Magic Dodge Ball

One of sports most historic franchises Los Angeles Dodgers have become a joke and former shell of themselves and needed a miracle or magic to save them. I'm not saying they are constant world series contenders but they are a historic important team. Throughout the years I've grown to appreciate the Dodger organization for their contribution to black civil rights signing Jackie Robinson, having a great fan base, and playing young exciting players. There has been some setbacks over the years but aside from the few who've operated the organization, the Dodgers are apart of sports and black history and I love that. As of lately the team has become an millionaires toy once fought over between a couple in a bitter custody war, not the team known for James Looney, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Clayton Kershaw, and The Chad Billingsley. Frank McCourt purchased the Dodgers after a failed bid to buy the Boston Redsox which already started my bias towards him personally. He also attempted to buy the Anaheim Angels, yet in 2004 he paid somewhere over 400 million and purchased the Dodgers from Fox or newscorp either way it's Rupert Murdoch's money. I actually thought that McCourt had a chance to really make an impact when he hired Joe Torre in 2007. The team had some solid vets but made some bad baseball/ good celebrity decisions were made and the team never really took off. In 2009 Frank and his wife of 30 years Jamie McCourt went through a nasty divorce proceeding. Shortly after the Dodgers were eliminated from the playoffs in 2009 Jamie McCourt was fired from her position as the CEO of the Dodgers, the divorce came right after. As much as they and the team denied the divorce being a distraction, it was clear to see that the instability of the franchise brought it share of problems such as free agency, finding a buyer, trading players, and competing. Players don't want to go to a team and not know who they'll play for and buyers can't buy a team from an owner who himself is fighting for his team, one of the greatest sports franchises had become a kid in a custody battle. In to save the dodgers were the fans whom I have the must respect for. Once Frank McCourt ran the Dodgers into the ground the fans began to show protest by not attending games. The Dodgers lost fans by the thousands and it began to cost McCourt more money to open the doors of Dodgers stadium and play than he was making. This single act by the Dodger fans sort of expedited the process of McCourt having to sell the team. McCourt then filed for bankruptcy to keep his team, then the Majors stepped in and sized the organization pushing McCourt out. One of the greatest franchises were bankrupt, owned by the league, and spinning out of control. Buyers stepped in to buy the team from the league, but the Guggenheim Basketball Group won out. The group consist of a few business investors that all came together to bid. I personally thought Magic's team had no chance to win based on the fact that baseball is like a country club and are very selective on who they let in, Mark Cuban was even turned down three times. The bid was 2 billion dollars and faced by Los Angeles celebrity Magic Johnson who has become one of sports best ambassadors. Some of the members of the group are CEO and head of the group Mark Walter, Mandalay ENT exec Petet Guber, Todd Boehly, Bobby Patton, and ex owner of two baseball franchises Stan Kasten. Together this group along with Magic Johnson won the Dodger organization ending the instability in management and give the Dodgers a new chance to compete. If it came down to choosing the Dodgers or the National League, I'm going with the blue. The Dodgers haven't yet had their run and when they do they won't stop. They're a few pitchers and one hitter from being on the Phillies level. They in my opinion are the best team in the west if James Looney hits well and Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp do they're part. The bad thing is that the line up as is ain't enough by a long shot, but if they hit a streak and dominate the nl west then they'll upset any team and begin they're run. It's good Magic will be apart of this process he's big in L.A but he ain't bigger than the Dodgers, so I personally need him to do his magic but stay out they way which he said he'll do. I also need big blue to perform and start showtime (it pains me to say that ... not a laker fan). The big thing is that the big blue faithful will be there and be felt and the team is in a good position to compete so it should be fun to watch. Go blue!! What am I saying smh? Go Yanks!!!!

posted from Bloggeroid

Broadway Tebow

While at Florida Tim Tebow showed a will to win that was praised all over but for me what a stood out to me was the press conference after the Ole Miss vs. Florida loss. Tim's last statement before getting up was “To the fans, the Gator Nation, I’m sorry. Extremely sorry. But I promise you one thing: a lot of good will come from this. You will never see a player, in the entire country, play as hard as I will play the rest of the season. You will never see someone push the rest of the team as hard as I will push everybody the rest of this season. And you will never see a team play harder than we will play the rest of the season. God bless.” Tebow then got up and walked off and as for his pledge, the Gators exceeded it. Tim Tebow became college football royalty. The NFL was a different story, sort of. The college game and pro game are two totally different styles of football. The shotgun spread or wildcat offense can work in the college game but in the pros the defensive linemen are too big and too fast so plays like the the option pitch may catch a defense off guard but are quickly be stopped. In the NFL quarterbacks have to throw the ball, whereas in college quarterbacks can be better athletes than passers and run the ball out the back field. When Tebow entered the draft critics railroaded him and said he couldnt throw at all. With Denver in rebuilding mode Tim never really got the stability a rookie would need and a rushed off season due to a lockout he never had a chance to try geting better going into his second season. It seemed that nobody in Broncos front office including Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway had confidence in Tim Tebow and other than ESPN'S Skip Bayless no football analyst did either. As for the fans, Tebow's jersey was one of the top Sellers. They had called fire Tebow to be thrown in during pre-season and due to a slow start and an unpopular quarterback in Kyle Orton, they got him. A few games into the season Tim Tebow was put in the starting line up and all he did was win. After a 1 and 4 start Tebow went on a 6 game winning streak. The wins all came in dramatic and controversial fashion. In most of the games Tebow proved his critics correct by throwing awful passes but in the last few ticks of the fourth quarter Tebow and the broncos find the will to pull out the win. In Miami the Broncos were down with barely 4 minutes left by15 points and still won the game. They rolled through in a fashion that almost looked like a miracle run, even winning their first playoff game since 2005 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With no more momentum going his way the only guarantee Tim Tebow got from Broncos vice president John Elway was that, he would go into training camp as the starter and that the Broncos wanted to bring in a new quarterback to compete for the job. What nobody saw coming was that the quarterback Elway would bring in would be the 4 time MVP and one time superbowl winning quarterback Peyton Manning. There's no competition between Peyton and most quarterbacks in the league let alone Tim Tebow, so with Tim not even being a franchise quarterback it was only a matter of time before the trade rumors would start. The trade destination came quickly despite critics claiming his career being over. Just about every team needs a quality back up and Tebow would be that, being a starter is a different blog. The Packers, Rams, Jets, and, Jags all where in on the Tebow hunt but the Jets won out and then backed out. When the Jets backed out the Jags quickly jumped in. The Broncos wanted 5 million dollars paid to Tebow back from which ever team that would acquire him, the Jets didn't want to pay the five and backed off until they noticed the Jags management attempt to bring Tebow to his hometown Jacksonville. It was reported that Tebow could choose out of the two teams and that he went with the Jets. Personally I do think he seen the instability in the Jags organization and I do think the Jags want to move to Los Angeles and Tebow wants no part of L.A. But if LA is Sodom then New York has to be Gomorrah. Nonetheless Tebow went with the New York Jets. Now a Jet, Tim will walk into what Ladanian Tomlinson called the worst locker room he'd been in and Tim will play for one of the loudest, toughest, in your face type coaches in Rex Ryan. To add to the show Tebow will back up franchise quarterback Mark Sanchez. It will only take one bad game from Sanchez before they all start calling for Tebow and Rex Ryan is maverick enough to throw him in. If Tebowmania takes off again, I'm pretty sure the Sanchize will have to find a new home giving way from the new Broadway Tebow.

posted from Bloggeroid

Peyton Manning's The Decision

The title "The Decision" was made famous in the sports world when Lebron James, who is one of the NBA's biggest stars left Cleveland to test the free agency market. After a few meetings with different teams Lebron and ESPN gave a one hour special on what decision he had made. He famously decided to take his talents to South beach and play for the Miami Heat. Since then he has won nothing, before then he won nothing, in the future he might but for now he is ringless. Peyton Manning's version of "the decision" is much different from Lebron's. Lebron played his contract out and was free to sign with anyone but Peyton was cut becoming a free agent. Peyton is also a superbowl champion and NFL leading 4 time MVP. Arguably football's most perfect player was cut from his team to make way for a new rookie who has never thrown a NFL touchdown in his life. With Peyton on the market teams geared up for a chance to sign the biggest free agent in the NFL. First up was the quarterback that spurned the previous owner of the Colts in 1983, and led Denver to multiple superbowls, John Elway and the Denver Broncos. After the broncos meeting he then met with the Arizona Cardinals then Tennessee. Both teams had benefits and appeal for Peyton, such as a dome and an old home town in Tennessee. Miami was ruled out early then news leaked that the 49ers met and worked out with Peyton. As the momentum for the niners contract grew, I roll ever Monday morning and the ESPN ticker read Peyton to the Broncos. Honestly I wasn't surprised, I did think the niners made more sense but the Denver Broncos have one of the greatest quarterbacks running their franchise so to bring in the greatest quarterback in the NFL is only right. I'm not sure what Peyton didn't see in the 49ers, of all teams courting him, the niners are the closest to winning a superbowl. Im sure the Tennessee deal would have been chaotic having to play the Colts twice. Peyton has always been an under the radar type of person despite his commercial appeal and charisma and playing the Giants had always been hard for the Manning family. These two brothers don't really like playing each other and the hassle that comes with it. The Broncos don't have the Colts or Giants on their schedule which i'm sure played a huge part in Peyton's decision but it also might have cost him a ring. I didn't think the Cardinals was a good fit because of the lack of defense they have. The plus for the Cardinals had to be that they play in a dome like the colts and have one of the top five receivers in football in Larry Fitzgerald. The Tennessee Titans didn't have much other than Chris Johnson and being Peyton's college town, like I said those Colts games would have become the focus of their season instead of a superbowl hunt. Miami for the NFL is completely different from NBA's version of Miami . Miami is very appealing in basketball but in football, it's a place players go to die. As for the niners, all fan feelings aside the pick was there. Peyton would have had a defense that gave up their first running touchdown week 15, Randy Moss, superbowl receiver Mario Manningham, and the team that was in the NFC championship game playing for a trip to the superbowl. Yet he picked a team that yes won their division and a playoff game but did it with uncertainty and an ok defense. Peyton brings the certainty they need and with the defense they have the Broncos just won the AFC west on paper. The deal got snagged but is finalized. Peyton Manning's The Decision is done and was done very professional by Peyton, John Elway, and the Broncos. It wasn't to long, dramatic, blown up, or an hour long special instead quick and to the field. Remember barely two weeks ago he was a Colt now still a wild horse, he's a Bronco.

posted from Bloggeroid

Trade Demand pt. 2

After a year and a half of indecisiveness Dwight Howard opted to waive his early termination clause and stay with the Orlando Magic. Dwight made his decision to stay shortly after the last game they had played, but magic gm Otis Smith advised him to think on it. Thursday morning Dwight and Magic management gave a presser informing the media and public that Howard would stay put and play out his contract. All my years of watching sports I've never seen a press conference announcing a player would stay and play his contract out, so Magic management and Dwight's horrible PR people need not tell me he wasn't on the market. Really all the Magic did was put themselves in this same very position next February. If the magic can't pull any big names in by free agency or trade next year then Howard will walk. They couldnt make the deal for Monta Ellis, I honestly don't see why any time would take their junk and send an all star so I don't think they'll make a big trade next year unless it involves Dwight Howard. After a long legacy Derrick Fisher was traded away to Houston who gave Jordan Hill in return. Look I'll say this a million and one times I AM NOT A LAKER FAN never have been and never will be but I have to admit the Lakers cleaned up on trade deadline. They dump a horrible expensive contract in Luke Walton and got a quicker younger point guard Ramon Sessions, I didn't say better though. They also dumped their weak link on defense in Fisher and grabbed up another 6'10 swing man similar to Lamar Odom. Also Bynum and Pau is still in the middle and they still have a chance to get better, so I do feel Lakers won trade deadline day. Other known ballers traded were Nene from Denver to Washington for Javel McGee and Ronny Turiaf, Lakers Kapono to Cleveland, and Nick Young from Washington to the Clippers for Brian Cook. Some veterans were traded also, Houston picked up Marcus Camby and Stephen Jackson was traded back to the Spurs after being traded back to the Warriors. Portland cleaned house trading Gerald Wallace to the Nets for Mehmet Okur and and grabbing Hassim Thabet from Houston. Portland also fired their coach Nate McMillan, who is actually a great coach. What didn't happen was the shocker trade, The Lebron for Dirk trade that gets thrown around but never happens. Josh Smith, Pau and Bynum, Loul Deng, Michael beasley, and YES RAJON RONDO stayed with their teams and are safe until after the finals. For the casual fan the deadline was boring well, to a sports enthusiasts it was too. The.Lakers won out, Clippers got another guy to jack shots up, Houston got older, and Howard stayed "loyal" and will play his last year out. The teams are all still where they were a week ago Bulls, Miami, OKC, Lakers and Magic still top dogs with the 76ers, Clippers, Spurs, and Minnesota knocking on the door.

posted from Bloggeroid

Trade Demands

These last few blogs have been real basketball oriented, I swear that'll change as the year goes on. The 3 best basketball moments in my opinion are March Madness, The NBA playoffs and the NBA trade deadline. Because of the lockout the deadline was pushed back and runs around the time of college basketball's big tournament. For me excitement is building, there are big names on the market and teams in position to compete. Alot of questions and rumors on pushed, none of which actually ever happens but once in awhile a sleeper trade or blockbuster deal goes through. This year the biggest name on the market is Dwight Howard the only problem is he isn't technically on the market. Dwight Howard is in the last year of his deal with the Orlando Magic unless he signs an extension or use his player option clause to come back one last year, if not he will become a free agent able to sign with any team he wants leaving Orlando with the biggest void they had since Shaq's leaving. This happens often, every year a perennial all star in the last year of his contract puts his team in a position to keep their all star and risk him leaving and getting nothing for him or trade him and try to get some value. Kobe and the Lakers went through it and he opted to stay whereas Lebron and Bosh with the Cavs and Raptors recently went through it and took their talent to south beach with Cleveland and Toronto getting nothing. Sometimes teams pick to trade their all star like when the Lakers traded Shaq or when Carmelo was traded by Denver who knew Melo was on his way out to sign with the Knicks. Now it's the Magic time again the first being was with Shaq, now with Dwight Howard. Howard has told the Magic he would like to stay in Orlando but that's only after requesting to be traded to the new Brooklyn nets. Media people all talk about how indecisive Dwight is and how easily influenced he has been and honestly I kind of see it. In this NBA, players are lobbying to join forces to make super teams such as the Celtics and Miami. Both Dwight Howard and the Magic knows this and both have to protect their respective Shields. The Magic started Tuesday March 13 trying to acquire Monta Ellis from the Golden State Warriors to entice Howard to stay but by the end of the day Ellis was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Shortly after the game Tuesday night Dwight in an interview stated He wanted to stay the year and that the Magic would just have to "roll the dice". I don't want to interpret what he means by that, but what does he mean? Me personally I woulda traded him mid interview. Why wait and risk him leaving? Find the best deal for the Magic no matter what team it is and let Dwight worry about going to the nets on his own time. Then this morning reports started the day off starting that Howard would come back next year then later that day he reportedly backed away from that statement. Trade deadline is Thursday at 12:00 pm until then Dwight Howard has to be on the market. Other names on the market include Lakers Pau Gasol, Minnesota's Michael Beasley, Bulls Loul Deng, and of course all the little who have to get thrown in for teams to dump and match up contracts. I personally want to see the Bulls get Pau Gasol even if it cost Deng and Boozer. I also want to see Miami get a real point guard like Kirk Hinrich or Mo Williams who can run an offense and play defense. I don't expect none of that to happen but up until 12 pm I could hope. Too many teams need to make moves and gear up for the playoff run so for the next few hours let the chaos run wild.

posted from Bloggeroid

$tr8 Cash homie

6'4, 210 lbs, and pure dominance in the open field. Randy Moss became one of the NFL's most exciting receivers while spending 7 years in Minnesota. Along with Cris Carter and Randall Cunningham, Randy Moss became the NFL's most deadliest weapon. Randy competed and the Vikings were a solid team and as Randall faded out Duante Culpepper took over. Eventually even Cris Carter was out and soon so was the bad Randy. Already controversial Randy didn't miss a beat entering the league. An alum of Marshall, he was once "tooken out of context" when asked about his opinion on the 1970 Marshall Plane Crash. It seemed as though if Moss could stay interested and focused he called do away with the off the field issues, but in a locker room with no leaders Moss became entangled in drama that led him to be traded to the Oakland Raiders. Marijuana use, mooning the packer fans, caught on camera leaving the field during a game, and hitting a traffic enforcer all showed the NFL's deadliest weapon killing his own teams. Moss caught 8 touchdown passes which was the signature of his success in his first year at Oakland and 3 which was the lowest td passes in a season for him his second year. Uninterested unmotivated and stuck on a bad team Moss again was traded to the patriots. Randy in no way is an idiot, he know the situation he was in and the opportunity he had. He was on the one true new age dynasty of the NFL who had previously won 3 superbowl championships in the 2000 era and all he had to do was catch touchdowns. His first 3 years he caught a combined 37 touchdown passes but his fourth he became written out of the patriot organization. When he barked about a contact extension and started looking uninterested he was traded back to Minnesota. Playing with a big fan of his and one of the greatest quarterbacks ever in Brett Favre, Randy still was uninterested on playing anywhere other than in New England. He soon was traded to the titans and then gone from the NFL. Randy runs his own motosports but while in retirement stayed relatively mummed. On his birthday He announced while on his Ustrean channel that he wanted to play football and would comeback. After 2 visits one with the saints and one with the niners he made his decision quickly. The niners it was.
As a die hard niner fan I wanna know what Randy will I get? Which deadliest weapon? And can he still play? I want to jump for joy but then the raider randy jumps in my head. The niners finally made it back to competition and they are one of the NFL's true dynasties, but there aren't many leaders and how do I know if Moss will be Moss. I remember the bulls getting ben Wallace and wanting to kill him, I thought OchoCinco and Brady would be deadly and it only killed Chad's career. There is nothing written in stone about Randy Moss, which is why I always like Terrell Owens. He isn't consistent and he admittedly has to be focused to play. The deal is done and I can only wait to see if this will work but it's a big step up and if we can get Manning ... Ok I'm done but one thing i'm really wondering is, how the payin him? GO 49ers!!

posted from Bloggeroid

The Break Up

We see the collisions and passes, the beautiful runs and kick return, or pretty passes snatched out the sky. We know it as the game of football. A game men and women love all across America and participate in on every level from peewee to varsity. What we don't always see but know happens is the BUSINESS of football, which can be just as brutal as the game itself. The business of football isn't played by the players, it's played by the owners and general managers and by the coaches and scouts. Great players, not so great players basically all players get shuffled in this business of football. What exactly the business of football means is basically the fact that owners and GM's have the best interest of the team as a business such as Goldman Sachs or Time Warner. Coaches have the best interest of the team playing a game like a band or cub scout group. These 2 philosophies can come in conflict which is the case with some teams. One business practice of football is an owner change when a descendent of a previous owner takes control of a team or a team is sold to a new owner. Usually during owner changes the new owner comes in and throws his weight around and clears house. Coaches, GM's, and scouts are fired, players are cut and traded and a new day is on the horizon. All teams have went through this and know it's the colts turn. The colts have seen this before while in Baltimore. The Baltimore colts debuted in 1952 and a few years later they found their quarterback in "The Golden Arm" Johnny Unitas". Johnny U was the man, one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football. Remember how effective the Indianapolis Colts 2 minute drill offense with Peyton Manning was, well The Baltimore Colts Johnny Unitas was credited with creating the 2 minute offense. The colts had great success and played some memorable games mostly against the Giants, the Packers, and the memorable Superbowl game against the Jets. The Colts were sold to Robert Irsay in 1972 and like now a new change was on the horizon. The Golden Arm was traded to the Rams the following year and the relationship between the city of Baltimore and Irsay was becoming very intense and hostile. Folks worried about Irsay moving the team if he didn't get a new stadium. In one interview an inebriated Irsay proclaimed the colts "his team" meanwhile on March 27th of 1983 the Baltimore City Council voted to seize the colts under eminent domain laws. On March 28 83 like a thief in the night, Mayflower trucks took all the Baltimore colts equipment and moved to Indianapolis after a deal was brokered by the owner of the Mayflower trucking company for Irsay and the mayor of Indy. Controversy wasn't quite over when the struggling colts had the first round pick and the young best qb prospect of the 83 draft class was adamant about not playing for Robert Irsay. That qb was John Elway who coincidentally got the first swing at the Peyton Manning sweepstakes when the Denver Broncos won the chance to interview Peyton first. The colts struggled into and through the 90's and after years of mediocrity they found success with Peyton Manning a quarterback from Tennessee and son of a quarterback. For a good chunck of years when you said Indianapolis Colts you instantly thought "playoffs?? Don't talk about playoffs. PLAYOFFS??" What you didn't think of was the poster child of consistency and precision. Peyton Manning came in just as and in some's opinion more impressive than Andrew Luck. A strong arm and very NFL ready, Peyton came into the league as the number 1 pick in the 1998 draft. Statistically great, Peyton's flaw was the big games against Florida he never won. He also has never played in a national championship game or won a Heisman but when Robert Irsay needed him he came through. His first season was tough only winning 3 games but 2 years after that the Colts were ready to compete. With 4 MVP awards, a superbowl championship, almost 400 touchdowns, and 55,000 passing yards Peyton Manning became the poster child for excellence and with 11 pro bowl appearances and a 10 run in the playoffs as a starter Peyton became the poster child for consistency. Nonetheless just like in college the big games were an issue his record against the patriots was lopsided until the last few years. He finally had his
triumphant moment winning superbowl XVL. In 2010 Peyton had neck surgeries and procedures that made everyone question whether he still had it or not. He sat out the whole 2011 season and the issue of his health and effective grew. Meanwhile Luck in college was building his reputation and the colts were changing guard. Peyton was on his way out and not just Luck but the new Irsay was on their way in. Jim Irsay was the vice president of the colts in 1984 and the son of the owner Robert Irsay. A graduate from SMU Jim is no stranger to the media having a degree in journalism. Jim is a constant tweeter and from all his tweets in my opinion he's a deep dude. He has successfully battled drinking problems. I seen in one interview him tell a guy, "he spilled more than you've drank". He in my opinion is a star. Robert Irsay had a stroke in 95 and Jim's role with the team grow and when Mr. Irsay died in 97 Jim became the owner of the colts after a court battle with his step mom. To Jim's credit he rode the Peyton Manning express as far as it went, and when the opportunity came to hit the reset button he took it. Peyton's "circumstances", the colts failure giving them the number 1 pick, and Luck's success gave Jim a chance to put his print on the NFL's history. Jim fired Bill Polian the teams GM and hired Ryan Grigson, he also fired head coach Jim Caldwell and hired Chuck Pagano. Then in one big swoop names like Dallas Clark Joseph Adai, Pierre Garcon and Gary Brackett are gone to make room for the new prodigy coming. Andrew Luck had an impressive college career and showed great promise. He broke several records while at Stanford throwing 37 touchdowns breaking John Elways record of 27 and oh yea there goes that name again. Luck ran for over 450 yards, a record for Stanford quarterbacks, he also had three runs of over 50 yards. Luck also has the record for total qb yards with just under 10,000. He won over 30 games and His first year he along with my old highschool's alum Richard Sherman won games against top ten teams USC and Oregon. Luck built a great college career and could've been the first round pick his sophomore year but decided to stay. As impressive as his stats are, he's never won a national championship or Heisman but that won't work against him as it has been determined for months that Irsay would draft Luck with the first pick of the. Despite having the assurance that he will play, what he or anyone else for that matters wont know is if he will be able to deliver and perform. Will luck succeed or crumble under the pressure of not living up to Peyton's success? I dont think anyone other than Titans, Jags, and Texans fans, wants to see Luck fail but the set up is there for failure. Peyton became more than a legend in Indy, he took that team to heights it will never see again. Luck might be able to achieve the same popularity but it only will be by winning superbowls. Multiple superbowls too, he needs to win more than 2 and the success of the team has to be consistent every year. Peyton's first trip was to Denver reportedly, it was said he wants to visit teams with familiar faces. I'm sure Peyton won't drag this decision out and pull a Lebron. He's a pretty professional guy and knows that this can and well be a distraction. I'm sure these visit's are formal and don't imply what his decisions will be either. Where ever he signs I'm sure they'll have to be solid and with good tested veterans and a defense in the top 10. I also think the receiving core, running back, and lines effectiveness will be an issue. I myself don't want to see Peyton go somewhere and just fade to black. I want Peyton to pull a Jay-Z and drop the blueprint 3 and Watch The Throne. I want to see Peyton play and win. I also want to see Indy as winners. One of sports greatest stories will always be how Peyton brought football to a basketball town. Not only is Indy a basketball town, it's one of the greatest basketball towns in America. We have to understand that excellence can't be expected out this team yet they still can compete, grow and hopefully play competitive football. Peyton won 3 games year one and none himself his last year in Indy. Failure won't be determined for years unless an injury occurs so we won't know if this will work or not. If the Colts find some good draft picks, build a defense, and KEEP REGGIE WAYNE which I doubt will happen, they'll be fine. The Texans and Titans aren't that much better than the Colts, The Jags might not get there with Blaine so Indy position isn't that bad. Only the future will tell and in Indy the future is now.

posted from Bloggeroid

@LL-$*@R

Every year the NBA's best gather for a weekend vacation in some hot spot city around America. They engage in a series of activities that are suppose to transcend the game across the masses. The crown jewel of this event use to be the much hyped dunk contest. Some of basketballs best moments came in the dunk contest be it the ABA or NBA. My favorite was seeing Jordan glide through the air with that gold chain on. Another competition was the 3 point shooting contest, and I solely blame my interest in this competition on my love for Larry Bird's shot. The centerpiece for the allstar event is the annual basketball exhibition by the leagues most popular and best players. My love for this event is still huge but I don't take it as serious. I don't believe the league or players take it serious. The league has a pretty good core of talent across the board so there is no reason the skills competition is the only event that brings the best players. The 3 point is always going to be entertaining because sometimes the leagues best shooters aren't the leagues best players. This year Kevin Love's shot held truer than Kevin Durant's shot. Then finally we have the yearly flop we call the Dunk Contest. Through out the years we've had some great contest. I remember the dunks by a young Kobe, or VC, Dwight and Nate, and Blake Griffin stands out at first glance, but after that is a whole bunch of whatever. The dunk contest was the most popular event because it took a certain skill that all great ballers don't have. In it's essence basketball is a playground sport that kids all over join in on. 1 on 1, Horse, 3 point shoot outs, around the world, and 21 are played as variations of the game but the dunk contest are only played by a certain breed. When the league started the contest, people stood in awe watching the athletes perform flying through the air with ease effortlessly. The contest grew in popularity and the players did also. It was an add on to a stellar career for great players and not so great. Then, one sudden year all of the pazazz stopped and the dunk contest became a relic. Some call to end it, some say force the big names to do it, I say put a little prize for the winner. Put some value by letting the dunkers try new tricks, like how Dwight Howard used the 12 ft court. Raise the popularity of the dunk contest then you raise the popularity of the weekend. I even think amateurs should even be allowed to participate or compete in their own event televised nationally. Blake Griffin made a great point when he said cut down on some of the required appearances and maybe the big names would commit, I agree. Then we have the all star exhibition and all it's unwritten rules. In my opinion a pick up basketball played by 8 year olds blind folded is more entertaining. There is no competition or good defense. The style of the game is a horrible way to represent basketball even in an all star matter. The popularity of the game has declined dramatically to me because the lackadaisical style of the exhibition. If there where more competition and the teams actually played defense and wanted to win, It would make the game more watchable. I say move the event to the summer, right before training camp also. That way the season wouldn't be an issue and players could actually play. There should also be a bigger purse and style of voting to get players involve. Most importantly the ticket prices have to drop and be sold to families and common men and women. The league needs to fill the arena with basketball enthusiasts instead of folks living the night life. More highschool and little league basketball players, colleges ballers, and more fans of the game. A tougher game with a prize is entertaining and fun to watch. What's not fun is a game full of great dunks bad defense and great cuts to bad celebrities. Honesty I love this event, but hate the unentertaining spectacle its become and would love to see it return in popularity and entertainment. This event is no way away to cut the season in half, they should just give them a week break like a league wide bye. The style as is still works for me but it needs a spark, or a reboot. I don't want to see it done away with either, that would be horrible. The NBA just needs to rethink this event and give it new life.

Pau right in the kissah!!! *inmypetergriffinvoice

There was once a player who played for the greatest NBA franchise ever, in the greatest city ever, for the greatest coach ever, and for the greatest player in the league and with all the pressure on him to perform on a level he'd never ever imagined he delivered and grow to become a force known as Pau Gasol. In Memphis Pau played his heart out, but he played to the level of the team he was on. Some of those grizzlies teams were good solid teams but none of those teams were the lakers in the finals against the Celtics stuck in the garden. In very memorable games Pau showed good skill and a pure love for basketball I.E. Dirk or Larry Bird. Had it not been for the trade to the Lakers, I wouldn't be surprise if Pau would've resigned and fought his whole career off in Memphis. Nonetheless the move came and a solid player who wasn't on anyone's first team list and maybe a for sure second teamer, had to become a top tier power foward to not just assist Kobe but be Kobe's first line sometimes. The lakers were at best when those two big guys in the middle could raise their arms ball in hand. Kobe is unquestionably the most deadliest offensive closer in the league and he can carry a game like no other. But Kobe won rings when he wasn't the focus of the offense and could kill the teams best collapsing defense. Pau plays with enough offense skill along Bynum's size that can't always be denied, this front court gives Kobe the offensive punch he needs to facilitate and control. Pau took his hardest hit to the jaw in the lost to Boston yet he had his measuring point to determine what it took to play on the biggest stage with the biggest players. The lakers loss to the Celtics had alot to do with unfamiliarity to the stage as well as playing a better team. None of those Memphis teams could've gave Pau that stage. Once with the lakers Pau had that stage and learned all he could. The very next year Pau went out there and out savvied a young Dwight Howard, and then a year later had his revenge. In no way shape or form is the fan of me a laker fan what so ever, but the fan of basketball in me was happy for Pau. I'm a fan of 80's ball when you could've knock a guy down just like am a fan of when that guy gets up and become Michael Jordan on the pistons or Pau Gasol on the Lakers. I give Pau so much credit and respect for not crumbling in the second Celtic series, he showed heart and a hall of fame type of poise. I want people not from Los Angeles to understand that despite having 2 of the biggest most well known sports franchises and despite being the celebrity and entertainment capitol, this is not a sports town. I know some of my city folks will disagree but this isn't St. Louis, Boston, Chicago, or Texas. We here support our teams but the feel and love that happens year round and joins different people across a city just ain't here. Compare an angels day game against the Yankees to a cubs day game against the Cards or a clippers game to a New York football Giants or Jets home game. Even the numbers in highschool don't compare say for like basketball in Indiana or football in Texas. Sure LA produces great athletes and have championships out the ass, but the love for the sports isnt as big as it is in places where all they have is sports. I have a cousin in Indiana who tells me there biggest event of the year is parties around the time of the Indy 500 and Hoosiers games. Out here there's so much going on that sports sometimes become a backdrop in LA city life. Just ask the Maloofs, Anaheim turned them down. What's big out here is celebrity and rep, and there's alot that comes with that world. One of the biggest setbacks to the celebrity world is that its so demanding and even a simple skilled basketball player from Spain has to appease to those demands. If not then rumors swirl and cause friction out of this world. Welcome to Los Angeles this ain't Memphis Pau. Rumors grow of Pau and then fiancee's problems that supposedly involved Kobe's wife and former Laker Shannon Brown whose married to r&b singer Monica. Since this ain't a gossip blog all I'm going to say is these rumors coincidentally came around the time of a shift in Pau's game. After all the tough battles Pau started to fold and when the Lakers played Dallas in the playoffs last year the cocky lakers came out not just short but came out human and old. Pau still to this season hasn't found his consistency having good solid games here and there. To make matters even more complicated a failed deal with the hornets exposed that the lakers where ready to ship probably the most valuable trade acquisition in a long time to Houston. After interviews of Kobe defending Pau and putting heat on management, I say Pau just needs to play. Fuck it if they trade you, this same management traded Shaq who won a ring right after and almost lost Kobe on 2 different occasions. A new move won't hurt him his been playing pro a long time, he has more rings than players better than him and has good enough skills to be half the teams in the leagues first or second option, If Pau's your third then you're Miami. Honestly I'd like to see him in Chicago but I think it's highly unlikely, I hope he does stay with Kobe. They make a great one two punch and with a good third option and solid bench they'll be right back competing for the finals. Maybe a change would help Pau's game but I'll admit staying home would help the lakers, whether they get Dwight Howard or not.

posted from Bloggeroid

Rondo, Bulls, and A New Rivalry

So I'm watching this Bulls Celtics game Thursday evening wondering 3 major things... 1. Who long will they deny Rondo this team?
2. How long will it take for the bulls to pursue Dwight Howard?
3. And finally.. why isn't these two teams focused on when the NBA wants to advertise a rivalry?
First off Rondo is a premier point guard that would be glorified had it not been for, power team in Miami joining forces or the finals days of the Mamba.. Or even the big 3 in his own locker room having a Vh1 surreal life season. I as a Chicago bulls fan will hold my emotions for logic and say that Derrick Rose is an awesome point guard and very capable of being a champion but Rondo is a champion and the triple doubles don't even compare. today in the NBA we've become so spoiled by great swing men and big guys that we forget the impact of little guards. You can't imagine the bulls dynasty without Paxon or Kerr, same with Shaq and Kobe's lakers and D-Fish, or The Celtics dynasty with Dennis Johnson (out of Dominguez High) and Hevlicheck. Little guards are not only needed but along with the proper big man they're unstoppable. I don't know what it is about little guards they're just necessary. Maybe it's the quickness, along with a motivated feistiness if that's even a word. Rondo is the catalyst of the Boston Celtics and they will go as Rondo goes so he needs the keys to the car. If This team wants to beat any of the premier teams then the Celtics need to let Rondo run it and build around him and his attributes. Clearly in the Heat series of the 10-11 playoffs, Rondo showed he was the toughest point in the league and maybe the toughest player. If the Celtics want to contend with the Bulls youthful energy, or Heat veteran intensity, or Lakers Kobe Bryant, then they will need a player or players with youthful energy, veteran intensity, and a skill set to tire a 6'7 33 year old 16 year veteren out. The championship team of 2008 was so different, they faced a different league and teams. There was no Miami mega powers and the Melo drama of New York hadn't quite begun. The baby bulls had to go through their playoff upset which happened to be by that Celtics team. All the Celtics team had to do was out veteran and out savvy the NBA. They happened to have a collection of the best veterans combined in the league in Jesus Shuttlesworths, K.G, and Rasheed Wallace. They had a veteran savvy warrior who had been through his share of playoff upsets in Paul Pierce. To me most important was they had a selfless humble championship worthy point guard to make it all work. With that season under his belt Rondo is the only player who's game can grow and expand. Sheeds out of basketball, Ray and KG are on theirs, and Paul's entering his 1990's Larry Bird seasons. It kills me to hear talk of trading Rondo to help the big 3 win a ring when Rondo was a huge part of the reason they won out. Second I'm thinking how long will they bulls stay mute on the Dwight Howard race. I'm going all in Deng, Boozer, Rip, Watson, leave Taj and Joakim and even go for Quintin Richardson too.
The Bulls with Howard at center Noah at power forward with Q and Taj at 2 and 3, Rose would have a field day going through the league. The Bulls can change the landscape of the game with the ability to run a solid half court offense. They already are a great defensive team, they just need an all out defensive big man. I don't know what the numbers are with salary issues but the bulls.. Yes my bulls need a big man. No offense to Joakim, whose an awesome power foward and my favorite bull since Tony Kucoc. Look at the clippers big man set with Deandre Jordan, Bkake Griffin and K-Mart coming off the bench. That's energy. tenacity, and veteran savvy for chris pauls front line. Imagine the same style set with Dwight Howard, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson. Towards the end of the game the bulls had it in the bank and I wondered why all the national media push the laker Celtics rivalry which didn't disappoint but also didn't live up to the decade long rivalry of the 80's. Meanwhile since 2008 the Bulls and Celtics have had some of the greatest basketball games and continue to give great moments, and have also played arguably the greatest playoff series in NBA history. These two teams are great to watch when they play because they play they game they way it should be played. Both teams are tough, play defense, and fight to the final tick. Best of all is that it isn't sloppy physical prison ball. These two teams have animosity but they also have alot of respect for one another. The league showed really focus on the rivalry between the bulls and Celtics because if the Celtics build around Rondo, and the bulls nab Dwight Howard to play with Rose and Noah, then you have 5 to 8 years of great basketball to come. Hey if you feel different, lemme know. I love to hear other people's opinion.

posted from Bloggeroid