Good Ole Boys (Celtic Style)

Finally... Something to talk about in the NBA besides little Timmy.

Thank you Kevin McHale and Danny Ainge. Actually, they are probably thanking each other right now. This trade is going to save both of their jobs. This trade works out because there are two types of teams in the NBA... Team who want to win now, and teams building for the future. These are two different teams.

Celtics Get:
Kevin Garnett



Wolves Get:
Telfair, Green, Jefferson, Ratliff

We'll start off with the Celtics...
SHORT TERM - Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, KG teamed up with Brandon Markey and Justin Amoah could make the playoffs. So Allen/Pierce/KG with a supporting cast consisting of Rajon Rando, Allen Ray, Gabe Pruitt, Tony Allen, Ryan Gomes, Glen Davis, Leon Powe, Brain Scalabrine, Kedrick Perkins and Michael Olowokandi... they will be the best team in the Eastern Conference.

LONG TERM - It really doesn't matter if they get a ring out of Allen/Pierce/KG. But they'll have to start over when they are officially over the hill. But you never know what free agents they will be able to attract. In today's game, everyone wants a chance to win it all.

Now the Timberwolves...
SHORT TERM - Young STARS Randy Foye, Corey Brewer, Gerald Green and Al Jefferson on the same team has to get people excited about the FUTURE. Ricky Davis and Rashad McCants can be moved to help acquire a center and they can draft a point in next year's draft. Theo Ratliff can either to add some veteran leadership or he can be let go to free up some cap room for a more desirable player (it should be easier to get a player to go to Minnesota if they think they can win). They are still a few years away from contending in the Western Conference but they are building the pieces.

LONG TERM - With the four young stars entering their prime and the asset(s) acquired by moving Ricky Davis, Rashad McCants and Theo Ratcliff, the Timberwolves will be favorites in the Western Conference. Tim Dunan won't be in the picture. Steve Nash won't be in the picture. Allen Iverson can't help Carmelo anymore. But other teams will be peaking. I think the Blazers are doing all the right things for their future too. Couldn't you see a Wolves/Blazers Western Conference Championship?

Like I said earlier, there are teams who want to win now, and teams who are building for the future. Even though McHale and Ainge go back and have a mutual respect for each other, this trade would actually help both teams achieve what they are trying to (Boston win now, Minnesota win in the future). Teams know it's hard to be the San Antonio Spurs. They have been great for 7+ years now. GMs in the NBA know each team has a window, a window that usually is open for 3-5 years, especially with free agency. Boston is trying to make that window appear now, Minnesota in the future. It's better than being mediocre forever. So I'm sorry for the title of this post, this trade isn't because of the team values Red instilled in his Celtics. Both McHale and Ainge are avoiding getting fired and if this trade goes down, both teams will be one step closer to achieving their goals.

I'll end by giving Boston and Minnesota fans a message:

Boston - Don't worry about giving too much up for KG. He will lead you to the Eastern Conference finals and give you a chance to win it all. A chance you would otherwise not have.

Minnesota - Don't worry about giving up the man who has been you franchise for over a decade. You haven't made the finals with him and you weren't close to making it with him and the cast supporting him right now. Time to go back to the drawing board. Use the young stars the Celtics are giving away for their chance to win. Think longterm. Think 2013 Western Conference Championship against the Blazers. Randy Foye will take you there.

Asterisks Asterisks Asterisks everywhere

Steve Nash ought to draw on his soccer background and give Tim Donaghy a kick to the groin.

It's unknown how many games Donaghy, the wanna be Don-Datta, spoiled.

But whether or not he bet on the Suns v. Spurs series, the rogue referee annihilated the Phoenix Suns' chances of making it to the NBA Finals. He should be convicted for that alone.

Just watch some of his incompetent calls from game three:


Forget Barry Bonds and Mark Macguire.
Forget David Boston and Shawne Merriman.
Forget Alexandre Vinokourov and Floyd Landis.
Gosh, maybe we should even forget Pete Rose.

All these athletes' respective crimes in their sport don't compare to Donaghy's abuse of his stripes. (Okay, NBA refs don't wear stripes, but you know what I mean).

Because of Donaghy's aiding and betting, the NBA needs to place an asterisk beside every game he allegedly cheat on.

Failing to do so would equal another snafu on David Stern's part and validate opinions that he's the worst commissioner in professional sports.

Best QB/WR Combos for 2007/2008 Season (REVISED)

Needless to say, I disagree with B-Mark. Here is a revised list of how I think the top 20 combinations will actually pan-out this season.
* denotes honorable mention

1.a. Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison
1.b. Carson Palmer to Chad Johnson
3. Marc Bulger to Tory Holt
4. Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne
5. Tony Romo to Terrell Owens
6. Matt Leinart to Anquan Boldin
7. Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson
8. Brett Favre to Donald Driver
9. Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith
10. Jon Kitna to Roy Williams
11. Matt Hasselbeck to Deion Branch
12. Drew Brees to Marques Colston
13. Jay Cutler to Javon Walker
14. Tom Brady to Randy Moss

15. Donovan McNabb to Reggie Brown
16. Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress
17. Jeff Garcia to Joey Galloway
18. Matt Leinart to Larry Fitzgerald
19. Alex Smith to Darrell Jackson
20. Carson Palmer to T.J. Houshmandzadeh

* Jon Kitna to Calvin Johnson
* Steve McNair to Derrick Mason
* Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward
* Trent Green to Chris Chambers
* Tom Brady to Donte' Stallworth

T.O.'s Twin Brother is 17 Years Old - Meet Julio Jones from Alabama

Whether you like Terrell Owens or not... you respect his game. He is the most gifted receiver in the game. Hands down.

I'd like you to meet Julio Jones. Watching his junior tape and reading articles about him. He is Terrell Owens -- RIGHT NOW! And he's 17 years old, a rising senior in Alabama. Check out the tape.

Height: 6'4
Weight: 215
40: 4.5
Max Bench 305 (Okay less than T.O.)
Squat: 505
Vert: 39-41 (39 at Nike, 41 at FSU camp)

Best QB/WR Combos for 2007/2008 Season

1. Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison
2. Carson Palmer to Chad Johnson

DROP OFF!

3. Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson
4. Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne
5. Brett Farve to Donald Driver
6. Matt Leinart to Anquan Boldin
7. Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith
8. John Kitna to Roy Williams
9. Mark Bulger to Tory Holt
10. Tony Romo to Terrell Owens

DROP OFF!

11. Matt Hasselback to Deion Branch
12. Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress
13. Drew Brees to Marques Colston
14. J.P Losman to Lee Evans
15. Tom Brady to Randy Moss
16. John Kitna to Calvin Johnson
17. Alex Smith to Darrell Jackson
18. Jay Cutler to Javon Walker
19. Carson Palmer to TJ Houshmandzadeh
20. Matt Leinart to Larry Fitzgerald

Things not so Ookie for former Hokie

There's a litany of players who've been hounded by the law but escaped being bit by it.

There's OJ, Ray and Tank...oh, and of course, how could we forget, Adam Jones.

These guys received punishments from the law that probably agitated them about as much as an ear flick. Hell, OJ even tried to profit from the deaths of Nicole and Ron.

Pacman's long-term fate is yet to be determined.

Michael's in a similar position, but he may be in more trouble because he messed with one group you just don't wanna piss off: Animal Activists.

Now there's oodles of animadversion running across youtube and the blogosphere that's trying to chew up his career.



For real though, I read the 18-page indictment, and the accusations be laid on Vick -- whose name is mentioned approximately 50 times -- look troubling.

In the indictment Michael Vick -- whose alias is no longer Ron Mexico but the moniker his mother affectionayley gave him"Ookie" -- is basically charged with...

• Purchasing a $34,000 staging and training area in Smithfield, Va. -- which he and his boys called the "Bad Newz Kennels."
• Buying at least 25 American Pit Bull Terriers with the intent to have them fight once trained and tested for "fighting prowess."
  
• Training the pit bulls and making them participate in dog fighting competitions.
• Betting on the pits bulls for as much as $26,000 in various locations across the Atlantic Seaboard.

But the part of the indictment that may be the most troublesome for Vick is where it writes:

"Destroying or otherwise disposing of dogs not selected to stay with the ongoing animal fighting venture."

Later it states that Vick and his three boys -- P-Funk, Q and T -- executed dogs that didn't preform well by "hanging, drowning and slamming at least one dog's body to the ground."

Some of the items found at the Bad Newz Kennel were "treadmills" that were used to condition the dogs and a "rape stand," used to strap down female pit bulls that were too aggressive to submit to male pit bulls for breeding.

All of this surely makes government attorneys salivate. They'll be caressing the violin and make the Atlanta Falcon look like a vulture.

In these dog days of summer, this heap of alleged evidence from the Grand Jury doesn't bode well for Vick.

Chuck for Gov.

Your favorite NBA analyst on TNT -- Charles Wade Barkley -- is considering making a run for Alabama's gubernatorial seat in 2010.

Personally, I think he stands a good chance. He's an Alabama native. And he's charismatic, intelligent and brutally honest, which I know isn't always a coveted quality for elected officers, but I'm sure it's something the people in the Yellowhammer State would appreciate.

What I have to wonder though is what ever happened to those words Sir. Charles said in 1993?

"I am not a role model."

Has he changed this tune the way he did when he was reported to have traded in the Whigs for the Dems? I guess so.

Despite his apparent bit of indecision, here are two reason why I like Chuck for Gov.

1. He supports Barack. (Though whether he'll vote for him is yet to be determined).
   
2. He called out Al and Jesse.

Here are two snippets from an interview the Round Mound of Rebound had with The New Rebublic reporter-researcher Isaac Chotiner:

Chotiner: In some quarters Barack has been criticized for not being black enough.

Berkley: Well, that's because black people are fucked up. One of the reasons that black people are not going to be successful is because of other black people. We tell black kids that if they make good grades, they are acting white. If they speak well, we tell them that they are acting white. We have a lot of demons in our own closet--in our own family--that we have to address. But first of all, we want black men to be intelligent and articulate and things like that. That's not acting white. That's the way it should be. ... We become our own worst enemy with random black-on-black crime, teen pregnancy, single-parent homes. You know we cannot blaming white America for our ills. Does racism exist? Of course it does. But, at some point, I have to make sure I am educated. I don't have ten kids and no job. I am not killing other black people. At some point, you have to grow up.

Chotiner: You mentioned Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson earlier. What are your opinions of them?

Barkley: I know them both, but they are race-baiters who have double standards for white racism and black racism.

You've gotta love his candidness, even if you don't agree with his politics, gambling habits, or political wavering.

LeBron at the ESPYs

If you didn't see the 2007 ESPY Awards, don't worry, you didn't miss too much.

LT took home four trophies and Boise State received two awards for their win over Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl -- what I think of as the best college football game ever.

But LeBron's rendition of Bobby Brown's My Prerogative was definitely the the night's crowning moment. It's too bad that James looked more like a Court Jester than a King:


What do you think about LeBron's ESPY performance?

Vince Carter's Top 100 Dunks

There is no doubt in my mind, that in his prime, he was the best dunker ever.

One foot. Two feet. Fast break. In traffic. Height. Distance. Hangtime. On people. Over people. Through people. Creativity.

Byfar the best.

What-Ever-Happened-To? Team (JA Edition)

What-Ever-Happened-to? First Team:

• G - God Shammgod
• G - Shawn Respert
• F – Dennis Rodman
• F - Ed O'Bannon
• C – Todd Fuller

God Shammgod: A man whose name would make Jesus Shuttlesworth turn green-eyed and whose crossover would make Rod Strickland go out and buy Magic's comprehensive fundamentals DVD.
After two years in the league, the Wizards finally realized he couldn’t can a jumper. So he hopped on a Greyhound to America’s Dairyland to play with the Continental Basketball Association’s La Crosse Bobcats in Wisconsin.
Now he's a sandstorm trooper in the State of Kuwait.

Shawn Respert: A true Spartan. Few knew the tight-lipped Respert battled stomach cancer while he played in the league. He didn’t use it as an excuse for his sub par performance. He retired after the cancerous cells in his belly persisted. He's currently healthy and director of basketball operations at Rice University.




Dennis Rodman: No annotation needed.
Here’s the latest. He's livin' life.



Ed O’Bannon: What happened after “Ed-O” after he led UCLA to the 1995 Championship? Well, after several years of pro ball, the swingman turned salesman. He’s making it rain as a car salesman in Vegas.

Todd Fuller: Many people don’t remember Fuller, the Fayetteville, North Carolina born genius. Let me first state this: Fuller would have been more fit chasing a senate seat than a basketball, but the love of the game took over.
He was the one glitch in 1996 Draft — which I consider the best class ever. The Golden State Warriors selected him ahead of Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant and Jermaine O'Neal, among others. Maybe Todd Fuller should have taken the Rhodes Scholarship when he had the chance.
He currently plays for some team Australia.



What-Ever-Happened-to? Second Team:

• G - Khalid El Amin
• G - Harold Miner
• F - Jerome Williams
• F - Jonathan Bender
• C - Bryant Reeves

Khalid El-Amin: He led UConn to a 1999 championship over Duke and was drafted by the Bulls. His stint in the NBA lasted one year. He’s been backpacking across Europe ever since.









Harold Miner – ’93 & ‘95 Dunk Contest winner. When he graduated from USC they dubbed him “Baby Jordan,” but needless to say, he never paned-out. After he was cut in the preseason by the Toronto Raptors in the mid 90s he retired to Las Vegas to become a real estate investor.









Jerome Williams — Junk Yard Dog probably shouldn’t be included in this group, which has a high percentage of NBA busts. But the gregarious Georgetown alum amassed so much fan support wherever he went that I couldn't ignore him. He currently working as a NBA community Ambassador doing extensive projects in its “basketball without borders” program.



Jonathan Bender: After scoring 31 pts. in the 1999 McDonald's High School All-America Game, Bender was touted as the next athletic freak to break into the NBA out of high school. He could have been a 7-foot KG. But chronic knee soreness forced him to retire after six years in the league having never lived up to the hype that surrounded him in high school. He's chillin'






Bryant Reeves — Unrelenting back problems and weight gain forced him out of the game but not before banking $65 million. He's maxin' in the Sooner State. (Check out B's post for more info)










What-Ever-Happened-To? 2012 Team:

• Damon Stoudamire
• DeMarr Johnson
• DeJuan Wagner
• Rudy Gay
• J.J. Redick
  
• Josh McRoberts
• Glen Davis
• Darko Milicic
• Ike Diogu
• Rafael Araujo
  

All-"What Happened To..." Team (BM Edition)

First Team
G - Vernon "Mad Max" Maxwell (47th pick in 1988 draft)
This former Florida Mr. Basketball and Florida All-State DB had a career filled with clutch performances that earned him the nickname of Mad Max, or it could have been his 8 arrests in 10 years. Hmmmm?

He is now bankrupt even though he made $15 million dollars in his 13 year NBA career. He was sued for $592,000 by a woman who he intentionally gave herpes, he was fined $150,000 for not paying child support, his children do not talk to him, and his wife divorced him and she got the house, his Porsche, Range Rover and his bank account. (Article)

G - Michael Dickerson (14th pick in 1998 draft)
Damn this is my boy too. I grew up watching him and Jason Terry go at it in high school. How does a guy average 18ppg in his second year in the league just disappear? Injuries. He hurt his groin and his hamstring. Retired after only playing 10 games in a 2 year span. What is he doing now? Well check out his basketball board game...


I'm glad to see him doing something with his life though. I just hope he doesn't try to design clothes or do hair. He looks like an OG in that picture. I'd hate to see him with his dogs.

F - Shawn Kemp (17th pick in 1989 draft)
I know this guy has been MIA for a while over but his story is one that has to be told. Easily one of the most excited/loved players for years because of his thunderous dunks that made it rain and his unforgettable haircut.

But besides those obvious positives, Shawn Kemp will be remembered by his problems:
1. Phobia of having sex with the same woman more than once and never understanding basic supply/demand theories and overflowing the market with autographed, unopened, condoms.
2. Overweight (340 from 260) after NBA lockout.
3. Overflowing mailbox on Father's Day.
4. Tyrone Biggums-like, crackheadish behavior due to coke.

F - Eddie Griffin (7th pick in 2001 draft)
KG probably hates this KG wannabe. Griffin "played" on the Wolves last year and averaged 1.4 ppg in 13 games. His best year was in 2002 - 2003 for the Rockets when he averaged 8.6 ppg and the comical career highs in FG% (40%) and rebounds (6.0). Maybe if he concentrated on basketball instead of masturbating while drinking/driving and running into parked cars, he would have reached his full potential. He is now a free agent.

C - Bryant "Big Country" Reeves (6th pick in 1995 draft)
The man who led Oklahoma State to the final four and shattered the backboard in a practice was thought of being the only man large enough to contain Shaq. I admire his hatred for Sam Cassell but not what ever is on the back of his head. He is retired and now lives in his hometown Gans, OK and has a 500 acre ranch!

Second Team
G - Trajan Langdon The black JJ Reddick. Another Duke bust. He should have pursued his baseball career (6th round pick by the Padres) instead of his basketball career which now has him in Moscow (not Idaho) playing for CSKA with these stats.
G - Joesph Forte Former star on an otherwise talentless (on the basketball court, they were good on the football field) North Carolina team. He was thought to be a combo guard but he was neither. He won a championship in Italy last year with ex-Maryland star Lonny Baxter. He signed with a team in Kazan, Russia for the 2007-2008 season. I think he'll like it there because I don't think they have laws against guns and drugs and punching people like we do in America.
F - Kedrick Brown The first and hopefully the last time someone is a lottery pick straight out of community college. If you want to ask him what he's doing these days here is his MySpace page.
F - Eddie Robinson Showed promise in his second year as a member of the Hornets in the league but fought injuries that affected his performance for the rest of his 5 year stint in the league as a Chicago Bulls. Last year he was in the D-League averaging 15ppg.
C - Rafael Araujo I know Amoah is shaking his head right now. Andre Iguodala was the next pick in the 2004 draft. But I can't bash this guy, he got paid $2.4 million last year to have courtside tickets to all 82 of the Utah Jazz games.

Most likely on the 2012 All-"What Happened To..." Team
Sebastian Telfair - Jail, The Wire Season 9 supporting character, And 1 All Star or Rucker Park basketball camp coordinator.
Julius Hodge - Owner of a corner store in Harlem.
Robert "Tractor" Traylor - Celebrity fit club.
Darko Milicic - Painter or big and tall fashion designer.
Robert Swift - Carrot top stunt devil or in the circus.

Non-Oden/Durant Draft Debates

Everyone was talking about Oden or Durant, Oden or Durant. Damn, I'm glad that is over.

Now, I want to take a look back to some other major decisions GMs were faced with during previous drafts and the players whose performances will be compared forever.

Would we do these drafts the same? Let's rewind time... you pick them.

2006
1 - 8 picks were a toss up until workouts. I believe everyone has the ability to live up to their potential except for Adam Morrison (we haven't found the next Jordan, what makes you think there's going to be another Bird?) and Sheldon Williams (1st All-NBA Ugly Team).

2005
The consensus for top 2 prospects were Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams. Seems like Bogut is more worried about his teammates financial longevity rather than his performance on the court. Marvin Williams seems like he's a little too comfortable playing the same role in the NBA that he played on North Carolina's championship team. But the real debate is who is the best PG in this class. It's between Deron Williams and Chris Paul. Check out these videos (Williams, Paul), I know everyone looks great in their highlights but they aren't on TV a lot so you might need a reminder of their potential. I think it's basically choosing between Jason Kidd before his MVPish years and Steve Nash before his MVP years.

2004
Dwight Howard or Emeka Okafor for #1. Here's Okafor's link in case you don't know who he is. HAHAHA. Ben Gordon was #3 but another debate was Shaun Livingston vs. Devin Harris at #4. In the 2005 playoffs, both these guys were killing and I was excited about their careers but Livingston got injured again and Harris hasn't improved but that might be because his touches come after behind Dirk's, Howard's, Terry's and even the 6th man, Stackhouse's.

2003
You know the whole LeBron, Darko, Melo, Bosh, D-Wade draft. We've gone through this one before too. You have to remember, we didn't know that Bosh and Wade would EXCEED expectations and be superstars. The debate was Darko vs. Melo for #2, and Bosh vs. Wade for #4. Imagine Melo on the Pistons. I don't care if you have a little hard on for Prince, Melo was/is an upgrade. And for the Bosh vs. Wade argument, Pat Riley has said if he had the #4 pick he would have picked Bosh.


2002
The Yao Ming draft. 2 Duke busts right after him. Really no debates. Pretty funny that Amare went 9th and Caron Butler went 10th behind a weak class.

2001
This draft is Shaq's fault. He was 25% better than anyone else in the league so everyone wanted to draft a center who would dominate like him. Jordan picked Kwame Brown 1st, and Tyson Chandler went 2nd, Memphis chose some dude from Spain #3 who gets 20-10 now, and Curry went 4th. (Shaking My Head).

2000
WORST DRAFT EVER. The first round has a total of one All-Star APPEARANCE (Kenyon Martin). Not even a Michael Redd went in the second round.