My First Brawl!

Well, kinda. The 2008-2009 NBA season is barely 2 weeks old and we've already had a mini-round of fisticuffs. Well, there weren't any fists involved. More like big men pushing and shoving. A couple of guys hit the ground, a couple of extra guys came off the benches, several players were restrained. Can we call it a melee? Hellz to the nah, it wasn't even that serious. How about I just tell the story...

Wednesday night the Houston Rockets traveled to Arizona to face the Phoenix Suns. All seemed normal until the 3rd quarter when Rafer Alston (BKA Skip to My Lou) caught a stiff shoulder from Matt Barnes. (By the way, I've always thought Barnes was dirty. There's just something about that dude...) Skip got upset came back with a shove rest is, as they say, history. Steve Nash came in and it looked like he was trying to break things up. Tracy McGrady came in shoving, and Shaq wasn't having his perennial All-Star point guard getting treated like a rag doll, so he came in , all 7-1, 360 pounds of him, and shoved McGrady and to the ground. It was pretty funny. Check the video:



Barnes and Alston were ejected, and McGrady, Nash & O'Neal all received techs. A few days after this attempt at an altercation, the NBA levied some fined and handed down some suspensions. Alston and Barnes were suspended for 2 games, while Nash was only suspended for 1 for "escalating the altercation." You gotta love how the league phrases this shit! They hit (or should I say lightly tapped) Shaq and McGrady in their abyss-like pockets fining them $35,000 and $25,000 respectively. Can we say a drop in the Pacific?

This tit-for-tat, 1st grade pushing match was not worthy of any kind of suspension. A fine? Meh, I can live with that, but to suspend guys when no one even got punched, kicked or spit on? I mean come on David Stern!! I understand we don't want another brawl like at The Palace at Auburn Hills, or The Garden, or even like last year's playoff where Steve Nash got mollywhopped and slammed across the floor. But this was nothing like that, thanks in part to all the coached who came through and tried to diffuse the situation, and the players on the bench who recognized that their involvement would only have exacerbated the situation.


Even if I side with the league and agree with the suspensions of Barnes and Alston, Steve Nash should not have been suspended. That little white man is MAD!! As he should be! Over the past few years he's been gettin his ass whooped!! Taking hard fouls, driving to the basket then quickly hitting the parquet. Let's not forget what happened to him in San Antonio last season where he was clotheslined by Robert Horry, and a game or two later force-fed his own bloody nose. Frankly, I wasn't surprised when teammates had to hold his ass back in this game vs. Houston. Damn right he's mad! He's kissing the hardwood like that shit is going outta style!

Agree with the NBA's decision or not, the league is clearly taking a stand early in this season: Act a fool, and pay the price. (I really tried hard to think of something that would rhyme, like Stay in School, or Follow the Rules, but nothing made sense so...) The NBA is image oriented and if you decide to engage in behavior unbecoming of a representative of the Nation Basketball Association Stern is comin for that ass!


**Shout out to all the players who showed restraint and stayed on the bench, and to the coaches for getting the players into their separate corners swiftly. Here we are talking about a fight on the court and I the man most people would assume was involved - didn't even hint at RON ARTEST!! The Rockets were involved in a mini-scuffle and Mr. Artest was chillaxin on the bench keepin his nose, hands, and fists where they belonged - to himself! Shout out to Ronnie!

I love me some Charles!! Barkely that is. He's off the wall, unrepentant, and refreshingly candid. He didn't think this Suns/Rockets shoving match was so serious either.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It really is. Fall is my favorite season. The leaves on the trees are bright yellow, orange and red. New York fall isn't as picturesque as the Falls I've experienced in New England, but hey, take a picture, it lasts longer. The temperature is a cool 65 degrees but with the sun beating on you it feels like 72. It's perfect light jacket weather, the boots come out, and the Bill Cosby sweaters are in full effect. This is my time of year!!

But Autumn isn't just about the fashion. As per the name of this blog and my life's obsession, it's perfect sports mix. Some seasons are just getting started while others are almost over. It feels like every night of the week is must see sports tv.


The MLB postseason seems to go later and later into each year, which means fans are still watching baseball well into October. While the past few years have been lackluster as far as series matchups and wins, it's only a matter of time before the World Series returns to form, as will the slumping ratings.


We are knee deep in the NFL season!! Week 11 is underway, and the playoff picture is already starting to take some shape. Like every season, there are __surprises and unbelievable disappointments. Example? The Tennessee Titans are the league's sole undefeated team. Wholda thunk it!?!? The Indianapolis Colts have stumbled with their veteran QB Peyton Manning trying to regain his form following offseason knee surgery. On the other hand, 2 rookie quarterbacks, Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens and Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons, have made solid transitions from college to pro, and are playing better than some veteran QBs.

The COLLEGE FOOTBALL season is rounding its final corner and, as usual, we're arguing about rankings and wondering who's playing in what bowl. Should a top ranked 1-loss team (see Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Penn State) team play for the championship over a team that could possibly finish the season undefeated (Alabama, Texas Tech, Utah, Boise State, Ball State)? BCS seems to stand for Bowl Confusion Series, especially since a lot of people still don't even understand how the system even works. Should computers decide which teams are the best, or should coaches and media (many of whom have their own biases and agendas) decide teams' fate? We're still debating whether or not the NCAA should implement a playoff system - a discussion that only gets louder and louder as more deserving schools are left out of championship games. Whether you like it or not, every week is a big game with monumental post-season implications. Exciting to say the least.

The 2008-2009 NBA season started with a block buster trade that sent Allen Iverson to the Detroit Pistons, and Chauncey Billups to the Denver Nuggets. This is also the tie where we get to see what this year's rookie class has to offer. Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, Kevin Love, Brian Westbrook, . And let's not forget the most unconventional rookie, 2007's #1 overall pick, Greg Oden. He missed all of last season after having knee surgery, and injured himself in his VERY FIRST GAME of his NBA career!! Sprained foot. People are calling him injury prone, and we'll see how the rest of his season shapes up.


And last but not least, COLLEGE FOOTBALL!! This is a long season that's already started. The preseason rankings have UNC, UConn, Louisville, UCLA and Pittsburgh as the top 5 teams. Last year's final teams, Memphis and Kansas are ranked 13th and 24th respectively. I was a little surprised at first when I saw the 2008 champs, the Jayhawks, were down near the bottom until I realized that they are quite a depleted team. Kansas lost all 5 starters (Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers, Darnell Jackson, Sasha Kaun) and a repeat of last year is . Davidson, last year's Cinderella, is in the top 25, along with last year's disappointment, Florida. The Gators won back to back championships with Joakim Noah, Al Horford and Corey Brewer, then seemingly fell of the face of the Earth. From The Big Dance to the NIT? Womp. And Davidson's star PG Stephen Curry is already thrown into the mix as this year's top player. UNC is the #1 team, surprise surprise, but their #1 player Tyler Hansbrough starts the season on the bench, sitting out with a stress reaction in his right shin. Trouble in paradise...?


Now look, if the NBA, NFL, NCAAF, NCAAB and MLB don't float your sports boat, then there's still the NHL, MLS, PGA, and Nascar. I'm just gonna leave it at that.

Celtics visit the White House

So you know I love my C's!! In all the major sports, the league champions make their rounds on TV shows, radio programs and websites alike. The champs also get to go to the White House and meet with the current president.

This year's top dogs, including the New York Football Giants, had the red carpet rolled out for them. And now, so do my Boston Celtics!!

The team made the trip just over a week ago to be honored by President George Bush.




The Celtics were afforded every luxury. Their chartered flight was allowed to land at Reagan National Airport, and they had photo ops and camera access in areas where the Secret Service would definitely be all up in that ass.

The team also presented Bush with a (parting) gift - an honorary jersey Boston Celtics jersey, which I'm sure his dumb ass would love to wear to meetings with world leaders. A $100,000 donation was also made by the team to Red Cross for Hurricane Ike relief. And this is all coming a few days after Boston awarded head coach Doc Rivers with a contract extension.


Now here's the real scoop ("Scenario" style): This blog is usually reserved for sports, but occasionally I have to expand. This, my friends, is one of those times.

I'm sure the players were happy to be in the White House as it holds such historic value in our nation's history. And I would never want to rain on my C's parade but I can't help but think that they were all looking at Bush with the crooked ass eye because the man is a fool!

Yes they had the rare opportunity to meet the Pres but it wasn't Barack Obama. Instead, it was a lame duck incompetent whose re-election further highlights the stupidity of many Americans.

Many of those looking for "change" now were the same ones who voted for Bush to stay in office for a second term. After he's done as much damage as possible, you bumbling fools are clamoring for Obama to show us the way. As you should be!

I know this was supposed to be about MY C's getting the royal treatment, but I can't wait for them to do this same thing next year (yes, we will repeat!!) with MY choice for President of the United States of America - MR. BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!! cue the clapter!! (I made up the word 'clapter.' Laugh is to Laughter like Clap is to Clapter!! I know, I should give it up...)



I actually go to see Obama speak a few times, the last time being at a rally in NYC last year. The last entry I wrote about politics was about him. Check it out.



**I still love Kevin Garnett and anyone skimming this blog knows that he's my favorite player - EVER!! So what would a life-long (ok, maybe decade long) KG fan want more than anything? TO MEET HIM!!

And that's exactly what I'm going to do on Thursday!! I don't want to give away when, where, why, and how. But know this, I'll have the pics, the article and everything set for you. And don't worry, it's not illegal. But if u see me on the news...

Wish me luck!

I'm Sorry

Ok, it's been almost 3 months since I last posted ANYTHING on this blog.

And to my friends, family, strangers, haters - I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY!!

My name is Chi-Chi, and I have neglected my blog. But that all changes today.

From this day forward, I pledge to love my blog more, talk to my blog more, caress my blog more.

Although I've been on sabatical from my blog, I've been following sports with the same intensity. And I've taken that intensity and transferred it to my radio show!

Yes people, LISTEN to me on the radio. It's an NYC radio station so if you're not in the area you can Listen LIVE online. Listen from home, from work, at home or in your car. My show is hott, if I may say so myself.


SPORTS @ THE HALF
Mondays 5-6 PM
WHCR 90.3 FM
www.whcr.org


But like I said, I'm focused man!

And last but not least, to my blog, That Sports Chick, I'm sorry baby. I love you...

NBA Playoffs Start TODAY!!

In just over an hour the 2008 NBA Playoffs will begin. The word excitement does not even begin to describe the way I'm feeling right now. The games will be split over ESPN, ABC and TNT so check the schedule so you don't get lost. With that said, let's dig deep into the playoffs, eh?

EASTERN CONFERENCE
The East seems like a lock when you look at all the matchups, but these are the playoffs so hey, you never know. The Boston Celtics clinched the conference title weeks ago, and finished the season 66-16. And yes, like I have said several times before, the BOSTON CELTICS WILL BE THE NBA CHAMPIONS. The Pistons, Magic and Cavs have all had solid seasons and were all shoeins for this years post season play. Other than those teams the East has been very disappointing with many calling the conference the "junior varsity" when compared to the West's strong teams. Get this. three of the teams that made the playoffs have a record of .500 and below - Toronto, Philly and Atlanta. Yeah, about that... Anyway, here are your matchups:

(1) Boston Celtics [66-16] vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks [37-45]

The Hawks are a very young team. And by young I mean very young. Their players average is 24.8 years old and has 4 years of NBA experience. I'm happy for Al Horford who, in my book, is the Rookie of the Year. The Hawks are picking up steam though. They've made some good draft picks in Horford, Smith and Childress, and the addition of veteran PG Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson have been critical. Last season Hawks head coach Mike Woodson said that if the team made the playoffs he would shave his head. Apparently he's a man of his word because he is now BALD!! I love it! Going up against a seasoned (and I use that term gingerly because my boys are not old) like the Celtics will really test them. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are all over 30 years old. All three have reached the conference finals on their own but haven't gotten any farther than that. And these guys will tell you, the great record means nothing without that championship. The Hawks will have to be great on both sides of the ball and will have to try to combat the best defensive team in the league. I have my Cs sweeping the Hawks. KG missed a few practices before the playoffs started and word on the street is his wife Brandi just gave birth to their first child. CONGRATS TO THE NEW PARENTS! I hope the baby is happy and healthy, and I can't wait to see some pics! AAAWWWW!!

(2) Detroit Pistons [59-23] vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers [40-42]
This is Detroit's 7th straight trip to the playoffs. Philly sucks and they haven't made the playoffs since '05. Andre Iguodala and Sam Dalembert are trying their best to support this team but it's not going to happen against the Pistons. The teams split the regular season meetings 2-2, but that means nothing in the postseason. As long as the Pistons stay focused they can knock Philly out easy. I know the Knicks beat the Pistons at the end of the season and while most called it a throw away game it's a little scary. The Pistons are a great team but I can say this matchup will not have me glued to the set or racing home to make sure I catch the games. Yawn, I'm not too interested...

(3) Orlando Magic [52-30] vs. (6) Toronto Raptors [41-41]
Two words - Dwight Howard. I'm lovin me some Superman!! He has a league best 61 double-doubles, and he was also the NBA leading rebounder, with 14 a game. Also expect at least 20 points and 2 blocks a game from the big man. Both the Magic and Raptors are great free throw shooting teams. I know we pay a lot of attention to Howard but some other guys put in work too. Hedo Turkoglu is one of 4 players EVER to average 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The trade for Rashard Lewis is a great addition, and he and Jameer Nelson are can score. The Raptors are a great story as well. There's TJ Ford, who many of us thought would never play again after several neck injuries. He returned to the game a few months back and it's great to see him healthy. I loved watching him in college and any time he's fouled hard or moves too quickly my heart and stomach jump. It's fun to watch him when he's on but it's kind of unnerving. Jamario Moon traveled all over the world playing for the CBA, USBL and even in Mexico before he finally landed in the NBA. The 28 year old rookie is making the most out of his 1st year averaging a solid 8 points and 6 rebs. And of then of course, there's Chris Bosh who can put up 23 and 9 a game. The Raptors went 10-16 to finish out the regular season and Bosh missed 10 of those games with an injury. Both teams are solid from the line, but the rest - complete opposites. The Magic are the 4th best 3-point shooting team and the Raptors are the 3rd worst at defending opponents behind the arc. By the by, Bosh and Howard are good friends but haven't spoken since the Toronto/Orlando matchup was announced. It's not just a game folks! I have Orlando taking this one.

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers [45-37] vs. (5) Washington Wizards [43-39]
I have the Cavs winning this one even though they faltered late in the season. They went 15-13 since the massive trade with the Bulls so you can chalk that record up to a new team trying to find their groove. And of course, we can all expect magic from Lebron James. King James has been battling back spasms, but let's hope that doesn't affect him down the stretch. I feel for the Wizards because their best players were injured for a good chunk of the season. Caron Butler missed some time with injuries. Gilbert Arenas has battled knee issues for years and missed 66 games this season. He just recently got back on the court and is coming off the bench averaging about 25 minutes per game. And yes Agent Zero is talking junk once again. "I'm an assassin. I get buckets. I know I haven't played in a long time, but the shot is still there, so when I come off that bench, there is going to be some trouble." I believe it. Deshawn Stevenson (is hot) called Lebron "overrated." I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that one dog. I know, sometimes people get a little emotional and say things to get their team and fans riled up but this one went a little too far with the comedy. Bron-Bron overrated? Never that. And there's some beef between these 2 teams, and it's the 25th time these 2 teams have played in the past 3 seasons. So what - maybe a fight or 2? Some suspensions? Y'all know me, I like the drama...

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Well, we just have to watch and see. The race has been tight all season, with rankings that seemed to shift almost daily. That was especially the case over the last few weeks with three teams fighting for the 7 & 8 slots. The Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors are all great teams and it was possible that this this could be a year where a 50-win team could be left out of the Playoffs. That wasn't the case though because the GSW were knocked out of the playoff picture with a 48-34 record. They had a great run last season but not this time around. Too bad so sad. Shall we continue?

(1) Los Angeles Lakers [57-25] vs. (8) Denver Nuggets [50-32]
This is a 1 vs. 8 unlike any I've ever seen. Los Angeles had 57 regular season wins compared to Denver's 50. A few players have proven themselves worthy of the MVP award and Kobe Bryant is definitely one of them. 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists - yeah, def MVP caliber. The acquisition of Pau Gasol really put the Lakers over the edge, and he's pulling in almost 19 points a game. The Lakers are 22-5 since Gasol joined the team. He’s starting in place of the injured Andrew Bynum, and while initial reports were that he would be ready during the playoffs, it’s looking as though he’s not going to play in the 1st round. Frankly, it’s not as if the Lakers really need him since Gasol has filled in nicely. Gasol made it to the playoffs when he was with Memphis, but his record is a sad 0-12. I'm sure he would love to make up for lost times. I’m expecting these to be high scoring games because we’ve seen what these 2 teams can do. Earlier in the season the Nuggets racked up 168 points in a single game and they are the 2nd highest scoring team in the league averaging 110.5 ppg with the Lakers not too far behind at 4th with 108.6. And let's not forget that Allen Iverson has won the scoring title 4 times in his career. Denver PF Nene missed several months after having surgery to remove cancer from his testicle. Now, word on the street is that he’ll be out for a few more games after straining his groin. Damn, he's really not lucky in that area huh?

(2) New Orleans Hornets [56-26] vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks [51-31]
With the Dallas, Denver and Golden State fighting for those last 2 spots, any negative play could knock a team completely out of contention. That’s what I thought when Dirk Nowitzki went out with the most awkward fall, spraining his ankle and knee at the same time. Regular people would need at least 6 weeks to recover from a high ankle sprain but Dirk was back after missing just 4 games. The guy is unbelievable! Dallas is trying hard to forget about last year’s playoff after they had an unbelievable season finishing 67-15, best in the NBA. Then, somehow someway they were knocked out of the first round by the Golden State Warriors: the 1st time ever a 1 seed had lost to an 8. You know who else is unbelievable? Chris Paul. (Check me and CP3 in the pic!!) He’s averaged a double double, 21-11, and 2.7 steals in the regular season during a turnaround year for Hornets. He's quick, he can handle the ball well, and he can shoot from anywhere on the court. All of this makes him one of the top candidates for MVP. I'm not mad at that but y'all know who I want to win. Do I even have to say it?! KG baby! Let me also say that I know TOO many people who don't watch college sports but love the pros. I have very little respect for those people (when it comes to sports) because they miss out on a players growth, or in some cases regression. Not EVERY college game is exciting but dude how could you have missed Michael Beasley, Kevin Love and Derrick Rose!?!?! I just don't get it. ANYWAY! Tyson Chandler’s having a breakthrough season after several mediocre years in the NBA. Not everyone is a KG, Kobe or Lebron. I'm a big believer in the college basketball system and I think Chandler would have benefited from going to college - even for at least 1 year. That new rule was a godsend - force these young bucks to do at least 1 year. I can't get a real job without a college degree and these kids are makin milliones!?!?! I'm not bitter y'all, I swear! You can credit a lot of that to CP3 and his ability to read the court, find the open (or soon to be open) man and pass the ball. I'm not sold on the Mavs but I love a "Cinderella Story." I got the Hornets, who's with me?!!

(3) San Antonio Spurs [58-24] vs. (6) Phoenix Suns [61-21]
The Suns traded Shawn Marion and Marcus Bansks for seasoned veteran Shaquille O'neal, a move that was either the smartest acquisition or the dumbest one ever. The Suns figured they could beat any team in the East but said they needed a big man to help them get past the Spurs in the West. Well damn - what a 1st round matchup! Big Man (Duncan) vs. Even Bigger Man (Shaq-Deezy). Amare Stoudamire has averaged more than 29 points since the Big Cactus (ha!) has been in Phoenix, but the team is 13-11. Shaq draws the double team to free up Amare, or any of the other shooters on the team, and he wears down the D. The Suns have Steve Nash who averages 16.9 points per game and 11.1 assists. Tim Duncan is a perennial All-Star, and Manu Ginobili and Frenchie (AkA Tony Parker) are quick and high flying. The Spurs have really taken advantage of the international market with Manu and Frenchi, and also Fabricio Oberto. And y'all know I can't ignore a Nigerian - shout out to my Nigerian-American buddy Ime Udoka - 3-point specialist! Let's not forget Mr. Clutch himself, Robert Horry. You can always count on him to make at LEAST one play - and that single play will win the game. I have faith in Horry - and his uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere and rescue a franchise. The Spurs are an excellent team but they lack excitement. They're like that guy that you know you should date that's crazy nerdy, boring, great job, with mad good credit that will always be there for you but you're never ready for. Instead I'm - I mean other women - are more interested in dating the bad boys, criminals, serial cheaters, etc. We can always count on the Spurs, but you're never really pulling for them to win. Sad right?! But these nice guys (sans Bruce Bowen - you dirty bastard!) do not finish last. They've won the championship every year the finished the regular season as conference champs - 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007. They weren't con champs this season but never underestimate the power of the playoffs! The Suns and the Spurs both play physical. Lest ye not forget (whoa where did the biblical talk come from!?!) the Western Conference semifinals of last year. Steve Nash got bitched slapped, almost bled to death on the court, melee ensued, players got suspended, etc.

(4) Utah Jazz vs. (5) Houston Rockets [55-27]
Yao Ming hasn't played since January. Tracy McGrady has never won a playoff series, going 0-6 in the first round. I'm sure those 2 facts are pounding in the minds of Rockets' fans even though they went on an unbelievable 22 game win streak towards the end of the season. But how does that translate in the post season? It doesn't! The Rockets have had some guys step up and really play big for them including Rafer Alston, Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes. Dikembe Mutombo is starting in place of the injured Yao, is back up to his old blocked shot, finger wagging ways. You gotta love it. Rafer Alston will probably miss the first 2 games with a strained hamstring which could be critical in the Rockets game because a PG is necessary. But these guys are going up against a tough opponent in the Utah Jazz. Deron Williams is one of the best point guards in the league, and AGAIN I refer to his college game. He played the same role when he was at Illinois in 2005 when the Fighting Illini made it to the NCAA Tournament Championship game but lost to UNC. I was at Northwestern University at that time, one of the Big Ten schools, and I was able to watch him live. (Luther Head too but he doesn't play a pivotal role with the Rockets. But former teammates now facing each other - it's great!) Speaking of teammates, Carlos Boozer and Shane Battier were great college players at Duke, and have both really emerged as great NBA players with the Jazz. AND these 2 teams played at the very end of the regular season, with the Jazz smackin the Rockets 105 - 96. I know I said earlier regular season records mean nothing in the playoffs but momentum is a son of a bitch. I can push you one way or another and right now, the Utah Jazz have it. We'll see if they can capitalize.

I know you guys'll be like me - glued to the TV and expecting miracles, blowouts, best of 7s, suspensions, violence, etc.

I CANNOT WAIT!!

DAYUM DIRK!!

Those were the exact words that came out of my mouth when I saw Dirk Nowitzki hit the ground. Last week he fell awkwardly and twisted his ankle AND knee in one fell - umm - fall. This was the most comprehensive injury I've seen in quite some time. A fall for the ages!! The Mavs ended up losing the game to the San Antonio Spurs 88-81. And your boy Dirkie Dirk? Out indefinitely.

I don't want to say he's not coming back at all this season, but the playoffs are just around the corner. Initial reports are saying he'll be out at least 2 weeks, but he has both a "mildly" sprained left knee and a "moderate" high left ankle sprain. And we all know that (dreaded) high ankle sprain ain't no joke! That thing is a killer! It affects the ligaments above the ankle that join the bones in the lower leg, the tibia and fibula. Every step is painful, and that pain is extreme when a player is running, cutting or doing anything athletic. The high ankle sprain typically takes twice as long to heal as a regular sprain, which could be up to 6 weeks.

We've seen players go down with a high ankle sprain and be out for several weeks, but symptomatic for several months (see Plaxico Burress). What Dirk needs to do is place a call to another Dallas player, Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens. He had a high ankle sprain last season, missed one game and came back looking better than ever. TO was sleepin in a hyperbaric chamber and swears by its healing powers. And let's not forget how he came back and played in the Super Bowl XXXIX in '05 after he severely sprained his ankle and a broken leg. Doctors said he couldn't do it but he proved them wrong with a 9 catch 122 yard performance. Of course the Eagles lost that game to the New England Patriots, but the big story that year was TO: The Miracle Healer. I also think there was some voodoo and hoodoo goin on with that hyperbaric oxygen therapy but hey, who can prove it?

So, your star player goes down - what do you do? Well, this would be the main reason why the Dallas Mavericks acquired Jason Kidd in that monster 8-player trade a while back. If Dirk goes down, Kidd can step up and take over the team. Or so was the plan. Since coming to Dallas Kidd is averaging 10 points and 9 assists. The Mavs have played 2 games since Nowitzki was knocked out, winning the 1st one over the Clippers and taking an L vs. Denver. Dallas travels to face the Golde State Warriors later on tonight, and all eyes will be looking for which player(s) will step up. With the West being so close and Nowitzki being out the 45-27 Mavs can't afford a losing streak. They're #7 now but that could change in an instant.

Since acquring Jason Kidd the Mavs are 10-0 vs. teams with records above .500. By all accounts, those are wonderful numbers that show the how hard they play against teams the view as competition. The problem comes when you realize that Dallas is 0-9 when facing teams below .500. They fall off. And that's what happened during last year's playoffs when the #1 Mavs fell to eigth seeded Golden State in the 1st round.

And we all know the race in the Western Conference is tight as all get out. Only 5 games separate #1 New Orleans from the number 8 seed Denver Nuggets. Let's not forget that Denver has been on the outside looking in with Golden State holding on to that final spot. The Nuggets beat the Warriors last night 119-112 sending them into the playoff picture. For how long is yet to be seen. GSW is just half a game behind Denver so winning is a must in the final games of the season.

-->In the East, it's the complete opposite. The top team, My Boston Celtics, have a league best 55-13 record and have clinched the division title. The #8 seed is the Atlanta Hawks who at 32-44 aren't even a .500 team. If this is the playoff matchup can we say sweep?!

Pryor Headed to OSU - FINALLY!!

A month ago the top high school seniors in the nation announced, in their own special ways, which colleges they would attend. National signing day came with a lot of surprises and dramatics. Young guys sitting at tables with mics, lights and television cameras in front of them. Some kids announced their signings in relaxed fashion - pretty much just stating the facts. 'I'm going to (insert university name here), thank you to all my coaches and family, etc." A few guys took the "guess which hand" approach and laid out like 5 different hats of their potential schools on a table. One by one, they knocked off the table until they put the last one on their head and struck the ill pose.

The #1 ranked recruit, 6-6, 230 lb QB prospect Terrelle Pryor out of Jeannette, PA, held his own press conference on National Signing Day only to tell us he had nothing to announce! By Feb. 6, 2008 most other high school seniors knew exactly where they were going but Pryor still had no idea which university he wanted to attend.

Apparently (and understandably) the 2-sport athlete was swamped and preoccupied with his high school athletics, football AND basketball, and really missed out on the recruiting process. Since signing day is a just a suggested date and not a final one, so Pryor seemingly had all the time in the world.

Just a few days ago Pryor called for another press conference, and this time he had the news we've all been waiting for. Again he sat in front of a microphone with tons of cameras and reporters but this time his mind was made up. Terrelle Pryor is a Buckeye. That's right people, Pryor has decided to attend THE Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Too bad for Michigan, Penn State and Oregon!! I bet they're wishing they would have thrown some more his way. The choice was really between Michigan and Ohio, but Wolverines head coach last season, Lloyd Carr, retired, and there's no saying how the team willr eact under new head coach, Rich Rodriguez. Don't forget Rodriguez is steal dealing with the fallout after leaving his West Virginia Mountaineers just weeks before they were supposed to face the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl. The Mountaineers socked it to the Sooners in a lopsided 48-28 victory.

OSU has a rich NCAA football history, especially in recent years. Under the trusty arms (and legs) of QB Troy Smith, the Buckeye's went undefeated during the regular season, but lost the BCS championship game to Florida, 41-14 in 2007. This year they only had one regular season loss, a shocker, to Illinois, going 11-1. That was until they met LSU, a two loss team, in the BCS Championship game. OSU fell short of winning it all for the second straight year with a disappointing 38-24 loss to the Tigers. 5th year starting QB, Todd Boeckman threw 2 TDs and 2 INTs in that game. I'm not calling Boeckman a dud, but he ain't no Troy Smith...

The kid is mobile, elusive and quick. Pryoy, the Class AA Player of the Year, is a QB that can get it done with his hands or his feet, or even the juke. During his senior season at Jeannette passed for 1,900 yards and threw 23 touchdowns. He ALSO rushed for 1,889 yards and scored 35 touchdowns. The kicker? - only 3 interceptions. He's so skilled he can play a several positions, including wide receiver and tight end. Did I mention he runs a 4.4 40? Jeannette won the PIAA Class AA Championship 49-21 over Dunmore. Pryor also played in the US Army All American Game and won MVP honors after passing for 76 yards and TD, and rushing for 79 yards and another score. He wore a Buckeye sticker on his helmet during that game. Joke or foreshadowing? Hmmm...

With Boeckman going into his senior year, Pryor is poised to be the next starting QB at Ohio State. There's a big possibility he'll redshirt, but it's not far fetched to believe that he could see some playing time this season. He won't jump in there as a starter and take over for Boeckman, there are some options out there for him. Pryor has already been compared to some standouts we've seen over the past few years. He could come in as a change of pace back like Tim Tebow, 2007's Heisman Trophy winner, did during his freshman year at Florida behind starting QB Chris Leak. Pryor has also been compared to future NCAAF Hall of Famer (yeah that's right, I said it!!) VINCE YOUNG!! Young was a dual threat at Texas, with fast feet and a great arm, and is now the starting QB for the Tennessee Titans.

The question now is whether Pryor will play basketball at OSU as well. As far as he's concerned, that's not really an option because his dream is to be in the NFL. He just happens to be a gifted athlete and is 6-6, 220 with a wingspan over 7 feet!

Pryor's been on the scene for a minute now, check this timeline. And I've seen some video on the kid and he's no joke. YouTube has a whole arsenal so if you've never seen him, check him.

It's All About the BENjamins Baby (Steelers)

Before I get started, let's be clear that I LOVE being a woman. I love the make up, the clothes and of course, the men. We're strong, independent, sexy, all that jazz. Sure there's that monthly, leaky disaster but I'll appreciate it the most when I want (and don't want) to have kids.

While I love my womanly splendor, I have wondered what it would be like to be a man. The testosterone, the dingly dangly, - it fascinates me. Not to the point where I want a sex change or anything, but it's enough to make me wanna be a man for a day, or 8. Probably TMI, but hey, we're all friends here right?

I'm only bringing this up because I know there are certain things I can't do - dunk on a regulation NBA basket, hit a homerun outta Yankee Stadium or throw the Super Bowl winning TD pass. While I envision myself one day living in the lap of luxury with champagne wishes and caviar dreams, I wonder if I'll be ever be able to do it big. Like Ben. Ben Roethlisberger signed a monster contract with the Steelers just over a week ago. The specs? 8-years, $102 million contract, $36 million guaranteed.

Roethlisberger is still a young guy at 26, and it's clear that the Steelers don't want him going anywhere during his best years. While it seems like forever ago, Pittsburgh did win Super Bowl XL in '06. Roethlisberger said he wanted to be "like the Dan Marinos, like the John Elways, guys who played with one team their whole career." The Steelers share the same sentiment.

Well, at least until he's 33. Then we'll see if the he's still physically able to play, and if the Steelers would want to sign another contract with the guy. I don't mean to throw salt his game but guy has been messed up quite a bit over the past few seasons, some his own fault others inevitable. There was the appendectomy, several concussions and that horrific motorcycle accident where he broke his jaw and nose, split open his head and lost several teeth due to him being reckless and not wearing a helmet. He recovered really well from that accident after being in critical condition and scaring the bejeesus out of every Steeler's fan and upper management.

I think it's pretty safe to say everyone wants to be rich. For some rich means $60K a year, for others it's $8,50o,000. But when you see monster deals like this one, including ARod's 10 year, $250 million contract, you can't help but wish you could throw a football or swing a bat at the level that these guys can. I mean sure I could start a business or cure cancer, but that shit is mad hard! Athletics aren't the cakewalk that some may think, but people play sports. I wanna PLAY!!

I mean, here I am struggling to pay tuition so I can get this coveted degree when a lot of these guys didn't even finish college! And hey, that's not a knock because I'm not a hater and to each his own. It's like Petey Pablo says in that song, "Shout out to Seagram's Gin, cuz I'm drinkin it and they payin me for it." If the career path you choose is willing to reward you handsomely for your efforts, then by all means, get that guap. For others, income isn't a driving factor. The emotional and intellectual payofff is worth more than any dollar amount.

Kudos to you guys, but I would be a fool to say that. I know myself, and even with the best job in the world I NEED THAT CAKE!! Sure it's not only about the money, but damn if I could make $100 mil!?! Please, you couldn't keep me off the field...

And oh yeah, shout out to Ben Roethlisberger for doing it big willy style. That's monster money. I love it.

Marion Jones Is LOCKED UP!!

Marion Jones turned herself into Federal authorities yesterday to start her 6 month prison sentence. She was found guilty for her role in a multi-million dollar fraudulent check cashing scheme and was convicted of perjury (lying under oath) to investigators about using steroids. She maintained her innocence for years saying she never knowingly used until she was finally forced to break down and tell the truth.

Jones turned herself into the Federal Medical Center Carswell which is on the Naval Air Station, a Joint Reserve Base. This Fort Worth, Texas prison specializes in caring for inmates with medical and mental health issues. While they also house inmates who don't need this special care, there's no word on whether or not Jones will require either. Who knows, maybe she's gone mental. But I must say, if I had my choice of prisons to attend I wouldn't want one full of sickos and crazies. Gimme sane, healthy criminals any day.

I'm never one to advocate people going to prison, especially when they haven't committed some of the more serious offenses like rape, murder, larceny. But dog, you gotta pick your spots. I know no one likes a snitch (including me) but lying to the FEDS! I'm know her insides were jumping double dutch when she lied up on that stand. And I'm sure she did it to protect herself, her family, her cohorts, her accomplishments, and her track and field legacy. Little did she know that "the man" would catch her in a massive lie, strip her of all of her Olympic medals, then throw her ass in jail for 6 months! Under the ruling Jones also received 2 years probation and 400 hours of community service.

And Marion Jones is just the tip of the iceberg! There are several high profile athletes that are caught up in this new wave of federal indictments, most courtesy of BALCO. Barry Bonds is still caught up in that struggle. His attorneys recently asked the federal government to stop investigating him, which was a ballsy maneuver but it didn't work. Most recently Roger Clemens sat before the US Senate along with former trainer Brian McNamee. McNamee claims he injected Clemens (and his wife!) with steroids over the period of a few years, and Clemens denied it. McNamee also claimed to have given steroids to Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, and rather than lying about what happened, Pettitte admitted to what he had done. Roger still maintains he never took steroids, and it seems even congress doesn't believe him because they've asked the FBI to launch an investigation into whether or not Clemens lied under oath. If Clemens is found guilty, he'll be facing the same fate as Marion Jones - THE PENITENTIARY!


Shout out to Jones though. Jail is no joke and I wish her well. She can probably out-run any fights or guards but I don't see her hoppin over any jail bars so Marion, we'll check you in 6.

Warren Sapp - Retires

Now this is a retirement we all saw coming. In January, just before the Raiders final game of the season, Warren Sapp announced on his website 2 simple words, "I'M DONE!" And today he filed the paperwork with the Oakland Raiders making his departure official.

The 13 year veteran cited declining physical skills as the main reason behind his decision to end his NFL career. Sapp rebounded after a few declining seasons and racked up 10 sacks in 2006. Though he started every game this season, he had only 2 sacks, his lowest total in his NFL career. Sapp finished with 573 tackles, 448 of them solo, 30 deflected passed and 19 forced fumbles. His 96.5 career sacks, second overall for a defensive tackle, and 28th overall for defensive linemen.

The defensive tackle was drafted out of Miami in 1995 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sapp spent mostof his best years in TB and developed the nickname "QB Killa." He had a knack for dirtying up the jersies of opposing quarterbacks. In 2000, Sapp racked up a staggering 16.5 sacks and 52 total tackles, both career highs. Sapp was voted into seven straight Pro Bowls (1997-2003) and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1999. Sapp registered 2 tackles and 1.0 sacks when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Raiders in Super Bowl XXVII.

I'll remember Sapp for being funny, outgoing, and full of life and personality. Back in the day, he always had something sharp or stupid to say. Sapp has been pretty quiet on the defensive end lately as you can tell by his stats, but the funloving teddy bear seems to have disappeared too. The news we've heard about the QB Killa recently was mostly negative. He was fined $75,000 for "physical and verbal actions toward game officials that drew an unprecedented three unsportsmanlike conduct penalities" and was ejected from the Raiders second to last game of the 2007 season, and ultimately, his career.

Either way, shout out to Sapp fro giving us some great years. We can only hope that we'll find other defensive lineman that can bring the same intensity and power to the game.

Mad Crazy March...Madness

This weekend was full of great games, and if you missed them, kick yourself in the face! March is definitely off to a crazy start with some exciting comebacks and shocking upsets. Man I love college basketball. If this weekend's games are any indication of how sick nasty this year's tourney will be, then bring it on!

(6) Duke comeback victory over NC State, 87-86

Coach K almost had to wait another day for his 800th win, but never count out Duke. Doesn't matter th deficit or how sloppy they seem to be playing. A team like that seems to be able to turn it on at the drop of a dime, and that's exactly what they did when they came back to beat the Wolfpack. Down by 13 midway through the 2nd half, Jon Sheyer, DeMarcus Nelson and Kyle Singler came alive and eeked out the win. Congrats to

(2) UNC comeback win over Boston College, 90-80
BC Junior guard Tyrese Rice finished the game with a career high 46 points (34 in the 1st half), the 3rd most points an individual has scored against UNC - ever! But that wasn't enough - never underestimate the power of the Tar Heels! Tyler Hansbrough, in the running for player of the year, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green came up big. Both teams were amazing from the free throw line, a lost art form, and several teams could take some notes on how it's done. UNC shot 88%, hitting 23-26 and BC hit 17-23.

(1) Tennessee barely beat Kentucky, 63-60
Technically they're still the top team, but come Monday they will be #1 no more! But thanks to this won over Kentucky, they won't fall too far. Tennessee has a great starting lineup with Chris Lofton, Wayne Chism and the Smiths, JaJuan, Tyler and Ramar. Kentucky looked good after losing their 6'8" star freshman, Patrick Patterson, to a stress fracture in his ankle. Patterson averaged 16.4 points and 7.7 assists. You wouldn't have known it the way Kentucky played. They were down in the first half and even took a lead in the 2nd, but they couldn't hold off one of the top teams in the country.

(15) Michigan State stomped (12) Indiana, 103-74

And I mean STOMPED! The score was 59-31 at the half with Michigan State shooting 78%. It was one of those games where everything seemed to favor the Spartans who drained 9 threes in the 1st half. The Hoosiers could barely find the basket, and they had way too many turnovers. They won their first 2 games since losing head coach Kelvin Sampson but got whipped (pronounce the h) by the boys in green. This was MSU's last home game and they finished the season undefeated in East Lansing. Drew Neitzel, one of 2 seniors on the team, had 17 in his final home game. Even the fans scored a victory, with them all getting free tacos since MSU scored at least 70 points.

(5) Texas lost @ Texas Tech, 83-80

Ooh, talk about an upset! 16-12 Texas Tech beat 24-5 Texas in one of the biggest shockers of the weekend. I must say though, I'm happy for TTech's head coach, Pat Knight. He has some humungous shoes to fill since replacing his father Bob, who retired in February. People were skeptical of the younger Knight's decision to sign Alan Voskuil, a 6-3, 175 guard, but boy have they been surprised this season. Voskuil had 18 points in this . And the best player for Texas, DJ Augustin put up some major numbers, with 30 pts and 13 rebs, but that just wasn't enough. The Longhorns were on a roll, winning 8 straight before this loss to the Red Raiders. At one point, Texas was down by 13 points. The game was down to the wire in the final minutes, with the Longhorns down by 1 with mere seconds on the clock. But Tech held on for the win, and their fans rushed onto the court after the win. It was awesome to see.

Kansas State lost in (7) Kansas, 88-74

K-State handed the Jawhawks, then 20-0, their first loss of the season. Everyone was talking about Michael Beasley's comments about beating about beating Kansas again, and anywhere in the world. I know he's one of the top players in the NCAA, but he's still 19 years old! I thought he was joking around when he said the Wildcats would beat Kansas "in Africa" but as usual, most people in the media took the lines and ran far, far away with them. Instead, Beasley got in very early foul trouble, 2 in the first 2 minutes, and spent the rest of the game going in during K-State's offensive possessions, and back to the bench during the defensive possessions. I understand Coach Frank Martin not wanting Beasley to get into too much trouble and be limited come crunch time, but come on! Beasley is one of the top candidates for player of the year, and he proved why in a salty loss like this one. He finished strong with 39 points and 11 rebs, his 25th double-double of his freshman season. The kid is amazing, but the Wildcats have lost 4 in a row; they went from a top 25 ranking to a barely there bubble team. They need to get it together - fast. Relying solely on Beasley and sophomore standout Bill Walker has proved it can only take the Wildcats but so far.

**Note: These were the teams rankings going into these games. This weeks rankings were released today and several teams have shifted.

The 800 Club

Congrats to C. Vivian Stringer, head coach of the Rutger's women's basketball team, and Mike Krzyzewski, the head coach of the Duke men's basketball team. Within the past week, these coaches reached a milestone when they both achieved 800 wins in their coaching careers.

Coach K got his 800-on in a most unusual fashion. The Duke Blue Devils were down to North Carolina State, trailing by 13 points in the second half. They staged an unbelievable comeback, and went on to beat the Wolfpack in a tight one, 87-86. Duke is solid this season, as usual, but they've had some key losses that have them at the #6 spot.

Krzyzewski coached 6 seasons at Army before joining Duke in 1980, and he's won 800 of the 1,064 games he's coached. Is this guy good or what!?! So good in fact he has his own instructional DVDs and hosts summer basketball camps. Just think of all the Duke standouts he's coached that are now, or were once, in the NBA. For some reason I just assumed that Coach K was already a member of that elite group of coached that have won nearly a thousand games. Duke is one of the most storied franchises in NCAA history but in my mind I have them winning like 10 championships, when in reality, they've only won 3 ('91, '92, '01). The Blue Devils have made it to the Final Four 14 times, but last year they got knocked outta the Tourney in a 1st round shocker by the ultimate underdog, VCU.

There was even talk before this season began from fans and Duke brass alike calling for the resigning or firing of the famed coach. People are looking for a change in Duke, especially with the trend of just making it to the Final Four, instead of winning the Big Dance. Now I'm not tryna throw some shade on an otherwise very happy occasion, but the 61-year old Coach K is gonna need more than just 800 wins and some Fin4 appearances to keep that comfy coaching connect. I would be hard pressed to find anyone who has Duke taking the whole thing this season, especially considering other strong teams in the NCAA. But then again, March is very Mad, so we'll see how it all works out.

On the flip side, C. Vivian Stringer led her team of "nappy headed hoes" to the big 8-0-0 in a 60-46 victory over Depaul University last Wednesday. The crowd let her have it, giving her a standing-O and chanting her name at the end of the game. The Scarlet Knights are 23-2 and ranked 4th, behind other powerhouses like UConn, UNC and Tennessee. Stringer is the 3rd winningest coach in Women's NCAAB and the only African-American to accomplish such a feat. She is also the only coach to lead 3 different teams to the Final Four. Stringer has won National Coach of the Year honors three times, as well as numerous other accolades, and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001. And don't think Rutgers doesn't know how good they have it! Last year Stringer and RU signed a 7-year contract extension deal, netting her $450,000 a year, and that figure could be bumped up to $550K a year with bonuses. That salary makes her the 5th highest paid women's NCAAB coach in the country.

Stringer began her coaching career in 1973 at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania, then continued on to Iowa. She spent 12 years at each college, and led both teams to 1 Final Four appearance. She won 251 games at Cheyney and picked up 261 more with the Hawkeyes, before she landed the job at Rugters in 1993. The rest is, as they say, history. Under Stringer, Rutgers has won 251 matches and has been in the Final 4 twice. She has expressed her desire to finish out her career at Rutgers and one can only hope that the 59 year old can Stringer get that BIG W, the championship, before she retires.

And you can't help but be happy for her too because the woman has been through a lot. Her husband died suddenly from a heart attack in 1992, leaving her to raise their 3 kids, including a daughter disabled by meningitis, alone. Stringer also overcame her battle with breast cancer. Sounds like a movie huh? Well, that's in the works along with her autobiography. Even though Stringer is the one getting all the attention, we gotta give it up to all the young ladies she's coached over the years. Like they say, you can draw up the plays but you can't put it in the hoop for them. Every single one of those 800 victories are a testament to the will and effort put forth by those girls on each of those teams.


Now I'll be truthful. I don't watch women's college basketball. Or the WNBA. I've been to a few NY Liberty games in my day, and all of them have been great, but 99% of the time I'm quickly changing the channel if it's on tv. I know, I'm a woman, I should support. But I'm just not that interested, and yes, there's an element of sexism there on my part. I think it's more like the chicken and egg thing; if I watched more games I would probably be interested and I would probably be interested if I watched more games. I usually only watch during the WNBA Championships and March Madness, and I know more of the big name players. I pledge from now on to show more of an interest in women's basketball.

I have friends, male and female, who LOVE women's basketball. They say it's more pure, and focuses on the fundamentals. There aren't as many egos and it's more team oriented. Ain't nothing wrong with that! Some guys in the NBA could stand to take a page out of that book.

And there's also that whole DUNK controversy. I know dunking doesn't make basketball, but I love to see it!! A 2 is a 2 anyway you slice it, but damn if isn't more exciting to see an alley oop or a 360 or a reverse! The slam is awesome! It's fun, it's powerful and it's entertaining. Many argue that the women's game is more about teamwork than individual showiness which I don't have a problem with, but 1 dunk a season!?! I mean come on! Which would you rather see - someone (male or female) finish with a layup, or take it to the hole with some force? I'm 5'2, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I've only dunked on kids baskets. If I were over 6 feet with the ability to stuff it in someone's face, best believe I would be hanging on the rim with my snatch all up IN somebody's grill! Eat THAT!! But hey, maybe that's just the nastiness and arrogance in me ;-)

Yao Ming Done for the Season

The Rockets have had a pretty good season thus far. They've won 13 games in a row and many are wondering how long that streak can last. Well, it might not last much longer since we just learned that their star center, Yao Ming will miss the rest of the season due to a stress fracture in his left foot.

I feel bad for those Rockets! If it's not one thing it's another and it's almost rare to see the entire starting lineup all healthy at the same time.

I feel like Tracy McGrady is always injured. I mean always and usually with old man problems. There's just something in him that won't let him stay healthy. His injury history is extensive, and he's missed games with everything from back spasms to knee and elbow issues. He's only missed a few games this season, none of them due to the back problems that have plagued him his first 3 seasons in the league.

So here we are thinking the Rockets are on a roll, winning 13 games in a row. Yao is out, how much longer will it last? McGrady has never been out of the 1st round of the playoffs and some thought this would be the year. He's healthy now but me saying that just now could have already jinxed him. The Rockets with no post presence making it 1) to the playoffs and 2) out of the first round? Sounds a bit far-fetched to me. Old ass Dikembe Mutombo would really have to step up and play some serious minutes, but I've seen him this season coming off the bench and he looks - relatively young. he's still blocking shots and wagging his long spindly fingers in the air. Not in his house...

Rafer Alston, Carl Landry, Luther Head all gotta step up in Yao's absence, not only to keep the streak alive, but their playoff hopes as well.

Good luck to the Rockets. They're solid, but not strong.

Spoke Too Soon

Spoke too soon! I said specifically in my last post that Tennessee at that #1 spot was not a lock! Just a few hours later the Tennessee Volunteers lost to #14 Vanderbilt 72-69. And it was a good ass game!!

It's clear that when you're the top team there's a bullseye on your back, and every other club wants to take you down. Memphis handled, and is still handling, that fact really well. It's amazing when a team can go unbeaten during the regular season. We all know it's rare, so I'm not faulting Memphis in any way. But damn Tennessee!! 1 stinkin day after the rankings were released the top team fell, HARD.

But there could have been some extenuating circumstances. Maybe the Volunteers were thrown off like I was, with the layout of Vanderbilt's Memorial Gymnasium. It's the most confusing, and unique, setup in all of basketball. Architect Edwin Keeble built it in the 50s to be a concert hall/gym and you can definitely see the concert hall style coming through. The court itself is elevated, and fan seating begins just a few feet off the sidelines and a few feet below the court. (If you were standing up in the from row, the court would be at your hips) The team benches are underneath each basket, a few feet behind the baseline, instead of along the sidelines like every other basketball court you've ever seen. So instead of the coaches yelling from the sidelines, they're screaming all the way down the court. Being that far away from coach and then looking for him underneath the basket would throw me off too. Not that Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl was hard to spot in that bright orange jacket he's been known to wear. The commentators even mentioned how Vandy head coach Kevin Stallings has a special 2-finger whistle he uses when he wants to get his teams attention. Talk about home court advantage...

Shout out to Vandy, who played like they wanted it more. Tennessee played their usual style, trying to dominate physically, and the Commodores weren't havin that. Shan Foster, the second leading scorer in Vanderbilt history, had a great game. Foster scored 32 points and was 6-9 from behind the arc.

The hope is that Tennessee can rebound IMMEDIATELY from this loss and win their next three games. The truth is it's nice to be ranked #1 during the regular season, but when March Madness comes the Volunteers will probably be the 1-3 seed in the midwest division of the bracket. And there's a reason why it's called Madness; the shit is crazy. Any given day any team can be taken down, regardless of rankings, team history or NBA-bound players. I cannot wait!

***I've heard people make the case for the 3-point line in college basketball to be moved back closer, if not even, to the NBA 3 point line. In the NCAA, the line is at 19 feet 9 inches, while the pros have it at 23'9". Most of the members of the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Committee agreed, and voted to move the line back a full foot to 20-9 by the start of the 2008-09 season. And I totally agree. I like to see all these college guys hitting threes, but this move will take sinking 3s back to more of a specialty role rather than something every guy on the court can do. The women's committee opted not to change, which means there will be 2 different color 3-point lines on college courts shared by men & women. Weird...

VOLUNTEEERing for that Number 1 Spot!

CONGRATS TO THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS!!

If you haven't been watching much college basketball this season then you're kinda like me. I was engrossed, I mean LITERALLY enGROSSed in the NCAAF and NFL. I watched some basketball games here and there, but now that football season is over I have more time to focus. And at the perfect time if you ask me. The schedule has really heated up over the past month or two with the big dance just around the corner. Surprise teams excel atop the leader board, while some big names struggle to stay on the bubble.

Just in case you missed it, Memphis been ranked in the top 3 since the preseason, and #1 since the 11th week of the regular season. The Tigers reeled off 26 straight wins, the only undefeated left, and was looking to head into March Madness without a single loss. Instead, this past Saturday, Memphis suffered their first beating at the hands of then #2 Tennessee Volunteers. With a 25-2 record, Tennessee is now the unanimous #1 in all the polls. This is the first time in the schools history that they have ever held the top spot. Keep in mind the Vols haven't beaten a number one seed since 1969. Yeah folks, this is kind of a big deal.

See, this is why when I tell you guys about something you should just go with me. I wasn't home to watch the game, but I saw it in its ENTIRETY (including commercials - that you can fast forward through like TiVo) on ESPN 360. I know I talk about this a lot, but I know a great thing when I see one! The game will probably be on there for a few more days, so if you haven't seen the game, go...NOW!!

Back to the game! It started off like several other college games I've seen lately with both teams launching, and hitting, threes. I understand that the 3-point line in college is not as deep as in the NBA, but a lot of these college cats throw it up from damn near half-court. Don't sleep on the college trey game! These guys are pretty serious from behind the arc. The game went back and forth in the first half, but Tennessee really turned it on in the 2nd. The final minutes were tight, as you can tell by the final score 66-62 Volunteers.

Sure Memphis fell to Tennessee but it's only 1 loss. They went from #1 to #2, but there are only 4 games left in the season, vs. Tulsa, USM, SMU and UAB. With a 26-1 record, the Tigers can easily finish in second place barring any more losses.

And don't get it twisted, Tennessee is ballin in that number one spot right now, but the Vols still have 4 tough games left including Kentucky, Florida and USC. Actually, tonight they play 18th ranked Vanderbilt who is holding steady at 23-4. And Vandy's a tough place to play! The crowd is crazy and they've beaten the last 3 #1 teams that have come to Nashville. It ain't over yet!!

Let's not completely forget the other basketball team at Tennessee, the Lady Volunteers!! They've been dominant in women's basketball over the past few seasons. The Lady Vols share the same record, 25-2, and are ranked 3rd behind #1 UConn (26-1) and #2 UNC (25-2). They really seem to have a lot of fun there in Tenn. Maybe you guys remember Bruce Pearl, the head coach of the men's team, at a Lady Vols game shirtless and going crazy with the other student fans. The women's head coach Pat Summit also attended a men's game dressed as a cheerleader! Oh, those Volunteers...

I saw Memphis play LIVE back in November here in the City. They came to The Garden and played in the College Hoops Classic, Coaches vs. Cancer tournament. This was erie timing too, because at the same time freshman phenom Derrick Rose was on the cover of the latest ESPN Mag. Chris Douglas-Roberts, Robert Dozier, the whole crew. The Tigers had some key wins against Oklahoma (currently on the bubble @ 18-9) and Connecticut (now #15 @ 21-6) to win the tourney.

Quiet As It's Kept...

NYC is the mecca of sports, and while other major cities like to think otherwise, I see no reason to debate. In football, we proved we're the boss when the New York Giants won the Super Bowl by stomping out what was deemed to be one of the best teams in all of history, the New England Patriots. The Mets and Yanks still have Jeter and A-Rod, and most fans are still buzzing about the Mets' offseason acquisition of Johan Santana. Our basketball team, the Knicks, are on the complete other end of the spectrum.

'Basketball sucks' seems to be the general consensus, as ratings and fan interests are at an all-time low. I know people who haven't watched basketball since the Michael Jordan era, gangsta ass Chicago Bulls era. Ask any of them and what's left of the NBA will never compare and can barely even be called basketball. That is especially the case here in NYC. The Knicks were at one point one of the most feared and revered teams in the NBA. Nowadays, they're one of the worst teams, record wise, in the league. The Knicks exploded onto the scene before the season even started, with the Anucha Browne Sanders sexual harrassment/wrongful termination lawsuit, and the well-publicized tension between Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas and PG Stephon Marbury. With big name players and big money contracts, no one expected the season to go the way it has. The Knicks have the fourth worst record in the league at 17-38, above only Memphis, Minnesota and Miami.

I can't count the number of anti-Marbury articles I read and telecasts I watched over the past few months. Everyone pointed the finger at Starbury, saying his selfishness and arrogance was the reason for the Knicks lackluster efforts, dismal record and poor play. All those chatterboxes backed off a bit when Marbury had deaths in his family, including his childhood mentor, his aunt, and his father, Don Marbury, who suffered a fatal heart attack IN Madison Square Garden during a Knicks' game in December. Lemme ask you now, when was the last time you heard the name Stephon Marbury?!

Exactly!! The storyline got old, fast. Stephon Marbury has quietly faded into the background, and with no real public stars to attack, so has the media coverage. Marbury only played in 4 of the Knicks' 14 December games, and hasn't played for the team since January. It's been over a month since the controversial PG was on the court, and that's not going to change anytime soon.

X-Rays in January showed he had a fractured bone spur in his left ankle. "I have pain when I'm running up and down the court," said Marbury in an interview. "I need surgery." He had the same bone spur surgery on the same ankle back when he was in Phoenix, so he knows what he's talking about. Marbury had the surgery again back in January, and this time around, what was supposed to be a routine bone spur removal surgery turned into a lengthy 2-hour long procedure. Doctors found several bone fragments in the ankle that also had to be removed.

Initial reports said Marbury was out indefinitely, and that the Knicks hoped to have him back in a matter of months. We learned last week that Marbury is in fact done for the season. The Knicks were being weird about the whole situation, specifically saying that Steph "decided" to have the surgery, as if it was a decision the organization wasn't backing. You don't have to love the guy, but at least give a damn about his health.

The sad truth is, at 31 years old, Marbury seems to be coming up on the end of his NBA career, and his durability has really come into question. He has struggled to stay healthy over the past few seasons, missing several games with shoulder and foot injuries, and knee tendinitis. During this season, Marbury averaged a career low 13.9 points per game.

Stephon Marbury's huge contract is one of the many reasons why the Knicks are well over the salary cap, and the laughing stock of the league because of it. Marbury is making $20 million this season, and he has one year and $21.9 million left on his deal. There is speculation that the Knicks may be looking to buy him out. The trade deadline came and went, and the Knicks barely batted an eyelash, mainly because there aren't nearly enough pieces to complete their trade puzzle. This season is a wash, and frankly, I don't know anyone who would want to come into this ill-fated situation - on purpose.

Before the season started, Marbury said he wanted to win a championship with the Knicks then move to Italy with his wife and play basketball there. "I'm not just thinking of doing it, I'm going to do it," said Marbury last July. In his blog, Steph went on and on about his trip to Italy and seemed to be renewed by his experience. He called himself tryna get his "David Beckham" on, and wants to go overseas to assist in the globalization of the NBA. He hopes to "spread the Starbury Movement" by promoting his affordable line of sneakers and athletic wear.

Now I'm not the biggest Marbury fan, but I think it was just easier for everyone to focus on him rather than the real problem at hand, which actually stems from Knicks' management. It's unfair to assume that everyone that plays a team sport is a team player, and if he is selfish and arrogant, then learn how to work with him. With all the negative publicity surrounding the franchise, it's easy to miss some of the good things he's done. He donated $4 million last year, $1 million each to teachers, emergency services, and NYC police and fire departments. This doesn't even include the hundreds of pairs of sneakers, clothing and haircuts he gave away to inner city youths and area basketball teams. He says he found God, in his own strange, erratic way and people mocked him. He was one of the few public figures who wasn't afraid to speak out in favor of Michael Vick and people jumped down his throat and called him an idiot.

"I'm in the best place in my life, man," Marbury said during a New York Times interview this past September. "It seems like people don't like it when you grow. They don't like it when you get older and wiser. I came into the NBA when I was 18...If I didn't take the time to grow, something's wrong." Marbury has decided to go out on his own accord, instead of sticking to conventional NBA culture. I'm all for it, and at this point he might as well.

FLEX SCHEDULE for the NBA?

Good idea, huh? Well, I think it's a great idea because if I see one more NATIONALLY TELEVISED Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls game I'm going to flip! After great seasons last year it made sense to have these teams plastered all over the air, but these teams suck ASS now!! Miami can't hit double digit wins and Chicago is still faltering and just recently fired their head coach, Scott Skiles.

On a night when there are 10 games going on simultaneously, I shouldn't be stuck watching some wack ass game by teams that are historically significant or relevant last season. It's unfair to us fans especially since we have better teams emerging in ways we never expected. "Surprise" teams like the Orlando Magic, New Orleans Hornets, Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors are leading the pack but their televised games are few and far between.

It's even worse every Christmas with the same the Lakers vs. Miami! The Diesel is now in Phoenix with one of the top teams in the league, and Miami's dropping like flies. I would venture to say that come December 2008 SHAQ will be on television playing Kobe, DWade or Lebron. I love all 4 of those guys but come the eff on! Can I get some more Kevin Garnett? Some Chris Paul? Some Al Horford? Dwight Howard? Kevin Durant? Marcus Camby? Carlos Boozer? Baron Davis? Deron Williams? Tyson Chandler? Andris Biedrins? This list can go on and on...

So we can all agree that we're missing out with this rigid TV calendar. This is where the flex schedule would come in. The NFL already has it in play and most fans love it. Implemented last year, flexibe scheduling allows for quality and "surprise" teams to have their games aired nationally. As the season progresses, we're able to better choose which games are the best matchups, which could end up being different from when the schedules were first released. Sunday afternoon games are moved to Sunday evenings allowing for national exposure and optimum viewership. College football has done this for years and it's about time the NBA gets onboard.

The "Any Given __ Rule" applies to all sports; any given season any given team can be a contender. The NBA should allow the public the opportunity to follow these teams and players.

Ain't no fun if the homies can't watch none!

KG is BACK!!

The past few NBA weeks have been crazy with all the trades and All-Star Weekend. The All-Stars definitely did their thing, shout out to the EAST on the win, but I'm ready to settle into the second half of the season. As is clear by my numerous posts about Kevin Garnett and his seemingly unstoppable Boston Celtics, I'm a fan.

I relish every opportunity I get to see him in action. There have been a few televised Celtics games in the past few weeks, and while I got to see the rest of the team, KG was MIA. Garnett missed 9 straight games, including the All-Star game, with a strained abdominal muscle. It's weird, you never really notice how much you use your core until your shit doesn't work. Everything from sitting up straight to washin ya ass and of course, playing basketball.

I know I focus a lot on KG, but I'm not blind to the fact that there's a team around him. Everyone, including me, was worried about how the Celts would play without him. Looking back, it seems a bit silly to be that worried. KG's presence definitely affects the defense, but on offense, he's not their biggest threat. He's putting up solid numbers, averaging about 18 ppg, and he pulls down at least 10 boards. I think everyone would agree that KG is the heart and leader of that team, but the Celts proved they don't need him on the court to win a game.

Frankly, I would feel more secure if the Celtics didn't lose another game this season, but I'm not that unrealistic. The Celtics did their thing and were 7-2 while KG was away. Ray Allen has been always been a great player, and has been phenomenal since going to Boston this season. He's still one of the premier shooters in the league, as was proved by his 28 points in 19 minutes during the All-Star game. Paul Pierce, of course, is a has been in Boston for 10 years and is no doubt happy to finally be atop the NBA standings. Rajon Rondo is young, but getting better by the day. The Celtics are known for the Big 3, but their bench isn't too shabby. Tony Allen was a great pickup. Last January he tore 2 knee ligaments after coming down awkwardly after a dunk, and the prognosis was negative! He's made a speedy recovery and is back this season wearing a big ass knee brace, and shooting 44% from behind the arc. Shout out to Brian Scalabrine who started while KG was sidelined. I liked James Posey when he was in Miami and I wasn't so sure why they let him go. Obviously Posey would rather be in Boston right now anyway, seeing as how Shaq is gone, and Miami has yet to hit double digits in wins.

-->KG came back last night in the Celtics 118-124 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Garnett played just 21 minutes, shot 2-7, and finished the game with 4 points, 8 rebounds and 4 turnovers. Yeah, just a tad bit rusty but it's ok! I'm sure he's still feeling the effects of being off the court for almost a month. He'll get stronger over the next few games, and we'll see him back at 100 percent.

YAY YAY!! (Ice Cube Style...lol)