Lebron's a Baby

I havn't posted in awhile so my first post back will be an inconsequential one. At a camp hosted by Lebron James, James played basketball with his "students". Before I proceed, I want to point out how obviously amazing Lebron is. He has been tested and has rose to the challenges he has faced. No one will contend that he is one of the best in the game right now. However, at this camp, Lebron got dunked on by a college student and it was taped. The tape may have been good for a good laugh but Lebron confiscated the tape. In my opinion, and I bet many others, he has shamed himself by taking the tape much more than the tape would have shamed him. It is completely ridiculous that he is too embarrased to be seen getting dunked on.

The Shocking World of Sports

The title is admittedly misleading. Nothing has happened recently that is even remotely shocking.

Rundown:
Manny's suspension
Fisher's blatant cheap shot
Ron Artest is still crazy
Rafer Alston is a little girl

Before commenting, I feel I should disclose my bias against LA. I dislike LA with a fiery passion.

Manny got suspended for using an illegal substance (female fertility drug). From this evidence, it is clear Manny is using steroids. (The drug used is usually used by steroid users and women that want to get pregnant. Assuming Manny doesn't want to get pregnant, it can be deduced that he is on steroids).

The rest of the news is from the NBA playoff's amped up aggressiveness. I have no problem with tough play, in fact, I like it better that way. However, I've seen a tremendous increase in the amount of cheap shots thrown. I understand the intensity is much higher, but anyone who saw Derek Fisher, at the top of the key, aka not even in the paint where the physicality is at its highest, saw Luis Scola try to set a pick and Fisher was not going to have any of that. Either Fisher is the worst actor in LA, or he wanted everyone to see him lay out Scola. Either way, Fisher is an idiot and I would have liked to see him get a few games but I do understand that they are in the playoffs right now.

Next, Kobe threw an elbow at the craziest man in the NBA. First off, antagonizing a man like Artest is just about the stupidest thing you can do in front of a camera. Second, I saw nothing different in this play from the Dwight Howard elbow last week. The only difference is that the ref saw it live last week and not this week. Both were blatant, one was punished. In an Eastern Conference semifinal, Rafer Alston lost his street cred after he slapped a man, who had his back to him, in the back of the head. Man up Rafer.

On a more depressing note, the Cavs can't be stopped. And if you want to see phisical but clean play, take a look at Ben Wallace. The four-time defensive player of the year plays rough defense, fouls hard, but still manages to leave his doucheiness at home.

Rondo Slaps Miller While Howard Throws Them Bows

Seconds left in OT, down two. Miller gets the inbound and decides to drive. Goes up for the layup, Rondo slaps him pretty hard in the face. Many were saying Rondo was going for the ball but I beg to differ. He was nowhere near the ball, and then he decided to thrust his arm at Big Brad's head. If this foul had happened a minute earlier, you better believe a flagrant would have been called.

Now the play is being reviewed to see if Rondo should be suspended. I'd be really surprised if he did get suspended because although his foul was so obviously flagrant, it was not malicious.

Earlier that day, Howard got into a squabble with his opponent Dalembart and throws an elbow. As annoying as it is to have a big guy pushing you in the back, there is no reason to throw an elbow. That said, I'd be really disappointed if the league doesn't allow Howard to suit up in game six. Howard got his technical, and there is no way he will throw another elbow. Courtney Lee is already out of the game, so suspended Dwight would be equivalent to giving a win to Philly. Let them resolve it on the court.

I guess the moral of the story is; the rules aren't different for different situations. A flagrant in the first minute of the first game of the season should be a foul in a game seven with five seconds left.

Bobby Crosby

This man got a lot of hype in his debut season. He earned less than average stats and has continued to earn these stats. The A's have made some major improvements to their infield, and Crosby has taken a bench role this season.

Yesterday, with Nomar coming out in the first with a sore calf muscle, Crosby got the call. He got a hit on the offensive end, but he defense lacked. It was apparent that he should not have been in the game. Crosby is the A's most expendable player (right in front of Travis Buck). We have four solid players who can play the middle infield and 3rd if needed, which means Billy Beane is hopefully looking to deal him.

P.S.

The A's have the best ERA in the AL.

An Irate Broncos Fan

I have been wiping my tears and sipping my beers over the last several months in Bronco Nation. I was skeptical at first about the firing of Shanahan but I remained open to taking the team in a new direction...be careful what you wish for apparently.

First of all, Josh McDaniels, are you retarded? You come into a franchise in relative stability and immediately have your own agenda? Self-check. Despite the success you had with Matt Cassel in New England last year, you had absolutely no right to come into Denver--a team with a PRO BOWL QUARTERBACK--and start shopping Jay Cutler around. We were just starting to see the tip of the iceberg with Jay Cutler and you want to swap him out for a largely unproven quarterback? Not only is that insulting to Cutler it is insulting to the Denver Broncos fan base. I realize that the NFL is a business but last time I checked, trading away the best player on your team for a scrub (sorry Matt, but you existed in the most efficient offensive machine this century, any quarterback could have done that job) is not a good business decision.

Second of all, Jay Cutler, grow up. Why would you want to leave Denver? In Denver you were at the helm of the #2 ranked offense in the entire NFL...at your disposal you had a pro bowl receiver/beast in Brandon Marshall, a rising star at tight end in Tony Scheffler, a rookie sensation/perfect complement to Brandon Marshall in Eddie Royal and a veteran tight end in Daniel Graham who said that he would fight for you. While the front office may have been dishonest to you during the offseason and pressed the wrong buttons by firing your coach and shopping you around, the team is still intact. This is not the time to let our feelings get the best of us, stop crying like a little girl. The front office has shown its commitment to building a stronger football team by making several key offseason acquisitions both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.

So all of this leaves me (the average Denver Broncos fan) upset. Franchise player traded to the Bears for Kyle Orton and two first round draft picks? This is a situation that could have easily been avoided by more upfrontness and accountability by both parties. The Bears will finish with a better record than the Broncos this year and even in a run first offense like Chicago has Jay Cutler will still post dazzling numbers.

My Take on the Final Four

Here are my impressions of the 4 teams and how they are playing.

Michigan State- The team that busted my bracket for good. I have been talking shit about the quality of basketball in the Big Ten Conference all year. How they are slow, boring and just not up to par with conferences like the Big East and the Big 12. I still maintain that as a conference the Big 10 is the weakest major conference in college basketball but this team has defied logic. Maybe they had a little extra motivation knowing that the Final Four is in Detroit or maybe it's just a case of good coaching...whatever the reason here they are. I still think this team is susceptible to a beat down from a very good team (like UConn) but with the home crowd behind them this team might just have enough to do it.

Connecticut- well well well. Look at what happened in this bracket...rather what the HELL happened to Memphis? Many experts and over 50% of brackets made on ESPN.com had Memphis in the Final Four. I've said it time and time again, and I will say it again. Memphis is overrated. Last year was an enigma thanks to a prodigy named Derrick Rose. Back to UConn. So much for them not having a chance without Jerome Dyson. Of all the #1 seeds, UConn has consistently looked the most dominant. Freshman Kemba Walker has done a terrific job filling in for the injured Dyson. Couple this with the already rock solid cast of Thabeet, Adrien and Price and you have a final four team. If Walker continues to play at the level he has been Connecticut is the favorite to take down the national championship.

Villanova- A surprise for some people (not me because I had them in the Final Four), Villanova is just an example of how deep and talented the Big East is. Pre tournament hype surrounded teams like UConn, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Syracuse but the Wildcats sort of got lost in the bracketology. In this tournament we have seen why Villanova is an elite team: aggressive tenacious defense and balanced scoring. Unlike teams like Oklahoma who revolve around one fantastic player, Villanova has a balanced tough attack. Even in this Final Four they still seem to be the underdogs and with juggernaut North Carolina waiting in Detroit it's no secret why. I think if Villanova does not panic, plays their game and plays defense they can win this game. UNC has a questionable commitment to defense making them vulnerable to a more physical, deliberate and methodical team like Villanova. The Wildcats absolutely cannot let the game turn into an up and down, track meet style game. No one is better than the Tar Heels at that.

North Carolina- Ty Lawson's toe appears to be just fine and so do UNC's national championship hopes. Despite the injury concerns for their starting point guard North Carolina was still picked to win more times than any other teams on ESPN brackets. The pre-season #1 stumbled a bit during the regular season, and looked less than dominant for most of the year. The bottom line is the Tar Heels have not met a team as good as or as hot as Villanova in the tournament. This will certainly be their toughest test of the tournament and perhaps their toughest test all year. UNC's success will not hinge on Tyler Hansbrough's play. While he is a star during ACC play especially against very weak opponents, he is a ghost vs. good teams. The key player is of course Lawson. If Villanova let Ty Lawson take over the game, it will be a blowout in favor of the Tar Heels. But if Villanova can contain UNC's high powered offense and force them to slow down and play defense we will have a game on our hands.

Predictions:

Connecticut over Villanova in the final.

The Bracket

Is about to be released...