When it comes down to facing elimination or staying alive in the playoffs there is something that clearly separates star players from the rest of the players in the league. Star players understand that they must bring all they have to the game, and leave it all on the court afterwards regardless of the way it ends.  A lot of people agree that when Yao Ming went down, the Rockets lost a major component to their offense. Hell, Yao was the primary focus for the Rockets offense. And just like in years past he goes down with an injury, leaving the team without an effective threat in the middle. Surely I can’t blame Yao for being injured, because I don’t believe this guy’s intent was to be injured and ultimately not be there for the team. But what I am saying is that regardless of the situation, they were not able to utilize his talents at a time when all teams need there superstars the most. But look at the bright side; at least he’ll be ready in time for the China Olympics. Good news right?!?!

There is no excuse for our early exit again this year. The fact that one of our superstars was injured isn’t comforting and is irrelevant. With a record of 19-7, being a 5th seed, in a competitive Western Conference after Yao went down tells me there is no reason to believe this team didn’t make the adjustments needed t win games.  I don’t want to negate at all, what the Utah Jazz did to beat the Rockets. The Jazz is a good team. Calling on the talents of Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams, this team continues to be a force in the West, and with this lineup, and Sloan at the helm, this team will continue to be one to reckon with in the years to come.

I for one hope Tracy McGrady returns for another year. In the process Houston has to get on the ball and prepare this team for possible injuries to our top players during the season. To me Dikembe Mutumbo, fulfilled his role stepping up to the role of starter in Yao’s absence, but Mutumbo is not a scoring threat, and just simply isn’t young enough to single handedly fill the gap that is left when and if Yao goes down. If we, meaning the Rockets, are going to ever get out of the 1st round of the playoffs again, then we better make damn sure we have some inside big men, and some viable offensive threats, to reduce the effectiveness of the double teams against TMac . Outside of Scola, and McGrady no one scored in double figures. Outside of the 5 assist from Tmac, no one else dished out more than 2, Tmac followed by Scola were the only two people rebounding yesterday. From a team standpoint, this is just embarrassing. During this offseason, Houston needs to get viable offensive players to ease the double teams on McGrady and we need consistent role players to ensure the team is competitive regardless of the lineup on the field.

Everyone knows it’s a fact that Tracy McGrady is a player who has yet to make it out of the firstround of the playoffs.  Why is this negative against McGrady? Is it honestly fair to blame one player for an entire teams inability to advance to the second round or further in the playoffs. No it’s not. We’ve attacked him on occasion here in Houston saying he’s not an all star player in the league anymore. Many have demoted him to just a good above average player in the league. But when you watch the games, and listen to the other coaches in the league, they seem to sing another song.  Teams concentrate on T_Mac, defensively, they double team the guy night in and out. This isn’t a complaint though; this is just validation that this guy is more than an average player.

Starting his career in Toronto, McGrady at the time was the youngest player in the NBA and was a rookie on a newly formed franchise in the Toronto Raptors. He played 18.4min ppg with an average of 7 points per game again, just clearly indicates that he was no where near a part of the offense of the team at the time. With the addition of Vince Carter who was the rookie of the year, the teams shift and concentration was on their new player in Vince Carter, with TMac being a role player.  McGrady spent 3 years in Toronto, but in all fairness his position on the team at the time ,just wasn’t enough to say that he was the player on the team that would either carry the Raptors to the next level,  or carry them to an early exit.

Seeking the desire to become more of an offensive focus, TMac went on to play with the Orlando Magic for 4 seasons.  Tracy was to be a part of a move that would have the Magic starting two All-Star players in Grant Hill and McGrady with an excellent supporting cast. The belief of course, was that the team could not only advance but go deep in the playoffs to repeat an opportunity to reach the NBA Finals as they did with Shaq and Penny Hardaway in 94. Needless to say we all no the injuries that plagued Grant Hill quickly turned this optimism into years of just trying to finish above .500 and some respect. There were just no moves made that would’ve allowed TMAC an opportunity to carry this team deep in the playoffs.

Tracy McGrady comes to Houston, after a trade for, Rockets franchise player at the time, Steve Francis. Personally I wasn’t very crazy about this trade, because I liked Francis. But nevertheless McGrady comes to Houston, and fits in well with this team, as the second option to Yao Ming.  Unfortunately TMAC runs into the same issue here in Houston with himself being injured for multiple games as well as #1 pick Yao Ming seemingly being plagued with injuries. Once again this year, TMAC will be judged based on how far Houston goes this year in the post season. I don’t think it’s fair, but at the same time, it’s also the responsibility that is given to a superstar like Tracy McGrady. I think the team will do well this year, but if we do suffer the fate of a first round exit, than I believe this puts McGrady’s tenure here in Houston, is serious jeopardy. Either way it goes, McGrady has my respect.

 

 

Most NBA players believe in giving back to the community. They understand that their own communities played a big role in what they’ve become today. I want to spot light one individual that has been a big contributor to his native community. He’s also mentoring other players in the league to do the same. The person that I speak of is Houston Rocket’s backup center Dikembe Mutumbo. While Yao Ming is done for this season, Deke has come in to help with filling the gap by contributing 24rebounds and 11 blocks over the course of the last three games. Aside from his defensive prowess some of the more intangibles includes the experience that he brings to the team, which is beneficial to the younger players including Yao and just an overall work ethic for self improvement.

 

But this is not about Dikembe’s contributions to the game persae. This is more about the contribution he makes to society. During President Bush’s January ’07 State of the Union address he recognized Mutumbo for contributions, as an American, that he has made here in America and to his home in the Congo. Mutumbo came to the US on a medical scholarship to Georgetown University only to be discovered by his coach, John Thompson. It was at the time that his introduction to the game, led his pro career in the NBA. This has allowed Mutumbo to contribute a great more deal to the development of medical facilites in the Congo.

 

A hospital funded by Mutumbo provides a much needed medical facility with modern medicines and equipment in the Congo. Deke has a charity dedicated to improving the living condition in the Congo known as the Dikembe Mutumbo Foundation  These are the examples of  the attributes of an ideal role model. His dedication to improving the conditions of his homeland has rubbed off on other players like team mate Tracey McGrady who has pledged to continue to call attention to the situations in Darfur and ex team mate Juwan Howard who joined Mutumbo on a trip to his homeland to be a part of the positive changes being made in Africa. Deke continues to lead by example and I just believe the country is better for it because he demonstrates the blue print of a humanitarian.

 

 

I’ve been so critical of Eli Manning, and his inconsistencies this year that I just feel it only right to rescind that point.  Since the beginning of this season, Eli Manning has been scrutinized, by the media, me, and former team mates. In the previous season, the team seemingly was headed towards a mutiny because of comments made by other players about there dislike of Coughlins coaching. But this isn’t about previous years, this is about the hear and now. Though I am a Dallas Cowboy, I must always give props where they are due.

A lot of the scrutiny of Eli Manning came through because his threshold was set so high. After all he is a Manning. Many felt that much of the positive talk about Eli was because of the things his big brother and his father  did prior to Eli entering the NFL. Many of us attacked Eli calling him, just a good quarterback, but nothing near the greatness of Peyton Manning. Though one game doesn’t make a player a hall of famer, I think we can all agree that Eli has some of the mechanics to make it to that level with other elite players.  There are no shoes to fill any longer. Eli is not Peyton’s little brother,  or Archies kid. Eli Manning is his own standing player with his own miletones to fill in the years ahead.

Understand that the reason the Giants won the Superbowl is because of several components. The New Giant defensive line led by Michael Strahan must get a lot of credit, because they harassed Tom Brady the entire game.  Credit has to be given to David Tyree because of his incredible hands  and of course Plaxico Burress because of his clutch reception that put the Giants over the Pats. Having said that, there is no doubt that Eli was the leader of this team. His composure was the thing that allowed all the big plays of this game to occur. Ill close with this, the Giants team can enjoy and reflect on their  victory because they did something no team has done this year. In the years ahead,  the Giants and Eli can only get better and better. Although my Cowboys still stand to take them down next season, there is only one way to close this. Eli has ascended.

I don’t think anyone predicted the New York Giants to make it to the big game, I can guarantee I didn’t. There were question marks over the head of Eli Manning and Coach Coughlin. At the beginning of the season comments about Eli’s leadership ability were called into question by former teammate Tiki Barber, on the national stage during Sunday Night Football. I’ll say it for you Eli, “Tiki, how you like me now?"

When you look at the road traveled, there were just no signs or even possibilities that the Giants would’ve went this far. During the off season there were uncertainties around Michael Strahan playing or retiring this season, Tiki Barber retired, leaving a big pair of shoes at running back that needed to be filled. During the regular season they were sharing a division with the Dallas Cowboys who led the NFC during the regular season, and whom the Giants lost to twice during their two divisional meetings this year. They shared a division with an emotionally charged Washington Redskin team that lost star safety Sean Springs to an act of random violence. Actually the NFL as a whole, fans and loved ones endured this loss. You can never forget the division rival Philadelphia Eagles, a team that seemingly faces a quarterback controversy every time Donovan McNabb throws an interception. And finally of course, leading up to the NFC Championships, they would face a Greenbay Packer team that has been firing on all cylinders since the beginning of the season, and unlike the Cowboys the Pack showed no signs of slowing down heading into the post season.

 

A lot of credit has to be given to Coach Coughlin. After last years season I just didn’t see him returning. Ill advised comments from both Jeremy Shockey and Tiki Barber to the media about being out coached added to the detriment of Coughlin and the coaching staff. A quick side note, I hate when players in any sport take their anger and comments to the media because there’s no good that comes from it. Ill say this, the Giants made it to the game without those two players although on any given Sunday I’d opt to play both guys, because they’re pro bowl players that may have been just pissed at the time, but one was injured and the other somehow is anchor on NBC, but I digress. Coughlin played this Giant team through the pre-season, through the adversity of the regular season, which concluded with a perfect post season, and as a result, he and his players have earned a ticket to the dance.

 

Now when you look at the Giants team that we see today, you see key components that got this team to the Superbowl, starting with the play of Eli Manning. You don’t look for Eli to be his brother, or anyone else but himself. Even I questioned the ability of Eli after watching him make questionable decisions on the field throughout the course of the games this season. Ill say this, he’s earned my respect, just as Peyton did a few years ago when he brought the Colts back from a deficit against the #1 ranked defense of the Bucanners in the 4th quarter to win the game. Now I’m sure they could care less about earning my respect, but heck it’s just nice to say that they have anyway. Eli played Eli ball. That just simply means, make good choices, avoid turnovers, and do what you can to at least keep your team in these games towards the end. Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer were solid on the field, making big plays when needed. And let me just say that the play of Plaxico Burress during the NFC championship game was nothing short of a probowl type performance. The defensive line, which included Mike Strahan and Umenyiora combined for a season total 22 sacks. If not for their improved play during the second half of the NFC Divisional game against the Cowboys, we could’ve very well been watching the Cowboys vs. Greenbay, but thanks to the Giants defense getting to Tony Romo, the team was able to eliminate their division rival, which just happens to be my team, DAMN!! And before I proceed, a wise man once said , “Leave my QB alone!”, so leave him alone.

 

Let me just say this, I’m not a New York Giant fan, by any stretch of the imagination, but you can’t deny the much improved play of the New York Giants this post season. The two best teams in the NFC played yesterday. It’s not about the teams that played well during the regular season, it’s about teams that get it together as the end of the regular season approaches. The Giants put it together,  and went in to the game as the underdog to the Pack. The Giants gave the Packers opportunities to take this game from them in the end, but thanks to a Brett Favre interception and a second opportunity at clutch kicking by Lawrence “Heart Attack” Tynes, in overtime, the Giants eliminate the Packers, becoming the NFC Champion, and ultimately earning themselves a trip to Superbowl XLII to face the unbeaten New England Patriots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-my picks-

Jacksonville vs. New England

Although everyone has the Pats as the favorite to win it all, I believe they will have problems doing that after they loose this weekend. Teams that have come close to beating them all fell short because of costly mistakes on their part, which in turn led to many big plays in the form of a deep Moss, Brady connection throughout the season. The Jaguars will run, and Garard will stay on pace with the flawless performance he has put on this season. The Patriots will try to do there thing, but something tells me a combination of ball control and that decent Jags running game will keep Brady and that potent offense off the field. My pick, the Jaguars!

Greenbay vs. Seattle

There’s no way this even becomes a game. Greenbay all day in this one. Barring some sort of injury that knocks would Favre ß(yeah right) out the game, there’s no way Seattle stops that offense, and there’s no way they over come Greenbay’s defense. My pick, the Packers!

Indianapolis vs. San Diego

I mean ok, San Diego beat the Titans last week. Pretty impressive right,  almost as interesting as watching the Patriots  beat the Miami Dolphins like 12 or 13 others  this season…give or take a team. Peyton Manning shows up as usual, and after a season without his number 1 guy, you can’t count them out as repeats for the Superbowl this year.  My pick, the Colts.

 New York vs. Dallas

Ill admit I’m somewhat partial to my boys in Dallas, but I agree with Coach Phillips. The regular season no longer matters.  Towards the end of the season the Cowboys looked pretty ####, for lack of a batter word, and in contrast the Giants have looked way better than they have at the beginning of the season.  The two wins over them this year is irrelevant. I believe the defense will cause trouble for Eli. Keeping Eli’s confidence to a minimum with a good defense, and of course good play from Romo equals a good game for Dallas, but if the Giants comes in with the momentum from the last game and the Cowboys are slow to react, then an upset can occur.

                                  

 

NFL FANS we got to love the story set leading in to the playoffs this NFL season. I know many people are already on board the New England express and waiting to pull into the Lombardi station again for the 4th time in 7 years and for good reasons. No one can argue that Tom Brady and the Patriots are having an awesome season especially since they are on the eve of completing a possible perfect 16-0 season. The only team in the history of the NFL to finish a season with no losses is the’72 Dolphins with a perfect 14-0 season.

Interestingly this probable feat by the Pats does overshadow three other teams that are having awesome seasons as well, all of which share the record of 12-2. The Colts, Pack and Cowboys set atop there respective divisions gearing up for a post season run. I tell you this, I wouldn’t count the Patriots a shoe in to win the Superbowl or even make it to the Big Game. Just as long as Peyton Manning, and the Colts, the reigning champs I add, are in the running, nothing is guaranteed, not even for the Pats.

Same scenario for the NFC, though Dallas up until last week appeared as the sure fired front runner to make the Big Game, you can’t deny the amazing season the Packers are having leading up to the post season. But I tell you this, there are some dangerous teams that you cant overlook. To me the Jacksonville Jaguars have been impressive all season, and teams like Cleveland and  Minnesota, as of late,  are teams that are to be respected this post season.  Either way it goes the Pats are a favorite for many to take home the Lombardi trophy, but I’m not so sure we should be prepared to crown them just yet. Bring on the playoffs!!!!!

It’s been a long long time coming. Those who are Dallas Cowboy fans like myself understand just what I am talking about, before I even talk about it…. The Cowboys have always been destined for greatness. One thing I can say that’s true about being a Cowboy fan is you are either a hardcore Dallas Cowboy fan or you are not a fan at all. Everyone has strong feelings for the Cowboys; you either love the team as I do or you hate the team with a snarl.

The long road began after the brutal hit Aikman suffered at the hands of Lavar Arrington, with his 10th concussion that marked the end of the Aikman era.  Since then, finding a worthy replacement was painstaking to say the least. We had to endure the inconsistency and bad choices of Quincy Carter, only to move on to another bad QB in Chad Hutchinson, then to Drew Henson, who’s first snap was a fumble. In 2004 Vinny Testaverde took over the reigns which in all fairness, didn’t do a bad job, even though he was about as old as Moses. We get a brief glimpse of light with Drew Bledsoe, who’s demise simply put was his inability to be mobile, which in turn led to bad choices especially when the offense line gave up sacks. In the dark of it all Bill Parcells took a gamble in starting Tony Romo a QB who has been there for some years but never took a snap.

I would imagine Jerry Jones became frustrated with the way the team was reduced to the subpar organization that it became. After giving Jimmy Johnson the boot, the Cowboys went on to hire Barry Switzer who won the 96’superbowl against the Steelers, but with Jimmy Johnson’s team. Chan Gailey was a coach I liked, as well as Dave Campo, all of which failed to get Dallas to an elite level. It was then, that Jerry Jones launched the beginning of the Cowboys return to greatness in hiring Bill Parcells, and later signing the controversial Terrell Owens, who arguably could be the best WR in the NFL this season. Although Parcells failed to win a playoff game, his blue print as the Cowboys coach is the reason they are back at the top. Under Coach Wade Phillips the Cowboy’s reign over the NFC, second only to the juggernaut NE Patriots in the entire NFL.

For all fans we are delighted that Jerry Jones’ team has returned to the top. So much so, that we have the best record in the NFC with one loss. The team is on pace to beat out its franchise best record of 13-3 during the 1992 season. Now having said all that, it’s safe to say that though its been a long road back to the top, the Dallas Cowboys are a team that has returned to its rightful spot as an elite team in the NFL.

 

 

 

 

             I have to honestly say that what Whitlock posted is thought provoking as it should be. So many pointless crimes occur each and everyday in all communities. The thing that really makes these cases even worse is the other people that are affected by these tragedies. Close family members, friends, team mates and people that have come to know Sean Taylor, all grieve with this loss. We should all grieve and show the utmost respect to the departed and their families.

           I agree that spending time pointing the finger everywhere from Hip Hop’s influence, to perhaps the lifestyle and habits of a person and there associations have no value if we choose not to learn from them. We should all come together in understanding just what the value of life means and strive each day to be better than we were the day before.

None of us will feel the grief at the level that the girlfriend and close members of Sean Taylor will feel. All I ask is that we all be objective when reading stories such as this, because when we do, then it is at those moments that we see the point that Whitlock was trying to make. Here's the big picture. It’s not about pointing fingers. It’s about identifying the things that tear up families today. It’s about learning about the things that causes us to loose loved ones prematurely. The only way to make progress against those very things I describe is simply by paying attention, and making decisions that better your life and communities alike regardless of any affiliations.

 

Looks like news about T.O. is starting to run dry. Does anyone at this point really care if the dude was asleep at practice, or during a game meeting or in the back of the church van. As a Dallas Cowboy fan I couldn't care less, because regardless he's bringing his pro bowl status performance to the field every Sunday.Is that news?