In case you did not see it on E: 60 (the only good programming on ESPN nowadays), or see it on NASCAR Now (assuming you watch it), Randy Moss, yes that Randy Moss, is dabbling in the art of Auto Racing team ownership...

     As of now he has a truck on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuit--the 81 truck. While his team still lacks firm sponsorship, there have been bright spots so far this season; 4 top-15's, and 1 of those a top-10, in addition to getting Jimmie Johnson to take the wheel in the most recent race. Johnson crashed out and did not have a good showing, but still a big step for Moss's team.

     My focus is not on the development of this team, per se, but rather on what effect the mixture of football and team ownership will have on each endeavor. Joe Gibbs recently returned to coaching, while also owning his own racing team--a return characterized by extreme mediocrity as compared to his past achievements as a coach.

     You see, the beginning of football season happens to coincide with the home stretch of the racing season. It will be interesting to see how Randy juggles the responsibility of managing his team, pursuing sponsorship for that team, finding drivers to take the wheel, oh yeah...and preparing for Sundays on the field.

     A huge negative contrast between he and Joe Gibbs is that Gibbs had an established, successful team, with reliable, experienced people to handle its maintenance and supervision, while he coached. I am willing to bet that if you asked him whether he thinks he could have done it while he was in the process of establishing his team, he'd reply with a resounding 'NO.'

     Now we all know Randy Moss can be the absolute best wide receiver in the league when motivated and focused...conversely, we all know what an unfocused Randy Moss can be like as well. Unfocused Randy Moss was given away by the hapless Raiders for monopoly money (second day draft pick).

     My point is, what will give? Can Randy Moss really juggle both preparing for games, which will probably include preparing for double teams and memorizing opposing teams' defensive signals, AND making sure his team finishes strong to attract sponsors? Will his play on the field suffer, or will he be forced to postpone his ambition to start a racing team, and lose lots of money?

     An even better question is this: Will Randy Moss pull a surprise retirement after this year or the next? Just a little food for thought...why would he try this NOW? I'm just sayin'....

     Most of you have heard by now that former Kansas Jayhawks players, Darrell Arthur, and Mario Chalmers were busted in a hotel room during the Rooke Transition program with women and weed. Now, before everyone goes off on rants about how moronic these two were (and that they were), I want to present a few points that display the hypocrisy and foolishness of the NBA in dealing with this.

     First of all, it would appear that these two young men are going to be the official poster children of "How well the NBA handles substance abuse" (particularly smoking marijuana). After Josh "Loose Lips" Howard blatantly admitted that he, along with more than a few others in the NBA, use pot regularly, there has been a need for someone to be made an example of. My problem is, why them? Why not Josh Howard? How could a player represent himself and the league so poorly, with such an irresponsible statement, and get off with no consequence outside of internal team discipline? No investigations were announced; no suspension, fines, or plans for action were presented--in fact, I do not recall the issue being addressed by anyone other than media and bloggers (Mark Cuban is a blogger). Now I want to make it clear that I do not think any of the above things SHOULD have taken place--marijuana should be the least of the NBA's worries, but why now? Why the inconsistency?

     Secondly, these two young men were kicked out of the program. For those who are unsure what the program is about, it is basically a symposium where players, coaches, and referees talk to the guys about making the transition into the league...So how on earth does it make sense to send the two kids who showed the very reason why such a program is necessary, home? If the league could effectively brush Howard's comments under the rug (which should have enough dirt to plant a baby Redwood by now), why have this blow up the way it has? If anything, these boys should have been forced to sit in the front row, and have a league official share a hotel room with them. Instead, you're sending a couple of immature guys, obviously unprepared to represent the league, away from the thing they probably need most. Hell, now they won't have to worry about a thing; they can go home and smoke a nice fat one, and joke about how easy it was to get out of that boring #### program...

     Overall, this whole situation is a direct indictment of the kind of character the leaders of the NBA have. It is all about perception--make the public perceive that they are in control, by overblowing and/or underplaying situations, depending on how beneficial it can be to the image of the NBA. It is de####able and I would hope the average NBA fan can see through it. This will do NOTHING to ameliorate the problem (if you even want to call it that) of marijuana use among NBA players. For those of you who see this and think, "finally, they're stepping up and doing something," I say open your eyes, and look beyond the charade. Do not brand these kids as misfits, troublemakers, or imminent busts based on this incident. They are merely sheep offered up as sacrifice to atone for the sins of others...It's all B-S.-

1-The Pats and Colts will not get a bye. That's right! The byes will belong to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Diego Chargers. Both teams rely heavily on their QBs, and both teams' QBs are ailing. Also, the Pats' philosophy of filling gaps on D with old guys...is finally going to catch up. With the Colts, I wonder how Marvin Harrison is going to play this year--Reggie Wayne is a nice receiver, but Peyton loves Marvin; they have a level of comfort with each other that should not be underestimated...Plus. I think the Jags have caught up.

2-The Dolphins will be the most improved team. I was going to say ever, but the Colts had a 10 game swing in '99, and I don't see the Phins winning 11 or 12. I do however see them winning at least 7, and as many as 10 depending on issues of health and sobriety. You can jump on this if you want to, but Chad Pennington will produce--he had no running game in his few prior years with the Jets, and back when he had Curtis Martin...Pennington was a solid starting QB. Now he has the R&R express, and motivation....look out.

3-The Lions will win their division. The offense is sick-nasty with it; Fantasy owners, look-out for Calvin Johnson! The kid was impressive as a rookie, but this year? Look for both Detroit receivers to go for more than 80 catches and 1,000 yards for the season...Who do you double team? Plus, while the defense may suck, they have 6 divisional games against teams with less-than-potent offenses; expect their defense to improve just enough.

4-The Giants will miss the playoffs. This is not such a bold statement really. The Eagles will be much improved, as will Carolina and New Orleans, among other teams. Not to mention the G-Men have a rather depleted front line on D. I just don't see there being enough room for New York in the post-season this year. Sorry.

5-The Jets will be a disaster. Favre's #1 receiver has openly expressed resentment regarding New York's treatment of his former QB and good friend Chad Pennington. Also, everybody else seems more star-struck by Favre's presence rather than being focused on winning. Add all that in with an overrated coach, a poor running game, and a lack of depth...you have a disaster..and it will be a joy to watch.

6-Chad Ocho Cinco will get traded. That's right....and what I wonder is...what will he do if number 85 is taken wherever he goes? Will he change his name again?

7-The Saints will win the NFC. Their offense will be top-3 in the NFL overall this season...look at the speed they have! They also have a sleeper in Robert Meachem who is quickly emerging as yet another weapon to be at Drew Brees' disposal. Their defense is a question mark, but they have adequate personnel, they just need better schemes--let's see if the defensive coaching staff can step up....I think they will.

8-Brady Quinn will replace Derek Anderson. Quinn looked great in the preseason, and Derek Anderson is a fluke. Just wait and see.

9-Adrian Peterson will push 2,000 yards. He broke the single game rushing record as a ROOKIE! If this kid stays healthy for an entire career, he will break 2,000 on more than one occasion....mark my words! P.S. I been touting him since he was in high school, thank you very much....

10-The Cowboys will be the underachievers of the year. Last year, they rode the wake of Bill Parcells; let's face it, Wade Phillips is not a Super Bowl winning coach. Then again, Barry Switzer should not have been! In all seriousness though, Tony Romo is foolish for bringing Hollywood into his life...These are not the olden days when DiMaggio can nail Monroe and the world smiles at the thought....This is the age of mass paparazzi, and preposterous tabloids...I guarantee at least 3 distractions stemming from his relationship.

The title says it all...but my inner sports fan-hulk feels compelled to unleash a no-holds-barred tirade about how moronic, and increaasingly senile Pat Riley grows each off season. Oh Mr. Riley, how hath I grown to loathe thee...let me count the ways...

1-Since the end of 2004, we let go of a very good coach in Stan Van Gundy, let key players like a developing Caron Butler, an improving Lamar Odom, a solid PG in Rafer Alston come and go.

2-We have played Statue of Liberty of the NBA..."give us your skill-less, your poor teammates, your overpaid busts." We have inherited Big-Head Walker, Mark Blount (getting nearly 8 mill a year!), Sticky Ricky Davis (once he touches the ball it is hard to remove it from him...unless you're the other team, in which case he will turn it over to you very willingly), and Jason No Knees Williams...now Magloira The Explora??? Lord help us.

3-Bring in the human Atom Bomb, Shaquille O'Neal for an impulsive, short-sighted title run, only to leave your star player to bear the weight of an entire team on his ailing shoulder and knee, seriously jeopardizing his future, and that of the franchise as a whole.

4-You have upped the demand on hair gel, and now it's damn near impossible to get a good quality bottle for cheap in Miami-Dade county.

5-You have a huge moveable contract in Shawn Marion's that SHOULD be used to do some serious building and cap manuevering for the future....but you're sitting on it....the same way your wife sits on the washing machine while it's on spin cycle and imagines Tony Soprano (a REAL fake mobster) giving her the business...

Riley, Jamaal Magloire?? Jesus.

So I guess my prediction, since LAST YEAR that the Spurs would be one of the bottom 3 seeds in the West, if not miss the playoffs in 08-09 isn't so outlandish now is it?

So my latest fit of boredom and anxiety for the REAL start of the college football season (not that boring garbage we saw last night), I toyed with the three weaker BCS conferences (Big 10, ACC, and Big East) and completely realigned them. This is something I would love to see, AND I KNOW IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN, so please save the "This is ridiculous it would never happen" comments for your subconscious thoughts. There are a total of 31 teams in the three aforementioned conferences, 24 of were arranged into 2 twelve team conferences, and 2 sent to the SEC, and 5 scattered throughout the rest of the insignificant CFB world. I did this because I feel that top tier teams like Ohio State, and recently West Virginia and Virginia Tech (among others) haev been having it much easier than many of the other teams vying for national prominence. The idea is to eliminate the top-heavy structure of the Big Ten, and the overall mediocrity of play in the Big East and ACC. Here is what my hypothetical alignment would look...

Conference X

North Division              South Division

Penn State                           Iowa

Boston College               Purdue

Connecticut                     Indiana

Pittsburgh                         Virginia

Rutgers                       Virginia Tech

Maryland                    West Virginia

Conference Y

North Division       South Division

Ohio State                   Clemson

Michigan                     North Carolina

Michigan State              Miami (FL)

Wisconsin                    Florida State

Minnesota                  Cincinnati  

Illinois                        South Florida

The Rest?

Syracuse to the Mid American Conference with Bowling Green to the Mountain West

Northwestern to the Mountain West

Louisville to the SEC with Vanderbilt to the Sun Belt

North Carolina State to the Sun Belt

Duke to the Sun Belt

Georgia Tech to the SEC with Ole Miss to the Sun Belt

Wake Forest to Conference USA with Tulsa to the WAC

Finally, to keep the number of BCS conferences at 6, I'd either promote the WAC or the Mountain West as they have usually produced the best non-BCS teams, however a better idea IMO would be to change the rules to give an auto-Bid to the Non-BCS conference championship team that is ranked highest in the BCS rankings at the conclusion of the season. What do you guys think?

 

1-There will be 2 non-BCS teams ranked in the top-10 at the end of the season. Those two teams will be BYU and Fresno State. For BYU, if they can get past their two early season matchups against mediocre Pac-10 foes, they will not face another legitimate threat until the final game of the season @ Utah. As for the Bulldogs, they start the season unranked, and usually a non-BCS conference school needs to start out in the top-25 if they hope to be part of a BCS bowl. They can change that immediately however, with their first two games coming against very good, BCS conference opponents--@ Rutgers, and vs. Wisconsin. Interestingly enough, they also face UCLA, just two weeks after the Cougars do--in the end, it could be the Bruins who play bouncer to the BCS party.

2-USC and Ohio State will play twice, and split. With all of the Buckeye and Trojans fans here, I expect this particular statement to be metwith a backlash, but it is my firm opinion. Their early season matchup will be an instant classic; one that I expect to go to the Buckeyes. USC will not be ready for a team like Ohio State that early in the season--plain and simple. I do not, however have either team in the BCS Title game, though I do have them winning their respective conferences--conferences that the Rose Bowl committee traditionally pin against each other in the post-season. This time, the Trojans will be ready and hungry for revenge.

3-Clemson will finally play on par with expectations. The skepticism is understandable, Tommy Bowden has had some solid squads with lofty expectations in the past, only to fall short. I argue, however, that this is the best team talent-wise that Clemson has had in over a decade. Their backfield is stellar; they have 3 guys in QB Cullen Harper, and the RB tandem of CJ Spiller and James Davis, who could all be 1st and 2nd round draft picks in the future. They have always been above average on defense, and when you factor that in with an extremely weak ACC, and you have a recipe for success. They could lose to 'Bama in week 1, but that is inconsequential to whether or not they get to a BCS Bowl, which I expect them to do.

4-Georgia will not finish in the top 15. Frankly I don't understand the hype; yes they beat my Gators, and they finished strong, but they did not even win the division! There is all kinds of hype surrounding Matthew Stafford, but his 19 TDs to 10 INTs doesn't impress me...and Knowshon Moreno is great, but you better believe people will be stacking the box against them this year, especially in the SEC. Add that all in with the following stretch of games on their schedule--It starts with a game @ South Carolina, who beat UGA last year in Athens; @ Arizona State, which they will not only lose, but the cross country flights there and back home will certainly hurt as they will then host Alabama who almost stole one last year. Then they host Tennessee who beat them last year, and after a break against Vandy they go @ LSU, vs. a vengeful Florida team, then a break @ UK, only to close out @ an also vengeful Auburn team, and vs. in state rival Georgia Tech. No chance for the Dawgs to survive that.

5-Texas Tech will be this year's Kansas. Last year the Raiders lost 4 games--2 were against Missouri and Colorado, whom they will not have to play this year, and the other 2 came @ Oklahoma State, and @ Texas, both of whom will have to travel to Lubbock this year. Just to cement the point, the Red Raiders play @ Kansas this year, which I fully expect them to win. With the offensive chemistry Tech showed last season, with QB Graham Harrell and WR Michael Crabtree hooking up for nearly 2,000 yards and 22 TDs, and the absurd notion that they can only get better...this team will be tough to stop.

6-Florida State will not be bowl eligible. Perhaps my anti-Bowden, anti-FSU feelings skew my judgement, but last time I checked Drew Weatherford is the quarterback....This is a guy whose passing yards have declined each year, just as the program has. Perhaps a return to the scene will take place in a couple of years...kind of like what happened with Paterno and Penn State a few years back. It's just that I see 9 games that I think the Seminoles will have a hard time winning; if they lose 7 of those, they're out....and I think they will.

7-FAU will reach the top 25 for the first time in school history. Mark my words, the buzz of week one will be how unexpectedly close the Texas-FAU game will be. Last year, the Longhorns barely beat and Arkansas State team of the Sun Belt, who FAU beat in similar fashion. Also, Texas struggled against another non-BCS conference team in UCF last year. FAU also has games against a couple of Big 10 teams, Michigan State and Minnesota. If they show well in those games, and run the Sun Belt conference, they can sneak their way into the polls for the first time in history.

8-Texas will lose 5 games. Good news? Only 4 in-conference road games...Bad news? Those games are @ Colorado, @ Oklahoma (back to back), @ Texas Tech, and @ Kansas. Throw in home games against MIzzou and bitter rival Texas A&M, along with Arkansas and a tough FAU team, and I think Mack Brown's seat will be burning at the season's end.

9-USC is going to embarrass UCLA. Rick Neuheisel made his first step toward his firing day by challenging in-state rivals (if you'd like to call it that) USC. In essence he said that their reign over the Pac-10 and football in Cali was over....HA! Even if it were true Rick, it won't be your team who will usurp the throne, get real. I expect the Trojans to absolutely ROMP the Bruins; and this is coming from the antithesis of an SC fan--aka an intelligent being.

10-Florida will play Oklahoma for the title. The two best teams from the two best conferences...period.

 

Here are the Rest of my BCS Bowl Predictions...

Rose Bowl-Ohio State vs. USC

Fiesta Bowl-BYU vs. Arizona State

Sugar Bowl-LSU vs. Clemson

Orange Bowl-Pittsburgh vs. Mizzou

FedEx Orange BCS Championship-Florida vs. Oklahoma

           Heeeeerrrrreeeee COME THE GATORS!!! Our Coach he has a first name, its U-R-B-A-N, our coach he has a second name it’s M-E-Y-E-R, We love to watch him coach all day, and if you ask us why we’ll say…Cause Urban Meyer has a way with F-L-O-R-I-D-A!!! ( Yes I made that up myself)

 

 

 

            I never thought I’d see the day when a man would come to Gainesville and come anywhere near rivaling the popularity of Steve Spurrier. After all, Spurrier put the University of Florida football program on the proverbial map during his tenure. That day has come however, and now there is a man who has the chance to usurp Spurrier’s place on Florida’s football program pedestal.

            See, Steve Spurrier was not only a Hall of Fame caliber coach here in Gainesville, but he was also a Heisman trophy winning quarterback as a Gator as well. He brought in 6 SEC Championships, and/but just one national championship.

            Enter Urban Meyer; Meyer, in just his second season, led the Gators to the promised land, showing versatility as a coach by phasing his offensive in doses, rather than revamping it immediately and throwing the incumbent players from the Zook regime out of whack. He used his recruit, Tim Tebow as a tool to work in elements of his preferable style of offense, but kept Chris Leak in his comfort zone, allowing him to play his best season as a Gator. Urban Meyer is quickly becoming much more than an Urban Legend here in Gainesville—can he possibly leapfrog Steve Spurrier as the most popular figure in Gator Nation?

            Well, for one, consider the state of our program when Spurrier took over in 1990—still reeling from the scandal that ended with the program vacating it’s only National Title in 1981—Spurrier took a struggling, defamed program, restored its integrity (running up the score excepted), and helped vault it into prominence. Also, though he only won 1 championship in his tenure, it WAS the first, and it DID come at the expense of our favorite team to beat not named Tennessee. Needless to say, it will take more than 1 national title for Meyer to surpass Spurrier.

            That being said, consider the here and now for Meyer; he has already won a national title, after a decade of sub par seasons (by our standards), and in the midst of an ever-growing disillusionment with the direction of the program. This year, with many experts putting the Gators square on the BCS Championship Game radar, is the year for Urban Meyer to seize the throne. The first championship had many recruits from the Ron Zook era—even though the general sentiment was that Zook was a poor X-and-O’s guy, he was never criticized for his recruiting, so being that many of his recruits helped win that title, it can be somewhat diminished, objectively speaking. This year is different; Meyer’s prized recruit Tim Tebow, along with guys who he alone has developed, will run down that tunnel and take the field for the Gators. This year, Meyer’s full vision, his system, his players, will be there for all to see—no more question marks or asterisks.

            If Urban Meyer can lead the Gators back to the BCS championship game, or at minimum win the SEC Championship, talks of a statue, Ring of Honor space, a street named, ALL of it will commence, and rightfully so. Steve Spurrier laid the foundation for a top tier program; he ingrained a tradition of winning. Urban Meyer has begun the process of building up from that foundation. I think I speak for Gator Nation when I say, Gator Walk is as excellent a tradition as any we’ve ever had in Gainesville—of course the Gator Chomp, Gator Growl, and Mr. Two Bits are right up there!

            Every legendary program has needed more than one man to sustain a winning tradition, even if the program experienced a period of mediocrity. In Michigan, Bo Schembechler, then Lloyd Carr….Woody Hayes and now Jim Tressel in Columbus…John McKay to Pete Carroll in Southern California…the list goes on. Florida has yet to become a program of legendary status as that is something that requires decades of sustained success; however, the future starts NOW! It is not to say that less than a championship this season or the next would be a failure, after all winning a championship in the current format is no easy task. All I am saying is that from 8/30/08 on…we will know for sure if Urban Meyer is the real deal—I tend to think so.

Halo, my nem ees Gustav, joo gais col me Hughreeken Gustav, an ah
don lakkit. Vy don joo col me samting bayter lak Te Gustav? Orr
Beeg Facking Ween Ting Gustav? Hughreeken ees so homo#### lak, ah
don iven no homo####. Ees homo#### lak joo col me DeBrokinbek
Gustav, or Marryo Lopez Gustav...NEIN! Joo muss col me Fuhrer
Gustav orr ah cam an bloh joo to ze fackin Oz. An don vorry
flor...Flavi...Filo...FAK....ah can se joo nem so vorry, vorry lot. Ah mek ze Fay lewk lak leetle pappy make jooren on ze bed.
Ven ah feenush joo ah get ze Zhorzhia! Mutterland!

Gustav lakke de sporrt...joo #### ze kwesschun...Gustav ensur ze kwesshun....Joo #### stoopeh kwesshun....Gustav bloh joo to ze Oz....Joo #### smarrt kwesshun....Gustav bloh joo to ze Oz....ehny kwesshun?

           As the summer winds down, and the boys buckle down, here’s a quick look around at these races. These races and chases, for wild cards and first places, give hitters and aces a chance. A chance to go shine, in the light made of lime, right now is the time to go win. Some will win some will lose, some will fade, some refuse, but the final day’s news will leave eight. For those eight, a clean slate, gives a chance to be great, and the fans cannot wait to see WHO? Is it me? Is it you? Will you cheer, will I boo? Will your team make it through, to the end? For now we must wait, speculate and debate, so here is the state of things now…(in the NL)

In the Central you’ll find the best team, are the Cubs of Chicago as good as they seem? They’re hitting and pitching, of the crop they’re the cream, but will they lose steam in the end? As for Central steam-losers, last year ‘twere the Brewers, who sizzled like skewers, yet fizzled. The Blewers, they blew it, but they had to go through it, who knew that this year they’d go Wild. It has been quite a while, since the Crew’s played with style, if they don’t make it I’ll be surprised. Can it be in the Cards for St. Louis? Every year teams go through this…with the bat they can do it, and their starters go to it, but their bullpen is useless, so NO. Now the rest of the teams have been done for a while, the ‘Stros keep on fighting, but they’re in denial. Pirates’ pitching is wild, Cincy’s bats are futile, and Houston’s gonna be bad for a while.

 

In the West, wins are less, in the quest for worst-best, where an underserved team gets to go…The Cards would be leading by four….the Crew would be leading by more….and they’d probably run away from the rest in the fray, because none of the West teams can score! The San’s are sans Major League talent, their lineups and pens have no balance, Frisco, I know, they’ve won 5 in a row, but they still shall not go anywhere. The Padres, mi madre, son malos compadre, you can hardly applaud when they win. While we speaky-de-Spanny, let’s speak of the Manny’s, they’re 3 games behind, and their running out of time, their devotion to suck is uncanny. Their ERA is best in the league, but they hit like small girls with fatigue, if they hit like some men, they’d probably win, but at least there’s plenty of intrigue. The Rockies are ten games below…the standard for being so-so, yet their only 8 back of the leading D’Backs; they’ve won 7 of 9, and their not far behind…I’m just saying…I’m just playing…hope they’re hoping and praying, if they hope to be playing this fall. Speaking of fall, will the Backs hit a wall? Will they let their hopes all slip away? They get hot, then they’re cold, they look young, then look old, I am still not quite sold on their chance. But Brandon and Dan make me think that they can, if they find the right man to close games.

 

A familiar sight in the East, the Expo…er…Nats are deceased, and the once long-time Beast of the National League East, is not in the least, in the race…Atlanta is Brave, to continue to play, but they’re just in the way of real teams…They can’t hit, they can’t pitch, they’re the division ####, and a manager switch will come soon. The Fish have surprised, their performance defied, though it seems their demise is quite near. They have started to fade, but at least M-I-A, got to see Dwyane Wade win the gold...In Philly they boo one of their own, while the Mets of New York stand alone…Philly’s hal####ame back, but they keep hitting jacks, will New York Mets crack once again? With New York’s ailing pitching, constant rotation switching, Mets fans will be wishing for more trades! But the deadline has passed, and as losses amass, fearful thoughts of the past will come true.

 

You’ll C.C. the Brew Crew, and the Hardened Cubs too; Philadelphia Phills a third spot, and the last is Dodger Blue…Dodger Blue? It is true, while this may be news to you, I believe this is the season, they finally go through.

 

The USA stayed healthy, and a few more questions that had nothing to do with USA's Olympic performance were answered. There were a few injuries worthy of note, and I am sure a couple of GM's are pissed/worried right now: Jose Calderon and Manu Ginobli being the most notable. I would imagine neither is serious enough to seep into the NBA regular season, but you never know...especially since Manu seemed to aggravate a pre-existing injury.

Anyway, I wanted to keep it short and simple....make a few statements, predictions, and whatever else you would like to call them...

1-Not only is D-Wade back, but he's better than ever.  Wade looked great...he didn't lose a step, he didn't turn the ball over like he was last year, and lo' and behold....he developed his shot! Kid went 3 for 4 from beyond the arc in the Gold Medal game, and hit a fair share of mid-range jumpers throughout the tournament. To top it off, he can still jump out of the gym! He had this one explosion to the basket where he got a rebound, took one step and tried to dunk with two hands...he got fouled and did not make it, but I swore it was LeBron that had done, until I looked again. All you nay-sayers from last year, and pre-Olympics....Bud Light...SUCK ONE!

2-The Blazers will be this year's Hornets. Portland will win their division over Utah and Denver--Did you see Rudy Fernandez? Dwight Howard, you better go to every poster shop and buy out the stock because every kid in Portland is gonna want that on their wall. It was damn near 5 in the AM here when that happened, and I about woke the neighborhood up...NASTY! Aside from Fernandez, with Roy, a healthy Oden whom I have been hearing great things about...LaMarcus Aldridge, and a group of complementary young players whom seemed poised to embrace their roles, the Blazers will be a force to be reckoned with...all season.

3-The Timberwolves will be this year's Portland. This does not derive from anything Olympic-related, but just an observation. Al Jefferson showed great promise last year, putting up above average numbers for a big man. They added Mike Miller who will be happy to have a big man to play the inside-out game with, and Kevin Love (sorry I had Mayo on the mind, but Love in the heart, lol) CAN be a good player...that is TBD.

4-The Mavs will miss the playoffs. There is just no room in the west; Jason Kidd looked HORRIBLE at the Olympics. It seemed like every time he was on the court, bad things happened. He made very few effective passes...he picked up his dribble too early, and he was vastly outshined by the other two young point guards, D-Will and CP3. Dirk showed that he can't make a significant difference, with his Germany team serving as a doormat during pool play in Beijing. I already expected a drop off when AJ left the bench, but now I have even more reason to be skeptical.

5-The Olympics run couldn't have come at a better time for the NBA. David Stern should kiss Colangelo's feet right now. At a time when there are grumblings of a mass exodus of young NBA talent overseas, the re-establishment of American Basketball as the best in the world can only help. Nothing tugs at loyalty strings like a high dose of patriotism...but is that pull stronger than that of the Euro? Stay tuned.

6-The Lakers will win it all. I am no Lakers fan, nor would I even like this prediction to come true, but Pau Gasol looked good, they didn't lose any significant pieces, and Kobe just got a lesson in what can happen if he quits acting like a #### all the time, bonds with his teammates, and plays within the flow of the game. The Celtics lost Posey, and I think Boston fans are underestimating the impact that will have as far as a 7-game series with the Lakers or Cavs is concerned. Even if Bynum is just alright, I like their chances.

7-The Spurs will be one of the bottom 3 seeds. Say what you will, if you take offense to this you're probably a Spurs fan and have the delusion that your roster is laden with immortals.

8-The Heat will make the playoffs. See 1. Also, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, and Shawn Marion/whoever we may trade Marion for. Expect the Heat to be a new version of the Run-and-Gun-Suns.

9-Dwight Howard is soff like feather pillow. Yes he can slam the hell out of the ball, but he is over 7 feet. The kid is either poorly coached, or lacks consistent intensity. Sometimes he shows flashes of a young-Shaq, and others he looks like Kwame Brown...ok that is a bit extreme, but you catch my drift. If he learned how to assert himself in the post and on the boards like he SHOULD be able to with his physical gifts....he can be a 30 and 15 guy....EASY.

10-The Pistons will not win the division, and Conference Finals streak will end. Poor choice for coach; personnel changes needed, none made so far. McDyess was nice, but can he do it twice? Sheed was not the same either, and Billups is no longer a top-5 PG in the league. Rip cannot carry an offense...enough said.

 

            As the summer winds down, and the boys buckle down, here’s a quick look around at these races. These races and chases, for wild cards and first places, give hitters and aces a chance. A chance to go shine, in the light made of lime, right now is the time to go win. Some will win some will lose, some will fade, some refuse, but the final day’s news will leave eight. For those eight, a clean slate, gives a chance to be great, and the fans cannot wait to see WHO? Is it me? Is it you? Will you cheer, will I boo? Will your team make it through, to the end? For now we must wait, speculate and debate, so here is the state of things now…(in the AL)

 

American League

Let us start in the West, where the drama is less, where LA is the best, and by far. They won’t give an inch, they’ll be first to clinch, as their race for first place is a cinch. The Rangers can hit, they’re the best at it, but they cannot pitch so farewell. Now the A’s were alive, till about mid-July, they’re since 6-25 and they’re out. The M’s won’t sniff first, but they’re racing for worst, as their bubble did burst long ago. But there is one bright spot, that Hernandez kid is hot, and he’s striking out batters, A LOT…

 

Next comes the Central, where Ozzie is mental, it was supposed to have went to Detroit. But Chicago’s first place, with the Twins giving chase, and just one game of space in between. They have earned that top spot, hitting homeruns a lot, and that pitching they got ain’t so bad. While the Twins can hit too, if they want to go through, that ERA of 4.2 just won’t work. The Tigers disappointed, by many were anointed, the experts all pointed to them. They spent lots of dollars, to bring in some ballers, now talk radio callers are mad. Cleveland is sad, the Royals are bad, and their chances are less than a tad.

 

Last but not least, we turn to the East, where the one team to beat wear red socks, NOT…That team is the Rays, which as of today, is a half game away from the TOP…Not just the East, that means tops in the League, soon those talks of fatigue have to stop. The Evil Empire, looks more like the Shire, can they possibly require more funds? As for the Red Sox, they sold Manny like stock, but without the dred locks they’re just fine. With a hot Jason Bay, and just one month to play, in the Wild Card they’ll stay ‘till the end. Still in the fray are the surging Blue Jays, Halladay and A.J. have been great….now their hitting’s improved, they’re a team on the move, but if you must know the truth it’s too late. As for the Orioles, we expected some holes, but their team as a whole’s not so bad…They’re on all top-10 lists, pertaining to hits, if only they could pitch they’d be good.

 

So the Rays and LA are the locks…but will we be packing some Sox? Pack Red ones and White, though the races are tight, they will shine in the light and play on!

Has Anyone Seen or Heard From Gambitxxx?

I recently got to know Shane pretty well, well enough to know he has a history of doing crazy things and getting pretty jacked up as a result. Last I heard he was going to a party Saturday and was gonna drink with his brother-in-law who encourages him to do crazy things...Last time he disappeared he reappeared with a healing skull fracture...if you have any information on this blogger call 1-888-Save-Gam, that's 888-Save-Gam

       As we all know by now, whether it piques your interest or not, the Olympics are in full swing. Personally, I am a big fan of the Olympics, sadly track and field has lost its luster, and it used to be one of my favorite groups of events. This year though, swimming, and the intrigue of Chinese gymnasts and the Redeem Team have filled in quite nicely for track.

      That is definitely one of the great characteristics of the Olympic Games; there is never a shortage of events to capture our attention…there is always a story to follow, an inspirational athlete, or something new that have never seen before. Does anyone else tune into one of the NBC affiliates, covering the Games, only to find an event that makes you say “THAT is in the Olympics?!”

       Aside from the obvious, more popular events like basketball, baseball, soccer, track, volleyball, and so on, there are tons of obscure sports, seemingly fit only for recreational purposes. Such events as Table Tennis (aka Ping Pong), Archery (aka darts [just kidding]), badminton (that’s entertainment value lies only in its featured piece of equipment known as the shuttlecock), handball (which I kinda like), and fencing (don’t Trekkies play this?), are all official Olympic events.

       Now don’t get me wrong, the participants in each of these sports would probably rock my world in their respective sport, but it troubles me that at some point, members of the IOC thought that these events warranted approval as official Olympic events. Most of these are things you can play in the common area of a dorm room, in somebody’s back yard, or in P.E. in elementary school. I was the king of Jennings Hall my freshman year in Ping….er…I mean “Table Tennis.”

       So I got to thinking (I know what you’re thinking, “Here we go again”) if the IOC would approve such events, what other events should be added as well? After all, if Trekkies can be Olympic Gold Medalists, why should other ordinary citizens of the world who have mastered useless skills not have a similar opportunity? Now usually when “I get to thinking” I make a list of some sort; why would you think this’d be any different? Here is a list conceived when my thinking met my inner-genius, mated, and had a baby; the result…a list of some really cool, and not-so-cool events that the IOC should consider adding for the London Games in 2012:

Auto Racing: Honestly, I cannot understand why this has not happened yet—certainly NASCAR style of driving in ovals (never understand when people say circles) would not suffice, plus NASCAR is pretty exclusive to America. What I propose is a multi-stage event, with the best drivers in the world representing their respective countries as teams (a la Tour de France). Each stage would feature a different type of car; each would be driven on intricate street courses throughout London (or whatever the relevant city may be). This will show versatility in drivers, and allow everyone to have a decent chance. Of course that can be made the ‘All-Around’ medal, and there could be individual, specialty races as well—for example stock car, open-wheel, etc.

Kickball: Come on, this could be great…no contained space though; it has to be like in Phys Ed when the big boy would come up and kick the air out of the ball and it’d fly overhead and keep rolling for days—nothing but open field. Even more entertaining would be seeing someone get pegged in the back of the head from point blank range by the opposing team while running the bases; the very thought of it makes me laugh.

Slow-Pitch Softball: For those of you scoffing at this, I say, what is the difference between softball and beach volleyball? Some people take their slow-pitch softball teams VERY seriously. Plus, it is a totally different game than baseball, and there are actually semi-professional teams with sponsorship and all. You know it’d be great, instead o####atorade cooler, they can have a keg in the dugout on the bench. There can be all-men teams, and coed teams as well.

Dodgeball: See the movie, it’s pretty funny (aka stupid). Seriously though, dodgeball is a serious, contact sport; I can picture it, teams would cheat by putting sticky substances on their hands and arms to improve their ability to catch the balls. The cameras have an ultra slow-mo feature to show someone getting smacked in the face with a ball. Lets face it, watching a bunch of grown adults playing dodgeball with extreme intensity is beyond entertaining, it’s hilarious.

Flag Football: Ever heard of Let it Fly? Every year, all across the country people play flag football in intramural leagues and organized tournaments like Let it Fly. The game of flag football is pretty complex. It is a real challenge to find that one indefensible play…and run it over, and over, and over again. You know those crazy pitch plays you always see on the Espy’s year in and year out, which last like 10 minutes and end in a score? Picture something like that every play, and you have flag football.

Foosball: No, not FOOTBALL, Foosball. I used to use my Foosball table as an oracle of sorts, to predict World Cup winners when I was just a small boy—they were always wrong, and I never followed the outcomes, as I would usually pick Brazil over the table’s New Zealand or Albania picks. In all seriousness though, have you ever played someone REALLY good at it? You just want to reach over the table and grab them by the shirt collar every time you hear that loud clank o####oal, and watch them arrogantly stand up and change the score with a flick of the wrist…never mind, scratch this one!

3-on-3 Half Court Basketball: WOW, this would be great. Imagine, the US could put multiple combinations out there, and we can see a final like Deron Williams-Kobe Bryant-Amare Stoudemire vs. Dwyane Wade-LeBron James-Carmelo Anthony. Spain could have a nice team in Ricky Rubio-Rudy Fernandez-Pau Gasol. I feel like this would quell many formerly unanswerable debates about who’s better than who.

100-Meter Back Peddle: Anyone can run forward, let’s see if Usain Bolt can break 10 second running backwards! Besides, with the exception of football, both American and international, why the hell do they make us learn to back peddle? At least this would give it a little more purpose in this lonely world. Right now, the Olympics discriminate against backwards runners and this has to change.

Poker: I don’t promote or agree with gambling, but I bet you a million dollars this would be a hit. It’d actually be a responsible move to make poker have an appeal that is not motivated by making a quick buck. There can be world championships and Olympics, with no buy in, just qualifying tournaments. Personally, I loved to play poker (can’t no more, can’t handle gambling), but the problem is, it has no appeal unless the chips are worth something—making it medal worthy gives people a chance to win world-wide recognition without risking their rent money.

Golf: What?! Yes. I mean, it has become such a big event since Tiger has joined the fray, quite frankly I do not understand why it has not become an Olympic event. I probably wouldn’t watch it, but in my opinion, golfers should have a chance at a medal if Ping Pong and Badminton players do. Besides, the Ryder Cup is probably one of the more interesting tournaments because of it’s format, and the Olympics could have a similar format for team (by country), plus an individual tournament.

Air Hockey: Would this be for the Winter Olympics? I would say no, since there is no ice, so let’s proceed. It takes superb hand-eye coordination, and conditioned neck muscles to keep up with the zig-zagging puck as it is hammered back and forth. The game would have to last longer than it does in arcades though, there is something about the games ending so soon that is unfulfilling—I always feel like I could’ve won with a few more chances. No baby-sitting the goal slot will be allowed…there will be sensors put in place that will call for a penalty shot if the little hand thing stays in the same spot for too long.

       These are just a few of the babies from the litter my genius and my thinking produced, but trust me, there are more. How about a vote on which event YOU would like to see, or even a few suggestions? Whatever gets the most votes, for that event I will draft a petition to add the event, to be sent to the IOC for consideration. I am crazy enough to actually send it too, so let's have some fun with this!

            He wasn’t the fastest, nor was he the strongest—in fact, he was a bit awkward in appearance, with his blonde mustache, and long, lanky arms and legs protruding from a body that lacked muscle definition. Aside from his height, there was nothing about this guy that would make one feel compelled to select him in any schoolyard game; until of course, you watched him play. His name is Larry Bird—his game was basketball.

 

On August 18, 1992 Larry Bird announced his retirement from the NBA—exactly 16 years ago. The announcement coincided with the conclusion of the USA Dream Team’s dominant run at the gold medal in the Barcelona Olympic Games—the first time that the US sent professional basketball players as its representatives. It marked the end of an illustrious 13 year career (’79-‘92), which featured the following resume: 3x NBA Champ, 3x NBA MVP (consecutive), 12x All-Star, 1980 Rookie of the Year (over Magic Johnson), 3x NBA 3-pt Shootout Champ, 9x All-NBA first team, and member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

His production on the court has been well-documented; he co-headlined one of the biggest rivalries in the history of the NBA, Lakers versus Celtics. His duels with Magic Johnson, which started long before they ever faced off on an NBA court, were credited with helping the NBA re-emerge as one of the more prominent professional sports leagues in the world. His career statistical compilation makes him one of the better basketball players in NBA history, however the numbers alone do not, in my opinion, do Larry Bird justice.

 

It is a common argument as to who the BEST player of all-time is—usually the Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson debate rages in such discussions. I, however, make an unrelated argument for Larry Bird—he is arguably the most IMPRESSIVE player in the history of the NBA. He defied perceptions, stereotypes, and his own athletic limitations to become a true great. As described above, you would never have taken a look at Bird and thought of him as a game-changer, a clutch performer, or a team leader. Yet, Larry Bird was able to lead an Indiana State basketball program, which never had, and has not since had such success, to a national championship game. He also led less athletic Celtics teams to victories and hard-fought losses to the far superior athletes, the “Showtime” Lakers.

 

What makes Bird impressive is that there never was and never again will be a player like him—he is truly one of a kind. Every year there are desperate comparisons between young guys and former greats like MJ, Magic, and Dr. J, but talks of the “next Larry Bird” are rare. Nowadays the sports world is interested in bigger, faster, stronger—this is the day of performance enhancers and man-childs like LeBron James or Greg Oden. Bird played every side of the ball; he crashed the boards (averaged 10 rebounds per game for his career) he shot lights out from behind the arc, he was a great passer, and was always active and scrappy on defense. Bird used clever timing, leverage, and positioning to score, rebound, and defend—he played the game very fundamentally rather than out jumping, out running, or trying to overpower opponents. He filled the description of both scrappy role player, and skilled super-star. Many aspects of Bird’s game are rare or practically obsolete in today’s NBA.

 

You could loosely compare Dirk Nowitzki to Bird, but that is shot down immediately by the fact that Dirk does not crash boards, nor does he play with the same tenacity and confidence. A few years back former Gonzaga standout Adam Morrison was drawing some Bird comparisons, and so far, to call those comparisons unwarranted would be an understatement. You see, with the saturation of talent in the world of basketball right now, scouts are making the mistake of narrowing their search based on physical appearance and measurables. Some of the first things they look at are height, weight, speed, and vertical leap—if those things impress, they’ll have a closer look. Ironically, the Magic-Bird, Lakers-Celtics rivalry, and the very Dream Team that Bird was a part of, are what helped motivate legions of people to practice and pursue a career in basketball, thus creating such a plethora of talent.

Today we should honor the blue-collared pioneers of the game, like Larry Bird, for working hard and playing harder—for holding their own against athletes who should’ve run circles around them. Those are the guys who have given ordinary Joe’s hope—the ones that make any father optimistic that their boy can make it, even if he does appear a bit goofy. In basketball especially, there have been plenty of guys who can jump out of the gym, run the length of the floor in a flash, or who could muscle their way to within inches of the hoop, throughout the course of the sport’s existence. There are those rarities, the glitches in the Matrix—those players who defy odds, ones who are completely and utterly unique, yet masterful in their own way. These are the men we should remember today; the type of men we have not seen since this day 16 years ago. Here’s to Pistol Pete and his floppy hair and socks, along with his scrawny frame. Here’s to Jerry West, Kevin McHale, and John Havlicek; and on this day I say cheers to Larry Bird, the first and last of his kind.