Gasol and still get swept out of the playoffs by a talented, but inferior, Dallas Mavericks squad? There are so many questions marks with this Lakers team, and why their vaunted defense and dangerously efficient triangle offense was made to seem inept by a Dallas team that was not even considered a strong bet to advance past Portland in the first round. They did not have the look of two time defending champions, and now Phil Jackson will most likely ride off into the sunset with 11 championships. Without the Zen Master at the helm, what will happen to the increasingly erratic team on the floor for Los Angelos? Will Bynum ever live up to his potential? What has happened to Pau Gasol? And what to do about an aging superstar (Kobe Bryant), and a pair of underachieving former All Stars (Ron Artest and Lamar Odom)? Not to mention an absolute black hole at the point guard position, headed up by the plodding Derek Fisher and one trick pony Steve Blake. It seems impossible that a team as talented and seasoned as the Lakers can have so many question marks, but a four game sweep at the hands of a team they have dominated in recent years has opened the door to such inquiries.

NBA PLAYOFFS: The Year of the Grizzly?

Watching this year's NBA playoffs should have led you to several conclusions, with the most probable (or improbable depending on your own views) finish awaiting us at the end of it all.

1) The San Antonio Spurs, who finished with the second best record in the NBA at 61-21, led by the aging trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili are not the Spurs of years past. Watching the Grizzlies tank the last few weeks of the season in order to set up a first round match up with the Spurs seemed to many like an emboldened move, but not only did Memphis beat San Antonio- the first time that an 8th seed has defeated the 1 seed since the opening round has expanded to a seven game format- but they completely outclassed a banged up San Antonio squad running on fumes.

2) Chris Paul, coming off a disappointing season during which he averaged a career low 15.9 ppg and under 10 assist per game for the first time in 4 seasons, proved that he is still in the conversation for the best point guard in the game. Without fellow All Star teammate David West and surrounded by a group of misfits and castoffs (Marco Belinelli, Willie Green, etc.) CP3 had his way with the vaunted Lakers defense, pushing the defending champions to 6 games on his own willpower. While this provides an indictment of Derek Fisher's increasingly eroding skill set, it also provides a strong argument for Chris Paul as the best pure point guard in the NBA today.

3) The Grizzlies are the REAL DEAL. They score over 50 ppg in the paint, leading the league, and often win the battle of the boards night in and night out. Led by the rejuvenated Zack Randolph, an undersized power forward with questionable athletic ability, the self proclaimed underdogs easily handled the Spurs in the first round and stopped the surging OKC Thunder in Game 1 of the ongoing second round. The names do not jump off the page, and on paper they seem over matched and undermanned especially considering the season ending injury to second leading scorer Rudy Gay. With talent and youth at every position, the Grizzlies seem poised to make a deep run in this year's post season. My bold prediction? Memphis will advance to the Western Conference Finals against Los Angelos and push the Lake Show to 7 games in an instant classic.

4) Joe Johnson has been belittled, criticized, and repeatedly questioned about his supposed lack of production after signing the HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL max contract extension in the off season. While he has yet to live up to his massive contract's expectations, during these playoffs Joe Johnson has showcased the talent that led to the Atlanta Hawks luring the former 6th Man of Year award winner away from Phoenix. Indeed the Hawks are 5-0 in the post season thus far when Johnson scores over 20 points, including last night's stunner on the road against a sputtering Chicago team when he scored a game high 34 points on an insane 66.7% from the field including 5 for 5 from deep range. While he disappointed many throughout the season, averaging only 18.4 ppg and leading an underachieving Hawks squad to an unsatisfying 5th place finish in the regular season, a deep run in this year's playoffs will go a long way to appeasing the same fans who booed him off the the court in Atlanta not too long ago.

5) When its all said and done, can we not say the Miami Heat are poised to capture an NBA championship in just the first season of the Lebron Wade Bosh experiment? They obliterated the Philadelphia 76ers in just 5 games, and out-muscled a Boston Celtics team built on its tenacity in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals. Where does this leave the rest of the NBA? Can any of the remaining playoff teams match up defensively with the three headed monster of Miami? With two of the best players in the league working in harmony, there is no doubt that this superstar and veteran laden team is championship or bust. There is little doubt in my mind that the Heat will represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals this season, and their potential opponents (Lakers, Mavericks, Grizzlies, or the Thunder) do not match up very well on paper at least. My pick? Heat over the Lake Show in 6 not so very close games.

Rebuilding Project

A few years ago Hurricane Katrina ripped through the heart of New Orleans, bringing the once proud, tradition rich city to its knees. Across the nation, as well as the rest of the world, we all watched as an inept federal government simply watched as an entire city was nearly washed away. By the time help arrived it was nearly too late, and it was only by a nation wide collective effort that New Orleans was salvaged. One of the long lasting images of the Katrina tragedy were the thousands of refugees huddled in a ravaged Superdome, massive holes gaping in the roof, with any real hope of rebuilding seemingly infinitely far off.

This is why Super Bowl 44 in Miami will be special. It is not because the match up features arguably the two best QBs in a quarterback league, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. And while

Dolphin Stadium in Miami should be a worthy Super Bowl host, perfectly capable of hosting such a gala event, the city of Miami will not, and should not, be the focal point of the 2010 edition of the biggest sport event of every year. Amidst the still continuing recovery of New Orleans from Katrina has been the New Orleans Saints, going to their first Super Bowl in franchise history. It seems almost right that they will be facing the best quarterback of our generation, maybe of all time, and perhaps begins the final chapter of the rebuilding of New Orleans.

The Saints have become more than just a football team. The city of New Orleans has rallied around this team, a constant throughout the tragedy, and the payoff is now, complete with a trip to the Super Bowl. But the storybook ending will by no means be a guarantee. The Saints face the best QB in the league, as well as the fastest defense they have seen all season. And if they can keep Peyton Manning and the prolific Colt offense out of the end zone, as well as keeping Brees' jersey clean, they will hoist the Lombardi trophy, and perhaps begin a step in the right direction for a city so desperate for any progress.

But in football terms I am hard pressed to see the Saints overtaking the Colts. While both teams feature high powered offenses, both with MVP caliber QBs and Pro Bowl players at nearly every offensive position, but the Colts boast the fastest defense in the NFL. Will Brees be able to avoid the rush? And even if he does, will Shockey, Colston, and Thomas have enough left in the tank to find holes in the Indianapolis D? My bet is no. The Colts are clear favorites in this match up, and Vegas seems to agree as the Colts opened as 4 point favorites. This number is still climbing, and perhaps it would be insane to bet against Peyton Manning and the Colts. But it would also be insane to think that the Superdome would be hosting a conference championship just 4 years removed from the most destructive hurricane to strike American soil. And last Sunday was a testament to the insanity which has defined these New Orleans Saints. A packed house of nearly 73,000 fans witnessed a great moment in the history of the city, and it seemed only right that Drew Brees and his comrades would pull out the gut wrenching victory from Brett Favre and the visiting Vikings. So no matter who your allegiances may lie with, on Super Bowl Sunday we can all be Saints fans.

Deal with the Devil

The Yankees boast a team payroll of $208, 097, 414. This obviously being the highest payroll in professional baseball. The second highest? The prize goes to the New York Mets at roughly $145 million. The difference is an astounding $63 million. Lets repeat that number. $208, 097, 414. This number being higher than the GDP of the island nations of Palau, Sao Tome and Principe, the Marshall Islands, and Kiribati. Their highest paid player, Alex Rodriguez, boasts a salary equal to that of the Pittsburgh Pirates team payroll. And yet this franchise is making its first World Series appearance since 2003, when the Yankees lost in 7 games to the Florida Marlins.

Much has been made of the Yankees' bloated payroll, but the consequences are clear. The New York Yankees have sold their soul to the devil for a championship. They have officially given a new definition of the concept of "buying a championship". But the Yankees will not win the 2009 World Series, currently being played. Not saying this is a bad team. That couldn't be further than the truth, but there are numerous indications pointing to an imminent defeat.

1) The Yankees lost Game 1 at home.

Not only did they lose at home, but they lost in convincing fashion (6-1). Since 1903, Game 1 winners have gone on to win the World Series at a 62% clip. The 2001 and 2003 Yankees also lost Game 1 in the World Series. Luis Gonzalez and Josh Beckett anyone?

2) Now A.J. Burnett starts Game 2. He of the 4.42 ERA in the playoffs with no decisions. The Yankees could easily fall into a 2-0 hole, requiring them to win at least 2 of the 3 games in Philadelphia to bring the series back to the Bronx.

3) And Cliff Lee is too good. To put it more eloquently, Cliff Lee has gone 4-0 with a .54 ERA in 4 post season starts. He will likely be the Game 4 starter, and the Game 7 starter if necessary. Bad news for the Bronx Bombers.

4) Then even if the Yankees get a lead going into the later innings, they give the ball to Phil Hughes in the 8th. Hughes was great in the regular season as Mariano Rivera's setup man, going 8-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 96 Ks in 86 innings pitched. His playoff numbers: 0-1, 9.64 ERA, with batters hitting .391 against him.

5) And once they get to Philly? No DH in Philadelphia. Not only will the Yankees enter arguably the most hostile environment in MLB, but they will lose the DH. Here we go Joe Girardi, lets see those managerial skills.

6) Most of all the Yankees need their best player, A-Rod, to produce. Alex Rodriguez has had a tremendous post season (.389, 5 HR, 12 RBI), but went 0/4 with 3 Ks in Game 1. With a choke job in the World Series, his label of playoff bust will stay firmly affixed.

7) Oh by the way, the Phillies are the defending champs. Not the Yankees. Reason being the Phillies are good. Damn good. Much better than Minnesota and Los Angelos at least.

But who knows? The Yankees could win the World Series, easily even. But New York made a deal with devil, and he has come to collect his due.

The Evolution of Sports Commercials

Similar to the evolution of dance (a must watch by the way), sports commercials have also undergone radical changes since its infancy. From Mean Joe Greene to Terry Tate Office Linebacker, professional sports and television advertising have been staples of American culture for decades. Therefore it only seems fit that it remains an impossibility to foresee a future in professional sports without advertising. And in particular television commericials.

This one is a classic. Mean Joe Greene drinks the Coke, and throws the little boy his jersey. Gets me everytime.

The best part about this Nike commercial? It was 100% real. He's that good.

Another classic. This McDonald's ad has a distinct late 80s, early 90s feel to it, and every kid who has ever played HORSE can connect with the essence of the video. Even if the whole expressway part was a bit much.

Sir Charles got a ton of heat for this controversial ad, but he stood by his declaration that, "I am not a role model." The man did throw a man out of a window of a restaurant once so I think he might have a point there.

Terry Tate. The Office Linebacker. Hilarious. A bit disturbing at times. But nonetheless a modern classic already.

Looking back, this commercial was either really bad or awesome. And the song...

Y2K. Pretty stupid huh? But back in 2000 everyone was talking about it. Even ESPN.

All those Budweiser commercials with the Clydesdale horses? This one started it all during the '96 Super Bowl. And no I don't think the Clydesdales should play the Detroit Lions because it would be an awful game. The Lions would get creamed.

Who doesn't like the Go World Visa commercials? Visa did a great job putting together off colored videos, Morgan Freeman, and inspirational Olympic moments into the best commercials during the '08 Beijing Games.

Yao Ming and Yogi Berra. That makes sense right? Still cracks me up after all these years.

I honestly can't imagine a world without Monday Night Football. The ad connects with us all. Mondays suck. MNF is awesome.

Great message. But when your the greatest person to ever walk onto a basketball court this ad starts to ring hollow. Nonetheless a classic Nike spot.

The second ad is an actual commercial by the NBA as part of the Amazing Happens ad series. The first is a spoof by ESPN columnist Bill Simmons. I honestly thought both were fairly accurate.

WHY THE FALCONS WILL GO TO THE SUPER BOWL

No, this isn't a joke article. And no I am not a Falcons fan (Love the Chicago Bears). Rather these are sincere observations from a dedicated observer of the NFL game. Sure the Falcons got torched in Phoenix last season by Arizona. Rookie QB Matt Ryan looked the part, flustered by an underrated Arizona D while Kurt Warner led the eventual NFC champion Cardinals to an easy win in Atlanta's first playoff berth since the Michael Vick era.

This is a new year, and let me say just this. This a stacked team. Say what you wish about the suspect defense, which did lose All Pro safety Lawyer Milloy, perennial fan LB Keith Brooking, and the polarizing, but extremely talented cornerback, DeAngelo Hall, but the Falcons have the make up of a Super Bowl contender. They have a coach in Mike Smith, the 2008 NFL Coach of the Year, who, as a rookie head coach last season, took a rookie QB (Matt Ryan) and a career backup at RB (Michael Turner) to 11 wins and a playoff berth. Not only that, but this coming off a 4-12 debacle the prior year.

But of course coach Mike Smith alone isn't going to take the Falcons to the Super Bowl in January. Its their high octane offensive unit which can hang with any team in the league. QB Matt Ryan, only a second year QB in the league, is the real deal, and he now has multiple weapons to throw to. Tony Gonzalez, a game changer at the tight end position, was Antonio Gates before Antonio Gates. Roddy White has blossomed into a Pro Bowl WR, and worthy of a cover by the opposing teams best corner. And Michael Turner, once LaDainian Tomlinson's backup in San Diego is now a All Pro runner himself, with 1699 yards and 17 TDs on the ground last season. Which also happened to be his first as a starting RB in the NFL as well as his debut with the Falcons. Fullback Ovie Mughelli cleared the way for Jamal Lewis all those seasons in Baltimore, and anchored an elite running attack there before signing with the Falcons to clear holes for Michael Turner and Jerius Norwood, who now fills the role Michael Turner himself played in San Diego as the change of pace back.

This is a squad that has all the weapons on offense and defense, as well as one of the

greatest kickers of our generation (Pro Bowl K Jason Elam) anchoring the special teams unit. With an owner, Arthur Blank of Home Depot fame, firmly behind the players and the personnel, the Falcons have all the tools necessary to make a run in these playoffs. Not to mention they play in the Georgia Dome, the second largest domed structure in the world (The Millenium Dome in London is the largest).

But even with all these factors, good coaching and talented players alone don't gauruntee a Super Bowl appearance. Just ask the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, or the San Diego Chargers, who have been to the Super Bowl a total of 0 times in the last decade despite high payrolls and even higher expectations.

5 REASONS WHY ITS GOING TO HAPPEN

1) Michael Turner. Remember how the Falcons led the league in rushing all those years with TJ Duckett and Warrick Dunn? Turner is those two backs combined into an elite All Pro RB. Not only will he rip off a 60 yard run, but he'll punch it in for you as well. The man is absolutely ridiculous.

2) Matt Ryan is the real deal. Nobody knew how he was going to do fresh out of Boston College, but Matty Ice was the main reason the Falcons went from 4-12 to 11-5 in the span of a single season. Also, he threw only 11 picks, only the second time a rookie QB started all 16 games and threw under 16 INTs. Not to mention he won a 2009 ESPY (Best Breakthrough Athlete) over a field that included gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, NBA Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose, and MLB's AL Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria.

3) The NFC South. The Falcons will play their NFC South brethren 6 times this season, and needless to say a 5-1 or even 6-0 record in their division does not seem out of the realm of possibility. The Panthers look like a complete mess so far in the early going, with QB Jake Delhomme throwing 4 INTs along with a lost fumble last week against the Philadelphia Eagles. Tampa Bay boasts a strong running game with Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward, but little else of note on a rebuilding franchise. The Saints are a good team. Let me rephrase that. The Saints are a good offensive team. While they dropped 45 on the Lions last week, they also gave up 27 points to an absolutely horrendous Detroit offense in the process.

4) The '09 Falcons are a helluva lot better than the '98 squad, the Dirty Birds, who made it to the Super Bowl against the John Elway and the Denver Broncos. Chris Chandler and Jamal Anderson will always be heroes in Atlanta for their memorable Super Bowl run, but with all due respect the former have nothing on the latter day combo of Matt Ryan and Michael Turner.

5) Week 1 against Miami. The Miami Dolphins went from 1-15 in 2007 to 11-5 last season, and won the AFC East in the process. They also introduced the Wildcat to the NFL, and often caught offenses off guard with RBs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown running roughshod over opposing defenses. At the Dome, the Falcons limited the Dolphins and their vaunted Wildcat package to 259 total yards and forced 4 turnovers in their 19-7 romp over the defending AFC East division champs.

The Falcons are now 1-0 with their immediate schedule reading as follows: home vs. Carolina, @ New England, @ San Francisco, home against the Chicago Bears, and @ Dallas. All of those games are very winnable, even the New England game as Brady and Co. looked very out of sync against the heavy underdog Buffalo Bills, and there is no reason why these Falcons can not manage easy wins against Carolina, San Francisco, and Chicago, with New England and Dallas being toss ups. If the Falcons can end up 4-2 or even 5-1 in their first 6 games, this sets them up in a huge game against division rival New Orleans on ESPN Monday Night Football.

And once again, do not underestimate the no respect angle. Even after a 11-5 season last year, the Falcons are flying, once again, under the radar. Vegas pegs the over/under on Atlanta's number of wins this season at 8.5, the same system which had that same number at 5.5 last season. And before you call me crazy remember this: Remember all those people who thought the Patriots were going to cream the Giants in the Super Bowl in '07? And you would be lying to yourself if you thought the Cardinals would be playing in their first Super Bowl in franchise history last season. Crazier things have happened, and in Atlanta the times seem ripe for a suprise run from an under the radar team.

Thoughts and Speculation

Recently 19 year old Joey Logano became the youngest driver in NASCAR history to win a race. A heroic effort, the young Logano overcame incredible odds and decades of history in accomplishing the feat. But this is not a NASCAR blog, and the subject of this article is not Joey Logano.

As a very passionate sports fan, deeply emotionally invested as such, I used to rise and fall with the game by game results of my hometown Cubs. When Steve Bartman knocked that foul ball away from Moises Alou in Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS I was aboslutely crushed. My heart lept at the promise of the Bulls taking Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry (aka the "Twin Towers"), and fell when they never fulfilled their promise in a Chicago uniform. I held up Sammy Sosa on a pedestal and defended the beleaguered slugger even through the corked bat incident in 2003. When Devin Hester returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown against the Colts in Super Bowl XLI I jumped up and down on the sofa. And when the Bears ended up losing that game I was slumped over sitting on that same couch.

In these recent times, much of that passion and faith has been rewarded with such events as the Mitchell report, athlete misconduct, rising prices on everything from tickets to jerseys, and a general disregard for the fans who are the life blood of professional athletics. I recently attended a Braves v. Yankees game for which I paid $18 for upper deck seats. Perhaps it was the near capacity crowd or the popularity of the Yankees, but these seats which might have went for $5 only a few years ago were nearly quadruple that number. Meanwhile some of the greatest baseball players of our generation have been singled out in the Mitchell Report as out and out cheaters (Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, etc.). We have witnessed an NFL wide receiver (Donte Stallworth), clearly driving while under the influence, hitting and subsequently killing an innocent pedestrian. Even more increduously Stallworth received a minimal sentence of 30 days in jail. We have owners firing hundreds of employees and cutting health benefits for these same employees while ringing up more then $30 million in profits (Green Bay Packers).


Perhaps this week a few more All Stars will be outed as steroid users by the Mitchell Report. Maybe a NBA lottery pick will hold out for another million or two. And these days a high school player bypassing college to play in Europe en route to the NBA is becoming a scary reality rather than a distant possiblity (Brandon Jennings). Job cuts will continue in the NFL, with profits rolling into the pockets of the owners and players. And arrogant owners will continue to hire overpaid coaches to watch over a group of overpaid, underworked prima donna athletes. In the worst economy since the Great Depression, with people waiting in line at the unemployment office and losing their homes and families along with their jobs, the sports we hold as so sacred...an outlet for the pressures of daily life...and the athletes and teams we revere and cheer for are not uplifting their fans but instead soaking in the reverence while sitting in their ivory towers.

While watching the NBA draft I realized that those fans at the Madison Square Garden cheering or moaning over the young men being picked by their respective teams will perhaps make a fraction of what these athletes will make over the course of their relatively short careers. To put this in perspective, the average NBA player will make over $5 million a season while the average annual income of a U.S. household stands at somewhere around $50,000 a year.

While this may very well come off as a bitter rant of your average sports fan this is hardly such. I will continue to watch sports and be passionate about my preferred teams and players. However the deep respect and reverence that I once held for this national icons has all but disappeared. Sadly when we need our heroes to lift the rest of us up, they instead choose to ignore the people who have lifted their status and showered them with praise and adulation.

Dog Days

The NBA Finals have come and gone, a blow out affair between the Lakers and the Magic, ending with Kobe Bryant taking home a 4th championship, and more importantly his first without Shaq. Football season is still in its training camp infancy, with Donte Stallworth's suspension the biggest news of the summer out of the NFL. Yawn. Baseball season is nearing its halfway mark, but lets not pretend like anyone cares. At least until October. So here we are, in the dog days of the sports season. With the NBA (LA Lakers) and the NHL(Pittsburgh Penguins) crowning their champions this past month, and the NFL still far from opening kick off, the sports landscape seems to be barren and devoid of any meaning for the time being. Right? And as baseball fans wait for October, NFL heads count down the days till opening kickoff, and hoop fanatics sit patiently for the NBA season to begin once again, presumably there are countless people out there in the world who are searching for an appropriate outlet for their sports fix.

(Just a personal theory, but seeing as crime seems to go up during these "dog days of summer" is there any reason to believe there is a correlation between the lack of major sports action and this presumed spike in crime?)

So maybe your average NFL, NBA, and MLB follower decides to try NASCAR during this summerlong "hiatus" of his preferred sports. NASCAR? Really? After 10,000 years of human civilization, watching a Chevrolet turn left for 4 hours is still the most popular spectator sport in the United States.

Golf? Yawn. Tennis? Nope. Poker? No thanks, not interested in seeing something anyone on Earth can theoretically do. Bowling? Are you serious?

So here we are then... talking about Cleveland Browns' WR Donte Stallworth's suspension, the "real reason" why T.O. left Dallas, and whether or not Ricky Rubio will get drafted by Memphis at the #2 spot in the upcoming NBA draft. This is precisely the type of complacency that eats away at the very fibers of modern civilization. For years and years this same tradition of an empty(and endlessly depressing) period of time, usually from about June to August, has existed in the world of sports. Combined with the traditional increase of everything from gas prices and police presence, this is a deadly combination for your average person, sports fan or not.


















Simply put something must be done about the "dog days of summer", especially in the world of sports. Without entertaining sports to watch, or be immersed in to use the correct terminology, a passionate sports fan during the winter and spring can become a shiftless wanderer, as one can only go to the pool or the movies so many times. In all seriousness, sports can bring a city or even nation together. It brings out the best of us, uniting very diverse groups of people under one purpose. The simple fact that two people may share a passion for a certain sports franchise can result in a truck driver from Indiana and a dentist from New Jersey to sit next to each other on a plane for hours engaged in conversation. Therein lies the power of sports.

And the power of sports can not be underestimated. (especially if you saw those "Go World" commercials by Nike.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9wV8AUe6_A

The Fish that saved Los Angelos

For those who witnessed Game 4 of these NBA Finals between the Los Angelos Lakers and the Orlando Magic saw the unlikeliest of heroes emerge. Kobe and the Lakers now lead the Magic 3 games to 1, and seem to have clinched the title (No team has ever come back from a 3-1 disadvantage in the Finals). However, while Kobe Bryant can now say that he won a championship without Shaq, he still hasn't won one without Derek Fisher.

Derek Fisher was unheralded guard out of Arkansas drafted by Los Angelos in 1996. He was thrown right into the fire, playing 80 games in his rookie season. He didn't even average double digit points until the 2000-2001 season, but by then he had established himself as the primary point guard in Phil Jackson's triangle offense. Kobe Bryant was also drafted in 1996, albeit as one of the top prep stars in the nation. The two were drafted 11 spots apart, however when the Lakers traded starting center Vlade Divac for the young Bryant on draft day their paths would cross as the starting backcourt for a budding Los Angelos squad.


The story of Derek Fisher is nothing short of remarkable. For the Los Angelos 3 peat in the early 2000s, Fisher was the point guard who had to keep both Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant appeased while putting the Lakers in positions to win games. He won the confidence and trust of Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson who had initially written the guard as "undersized and not particularly athletic". Nowadays, Fisher acts almost as a coach on the floor, running the Laker offense even with All Stars Gasol, Bryant, and Odom present, and has been described by his contemporaries, opposing coaches, and most impressively Phil Jackson as "dogged". Its a quality that Jackson has used to describe players like Steve Kerr and Robert Horry. While both players were undersized or underskilled at their respective positions, the two combined to win 12 titles in 14 seasons. Kerr boasts 5 rings while Horry can wear his 7 championship rings with impunity.

This brings us to Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals. Against the upstart Magic featuring the "next great center" Dwight Howard, who had a NBA Finals record 9 blocks in Game 4, it wasn't the best player on the team, Kobe Bryant, their All Star center, Pau Gasol, or any of the young budding stars, Trevor Ariza, Jordan Farmar, Andrew Bynum, who would save the Lakers from letting this title slip away. It was the 34 year old Fisher who has battled injuries, his daughter's fight with a deadly illness, and slowing legs to bring Los Angelos a commanding 3-1 lead going into Game 5 in Orlando. More importantly, Fisher perserved Bryant's legacy. While few may remember the name Derek Fisher years and years from now, the man deemed "one of the best players ever" by legends and contemporaries alike will still owe an undersized, underskilled guard from Arkansas. He'll owe him big time.

"Little" Guys

High school basketball is an enigmatic animal. There are multiple levels of competition, based on a school's enrollment size, and therefore different levels of exposure and prestige associated with different players from differing regions and levels. However, the level of competition remains just as tough in the smaller regions than in the largest. The difference is small, and the talent is identical. However, players from private schools and smaller public institutions, with the exception of a few standouts, receive less respect and aplomb than those in large public schools.

What the public doesn't know is that one must look no further than the Orlando Magic's star center, Dwight Howard, to find an example of a small school star succeeding in the NBA. Howard played for Class A Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, also home to NBA alumni Javaris Crittenton, a small private school playing in the "lowest" region in Georgia high school basketball competition. However while the elite prospects are still recruited and deserving players are given their chances by college coaches and NBA scouts, the public writes off many small school basketball stars as a product of little to no competition and lower talent levels.

This blogger was guilty of this ignorant sentiment. Until very recently that is. Recently I had the opportunity to spend time with two varsity basketball players enrolled in St. Francis (also a Class A athletic program) in Alpharetta. The two players are featured as starting guards/fowards for St. Francis, and are being recruited by mid major Division I programs as well as big name schools (Yale, Georgia Tech, etc.). What many sports fans, even high school basketball fans, fail to realize is that while there is a lack of depth in Class A basketball as opposed to Class AAAAA basketball (i.e. Norcross, Wheeler, Milton), the top talent in the "inferior" divisions would very much hold their own against stars from even the largest divisions. And while the pair of St. Francis standouts may never play professional basketball, the idea that they can not compete against players from big name programs is proposterous. In fact, either one could most likely start on most other varsity teams in the state.

This attitude is not just limited to high school basketball however. The difference from Division II and Division III college basketball is negligible, and even the difference between the best Division II and the worst Division I teams is just as small. Top talent across the board is very much similar, and the stigma of coming from a small high school or unknown program should in no way limit the respect a talented player receives.
























2009 Class A GHSA State Champions

10 Reasons Why Kobe Is Better Than LeBron

1) Last night's game Game 1 of the 2009 NBA Finals showcased a very talented Lakers team blowing out the upstart Magic 100-75. Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, a NBA Finals career high, and did it with style and leisure in front of a star studded crowd (Jack Nicholson, Kanye West, Maria Shriver, etc.). LeBron James? Well... he had some nice commercials on yesterday.

2) Kobe Bryant has never been a paradigm of grace and sportsmanship, but we never heard about Bryant walking off the court after a playoff loss. LeBron's lack of grace and sportsmanship in the aftermath of Cleveland's series ending Game 6 loss to Orlando prompted a public call out by the Commish himself, David Stern.

3) Kobe Bryant is a very good shooter. Let me rephrase. Kobe Bryant can knock down nearly any shot within reason on a basketball court. On the other hand, LeBron is improving but still is unable to make the fadeaways and long 3s on a basis consistent with a player deemed "the best player in the NBA". He's a better 3 point shooter (career totals: 34.1 % vs. LeBron's 32.8%) and a MUCH better free throw shooter (84.7% vs. LeBron's 73.8%). Oh, not to mention, Bryant shares the single game record for 3 pointers made with 12.


4) Both players entered the draft straight out of high school at the age of 18. By the time Kobe Bryant was 24, he had 3 rings. LeBron? He's still looking for his first.

5) In 1996 Bryant took R&B singer Brandy to his senior prom at Lower Merion HS. Enough said.

6) LeBron James has been deemed an intelligent businessman, and personally aspires to become an "NBA billionaire". However, Kobe is no slouch either, posting a 1080 SAT, ensuring his entry into any college basketball program in the country had he elected to attend college. By the way, he also speaks fluent Italian.


7) In the 2004 Athens Games, LeBron and Co. took home a bronze medal. Which also marked the first year the USA Basketball team failed to bring home gold. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Kobe Bryant made his return to Olympic basketball, and led the USA squad to a gold medal romp over Spain in the finals.

8) Kobe does everything LeBron does, except at 2 inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter.

9) LeBron James is a Yankees fan (MLB) and a Cowboys fan (NFL). There's no problem with that, except he lived in Ohio his whole life. Bandwagon much? Seriously, how're you going to wear a Yankees hat to an Indians game.

10) 24 is 1 more than 23.

One Hand...No Problem

Recently 6'10 center Kevin Laue, a Northern California native, signed with Division I school Manhattan of the MAAC. While the MAAC is far from being one of the Big Six conferences (Big 12, Big 10, SEC, ACC, Big East, Pac-10), the conference does boast talented teams (Siena) and owns a gaurunteed spot in the annual NCAA tournament.

Manhattan College boasts a rich athletic pedigree, claiming 5 NBA players, 1 NBA coach, and even a Harlem Globetrotter during the history of their athletic program.

Which brings us to the case of newly signed center Kevin Laue. At Amador Valley High School Laue starred as the starting center on the varsity basketball team, averaging 5 blocks a game. In 2007, Sports Illustrated called him "the most exciting player in basketball". Scouts Inc. describes the young center as "a prospect that could instantly help a number of low major Division I programs" and cites his "quick leaping ability" and "effectiveness on both offense and defense".

So why was Manhattan head coach Barry Rohrssen taking a huge risk signing Laue to a scholarship?

Kevin Laue, the 6'10 center out of Northern California, was born with one hand, with his left arm's circulation being cut off at birth by his umbilical cord. As seen in the picture his left arm is cut off right after the elbow, however his large right hand permits Laue to easily palm the ball.

Rohrssen is taking an enormous risk by utilizing a precious scholarship on a player with ONE HAND. The increasingly competitive nature of Division I basketball, where there are March Madness berths on the line, often results in shady dealings as well as under handed recruiting.

Head coach Rohrssen easily justified his decision saying, “We take chances on kids who have poor academic histories, who have disciplinary problems both on the court and off the court. We give opportunities to players who don’t appreciate them, who take them for granted. For all the right reasons, Kevin deserves this chance, and he should make the most of this opportunity.” And he would be absolutely correct in his ideology.



Problem children, criminals, and academically ineligible students are often given second, third, and fourth chances, while players like Kevin may not even receive that first opportunity. Competing in a sport where use of both hands is essential, and a one handed basketball player seems unfathomable to many, Laue has developed a unique skill set and legendary work ethic. For these reasons, the young 6'10 center out of California was offered a scholarship by Manhattan College. However, the businesslike nature of college athletics in modern times will put the spotlight on Kevin Laue and his large right hand, as well as the entire Manhattan athletic department. And this is what makes this story all the more remarkable. By giving Kevin that first chance, the first opportunity that no one else was willing to give, head coach Barry Rohrssen essentially put himself on job notice. If this decision blows up in his face, Rohrssen will have to live down being known as the coach who gave a scholarship to a one handed player. Hardly a cheap proposition, a semester at Manhattan costs an average of nearly $20,000 after factoring in room and board as well as essential living expenses. For an athletic program without the prowess and resources as an Ohio State or Kansas this can be a catastrophic decision.

However, we applaud coach Rohrssen for taking a chance on a player who if given two hands might have very well gone to a Big Six school. We applaud the entire Manhattan athletic program for allocating a valuable scholarship for the one handed Laue. And most of all we applaud Kevin Laue, an inspiration to the rest of us. For if Laue can play Division I basketball with one hand, imagine the things we can do with two.

The Birdman Phenomenon

For those of you who aren't familiar with the ultimate "Disney style" feel good story of Chris Andersen, here's the cliff notes version.

Of course Andersen immediately is thrusted into the underdog role, going undrafted (UNDRAFTED) in the 1999 NBA draft. Granted the '99 draft featured such All Stars and luminaries such as Elton Brand, Steve Francis, Shawn Marion, Richard Hamilton, Baron Davis, and Ron Artest. Not to mention the second to last pick in the draft, a little known, undersized guard from Argentina (Hint: Manu Ginoboli).

From there things just got harder. He then went on to play in China and D-League, the D-League average salary being around a paltry $30,000, until the forward was called up by Denver to the NBA. He even managed to hook on with New Orleans and, due to a massively miscalculated PR decision, was featured in the '05 Slam Dunk Contest. Which went kind of like the Vietnam War. Except a lot funnier.




Chris Andersen ('05 Slam Dunk)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_ksqrFQPgU

From there life just from bad to hellish. He kept the ugly haircut, got disqualified from the NBA for violating the NBA drug policy, and gets reinstated to the league by Commish David Stern two years later to New Orleans/OKC.

This is the part you need to pay attention to however. The next few sentences are a testament not only to Chris Andersen's character and mental fortitude, but also to the fact that America can forgive nearly anything given results. Following his reinstatement to the league, Andersen gets released by New Orleans/OKC and signs with the Denver Nuggets once again. He then proceeds to turn into a poor man's Dikembe Mutumbo, albeit without the offensive skills, flap his wings, gel his hair (Which must cost a fortune in hair products), and take over the city of Denver.

So in the midst of a year, a single NBA season, Andersen goes from NBA outcast to NBA sensation sweeping the nation. Not everyone knows who Chris Andersen is. But EVERYONE, even the Indian family across the street whose house smells like New Dehli, knows who Birdman is. Yes, Chris Andersen, the undersized, even underskilled (I don't even know if that's a word) has officially become larger than life. Simply known as "Birdman", he has swept the nation with Birdman Mania, spawning numerous copycats in arenas around the country.

Top 5 Potential Mike Vick Destinations

Former Pro Bowl QB Michael Vick was released from federal prison today, and will be eligible to resign with any NFL franchise for the upcoming season. Any team that signs the much maligned QB will be getting a still ultra talented and athletic football player, as well as loads of bad publicity and potential boycotts. Regardless, Vick wasn't a 3 time Pro Bowler with the Falcons for no reason. Any team with a bad quarterback situation should definitely look up the newly free signal caller.

1) San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have been linked to Vick numerous times, and this is a franchise that has fallen on hard times at the QB position since Pro Bowl QB Jeff Garcia left town in 2003. The team that has boasted Pro Bowl quarterbacks such as Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Jeff Garcia are now saddled with a black hole at the position, with the likes of Shaun Hill, Damon Huard, and former #1 overall pick, and current bust, Alex Smith battling for the starting QB job. Not a pretty situation. Vick would be a massive upgrade over any of the mentioned players, and new head coach Mike Singletary is the tough love type disciplinarian that can handle a Michael Vick in the locker room.

2) St. Louis Rams
The Rams went 2-14 last season. So things cannot get much worse in St. Louis for this once proud franchise. Signing Vick would create buzz around the team, and the turf at the Edward Jones Dome is perfect for the speedy quarterback.

3) CFL (Canadian Football League)
The last time a former Pro Bowl NFL player went to the CFL, he came back to the NFL and has thusfar succeeded at a reasonable level. That would be current Miami Dolphins RB Ricky Williams who played in all 16 games this past season, gaining 660 yards and 4 TDs on the ground sharing carries with Ronnie Brown. Mike Vick could use some time playing organized football away from the bright lights and media scrutiny of the NFL. Eventually people forget, even if they never forgive, and former Pro Bowl RB Ricky Williams, once almost completely forgotten, is now an essential player on a Miami squad that is favored to return to the playoffs this season.


4) Nowhere
Commish Roger Goodell has been forced to be the tough enforcer, implementing a 0 tolerance policy in recent years. Since Vick's reinstatement to the league is still contingent on the commissioner's decision, there remains a chance the QB never sees the field this upcoming season. Moreover, Goodell has repeated that he wants Vick to show remorse before he reinstates the former Pro Bowler. Remorse? What exactly does that mean? Well I looked it up and it is, according to dictionary.com, a deep and painful regret for wrongdoing. So what, the Commish wants Vick to say sorry? Donate his salary to FEMA? Watch Marley and Me? I don't know, and neither does anyone else I'm guessing, not even Commissioner Goodell.

5) Seattle
Seattle's QB situation is not very stable, with former Pro Bowl QB Matt Hasselbeck slowly declining. The rest of the roster at QB is scary. Seneca Wallace? Enough said. Also, head coach Jim Mora Jr. coached Vick at Atlanta for a few successful seasons, and has an established relationship with the quarterback.

Mock Draft 2009

The NBA draft lottery was last night, and the Los Angelos Clippers landed the first pick of the 2009 NBA draft. So without further ado, here's my mock draft for 2009.

1) LA Clippers
Pick: Blake Griffin (Oklahoma) PF
This is the Clippers' 20th year in the draft lottery. The lottery has existed for only 25 years. Moreover the last time the Clippers had the #1 overall pick was 1998, and they drafted eventual bust Michael Olowokandi. So whats new this year? Two words, Blake Griffin. Blake Griffin has scouts comparing him to Carlos Boozer with more hops, but even that may be selling the power forward out of Oklahoma short. Griffin is easily the best player in the draft, and is the closest thing to a surefire NBA All Star in this draft. He's good at almost everything; Griffin can shoot, score consistently in the post, and is freakishly athletic (ESPN's Fran Frischilla compared him to a "dump truck on a trampoline").

2) Memphis Grizzlies
Pick: Ricky Rubio (DKV Joventut) PG
The Grizzlies already have Michael Conley Jr. you say? Well this extremely young, but extremely talented, point guard from Spain is only 18 years old drawing comparisons to some of the greatest point guards ever to play the game. Rubio never played college hoops, and the late night, early morning Olympic games were the only time most of America ever saw Rubio. And he's still projected to be a top 3 pick.

3) OKC Thunder
Pick: Hasheem Thabeet (UConn) C
The Thunder have a ton of problems, and Thabeet will merely attempt to fill one of them. Thabeet was a monster in college, and at 7'3 and very athletic, he has vast potential. The big man has only played organized basketball for 5 years, and the best is probably yet to come. However, Thabeet's offensive game is underdeveloped, his hands are unreliable, and he was dominated by 6'7 DeJuan Blair in all of their head to head matchups. The Thunder simply hope he can be a poor man's Dikembe Mutumbo, and that may be very well in reach for the young center out of UConn.

4) Sacramento Kings
Pick: Demar DeRozan (USC) SG
The rangy guard out of USC stands at 6'7, can jump out of the building, and at 19 years old, has already begun to draw comparisons to Kobe Bryant. He is the biggesr high risk, high reward player in this draft, and DeRozan's one year at USC did nothing to settle the argument one way or the other. Think of a similar skill set as talented wing players Bryant, McGrady, or Carter. Or he could go complete bust.

5) Washington Wizards
Pick: Jordan Hill (Arizona) C
Hill is not exactly a household name, even after playing at a basketball powerhouse (Arizona), and making a suprise run into the Sweet 16 in this year's March Madness. He didn't exactly set the world on fire at Arizona, and the Atlanta, GA native is still a work in progress as a basketball player. However, Hill is 6'10, athletic, and has the wingspan of a Boeing 747. Not to mention the players at the 5 position for the Wizards include Brandon Haywood and Etan Thomas.

6) Minnesota Timberwolves
Pick: James Harden (Arizona St.) G
Harden may be the hardest player to project to the NBA in this year's draft. Harden is coming out of Arizona St. at 6'5 220 lbs averaging over 20 points a game last season, albeit with limited athleticism and a set 3 point shot. However, Harden is the most stylish player in this draft, and his basketball IQ is off the charts, which certainly warrants the selection here by a Minnesota team that sorely needs an offensive force in the backcourt.

7) Golden St. Warriors
Pick: Tyreke Evans (Memphis) G
Evans can play the 1 or the 2, and at 6'6 is a force in the backcourt. So much so, John Calipari switched the talented Evans from the shooting guard to point to eliminate the one pass needed to get the ball to Evans each trip down the court. Yeah, he's that good. The Warriors offense under Don Nelson is perfect for Evans to run the court, although he could certainly work on his shooting; his form looks kind of like he broke his elbow and tried to practice shooting in a cast. That being said the talented guard out of Memphis was the best player on the fast break this past year in the country, and he should be a perfect fit in Golden State's fast paced offense.

8) NY Knicks
Pick: Stephon Curry (Davidson) G
Curry can also play both guard positions very well, much like Evans, with the exception that Curry is only 6'3, and was not recruited to a Big 6 college out of high school due to his percieved lack of athletic ability. But the young guard out of Davidson is the best shooter in this draft, and few players are more polished and fundamental than Stephon Curry. Which is exactly why I hope the Knicks do not draft him at the #8 slot. However, the Knicks could use a 3 point shooter amongst many other things, and Curry very well follow in the footsteps of his dad, long time 3 point sharpshooter Dell Curry (17 NBA seasons, 1994 6th Man of the Year).

9) Toronto Raptors
Pick: Brandon Jennings (Lottomatica Roma) G
Jennings' Europe experiment was apparently a success, with the young guard surviving the competitive Euroleague and ready to be a starting point guard in the NBA. Also, at the #9 spot Jennings might prove to be a steal, with many people forgetting he was the top ranked prospect in country coming out of high school. With the Raptors not overly gifted in the backcourt (Anthony Parker and Jose Calderon) the Jennings experiment looks to be on a full display in Toronto.

10) Milwaukee Bucks
Pick: Ty Lawson (UNC) PG
Lawson is the fastest player in this draft coming off a season where he led the Tar Heels to a national championship. The blazing fast point guard has his flaws; Lawson is not a great shooter as of now and has had injury problems, but his amazing body control and incredible strength and athleticism might pay off in a Derek Rose like rookie season. The Bucks will gladly take Lawson at #10, and he will likely play immediately at the point guard position (Provided Scott Skile doesn't start Luke Ridnour, which might be grounds for immediate dismissal).

11) NJ Nets
Pick: Gerald Henderson (Duke) SG/SF
Henderson is the type of player the Nets need right now. He is super athletic, one of the most athletic players in the country in college, and can play the guard position as well as the small forward position. Henderson can play defense and rebound, and has developed a decent mid range jumper. The athletic wingman out of Duke is still improving by leaps and bounds, and may very well be able to make an immediate impact at the small forward position for New Jersey.

12) Charlotte Bobcats
Pick: Earl Clark (Louisville) G/SF
Earl Clark may not have the same acclaim as his contemporaries likely to be picked earlier in the draft, but the guard out of Louisville is 6'9. He will likely have to switch to the forward position in the NBA, but at 6'9, Clark is still very athletic and can handle the ball as well as shoot just as well as a guard. This is also a Charlotte team which has all the pieces to succeed, and Earl Clark may very well be the player that pushed the perennial underachievers over the edge. If all goes well, think of Lamar Odom on the Bobcats.

13) Indiana Pacers
Pick: Johnny Flynn (Syracuse) PG
The Pacers already have a talented PG in TJ Ford, but Flynn may be too hard to pass up at the #13 pick. Although saying a basketball player has heart is the equivalent of a guy saying a girl has a nice personality, Flynn's fortitude and team oriented attitude is perfect for a point guard. This was clearly evident in his 67 minute performance in Syracuse's 6 OT victory over UConn (http://johsportsmecca.blogspot.com/2009/03/game-of-year.html), during which he went a perfect 16/16 from the free throw line. Oh, and he's good at basketball and stuff too.

14) Phoenix Suns
Pick: DeJuan Blair (Pitt) F
While the 6'5 Blair played center at Pitt, that will prove to be nearly impossible in today's NBA, so the talented big man will most likely move to the forward position, either the 3 or the 4. Blair grabbed nearly 25% of Pitt's offensive boards this past season, and outrebounded entire teams in some games. However, Blair is undersized (6'5) for a power forward and overweight (277 lbs) for his height, which will cause him to fall to #14 where the Suns hope he can channel another undersized, overweight former Suns big man; former All Star and league MVP Charles Barkley. This pick also shows the transition from the run and gun Suns of the D'Antoni era to the current Pheonix squad.

LA vs. Denver

The #1 seed, the Los Angelos Lakers, have finally disposed of the hopeful underdog Houston Rockets. After blowing out the upstart Rockets 89-70 in Game 7 last night, the heavily favored Lakers now face a well rested Denver squad who dispatched the Dallas Mavericks in just 5 games. The Lakers have been inconsistent of late, however even the Denver Nuggets have been preparing for the duo of Gasol and Bryant with Plan B (Houston) on the backburner "just in case". Even the ever diplomatic, not to mention widely respected, Chauncey Billups mentioned,

“Of course, Houston had a chance. They played a great series. But like everybody else we kind of figured L.A. would win at home."

However, with the Lakers nearly unstoppable at home (36-5) this season, and Pau Gasol playing at an All Star level (18.5 ppg and 10.8 rpg) during these playoffs, the top seeded squad from La La Land figure to be the favorites going into the series. On top of that, Denver head coach George Karl hasn't won at the Staples Center since he was hired as Denver's coach in 2004. The Nuggets have gone 1-10 against Los Angelos in the past 2 seasons, including last season's playoffs when Denver earned the honor of becoming the first 50 win team to get swept out of the playoffs in the first round.

All that being said, Denver has been red hot since trading much maligned "point guard" Allen Iverson to Detroit for Chauncey Billups, going 8-2 thusfar in these playoffs. Also, the Nuggets feature a head coach with eons of experience, with George Karl being one of the few coaches with the pedigree to stand across the court from the Zen Master himself, Phil Jackson.

Frontcourt
Advantage: LA Lakers
Yes, Denver has two monsters in the post in Kenyon Martin and Nene Hilario. However, the Lakers do feature two 7 footers (Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum) along with occasional starter, and 6th man, 6'10 Lamar Odom. Gasol has had his way in the post for the most part during the playoffs, easily able to score at will (18.5 ppg) against Mehmet Okur and Andre Kirlenko of the Utah Jazz in the first round, and a Yao Ming less Houston squad in the second round. This Denver frontcourt is a bit different however, with former All Star Kenyon Martin and bullish center Nene able to score and play defense. This unlike a Utah team that featured two big men who could shoot but not much of anything else (Okur and Kirlenko), and a Houston frountcourt that could play defense but couldn't buy a basket (Chuck Hayes and Co.). However, the Lakers are an excellent offensive rebounding team, and their size will be a problem for the Nuggets.


Backcourt (Point Guard & Shooting Guard)
Advantage: LA Lakers
The Lakers barely edge out the Nuggets in the backcourt matchup, and this shows just how valuable Chauncey Billups has been to this Denver team. A veteran point guard who led the Pistons to 4 Eastern Conference Finals and 1 NBA championship, more than anyone else Billups was the heart and soul of those Piston teams. And during the playoffs Billups has amped his game up, already with 3 30+ point performances, shooting well over 50% from behind the arc. J.R. Smith is enjoying a career year, averaging a career high 15.2 ppg, and while a bit one dimensional, Smith can also be counted on to do one thing, score. This being said, Kobe Bryant is simply unstoppable. Very few players in the league can even attempt to guard Bryant, and more often than not he'll get his 25-30 points no matter who guards him. Derek Fisher, while clearly not on the same level as Billups, still has championship pedigree, with 3 rings of his own and plenty of veteran experience. Fisher can shoot the open 3, and Phil Jackson trusts him to run the offense even with the best player in the league (Kobe Bryant) on the court. Also, Fisher and Bryant combine to form one of the best defensive backcourts in the league, with Bryant earning First Team All Defense honors once again this season.

Small Forward
Advantage: Denver Nuggets
By a mile. Carmelo Anthony has developed into a quiet superstar alongside Billups out in Denver. Anthony can score from nearly anywhere on the court, and is a mismatch for most forwards in the way LeBron James is for the Cavs. Too quick for power forwards and too big for small forwards, Carmelo has finally cashed in on his vast potential coming out of Syracuse. He is the first scoring option on a very offensively talented team, and can be counted on to score 20+ just about every night. The Lakers do start a very talented and athletic Trevor Ariza who is capable of scoring in bunches (21 vs. Utah in Game 1) and leads the Lakers in steals as well (1.7 per game). If Ariza can match up with Carmelo, both players are listed at 6'8, then the Lakers will cruise by the Nuggets and into their second consecutive Finals berth. However, Anthony is an annual MVP candidate, and should have his way in this series.

Bench
Advantage: Denver Nuggets
Both teams are very deep, and this matchup should prove to be pivotal in this series. The Lakers should hold the bench advantage at home, Sasha Vujacic turns into Manu Ginoboli at the Staples Center, but Denver will most likely have the advantage when at home also. The Lakers' bench advantage will come from their athletic guards (Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmer, and the aforementioned Sasha Vujacic), while the Nuggets go very deep with their bigs ("The Birdman" Chris Anderson, Linas Kleiza). However, the Nuggets' second unit features a rare blend of experience (Anthony Carter), scoring ability (Linas Kleiza), and defensive prowess (Chris Anderson and Dahntay Jones) mostly unseen on the bench.

In the end, the series should be very close and while I will be far from shocked if Denver pulls a mild "upset", it remains very hard to pick against the Lakers.

Lakers in 7

422 to 1

Golf legend Arnold Palmer, standing at a lean 5'10, won 62 PGA events over the course of an illustrious Hall of Fame career, with 7 of those victories majors. Palmer was the most, and is still perhaps, beloved figure in professional golf, boasting a fanbase so rabid and vast it was dubbed "Arnie's Army".

All that being said, golf's greatest ambassador recently was awarded the prestigious Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest honors given to civilians. Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of this award, Palmer now shares this honor with Jackie Robinson, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, and Dr. Michael DeBakey. Who is Dr. Michael DeBakey? He just perfected a little procedure called the heart transplant. You may argue that Arnold Palmer may not belong in such select company, but if Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, and Charles Shultz are eligible for the honor, then "The King" is surely worthy.

This brings us to the subject of this blog. The House of Representatives vote on the award, and the final vote ended at 422-1. My question is, who was the one? The mystery man? Republican Ron Paul from Texas. Yes, that Ron Paul. Before you label the congressman as a golf hating curmudgeon, keep in mind Paul did not vote against Arnold Palmer the man, but rather the principle of the award itself. The man voted against Rosa freakin Parks for Christ's sake.

Funny thing is, Congressman Paul has a good point too. According to his spokeswoman Rachel Mills;
"It is certainly nothing personal against Mr. Palmer. In fact, Congressman Paul admires him greatly. Dr. Paul opposes using public monies for any and all of these gold medals given to private citizens, just on principle. Not to mention, it is unconstitutional to use taxpayer dollars in this way. He even suggested on the House Floor before he voted against Rosa Parks's medal that if it meant so much to the Members of Congress, why not fund the award out of their own pockets? He pulled $100 out of his own wallet, but had no other takers. At a time like this when all budgets are stretched so thin, it seems especially inappropriate to lavish gifts like this on private citizens, as much as he may admire the individual."

In these harsh times, this type of honesty and standing by your principles is refreshing. So here's to Arnold Palmer, The King, for reserving his place in American history. And to Congressman Ron Paul, a refreshing beacon of honesty and principle in these rough times.

The Unknown National

Tucked away on a last place squad in Washington D.C., a third baseman is batting .357 with 8 HRs and 26 RBIs. More importantly, this hot hitting infielder ends his past hitting streak to 30 games. Thes streak was the longest for a third baseman since George Brett in the 1980 season, with luminaries such as Mike Schmidt, Alex Rodriguez, and Miguel Cabrera failing to match the mark. With 20 HR 100 RBI power and production, as well as the ability to hit .300 consistently and steal double digit bases (11 SB in 2006), this Nationals slugger is in elite company.

Who is this? Try an infielder whose prowess with the glove prompted former Montreal/Washington manager Frank Robinson to compare the young third baseman to Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson. A player who shares the Montreal/Washington franchise record for home runs by a rookie, 20 HRs, with former Expos outfielder Brad Wilkerson (2002). The player? 24 year old Ryan Zimmerman. Already the face of the Washington National franchise, Zimmerman is, at 24, already an elite third baseman along the lines of Florida's Miguel Cabrera and Atlanta's Chipper Jones.























However, Zimmerman rarely receives his due respect on the level of his aforementioned peers. Being tucked away on a last time team, from the beginning (Washington Senators), to the days in Montreal, till the present (Washington Nationals), has taken its toll on the attention around All Star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Also, this does not seem subject to change anytime soon. Washington is 11-21 so far this season, the worst mark in baseball, with Zimmerman leading the team in batting average (.357) and runs scored (28).

Even as the streak ended at 30 games, the first player to mount a challenge on Joltin Joe's hallowed hit record, Ryan Zimmerman, has now garnered attention lost through the past seasons. From lost awards (Close second to Florida SS Hanley Ramirez in 2006) to the seasons wasted languishing on a last place squad with no light visible at the end of proverbial tunnel, Zimmerman's career has undoubtedly been stunted by having the unfortunate fate of toiling away for a last place team in an apathetic home market. However, the next time you see the Nationals on TV (which shouldn't be anytime soon unless you have a satellite dish the size of a swimming pool), watch #11 show off flashes of Brooks Robinson in the field while yielding a potent bat such as the likes of any third baseman in baseball.

Rising Hawks

If there's one thing the Atlanta-Miami first round series has taught us, it is this: Watch out for these Atlanta Hawks. A young team bursting with potential for so long has finally begun to cash in on its wealth of talent with an appearance in the second round of the playoffs. To put this accomplishment in perspective this is a franchise only 4 years removed from a 13-69 debacle of a season, and now the Hawks will face the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.

After a surprisingly touch 7 game series against an overachieving Miami Heat squad, including the first ever Game 7 held in Atlanta in franchise history the young Hawks will now travel to Cleveland, where any team not named the Lakers go to die (The Cavaliers finished 39-2 at Quicken Loans Arena). Even as the daunting task approaches this up and coming Atlanta franchise, there remains a glimmer of hope for the A-Town Hawks in toppling the NBA's most winningest team this past season.

At first glance the Cavalier's front court tandem of Big Z, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Anderson Varejao. However, with Al Horford back and healthy, along with the resurgence of Zaza Pachulia in these playoffs, the Hawks more than measure up to the bigs of Cleveland. In these playoffs the seldom used Pachulia has been a rejuvanated presence in the post, doing everything from crashing the boards and diving for loose balls, averaging 9 points and 9.5 rebounds in Atlanta's 4 wins in the series.

Moreover, Miami's back court, featuring All Star Dwayne Wade, was handily shut down by the Hawks' defense, with Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby proving to be matchup nightmares throught out the series for the Heat. With all due respect to Daniel Gibson, Delonte West, and Moe Williams, all whom are fine, talented players, none of the aforementioned guards show off the scoring prowess and killer instinct of Dwayne Wade. West and Williams are no pushovers however, and the Hawks finally face a legitimate, All Star caliber point guard in the form of Moe Williams.

However the main task , and also the most impossible, facing Atlanta in their second round matchup is Lebron James. Namely, who is going to guard the 2009 NBA MVP? Arguably the most unguardable player currently in the league, James combines speed with power to create mismatches both in the post and on the perimeter. And therein lies the reason why this blogger, as well as most "experts" have been picking the Cavs to not only win, but dominate this series.

While this young Atlanta squad is very talented, and may yet reach the Finals in the near future, the Cleveland Cavaliers are far too dominant to lose in the second round. Take this into consideration: Not only did the Cavs finish with the best record in the league, but they also feature this season's MVP (Lebron James) and Coach of the Year (Mike Brown). The Hawks? They do boast a deep bench (Flip Murray, Zaza Pachulia, Maurice Evans are all valuable contributors) and an elite backcourt (Bibby and Johnson), their inexperience and lack of a "superstar" player will ultimately doom them in this unfortunate second round matchup.

But one thing no one can do is write the Hawks off as a surefire victim to the Cavs. Last season, this exact same team, a year younger in fact, took the eventual champions, the Boston Celtics, to 7 grueling, hard fought games as a #8 seed. This season Atlanta enters the playoffs as a #4 seed, and feature improvement across the board. Moreover, the Hawks, while a young squad, feature valuable veteran leadership and playoff experience in guards Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson. Coming over from the rugged Western Conference, those two have been through tough playoff series against the best teams in the league (sorry Eastern Conference). Once one puts those intangibles into perspective, the debate between Mike Bibby(58 playoff games, all starts) and Joe Johnson (22 playoff games) or Delonte West and Mo Williams (25 playoff appearances combined) begins to tilt heavily in favor of the underdog Hawks. Another reason to hope for the Hawks? While the season series between the two teams was 3-1 in favor of Cleveland, the final 3 matchups were decided by 6 points or less with the Hawks even managing to pull out a victory at Phillips Arena, accounting for their lone win against the Cavs.

Cleveland in 6