Game 1

As I suspected, Kobe let his "feud" with Ray Allen get the best of him in Game One. He turned the first quarter into a grudge match and strayed from what had brought the Lakers success all playoffs. I can't recall a game those two have squared off in where Kobe hasn't lost focus of the team concept for stretches of the game. I also thought Odom had several mental lapses during the game. We've seen this multiple times during the playoffs, where he appears to lose his focus/concentration which ultimately leads to stupid fouls and 7-8 minute stretches where you forget he's on the floor. While his stat sheet may not have been that bad, he made several key mistakes that swung momentum.

Boston didn't play their best game, either. They were fortunate enough to hit some timely baskets and get some fortuitous rolls (see Paul Pierce's banked three to make a four-point play). Mainly, they just appeared to have more energy and were getting on the floor for loose balls. Boston wanted it more, and it paid off in the end.

This being said, I'm sticking with the Lakers to pull off a Game 2 upset on the road. Odom hasn't had back-to-back mediocre games in awhile, so I see him coming back focused. Kobe's shot selection should improve after watching game tape and doing whatever Voodoo exercises Phil has him doing these days. Call me a homer if you want, but I've got LA in game two -- feel free to make me eat my crow if I'm wrong.

One final thought: How bad could Pierce's knee actually be if he was playing full-speed, high-intensity basketball just minutes after "injuring" it? If I didn't know any better, I would have thought he was breathing his last breathes while lying on the floor moaning for 2-plus minutes. Part of me thinks it was a big scheme (that paid off) to re-energize the crowd upon his heroic return. Either that, or they just gave him some ridiculously potent meds.

This could be a Finals for the ages!

My 2008 NBA Mock Draft Lottery

Here is my mock lottery for the 2008 NBA Draft. You will quickly find out that after picks 1 & 2 I am not creating a board where the "best" available player, regardless of position, is picked. My mock draft focuses on the most glaring weaknesses/needs of the teams that have the picks and does not take into consideration all of the draft-day trades that will inevitably take place. Enjoy.

1. Chicago Bulls - Derrick Rose (Memphis, PG): I know a lot of people think they can't afford to pass up Beasley here, but I disagree. Beasley is going to be a 3/4 combo player in the NBA, and that's the exact position played by Tyrus Thomas (whom the Bulls are still high on - remember he was a top-4 pick?). They also have Nocioni who plays the same 3/4 combo position. Further, Rose is going to be the next great PG in the league. With rumors already circulating that Hinrich is now on the trading block, Rose would be a perfect pick. I say they try to get a late-first round pick in exchange for Hinrich and use it on a big man or trade him for an already-proven big man, because they would be loaded on the perimeter with Deng (3), Gordon (2), and Rose (1).

2. Miami Heat - Michael Beasley (Kansas St, PF): This is a no-brainer. The Bulls' pick will dictate what Miami does, but there are only two options here and one will have already been taken.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves - OJ Mayo (USC, SG): This pick makes the most sense as the next-best available player is Bayless, who plays the same type of game as Foye. This will also give them a good reason to dump McCants, and we all know that needs to be done sooner rather than later.

4. Seattle Supersonics - Jerryd Bayless (Arizona, PG): I think he would be a perfect fit and it wouldn't be long before he took some scoring pressure off Durant. I also think he could come in right away and play some minutes at the two, which would enable Durant to slide to the three (his most natural position).

5. Memphis Grizzlies - DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M, C): He's as big as Brooke Lopez, and much more athletic. Mainly, I couldn't stand the mental image of a Darko/Lopez front line. Yuck.

6. New York Knicks - Brooke Lopez (Stanford, C): I was torn on this slot because I think Westbrook would fit perfectly with D'Antoni's style. However, he would be a major upgrade from Eddy Curry in terms of mobility. I'm sure they'd rather have Jordan with this pick, but he's already been taken in my mock draft.

7. Los Angeles Clippers - D.J. Augustin (Texas, PG): I know, I know, #7 is a stretch for Augustin. However, the one position the Clippers desperately need help at is PG. I'm sorry, but when Dan Dickau is getting the majority of PG minutes, you've got problems. I think the Clippers are aware of this, as evidenced by their late-season signing of Smush "brain-dead" Parker. Augustin is the closest thing to a pure PG (even though he's score-first) that's left in terms of lottery-worthy players since I don't think Westbrook will ever be able to carry that mantle (see Monta Ellis).

8. Milwaukee Bucks - Danilo Gallinari (Italy, SF): I have gone seven picks without a foreign player, and we all know there is no way we will ever see another NBA Draft without a foreign player going in the top 10 picks. The foreign factor always adds a bit of uncertainty, which really turns on GM's. That said, I saw some video of this guy, and he appears to have a solid all-around game and good size for a SF (6'9"). Plus, after re-signing Mo Williams last offseason and getting Yi in the draft, SF is the position where the Bucks need the most help.

9. Charlotte Bobcats - Kevin Love (UCLA, PF): I'm sure I'll get plenty of flack for this pick, but I can't help but think Love would thrive for a Larry Brown-coached team. Think of their future starting five: Felton, Richardson, Wallace, Love, and Okafor. With Brown on the bench, they would be a playoff-ready team in the East within two years at most.

10. New Jersey Nets - Eric Gordon (Indiana, SG): This pick would make sense to me as I foresee Jefferson or Carter being traded in the near future. They would have a talented, young backcourt with Devin Harris and Eric Gordon, along with some young bangers down low (Boone, Williams).

11. Indiana Pacers - Russell Westbrook (UCLA, PG/SG): If he falls this far, he would be a major steal at #11. Westbrook is a great on-ball defender & super athletic. I think he would complement Granger & Dunleavy nicely in that fast-paced offense, and we all know about the inury/behavioral problems of Tinsley. Although not a pure point guard, their offensive style does not demand as much in terms of ballhandling out of the lead guard position.

12. Sacramento Kings - Darrell Arthur (Kansas, PF): Kind of a boring pick, but it would make sense given their needs. They just drafted Hawes to be the long-term solution at Center, and the emergence of Beno Udrih created some stability at the PG spot.

13. Portland Trailblazers - Joe Alexander (West Virginia, SF): I would love it if this pick actually happened. The dude is straight athletic, and athleticism is something that is lacking on the Blazers' roster. Selfishly, I'd also be relieved of watching Outlaw log so many minutes and make so many "what was he thinking?" plays (I live in Portland).

14. Golden State Warriors - Ryan Anderson (Cal, SF): This pick would also raise some eyebrows, but if the Warriors can extend the contract of Biedrins, he (along with Brandan Wright) would ensure a talented, young, frontcourt. Their backcourt is already loaded, so a swingman is probably their biggest need at this point. I like Anderson because he has a good three-point shot (which is necessary on any Don Nelson team) and would provide size & depth to a lineup that normally played undersized and had a short rotation.

Seeing Double

Without further ado, here are my top five player/celebrity look-alike tandems:

5. Fabricio Oberto & Kurt Cobain: Nirvana loyalists, no need to fear. Oberto has been practicing his vocals and the band plans on reuniting in the near future with Fabricio on the mic. Should be a seamless transition. In fact, Flea (Chili Peppers) was sitting courtside at this one and told me Oberto was actually singing the lyrics to "Come as You Are" when this photo was shot.

4. Donyell Marshall & Ludacris: Just take a minute to look at these photos. The resemblance is uncanny.

3. Kyle Korver & Ashton Kutcher: With Korver's move to Utah, there's a good chance he will eventually have been with as many women as Ashton has - but Korver's women will be all at the same time. Even Ashton can't top that.

2. Manu Ginobili & Borat: Which picture is more disturbing? Rumor has it Manu actually auditioned for Borat's role in "Borat comes to America." He didn't make the cut because his legs weren't hairy enough. With a little rogain, he could be ready in time for the biographical movie commemorating Borat's life that is scheduled to hit theaters in 2011.

1. Sam Cassell & ET: If the Celtics win the NBA Championship, Doc Rivers promised Sam that he would ride his bike into the galaxy with Cassell in basket to give him a proper retirement send-off.

What's in a Name?

Most star athletes have unforgettable nicknames, whether earned through their play (e.g. "The Big Hurt") or through self-promotion (e.g. "Ocho Cinco"). However, there are far too many athletes who's play has been deserving but are only known by their first (or last) names. Slam magazine has a feature each month, identifying such athletes and hosting a contest to come up with creative monikers for the identified un-nicknamed players. Here are a few I came up with for players without nicknames or whose nicknames don't do them justice:

"The Stork" -- Marshall Faulk
Sort of fitting that Marshall Faulk has had one of the highest-"scoring" careers of any athlete -- both on and off the field. Marshall once held the single-season touchdown record, but also managed to produce (at least) 6 children by 3 different women. Since these children came as a surprise and were delivered without a real father, I think "The Stork" is a fitting nickname.
Close second: "The Fertilizer"


"Little David" -- Barry Sanders
After searching the net, apparently Barry Sanders did have a nickname: "B." Neither do I recall this nickname, nor do I think it does justice to the greatest running back in NFL history. "Little David" (his middle name) suits him better -- making Goliath-sized defenders look stupid game-in and game-out.
Close second: "TNT"


"The Pill" -- Rafael Palmeiro
This nickname would have a double meaning -- referring to his days as a spokesperson for Viagra and for whatever else he put into his aging body in the late-nineties.
Close second: "Fingers" (just watch video of his court appearance)


"Stillframe" Steve -- Steve Nash
I was trying to mimic the "Pistol" Pete thing... I think Nash is similarily crafty with the ball, and it seems like he sees the court in slow-motion (or in stillframes) at times. Okay, kinda lame, but I think it's a travesty that the two-time MVP doesn't have a catchy nickname.
Close second: "The Puppeteer"

"Million Dollar Baby" -- Stephen Jackson
This is probably my favorite nickname that is not already owned by a professional athlete (that I know of). I most certainly would have given this title to Sheed, Iverson, Duncan, Kobe, or Rip if they didn't already have nicknames of their own...
Close second: "Three-to-Five Upstate"


Some other star athletes that need nicknames in the worst way: Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, LaDanian Tomlinson (since he stole the original LT's nickname)

Beijing Olympics Boycott Threats

Virtually every nation in the free world is up in arms about the 2008 Summer Olympics. From celebrities to key political figures, we are hearing cries to boycott the Olympics. These cries, broadcast through the world's loudest human boom boxes, aren't just mindless background noise (as they normally are) -- they are valid complaints and echo the sentiments of millions of others who don't carry big sticks.

The "threats" to boycott have undoubtedly sent chills down China's spine, considering China has shown a willingness to do just about anything to portray itself as a model country for the Summer Games (at least aesthetically). Rumor has it that China is even trying to develop a means of clearing its notoriously hazy skies so that CBS, BBC, and the other networks will capture a beautiful & scenic urban landscape this summer. Despite these efforts, however, China has made no moves to clean up its act. Despite all of the negative press from a globalized media, despite the outcries from its own citizens, and despite all of the hollow promises that were made when it sold itself to the Games Committee, China has stubbornly held its ground through its disregard for human rights.

This is not about cultural relativity (i.e. what's right for us is not necessarily what's right for them, and we don't have the right to tell them what we feel is right or wrong in the first place). It is just plain wrong -- how can it even be argued? I read a press release today that announced Chinese officials had stripped two Chinese defense lawyers of their licenses to practice law because they took on cases to defend human rights. I've also read stories about foreign press being warned that it will be monitored in all of its conversations while covering the Summer Games -- whether these conversations take place in public or in the "comfort" of their own hotel rooms.

If you are from a developed nation, just try to imagine these scenarios unfolding in your hometown.... that's what I thought. It's unthinkable. For all the moaning we do about the civil unjustices in our backyards, peeking over the fence should show us that we have it pretty good. So good, in fact, that it is not a matter of us having an agenda here, it is a matter of us having a social responsibility.

So here comes the real question: will any of our countries or athletes, either collectively or individually, actually boycott the 2008 Summer Games? Individual athletes may take a real stand against these unjustices, but I highly doubt any countries will boycott the Games entirely. There is just too much money, too much fame at stake. Sure, we'll shout at the Chinese Government and metaphorically slap their wrists. But chances are that our athletes be suited up in our national colors right next to all the other countries' performers come August.

What kind of message is this going to send? Will it say that we care about the issues, but not at the expense of our gold medals? I sure hope not.

What's worse -- Donaghy or Steroids?

Okay, okay... I'm back at it again... (echo?)

The Topic

I was listening to Sportsradio the other day, I believe it was the Dan Patrick show. Normally, I don't like that show too much but an interesting topic came up for debate: what was worse, Tim Donaghy's gambling or Steroids? To me, this question was two-fold: (1)which was worse for it's respective game's image, and (2) which was worse from a moral standpoint (i.e. who's a worse person for his deeds, Tim Donaghy or Roger Clemens)? I will address each element of the question separately.

The Image Debate

Basketball's image took a major image hit when news of Tim Donaghy's fixing of games was announced. To make matters worse, Donaghy has hinted on multiple occasions that he was not the only referee who was involved in the fixing of games. Stern quivered from his tanning bed when it became clear that a fraternity of cheaters may exist within his game's officiating ranks. Joe from Sacramento probably wonders whether the hated Lakers had any help when they beat his Kings in 7 games in 2002. Ken from Dallas wants to know if Dwyane Wade really earned all those free throws in the 2006 NBA Finals. These questions are probably warranted, and provide some credence to those NBA fans that perenially cry about the unbalanced officiating when their teams lose. Overall, however, I don't think fans have totally lost their trust in the relevance of NBA officiating. I have not heard about any decline in the league's fan base. This, of course, could change dramatically if more names come out with Donaghy's dirty laundry or the outcomes of key playoff games come into question. That remains to be seen.

As for baseball, the game's image has slowly gone down the tube ever since Canseco's book hit newstands. Baseball, more than any other game, is about tradition. It's not so much that fans hate the players for their disregard for the games rules (or the law), rather that they hate the players for disrespecting the game's heritage & traditions that come along with it. Basketball records are generally viewed with the mindset of: "records are established to be broken." Baseball records, on the other hand, are generally viewed as sacred. When players are nearing a milestone (with the exception of Cal Ripken, Jr.), there is an equal body of fans who are rooting against the player who is about to break the record. For whatever reason, baseball records are viewed as untouchable, and for commemoration on grainy black-and-white film, not in high-definition. Furthermore, steroids/performance enhancing drugs became a widespread epidemic in baseball, whereas we are only aware of one "bad apple" who fixed basketball games. Any extraordinary season between 1990 and 2007, whether spoken out loud or not, comes with an asterisk in the minds of baseball fans. For these reasons, I think baseball's image has been hurt far worse than basketball's.

The Moral Debate

There is no question that both of these series of actions were wrong -- that cannot be debated. They represented cheating in the purest sense of the word.

In baseball, some of the game's most prominent spokespeople were caught dead in their tracks after blatantly lying to cover up previous lies that covered up more previous lies. Roger Clemens & Rafael Palmeiro, to name a few, looked foolish on national TV and in front of a judge and jury. Not only did they commit perjury, but they also defrauded fans, coaches, and fellow players by using illegal substances to gain competitive advantages. What kind of example does that set for young baseball fans that have these players posters hanging from their bedroom walls? Despite Charles Barkley's famous "I'm not a role model" quote, Charles, Roger, and Rafael are all role models. It's selfish, childish, & cowardly for these players to shy away from that responsibility. It's a shame that these players were given everything the material world has to offer -- yet fail to recognize or honor that responsibility. It comes with the territory -- and it's exactly the reason these players pursued major league careers in the first place. They watched their role models (former athletes) and followed in their footsteps. Earth to Charles, but every job comes with some degree of responsibility that we don't necessarily ask for. Deal with it, I think you've got a pretty sweet gig. By cheating, acting illegally, and lying, steroid-using players set a horrendous example for young fans -- and that is inexcusable.

As for Donaghy, most of the above baseball discussion is true -- but to a lesser degree in my opinion. I'm pretty sure there aren't any young children with Tim Donaghy posters in their bedrooms, unless he is standing behind Kobe with whistle in mouth. So in this regard, his actions didn't have the same universal impact. However, what he did had an additional impact of its own that cannot be easily measured. That impact, stemming from his immoral acts, was financial. We have all heard about the handful of bookies that profited handsomely from the games he swayed. In all reality, however, their financial gains mostly repaid debts already owed to them by Donaghy. What we haven't heard about is all the people who were clueless about his scandalous work when they bet on the games in question. The reason we haven't heard about these people is because a definitive listing of tainted games has not been released to the public. When and if this happens, my money says those betters who lost on the over/under are going to be in the national spotlight. There will probably be some nasty lawsuits flying around if this ever happens. I'm not an expert on the sports betting world, but I do know that thousands of people rely upon sports betting as their primary source of income -- right or wrong. As such, Donaghy's "playing God" may have put some individuals in some serious financial trouble (not unlike the trouble he was in himself). Although nobody knows how much was really lost at this stage, I think it's safe to say this is a real issue.

Due to the financial implications and possible hardship that he caused to countless individual betters, I believe Donaghy's actions were worse from a moral standpoint. To solidify this position, I'll also point out that many players used performance enhancing drugs when they were still in a sort of "gray" territory -- Team Management & the league seemed to be turning their backs on the prevalance of usage. Fixing games, by all accounts, was and is wrong.

Where Should they Go from Here?

One caller to the Dan Patrick Show made an excellent point regarding the Donaghy issue: the NBA reviews game tape and essentially grades referees on their performance each game. These ratings should be made public, just like a box score is available to critique the players' performance. This would help to do away with some of the bellyaching that takes place regarding officiating by the fans of losing teams. It would help to do away with the notion that the NBA is willing to do anything in (or out of) its power to ensure a Lakers-Celtics final. It would provide the type of transparency that is desperately needed in the aftermath of the Donaghy scandal.

Baseball is screwed. The best way to mitigate any future damage would be to stop the blame game. If players want to go public about their own steroid usage, so be it. But continuing to investigate even after the Mitchell Report can only bring the sport more harm. Instead, they should focus on ramping up the random drug testing program and set the proper tone at the top.

Random NBA Thoughts

For lack of a more creative idea, I will call these my "random" thoughts -- and that's exactly what they are. Bear in mind I'm writing this May 7th, the same night the Lakers went up 2-0 on the Jazz and the Magic pulled within 2-1 of the Pistons.


- Jerry Sloan sure swears a lot for coaching a team who's fan base is 90% Mormon. Either TNT only zooms in on him when he's pissed, or he throws in an F Bomb every (F-ing) sentence...

- How did Carlos Boozer get so bad, so fast?

- I've repeatedly called Billups overrated. I'm eating crow after watching the Billups-less Pistons self-destruct against the Magic tonight...

- Has Hubie Brown ever completed a sentence without using the word "percentage"?

- Does anyone actually watch the Bill Engvall show?

- Nothing irritates me more than the stretched-out neck of Tony Parker's jersey. To me it reads: "I've never quite rid myself of my need for a pacifier," more than: "Eva insists I wear this jersey to bed while we're on the road."

- I went through 4 oxy pads during the last Spurs game when Popovich was getting extra face time.

- Somebody needs to tell KB24 & CP3 the MVP race is over, because they seem to be doing their own rendition of "anything you can do, I can do better..." in every game. Just wait until they are playing head-to-head in the conference finals.

- I wish Okur would just stay on his offensive three-point line because I HATE watching him (attempt to) play defense.

- Surely, Reggie Miller will conquer puberty one of these broadcasts, right? I guess my voice would be higher if I was sitting next to Marv Albert, too.

- I wonder if anyone on the Jazz thinks it's funny T-Mac was once considered in the same class as Kobe...