Season Greetings

I promise...this is not about Tim Tebow.

I got a lemon cream pie-in-the-face dose of reality this past year. You just never know when life serves you a dose of change. The question becomes, "What do you do about it?".

For me, I enjoy lemonade. While I am so tempted to get down on myself and my uncertain future, I simply refuse. While I still have a way to go, I have already come a long way. I don't want to dwell on this because this message is about positivity.

The support that I have gotten from my co-workers, friends and family has been incredible. This includes friends that I have not seen in years. I have also created new friendships with people that have shared my recent journey. Interactions like this have helped me to keep my glass of lemonade full.

But enough about me - this is more about you. The energy that I have gotten from you has helped me on my journey back to normalcy. I just want to take the time to thank you for your support and wish you and yours a happy and safe holiday season. And take it from someone who appreciates human interaction: Take time to stop and smell the roses.

The Plantation

It's rant time, not to be confused with Hammer time.

The deal was set: NBA All-Star guard Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets was the gem in a six player, three team deal in which he was headed to the Lakers. NBA insider Chris Broussard said that Paul was ready to board a plane to LA and that Kobe Bryant was waiting for him at the airport to celebrate. Other players involved included Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol and Rockets players Kevin Martin and Luis Scola.

Out of the blue, the league nixes the deal for "basketball reasons". "The decision was taken that Chris Paul in New Orleans was more valuable than the trade that was being discussed," commissioner David Stern tells Bloomberg. "I don't want to speak on the basketball side, but that particular one was weighed against Chris Paul's continued presence in New Orleans.'' This was also in response to complaints from owners that was crystallized in a e-mail sent by Cavs owner Dan Gilbert, who said that you might as well call the other teams the Washington Generals. As a result, the Hornets would lose Paul, who will be a free agent in July, and would get nothing for him. The twist that allows this to happen is that the Hornets is the only team that is owned by the league. I don't even want to get started down that road.

This situation is similar to the one involving center Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic. He has already told the Magic that he will not come back when his contract ends in July and wants to be traded to the Nets. This gives the Magic the opportunity to get something for him. This is similar to the gangsta move that Carmelo (Melo, my man - The Roots) Anthony did that got him to the Knicks last year.

On the one hand, the Godfather (Stern - my name for him) works for the owners. On the other hand, while you are not quite yet denying the rights that NBA great Oscar Robinson fought for regarding free agency, we are still talking about, in the long term at least, a poor business decision. At the worst, it smacks of a time long ago. What makes it worse is that the league just reached agreement on a new bargining agreement. Yeah, I know that it's hard to have that perception of these players who are in general millionaires, but I do. All I want is the opportunity for players to have the freedom to achieve their competitive dreams. I'll just leave it at that.

BTW - My Heisman vote goes to Trent Richerson (1583 yds. rushing, 23TD's). He's the best player on college's second best team. Too bad that I don't have a vote.

Belief

It's just like his commercial that's currently running. He's dressed in workout gear (with a industrial chain around his neck) saying how people told him that he couldn't be a high school quarterback. How he couldn't get a Division I scholarship, much less win a Heisman and a couple of national championships. And defiantly couldn't win in the NFL. 

The fact is that quarterback Tim Tebow of the Broncos is, like LL Cool J would say, something like a phenomenon. Since given the starting QB job five weeks ago, the Broncos have won four out of five games. What makes him strange like Cameo is the way he's helping Denver win games. He doesn't have great stats-- he only has a 45% completion rate this year for a QB rating of 78% and to be honest, doesn't throw the ball well at all. What helps is his rushing average of just under seven yards (6.8) per carry and his ten TD's.

I saw the Tebow thing up close and personal last night in their game versus the Jets. Again, no great stats (9-20 passing for 104 yds.) and didn't throw the ball well. But with the game on the line, Tebow led his team on a 12 play, 95 yard game winning drive. He finished off the drive with a 20 yard run of his own. That was part of his 58 rushing yards that he ran for on that drive alone. By the way, the Jets were the seventh best defense in the league before last night's game.

 

How is he doing it?

 

One reason is his preparation. He watches film like Kobe and does give a sincere effort in both game and practice, according to his head coach and teammates. While he hasn't thrown the ball well, he has only thrown one pick. Another reason is his leadership. It seemed like the entire team ran to him after his winning run last night. Teammate Von Miller seemed to sum it up best:" I'm ridin him to the end."

 

A component that I can not personally ignore is his relationship with God. He came into the league wearing his religion on his sleeve, telling everyone about his love for his God. This is not lessing anybody elses relationship with their Creator (for those who believe), but it is a big deal if you come out with feelings like he has in the sports world. Former Eagle Hugh Douglas said on First Take that if the Broncos won, he would go to church on Sunday. Guess where's he going this weekend? This is a guy who talked about the hospital he is building in the Philippines more so than how he played tonight. My take is that this is another example of God manifesting His greatness and showing (again) that with Him anything is possible.

 

There are people that still don't believe he can do it on a long term basis. Like I texed my boyz last night, Tebow is a flat out baller. While for some, if he doesn't reach the Super Bowl will validate their doubts about him, he is already a winner in my book.

Who is it really about?

In the history of this blog, I generally touch on issues that are of a kinder, gentler more sports related nature. I wasn't going to talk about the controversy going on at Penn State, but I can't help but get some things off my chest, including the question of the day that I texed to some of my boyz: If SMU got the death penalty for what they did, what should Penn State get?

First, the NCAA should be involved in this situation. While the organization's core purpose includes governing competition, it also states that it's core values include a commitment to integrity and helps to set standards and rules regarding both personnel and administrative standards. As the situation continues to evolve, the NCAA will have to address the decisions that were made regarding which people Penn State allowed on their campus.

My next issue is in regards to passing the buck, which is not to be confused with clockin dollars. Legally, protocol was followed: the alleged crime was seen, the person who saw it reported it to the head coach, who in turn told his bosses for further action blah, blah blah. My problem is that it took more than 15 years for someone to be arrested. Using my new phrase, Really? There's that administrative thing again. At the least, Joe Pa should have pulled his boy up and just said, "What's up?"

I'm going to make this real simple. And I don't know all of the facts yet. Penn State should wack itself and start over. I know that the school made 50 million dollars from it's athletic programs last year, but that shouldn't matter. We're talkin about lives that have been impacted forever. If you must put it on a business level, it's good for business since it is in children/young adult line of work. Shows initiative. It should take a page from the University of San Francisco, who scrapped their own b-ball program for three years in 1982 when one of it's players was charged with sexual assault.

Penn State should have taken a page from the group Heatwave, who sang the song "All You Do Is Dial".

Prediction Friday

There are two compelling games for me that I have to give my barbershop opinion on.

On the college level, it's basically LSU (#1 in the polls) vs. the #2 Crimson Tide (one of my favorite team nicknames) of Alabama this weekend. For me, this is the national championship game, with apologies to Stanford and Oklahoma State. It has been more than thirty years since a #1 has played a #2 during the regular season. I understand that this game will be played in Alabama; I also understand that Bama has a solid quarterback in AJ McCarron and the prime time running back in Trent Richardson. I even get that the Tide has rolled to winning 25 of their last 26 home games.

Having said all that, I like the Tigers. One reason is that LSU is a great road team. They have actually won five of their last seven visits to Tuscaloosa. While Alabama's players will run through a wall for coach Nick Saban, Les Miles players will run thru a brick wall for him. While Alabama has at least seven projected pros on their team, LSU has their own crew of big-time players that will come with the emotion needed for the win. Also, look for the patented Les Miles trick play that could be the difference.

On the pro level, the premier matchup is the Ravens/Steelers game. Let's get the obvious out of the way first: I feel that the Ravens will win the game. I mean, lets not get carried away--I have to keep my Raven bandwagon ticked updated. But I hope that the Baltimore fans understand that this will not be the same Steeler team that they manhandled on opening day.

The Steelers have won their last four games on their way to the top of the division standings. The twist is that they have done it with their offence, led by Big Ben. They haven't run the rock particularly well, but they have thrown it around pretty good, led by my personal fantasy football stud Mike Wallace.

While I never worry about the Raven D, the key will be, you guessed it, Joe Flacco. The former Blue Hen will have to be more than a caretaker of the offence this week. He will have to make some plays this week. In watching the Ravens this year, their formula for success has been to allow their offensive star players to be stars. Run Ray Rice 25-30 times. Throw more to Anquan Bolden. Let your stars do what they do like Ray Charles.

Who do you like this weekend?

Sudden Life

If you are a true baseball fan, you hope to see a great World Series game (or series) in your lifetime. While I have been fortunate to see a couple, last night's game six between the Cards & the Rangers has to be put in the discussion.

The Cardinals forced a game seven by defeating the Rangers 10-9 in extra innings, truly coming all the way back. They were one strike away (twice) from elimination. This was the first time that this has ever happened in a World Series game. It was also the first time that a team scored in the last four innings of a Series game in history. While I kept thinking that that they were playing out the string, as Public Enemy would say, the Cards refused to lose. It's actually worth it to see the highlights if you didn't see the game.

I'm not going to front: I kinda of stumbled onto the game in the seventh inning, just in time to see the run. I thought that I was going to see manager Ron Washington become only the second African-American manager to win a World Series (Cito Gaston of the Blue Jays was the first in 92). Not quite. In either case, like Bart Scott would have said, I can't wait for tonight's season finale.

The Good Life

The latest to do in college football is related to the latest scandal at the University of Miami where a booster is alleged to have given players the champagne life like Neyo, which include women and straight cash like Randy Moss.

Let me be clear: I am for players receiving some sort of “stipend” for collegiate sports.  These payments should be made directly by the university. These payment amounts should correlate to the amount of money that the particular sport generates. If these boosters still want to contribute to the school, they have to qualify.

One reason for my pro-player position regards the issue of fairness. While full tuition is a good start, there must be more. My research indicates that (just) the top five college football programs in the country made almost a quarter of a billion dollars in profits. This includes Texas (59 billion) and Penn State, which made 50 billion dollars in profits. While football money helps to finance non-football things such as academic scholarships, the players should get their piece of the pie. To paraphrase Randy Moss again, anything else is “straight pimpin, homie”.

In my previous life as a collegiate journalist, I did stringer work for some of the local community newspapers, covering local sporting events, helping to make ends meet. If the Baltimore Sun offered me cash to write for them while I was in college, you know what my response would be.

What also handicaps the players is their inability to cash in on themselves. If someone is willing to pay for a players autograph or jersey, why shouldn’t the player be allowed to benefit? The University of Florida is still making money from the sale of Tim Tebow jerseys. The amateur train left the NCAA station a long time ago.

Now I understand that this will not eliminate this practice, but discussion of this will begin the process for the NCAA and schools to get a better handle on it. It’s not like the schools can’t afford it.

The Friday Freeze jukebox was inspired from a vein that I hadn't heard in a while. The artist was a member of the Furious Five who helped write the song, "The Message" Have a good weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQVH2A90cT8&list=FLTYBShOqAw5Gky4En6ESfDQ&index=3&feature=plpp

Hoops - The Good & the Ugly

This past weekend in DC, it was East Coast vs. West Coast, but on a more positive tone. This past weekend was highlighted by a summer league basketball matchup between representatives of the DC based Goodman League and the LA based Drew League. I’m talkin about guys like Kevin Durant (DC), John Wall (DC), James Harden (LA), Brandon Jennings (LA), Gary Neal (Towson in the house) and Wiz big man JaVale McGee who was on the LA team. Here are some highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw6z-vsIQYU

Both leagues represented in this game have history based in urban roots. The Drew league was created in 1973 from the mean streets of south central Los Angeles on the foundation of mentoring, prevention and leadership. Current NBA players that have played in this league include Baron Davis and Paul Pierce. The Goodman League (founded 1975) brought its league indoors for this game. They usually have their games outside at Berry Farms in southeast DC. Kevin Durant has been playing in this league since he was 16 years old.

Any commentary I give would not do the game justice, so all I’ll say is that the game was won by the DC squad when Kevin Durant , who scored a game high 44 points and was voted game MVP, hit the game winning free throws with 21 seconds remaining. I can’t make this stuff up. Durant has been on a summer league tear this year, scoring 66 points in a New York Rucker league game earlier this summer.

These games are reminiscence of another DC pro league from back in the 70’s. The Urban Coalition League featured the best from both college and the pros in dream pickup games. One of my favorite memories was Pat Ewing’s DC debut. The first time he touched the ball he grabbed the rebound, dribbled down the court (between his legs twice) and took off from the foul line with a monster dunk. Wow. This 18 year old kid was already holding his own against established pros.

The ugly was on the other side of the world when the Georgetown Hoyas and the Red Army team of China squared off in more ways than one. This was an example of what happens when a game is poorly officiated and smacks of homerism. I think the China team took an extra swig of swag juice as they took it to the G-men in more ways than one. I still don't know what that was about. I'm just happy that Hoya motion maintained their level of cordiality.

I thought China & America were allies...aren't they?

Can he...?

Down the beltway is my favorite AFC team, the Baltimore Ravens. My reason for my love for the Ravens ranges from my many Baltimore friendships (both old & new) to their continued excellence, year to year, on the football field. They are always in the Super Bowl conversation.


Part of the reason for their recent success has been the play of their quarterback, Joe Flacco. He was the first rookie QB in league history to win his first two playoff games, and also has four road playoff wins, a league record. He also holds the league record for most wins (combined regular and postseason) in his first three years with 36. His career stats are comparable to NFL starters, which show improvement in stats that range from TD’s (14 to 25) to completion percentage in his three year career.

The reason for today’s blog was Flacco responding to his critics in a recent Baltimore Sun interview. He basically said that he is a good quarterback and that “…I feel pretty good about myself no matter what you say. I would like some more people than myself to think good about me, but they never do, they never do." I personally like that that swag.

Using my untrained “fan” eye, I think Flacco is a competent NFL starting quarterback. He can make all the throws and doesn’t seem to be rattled (too) easily. While that may be enough for me, my favorite AFC team, the question I simply have for Raven Nation is a question that has been asked since he was drafted. Can the Ravens win a Super Bowl with Joe Flacco as their starting QB?

Have a good weekend. Today's Friday Freeze Jukebox wishes a soulful R.I.P. to Amy Winehouse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n0jxiUPjbg

Here we go...

It’s official. American Football has returned to the free world and, like the Pointer Sisters, I’m so excited. For my money, it never left; this was just the offseason for the league anyway with just a little drama added for promotion purposes. The surprising moment for me was Colts player rep Jeff Saturday embracing Pats owner Robert Kraft and giving him a pound for getting the deal done in spite of just burying his wife just the previous Friday. While the cynic in me wants to say one thing, the tears that I saw in Kraft’s eyes wants me to just give him props.


As the character Chucky from the HBO show OZ would say, this agreement was a “win-win”. The owners got the lion’s shares of the estimated 120-150 billion in revenues over the life of the ten year contract. The players got better workplace rules which include fewer offseason Organized Team Activities (from 14 to 10 sessions), the elimination of two-a-days practices and the opportunity for players to remain in the player medical plan for life.

The real fun part for me is the upcoming free agent sweepstakes, which begins in earnest later this week. This includes players that will be cut from teams that are over the cap. The other reason I will enjoy this is for fantasy reasons. The script will be totally flipped as this plays out.

One sports lockout down, one to go.

Popeyes

Here’s that two piece spicy blog that I promised you last week.


First, football is back…almost!! I was going to admit that I was jumping the gun because I always thought that the owners couldn’t afford a reduction of the ten to twelve paydays they get per year. That was before I found out that the owners ratified the contract first. I feel a hustle coming on. These owners didn’t make the millions that they have (and are) making by happenstance. By approving the contract first puts all the pressure on the players to agree. Skins player rep Vonnie Holliday said early on in a “tweet” that the players have been bamboozled, hoodwinked…led astray. Takeo Spikes said on Mike & Mike in the Morning, that the players were disrespected by having a contract thrown in their face and told to sign without seeing it first. He responded by saying that the players have no timetable and will approve the deal when the players feel that it’s “a fair deal”.

Let me say that I am in favor of the players doing their due diligence and getting the contract that they can live with, even at the expense of a possible shortened season. Remember, this is a sport where all the players are one play away from retirement. And while the average career of a NFL player is less than four years, they are still entitled to the benefits and help from a sport that is estimated to make 120-150 billion over the life of this ten year contract. And as Tony Montana said, “That is a lot of money.” Stay tuned.

Today’s second piece: NBA Hardwood Classics which comes on the NBA network. Watching these games reminds me of why I love this game. The game that inspired me to write this was the game 6 win by the Portland Trail Blazers over the 76ers, giving the Blazers their first league championship in 1977. Memories range from watching Hall-of-Famers Dr. J and Bill Walton (series MVP who had 20 points, 23 rebounds and 8 blocks in game 6) to ballers Lloyd Free & Doug Collins (that’s right, I said Doug Collins) to guys like Maurice Lucas, who are no longer with us, having his biggest day in the sun. Did I mention that Brent did the game? Maybe it was just the game that I saw, but another thing I noticed was the lack of jawing by the players to the refs.

Now if they would only show the Bullets championship clincher game from 1978.

Enjoy both the Friday Freeze Jukebox and your weekend:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zyf0YwUJcqk

Competition

Any time I can talk about a sport other then the big three (for most of you that’s football, basketball or baseball) I try to take advantage. Especially a match that was great as the one yesterday.


I’m talkin about the women’s World Cup title game between the United States and Japan. Let me admit that I am not expert that I claim to be when I talk USA women’s soccer. In fact, the women have a very solid history. Since the beginning of the tournament in 1991, the women have placed (1st 2nd or 3rd) in every one. Yesterday’s title appearance was the first since the “top off” championship in the 1999 Rose Bowl game when a US player took off her jersey after scoring the winning goal.

As much as I wanted a happy ending, it wasn’t meant to be as Japan overcame both late regulation and overtime deficits to take their first Cup title, winning on penalty kicks. The US finishes second for the second time in tourney history.

Now for todays rant. I feel that all overtime games should be sudden death. I’m not saying that because the US scored first in yesterday’s OT. The current World Cup format has two 15 minute periods and if tied after that, then penalty kicks. If Japan had scored first yesterday, they win for my money. ESPN soccer analyst Tommy Smyth said regarding overtimes that there is no other way to do it. Yes it is. First score wins. My question is, “Who is being penalized on these kicks?” Looks like the better team.

A couple of my boyz were a bit perturbed regarding the biased coverage that the US seemed to get regarding the game. My only point is that it was warranted. They were the tournament favorite. Japan had never beaten the US in 25 previous matches. The press always loves a winner. The US actually should have won the match but made bad plays down the stretch that gave Japan opportunities that they took advantage of.

It’s like a good friend of mine says:”That’s why they play the games.”

Memories

Despite the bad rap I give Baseball, I still love the game. It was the first sport that I played in my previous life as a young athlete in my single digit days. More than four decades later, I still remember my first hit (a single) in my first organized game like it was yesterday. I was hitting against a pitcher who was a sidewinder (pitcher who threw from the side instead of over the top).


I was a catcher during my entire baseball “career”. I loved playing that position. From being that coach on the field to encouraging my pitcher to get that key batter out, I enjoyed being my team’s quarterback. One of the pitchers that I caught for as a kid ended up becoming a WBC lightweight champion as an adult. While Darryl Tyson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darryl_Tyson) was also a champion as a welterweight who had a career record of 50-14-1, I will always remember him for the incredible curve ball that he had at the age of nine. I have no doubt that he could have been a great major league pitcher.

Why this walk down memory lane? One of the major reasons I love baseball: Last night’s All-Star Game, also known as the Mid-Summer classic. For my money, this is my favorite all-star game. While I don’t enjoy stuff like the Home Run Derby, I love the in-game homeruns like the one that Prince Fielder hit last night. They can leave all that commercial stuff like having a pool at the ballpark to swim in during the game (Are you kidding me?) in the boardrooms. I’m from the Jimmy F. School of sports: just go out and play the game. The memories will happen.

Memories like these are the reason that I tune in to the All-Star game. One of my favorite moments of this year’s game was the Padres all-star that spent time with some kids in the stands who were watching the game. He gave them some souvenirs like his backpack and some of his baseball cards. It reminded me of an endearing memory I have when my pops took me to an exhibition game between the Red Sox and the Mets at RFK Stadium. I was one of those kids who strained his arm out hoping to get Carl Yastrzemski’s autograph (got it too). Memories like this bring tears to my eyes to this day.

What’s your favorite baseball moment either as a player, fan or both? I know you got one.

Anniversary

How ya doin sports fans? Friday was the one year anniversary of “The Decision”, the much to do TV extravaganza regarding NBA baller Lebron James decision to take his talents to South Beach. He joined his pals from the Olympics, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade (my boy) to make a run to win not just one but two, three, four even five or more titles during their run with the Heat. This is one NBA fan’s review of that decision.


From an old school’s fan’s point of view, James’s show put him in T.O.’s class of ego. For more shrew fans, you knew he wasn’t staying in Cleveland. What gets me is the look he had as if to say,” I didn’t want to do all this…this is what my people set up for me.” Remember, he is trying to be a global icon.

Actually, at the end of the week, Bron-Bron was only two wins away from his first NBA title. He didn’t help his cause in the series, scoring less than double digits in the 4th quarter for the series. He seems to be part of that generation that expects everything to be handed to him. Just when I was getting ready to say how much James has matured, he slam dunks on a middle school kid at his basketball camp during a pickup game. I guess he really does love him some him.

Let me be the first to say that I have no problem with free agents going where they want to go. The real question is, after the collective bargaining agreement is ratified (whenever that will be), how many more “Decision” shows there will be in the future.

Mackey

Usually I just cover one topic per blog entry. But today’s blog is the special two piece spicy edition.


The first piece is a respectful rest in peace to NFL tight end John Mackey, who passed this week at the age of 69. I first heard of this yesterday morning from one of my boyz, who said that he was one of the best tight ends ever. Given that he played most of his career for the Baltimore Colts and he was a Colts fan, I totally get that. While this is from a guy who football acumen I highly respect, I still just brushed it off to a Baltimore sports thing.

Then I got another text. And another. And another. Now I admit that my attention was diverted to tight ends such as Dave Casper of the Raiders and Kellen Winslow when growing up as a kid. So when I started getting all these shout outs for Mackey, I had to look more into it.

When first looking at his stats, I was like, OK. In his nine year career (in which he missed just one game), Mackey caught 331balls for 38TD’s for 15.8 yards per catch average. He made five Pro Bowls, made the 1960’s All-Decade Team and even returned kicks part time. Upon further review, I had to look a little more deeper than just the stats. Mackey became the first offensive threat at the tight end position. Nine of his career TD’s were for 50 yards or longer. This included a 75 yard TD grab that helped the Colts win Super Bowl V over the Cowboys. Check out his grab here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ8SfR9P-_o

While looking at PTI, I then saw more highlights, including Mackey shaking off seven defenders (no joke) for one score. Mike Ditka, who was the first pure tight end to enter the Hall of Fame before Mackey, said at his induction that he was surprised to learn that he was the first tight end to get in; he thought Mackey got in way before him. Just forget what I going to say about tight ends Kellen Winslow and Tony Gonzalez having better stats than him.

Part of the reason that he didn’t get in earlier may have had to do with his post-football career, which included becoming the first president of the NFL Players Association. He helped organize a strike that earned players 11 million dollars in pensions and benefits. Could also be the reason that his #88 has not been retired by the Colts. In my first bad word from my blog, damn sometimes I can’t stand politics. When suffering from dementia in his later years, the league and players created the “88 plan”, which provides $88,000-a-year for nursing home care and up to $50,000 annually for adult day care.

I have never felt so much for a player that I never saw. He helped set the tempo for league negotiations to this day. After reading about Mackey, I decided there’s no way I can talk about the year anniversary of “The Decision” in the same sitting. I’ll save that piece of chicken for Monday.

Today’s Friday Freeze Jukebox is a tribute to John Mackey. The music is from a group that he helped to discover. Have a great weekend!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbfaPuxzowU

Baseball

Today’s blog is about America’s national pastime. No, I’m not talkin about football. As the song goes, we’re talkin baseball. To get into the proper spirit, I’m rocking my authentic LA Dodger cap my boy got for me during a recent trip from the west coast while I’m writing this blog.


I must say here that I still have an attitude with baseball that stems from the steroids era. I combine that with me just not getting too excited about the sport until late August/September. By then, football kicks in (both real and fantasy) and, well, you get the point.

For paperwork purposes, as far as the current standings go, it’s the usual suspects at the top. In the American League, the best team is the Yankees, who has a 1 ½ game lead over their rival, the Boston Red Sox. The other leaders are the Cleveland Indians (in the Central) the Anaheim Angels and last year American League champ, the Texas Rangers in the West. In the older National League, the Phillies are threatening to run away with the league (major league best 55 wins), led by their trio of starting aces of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels (both double digit game winners) and former Ranger Cliff Lee, who has nine wins. Rounding out the leaders are the St. Louis Cardinals and the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Now a couple of shout-outs to:

• Derek Jeter. At the time of this blog, the Yankee captain is just four hits away from 3,000. In the storied history of the franchise, he would be the first player to reach that plateau. After winning the Rookie of the Year award in 1996, the 12 time All-Star has helped lead the Yanks to five World Series titles. Actually, Jeter gets more of a pound from me for his off the field conquests than from his on field successes that include Mariah Carey, Miss Universe Lara Dutta and actress Jessica Biel. Respect.

• The Washington Nationals. My home team is above .500 for the first time in recent history. This could be the beginning of something special. With the addition of possible future All-Stars Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, and the experience of new manager Davey Johnson, there is reason for hope. A guy can dream can’t he?

Like I said, it’s only July.

Stoppage

As of Friday, the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA players and owners ended, running the major sports strike count to two. The league, just ending one of the more popular seasons in recent history, could lose all that fan goodwill in the blink of a swishing three point jump shot. My Warren Buffet business side understands it, but my more dominant fan side doesn’t get it at all.


Basically, I lay all of this at the feet of the owners. Maybe their profit projections were off, but it’s not the players fault. How many of us would turn down a five year, 15-17 million dollar contract? I didn’t pull these figures out of the air: According to league figures, this was the contract of the average NBA player. I once again cite my BreezyG theory of value: The value of anything in the world is EXACTLY what someone is willing to pay for it. And (all together now) who set those values?

As I celebrate the one year anniversary of my blog, I couldn’t help but notice the blog that I started out with. The title was called “NBA Gone Wild”. It was about the salary scale of the league that payed athletes such as Drew Gooden (5yrs, 32mil) and Channing Frye (5yrs 30mil) great salaries.

I just want both of these stoppages to get resolved as soon as possible. The players want it. The fans want it. Heck, even the networks want it. I mean, what”s a sports network without highlights?

Status

To paraphrase Elton John, the blog is back!!


I enter day number 40 of my personal odyssey that is my recovery from quad repair surgery with mixed emotions. I have just completed a month of formal rehab work at a great clinic in the area. Two-a- day high school football practices have nothing on two-a-days of both occupational and physical therapy seven days a week. Every time I would start to feel sorry for myself or to gripe and moan about my condition, I would look over at a ninety something grandmother getting it done recovering from hip replacement surgery. It took me down a notch real quick. It also spoke to me the incredible power of the human spirit.

At this time I have to give a personal shout to my physical therapist, who has also been my punisher, psychologist as well as my cheerleader. While I still have a long way to go, I cannot deny the progress that I know I have made. I’m afraid that she has a friend for life for her efforts.

It was also a case of everyone being in the same boat (sort of speak) that brought down barriers of color. I have established relationships with people that on the face you would not think that we traveled in the same circles at all. We all just want to get better.

The next step in the process moves to home care. I now undergo continual home physical therapy that will evolve to outpatient work at the facility of my choice. While I don’t have the mixed emotions of the group Funkadelic, at the end of the day I just want a chance of normalcy.

I also have to mention that Saturday is the one year anniversary of my blog. I just have one thing to say about that: Wow!! Thanks to all who have read my blog to date and hope that you continue enjoying the BreezyG experience.

Enjoy the Friday Freeze jukebox and your holiday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is5xMd1nT5o&feature=mh_lolz&list=FLHStSLkDL0H0

One

The magic number for the Mavs is one. It comes down to getting one win for Jason Terry to keep his championship trophy tattoo on his arm. Despite a gutty performance by King Wade (my boy), a triple double by Prince James, the Heat’s bench outscoring the Mavs bench and 59 points from the Heat big three, Dallas is just one win away.


In reviewing the first half, I thought that the Heat actually caught a break when King Wade (my boy) got hurt, seemingly giving Prince James an avenue to work his magic. It was actually part three of the decision (Bosh) who kept the Heat in the game. His play helped to offset the Mavs shooting a torrid 66% from the field in the first half. Commentator Stephen Smith suggested earlier today personal issues that are distracting James from playing better. It just shows how really hard it is to try to be a global icon. And before you say I’m drinking the haterade for Labron, let me just say that he scored, wait for it, zero points in the fourth quarter. He has scored two points (or less) in the 4th quarter for the fourth straight game. That’s not hate, that’s fact.

It went from bad to worse when Wade didn’t start the second half. But despite the Mavs great shooting, Miami kept it close until Wade came back. Playing with that bad hip, King Wade still scored a courageous 23 points. But Dallas, as they have done all year, came up big in the big games. From Dirk to The Jet (21 points – 8 in the 4th qtr.) to J.J. Barea, who dropped 17 on the Heat as the new starter for the Mavs.

As the series goes back to South Beach, I think it’s time to consider putting this series in the classic category. Every game has been very competitive and spirited. I personally counted five future Hall of Famers on the floor at one time. I’m just sayin.

Here is the Friday Freeze Jukebox:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg1L1pYjrsI

Wow!!

Is this a great series or what?


The Dallas Mavericks just continue to refuse to lose when they need a win. They have tied the championship series at two wins each, making the run to the 2011 title a simple two out of three match. Last night’s hero was (again) Dirk Nowitski, who again hit the winning basket again for the Mavs. This time he did it with 100+ degree fever, not the Madonna type. This time he had the help he needed as coach Rick Carlisle pushed the right buttons starting J.J. Berea in place of former Wiz Stevenson for quicks. It also seemed to inspire Stevenson who scored eleven points. The Jet (Jason Terry) was also flying high with 17 points in 35 big minutes. The bench was the difference again, outscoring the Heat’s bench 28-15.

On the Heat side, DWade (my boy) again did his Jordan impersonation with 32 points. Chris Bosh continued to have a strong series with 24 points and six rebounds. The big missing link this time was Prince James, who had his worst playoff game ever with just eight points on 3-11 shooting. The big question for game five is his desire to have a monster game possibly coming into conflict with the team chemistry.

The magic word for game five will be desire. As one commentator said, “It doesn’t get any better than this".

Finals

When one of my boyz asked to come to the Carolinas to do a remote blog, I thought it was a great ideal. I didn’t think that it would take a totally different perspective as I give you this blog from my undisclosed location where I’m starting the rehab process. Believe when I say that is not a vacation. At least it has three different ESPN channels.

The parade plans in Miami have taken pause again as the Mavericks even up the Finals matchup at a game apiece as  Heat once again failed to answer the key question” Who’s gonna check Dirk?” Yep, it was him that drove past Chris Bosh (?) for the winning basket. Just when you thought Miami had figured out how to close out games, they once again showed lack of concentration and follow through. The Heat blew a 15 point lead in the 4th quarter as they lost for the first time at home this playoff season. As they go to Dallas for the next three games, it will be curious to see if the Heat can get their swag back and take their talents back to South Beach.


Meanwhile, the latest legend in the league, Shaquille O’Neal, called it a Hall of Fame career after 19 seasons. For regular readers of my blog you can read the August 6th blog for my tribute. Simply put, only Russell (ten championships), Kareem (league high career scorer), Wilt (who averaged 50ppg and 30rpg) for a season) and the Dream one of the few centers to lead the league in steals) are in the best big man ever conversation.


Enjoy the Friday Freeze jukebox which gives my recent state of mind:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCz_V2sC-e0&feature=BFa&list=PL724FA68505D93BE6&index=9

Injury

On Saturday, May 21st, I began an odyssey that I would not wish on my worst enemy. I fell down a flight of concrete steps and heard the sound that pro athletes do not ever want to hear. The medical examination proved out the worst: popped quad tendons on both of my knees. Initial (optimistic) recovery time: three to six months. My personal goal is to be able to attend my fantasy football draft event scheduled for Tuesday, September 6th. While I’m not trying to act like a real tough guy, don’t cry me a river. But I will say this: when my father was spending the last days of his life in a nursing home, I kinda now know how he felt when visitors did come by. I also know now how he felt when they didn’t. While me and my father did not have the best of relationships, he did help make me the person that I am today and I will always appreciate him for that. It does pain me when I know that I could have been better to him by just driving the 3.7 miles to see him more often.


Today’s blog as I’m writing it, turns out to more therapy more than sports. I have to, as they say, “cowboy up” and get going. All I ask for is your prayers and support as I start this chapter of my life. Also have to give a shout out to our veterans, who help give me the ability to write this blog. I salute you all. Here come the physical therapists and as I found out quickly, they don’t play. Again, pray for me.

Desire

There are just so many things I could have talked about today. The gutsy call made by head coach Scott Brooks of the Thunder by playing his second unit the entire 4th qtr (except for Durant) enroute to tying the series against the Mavs. Or saying it’s time for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to get his statue in front of the Forum.


Instead, I just want to simply give you a link to look at and just say how I never get tired of stories like this. Thanks to one of my boyz for this and for him to stay safe. Have a great weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=aw-nt0eTb2w

Don’t forget the Friday Freeze Jukebox:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gF2UySGZAU&feature=mh_lolz&list=FLHStSLkDL0H0

Dirk

When I started reviewing the Mavs/OKC Western Conference finals, the first thing that I noticed was that this is only second time in the last 13 years that there was no one named Tim or Kobe in the finals. The next question that I asked my crew was, “Who’s going to check Dirk?” I understand that OKC has the new jacks in Durant and Westbrook, but my question was still “Who’s going to check Dirk?”


See what I mean?

In the Mav’s 121-112 game one win, Oklahoma City found out at least one thing: Dallas can keep up scoring wise with the Thunder, who is the highest scoring team in the playoffs. Dallas is the best shooting team in the playoffs (47.6%).

Dirk Nowitzki is giving Euro players a good name. The jump shooting 7-footer (I know, it doesn’t sound right) made 12 of his 15 shots from the floor and set a NBA playoff record, making all of his 24 free throws. It really didn’t matter who they put on him. While K. Durant tried to match him by scoring 40 himself, it still didn’t have that flavor of say, the Bird/Nique matchup of the 80’s. It didn’t help that Jason “the Jet” Terry was flying high, scoring 24 himself. This was Dirk’s night all the way. The Thunder will have to double him to have a chance because he is one of those players that could do that every game.

Meanwhile, the Eastern bracket continues tonight as the Heat hope to get their first win this season against the Bulls. Miami looked rather, well, ordinary in their game one loss. I’m from the school where defense wins championships and while the Heat did out shoot da Bulls (47% to 44%), they only got 15 points from their bench while their big two (Wade and James) shot 12 for 32. It makes me nervous when DWade (my boy) actually applauded when he saw the replay of him getting posterized by Taj Gibson. I want to mention here that Gibson has been playing with a heavy heart this entire year, losing three of his best friends to shootings the previous summer. And no, they were not in the life.

The Heat has learned that while they do play defense, they found out that Chicago plays defense. It’s time for the Heat coaching staff to step their game up or they will continue to cry themselves a river.

Decider

I was wondering how to start this blog to give my take on the upcoming Eastern Conference Finals between the Heat and da Bulls that begins this Sunday in Chi-town. I wanted to stick my chest out because I did call it. But then I thought of the talkin basketball who was with MJ when the Bulls last won the title in 1998 when he said,”it’s sometimes better not to say anything.”:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OdiJUpqnwo

The Heat come into the eastern finals after exercising a lot of personal demons from their two star players, King Wade(still my boy even after what he did to Rondo) and Prince James, who did play like a king the last couple of minutes against the Celtics. Around this time last year, Bron-Bron was taking off his Cavs jersey in a huff after losing to these same Celts in the semi-finals. DWade also lost to the Celtics in the first round last year. In one way I can understand how the two reacted after beating Boston. But then the continual overreaction by James kinda made me think he knew that the cameras were going to be square on him. In either case, I’m sure that cold dish of revenge that they had sure tasted good.

I just want to say here that I will miss the team of Hubie Brown (who is just a joy to listen to) and Mike Tirico who does solid play-by-play work by not letting the game get away from him. I may continue listen to them on ESPN radio.

In watching da Bulls (it’s a Chicago thing), when they won, the celebration was totally different. While there was enjoyment in the faces of the players, they knew they still had a way to go. When I watch these Bulls, I know that these are totally different guys, but there are some eerie similarities between them and the 1998 team. For one, they both had the league MVP (Jordan and Rose). Is it me, or does Luol Deng give off a Scottie Pippen kinda of vibe? I’m not talkin a Hall-of-Fame vibe, but just what he does for da Bulls. You can almost (I said almost) substitute Kyle Korver for Steve Kerr. Both teams were both ranked in the top five defensively for the season. These Bulls almost play that 80’s kind of defense that allowed no compromise, especially in the paint. I’m just saying.

As a famous President said, “…the torch has been passed to a new generation of ballplayers”. Ok, he didn’t exactly say that, but that torch has been passed on so many different levels. Whether its old school (i.e., Celts, Spurs) to new school (Grizzlies, Oklahoma City) or just old Bulls to new Bulls, change is here.

Oh, by the way, I’m picking the Bulls to win the series. And as Don Corleone told “The Turk – Virgil Sollozzo on the Godfather, “…and I will give you my reasons.” While the Heat is the shiny new Bentley that is totally tricked out, I just like the Bulls subdued persona, just going about their business. No glitz, no braggadocio, which is different from swag. As DRose said, “…just ball out.” I truly have no distain for the Heat. Aside from the drama that they brought on themselves, they are the new blueprint for future NBA success. I just enjoy humility from guys like Rose, who used the word “sir” (twice) when talking to coach Drew after last night’s game. Either way, this series may end up being a classic.

Here’s today’s Friday Freeze’s jukebox, DC Freeze Style:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDoOMX3dE6Q&feature=related

Motivation

Monday was a bad day for me. I won’t bore you with the details because we all have had days like that and this is a sports blog, not a vent blog. To say the least, it was a bad hair day for me. I came to work today determined to create a mixture of positivity and optimism. Now let me not front: while most people go to scripture (that did help), I also read quotes from great motivators. I think it goes back to my previous life as an athlete. One person whose words I read came from one of the greatest motivators that I have read in my experience: Packer head coach Vince Lombardi. Yep, the same name that is on the trophy that the NFL champion has hoisted as the winner of the Super Bowl every year since 1970. While he was a head coach, I personally have no doubt that he would have been a great leader no matter what type of career he would have chosen.


In his nine years of coaching, he won the NFL championship/Super Bowl title seven times. His teams went 9-1 in playoff games. He turned around a team that was 1-10-1 in 1958 to a 7-5 record the next year en route to the Coach of the Year. Hall of Fame QB Bart Starr said the tempo was set by Lombardi on day one with one of his famous quotes:

” Gentlemen, we are going to relentlessly chase perfection, knowing full well we will not catch it, because nothing is perfect. But we are going to relentlessly chase it, because in the process we will catch excellence. “

The rest as they say is history.

How did he do it? For one, he didn’t accept anything less than a player’s best effort. That drive came from his Jesuit educated background, something that I experienced myself first hand. Second, he didn’t demand anything from his team that he didn’t give himself. In his second year, after losing to the Eagles in the 1960 title game, he felt that he did not give his best and said to his team, "This will never happen again. You will never lose another championship." And they didn’t. While he was hard on his players, he also showed compassion. I either read or saw players of all colors, religions or sexual orientations talk about how Lombardi stood up for them when faced with injustice.

Here are just a couple of my favorites:

"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."

"The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it."

"It's easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you're a winner, when you're number one. What you got to have is faith and discipline when you're not a winner."

You know what? I did need this. And I do feel better.

Dichotomy

Part of today's blog is about Boxing...or the lack of it.


I checked out the fight (if you want to call it that) this past weekend between Pac-Man and Sugar Shane Mosley. As I told a couple of people at the time of the fight, it wasn't a fight--it was more a business arrangement. There wasn't much action; there were only two knockdowns (really, their was only one--bad call by the ref). Mosley stayed away just enough not to get knocked out. It was sad seeing a previously fierce and great champion lowered to just being a survivor in the ring.

It also speaks to the sport as a whole. If it's not wanting to fight because of suspected steroid use to just no talent in some weight classes to fighters facing criminal charges, boxing is rolling down a slippery slope. I'm not surprised that I couldn't find any pay-per-view numbers from the fight. If this keeps up, it will not be a surprise to me if they have a fight and no one came.

Part two of today's blog is about props. Gary Williams ended a solid 21+ year run as coach of the Maryland Terrapins this past weekend. He won more than 65% of his games at Maryland, including a tourney championship in 2002. He is the only coach to win a national championship without having a McDonalds All-American on the roster. More importantly, he helped save the program from possible demise after the tragic death of Len Bias. Only Coach K and Dean Smith have won more games in the ACC then him. Players that he has sent to the pros include Joe Smith, Steve Francis, Juan Dixon, Steve Blake, Lonny Baxter, Terence Morris and Chris Wilcox. I will always remember him for how he sweated through his suits and the intensity he always showed on game day. I wouldn't expect anything less from a guy coaching at his alma mater.

The other shout-out is at the pro level. Phil Jackson ends a 20 year coaching run himself with 11 championships in 20 years. Thirteen titles total as a player (Knicks) and coach. Wow. He three peated twice with two different teams. Funny to me is that he only won the Coach of the Year once. Now I get that that coached arguably three of the top ten greatest players of our all-time (Shaq, Mike and Kobe---don't worry, we will have another blog about this). At that point, it about managing personalities more so that just talent, so he gets credit for that. It's just a shame that he ended his career by being swept, for the first time in his career, by the Mavs. It's more a shame the way a couple of his players acted like total bush leaguers. Lamar Odom and Bynum acted like two spoiled kids with their conduct yesterday. At least Ron Artest has an excuse. The Lakers with their historical success should have shown better professionlism. It's like what Nino Brown told G Money, "...you better than that." The question for Lake show fans is, "Will Kobe come back?"

The real question for me is "Will basketball come back?"

Over

What? We out of gas already? We just got started.


As one of my boyz (who doesn't even watch hockey) reminded me last night, the playoff run of my Washington Capitals is over like that, whacked like Omar on the Wire in four straight games by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Making no excuses, Tampa has ran their playoff win streak to seven games and move on to the conference finals. The Caps, the best regular season team in the Eastern Conference the last two years and winners of their division the last four years, actually did better than last year when they were eliminated by the Canadians last year in the first round.

While I don't agree with my esteemed colleague that I was grabbing their bra strap, I admit that I hoping for a championship run that I could call my own as a Washington fan. While I always enjoy the Raven runs in the playoffs, I wanted the opportunity to stick out my chest with a team that was chasing a title of it's own. It wouldn't be so bad if the Caps valiantly fought to the end and gave every drop of energy they had. Instead, they went out with a whimper instead of a bang.

So now what? It's hard to get rid of a coach with so much success (4 division titles in a row). But we all know coaches that can only get you to a certain level of success and no further. Even though head coach Bruce Boudreau is well liked in this town, it maybe time for a change. This decision has to be balanced against the young team they have developed. Tough call.

While I pour my glass back to the half full level, I am still proud of the effort my home team gave this year. It's better to figure out how to get to the next level of success than not to move at all.

BreezyG is done for this week. Here is this week's Friday's Freeze Jukebox a day early. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL1eHAyU0r0&feature=fvst

Competing

As the second round of the NBA playoffs begin, it's very clear that there are no pushovers in the round. I got just one word for it: competing. If any team takes any other team "for light", they might as well start planning for their summer vacation.


Take the Oklahoma City Thunder. You would think that they didn't watch any tape at all of the Grizzlies series against the Spurs. It's like they didn't see Zach Randolph dog out the Spurs for 34 points and ten rebounds in the series clinching 6th game. Randolph is the only player in the league that has averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds the last three years. His backboard mate, Marc Gasol added 23 points and 13 on 9 for 11 shooting. The motivator of this group is Tony Allen, who does have some championship hardware from his time with the Celtics. Like Randolph says, "We believe. "We definitely believe. Our confidence is up high. I tell the guys we can compete and play with anybody." Yep.

There no underestimating on either side in the Celt/Heat matchup. Both teams came out with the necessary playoff intensity. It's going to a rumble, tumble series to say the least. My favorite play was DWade (my boy) diving like a wide reciever who was laying out for the football into the crowd for a ball. You saw the connection he has with his fans when they grabbed him to prevent him from injury. I'll keep saying it: this is his team and you saw a little bit of deference by Prince James down the stretch to him for the win. If that continues and the bench shows up like it did (James Jones, five three-pointers), it could be rough for the Celts. If only Shaq-Fu could be available.

The Hawks give me a "happy go lucky" kind of feel when talking about them. They have gone through the post season handling the Magic quite easily and looked about the same last night in defeating the Bulls in their series opener. Joe Johnson played like a 'max' player with 34 points and super sub Jamal Crawford was raining jump shots like Lamar Mundane. I said in a earlier blog that the Hawks came into the playoffs with their act not quite together and they still seem adrift mentally. But as of this moment, they are 11 wins from a championship.

For the second series in a row, the Lake Show lost their opening round game in their series against the Mavs. The difference is, as Kobe said, "This team can beat us, it's clear." The Black Mamba was a bit upset. He was upset at the Lakers inconsistent play and probably himself for missing the game winning shot at the end. For historic purposes, Kobe's 36 point performance was the 81st 30pt playoff game of his career, trailing only you know who (109). As rapper GURU (R.I.P) would say, who's going to take the weight and give Kobe some help?

Like the group Inner City would sing, "We're having big fun."

Draft

The NFL started it's annual league draft of college players and I was glad to see no posturing (by either side) and let the players enjoy their night. This is the place where I say to the haters that think that this night is over glorifying the players for work they have not yet done in the league...get over yourselves!! This night is for the perceived "valedictorians" of the college ranks. Or as Zed (from Men In Black) would say, "the best of the best".


I want to get bad stuff out of the way first. My major peeve was how the producers went to the players that got the phone call from the team that was going to draft them before the announcement. Like Chris Carter says, "Come on Man!!" Leave a little drama for the viewers. There was also a little bit overanalyzing by the crew covering the event; point is nobody knows anything until these guys get on the field. While the anchors were decent, my favorite was "Chucky" Gruden.

Now as I fill my glass back up to 51% full, there were some great human moments. It's actually ok for grown men to express their emotions after knowing that all the hard work that they did from point A to that moment got your name called to the stage. The more touching moments for me were the extended mother/son embraces. The moment of the night for me were the uncontrollable tears of RB Mark Ingram (Saints) when reporter Suzy Kolber read the e-mail of his father, who is currently in jail on fraud charges. I felt it too when she read to him that his father was proud of him. Wow. As he told his father, "we did it."

This blog is not about technical analysis or projected stats. This is about the men under the helmets and pads and the families that support them. Sure, they are the league new millionaires, but I also acknowlege the families and their hand in their acheivements. Because long after the cheering has ended at the end of their careers, (all together now) all you still have is family.

Today's Friday Freeze Jukebox is a tribute to the mother's (and/or their memories) that helped these players achieve. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GjxlguPYo0

Invitation

For the last couple of years, Ravens fans have shown me love by letting hop on their bandwagon when the playoffs get underway. Today, I am turning the tables and extending an invite to them and everyone else within eyesight of this blog to get on board the Washington Capitals bandwagon. Now, I personally know that there are Caps fans in the Baltimore area; I have gone to both restaurants and bars in the B-More area and have seen fans watching our games on TV and wearing Ovi jerseys.


Unlike some of the other teams in my area, the Caps have had solid success in recent years. They have won their division (Southeast) the last four years. They made their only finals appearance in 1998, losing to the Detroit Red Wings. Last year they won the Presidents Trophy for having the most points during the regular season.

They opened up this years playoff run by defeating the New York Rangers in five games. Why this is special like the Church Lady is that this is the first time we have wrapped up a series earlier than seven games in more then ten years. The seem to have my formula for success: They have the superstar in four time All-Star Alexander Ovechkin (32 goals, 53 assists) and a solid defense. A little noticed trade that was made just before the deadline acquired center Jason Arnott from the New Jersey Devils. Arnott, who won a championship with the Devils, has brought both experience and leadership to the Caps. As General Manager George McPhee said of Arnott, "I guess you can never underestimate the value of leadership". As Blaine from the show Living Color would say, "Ain't that the truth, Ruth".

Now understand, for a playoff starved DC fan (respect to DC United - four titles), i'm with it. My crew knows that I enjoy hockey as much as any other of the major sports. Now I admit, my concentration on the Caps was diverted in part because of the Skins and Wiz. But no more. So K, gas up the wagon and like Kool Moe Dee said, "Let's Go".

100

As Dave Chapelle would say, ..."it's a celebration!!!" Today is my 100th blog entry. Since July of last year, I have tried to give my POV regarding the current sporting events of the day, as well as kicking a little knowledge to both you and me. I have gotten great fulfillment from my corner on the information superhighway. As always, I gotta give major thanks to you for your support and perspective on all things that are sports. With that being said, I'm using today's entry to touch base on a couple of things in the sports world:

• NBA Playoffs: The postseason continues to stay funky as teams refuse to go quietly into the offseason. The Sixers simply said not in our house as the Heat continues to show an inability to close out close games. The stat that caught my eye was that the Heat is 1-19 in games of three points or less in the last two minutes. I'll say it again: until they give the ball to King Wade (and Prince James is OK with it) down the stretch, Miami will continue to have problems. James needs to concentrate on these playoffs and worry about the "global icon" thing in the off-season. As far as the Hawks-Magic series, I need to stay with my first mind as far as my upset specials go. I just started on my bowl of crow regarding the Celtics. Speaking of swagger, it's been a coming out party for Chris Paul against the Lakers. His 27-point, 15-assist, 13-rebound performance in game four was the best individual performance in recent playoff history. And talked more than a little smack to Kobe after a vicious crossover for a layup. Will be interesting to see how the Black Mamba responds in game 5.

• Rockin the Red: My hockey team, the Washington Capitals, actually has some time to rest after they dispatched of the New York Rangers in five games. They have advanced in a playoff series (in less than seven games) for the first time since 1998. They have done it with (what else?) defense, including incredible goaltending by Michal Neuvirth, who has a 1.38 goals against average (which leads all playoff goalies) and has allowed only one goal or fewer in three of the five games. For a DC sports playoff starved fan, it's hard not to get excited. So I won't -- LET'S GO CAPS!!!

• More home cookin: Since we talkin both home sports and b-ball, I was going to make my pitch for why John Wall should be Rookie of the Year...until I saw the stats. While JWall had a solid year (16.4ppg, 8.3apg - 7th in the league), Griffin was 12th in the league with a 22.5 ppg average and fourth in rebounding, grabbing 12 a game. He also led rookies in most ESPN highlights as well as having the better commercials. Doin the Dougie wasn't enough.

I would like to again thank you for your support. In my closest attempt to self-promotion, send my blog link to a friend. I'm tryin to become a global icon too.

Knowledge

When I started "blogging", one of the goals that I wanted to achieve was to educate. The crew that I rolled with in college were not quite the Black Panther revolutionary types, but we did listen to groups like Public Enemy (Fight the Power) and KRS-One, who had a song called "You Must Learn". While your knowledge of history may in be the back of your mind, it's always good to bring it to the forefront every once in a while.

Sixty-one years ago on Halloween 1950, Earl Lloyd, a ninth round pick of the Washington Capitols (not the hockey team), was the first African-American to play in a NBA game. He earned that honor by one day; Chuck Cooper, the 12th pick overall by the Boston Celtics in that same draft, played his first game the next day. Lloyd, nicknamed "The Big Cat" (6' 5'', 225 lbs), played nine years and ended up in the top 50 scorers in the league when he retired. He was also one of two first African-Americans to win an NBA title with the Fort Wayne Pistons. Even coached in the league with the Detroit Pistons in 1971. He was introduced in the Hall of Fame in 2003 as a contributor. An Alexandria, Virginia native, the basketball court at high school T.C. Williams (Remember The Titans) is named after him.

When Blacks came into the league, it didn't have quite the same impact as when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball three years earlier. Still, he had his share of racism. I don't really have to tell you the specifics. You heard them all before. What's important is that he helped make the path for today's African-American players that have entertained us to this very day. Just remember the name and don't confuse it with remembering the time.

Today's Friday Freeze Jukebox is a shout-out to my college crew. I'll be rockin this cut on the road myself today. Enjoy the weekend!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVnEFalYDzA

Team

I know it's basketball season, but I can't help it: They are still my home team.


I'm talkin about my Washington Redskins. For the past year, I have been in a personal struggle with myself regarding my football loyalties. I have been strongly thinkin about totally shifting my devotion to my goomah team, the Ravens. When I'm hangin with Raven fans (even though they know I'm a Skins fan), they still show me love and they always hold a seat for me on their playoff bandwagon. That combined with the dysfunction of my team, it's becoming very attractive.

Then I see stories like yesterday and it just complicates things. Half of the team (26) showed up for...practice. Just them. No coaches. No owners. No administrative guys. Led by defensive captain London Fletcher, who stopped at a sports store to get some football stuff (i.e, footballs, pylons etc.), they just ran some plays, clarified dialogue and just enhanced their commaderie. Understand that some players came as far as Texas (Brian Orakpo) and California for these sessions. As Redd Foxx said on the movie Harlem Nights, "I like to see s--t like that.

Now I can see some of you saying that this was just a publicity stunt to help sway public opinion to the player's side during the current labor strife. I get that. But as a Skins fan, I just wasn't feelin that. I was just seeing guys that truly love the game and, as one of my B-more boys would say, "...doing what they do." Maybe my glasses are blurred like Run DMC, but I already can't wait for next season.

Parity

If this weekends games are any indication, parity has returned to the NBA playoffs. All the games were well played and very competitive.


In the Bulls - Pacers matchup, both teams showed character. It took a (very) late Bulls run for them to hold serve. Miami still has problems closing out games. They have to realize that teams are not going to crimp and fold in the 4th quarter like Muro from the movie Hoodlum. The Magic got a monster game from their "monster" big man Dwight Howard (46 points, 19 rebounds) only to lose for the fourth time in five games this year against the Hawks. In the BreezyG championship formula, the Magic are going to need that third person to step up with a 20+ point performance.

In yesterday's games, the #1 and #2 seeds (the Spurs and Lakers) lost their opening round home openers for the first time in modern playoff history. These games have shown that you can't take any teams for light this year. Chris Paul played like he was on a mission yesterday, scored 33 points and dished out 14 assists. It was first win against the Lakers this year. Meanwhile in San Antonio, the Grizzlies won their first playoff in their existence in beating the Spurs. They were led by Zach Randolph, (fresh from signing his four year, 71 million extension), who scored 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. The Celtics continue to find ways to win, this time it was Ray-Ray (the basketball version) hitting the clutch three jumper. The Knicks must have also caught the hero vapors when Carmelo tried his own version to win the game when his team was only down by two. The nightcap was marred by a bad non-call, refs-didn't-even-look-at-the-replay-non-call. Take a look (along with a attempted explanation):

http://eye-on-basketball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/28619457

These games kinda harken back to a previous blog (Passion, 4/6) when I talked about how players have stepped up their games to show they belong. Same in the pros. I don't know if it it's something in the KoolAid, the competition intensity has increased and as a sports fan, I love it. For a couple of these teams last weekend, they better be glad it wasn't a single elimination tournament.

Playoffs

Now, the real season begins.


The NBA Playoff season begins this weekend with the Lake show looking to defend their title for the third year in a row. The landscape in the league has changed since the Lakers won last year. A busy trade "season" has made nothing automatic in the first round matchups. Here are my upset specials for each conference in the first round.

In the East, it's really tough. Atlanta has the talent against the Magic, but they have seemed out of sync all season. Going up against Dwight Howard doesn't help either. The Magic will get by on coaching. Forced to pick an upset special, Boston - New York is my pick. Boston is going into the post season very gimpy at the center position. While they do have three 7-footers, will they be able to hold up? On the other side, the Knicks have the scoring with Carmelo (melo, my man - The Roots) "big man" Amare Stoudemire and floor general Chauncey Billups. They have the engine to go up and down for 48 minutes. Should be an entertaining series.

In the West, I am really tempted to pick the Nuggets over the Thunder. Using my own formula for championship success, the Nuggets don't have the bona fide superstar that you need. They also don't have Kendrick Perkins, who paroles the paint like a prision guard from OZ. While I think it will be a competitive series, the Thunder will be able to hold serve and advance. My upset special in the West is the Portland - Dallas matchup. In one way, it wouldn't be a upset from the Mav's point if view. They have been bounced out in the first round three out of the last four years. It doesn't get any better as they face a bigger, more physical Trail Blazers unit. They have the superstar in Lamarcus Aldridge (who should have made the All-Star team), a bigger bench and the X-factor in trade pickup Gerald Wallace, who has averaged 19 points a game since coming over from the Bobcats. Look for another Cuban blowup after the Blazers win the series.

Enjoy this year's playoffs...This might be the last one for a while.

Enjoy this week's Friday's Freeze Jukebox:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED9e8j8sewE

Mo

Ok, I know it's not even playoff time yet and I may be jumping the gun. But as the Green Bay Packers proved this past football season, momentum can go a long a way toward a championship season. Paraphrasing a Supreme Court ruling that was made when an artist was prevented from showing his work in a community because it was considered pornographic, the community couldn't tell you what pornography was, but they knew it when they saw it. I feel the same way about the Chicago Bulls.


The Bulls won their 61st game of the season, defeating the Knicks in the Garden. The win is the Bulls eighth in a row and tenth out of their last eleven. The engine that makes this team go is probable MVP (even though in the post game interview he told David Aldridge not to say that) Derrick Rose, who scored 26 points on 10-19 shooting. Rose, who is the first Bull since (dare I say) Michael Jordan to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated back in 1999, scored seven points in a row to fuel a 17-0 run to the win. This was fueled by tough defense (another championship trait) in which the Knicks, who are second in the league in scoring, opened the second half missing 12 of their first 13 shots. By the way, Carlos Boozer had 14 points and 22 rebounds.

The starters played the entire game. Probable Coach of the Year (there's that word again) Tom Thibodeau is not taking his foot off the gas. They have the entire off season to rest. While they have the (so-called) big three is in South Beach, the big three in the windy city of Rose, Boozer and Deng (23 points and ten rebounds last night) aren't too shabby. Can you say Eastern Conference Finals?

Albert

I was going to blog today about the upcoming NBA playoffs, but I just can't turn down positive stories regarding sports figures. Especially in sport of baseball, where they need it. Besides, the playoffs don't start until later this week.


On 60 Minutes yesterday, the show did a profile on slugger Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals. Simply put, going into his 11th season, the nine time All-Star, three time league MVP and World series champion (2006) is the only player in major league history to bat for a .300 average (.331), hit 30 plus home runs and 100+ RBI's in his first ten years in the league. Not the Babe. Not ARod. Not Barry. This was a guy who was the 402nd player selected in the 1999 draft.

Now I do give 60 Minutes big props for digging down to the baseline of their stories. If anyone can find dirt under nails, it's them. The story started with Pujols attending a prom-like event that he sponsored for kids with Downs Syndrome. The reason that this is close to his heart stems from his wife of ten year's daughter, who has Downs. They then showed his old neighborhood in the Dominion Republic, where he recently built a modern stadium for the kids, who he said he was like when he was their age. After dedicating the field, he then gave a three hour workshop with the kids, teaching them fundamentals. In addition, his foundation provides clothing and health services to shantytowns in the area.

My favorite story of the segment was the night he hit his 400th home run in August of last year in Houston after a loss, the first major leaguer to do it in nine seasons. You would think that bat would be in Cooperstown but it's not. It's in the hands of thirteen year old Brandon Johnson. Pujols had heard that Brandon couldn't attend the game because of him suffering from a malignant brain tumor. So, after the game he went to Texas Children's Hospital and gave him the bat. The twist on this is that 60 Minutes found out about this from an independent source and was able to confirm that it happened. Pujols didn't tell the press or 60 Minutes about this. Wow.

Now I consider myself an optimistic cynic, if you can understand that. While I don't place guys on pedestals for any reason, he is one guy that I would like to have a conversation with.

Here is that 60 Minutes story:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7362328n

MVP

I am becoming a believer like Jamie Foxx from the movie Ray.

By nature, I am a contrarian. If you say it's partly cloudy, I say its partly sunny. But I am coming around to the notion that guard Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls is the MVP for this season. Over Dwight Howard (my previous favorite), over Kevin Durant and over my boy DWade.

To put it lightly, the boy has been a beast. Just over the last seven games, he has averaged 28 points and 8.7 assists a game, including four 30+ point games and three double doubles. This is an increase from his season averages of 25ppg and 7.9 assists a game. He has been the main reason that the Bulls are one win (or one Heat or Celtics loss) away from the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the upcoming playoffs.

In last night's game against the Celtics, he did it all. He basically ran circles around fellow All-Star Rajon Rando enroute to a 30 point, eight assist night. He goes to the rack as relentlessly as Russell Westbrook of the Thunder. While you figure out how his herky-jerky style got to the rim, he's already running back down court.

While Rose has been the player story for the Bulls, the Bulls have been the league story. Just 41-41 a year ago, head coach Tom Thibodeau has used every bit of his 20 plus years of assistant coaching experience in taking the Bulls to the Eastern Conference elite in just his first season. He's done it with his specialty (what else?): defense. Only the Celtics have given up fewer points per game. I admit that I didn't think the pickup of Carlos Boozer (of who I am a fan) would be the major difference to give the Bulls some team toughness.

Could this be the new generation champion Chicago Bulls? Only the playoffs will tell.

Today's Friday Freeze jukebox is just some old fashioned back in da day funk. Enjoy (if you can stand it):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBXU2t4hodo

Passion

I got a text from one of my boyz advising me to take a gander at one of the assistant coaches from last night's D1 women's championship game between Texas A&M and Notre Dame. That's right, Texas A&M and Notre Dame. Not Stanford and Connecticut. While I totally respect and enjoy women's basketball on both the college and pro level, the man in me also enjoys the eye candy.

While enjoying the view, I saw a very competitive matchup. In the Fighting Irish, they were trying to win their first title in ten years while you had the Aggies, who didn't even let women attend their school until 1963, going for their first title ever. What I do enjoy about the women's game is the passion and intensity level that the ladies bring. At the end, A&M won their first title ever, led by the schools first All-American (and tourney's Outstanding Player), Danielle Adams. The junior college transfer scored 22 of her game high 30 points in the second half. Their head coach, 65 year old Gary Blair, even did the "Dougie" on the championship podium to celebrate.

Looking at this year's finalists in both genders, I noticed a trend. A&M winning a title. VCU in the final four. Butler playing for the men's title. At first, I was going to attribute VCU and Butler's success to factors such as quality players at the big schools leaving early. But the Aggies win on the women's side changed my paradigm. A lot of guys (and gals) on these teams and many other smaller/mid major schools who were either perceived as not good enough for these schools or didn't want to be just practice players, are showing that a McDonalds All-America does not a great player necessarily make. You got a lot of players with very large chips on their shoulders who want to show that they can compete too. Like the saying goes, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog".

Championship

There are two ways to look at tonight's championship matchup between the Butler Bulldogs (who's mascot I love) and the Connecticut Huskies (from my favorite conference). I'm sure that you already know who I think will win, but let me tell you why anyway.


For Butler, they are the first team to make it to the title game in back-to-back games since Florida won their titles in 2006 & 07. They have done with the two classic themes: rebounding and defense. Leading the blue collar work on the boards is senior boardsman Matt Howard, who has been averaging 16 points and seven rebounds per game in the tourney. Seven rebounds a game may not seem a lot on paper, but tell that to the guys he's been banging around the rim in the tournament. Also keep a eye on Ronald Norad at the defensive end. On the perimeter, it's been junior guard Shelvin Mack, who has stepped up his game, averaging just under 21 points a game (up from his regular season number of 14ppg) on 47% shooting. VCU made the mistake of calling out Mack before their final four matchup. Mack responded with a 24 point performance on 8-11 shooting (including 5-6 from 3 point range).

For the UConn Huskies, their steelo is from the outside. While probable lottery pick Kemba Walker, who has been averaging 25 a game, has been getting all the press, his supporting cast have been holding up their end of the bargain as well. Freshman Jeremy Lamb has been anything but meek wise, averaging 17 points a game on 61% shooting. He has tailored his game to the need of the game at hand, whether it's scoring 24 points against San Diego State or getting 12 and nine rebounds against Kentucky this past weekend. Another who will have to play big against the Bulldogs bigs is seven footer Charles Okwandu, playing in his last collegiate game. As for team defense, they played a entire season in the Big East. Enough said.

While I'm tempted to say that the Huskies have the edge in coaching, they don't. Butler head coach Brad Stevens has pushed all the right buttons winning his last ten games in a row in getting his team to the title game for the second year in a row. For coach Jim Calhoun, he's going for his third title, riding his own 14 game run. If he wins, he will join John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Bobby Knight and Coach K as the only three time title winners. Not bad for a team who went 9-9 in the Big East this past year.

In either case, it will be a great matchup. In this case, I'm getting my Hennessy ready.

Compromise

One of my favorite sayings is the classic phrase, "Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it." I send this out to both the National Football League and NBA as a reminder to remember history. Otherwise, the worst case scenario could be the fans not having any major North American professional sports aside from the National Hockey League, which wouldn't be that bad for me personally but you know what I mean. Both leagues would be wise to review the history of the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the first time that a sports league in North America canceled a complete season.


When the decision was made to declare a strike on September 16th, 2004, the league was on the brink of bankruptcy. Seventy six cents of every gross revenue dollar was spent on player salaries, which was well above the industry average of 50-60%. The league wanted cost certainty (in the form of a salary cap) and the players were totally against it. They wanted the free enterprise way of things to continue, that is players going to the highest bidder. While that was ok for the big market and tradition rich teams such as the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins, it was not good for the rest of the league; two of every three teams were losing money. This includes small market teams such as the Quebec Nordiques ,Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets, teams who no longer exist. In fact, according to a Canadian poll at the time, 52% of the respondents blamed the strike on the players.

When an agreement was reached 310 days later on July 22nd, 2005, there was compromise on both sides. The players did agree to a salary cap, which would be annually adjusted to guarantee 54% of revenues to the players. In '05, the cap number was 39 million, which rose to 44 million a year later and is currently at 59.4 million. Their contracts are also guaranteed. "What the lockout did for the NHL and for the Penguins ... it allowed us to survive," said David Morehouse, the Pittsburgh Penguins' president who joined the team shortly after the lockout. "It accomplished cost certainty with the salary cap, bringing parity to the game." In exchange, owners saw increased attendence. Arenas were filled to almost 92% capcity and set an attendence record of more than 20 million in the year after the strike. Revenues that were 1.8 billion before the strike are now close to three billion currently. Add the TV contract that the league currently has with both Versus and NBC and it seems like (as Chucky from the HBO show OZ would say) a win-win.

In looking at the two other major leagues, there are two different dynamics happening. With the NBA, it's strikingly familar to the NHL. In my research, i'm seeing phrases like "cost certainty" and "salery cap" in the coversation. Players have been getting large gurenteed contracts for years, to the point of owners claiming losses of more 370 million dollars. With the NFL, it seems to be on a more personal level. Owners feel that it's time for their (bigger) ship to come in. Grown folks should be able to divide eight billion dollars fairly. Or at least close to it. As Nino Brown would say, "friends is friends...this is business".

Enjoy the games this weekend!!! Here's this weeks (early) Friday Freeze jukebox:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-26hsZqwveA

Destiny

Because I am so rarely ahead of the curve, I have to stick out my chest (just a little bit) when I talk about final four finalist Virginia Commonwealth. For regular readers of my blog (or if you just read my last posting on Tuesday), you read my post talkin about these Rams, who just continue to make plays and making the big shots. Well, the beat goes on like the Whispers as they continue their drive after beating #1 seed Kansas.


In their improbable run to Houston, VCU has beaten teams from big time conferences that include the Pac-10, the Big East, the Big 10, ACC and the Big 12 Jayhawks. Kansas didn't help themselves by shooting 35% from the field, missing 13 free throws and making just two of 21 three point attempts. Their performance doesn't take away from the fact that the Rams wanted it more. One the Kansas Morris twins talked smack to point guard Joey Rodriguez in the officials pregame meeting, saying that their "run ends here". Right.

The point that I want to make is that the all of the top players in the league are not just in the top conferences. There are "ballers" throughout the country (and the world) that could make just as big of a impact in "money" games such as this past weekend. Who knows where the next Lamar Mundane will come from.

Ballers

I was going to use the word Cinderella to describe the Richmond based Virginia Commonwealth Rams, who have come all the way from one of the play-in games to being within two wins of their first final four appearance. But then I decided to the use the more appropriate term to describe then: ballers. They have the one most important trait that keeping them in the tourney; they are peaking at the right time. They come into their Friday night matchup against Florida State looking to (to use the vernacular) keep it moving.


VCU, who actually have the 11th best home winning percentage (.846) in Division I, got to this point by beating Southern California and trouncing both sixth seeded Georgetown and third seeded Purdue. They been doing it with solid guard play from Joey Rodriguez (15 pts, seven assists/game), great big man play from Leonardtown, MD native Jamie Sheen and unconscious three point shooting (63%). They have been basically hitting the open jump shot and going after the loose balls. And you gotta love their head coach with a name like Shaka Smart.

While I don't consider VCU a cinderella ballclub, I'm sure that they won't mind if the shoe continues to fit.

Talk to you after the weekend. Enjoy!!