WEEKEND(S) IN REVIEW

Yes its been a week and  a half. Yes I have been busy (lazy). Here we go ...

NBA
If you're an NBA fan, the last twelve months have been a blast. There were so many compelling story lines coming in to the season, that I feel lived up to the billing and had something for everybody. In the past twelve months, we have had: Lebron James" Decision, the reality show that was the Miami Heat, the Lakers run at a three peat, Phil Jackson's final run (maybe), the Boston Celtic's potential final run, the Carmelo Anthony saga, Shaquille O'neal's retirement, young players who took their game to new levels ultimately ushering in a new era of elite players, a surprising trade deadline, George Karl beating cancer -- again,  and a drama filled two months of playoff basketball that concluded with a champion that may be the last of its kind. This season of basketball essentially started June of 2010 after Lebron came out and said he was "Taking his talents to South Beach." That, followed by one of the most egotistical displays I have ever seen in sport by holding a pre-season parade and ceremony, and we were off and running. (Seriously, who holds a parade and guarantees a decade long dynasty when all you have proven so far is that you look good getting off the bus. I do think the Heat are the NBA favorites for at least the next two years, but it's things like this that provide fuel for all of the critics when the Heat fail, and rightfully so.) Unbelievably so the euphoria of this past season will soon come to a screeching halt with a dismal draft class, and a lockout that seems as certain as death and taxes. Before basketball fans fall in to deep depression though, lets reminisce about the good and what the future holds for the league.

• Dirk Nowitzki officially cemented himself a hall of famer and the best foreign player ever in the NBA. People who were quick to anoint him a top ten 10 guy of all time were star struck, caught up in the moment, but what he did throughout the playoffs was nothing short of extraordinary. In the new, "It takes two ... or three" era of championship basketball, Dirk dragged the Mavericks through most of the playoffs, and when he struggled his team got him over the hump. If single star championship teams are a thing of the past, that was one hell of a sendoff.
• Ultimately, the Heat losing is better for basketball. Think about it -- If they win, all the critics have nothing to say and everyone gives in to the fact that they are destined for greatness. As it is, we are revamping for another season of team togetherness, drama, Lebron's legacy status, whether the team is complete, etc. The Heat will be title favorites for at least the next two years, but early defeat will bring about a humility that should ultimately make them better.
• Moving forward, basketball has to be happy with where the game is from a player stand point. Every generation has its superstars, and when their time comes, everyone looks for someone to take the proverbial torch. As Shaquille Oneal -- the last, great link to the 90's -- retires, and players like Kobe and Garnett age, this season really showed that there is more than enough young talent waiting for their spotlight.   

NHL
What was a somewhat dismal regular season morphed into a stellar post season. A Canadien power and cup favorite playing a highly beloved Original Six team to a game 7 for the Stanley Cup is about as much as hockey could ask for. In the NHL playoffs, a team truly does go as far as their goalie can take them, and Tim Thomas proved it. There were nine game 7's this playoff season, and Thomas was an absolute impenetrable wall for three of them. In the Canucks three wins in the finals, Luongo was terrific, In their four losses, he was terrible. Thomas was nearly unbeatable, win or lose, and thus the difference. Hockey has made some serious strides in the past couple of years as new, young stars emerge, and I think that is something they really have to build on in the fall this year with the NFL and NBA seasons still in turmoil. They, along with College Football, have the most to gain from those lockouts, and not taking advantage of that would almost be as bad as the 2004 - 2005 lockout.

RORY, RORY, HALELUJAH
Two months ago, I wrote that defeat brings humility. It makes you wiser, and it makes you determined to be better. For Rory McIlroy, that showed true this weekend at the U.S. Open. The last time we saw Rory, he made some snide comments about Tiger Woods and followed that up by playing perhaps teh worst nine holes of golf in PGA history. Everyone plays a poor round now and then, or every time out if you're like me, but only a select few shoot +10 on the back nine of the Masters and ultimately choke away the jacket. This time though, the Rory stayed grounded and used past struggles to propel him to a record setting win at the U.S. Open. Is he the next Tiger? NO. Tiger Woods is potentially the best individual athlete ever, and his accomplishments simply transcend sports. What Rory is though, is a new, young face. Something fresh for the golf world to stand behind, and has all the potential in the world to build a career making him viable to be considered one of the greats.  

THE ROAD TO OMAHA
This weekend I had the opportunity to attend my first College World Series game. While I wasn't that caught up in the actual game itself, it was more the atmosphere in the game, and nostalgia of seeing the old stadium that really makes it special and why I LOVE college sports. While the new stadium is fine, the old Rosenblatt Stadium is an absolute diamond in the rough. The framework and structure of the building is everything the part of a link to the past. One thing that I have always felt separates college from pro sports is, pro sports is an allegiance. College sports is a way of life. A persons loyalty to a collegiate team is typically a direct link to a part of who they are, making the games seem a little more important and ultimately adding to the spectacle of the sport. There is also something to be said about most college athletes being kids playing for the love of the game, and not paid megastars with their own agendas.


That's all i got. Promise to get back on the ball with the writing. Maybe, kinda.

BEST OF 3

Throughout the playoffs I have been going back and forth comparing the NBA and NHL playoffs, and which was a better watch. Before the ongoing playoff series', I thought that the NHL was by far the better sell. A Canadian team matched up with an Original Six team both rich in tradition, physical, with underlying story lines every where. Through four games, they haven't disappointed. In game one and two, Vancouver edged out the Bruins in two slug fests -- a physical game one, followed by a thrilling OT win in game two. As they did in the Sharks series, The Canucks seemingly had an answer for everything Boston was doing. Change of scenery, change of mind though. In games three and four, the Bruins outscored the Canucks 12 - 1, and have dominated every facet of the game. You would expect Vancouver to regain some steam as the series shifts back to their home ice, but so far the series has been everything it seemed coming in.After game one of the NBA finals, it seemed like the Mavericks were simply over matched against the Heat. Three puzzling games later, the series is tied at two games a piece with one more to play in Dallas tonight. I've never been witness to a series where, through four games, there are so many reasonable outcomes and the current one is perhaps the most perplexing. 2-2, 3-1 Heat, 3-1 Dallas, and 4 - 0 Heat are all viable counts thus far. From everything that's been seen on the court, a Heat sweep would have made the most sense. Two late, blown leads though and Dallas is very much alive. As much talent as the Heat have, it's definitely top heavy and seems to be their demise at times. For all intents and purposes, the Heat are two and half to three and a half players every night they take the floor. Lebron and Wade plus some times Chris Bosh or Bosh and player X. It was clear that in game one their egos allowed them to take their foot off the gas and ultimately lose, and in game four the depth issues were their undoing. Win tonight though and all is forgotten, as they're almost a lock for the title. (To think the Heat would lose two straight at home, in the only building in the league that shows them support, is absurd.) Should they ultimately lose though, the critics, media, pariahs, etc. will be relentless. Either way, how the series has played out thus far has been excellent from a drama standpoint. Lebron James no show in the Finals doesn't cause for a dip in ratings, it creates opportunity for more as there are more games to be played, and if I were David Stern I would be doing back flips in my office. A series that seemed destined for a sweep, has brought life to a NBA playoffs that never really hit its full potential. The NHL has been strong throughout, and thus still carries a small edge in how captivating it has been, but NBA is a Heat blowup away from going down in the history books.

WEEKEND IN REVIEW 6/6

What a weekend! Lets get started ...

NBA
Even though this series has been played very close thus far, I'd be very concerned if I was a Mavericks fan right now. After blazing a trail to the finals, they have finally fallen to earth and looking like the team that everyone was writing off before the playoffs started. Games like last night prove that it takes at least two to win. While basketball is the one sport where an individual can truly take over the game, Dirk can't expect to win when he tallies more points than the other starting four combined. He has to get help from some where, otherwise this series may not even make it to game six that I projected. On an interesting side note though, while Dwayne Wade has played very well this series, what Dirk has done as far as carrying this team especially late in games has been spectacular. If the games continue to play out the way they have been, I think it's fair to say Dirk should be considered for the MVP if the Mavs lose. It has happened once before with Jerry West, and to this point Dirk would be a deserving recipient.

NHL
You're the Boston Bruins. You're headed home down 2-0 in the Stanley Cup Finals, and you're pissed. After abruptly losing game 1 when it looked like you were headed to OT, a player who arguably shouldn't have been playing in game 2 kills you. Alex Burrows was almost suspended for biting a Bruin's player at the end of game 1, ended up being allowed to play, and ends up with an assist and two goals including the OT winner. The Bruins are a strong enough team to climb back in to the series, but in the end I still feel like the Canucks will be too much.

THE BIG SEND OFF
Its starting to get to that point where true legends of the game, who's entire career I was able to take part in, begin to retire. The first came Friday, when Shaq announced he was bringing an end to his 19 year career in the NBA. When we look back, I think he'll be forever remembered as the most dominant force ever. He may not be the best center to ever play, but he is among a select few (Kareem, Olajuwon) that would absolutely dominate at any era. Bill Russell was an unbelievable player. Would he have been that dominate in today's game though? Probably not. Shaq's speech was everything you'd think it would be -- gracious, funny, thoughtful. It was an unbelievable career that I was proud to witness and take part in at both the Forum and Staples Center. I am happy that the Lakers have extended the honor of retiring his jersey, and am glad he wants to be remembered as one in the Hall of Fame.

AROUND THE SPORTS WORLD
Plaxico Burress is a free man, and if I was an NFL owner in need of a big reciever i would be at his doorstep, lockout or no lockout. Burress was sent away for being stupid and naive but did nothing criminally on the level of a Michael Vick. Assuming he's in decent shape, this is a Super Bowl caliber wide receiver that could help a lot of teams immediately. To not look at him as a possible addition to your team if needed would only flip those perceived as being naive. At my event this weekend, we had another solid turnout at Halle park in Memphis, TN. Our guest was head coach of the Grizzlies, Lionel Hollins, who couldn't have been more gracious. He gave me a lot of good insight on next years team, and promised to stop killing the Lakers. Perhaps the coolest part of the weekend though, was having a nice car roll through the park during event, and who should pop out but Michael Oher. The man is a force to be recognized in person and has some serious basketball skills.

That's all for now. Hope everyone had a good weekend. On to Omaha!

 Michael Oher at Halle Park

 Grizzlies head coach, Lionel Hollins

DESTINY ON ICE

Throughout the playoffs I have been going back and forth comparing the NBA and the NHL product on display. Now that both have reached their respective finals, unless the Heat and Mavs play to an epic game seven, this NHL playoffs will be the more memorable. In the East, you have the Boston Bruins. A member of the original six, (inaugural six teams inducted in to the NHL) that have a long and storied history, which includes not having won a cup since 1972. Since that cup run, they have been agonizingly close but always seemed to run in to some of the greatest teams in history, i.e. the dynasty Canadiens, Gretzky's Oilers, and Lemieux/ Jagr's Penguins. Vancouver may not be an all time team, but they have been the most dominant team from start to finish. Looking at this Canucks team, I'm reminded in some ways of the 2004 Boston Red Sox. While they don't have the grand history of the Red Sox, they do share a lot in common. In it's 40th season as a NHL franchise, the Canucks have never won a Stanley Cup. 40 years may not seem as unbearable as the 86 years that the Red Sox waited, but try telling that to a Canadian hockey fan. In 1982 they made an unfathomable Cup run, but were swept in the finals. In 1994, they hit the post in game six trying to send the game to OT with less than a minute to play. In the last few years, they have had their chances and their hurdles, namely the Chicago Blackhawks, but have pushed them all aside this year. Last night they didn't steal game one, because both teams played incredibly well, but it was supposed to go to overtime. You have to think Boston had the air taken out of their sails with the game ending so abruptly, so who's to know what their state of mind will be headed into game two. The NHL took about ten steps backwards with the lockout, but has slowly been climbing back. The game is fast and physical, and at a cheaper price than football, basketball, or baseball if you're a Yankee's fan, attending a game is more enjoyable in some ways. While I question the NHL's decision not to try and get back in the good graces of ESPN, this series might surprise people with the ratings it generates. Hockey will never be on the level that the other sports are in America, predominantly because it's not an American game. Still, if you are tuning it out completely, you're missing out. FINERSIDE PREDICTION: CANUCKS IN 6

ROUND 2

Almost five years ago to the day I was showering after a Warped Tour show in the tunnels of the American Airlines Arena in Miami. Some things I'll never forget about the Heat locker room was how nice it was decorated, how big everything was considering the chairs, sinks, showers, toilets, etc. are built to cater to a league where average height is probably 6'6, and my friend Mike's feet hanging up off the ground while using said toilet. And the streamers ... and the champagne bottles ... and the confetti. That's because three days earlier, the Heat captured the NBA title. The franchise's first at the expense of the Dallas Mavericks. A Mavs team that seemed destined to finally break through had the series turn in game three on a few, very suspect calls, cue Dwayne Wade, and the rest is history. Unless your name is Dirk Nowitzki or Mark Cuban, in which case you probably think about that series every time you hit the floor. Six years later, Dirk and the Mavs have the chance at redemption. For Dallas, I think the most important thing in this whole series will be keeping Wade and James off of the free throw line. Easier said than done though. For Miami, you know what to expect out of Wade and James. I think a big key to them would be getting consistent play out of Bosh, and at least one other player. Throughout the playoffs, Dallas has lived and died by the three, have four guys that are more than capable at knocking them down, and can shoot their way into any game. Miami needs to establish another scoring source, because Wade and James together may no longer be enough by themselves. Through the last week, the question being brought up around the sports world has been who has more at risk, Dirk or LeBron. For Dirk, I don't think his legacy doesn't take that much of a hit if he loses. He's already the best foreign player ever in the NBA. He's already a hall of famer. Winning a title doesn't raise his stature enough in to the best all time discussion that his rise or fall will be that substantial. That said though, he can cement himself as perhaps the last great, lone player to win a championship. At the most crucial time of the year, Dirk has played his best basketball and carried an average team to the brink of a title. With the exception of Heat fans, he also has everyone else in his corner. Partly due to spite, and partly due to fear, I think most don't want the Heat to win a title. At least not yet. If they can win one in their first year, during the learning curve time period and all the bumps in the road, than that's plain scary and makes you think they'll be the favorite for the next three or four years. That's what James is facing. His chance to vindicate the last twelve months. To prove he was right, and everyone who doubted him, mocked him, or slandered his name was wrong. While I feel he's already done that to a degree, only (multiple) championship rings will silence the critics. Unlike Dirk, James can fully expect to return to the Finals a couple more times, and has the chance to raise his stature among the all time greats. While it's not the end of the world if he loses, the hype on his legacy is so high that starting to build it now would be beneficial. All along, I have said that the Heats biggest asset is their raw talent, and what I call the "surprise" factor, putting teams at a disadvantage as their opponents are the ones that usually have to adapt on a game by game basis. With that, I think the Heat will drop a game at home, and one on the road, but ultimately win in six. I hope I'm wrong.

"VEST" IN PEACE

Ohio State head coach has Jim Tressel officially resigned this morning amid ongoing investigations into his football program. Nearing the end of 2010, news broke that current OSU football players had received some improper benefits via traded memorabilia. Since then, the information has snowballed to include past players, free cars, cash handouts, and most importantly Tressel not only knowing about all of this but covering it up as well. Seven months later, Tressel has been removed and OSU braces itself for the fallout. Honestly, I believe this instance is big enough that the NCAA will not only come down hard on OSU, but also make changes as to how it handles future infractions. Ohio State is one of the biggest NCAA  brands in the country. They pull a lot of weight, and both their athletic director and school president are big wigs. In a nutshell, this isn't a slap on the wrist handed down to Akron. No offense to all of my followers from Zips nation. If there's one thing the NCAA absolutely hates, it's when schools try to make them look bad and undermine their rules. Moving forward, I think the powers at be are going to realize that the five game suspensions handed out to five players at the start of next year, and Jim Tressel's self imposed suspension were some what of a mockery to the system as the allegations continue to grow. Also the way that OSU handled initial reactions and penalties were laughable at best (literally in some instances as school president Gordon Gee joked, "I hope he doesn't fire me" when asked if he would consider firing Tressel). There's little doubt in my mind that even though Tressel resigned, he was asked, or forced, to do so by school officials. They couldn't let him stay because of all of the sanctions that will eventually be imposed on the school specifically because of his actions, and they couldn't fire him because that would reflect poorly on them and raise questions of why they never did so earlier. Tressel resigning was the only thing that could happen with both sides saving a little face. USC just had its sanctions of two years without being bowl eligible and 30 scholarships being taken away upheld, and that's when the coach claims to have known nothing. In this case, its proven that the coach not only knew about what was going on but lied about it too, as well as more and more people coming forward with stories that make it seem like Tressel's entire 11 year reign was tainted from the start. I think it's a fair assumption then that OSU is facing some huge sanctions, bigger than those at USC. In life, everyone needs a little dose of humility every now and then, and Ohio State's time has come. After years of taking shots and mocking other programs, it's their turn. As stated, I expect OSU to potentially be hit with one of the biggest sanctions ever seen in major college football. So in a few years when someones asks who was hit with the biggest fine ever, you could say, "That's easy. It was THE Ohio State University!"

RANDOM THOUGHTS

With so much going on in sports and life in general, I find it impossible to focus on one particular thing. So in the foot steps of Mr. Jack Handy, here are a collection of random thoughts ...

• The Lakers have hired Mike Brown and my first reaction was vomit inducing. While I have come down off the ledge since the news broke, I still find a lot to worry about. Brown is a defensive minded guy, which isn't bad and something the Lakers needed this season. Problem is the Lakers are old. Getting them to commit to rigorous defense may be very challenging. Second, and more importantly, to this point in his career Brown is a regular season coach and that wont cut it. From Jerry Buss all the way down to Joe Smith the Lakers take the court in October to win championships, not flame out in the playoffs. Some of his past coaching choices in the post season are questionable at best. How he builds and manages a relationship with Kobe may be the biggest key, and you also must account that all of his regular season success was in the East where a team eight games below .500 may be a seventh seed in the playoffs. Very skeptical is the only way I could describe entering next years season.
• As the Mavs head in to their second finals since 2006, I think everyone will remember this post season as the year Dirk Nowitzki cemented his Hall of Fame status, not just as the best foreign player ever, but as the guy who truly lives up to all the expectations of his game. I don't buy that he's a top ten player all time, but perhaps he an all timer as far as someone who maximized their potential. You know what to expect from Dirk and he rarely disappoints. In a league where it's evident that you need help to succeed, he his doing it all by himself and will probably have the support of everyone in America that doesn't hail from South Beach.
• Wilson Valdez, Philadelphia Phillies infielder, got a win last night as a reliever in the 19th inning. The last guy to do that? Babe Ruth. Go figure.
• The NCAA has chosen to uphold all of the sanctions brought down on the USC football program. After spending the last two weeks at Ohio State, it amazes me that they continue to dance around the wrath of the NCAA, especially when more and more info continues to leak out. I unsuccessfully tried to find the tattoo shop in question, but from what I heard from local Buckeye fans the place is essentially an illegal shrine to Buckeye football.
• Finally, what a week it's been for me.So far I have survived rapture, hydroplaning in a box truck on the free way, and a tornado. I wonder if they make superman pajamas in my size.

DO IT FOR THE KIDS

As the NFL lockout seems to pick up steam when it looked like it was headed for resolution, it becomes more and more clear that the biggest losers will be the rookies. They can already expect to lose out on money and signing bonuses whenever a new agreement is reached. They already had to keep face during a tainted draft day. Now they're being stripped of the rookie symposium, their first official chance to get acclimated to the league. A few months back I heard that for someone to make it as a professional athlete, you could assume that the individual has put in approximately 10,000 hours of work in their particular sport. That accumulates to almost a year and  a half of work, or in layman's terms a lot of f***ing time. So to finally achieve the ultimate goal and have a lot of the joy that comes with it be stripped away seems pretty disheartening. There's a reason football is the one sport where no one has been, or ever will be, allowed to make the jump early to the pros. It's because its hard -- really, really, hard. The speed, the playbooks, the styles of play, the physicality. Everything about the NFL is a much bigger jump from its collegiate counterpart in comparison to the other sports. Denying the rookies the chance to build towards being ready for this jump is a big negative, and with the exception of the truly gifted guys at the top, may make next season somewhat of a lost season for the guys unable to adapt on short notice. In addition, that's just the on-the-field aspect of it. How to handle your new found wealth, life on the road, women, relatives, all while maintaining a professional demeanor may be the biggest challenge for some. The inability to learn from league officials and veteran peers may result in a lot of the young guys learning a few things about their new job the hard way. It's a shame that the lockout has gotten to this points. It's hard enough to make it in a pro sport. Not being afforded all the help past players would expect to receive makes it all the more difficult. Before the lockout gets way out of hand, hopefully something is resolved so that the future of football is ready when their time comes.

WEEKEND IN REVIEW 5/23

I'm curious to know what the punishment for false rapture prognosis is. Regardless, glad to still be alive and here is the inaugural edition of weekend in review post earth's potential demise.

NBA
I feel like the two biggest reasons for what has been such a compelling playoffs so far, is uncertainty and star power. About %90 of the leagues biggest stars were on display when the playoffs started, and each team remaining is still showcasing at least one. As for uncertainty, I feel like it's everywhere this postseason and has benefited the league a great deal. Through all of the series thus far we've heard about the Mavs being too old, the Lakers running out of gas, the Heat trying to put it together and on a much smaller level the Knicks, were the Thunder truly ready to contend, is Memphis for real, and could the Celtics still contend with the hit they took to team togetherness. Not really having a true front runner in either conference has made for a lot of additional excitement. Out West, I expect to see more of the same throughout the rest of this series. That is the Mavs come with the first punch, the Thunder counter with a new game plan, and the Mavs go back to the drawing board. Although down 2 - 1, if I'm the Thunder I am in no way intimidated or concerned heading into game 4. In game 1 they simply lost to one of the best playoff performances ever by the other teams best player. Game three looks worse, but kudos to them for hanging tough and making it some what close at the end. If Nowitzki has an average night for the Mavs in game 1, they lose by double digits. In the East, is it possible that  Udonis Haslem gets the MVP for this series if the Heat win? His sheer presence on the court has completely changed the Bulls game plan, and has limited everything they need to do on the boards to win. The biggest benefit the Heat have, regardless of who they play, touches on that uncertainty aspect again. With the Bulls you know what they have to do to win: Control the boards, get Rose the ball and let him get to the line. These are all things you can work on to control in practice. With the Heat, you never know where the offense or play making is going to come from. Obviously you have a good idea, but the second you double Lebron, Wade starts to kill you. Then every third game, Chris Bosh rediscovers the game of basketball altogether, assuredly driving opposing coaches and players nuts. While I still think they could get rid of Bosh for two or three consistent role guys and be better, playing with this "surprise" factor seems to be working heavily in their favor.

NHL
On the ice we have two series that, before the game yesterday, were headed down the same path. Twenty four hours later they're headed in two very opposite directions. In the East, what was going to be a 3 - 1 series lead for Boston headed home evaporated in the span of about 10 minutes. While most of the team has been dismantled, people are quick to forget that the Lightning still tout some championship veterans and one of the games most dynamic young players in Steven Stamkos. I feel like game five has the potential to be a must win for Boston, otherwise Tampa Bays momentum may be too much to overcome in game six. On the flip side, the Sharks were in the same position out West. After dominating game three the sharks had five consecutive power play chances in the first period of game four -- a golden opportunity to jump all over the Canucks. The Canucks fought off all five of them, and in a 10 minute span of their own midway through the second, they had three consecutive five on three power plays. Three shots. Three goals. Series over. I thought the Sharks were simply over matched coming in to this series, but through the years their inability to capitalize on key moments has continued to hurt them. It's never over til its over, but the Sharks coming back in this series would carry more weight than a team coming back from down 0 - 3.

MLB
Since all of my teams are out of the playoffs, and the NBA has the most ridiculous playoff scheduling, it has allowed some time for me to start watching baseball. So far, I feel like the biggest story this year has been the rise of the unknowns, notably the Cleveland Indians and Jose Bautista in Montreal. Before the season, I was joking about what number would be higher: the Cavaliers 2010 - 2011 total losses, or the Indians 2011 total wins. Two months in, the Indians still hold the best record in baseball at 29 - 15, and are already almost half way to the Cavs 63 losses ... My bad. The cast of characters that the Indians are winning with is pretty entertaining, especially considering baseballs lack of a cap and the handful of loaded teams around the league. Also, Canada (a.k.a. America's attic) may be harboring the best baseball player this year. Bautista leads not just the AL but the entire MLB in home runs and batting average. Over the weekend I heard that in his last 275 games or so he has about 85 home runs. That's on the level of the greatest power hitters to ever play. Definitely will be interesting to watch the ebb and flow of his production level as the season goes.

Thus concludes are inaugural post-rapture post. Hopefully there will be many more to come.

BEFORE THE END OF TIME

Did you hear? The world is ending tomorrow. At least that's what the chosen ones from family radio would have you believe. Assuming its true, I had to get one more post in. So what better way to reflect on the end of time than talking about something that's timeless. Tonight the Chicago Cubs kick off a three game series against the Red Sox. While these teams played each other in 2005 at Wrigley Field, this is the first time since 1918 that the Cubs have visited Fenway. As someone who has a nostalgia meter every time I go out to a stadium, this match up is potentially the holy grail. Two teams, both over 100 years old, with stadiums that are nearly the same age, and some of the most storied pasts in all of sports. The last time they played each other in Boston, World War I was raging. daylight savings was invented, stamps were three cents, and one of the most revered players and power hitters of all time, Babe Ruth, was pitching. At the time, the two clubs were the premiere teams in baseball. To think it would be 86 years before the Red Sox won another title or 103 years and counting for the Cubs at the time would seem ludicrous. While the Sox have shaken off the curse with titles in 2004 and 2007, the Cubs may consider trading the outfield ivy for at least a winning record. Perhaps the most remarkable point of this series is how little has changed in some regards. Wrigley Field and Fenway Park still stand and operate in the exact same spot. With the exception of lights and added seats, they remain mostly untouched from their original construction. I have been to both stadiums in person, and the sense of history is what really stands out and separates these stadiums to the point that they are ultimately what defines their teams. As far as fans, ratings, and revenue go, baseball has slipped through the years. The one area where they have a huge advantage though is the history aspect, and they do an excellent job of holding on to it. Eventually, unless the world really does end tomorrow, the time will come when the buildings will simply be too old and obsolete to operate any more. Until then however, every person to consider themselves a sports fan should take part in events like this weekend series, be it on TV or in person, and use it as a direct window into a timeless past.

THE WEEKEND IN REVIEW 5/15

Let's recap the weekend, shall we.

NBA: I find it hard to remember a foursome still standing in the conference finals that was this intriguing. In the East, it truly is a showcase of brass versus brawn. Miami is flashy. They have two new pieces that are really, really shiny. Unfortunately the rest of the pieces have a lot of dull spots. In Chicago there's one elite but hard nosed player, surrounded by union workers. With the exception of Boozer, this Bulls team has had a few years to gel. They play strong team ball, are big enough to give Miami plenty of problems as seen last night, and have the benefit of a much better bench. The biggest piece to this puzzle though was the addition of Tom Thibedeaux patrolling the sideline. His defensive teachings and schemes are ultimately what really pushed them to the next level this year. That said though, Miami still has Lebron and Wade. While they still need help from the other ten guys on the floor, they have proven they can carry the load as seen in the Celtics series. If you think Thibedeaux wont let that happen, just remember that the Celtics still run his exact same defense and with far better talent. While last summer's "Decision" may not mean a championship in South Beach every year, it does mean that you can never count them down and out. In the West, you may have to fit your couch with seat belts for this series. As seen in the Lakers series the Mavs love shooting the three and have four guys that are better than average at it. The Thunder show up every night with one goal in mind -- to run you out of the gym. I think the big turning point in this series though is Kendrick Perkins. A perfect fit for this team that gives them size and enough athleticism to not slow down the offense. If he is able to establish himself as the proven championship center that he is, Dallas may have a lot of trouble in this series assuming they actually miss a shot this time around.

NHL: What is it about South Florida teams that they have a knack for coming from nowhere to win championships. Have you ever seen a Florida Marlins game on TV? There are a hundred people there and that includes the players and the grounds crew. They also have two titles in the last fifteen years. Similarly, everyone seems to question why there's hockey in Florida in the first place. Tampa Bay has a title within the last decade though, and blew the doors off game one against Boston. I still think Boston is the better team and would be my pick to move on, but it's still uncanny. In the West, at some point I guess you have to feel bad for the Sharks. Since 2004 they have been at or near the top of the West, but just cant seem to get over the hump, similar to the Washington Capitols. This time around though I think they are just completely over matched. The Canucks are physical and savvy enough to not let San Jose make the game a track meet and use their athleticism. They were the best team by far in the regular season, so that coupled with home ice should get them through to the finals.

Finally, proof that it is still not appropriate to be talking serious baseball. At the beginning of the season everyone was losing their mind, waiting for the Red Sox to win a game. A month later they are 20 - 20, are coming off a sweep of the Yankees in New York, and right in the thick of the race in the AL East. It's a looooooong 162 game season so writing off a team after ten games is not just foolish but stupid too.

JUST THE TWO OF US

In the 2001 World Series, no one thought the Arizona Diamondbacks had a chance. New York had a big payroll, big stars, four championships in six years, and the empathy of the millions of Americans given the recent 9/11 attacks. Yet the small market Diamondbacks rode the arms of two individuals, Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson, to a championship. Similarly, what Lebron James and Dwayne Wade are doing as a dynamic duo seems unprecedented. After some quick math by our in house statistician here at the Finerside, in the Heat's ten playoff games this season, James and Wade have combined for 523 points. The rest of the team including the proposed third big piece Chris Bosh: 424. Now naturally you expect two players capable of such offensive caliber to put up points. To account for close to 60% of the entire teams total points over 10 games though is incredible. Every third game they seem to get a decent contribution from Bosh, or a big shot from one of their role players. In between these brief moments of support from players three through twelve though, James and Wade have carried the full load. It has been as impressive to watch as it is scary. I say scary because if they do ultimately win this year with only two key guys, then how scary will it be when they have time to actually build more pieces around them. I feel like when the decision to play in Miami was made, it was James, Wade, AND Bosh. Now it seems pretty clear that they may be able to get by without Bosh who has somewhat shied away from the spotlight, and could possibly turn him in to two or three really good role players that better fit Miami's vision. Early in the season it was clear that this Heat team hadn't figured it out just yet. Seven months later, it feels like a new dynasty may be upon us a few years early. 

WEEKEND IN REVIEW - 5/9

For better or worse, what a weekend it was. As always, here are my collective thoughts from Friday to Sunday.

MLB
Last week Francisco Liriano pitched a sloppy no hitter. This weekend Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers threw a dominant one, and the second of his career. Two other pitchers took one eight innings or further. From 2000 to 2009 there were 15 no hitters tossed. In 2010 and the first two months of the 2011 season: 8. Whether its the crackdown on steroids, more "Pitcher Parks," whatever, there has definitely been a major shift from power hitting to power pitching. This may be a good or bad thing depending on who you are, but the last time the league was in this position they suffered a lockout, and piggybacked on a steroid aided long ball era to better ratings. Not necessarily the ideal business plan. On a different note, hats off to Andre Ethier for his 30 game hit streak. Just to put into perspective how amazing DiMaggio's 56 streak is, in the 65 years since the record, Ethier is approx. the 30th player in history to get to 30 games. That number drops to 6 after 35+ games, and 1 at 40+. Truly remarkable stuff.

NHL
After an unbelievable first round, the second round has been some what dull. Although impressive considering their opponents, there were two sweeps, and Nashville is somehow clinging to life in Vancouver. The only series of interest is the San Jose/ Detroit series. San Jose has blown two close out games, and most recently a two goal lead at home in the third period. They are now headed back to one of the most hallowed arenas in the sport. A game seven seems to loom large.

NBA
Before I touch on the disgrace that was the Laker game last night, here are some thoughts on the other three series. While money doesn't buy championships, the Miami heat doing so in a season where every other serious contender seemingly implodes from within was a pretty fortunate bounce. While I wouldn't expect a similar collapse from the Celtics as seen with the Lakers, I think the series goes no more than six games. At some point age and athleticism catches up with you, and I think it's closing in on the C's quickly. As bad as the Hawks looked throughout the year, they may arguably have the most raw, young talent of any team left. As good as Rose is for Chicago, no one can do it by themselves. Before the playoffs started, I told my co worker that if someone gave me $100 bill to put down on what team would win the West, I would have taken the Thunder. A young, athletic team, that made moves to be able to compete with anyone. What they have run into though with Memphis, is a team that reminds you of a poor mans 2003 - 2004 Detroit Pistons. No superstars, no perennial all stars, no first ballot hall of famers. Simply a group of guys playing incredible team ball. For the sake of my sanity, I'm putting the Lakers/ Mavs series in here as opposed to some crazy, long rant. First, outstanding job by the Mavericks top to bottom. They had an excellent game plan that ran to perfection, and exploited every facet of the Lakers play, or lack there of. It's not that they lost, but the way it transpired. I honestly don't even mind that they got swept. An incredible four year run of losing to the Celtics, Kobe getting a ring without Shaq, and then an emotional seven game redemption series with the Celtics was very taxing. They simply ran out of gas. That said, no change of game plan by Phil was inexcusable. Absolutely lazy, uninspired play, especially defense, by everyone involved was inexcusable. Andrew Bynum's acts at the tail end of the game was not only inexcusable but a complete disgrace. Because he is the face of the franchise, Kobe gets a separate section. I think where Kobe should take the brunt of his personal blame here is what happened behind closed doors and off the court. You have to believe he said something, but moving forward as he leans more and more on others to carry the weight, he has to lend himself more to helping helping them and work out team issues. That said though, a lot of the shots Kobe take from critics are unfair. I'll never understand why people are always quick to say that Kobe is not Michael, and never will be, yet the second he does something negative the first thing you hear is, "MJ never would have done that." If he's not Michael, then he's not Michael. You can't just pick and choose your spots to prove a point. There are a lot of things that Kobe has had to deal with in his career that Jordan never had to deal with, so not being able to compare the two works both ways. Moving forward, the Lakers have a lot of choices to make this off season, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

What a weekend huh? This weekend we had our first outdoor 3 on 3 tournament at NC State, and it went very well. Kids that we literally find off the street to participate in our dunk contest continue to up the ante. This weeks winner jumped from about 10 ft out over one of our 3ft high barriers, and finished with a reverse. Keep in mind this is a random twenty year old kid that we pulled from nowhere. By far the absolute highlight of my weekend though was hanging out, and playing a cut-short game of horse with our NBA guest, Bo Kimble. I grew up, and still live, less than 10 minutes away from LMU, and remember his remarkable run in the 1990 season while carrying the grief of Hank Gathers death. An exceptionally gracious man, Bo was by far one of the best personalities I have met while doing this line of work. Definitely something to remember. Finerside, out! 

  MYSELF WITH BO KIMBLE. HEATED GAME OF HORSE TIED AT H-O-R TO BE CONTINUED

NEW SET OF LOCKS

The NBA is currently in the midst of one of the greatest playoffs it has showcased in the last ten to fifteen years. As they should, the league has done a good job thus far of keeping the focus on the court, but behind closed doors there is a huge elephant in the room. Like the NFL this past year in February, the day the NBA finals end in June, what's the first word you'll hear? Lockout. This is different though -- A bad different. With the NFL, it was clear from the beginning what was transpiring. In a league that generates about 9 billion dollars worth of revenue annually, the owners thought that they should be entitled to more money. How much more do you need? Complaining about money, refusing to share revenue books, locking out players from gyms, appealing court ruled decisions -- These are all things that the owners have done from day one to present to turn everyone against them except commissioner Goodell. The difference with the NBA? The owners actually have solid ground to stand on. Something that can cause enough back and forth where loss of games next season seems much more viable. Like I said, it's a bad different. In comparison to the NFL's 9 billion dollars of revenue in 2010, the 2010 - 2011 NBA regular season generated about 2 billion dollars, OR a net loss of about 300 million. Look at that again. The NBA is actually losing money. They have teams that are bankrupt, teams that are currently being loaned to or run by the league, and a third of the teams operating at a loss. So when they say that they need a major overhaul to salaries, contracts, and a hard salary cap, they have a much stronger foundation. While the NFL owners are pushing for a want, the NBA owners are fighting for a need. Their other big advantage is that there are a lot more people, including fans, in their corner. Fans of small market teams would love to have a chance at better talent. Hell, fans of small market teams would love to have a chance to keep their teams. Fresh off last summers "Decision," a lot of people too, especially the owners, don't want to see the league turn in to a free for all either where players seemingly make the choice of where they play behind closed doors. Depending on the length of the remaining series', the NBA has about a month to a month and a half before all of the focus is on the mediation table. While a couple of owner proposals have already been shot down by the players, I think it would be in the leagues bets interest to work through these initial offers, and try to weed out the bull****. That way when the season ends, and all focus is on the lockout, there may be some signs of hope with any progress that can be shown towards an agreement. The light at the end of the tunnel is still a long ways off though. If these playoffs are the last we see of the NBA for an extended period of time, then it went out swinging. Which, at least, is more than Manny Ramirez can't say about his baseball career.

FUMBLE

A decade later, sports once again has the opportunity to ease the pain of millions with a few hours of joy. With the recent news of Osama Bin Laden's death adding to the emotions of those events and all that were affected, the NFL has the opportunity to really do right by the American public. This year the league shares their opening day with the ten year anniversary of 9/11, which puts the league in a now precarious position. Comissioner Roger Goodell and the owners have already made an impression on the fans as the bad guys, especially now that all that stands in the way of a 2011 season is their insistent refusal to drop the lockout with ongoing appeals to court rulings. If they continue to argue their side to the point that it infringes on those opening weekend games, I think its something that the American public may never forgive them for. In the decade since, football has blossomed into the top dog as far as the four major sports go. They say that with power comes great responsibility though, and part of that is effortlessly trying to do right by your fans. After all they are a big reason these individuals are in the positions they are. On September 11, 2001, the American way of living changed forever. On September 21, 2011, it was sports and more specifically the New York Mets that really began the healing process of returning things to normal. Then football resumed play which presented us the iconic image in the Jet/ Patriots game of the Pats DE running out of the tunnel with an American Flag in each hand. The icing on the cake though came during game three of the World Series. Love him, hate him, laugh at him, whatever, George Bush stepped out on to the mound at Yankee Stadium and delivered. With the weight of the U.S. population leaning on his right arm, Bush threw a perfect strike. At a time when the U.S. needed him most, he provided what I would argue to be one of the pinnacle moments of his eight year tenure in the White House. In regards to popularity both domestic and abroad, fans, presentation, income, etc., football now is much, much bigger than baseball was then. Just the potential thought that football would drop the ball (no pun intended) on something as big as this is a shame. I thought it was somewhat cowardly for Roger Goodell to use a moment of silence for last weeks tornado victims as a way of dodging boos at the draft, but he'll need something a lot bigger, and less transparent than silence, to hind behind if he fumbles this one (pun intended).

WEEKEND IN REVIEW

Sometimes I wake up, think about what the hell I should write about, never come to a conclusion, and as a result write nothing. Then there are days like today when I can't choose just one topic. So I proudly present the weekend in review.

PLAYOFFS: Have there ever been two more compelling playoffs going on at the same time simultaneously as they are right now in the NBA and the NHL? In the NBA, I think the real story so far has been the display of talent, and the pros own version of a March Madness Cinderella in the Memphis Grizzlies. Look at this list: Lebron, Wade, Dirk, Kidd, Kobe, Durant, Allen, Garnett, Pierce, Rose. That's how many first ballot (presumably), no doubt Hall of Famers are still in the hunt for Larry O'Brien's prized possession. Now add Gasol, Bynum, Fisher, Odom, Noah, Boozer, Johnson, Horford, Smith, Bosh, Terry, Rondo, Perkins, and Westbrook. All totaled it's safe to say that, of the top five percent of players in the NBA, close to 90% of that elite group is being showcased and the match ups and intensity are about to get that much better. Then there's the Grizzlies. Way back in November I did an event outside the Fedex Center where the team plays, and the people in office didn't seem that optimistic. Six months later, they have bounced the best in the west, and have already laid waste to the Thunder in game one last night. With Zach Randolph dusting off his superman pajamas, him and Marc Gasol all of the sudden make a very formidable front court. The team is definitely quick enough to keep up with OKC, and if Randolph continues his hot hand, we may very well see Memphis move on. How do you top that? Well if you're the NHL, you have four first round series go to a game seven, nine straight days of at least one game going to OT, two teams overcoming their arch nemesis (Boston and Vancouver), and a majority of the leagues brightest stars moving on to the second round. While it still may not be the NBA, the on ice product this spring is definitely worth your time. 

NFL: Where do you start? As the lockout fizzles, the owners seemingly find new ways to make themselves look bad every chance they get (i.e. locking out players from gyms that are looking to workout), or Roger Goodell using the tragedies of last weeks tornadoes as a crutch to defuse the wrath of fans at the draft. Speaking of which ... ZZZZZZZ. Stretching out a long process like the draft over three days seems that much worse when there isn't too many game changers to speak of. The biggest story story this year seemed to be teams trading up to take surprising picks, and the number of picks that came out of left field. As for numero uno, I realize Cam Newton was by far the best talent in the draft, I think it's funny that Carolina now totes two of the most hot headed, full-of-themselves QB's to enter the league in recent memory. I know a lot of people back home that played against Jimmy Clausen in highschool, and all they could say was he's fake and an absolute tool. Perhaps riding the bench behind Newton will do him some good. I'm not saying Newton is a bust, but he definitely needs to shine bright to put the doubters to bed. Carolina is bad enough that I don't think anyone expects Newton to make them an overnight success, but he needs to at the very least give the impression that he's doing everything in the power to do so. The best part of the draft to me was Von Miller's emotional reaction to being taken number two. Being a fan of rap, I have a belief that if you really want to know what a rapper is all about, go back to their first album. They always have that one toned down song, usually somewhere near the end, that really puts into perspective what they went through to get to where they are now. In the same respect, Von Miller may become a bust, may become some hot head that no one likes, but you can always revert to the draft footage and see the emotions come over him when he finally realized he made it.

MLB: Last Friday I attended the Nationals/ Giants game at Nationals Park, thus bringing the total number of MLB stadiums I have attended to 26. I'm so close I can almost taste it. As nice as the stadium is, there are definite problems that stand out: the team sucks, the fans are fair weather since no one actually is from D.C. thus having a deep rooted interest, and also the park doesn't really do anything particularly well. Yes it's new and shiny, but it also doesn't have anything that makes it stand out from other stadiums. The most excitement from the evening came from my discovery that Alex Cora is not only still alive, but playing and starting for a MLB team. Also, after buying a ten dollar seat and relocating to twenty rows by the Giants dugout, the Giants owner Bill Neukom passed by. He seemed extremely gracious, and while stopping every three feet to take pictures with fans, flashed the World Series ring a few times. Also, Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier successfully hit in his 27th game last night. For what it's worth, I believe DiMaggio's 56 game hit streak is the absolute pinnacle of the sports records, and the fact that a big deal is being made about a player barely half way there proves it. This record has easily stood the test of time and inspired numerous books and documentaries for good reason so it will be interesting to see how close he actually gets. Expect bat by bat coverage a la Barry Bonds home run chase in the mid 2000's if he eclipses 40 games.

Perhaps the most inspiring moment of the weekend came, almost literally, at the 24th hour last night during the Sunday night baseball telecast, when news of the death of Osama Bin-Laden spread through Citizen's Bank in Philadelphia. I think something so monumental deserves its own post, so come back tomorrow for my full thoughts.

              Giants majority owner Bill Neukom. That ring is the size of that guys watch!

TV RIGHTS

 As one of the wierdos that still follows hockey, I can say two things. If you haven't been watching the NHL playoffs at all, you're really missing out. To this point, they have been more exciting and produced better match ups than the NBA playoffs have, and its still only the first round. Today and tomorrow showcase THREE game 7's, with the possibility of a fourth, all of which are series that should have ended before the weekend. Seems like the NHL couldn't have asked for a better draw. Second, and more importantly, within the last week the NHL renewed its impromptu TV contract with VS and NBC, established after the lockout and the leagues fallout with ESPN. While the NBC games are well done, and VS has begun to spread in to more and more homes, I really think the NHL messed this one up. Aside from college football, the NHl probably had the biggest chance to grow in the event of a NFL/ NBA lockout next season. While you have to appreciate them sticking with the companies that gave them a chance to get back up on their feet, passing on a renegotiation with ESPN probably cost them hundreds of millions of dollars. As it is now, VS is the main medium for hockey outside of your local team(s) telecast. with a nationally televised game on NBC every weekend once football ends. A strong showcase that does a good job of maximizing exposure of the leagues best. Still, a weekly prime time game on the most recognized sports network in the world seems a lot more lucrative. The NFL has HD, a million camera angles, and leads the pack in presentation. The NBA has the best TV coverage and two of the best announcer panels with TNT and ESPN. Hockey is similar to baseball -- for most people you have to be there. For baseball its the nostalgia, for hockey its the intensity. Hockey, live, is arguably the best sport there is, but it also loses the most on TV. You'd think then that Gary Bettman and the powers at be would want to try and solidify one of the weakest parts of their sport by pairing with the best and giving themselves more room to expand their sport. When opportunity presents itself, you have to take it. The NHL really missed theirs. 

SHORT STORIES

Have been pretty busy the last, which means I have been slipping on the posts. In an attempt to make it up to all of my 3 readers, here are five short stories from the past week of sports in no particular order.

PLAYOFFS (NBA)

So far the NBA playoffs have gone somewhat as expected. Yes there were three opening game losses by the Spurs, Magic, and Lakers, but everyone was quick to blow that out of proportion. As a Laker fan, I am not concerned unless the series is 3 - 2 Hornets, and the Lakers are down 10 with thirty seconds to go on the road. It doesn't matter who you are, playing any team in a best of seven series is difficult to sweep four straight games. Move on with your lives if you really think these teams will get bounced in the first round. I think the biggest story so far has been how close every match-up has been to this point. Of the twenty or so games played so far, only three have been decided by more than 10 points. Moving forward to the second round, the drama should really pickup regardless of the match ups.

PLAYOFFS (NHL)

Almost upstaging the NBA, the NHL playoffs have been just as good so far if not better.  Despite one series that was a complete mismatch (Detroit sweeping Phoenix in 4), every other series has had some marquee moments and the chance for a major first round upset. Earlier this week I was in Philadelphia and can say that if the Flyers lose in the first round to Buffalo, the next images you will see of the city of Philadelphia will be those of rioters and fireballs. 

FOUR ACES WITH A JOKER

Speaking of the City of Brotherly Love, I attended my first Phillies game this past Monday night. Expecting to see a team that seem destined to win the whole thing, I came away with the notions that led to the title above and what was supposed to be a fully fleshed out post. Essentially, while the team is anything but struggling, they lean heavily on the first four pitchers in their rotation (The Aces) while juggling a handful of wildcards (The Joker). As the season rolls along the teams offense, health, fifth starter (currently Joe Blanton), and relief pitching and how they handle them will continue to be the wild card in the teams success. That said, with the exception of injury none of these are truly detrimental to the team at this point and they are still a favorite to represent the NL in the World Series as the season moves in to its second month.

VIVA FOOTBALL

While nothing has been settled yet, it seems that peoples fears of no NFL this fall can be put to ease. With a court ruling forcing mediation, its only a matter of time now before the two sides come to some sort of agreement. While we may lose some mini camps, I don't think the lockout will infringe on the actual season and honestly never really have. Yes the owners make money regardless if football is played or not, but they stand to make a lot more when there is a season. At the end of the day all that matters is what makes them the most money. 

LOSS FOR WORDS

It's pretty ironic to title something "Loss For Words" and then write about it two seconds later, but that's pretty much where I stand with the current situation in the Dodgers front office. For those who dont know, Los Angeles Dodgers' owner Frank McCourt has been in a legal battle for ownership of the team with his wife after filing for divorce two years ago. The situation has become so bad, that this week Bud Selig and Major League Baseball seized control of the organization essentially to protect them from themselves. The New Orleans Hornets get taken over by their respective league. Not one of the most storied franchises in their sport, with a talented young nucleus and anything but money problems. The state of which the McCourts have run the Dodgers in to is shameful. After two straight NLDS appearances in '08 and '09, a legitimate window for this team to make a run at a title has seemingly closed. Hopefully the McCourts do right by the players and fans and sell the team as soon as possible to someone more responsible than themselves.

So there you have it. One weeks worth of stories all rolled in to one. Next week should have a little more down time, allowing me the time write more full, daily posts.

                                                         

MORE COWBELL

How fitting. One last meeting with their biggest rival, one last battle with their arch nemesis Kobe Bryant, one last crushing defeat. Amongst a handful of "Save Our Kings" signs, one fan was ready to admit the seemingly inevitable: "If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em ... In LA." A dismal end to another proud, small market fan base. At the very least the Maloof brothers have made it clear they want the team out, rather than the (illegal?) heist job that took place in Seattle with the Sonics. Losing money on the Kings, the Maloofs desire a bigger money market and a building that only requires minimal upgrades rather than a complete overhaul, or an entirely new building, such as needed currently in Sacramento. Billionaires complaining about losing money never sits well with anyone though, especially angry fans. At this point however, it's just a lose - lose if you're a Kings supporter. If the team moves: No NBA anymore and you have to find something else to do in Sacramento which may as well be akin to looking for one specific needle in a stack of needles. If the team stays: You're stuck for two or three years with owners that don't want to be there, and would most likely refuse spending the money needed on the team or a new facility. I liken the Kings current position to WWE wrestling. The most recent glory years were the late 90's, early 2000's, but the last half decade has been dismal and drama filled -- a change of the guard, that has young stars trying to carry the load until the casual fan can make their return piggybacking on a contender. All we need now is Chris Webber returning for a series against the Lakers a la The Rock returning for Wrestlemania this year, and the comparison is full proof. Just go with it. Its been a decade since the Kings momentarily took the place of the Celtics as the most hated team in basketball if you were a Lakers fan. These games were physical, close basketball games games showcasing some of the games best talent, usually ending with dazzling finishes, individual performances, and controversy (see 2002 WCF officiating). I'll miss screaming out "F--- the Queens!" I'll miss the atmosphere and intensity. I'll miss the noise maker debate: Cowbell or Cell Phone. One thing I will never miss though is Doug Christie's idiotic hand-in-the-air gesture after every made basket, including 4 ft jumpers two minutes in to the game in the third game of the season like he was the second coming of Jesus. So fitting it's the Lakers that potentially seal their fate. Again. If this is indeed the last we see of the NBA in Sacramento, much respect to a die hard fan base that deserves better. Hopefully they don't fold easily without a fight. But, as the saying goes, "If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em ... In LA."

HUMBLE PIE

Every now and then everyone has to cut themselves a big slice of humble pie. This weekend that person was Rory McIlroy, the young, Irish phenom on the PGA tour. Holding a slim lead with with 9 holes to play, a bad tee shot on 10 sent him in a downward spiral to a round of 80 and finishing ten strokes off the eventual winner, Charl Schwartzel. Normally, I would have no criticism for someone so young in such a precarious position -- a one stroke lead, on the biggest stage of your sport, with some of the best players in your sport chasing you down. McIlroy brought some of it on himself though with disparaging comments made about Tiger Woods and his actions over the last year and a half. In position to walk the walk, he crumbled with Tiger pressuring him to play mistake free, and in some ways boosted Tiger's golf image and just how remarkable he was at the same age. (In 1997, at nearly the same age, Tiger steamrolled the competition on the way to his frist green jacket.) There's a saying that every great poker player goes broke once before they make money, so in the same way McIlroy must taste defeat before visiting his local tailor to get his jacket sleeves hemmed. He is too young, and too talented to no be in position for golf's ultimate prize again. Next time, hopefully, he remembers his round yesterday and uses it to finish what he started.

On a separate note, if Tiger Woods had finished off a remarkable rally on the back nine I was prepared to write that while he may not fully be back, he is better. For all of his accomplishments in golf, he has never once come back in the final day of play to win a major. Yesterday was arguably the closest he has been. While everything he has gone through publicly and privately in the last 18 months has broken him down in every sense of the term, I feel like once he turns that corner his mental toughness will be stronger than ever. That coupled with his talent and dedication to golf may may make him better than before, if possible. Last year Woods waded in a sea of emotion to a fourth place finish. This year he took it. As he reinvents himself on and off the course, I expect we will see more of that.

NOW WHAT

March Madness is over, so what's next?. If you're like me, baseball doesn't really start until the NBA/ NHL playoffs are over. 162 games played all summer long is a lot, so keeping track of what is going on during games four and five seems pretty tedious. It's also impossible to really gauge anything until a month in anyways. Luckily, there's plenty this year to keep you entertained until the boys of summer really pick up. The NBA playoffs are shaping up to be one of the best ever. In either conference there are four conceivable representatives in The Finals, and every team has enough pros and cons that it is inconceivable to proclaim an early champion. Last summer through this year's trade deadline was one of the busiest ever. Lebron and Bosh leave for Miami to play with Wade, Amare Stoudemire and eventually Carmello Anthony go to the Knicks, the Lakers improved their bench, the Spurs returned to championship form, Derrick Rose has become an elite player, Dwight Howard has truly become a dominant center, the Oklahoma City Thunder become that much more viable trading for a championship center in Kendrick Perkins, while the Celtics must adjust without him and lean on two aging O'neals, Shaq and Jermaine. There are at least fifteen potential Finals match ups that seem logical. Then there's the NHL. I realize most of this country poo poos hockey, but have you ever been to a game? Especially a playoff game. Hockey is potentially the most entertaining game live with a faster pace of end to end action than any other sport. Letting loose a pack of wild animals, most with Jack-O-Lantern smiles, always makes for a good time -- especially in a seven game series. Two things to look for this year. The Vancouver Canucks have far and away been the best team this season. Being the sport of choice there, it always adds to the excitement when a team from Canada is a top candidate to win it all. Second, never ending overtimes. I love it, some people hate it, but I think that it is solely due to the fact that it is hockey. No one complained when a Syracuse game went 6 OT's a few years ago in the Big East tournament, did they? Watching a game go the length of two full ones in to a third and fourth overtime is exhausting, exciting, nerve racking, and a bunch of other three syllable words I can not think of. As the game continues on, every offensive chance eventually has you on pins and needles. It's a novelty among the major sports, and another reason to watch. So there you have it. There's something for everyone unless all you care about is NFL Football, in which case you're in a picket line somewhere while simultaneously glued to the NFL Network. Rejoice sports fans, the world is your oyster.

MARCH MADNESS BRINGS APRIL SADNESS

Does defense win championships, or does your opponent starting the game 1 - 22 inside the three point line?. Yesterday I wrote that this game was must see TV, and I would still argue that after the fact simply because the the on goings seemingly defy the odds. Both teams had seven minute stretches of zero field goals from the floor. After Butler mercifully ended theirs in the second half after finally making a lay up, they then had another six minutes of infertility. I say "finally making a lay up" because they literally missed ten of them for the game. It was as if the baskets had a small sign underneath that said, "Rims are not regulation size," as seen at your local state fair. Some credit has to go to the UCONN defense and their length, but still more than half of these shots were uncontested, within fifteen feet, and found every way possible not to drop through. The game came down to UCONN and their scorers finding some sort of rhythm in the second half, and Butler being unable to. When people look back on this game I think they'll remember it as one of the worst championship games played in memory, and that's unfortunate. The road to the final four was one of the best compilation of tournament games ever. Buzzer beaters, overtimes, star match ups, Gus Johnson, etc. -- this year had it all. Both teams had impressive runs to Monday nights game, some thinking UCONN's may have been the best ever. Another thing I hope that's not forgotten after one atrocious game is how remarkable Butler's run was this year and last, and hopefully this isn't the last time we hear from them for an extended period of time. Before this weekend, the 2011 tournament grade was easily a solid A. Now it may have dropped to the C+/ B- range, and that's just sad.

TEXAS TWO STEP

At the end of every sporting season as teams battle down until only two remain, or an Apple 2 determines who plays who behind closed doors (college football), media soon begin picking the match-up apart piece by piece. Part of their analysis usually entails deciding whether or not the game has mass appeal, or only caters to the fan bases of those particular teams. By my personal standards, this game can't be missed. UCONN may not carry the weight of a Duke or UNC, but they are a reputable program and a proven winner. Unless you live under a rock, you know that tiny Butler finds themselves 40 minutes away from cutting the nets for the second year in a row. Last year's loss was so agonizingly close, approximately 3 inches, that I think the casual fan would tune in to see if they can be one shot better this time around. It's an extremely difficult task to make back to back trips to the final four, let alone as a mid major that doesn't have the same pull for top prospects as other schools do. Win or lose, what Butler has done in the last 12 months may not be seen again for a long time if ever, so the chance to witness history is always something that should be take advantage of. Another rarity, Butler returns a team to the title game full of senior leadership. In the era of the one and done, a team with this much experience is scarce. On the flip side, UCONN comes in with a lot of young talent. Kemba Walker needs no introduction, and Freshman Jeremy Lamb has made a case for why they will be a top contender heading in to next year. Where Butler holds the edge in experience, UCONN can match it with raw skill. All of the counter dynamics are really what makes this game sound so entertaining on paper. Lets hope it plays out that way.

CLEVELAND ROCKS

It's not often I pass up a potential sporting event. Sometimes though its just not meant to be. Two nights ago I almost went to the Cavs / Heat game. As everyone knows though, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. While not the hype I imagine surrounded the firs meeting back in November, had I gone I'm sure it would have been one of the best sports atmospheres I have ever been to. Kudos to the Cavs for not embarrassing both themselves and their fans again, hanging tough after blowing a huge lead, and pulling out an emotional win. Easily the biggest win of the season, which isn't even arguable since they only have 15. The only unfortunate part was that this is March, not November. No chance the season plays out drastically different for a team in shambles, but I also don't think they lose 26 in a row or own the worst record outright in the league. More importantly, the team that took the court Tuesday wasn't the team that Lebron dumped like an angry high school girl last May. I think the Cavs really needed the win in november while last years core was still in tact to really make a statement. Either way the residents of the Mistake by the Lake got theirs. Hopefully next year they can build off of wins like Tuesday. They can only go up from this year.

AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR

About two weeks ago, a lot of analysts were commenting on the lack of talent in this years March Madness, that the overwhelming amount of parity this year would lead to a boring tournament. Instead, we have what may possibly be one of the most compelling series of games in recent memory. The four number one seeds? Gone. The four number two seeds? Gone. The four number sixteen seeds? Just kidding. One half of the teams remaining pairs the highest seeded final four game ever, while the other half returns two big programs to the top. Every round has had at least two games come down to the final seconds, and best of all the "Gus Johnson Rule" is in full effect. I'd say parity hasn't been too unkind in the last two and a half weeks. While you twiddle your thumbs waiting for the games to start up again on Saturday, here are some other things to think about.

• Remember in 2007-08 when the Patriots fell just short of a perfect 19 - 0 season. Everyone made a big deal about being the first undefeated team with the expanded schedule, bettering the Dolphins 17 - 0. If its that big a deal when a team at the tail end of a dynasty is vying for it, how crazy is it then that VCU may be the first to win 7 games in a tournament with the expanded schedule. VCU! Four weeks ago people probably didn't even know what state the school was in, and probably thought Shaka Smart was Maxwell Smart's adopted brother.
• If UCONN wins the whole thing, is their run along with Kemba Walker's play the greatest ever? Perhaps not, but the man's stock is climbing higher than ever. The average person would probably rather still be watching Jimmer-mania, mostly because his entertainment value is so high. Comparing the two though, Kemba's overall game is far superior.
• Last week before the sweet sixteen started I wrote that Butler was probably the scariest team left. Two more drama filled games later, nothing has changed. You cant teach or coach experience, and this group has more than any team left. Two new points about this team: Aside from their first round game this year, their game Saturday may be the first where they aren't considered an underdog which may play with their psyche. Second, it's a definite toss up what would be more improbable at the beginning of the season. VCU advancing this far, or Butler putting two "Cinderella" runs together back to back while losing their best player and adding no one.
• Finally are we seeing a changing of the guard of what the elite college coach is? VCU's head coach Shaka Smart is young and animated. He's on the same level as his kids, sharing all the emotion and wearing it on his sleeve. Brad Steven's has already been here once, and has reformed to being somewhat stone faced on the sidelines, but you can tell he gets in his car and sings "Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta," at the top of his lungs on the way home. We've have already seen it work in the NFL with Mike Tomlin and in baseball with the Red Sox' Theo Epstein. With the exception of the established veterans, younger coaching seems to be the next trend across all sports.

No mention of Kentucky doesn't mean I'm counting them out. Their freshman Knight is a stud, and Coach Callipari, despite his shaky past, is an elite coach and one of two coaches ever to bring three different schools to the final four. So here's to parity. If this is what it means for the tournament every year, count me in.

PUT ME IN COACH

There's an ESPN Insider heading today on the sites front page posing the question of who should be Coach of the Year in the NBA, Greg Popovich (Spurs) or Tom Thibodeau (Bulls). I don't belong to Insider so I cant see what is written, but if there's a strong case made for Popovich then someone is just lying to themselves for the sake of an article. Have the spurs been the best team this year? Probably. They have had the leagues best record from about a month and a half in to the season through now. Despite a stretch run collapse equivalent to the New York Mets in recent years, they should be a lock for the #1 seed out of the West. Pop has been doing it for years. After falling off their blistering pace though, the Spurs could expect anywhere from 60 - 65 wins by seasons end which has become common place for the leagues best. He has also had the luxury of a team that, until a few weeks ago, had made it most of the season injury free. On the other hand this is Thibodeau's first time at the helm. He has steered a Bulls team coming off of two .500 seasons to the best record in the East and approximately an additional 20 wins, with essentially the same players. The Bulls have dealt with serious injuries all season, and yet Thibodeau's defensive system has gotten them through. Now a lot of the credit also has to go to Derrick Rose and him taking his game to a whole new level. During the aforementioned injuries, specifically to key players Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah who both missed 20+ games this season, Rose carried the team. Combined though, its been Thibodeau's coaching that has made Rose a complete player. Popovich and the Spurs have always been applauded for their success by playing team ball. It also helps though when you potentially have the greatest power forward ever in Tim Duncan surrounded by other all star talent for the better part of his career. Thibodeau has Rose, a couple of near all stars, and another handful of guys that never play or have been this close to being traded a handful of times. I take nothing away from the Spurs and their 2010 - 2011 campaign. Being 35 - 5 halfway through the season when everyone said the team was too old is nothing to sneeze at. For Popovich to be a serious contender though, I think the Spurs would have had to exceed greatness along the lines of 70 wins or doing it without one of their big three for most of the season. Sometimes its just not your year. Thibodeau has made the most of his opportunity to the point where you have to wonder if the Celtics would still bring back Doc Rivers for another title run, or part ways to lock up Thibodeau for the next decade if they could do it again. As it is, Thibodeau has a small cushion over his old team for the East's best record and the advantage of an easier schedule to close out the season. Then, in June, Thibodeau can focus on where he would rather catch up to Popovich as far as awards go.

WHY EVERYONE SHOULD MOVE TO WYOMING

Last night, around 9, I started to feel like I was dosing off. Either because of my new schedule, or the snooze-a-thon that was the Bulls - Hawks game. Then I remembered the Lakers game was starting. As a fan, I felt I was obligated to watch as my keeping up with the sports world has slipped a little this week between a new job and March Madness. After three overtimes and nearly four hours later at 1:15AM, I could rest easy after another Laker win. I also had the added comfort of being lulled to sleep by the girl next door screaming out for her daddy. My initial thought, aside from wondering if the girl next door was just working for her tip, was how this would have never happened if I was back home. It's an age old debate whether watching sports on Pacific Time or Eastern Time is better. Both have their pros and cons. In the East, you get to sleep in a little later during football season. You listen to Mike & Mike in the morning live rather than on your Ipod. Best of all, you can be at a late night bar  and watch a live game rather than the third repeat of SportsCenter's top ten. On the downside, half the games most nights don't end until the wee hours of the morning. Pushing that a little further, you never even see the games that don't even start by the time people are going to bed making way for the dreaded "East Coast Bias." In the West, games starting early can either be bad or good. If you're like me, you wake up early and the word hangover is not viable in your vocabulary, so rolling over and turning on a TV that already has games on is great. For others, they have no idea what College Gameday is, or what Lee Corso looks like. Turning on the TV at 11AM to see your beloved Carolina Panthers already in a 24 - 3 hole is demoralizing. Still, being able to go to bed at night at a reasonable hour and know the outcome of every game is the best. You could argue that the general sports fan in the West is more knowledgeable than those in the East because they see every games outcome, and watch SportsCenter 1000 times before going to bed. While Mike & Mike is great, waking up to Colin Cowherd is an acceptable substitute. In the end, I suppose it ll really comes down to if you're an early or late riser. Although when God created DVR on the eighth day and in turn brought world peace, anywhere you choose to live can be justified with a click of the big red button on your remote. My solution: Wyoming. A tranquil environment where games don't start too early or end too late. Together, soon to be and already middle aged, overweight men can build a sports town akin to the Roman Empire at the height of its powers. Replacing 2.3 kids with 2.3 DVR's per household is just the beginning. You have a man cave in your basement? Well here in Utopia, our entire house is a man cave. We even have TV's underneath the toilet seat lid so you never miss any of the action. Since we live in Wyoming where there are no pro teams, we get all the best games on basic cable freeing up our sports packages for the losers that have to see the end of that Panthers game because being down 10 points in the fourth quarter is the closest they've been in 7 weeks. So who's it going to be? All it takes is one to start the trend. Only then will all of our viewership problems be solved. Of course, this is all based on you being okay with being lulled to sleep by a girl next door screaming daddy on a nightly basis.

ITS MADNESS

It's funny how this always happens. Every year the players change, some of the coaches change, venues change, but the drama and excitement remain the same. Headed in to the 2011 edition of March Madness, some were skeptical about the level of play without any premiere team this year or sure fire #1 pick in June. With parity comes chaos though, and through one weekend of play there has been quite a bit of it. Of the 16 teams remaining, there are only a small handful of them that have played their games to a convincing finish. Surprisingly, one of those teams is this years Cinderella, VCU, who has won not 2 but 3 games thus far having handily beat USC in their play-in game. Richmond too is a Cinderella contender, but at this point the sales clerk at Foot Locker is still checking to see if they have the slipper in their size. The three best individual players, Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette, and Derrick Williams, continue to carry their teams but its still tough to tell if the guys around them are enough to cut down the nets. Best team left: Ohio State. If Sullinger was two inches taller, he'd probably be the NBA's #1 pick this year should he decide to come out. Even at 6'9 though the freshman is still a top 5 player in the country, and the #1 is still a good possibility depending on who gets the pick. Also, the Buckeyes continue an almost surreal 3 PT shooting percentage that leaves their opponents in the dust. The scariest team left: Butler. Losing Gordon Hayward last year to the NBA was a big loss, but to draw this team in the brackets may be a death wish for anyone. After two highly emotional first-weekend games, momentum is the last thing you want a team with this much experience having. Couple that with one of the brightest young minds in college basketball, coach Brad Stevens, and they could easily find themselves back in the Final Four. So after one weekend of play, were right on track with everything you'd expect from the tournament -- unless you're the fan of a Big East team (11 teams made it in, in what's considered the best conference in the nation, and only two remain). Upsets, Cinderellas, Gus Johnson, Jimmer-Range, etc., everything that we have come to know and love is still in play. Including this excruciating 3 day wait until the next round of games starts again.

ROAD TRIP

After a nearly four month home-stand, the Santa Monica Finers are on a four and a half month long road trip. My new tour is for a company called Red Peg out of Alexandria, VA, representing the National Guard via 3 on 3 basketball tournaments at college campuses. Last week at Grambling University was intense. Being such a small school, everyone knew about us and the turn out on Saturday was enormous. Aside from the 3 on 3 tournament we also run 3 PT, free throw, half court, and dunk contests as well as the "World's Biggest Game of Knockout" and strength challenges. Each individual winner getting an Ipod. The highlight this weekend though was the 3 on 3. We play fifteen minutes games by ones and twos to fifteen (whichever comes first), call your own fouls, etc. Playing for the championship game and a new flip cam for every team member, the favored team was down 8 - 3 before making a furious come back and tying the game at 11. After stealing the ball they used their lone time out to set up a play. You'd think that a bunch of college kids running a play in a pick up game would just try a simple pick to get an open look at the basket. Cue the following: Person A inbounds the ball and sets a quick screen for person B. After person B comes around the screen, person A rolls off it towards the basket. Person B lobs the ball to the hoop, and person A catches it behind his head and one hand tomahawks down with about 2 seconds left. Let me know the next time you see something like that on the local playground. The nearly 200 people that were still hanging around exploded a la the stands in the old And1 mix tape videos. We were poised for an equally impressive dunk contest, until the gym coordinator told us we couldn't do it because of the lack of break away rims. Overall the weekend was a lot of excitement and success. The team and the person I replaced before me have made this the most successful program that the Guard has, so I plan to do my part to keep it going. This week we are in Carbondale, IL at Southern Illinois University. First impressions: The city of Carbondale should never be a place you come to on purpose. It is still early though. So that was week one. If you would like to know more, check out nationalguard.com\basketball. Come back tomorrow for all my thoughts on the first weekend of March Madness.

                                                    ACTIVITY COURT SET-UP

                                                               3 ON 3 SETUP

FORMER NBA PLAYERS TOM HAMMOND (BACKGROUND), AND JOHN "HOT ROD" WILLIAMS

THE CHOSEN "1"

"And the other guard at 6'3, from CHHHHHIIICCCCAAAGGGOOOO, number one, Derrick Rose!" Notice something there. Last Friday when I attended the Bulls/ Hawks game at the United Center, I certainly did. Normally when a player is introduced, the PA announcer lets you know where the player attended school. Not Derrick Rose -- He is far too important. Everyone is made clear that Rose was born in Chicago, grew up in Chicago, and one year of college at Memphis withstanding has lived there his entire life. In three short years he has blossomed from the number one overall pick with lots of talent, yet lots to learn, to perhaps the premiere guard in the league. There were two things that really stood out to me about Rose in person. One, was his undying will to attack the basket. He already has a vast array of crossovers and spins to get to the rim for easy points, but in spots where he used to try and make an extra pass he now muscles his way to the free throw line, as well as some spectacular "and 1's." In the most recent edition of 'Chicago' magazine, an interview with Rose suggests that being more physical and getting to the line are clear goals of his this year and it showed. Second, and perhaps more importantly, is the leadership he imposes over his team. Going to the half, the Bulls were down two to a Hawks team that had beat them in a close one in Atlanta just a week prior, and is one of the Eastern Conference teams that could potentially contend for a title. They're offense was decent but their defense was porous, allowing lots of easy points in the paint. Rose answered with this sequence to begin the third quarter: steal and layup, block and breakout layup, steal. Nine minutes in to the third I realized the Bulls had only allowed 5 points. When all was said in done, the Bulls only allowed 26 total second half points in what ended up being an easy Bulls win. So easy in fact, that Brian Scalibrini even found his way into the final minute, and hit the last basket of the game to a defeaning roar. Obviously the Bulls made some adjustments at the half, but even from the upper seating you could see Rose yelling at guys to get back, pushing the tempo on offense, and setting the tone for everyone else. For my money's worth, Derrick Rose is indeed the MVP of the NBA this year, barring some monumental collapse down the stretch. He spent most of the year either without Joakim Noah, or the teams big time off season acquisition Carlos Boozer, or both. Boozer even sat out this particular game, and you start to realize how little star power is actually around Rose. His Bulls are currently in a tie for first place in the East. Where every other contender has two or three super stars, Rose is flying solo. In the years since Jordan left Chicago, it has been a long, tumultuous return to the top. Chicago basketball has once again found its savior, this time a young, hometown hero. Late in the fourth and with the game in hand, Rose crashed the rim and gracefully banked in a shot over his head with a little help from the rim. As he stepped tothe line, "M-V-P" chants rang out through the United Center. The same 'Chicago' article mentioned that Rose always misses when the MVP chants are going, but on this night he made them all. Perhaps because, like the rest of Chicago, he's starting to believe.