Drexel Basketball is in the midst of yet another up and down season. The team has a non-conference RPI of 6, but they just lost to William and Mary on Wednesday.
Whats more upsetting is that their lost threw my column out of wack a little bit. This week, I wrote about the CAA's top four teams and how they stack up to bubble teams of other conferences.
That loss to W&M was the type of loss Drexel needed to avoid. Now they must win out, including at Creighton tommorow, and go deep in the CAA tourney to have a legit at large shot.
That's the beauty of ESPN's BracketBusters. It gives teams a chance to get quality non-conference wins. I hope the tournament does right by the mid-majors again this year. They've proven year after year that its better to send a #2 or #3 from a mid-major than a 15-11 team from a big conference.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Grammy Fiasco
I guess you could call this the non-sports rant of the week/month. Before I get into my rant, I'll give all one of my fans some random sports talk.
I was really looking forward to Agent Zero's first shot at the Blazers this year, but it was a dud. However, maybe not getting 50 in this game and getting called out by Eddie Jordan will light a fire under Gil and he'll go nuts the rest of the year (scoring wise, he's already crazy).
I wonder why everything T.O. does or says is news to ESPN? Please leave him alone, we are tired of hearing about him.
The Suns suck without Steve Nash. This is why he will win his third straight MVP. I wonder if they had him fake this injury to solidify his spot as the league's most valuable.
Baseball is almost back, time for more talk about steroids, more Bonds hate, more A-Rod hate, and a long boring regular season with a wide open playoff.
I hope the NCAA selection committee does right by the mid-majors this year.
Ok, now for my rant. Lupe Fiasco somehow didn't win any Grammy's tonight. "Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor" was not only the best rap album this year, it was one of the 10 greatest rap albums of all time. Lyrically, Lupe Fiasco is definately top 10, probably top 5. Maybe he would've won if "Failure" was on the album.
His punchlines are so sick on this song, the second verse might be the illest of all time. If you want to catch all the punches, you might want to look up the lyrics or something.
I was really looking forward to Agent Zero's first shot at the Blazers this year, but it was a dud. However, maybe not getting 50 in this game and getting called out by Eddie Jordan will light a fire under Gil and he'll go nuts the rest of the year (scoring wise, he's already crazy).
I wonder why everything T.O. does or says is news to ESPN? Please leave him alone, we are tired of hearing about him.
The Suns suck without Steve Nash. This is why he will win his third straight MVP. I wonder if they had him fake this injury to solidify his spot as the league's most valuable.
Baseball is almost back, time for more talk about steroids, more Bonds hate, more A-Rod hate, and a long boring regular season with a wide open playoff.
I hope the NCAA selection committee does right by the mid-majors this year.
Ok, now for my rant. Lupe Fiasco somehow didn't win any Grammy's tonight. "Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor" was not only the best rap album this year, it was one of the 10 greatest rap albums of all time. Lyrically, Lupe Fiasco is definately top 10, probably top 5. Maybe he would've won if "Failure" was on the album.
His punchlines are so sick on this song, the second verse might be the illest of all time. If you want to catch all the punches, you might want to look up the lyrics or something.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
We Don't Want You Either, Tyrus
The 2007 Slam Dunk contest lineup was announced Monday. Reigning champ Nate Robinson will defend his title. No word on if he is in the block contest too.
Competing with Nate Robinson this year is Gerald Green, who can throw down, and two head scratchers. Dwight Howard, the 6-11 Orlando Magic All-Star center, and 6-9 Chicago Bulls Power Forward Tyrus Thomas. Both men can jump, but they're not dunkers. The only big man to ever win the dunk contest was Larry Nance, who pulled it off by dunking two balls at the same time.
To add to my dismay with this lineup, Tyrus Thomas was nonchalant about being selected, saying "I'm just into free money. That's it." If Tyrus is only in it for free money, why not give that free money to somebody else.
Instead of somebody who doesn't care, the NBA should select a player who would put on a show and do something we haven't seen before and may not see again. That somebody is James White. If Commissioner David Stern can switch balls mid season, I know he can replace Thomas with Flight 75.
Competing with Nate Robinson this year is Gerald Green, who can throw down, and two head scratchers. Dwight Howard, the 6-11 Orlando Magic All-Star center, and 6-9 Chicago Bulls Power Forward Tyrus Thomas. Both men can jump, but they're not dunkers. The only big man to ever win the dunk contest was Larry Nance, who pulled it off by dunking two balls at the same time.
To add to my dismay with this lineup, Tyrus Thomas was nonchalant about being selected, saying "I'm just into free money. That's it." If Tyrus is only in it for free money, why not give that free money to somebody else.
Instead of somebody who doesn't care, the NBA should select a player who would put on a show and do something we haven't seen before and may not see again. That somebody is James White. If Commissioner David Stern can switch balls mid season, I know he can replace Thomas with Flight 75.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Under the Radar, The Blur Takes His Act to Oregon
Being recruited for Division I athletics can be either a dirty game or the experience of a lifetime. Talmadge Jackson, an 18-year-old Chaparral High School Football star, has experienced this first hand.
By this time next week, Jackson will officially be signed to play Division I football at the University of Oregon. Talmadge is looking forward to campus life and being apart of the Oregon program.
Known as “The Blur” or simply Tal, Jackson has already been immortalized with a highlight reel on Youtube, reminiscent of Reggie Bush’s now famous highlight tape. This was a great experience for the humble star, who realized he had Pac-10 potential when his coach Tom Leach arrived at Chaparral.
Tal is ready to work hard at Oregon. He expects to play as a true freshman and is ready to enroll in classes as soon as possible. He wants to earn a starting spot in the defensive backfield, but he knows that will take alot of hard work.
Although he’s nicknamed “The Blur,” his time in the 40-yard dash was a 4.5. Yet, his least favorite part of recruiting was the over aggressive coaches who would even show up at his school. He blames being overlooked by closer Pac-10 schools on coming from an area not known for producing football stars.
Thanks to Coach Leach, he said, Jackson was able to score a scholarship to Oregon over smaller schools who were recruiting him like UTEP and Colorado St.
Jackson was very candid about the college coaching carousel and the big money in Division I sports. Even though there’s millions of dollars involved, he feels like the experience alone is worth it. Tal believes that if you do your job on the field, the money will come.
As for his coach, Mike Bellotti, Jackson believes that Bellotti is committed to the program and the university and doesn’t see him leaving. As a true freshman, Jackson is ready to take the Pac-10 by storm next year. He hopes to take out his opponents, especially USC and UCLA, in a blur.
Check out The Blur in action.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
The Super Bowl Prediction
The moment that everyone has been waiting for is finally among us. James Mason has sat down at his keyboard to give the world his Super Bowl pick. Since nobody reads this but me, I think its time to stop talking in the third person.
This was a moderately interesting week of talk. There has probably been an equal amount of columns about the significance of the race of the two coaches and jokes about that angle being blown out of proportion. It’s not surprising that Lovie and Tony are being treated like conquering warriors; it gives us as Americans a chance to act like racism is dead.
Tank Johnson and Rex Grossman have taken a lot of heat for different things. Johnson has been criticized for his legal issues (which don’t include any murder charges, by the way) and Grossman for his struggles as a QB. In my opinion, Tank Johnson isn’t a barbarian and Grossman isn’t the worst QB in Super Bowl history.
In fact, an interesting dynamic with the Bears are the contract situations of some of the key components of this team. Ron Rivera will be a free agent after Super Bowl XLI. Pro Bowler Lance Briggs will be a free agent as well, and Grossman and Lovie Smith are among the lowest paid in their respective positions.
Win or lose, the Bears will be dishing out a lot of money if they want to be back at the Super Bowl next year.
For the Colts, this is Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning’s chance to win the big game they couldn’t win, 2 weeks after they won the big game they couldn’t win.
Marvin Harrison has made alot of noise by being the "anti-T.O.", or pretty much a regular guy. Good for him, bad for his wallet. Say what you want about antics, but I don't think many people knew who Joe Horn was until he did this.
All things considered, the Colts are big favorites in this game. Vegas has them by a touchdown, and many people think the Colts will win fairly easily.
However, both Bill Simmons and my mom think the Bears will win. As for me, I’ll first go to the good old tale of the tape.
Bears Passing Game vs. Colts Pass Defense
Chris Collingsworth was on the Jim Rome radio show this past week. He’s considered one of the best analysts in the business. He made an interesting point about Rex Grossman that I never heard anyone else bring up this week. All of his good games and most of his decent games came in either domes or warm weather. (Don't forget, Grossman was a star at the University of Florida.)
With the exception of the Arizona game, he usually sucks when it’s cold. As for tomorrow, it’s going to be around 70 all game. However, it will probably be rainy and windy which might bring this advantage down some.
The Bears have two other things working in their favor. First, Bob Sanders will probably have to help with run defense, which will open up Bernard Berrian deep. Second, the Colts and Bears run the same defense, so the Bears will have a good knowledge of what the Colts.
Advantage: Bears
Bears Running Game vs. Colts Run Defense
The Colts run defense is very different with Bob Sanders, who only played four games in the regular season. They’ve shut down every team’s running game they’ve played this post season with Sanders back.
However, having Bob Sanders back just makes their run defense average, instead of horrible. Plus I like the way the Bears backs have been running. They ran really aggressive against the Saints last week, and fought for extra yards all game.
Advantage: Push
Colts Passing Game vs. Bears Pass Defense
The Bears have a lot of injuries at safety and will probably start two rookies. The Cover 2 defense is very dependent on the safeties, especially if there is no pressure on the quarterback.
The Bears safeties are so suspect that I like the Colts big on this match up. Danieal Manning made a horrible play on Reggie Bush’s touchdown last week (corny Youtube kid alert!), and I can see him giving up at least one big score this game.
Advantage: Colts
Colts Running Game vs. Bears Run Defense
In my opinion, everyone has been sleeping on the Bears defense. They are a defensive team first, especially when it comes to stopping the run. If Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister are the best running back combo of all time and the Bears shut them down, I have to believe that the Bears will do the same to the Colts' backs.
Fortunately for Colts fans, I never bought into all the Bush hype. They’re good, but they’re not that much better than everybody else. Deuce and Reggie combined for 2,562 yards from scrimmage and 18 TD’s. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes combined for 2,298 yards and 13 TD’s. Factor in the trickiness of Peyton’s no-huddle offense, and I’m going with a push.
Advantage: Push
Special Teams
Devin Hester > Terrence Wilkins. Adam Vinateri > Robbie Gould. That’s all you really need to know about this match up. How about more Hester highlights?
Advantage: Push
Coaching
I’m not going to mock the significance of two black coaches in the Super Bowl. It’s a great accomplishment, but we haven’t climbed the mountaintop just yet. For starters, nobody is calling these guys geniuses. Instead, we get pieces about how classy they are, etc. These guys can flat out coach, and don’t get the respect they deserve for their intelligence and what they contributed to football X’s and O’s.
Since Tony brought in Lovie, I’m going with Dungy over Smith.
Advantage: Colts
Karma/Luck/Focus/etc.
There isn’t much to talk about in this section. A black coach will win this game, and a black coach will lose this game. Grossman is due for a game to silence the critics, while Manning and Dungy can finally get the monkey off their back.
Advantage: Push
All things considered, I think it will be a shootout. With both teams running games stalled, I can see a lot of points put up in a match-up between two defensive masterminds.
Final Score: Colts 37, Bears 31 (With my recent prediction history, the Colts will probably win 9-3.)
This was a moderately interesting week of talk. There has probably been an equal amount of columns about the significance of the race of the two coaches and jokes about that angle being blown out of proportion. It’s not surprising that Lovie and Tony are being treated like conquering warriors; it gives us as Americans a chance to act like racism is dead.
Tank Johnson and Rex Grossman have taken a lot of heat for different things. Johnson has been criticized for his legal issues (which don’t include any murder charges, by the way) and Grossman for his struggles as a QB. In my opinion, Tank Johnson isn’t a barbarian and Grossman isn’t the worst QB in Super Bowl history.
In fact, an interesting dynamic with the Bears are the contract situations of some of the key components of this team. Ron Rivera will be a free agent after Super Bowl XLI. Pro Bowler Lance Briggs will be a free agent as well, and Grossman and Lovie Smith are among the lowest paid in their respective positions.
Win or lose, the Bears will be dishing out a lot of money if they want to be back at the Super Bowl next year.
For the Colts, this is Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning’s chance to win the big game they couldn’t win, 2 weeks after they won the big game they couldn’t win.
Marvin Harrison has made alot of noise by being the "anti-T.O.", or pretty much a regular guy. Good for him, bad for his wallet. Say what you want about antics, but I don't think many people knew who Joe Horn was until he did this.
All things considered, the Colts are big favorites in this game. Vegas has them by a touchdown, and many people think the Colts will win fairly easily.
However, both Bill Simmons and my mom think the Bears will win. As for me, I’ll first go to the good old tale of the tape.
Bears Passing Game vs. Colts Pass Defense
Chris Collingsworth was on the Jim Rome radio show this past week. He’s considered one of the best analysts in the business. He made an interesting point about Rex Grossman that I never heard anyone else bring up this week. All of his good games and most of his decent games came in either domes or warm weather. (Don't forget, Grossman was a star at the University of Florida.)
With the exception of the Arizona game, he usually sucks when it’s cold. As for tomorrow, it’s going to be around 70 all game. However, it will probably be rainy and windy which might bring this advantage down some.
The Bears have two other things working in their favor. First, Bob Sanders will probably have to help with run defense, which will open up Bernard Berrian deep. Second, the Colts and Bears run the same defense, so the Bears will have a good knowledge of what the Colts.
Advantage: Bears
Bears Running Game vs. Colts Run Defense
The Colts run defense is very different with Bob Sanders, who only played four games in the regular season. They’ve shut down every team’s running game they’ve played this post season with Sanders back.
However, having Bob Sanders back just makes their run defense average, instead of horrible. Plus I like the way the Bears backs have been running. They ran really aggressive against the Saints last week, and fought for extra yards all game.
Advantage: Push
Colts Passing Game vs. Bears Pass Defense
The Bears have a lot of injuries at safety and will probably start two rookies. The Cover 2 defense is very dependent on the safeties, especially if there is no pressure on the quarterback.
The Bears safeties are so suspect that I like the Colts big on this match up. Danieal Manning made a horrible play on Reggie Bush’s touchdown last week (corny Youtube kid alert!), and I can see him giving up at least one big score this game.
Advantage: Colts
Colts Running Game vs. Bears Run Defense
In my opinion, everyone has been sleeping on the Bears defense. They are a defensive team first, especially when it comes to stopping the run. If Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister are the best running back combo of all time and the Bears shut them down, I have to believe that the Bears will do the same to the Colts' backs.
Fortunately for Colts fans, I never bought into all the Bush hype. They’re good, but they’re not that much better than everybody else. Deuce and Reggie combined for 2,562 yards from scrimmage and 18 TD’s. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes combined for 2,298 yards and 13 TD’s. Factor in the trickiness of Peyton’s no-huddle offense, and I’m going with a push.
Advantage: Push
Special Teams
Devin Hester > Terrence Wilkins. Adam Vinateri > Robbie Gould. That’s all you really need to know about this match up. How about more Hester highlights?
Advantage: Push
Coaching
I’m not going to mock the significance of two black coaches in the Super Bowl. It’s a great accomplishment, but we haven’t climbed the mountaintop just yet. For starters, nobody is calling these guys geniuses. Instead, we get pieces about how classy they are, etc. These guys can flat out coach, and don’t get the respect they deserve for their intelligence and what they contributed to football X’s and O’s.
Since Tony brought in Lovie, I’m going with Dungy over Smith.
Advantage: Colts
Karma/Luck/Focus/etc.
There isn’t much to talk about in this section. A black coach will win this game, and a black coach will lose this game. Grossman is due for a game to silence the critics, while Manning and Dungy can finally get the monkey off their back.
Advantage: Push
All things considered, I think it will be a shootout. With both teams running games stalled, I can see a lot of points put up in a match-up between two defensive masterminds.
Final Score: Colts 37, Bears 31 (With my recent prediction history, the Colts will probably win 9-3.)
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
A Topic More Important Than Sports
In the sports world, there hasn’t been a lot going on. The NBA is coming up on the all-star break. My campaign to get James White in the dunk contest is in full effect. In fact, I think that’s the only reason the Spurs called him up from the NBDL. If he was a good basketball player, he’d probably go down as the greatest dunker of all time.
I’d love to see him go against Vince, Kobe, Iguodala, Nate Robinson, J.R. Smith, T-Mac, and Desmond Mason in one of those old-school, eight man free-for-alls. (I’d put Jason Richardson over Desmond Mason, but he’s hurt.) 2000 was the last year there was a deep field, and it was the most entertaining dunk contest I remember.
Going back to White, if you don’t know who he is or think I'm exaggerating about his dunking ability, look at this. (Here's bonus footage of him in last year's college dunk contest. He came in second because he barely missed one of the sickest dunks ever, twice.)
As I continue to ramble on, the Super Bowl hype continues. I’ll analyze the game in a few days, but as of now I’m definitely undecided.
Something outside of the sports world that I’ve been reading about lately that’s disturbing are incidents of racism happening across the country. Despite all the coverage Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith have gotten, racism is still very much alive.
On a more publicied issue, I don’t think Joe Biden’s comments about Barack Obama weren’t racist, just ignorant and poorly worded. However, under the mainstream media's radar there have been reports of three racist MLK parties in the past few weeks. With everything Martin Luther King has done for America, its disturbing that people in my generation have such little respect for that he’s done, in addition to the overall racism of these incidents.
Perhaps more unfortunately, one of those parties was a University of Connecticut Law School party. As a black man, I hope I’m never falsely accused of a crime in one of those kids’ area. I can’t imagine getting a fair trial from someone who thinks of black people as 40-oz guzzling, bling-bling rocking idiots.
Part of the blame for these parties has to go to the music industry. MTV, BET, and other outlets portray us as such and we don’t do much to stop it. In fact, many of us not only support the music industry but some of us try to emulate what we see on the screen.
Speaking of music, Paris Hilton sort of is a singer. She also has been caught using the N-word twice, most recently at this party. Yet, I’m sure this won’t stop black people or minorities within the music, fashion or whatever industry she’s in from dealing with her.
Bringing it back to sports, Nick Saban called somebody a coonass, allegedly while retelling a story. Let’s see how many Cajun players decline to play for Nick Saban because of this. I’m guessing around zero.
That’s probably not that different from the number of black kids who refuse to play sports in South Carolina, a state that still flies the Confederate Flag on their statehouse grounds, and Mississippi, a state that has the “Stainless Banner” displayed on its state flag.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
NBA All-Star Snubs and Subs
Since I’ve been gone, a lot of happened in the world of sports. In a matter close to my heart, Drexel lost to VCU 75-68 in the CAA game of the year.
Serena Williams dominated Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final to win her 8th Grand Slam title. Roger Federer won his 10th Grand Slam title at the same tournament the next day.
The Super Bowl is now a week away, and we’re still talking about black coaches.
Aaron Brooks, not the one in the picture, from Oregon has made the race for college basketball’s player of the year a three way battle between him, Alando Tucker of Wisconsin, and Kevin Durant from Texas.
All of these things are cool, but since I want to get on my soapbox, I’m going to talk about the NBA’s All-Star selections.
I, like many, think the process needs to be overhauled. Shaq is starting for the Eastern Conference, thanks to the fans. He’s played in 6 games this season, only topped 20 points and 10 rebounds once (in different games), and is averaging 12 pts, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. ‘Zo Mourning (his backup and non all-star) is averaging 10 points, 5.7 rebounds, and almost 3 blocks.
Yet, when Shaq retires, his number of All-Star game appearances will be used to place him as possibly the 2nd or 3rd greatest center of all time. Nobody is going to say, “Hey, he only really earned one of those all-star games with the Heat.” Unless the fans are going to start voting for the Hall of Fame, we shouldn’t vote for the All-Star game.
At the very least, fans shouldn’t have total control over who starts. Unless, of course, nobody cares that Yao Ming will be the leading vote getter for the rest of his life, thanks to the billion plus people in China.
Second, there should be more flexibility with positions. Currently, there has to be 2 centers, 4 forwards, 4 guards, plus 2 wild cards on each team. You’d be hard pressed to find 4 good, legitimate centers in the entire league. The 12 best players from each conference should be selected, regardless of position.
Third, why not expand the roster by at least 2 spots. There are always at least two guys getting shafted each year because of fan voting, limited position flexibility, and the 12 man limit.
Alas, here are your starters for the Eastern and Western Conference. Guys in regular font are rightful starters, guys in italics are guys who should be on the team but not starting, and guys in bold aren’t All-Stars.
Eastern Conference
C Shaquille O’Neal
F Chris Bosh
F LeBron James
G Dwayne Wade
G Agent Zero
Western Conference
C Yao Ming
F Kevin Garnett
F Tim Duncan
G Kobe Bryant
G Tracy McGrady
Along with Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki and Carmelo Anthony should be starting at forward, and Nash at the point. Nash and Dirk are 1 and 2 in the MVP race, and ‘Melo leads the league in scoring. I know he missed 15 games, but he got shafted with the suspension. Shaq should be home.
Here are your Eastern and Western Conference reserves:
East
C Dwight Howard – 17.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks. If bound by positions, he should be starting center over Shaq.
F Jermaine O’Neal – 19.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3 blocks. Playing the best defense of his career and he is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
F Vince Carter – 25.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists. Vince is doing his thing, and should be a guarantee. He might get shafted for the years that he made it thanks to the fans.
G Jason Kidd – 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 9 assists. He’s a triple double threat every time he takes the floor, him and Vince should have the Nets in first place when its all said and done.
G Joe Johnson – 25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists. He’s the guy from the horrible team that makes it, since he’s having a better all-around season than Michael Redd.
F Caron Butler - 20.8 points, 8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2 steals. He’s playing some of the best all around ball in the entire conference. He’s finally living up to his potential.
G Rip Hamilton – 22.9 points, 4 rebounds, 3.7 assists. He’s the best player on the best team, having a great season.
Two who will get screwed:
G Michael Redd – 27.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists. In reality, he’ll probably make it over Joe Johnson. I’m taking Joe because he dishes out more dimes, and shoots it at a higher clip.
C Emeka Okafor – 15 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3 blocks. He edges out Eddy Curry for the “Guy who should be on the team instead of Shaq award.”
West
C – Yao Ming’s Replacement – Dirk Nowitzki – 25.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 50% FG. The best player on the NBA’s best team should be starting in the All-Star game. Especially since he has a good chance of being MVP.
C Amare Stoudemire – 18.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks. This will go down in history as the best post-microfracture surgery season ever.
F Carmelo Anthony – 31.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4 assists, 49% FG. He’s having the season of his life and should finally make the all-star team after getting shafted in his own town last year.
F Carlos Boozer – 22.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3 assists, 57% FG. If Utah was playing better, he’d be an MVP candidate too.
G Steve Nash – 19.5 points, 11.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 54% FG, 50% 3PT. This is one of the biggest no-brainers ever.
G Allen Iverson – 28.8 points, 7.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 2 steals. It’s a shame he had to sit out all those games, but I’m glad he’s on a Denver team that wants him.
F Josh Howard – 19.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1 steal, 1 block. He’s Dallas’ Matrix Jr.
F Shawn Marion – 18.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.4 blocks, 52% FG. The Matrix Sr. is still one of the most unheralded players in the league.
Two who will get screwed:
G Kevin Martin – 20.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1 steal, 49% FG. I’m surprised Mark Stein didn’t mention him in his column. He’s having a career year for the pathetic Kings.
G Baron Davis – 20.6 points, 8.6 assists 4.6 rebounds. 2.1 steals. His field goal percentage sucks, but otherwise he’s thriving with Nellie in Golden State. He’s also made Jason Richardson expendable, who the Warriors can use to get a better fit for their system.
Serena Williams dominated Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final to win her 8th Grand Slam title. Roger Federer won his 10th Grand Slam title at the same tournament the next day.
The Super Bowl is now a week away, and we’re still talking about black coaches.
Aaron Brooks, not the one in the picture, from Oregon has made the race for college basketball’s player of the year a three way battle between him, Alando Tucker of Wisconsin, and Kevin Durant from Texas.
All of these things are cool, but since I want to get on my soapbox, I’m going to talk about the NBA’s All-Star selections.
I, like many, think the process needs to be overhauled. Shaq is starting for the Eastern Conference, thanks to the fans. He’s played in 6 games this season, only topped 20 points and 10 rebounds once (in different games), and is averaging 12 pts, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. ‘Zo Mourning (his backup and non all-star) is averaging 10 points, 5.7 rebounds, and almost 3 blocks.
Yet, when Shaq retires, his number of All-Star game appearances will be used to place him as possibly the 2nd or 3rd greatest center of all time. Nobody is going to say, “Hey, he only really earned one of those all-star games with the Heat.” Unless the fans are going to start voting for the Hall of Fame, we shouldn’t vote for the All-Star game.
At the very least, fans shouldn’t have total control over who starts. Unless, of course, nobody cares that Yao Ming will be the leading vote getter for the rest of his life, thanks to the billion plus people in China.
Second, there should be more flexibility with positions. Currently, there has to be 2 centers, 4 forwards, 4 guards, plus 2 wild cards on each team. You’d be hard pressed to find 4 good, legitimate centers in the entire league. The 12 best players from each conference should be selected, regardless of position.
Third, why not expand the roster by at least 2 spots. There are always at least two guys getting shafted each year because of fan voting, limited position flexibility, and the 12 man limit.
Alas, here are your starters for the Eastern and Western Conference. Guys in regular font are rightful starters, guys in italics are guys who should be on the team but not starting, and guys in bold aren’t All-Stars.
Eastern Conference
C Shaquille O’Neal
F Chris Bosh
F LeBron James
G Dwayne Wade
G Agent Zero
Western Conference
C Yao Ming
F Kevin Garnett
F Tim Duncan
G Kobe Bryant
G Tracy McGrady
Along with Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki and Carmelo Anthony should be starting at forward, and Nash at the point. Nash and Dirk are 1 and 2 in the MVP race, and ‘Melo leads the league in scoring. I know he missed 15 games, but he got shafted with the suspension. Shaq should be home.
Here are your Eastern and Western Conference reserves:
East
C Dwight Howard – 17.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.8 blocks. If bound by positions, he should be starting center over Shaq.
F Jermaine O’Neal – 19.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3 blocks. Playing the best defense of his career and he is a candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
F Vince Carter – 25.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists. Vince is doing his thing, and should be a guarantee. He might get shafted for the years that he made it thanks to the fans.
G Jason Kidd – 14.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 9 assists. He’s a triple double threat every time he takes the floor, him and Vince should have the Nets in first place when its all said and done.
G Joe Johnson – 25 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists. He’s the guy from the horrible team that makes it, since he’s having a better all-around season than Michael Redd.
F Caron Butler - 20.8 points, 8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2 steals. He’s playing some of the best all around ball in the entire conference. He’s finally living up to his potential.
G Rip Hamilton – 22.9 points, 4 rebounds, 3.7 assists. He’s the best player on the best team, having a great season.
Two who will get screwed:
G Michael Redd – 27.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists. In reality, he’ll probably make it over Joe Johnson. I’m taking Joe because he dishes out more dimes, and shoots it at a higher clip.
C Emeka Okafor – 15 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3 blocks. He edges out Eddy Curry for the “Guy who should be on the team instead of Shaq award.”
West
C – Yao Ming’s Replacement – Dirk Nowitzki – 25.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 50% FG. The best player on the NBA’s best team should be starting in the All-Star game. Especially since he has a good chance of being MVP.
C Amare Stoudemire – 18.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks. This will go down in history as the best post-microfracture surgery season ever.
F Carmelo Anthony – 31.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4 assists, 49% FG. He’s having the season of his life and should finally make the all-star team after getting shafted in his own town last year.
F Carlos Boozer – 22.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3 assists, 57% FG. If Utah was playing better, he’d be an MVP candidate too.
G Steve Nash – 19.5 points, 11.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 54% FG, 50% 3PT. This is one of the biggest no-brainers ever.
G Allen Iverson – 28.8 points, 7.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 2 steals. It’s a shame he had to sit out all those games, but I’m glad he’s on a Denver team that wants him.
F Josh Howard – 19.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1 steal, 1 block. He’s Dallas’ Matrix Jr.
F Shawn Marion – 18.7 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.4 blocks, 52% FG. The Matrix Sr. is still one of the most unheralded players in the league.
Two who will get screwed:
G Kevin Martin – 20.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1 steal, 49% FG. I’m surprised Mark Stein didn’t mention him in his column. He’s having a career year for the pathetic Kings.
G Baron Davis – 20.6 points, 8.6 assists 4.6 rebounds. 2.1 steals. His field goal percentage sucks, but otherwise he’s thriving with Nellie in Golden State. He’s also made Jason Richardson expendable, who the Warriors can use to get a better fit for their system.
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