Josh Q. Public:Three is a magic number. Yes it is, it’s a magic number. Somewhere in the ancient, mystic trinity. You get three as a magic number. -Schoolhouse Rock
Public Service Announcement: Ok here we go! Not since Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson have we seen such a triple threat. A Kidd amongst men. If you wanna know the real deal about the three. Well let me tell you, we’re triple trouble ya’ll. We’re gonna bring you up to speed. I’m gonna bring you up to speed. Bring you up to speed with Jason Kidd. Last night, in a loss, Kidd notched his 91st career triple double. 91! That’s more than Larry Legend. More than the Stilt. More than a whole lot of folks. Third all time. Third all time behind the Big-O and Magic. Even more amazing considering Kidd played the first sixty-eight games of his career without ever securing a triple-double. Then went on to tally four out of his next ten. Then went on to tally at least one triple double in each and every of the fourteen seasons he has been in this league. Yowza! That would be a record my friends. He may not average a triple double for his career like Oscar. He may not catch Earvin. (He needs 39 more.) But they never done did that. And he ain’t slowing down. He’s still mowing ‘em down. Still throwing ‘em down. The past three seasons have been three of his five biggest triple-double campaigns. He set his own personal record with twelve just last year. He has four already this year tying him for the lead with one King James. Just the other night he grabbed nineteen boards. How about that? Talk about a West Coast bias. While everyone’s blabbering about Steve Nash. While everyone’s jabbering about Steve Nash. While everyone’s doing that, here is Kidd. Kid gracious kid. Your eyes are blue but you won’t cry I know. Angry tears are too dear. You wont let them go. You didn’t let them go back in ‘02. Back in ‘02 when you was robbed. I got robbed by a sweet old lady on a motorized cart. I didn’t even see it coming. No one saw it coming. Robbed by the Big Fundamental. Robbed out of an MVP. Back in ‘02 when you were traded to the Nets. Traded for Starbury. Traded to the perennial league doormats. Then single-handedly transformed them into championship contenders in the space of one single training camp. Put them into the NBA Finals two years in a row. Put them on the map. And there they’ve stayed. Thanks to Jason Kidd. Thanks to Jason Kidd the new triple double king.
Public Acknowledgements:NBA, Beastie Boys, Pretenders and Dumb & Dumber
Josh Q. Public: I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught. -Winston Churchill
1. When my fantasy baseball draft comes around, I’m picking D-Nice. Gy-Ro-Mite! I may even pick him too early. I don’t care. I haven’t been this excited about every fifth day since Pedro left town.
2. More Sox talk? Sure, why not. Beltin’ Todd Helton. Hasn’t been beltin’ for a couple of years now. My first thought goes to steroids. It’s just gross that’s the way we have to think now. Just like it’s gross every time there’s a power outage or gas truck explosion we think terrorism. Oops. Just got political. Sorry folks. Todd Helton. That’s a lot of lefties, no? Papi, Drew and Helton. I don’t care. I like it. A batting order with David Ortiz, Manny, J.D. Drew and Helton. Goodness.
3. The Super Bowl is getting closer and closer. I find myself caring less and less. Is that wrong? Tell me there’s gonna be some Terrible Terry Tate commercials and maybe I’ll start to care a little more.
4. When is the Shield coming back on? C’mon guys, the joke is over. We’ll be good.
5. Vee Dot Carter. Finally playing harder. Competition is nada. Filled it up for forty on Saturday. Twenty in the fourth. Nets end their record tying, three game, lose by one point, on the other guy’s last possession streak. Carter just had thirty-three versus the Clips and a career high thirteen assists against the Wiz. Nobody beats the Wiz. Nobody.
6. Stanford bears down. Bears down to beat the number three UCLA Bruins. Maybe its because I’m an East Coast guy. I dunno. I never believed in UCLA from the giddy-up. As good as Arron Aflallo is, I just don’t see it.
7. Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens isn’t prepared to say whether he’ll be back for another season. Here we go. Here we go again. Here comes the Roger Clemens dog and pony show. The Roger Clemens dog and pony show coming soon to a town near you. Between him and Ted Stroehmann’s boy Brett Favre, I’ve just about had enough.
8. I know I’m gonna get killed on this one but, the Tiger and Federer stories don’t move me. Don’t groove me. Don’t J-Schmoove me. I understand they may be the most dominating athletes out there, but I’m just not feeling the country club sports. Never have. I need action. I need action for my satisfaction.
9. Here keep coming the Suns. Again and again and again. The Suns defeated the Cavs 115-100 on Sunday for their 33rd win in their past 35 games. Only three other teams in NBA history went 33-2 over a 35-game span in one season: the Kobe and Shaq’s Lakers in 2000; Michael and the Jordanaires in 1995-96; and Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor of the ‘72 Lakers. How did that ‘72 Laker team ever lose?
10. Here you go Dusty. The Mamba scored six of the Lakers’ 14 points in overtime against the Spurs. He now has accounted for a total of 50 of his team’s 106 points in OT this season. The Lakers have 38 games to play this season, but number twenty-four has already scored more OT points than any other player in any season since Fab Fiver Jalen Rose tallied 51 points in overtime in 2000-01.
Josh Q. Public: The preservation of the means of knowledge among the lowest ranks is of more importance to the Public than all the property of the rich men in the country. -John Adams
Public Knowledge:
1. So you weren’t impressed with the Big Aristotle’s comeback performance. The fourteen minutes, five points and five boards weren’t enough for ya? You want more. Well, tonight’s the night. It’s gonna be all right. The Heat face the Eddy Curryless Knicks. I think maybe, just maybe, Shaq will put up some numbers.
2. Guess who’s taking the hill again today. Guess who’s making a triumphant comeback again today. That’s right, it’s none other than Carl Pavano. Last seen, Mr. Pavano was smashing up his Porsche and his ribs. Hasn’t thrown in the bigs since June of ‘05. Show me what you got little mama. Show me what you got. Inquiring minds want to know.
3. Pau Gasol to the Baby Bulls? Perhaps. Paxson says he’s interested. They’ve needed a body in the middle who can score ever since they traded away fat Eddy Curry. But for who? Madison Square Gordon and Luol Deng. Not bloody likely. We’ll be keeping an eye on this one.
4. Trouble in Cleveland? The Cavs are 24-18. All well and good. But they’ve lost six out of their last ten. Bye-bye ####? Dwane Casey style? Maybe. Whenever high hopes fail to come to fruition, it’s the coach who usually suffers. Regardless of who misses big free throws.
5. What happened? They used to be the most swinging alligators in the swamp. They used to be the greatest percolators when they really started to romp. Wally Gator style. Now? Not so much. Seven times this season, the Nets have led by at least ten points and lost. Monday they were up twenty. Wednesday, they were up eleven with four minutes left. This team could be 27-15. Instead, they’re 20-22. Good thing they’re in the Hot Lantic. Not for nothing, Cuttino Mobley’s 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining gave the Clippers a 102-101 victory over New Jersey. It was the Nets’ third consecutive one-point loss, equaling the longest streak in NBA history.
6. Red Sox finalize deal on JD Drew. About time. Coconut Crisp, Julio Lugo, Papi, Manny, JD Drew. That’s a pretty daggone good line-up. Gy-Ro-Mite!, Schilling, Pap, Boom Boom Beckett, Wakefield. That’s a pretty daggone good staff. You listen to me brother, saddle your ponies you bet! Bring it ####es! Listen to me now, or listen to me later: Fear the Red Sox!
7. Dewey beats Truman. Vee Dot Carter: “I’m thrilled. It’s always just a great feeling to be selected as an All-Star as a starter.” Hey dum-dum, Hibachi’s starting.
8. Does it ever stop? Tractor Traylor. Remember him? Broke a backboard while at Michigan. Broke his arm while out with Mateen Cleaves. Well, he broke something else. The law. His Largeness just pleaded guilty yesterday. Pleaded guilty yesterday to preparing a false tax return after hiding assets for a convicted drug dealer. I’ll never get it.
9. Start me up! How is Canadian Idol Steve Nash not an All-Star starter. Tracy McGrady? Really? I love T-Mac as much as the next guy, but c’mon. Stupid.
10. The Nugget trade no one is talking about. Earl Boykins for Steve Blake. The Nuggets have won five straight since attaining Blake. He has started at the point in all five of those games. Coinky dinky? We think not. Blake pushes it. Pushes it real good. Hits the three. Protects the rock. The Nuggets are the team no one wants to see come playoff time.
11. Quote of the day. Gilbert Arenas: “He’d like to see what I’m going to do against Duke? I thought it was funny because if I have the chance to go back to college, I’ll give up one NBA season to play against Duke. One college game that’s five fouls, right? … 40-minute game at Duke, they got soft rims I’d probably score 84 or 85. I wouldn’t pass the ball. I wouldn’t even think about passing it. It would be like a NBA Live or an NBA 2K7 game, you just shoot with one person.” And that’s different from now, how exactly?
12. Baby boomers. Four of the five players selected for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team are 25 years old or younger: Agent Zero and Flash are both 25; Chris Bosh and King James are both 22. In the past 50 years there has been only one NBA All-Star Game in which four (or more) starters from one conference were no older than 25. The 2002 West team had four: The Big Ticket, Little Stevie Franchise, The Big Fundamental and The Mamba.
13. Money makin’. Money, money makin’. Dallas Maverick super disco breakin’. Disco Dirk. Nowitzki had 11 rebounds, marking his seventh straight game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He also had a seven-game streak earlier this season. No other NBA player has had even one streak of five or more consecutive games with 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds this season. MVP?
14. Multiple published reports state that Kenny Anderson will be named quarterbacks coach of the Steelers. Anderson played all 16 of his NFL seasons with the Bengals (1971-1986) and he started 23 career games against Pittsburgh, the most for any NFL quarterback vs. the Steelers over the last 50 years. I always liked that cat. Remember 1981? Huh? Do ya? Sherman, set the way back machine. 1981. Anderson had completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,754 yards and 29 touchdowns, with only 10 interceptions leading the NFL with a career-high 98.4 Passer Rating. Associated Press and Professional Football Writers of America NFL Most Valuable Player Awards and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Freezer Bowl to the Super Bowl. The Bengals lost Super Bowl XVI to the 49ers, but Anderson wasn’t bad. 25 of 34 passes for 300 yards. Two touchdowns. Another one on the ground. At the time, his 25 completions and 73.5% completion percentage were both Super Bowl records. Kenny Anderson ladies and gentlemen, Kenny Anderson.
15. Oh, and for the love of god, can someone please tell me how to my avatar up here. It's driving me nuts!
josh q. public. For the public, by The Public. Irreverent sports opinion from a Bostonian in New York. The one blog to read, when you’re reading more than one. Good to the last drop!
went on to tally four out of his next ten. Then went on to tally at least one triple double in each and every of the fourteen seasons he has been in this league. Yowza! That would be a record my friends. He may not average a triple double for his career like Oscar. He may not catch Earvin. (He needs 39 more.) But they never done did that. And he ain’t slowing down. He’s still mowing ‘em down. Still throwing ‘em down. The past three seasons have been three of his five biggest triple-double campaigns. He set his own personal record with twelve just last year. He has four already this year tying him for the lead with one King James. Just the other night he grabbed 
nineteen boards. How about that? Talk about a West Coast bias. While everyone’s blabbering about Steve Nash. While everyone’s jabbering about Steve Nash. While everyone’s doing that, here is Kidd. Kid gracious kid. Your eyes are blue but you won’t cry I know. Angry tears are too dear. You wont let them go. You didn’t let them go back in ‘02. Back in ‘02 when you was robbed. I got robbed by a sweet old lady on a motorized cart. I didn’t even see it coming. No one saw it coming. Robbed by the Big Fundamental. Robbed out of an MVP. Back in ‘02 when you were traded to the Nets. Traded for Starbury. Traded to the perennial league doormats. Then single-handedly transformed them into championship contenders in the space of one single training camp. Put them into the NBA Finals two years in a row. Put them on the map. And there they’ve stayed. Thanks to Jason Kidd. Thanks to Jason Kidd the new triple double king.
2. More Sox talk? Sure, why not. Beltin’ Todd Helton. Hasn’t been beltin’ for a couple of years now. My first thought goes to steroids. It’s just gross that’s the way we have to think now. Just like it’s gross every time there’s a power outage or gas truck explosion we think terrorism. Oops. Just got political. Sorry folks. Todd Helton. That’s a lot of lefties, no? Papi, Drew and Helton. I don’t care. I like it. A batting order with David Ortiz, Manny, J.D. Drew and Helton. Goodness.
forty on Saturday. Twenty in the fourth. Nets end their record tying, three game, lose by one point, on the other guy’s last possession streak. Carter just had thirty-three versus the Clips and a career high thirteen assists against the Wiz. Nobody beats the Wiz. Nobody.
7. Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens isn’t prepared to say whether he’ll be back for another season. Here we go. Here we go again. Here comes the Roger Clemens dog and pony show. The Roger Clemens dog and pony show coming soon to a town near you. Between him and Ted Stroehmann’s boy Brett Favre, I’ve just about had enough. 
10. Here you go Dusty. The Mamba scored six of the Lakers’ 14 points in overtime against the Spurs. He now has accounted for a total of 50 of his team’s 106 points in OT this season. The Lakers have 38 games to play this season, but number twenty-four has already scored more OT points than any other player in any season since Fab Fiver Jalen Rose tallied 51 points in overtime in 2000-01.
2. Guess who’s taking the hill again today. Guess who’s making a triumphant comeback again today. That’s right, it’s none other than Carl Pavano. Last seen, Mr. Pavano was smashing up his Porsche and his ribs. Hasn’t thrown in the bigs since June of ‘05. Show me what you got little mama. Show me what you got. Inquiring minds want to know.
4. Trouble in Cleveland? The Cavs are 24-18. All well and good. But they’ve lost six out of their last ten. Bye-bye 
6. Red Sox finalize deal on JD Drew. About time. Coconut Crisp, Julio Lugo, Papi, Manny, JD Drew. That’s a pretty daggone good line-up. Gy-Ro-Mite!, Schilling, Pap, Boom Boom Beckett, Wakefield. That’s a pretty daggone good staff. You listen to me brother, saddle your ponies you bet! Bring it 
10. The Nugget trade no one is talking about. Earl Boykins for Steve Blake. The Nuggets have won five straight since attaining Blake. He has started at the point in all five of those games. Coinky dinky? We think not. Blake pushes it. Pushes it real good. Hits the three. Protects the rock. The Nuggets are the team no one wants to see come playoff time.
12. Baby boomers. Four of the five players selected for the Eastern Conference All-Star Team are 25 years old or younger: Agent Zero and Flash are both 25; Chris Bosh and King James are both 22. In the past 50 years there has been only one NBA All-Star Game in which four (or more) starters from one conference were no older than 25. The 2002 West team had four: The Big Ticket, Little Stevie Franchise, The Big Fundamental and The Mamba.
14. Multiple published reports state that Kenny Anderson will be named quarterbacks coach of the Steelers. Anderson played all 16 of his NFL seasons with the Bengals (1971-1986) and he started 23 career games against Pittsburgh, the most for any NFL quarterback vs. the Steelers over the last 50 years. I always liked that cat. Remember 1981? Huh? Do ya? Sherman, set the way back machine. 1981. Anderson had completed 62.6% of his passes for 3,754 yards and 29 touchdowns, with only 10 interceptions leading the NFL 
with a career-high 98.4 Passer Rating. Associated Press and Professional Football Writers of America NFL Most Valuable Player Awards and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Freezer Bowl to the Super Bowl. The Bengals lost Super Bowl XVI to the 49ers, but Anderson wasn’t bad. 25 of 34 passes for 300 yards. Two touchdowns. Another one on the ground. At the time, his 25 completions and 73.5% completion percentage were both Super Bowl records. Kenny Anderson ladies and gentlemen, Kenny Anderson.
