Friday, June 15, 2007

The Best Team in Sports

Seen as the NBA Finals wrapped up last night it probably isn't a shock that I think the San Antonio Spurs are the best team in sports. The reasoning behind this should not shock you either.

I'm not talking about how they dominated their league like the Celtics in the 1960's or had the biggest names like the 1980's 49ers but how the Spurs have put together a team of unselfish, team players with a common goal.

When was the last time you heard of a San Antonio player getting in trouble with the law or for that matter in a game. Their players led by Tim Duncan's example keep their nose clean on and off the court. Yes, Duncan had the one run in with Joey Crawford this year and Bruce Bowen is considered by some to be a dirty player for his physical play. Duncan is allowed one overreaction during his otherwise spotless career and hasn't Bowen been considered the best defensive player in the league.

I got a laugh when some media types said that Tony Parker's solid play "came out of nowhere". Newsflash. He is good and has been good since he got into the league. Just because he doesn't flaunt his skills like #81 from Big D doesn't mean he isn't a star.

Their role players compliment their two stars as well.
Manu Ginobli- Duncan referred to him as their "x-factor".
Robert Horry- All he does is win championships...what is this 7 now?
Michael Finley- Was the star in Dallas but is more than happy to be a the 4th or 5th option. Could you see Kobe or AI doing this?
Brent Barry- An overachiever who never complained after his minutes where cut in half this season.
Franisco Elson- Who? A jounreyman who played overseas and with the Nuggets before finding his nitch with the Spurs.

Gregg Popovich deserves most of the credit for assembling this roster of guys who have the same desire...to see their team win. Not all championships have that. It is not a coincidence that not one member of the team uttered the word Dynasty last night despite winning four championships since 1999. Let's hope all team's in all sports see that you can win titles and have a very successful franchise without the selfish, self-promoting goons that seem to have taken over the world of sports.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

My indecisive blog...

Just sitting here with my blog wondering whatever happened to A.C. Cowlings. I saw a white Ford Bronco the other day and thought of A.C. slowly cruising down the LA freeway with you know who in the back. I'm sure the Ford family loves that association.

* Even days after LeBron's legendary Game 5 performance, it's hard to believe he is just 22 years old! With Detroit looking old and the prospect of the two best players in this year's draft heading out West, LeBron and company can become the next Eastern Dynasty.

* So Billy Donovan is the new head coach for the Orlando Magic...or is he? Shocking how you can sign a 27.7 million dollar contract then decide within hours that you really didn't want it after all. Now, the NBA is considering banning him from coaching an NBA team for 5 years. I think a lifetime ban is in order. Billy the kid is making Orlando look like a bunch of chumps, not to mention the U. of Florida for leaving to take Orlando's money. Sadly, Florida will welcome him back with open arms and Orlando will be left at the alter with all of their guests snickering under their collective breath about how they tried to overachieve and failed. If I was David Stern, I would tell Billy that he lost his opportunity to coach at the pro level and best of luck on being the mayor of Gainesville again.

* The NHL playoffs have been exciting but a couple of things have really put a damper on this great stretch. (1) The NHL needs to come up with actual rules when it comes to kicked in pucks. Why do they not count in the Buffalo-New York series but they do in the Ottawa-Anaheim series? Some things are black and white. Either they are all goals or not...then their is no need to waste time with reviews. Let the refs call the game on the ice. (2) Don Cherry said during the intermission of Game 4 that he blames the NHL and NBC for curbing fighting, and called it "a big mistake," adding, "Let's return to rock 'em, sock 'em hockey." He denounced the league and the network for thinking less fighting would increase U.S. viewing audiences. Cherry has to realize that American hockey fans are not like Canadian fans who remember the old school ways. With 24 of the 30 teams being in the U.S. and bringing in a lot more revenue to the league, the NHL should cater to the American fans. Cherry added that U.S. sports fans like violence and sited the NFL and NASCAR as examples. I don't watch NASCAR but I'm pretty sure even with all the physicality of pro football, there is almost zero fighting and it is the most popular sport around.

Friday, May 18, 2007

As Landis Turns

Just sitting here wondering whatever happened to Greg Lemond.

Well, he has turned up in the always bizarre Floyd Landis doping case. Yes, I too can't believe that cyclist actually try to cheat. Apparently, they didn't get the memo that they are riding bikes. What, next your going to tell me that Curlers use performance enhancing drugs....more 'roids, faster brooms?

Sorry, I got off topic. The Landis hearing took a chaotic twist Thursday when fellow American Tour de France champion Greg LeMond revealed he had been sexually abused as a child and claimed the Landis camp tried to use it as a threat to keep LeMond from testifying.

Landis then fired his manager, Will Geoghegan, when it came to light that he had made the call. He of course gave a half hearted apology the next day.

During his short, explosive bit of testimony, LeMond told of a conversation he had with Landis after news of Landis' positive "A" urine sample during his 2006 Tour victory had been leaked to the press.

LeMond urged Landis to come clean if, in fact, his backup "B" sample also came back tainted.

LeMond said he used the story of his being sexually abused when he was 6 as an example of how it's good to get things out in the open.

He said he told Landis that very few people knew that about him and then accused someone in the Landis camp of using that information Wednesday night to intimidate him from appearing as a witness.

LeMond described receiving a call that he said he later traced to the cell phone of Landis' manager, Will Geoghegan.

"He said, 'I'll be there tomorrow and we can talk about how we used to ...,'" LeMond said, finishing his sentence with a graphic sexual description. "I thought this was intimidation to keep me from coming here."

He said he was so distraught by the call that he filed a police report, which was presented as evidence by attorneys. LeMond showed his cell phone screen with a record of the number from which he received the call. The number matched that on Geoghegan's business card.

Why can't Floyd Landis just admit that he cheated, take his punishment like a man, then call Jason Giambi to find out how to rehabilitate your reputation after being caught cheating.

So what have we learned here today:

1- Floyd Landis is a dope...and a bad liar.
2- Floyd Landis' agent is a dope...and a really bad liar.
3- Greg LeMond should mind his own business.
4- Greg LeMond should not tell people stories he wants kept secret.
5- Someone still apparently cares about cycling.
6- I have yet again amazed myself to expound on a topic I know nothing about.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Checking my (Sports) Shorts

Bloggin', wondering whatever happened to Mitch Richmond. Remember Run TMC “back in the day” with the Golden State Warriors? T & C have been in the news recently. Chris Mullin (C) was just named as finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame and Tim Hardaway (T) well, we now know who he doesn’t like, but nothing from the M. The old saying is everything happens in three…so Mitch, you’re on the clock!

* While we are on the subject, Hardaway apologized again Sunday for his anti-gay remarks about former NBA player John Amaechi, telling a Miami television station that he "didn't mean" to say what he said in a South Florida radio interview last week. I have two problems with this. First, when Dan LeBartard, who did the interview, gave Hardaway an opportunity, to retract is statement, Hardaway went even further about how much he detested gays. Second, he is apologizing for what he said, not his way of thinking, which he will not change. That makes his apology meaningless.


* I still don’t get the fuss about NASCAR. Beside the fact that their “Super Bowl” and Opening Day are the same day, which I don’t understand, they are still just driving around making left hand turns. Don’t see what is exciting about that. I will give kudos to the driver who crossed the finish line at Daytona on Sunday on his hood. $50 says 40% of the people who have seen the video (me included) reacted like this, “Wow, thought that only happened in the movies.”

*Is 14 days too soon after the Super Bowl to think that I miss football? If it is, let me know what is a reasonable time and then I will tell you then that I miss football.

* Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks said the team nixed (get it?) his best idea for the Slam Dunk competition last weekend in Las Vegas. Robinson, the 2006 winner, wanted to leap over a pool table that had a Playboy Bunny sitting on it. Apparently, Robinson has practiced the dunk before. This brings up two questions, (1) is this why the Knicks are so crappy…worrying about Nate’s dunks and not about the actual games and (2) who do you think filled in for the Playboy Bunny in while he practiced.


* Major League Baseball players are beginning to report to Spring Training, which means we can officially eliminate the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from the playoff race.

* After watching 11 Top 25 teams lose this weekend, I can’t be more excited about March Madness. The NCAA Tournament provides more drama than General Hospital in a postseason that is truly anyone’s guess as to whom will be the last one standing. An early pick for this year’s George Mason…how about Virginia Commonwealth. They are out of the same league, the Colonial Athletic Association, and have a up and coming coach Anthony Grant. Grant was Billy Donavan's top aide at Florida. VCU has an RPI of 44 and could make some noise in the Big Dance.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Looking back at '06; looking ahead to '07

Have no fears! If you missed anything in the sports world during 2006, I have reviewed the Top 10 stories of the year.

Also, at no additional cost, you don’t need to waste time following anything in 2007 because I have looked into my crystal ball to give you the top stories of 2007. Your wife can thank me later.

10. MNF signs off on ABC; moves to ESPN-
Monday Night Football moved from ABC to ESPN this year after 36 years on network television. ESPN’s Sunday night package shifted to NBC, which got back into the NFL. ABC’s Al Michaels and John Madden also jumped to NBC along with their longtime producer and director. MNF was must see TV on ABC and was routinely one of the highest rated programs on network TV since the days of Howard Cosell, “Dandy” Don Meredith and Frank Gifford.

9. Who won the Stanley Cup?-
If the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup but no one sees it, does it really count. Carolina defeated Edmonton to win the Cup, which made many hockey purists vomit, although many did not see it actually happen. Game 3, shown on NBC, lost its time slot in the Los Angeles market, a region that includes two NHL franchises, to reruns of “I Love Lucy” (sadly, that’s true). The NHL barely drew ratings on ABC and ESPN in 2004, then melted away an whole season before coming back to get worse ratings last season on NBC and OLN, whose rating for Game 2 of the finals was out-rated by a rained-out baseball game on ESPN that never started (again sad but true).

8. TO “attempts” suicide-
I hate T.O. and I hate myself for having him on this list but it was a huge story (see circus). I won’t inflate his ego anymore by rehashing the story.

7. Barbaro’s rise and fall-
Barbaro decisively won the 2006 Kentucky Derby and was a heavy favorite in the Preakness Stakes. But, during the Preakness, he fractured three bones in and around the ankle of his right hind leg. The next day, he underwent surgery for his leg injuries. After initially favorable reports regarding his recovery, Barbaro developed an infection in the broken leg in early July. Through the surgical removal of most of the laminitic hoof, aggressive pain management, and the use of a sling, Barbaro began a slow recovery. By October, Barbaro's prognosis was improving. His cast was removed in early November and replaced with a bandage, a move that suggested that Barbaro's recovery was progressing well. The injury ruined his chance at the Triple Crown and ended his racing career. No horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed won in 1978.

6. More BasketBRAWL-
Ten players, including NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony were ejected for fighting during a wild brawl near the end of a December game at Madison Square Garden. Punches were thrown and players flew into the crowd in the NBA's ugliest scene since Ron Artest and other Pacers players greeted Detroit fans with right hooks in 2004. With the Knicks on the verge of another embarrassing home loss and angry that Denver still had its stars on the floor, Knicks guard Mardy Collins flagrantly fouled the Nuggets' J.R. Smith to trigger the melee. Anthony trying to rehabilitate his image after a few off court messes the last few years was slapped with a 15 game suspension, the sixth longest in NBA history.

5. Tiger dominates PGA Tour-
Despite losing his father and many pundits saying he was in a slump in 2006, Tiger solidified his lock as the greatest player in the world. He silenced many of his critics finishing the season with six straight wins including the British Open and PGA Championship. He won eight tournaments in ’06, many in dominating fashion, earning his 8th PGA Tour Player of the Year award. His two majors gives him 12 for his career, leaving him at 30 years old, only 6 behind Jack Nicklaus.

4. The Steelers win Super Bowl-
Jerome Bettis returned to play in the Super Bowl in his hometown of Detroit as Pittsburgh won their first title since 1980. The Steelers came in as the 6th seed and won every playoff game on the road defeating Cincinnati, then favorite Indianapolis, and finally Denver before taking out Seattle in Super Bowl XL. Crappy officiating marred the game, but Bettis ended his career on a high note and head coach Bill Cowher gets his first championship after many near misses in the AFC title game.

3. Phil loses U.S. Open-
“I’m such an idiot,” was the quote of the year. Phil Mickelson said this to reporters after blowing the lead on the 72nd hole of the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. Had he won, Mickelson would have taken over the #1 spot in pro golf. After he won the Masters for a second time, many thought “Lefty” could have a shot at the Grand Slam. But, the story quickly turned to the biggest collapse in a Major since Jean Van de Velde at the 1999 British Open.

2. Texas wins the National Championship-
The Longhorns secured their first National Championship since 1970 on the back of QB Vince Young. Texas defeated two-time defending champion USC 41-38 with a last second touchdown by Young. With UT down five and facing a 4th-and-5 from the eight-yard line, Young checked with his three receivers in the pattern, but everyone was covered. He saw an opening on the right side. It was just enough room for him to scamper eight yards for the game-winning TD and bring Texas' fourth National Championship back to the Lone Star State.

1. Heat win NBA title-
The Miami Heat overcame long odds to win their first ever NBA title. The Heat rode young superstar Dwayne Wade past Dallas despite being down 0-2 in the series and down 13 points in the 4th quarter of Game 3. Wade's Game 3 performance was especially memorable; Wade finished with 42 points (tying his career playoff high) and 13 rebounds (career high). 15 of his 42 points came in the 4th quarter, in which the Heat erased a 13 point deficit over the final 6:34 with a 22-7 run.The Heat became only the third team in NBA history to win the Finals after being down 0-2. Pat Riley won his first title since the “Showtime” Lakers era, Shaq won his 4th championship and first without you know who, while veterans Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning won their first titles. Wade had the third highest scoring average ever by a player in his first NBA Finals with 34.7 points per game.


Fearless Predictions for 2007- don’t waste time watching sports in 2007, here is what is going to happen…

* The San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints will play in Super Bowl XLI. LaDainian Tomlinson will rush for 178 and three scores on his way to the MVP but it will be the late touchdown to Antonio Gates from Philip Rivers that will seal the first title for the Chargers.

* The Dallas Mavericks will cut down the nets as the NBA Champion. Mark Cuban will purchase the most obnoxiously large championship rings that will make most rappers jealous.

* Maurice Clarett will sign with the Oakland Raiders, despite still being in jail. Al Davis will announce that his contract will begin the day he is paroled.

* The Buffalo Sabres will erase memories of “No Goal” and “Wide Right” winning the Stanley Cup in six games over the Anaheim “Stop Calling Us Mighty” Ducks.

* Phil Mickelson will win the U.S. Open with a birdie on 18 holding off a late surge by Tiger Woods.

*The University at Buffalo football team will go 6-6 en route to their first ever appearance in a bowl game, the International Bowl in Toronto.

* My two-year-old son will outshoot me in an 18-hole grudge match at a Buffalo area golf course. I will put 13 balls into the water but the dawn of the next great golf legend is born!

* You will read this blog next year at this time and be fully convinced that I have way too much free time!

Happy New Year!!!!