The NBA just plain sucks until the playoffs start. I can count on one hand how many basketball games I've watched this winter. The Christmas Day games are nice and they always loaded them up with blockbuster matchups. But any other game is hardly appointment TV. The season is overly long and all the postseason contenders are almost predetermined before game #1 is tipped off. It's just 5 months of jockeying for position with a few surprises (Oklahoma City). Now finally we've got to the point where the games actually mean something. This is further watered down by the league's expanded schedule which loads up the weekends with games and prolongs the contests with too many off days. This is why I start watching the NBA in late April not late November.
Read more...Friday, April 16, 2010
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Best Beatles Songs of All Time
I split mine into two lists because The Beatles were two of the greatest bands of all time.
3. "In My Life"
4. "Hey Jude"
Away" 1965 (Help!)
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Admiral's Ship Comes In
The 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame class will be remembered for one man, Michael Jordan. While Jordan is arguably the greatest player of all time and revolutionized the league, he was never My Guy. I have ultimate respect and admiration for him as a player and an icon but My Guy was David Robinson.
I was ten years old when Robinson entered the league in 1989 to play for the San Antonio Spurs. (He was actually drafted number one overall in 1987 but had to fulfill two years of his obligation to the Naval Academy before joining the league.) For some unknown reason that became my team. Don't ask me why or how. I became a Spurs fan and David Robinson became My Guy.
Dozens of my trapper keepers were adorned with his number "50" and too many portraits were attempted by me in art class. I remember having a long sleeve David Robinson white T-shirt that had arrows
and targets on the elbows to remind you when playing ball to "always use your elbows." I remember the lame "Mr. Robinson's neighborhood" campaign Nike tried to roll out in the '90s. I don't remember this horrible video game he put his name on. I remember his NBA Hoops rookie card with him posting up and calling for the ball. I'll never forget him scoring 71 points on the final day of the 1993-94 season to win the scoring title from Shaquille O' Neal. The following year he won the MVP award and faced his in-state rival in the playoffs. After getting abused by Hakeem Olajuwon that year in the postseason it left no doubt who was the best center in the game and the sad realization that Mr Robinson would never be one the truly greats. I remember Robinson getting ejected for the first time of his career the game immediately following his wedding. I kinda liked that. I can recall the Spurs starting lineup during his prime without effort: Avery Johnson at the point, Vinny Del Negro at shooting guard, Sean Elliot at small forward, Terry Cummings doing his thing at power forward, and big D in the middle.
Robinson received a late career gift when after a horrible injury-riddled season the Spurs had the No. 1 pick in 1998 and selected Tim Duncan. Duncan allowed Robinson to finally claim a title in the strike-shortened season of 1999. And again in 2003 in Robinson's final season they were crowned champions. But by then it was Duncan's team and he was only a role player. Still here are the facts about his career: No 1 draft pick, rookie of the year, 1992 Defensive Player of the Year, 1995 MVP, two-time NBA champion, 10-time all star, 4-time all NBA team, member of the 1992 USA Dream Team, named one of the NBA's top 50 all time players in 1996, and only the fourth player to score 70+ points in a game. A worthy Hall of Famer.
I never really enjoyed his late career playoff runs and championships because sometime in the late 90's me and the Spurs had an amicable divorce. My interest in the NBA was waning and I think the year of Robinson's season-ending injury I needed something to revitalize my fandom. I locked onto a young high school kid from Philadelphia by way of Italy who had been acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers on draft day. Even after the roller coaster career of Kobe Bryant and his off court dramas, I
can't say I regretted it. I'm sure one day soon this marriage will end too when Bryant decides to move on from L.A. and I'll search out a new franchise to invest my interest in. (Johnny Flynn, I can be easily swayed to the Timberwolves camp.) I still always rooted for Robinson personally and it seems like he was always a true stand-up guy. The NBA renamed their award for outstanding charitable efforts in honor of Robinson. Just an all around good person. So enjoy these clips... And here's to you Mr. Robinson...Read more...
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
B Mac's Super Bowl Pick and Predictions
In honor of the greatest sport on this big, blue planet I've decided to share with you my predictions, prognostications, and premonitions on the upcoming 2009 NFL season. Okay here we go...
Pick Six: The on
ly six teams in the league with a shot at the title - New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego, New York Giants, Philadelphia, and Minnesota. Anyone else makes a run at it and I'll be shocked. (Come on Chicago, shock me!)
Teams on the Rise: Houston, Seattle, Green Bay, Oakland
Window of opportunity closing fast: Indianapolis, Tennessee, Dallas
Disasters in the making: Denver, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, St. Louis, Buffalo
Three for Me. Fantasy players I'd take off the board as soon as possible:
LaDanian Tomlinson: wasn't this guy Superman just two years ago?
Marques Colston: just stay healthy and collect passes and TDs all day from Drew Brees.
Matt Schaub: poised for a breakout year on a breakout team; I see him as this year's Phillip Rivers with better targets.
Three for You. Players I'd avoid like the plague:
Kurt Warner: only 4 times in his 10-year career has he started at least 14 games
Matt Cassel: even before knee injury this guy had system-QB-bust written all over him
Brian Westbrook: two words - old, brittle. Honker Gridiron fans feel free to laugh
2009 Predictions:
AFC
New England 13-3
San Diego 12-4
Pittsburgh 11-5
Houston 10-6
Indianapolis 9-7
Tennessee 9-7
Miami 8-8
Cincinnati 8-8
New York Jets 7-9
Baltimore 7-9
Cleveland 7-9
Oakland 7-9
Jacksonville 6-10
Kansas City 6-10
Buffalo 5-11
Denver 4-12
NFC
New York Giants 12-4
Seattle 11-5
New Orleans 10-6
Minnesota 10-6
Philadelphia 9-7
Chicago 9-7
Green Bay 9-7
Dallas 8-8
Atlanta 8-8
Arizona 7-9
Carolina 7-9
Washington 7-9
San Francisco 6-10
Detroit 4-12
St. Louis 4-12
Tampa Bay 3-13
MVP: Drew Brees, QB New Orleans
DMVP: Jared Allen, DE Minnesota
OMVP: LaDanian Tomlinson, RB San Diego
ROY: Ha
keem Nicks, WR New York Giants
DROY: B.J. Raji, DT Green Bay Packers
COY: Jim Mora, Seattle
Super Bowl XLIV: New England Patriots over New York Giants
I love New York's offensive and defensive lines. They are beasts upfront. Brandon Jacobs can emerge as an elite back if he stays healthy. Still not sold on Eli Manning as an elite signal caller, but if he can lead the Giants through a mistake-free postseason they can return to the big game. He needs a WR to emerge from the shadow of Plaxico Burress who was an elite talent that made Eli's life easier. Look for Hakeem Nicks, the rookie WR from North Carolina, to make a splash.
Tom Brady returns from his 2008 season-ending injury to almost the exact record setting offense he led two years ago. Loaded with receivers (Moss, Welker, Joey Galloway), complemented by a packed backfield (Maroney, Kevin Faulk, Fred Taylor), and led by the best coaching staff in the sport, the Lombardi trophy returns to the Haah-baarh.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
The Purple Judas
