Back in January I started writing a series of posts that I called SoCal’s Daily Affirmations.  I have written with that byline three or four times.  The nice part of this format is that I get to address several issues in one post and then dispense my advice to the people I am writing about in the format of an affirmation from Stuart Smalley.  What that really means is that I could not find one topic that I wanted to rant about so I chose four.  Today I am going to tackle Barry Bonds, Pat Riley, Lance Armstrong, and Larry Brown. 

Barry Bonds is still the most feared baseball hitter in the game and also a threat in other ways.  Last night in the game against Oakland, with one out and the bases loaded, Blanton walked Barry with four straight pitches.  The A’s would rather walk in a run than give Barry a shot at a grand slam.  That speaks volumes about how feared his bat still is.  Bonds is still one of the all time greatest players in my book and he proved it again this past week.  He was on ESPN for a web gem earlier, robbing someone of a HR with a great catch over the wall and then last night he steals a base.  Looks like his knee is feeling better which can only mean one thing, he is playing next year.   Watch out Henry Aaron!  I see Bonds at DH next season and becoming the ALL TIME HR holder.   Barry, please repeat after me, "I can hit with power, I can take walks, I make 20+ million a year, and I can still even steal bases; gosh darn it, who cares if people like me!

The NBA season is over and the Miami Heat are the champions.  For those who don’t believe me, I predicted this would happen way back on December 12 when Pat Riley was made the coach of the Heat.  Go back and read my post which did not garner even one comment.   Many felt it was unfair of Riley to force Stu Van Gundy out and replace the coach with himself.  Well the Heat have their championship and Riley another ring so maybe it is time to acknowledge that Pat coming back was a good thing.  I know all the talk about Dwyane Wade being the reason they won is out there, but Riley was the catalyst to this organization winning it all.  He was the architect of this team and he needs to get his due.  Pat repeat after me, "I can still slick what hair I have left back, I know how to coach, I am mentioned in Glory Road, my players like me, and gosh darn it, I can outdance Shaq."

Lance Armstrong admits to taking EPO and other steroids according to his former best friend, Frankie Andreu, (Gee, I wonder why they aren’t best friends anymore!)  Betsy Andreu, Frankie’s wife, also says she heard Lance admit to using steroids as he was talking with one of Armstrong’s cancer doctors back in 1996.  For the record, this should come as no surprise.  Lance will deny and no one will be able to prove it.  It is all hearsay and Lance has provided an affidavit from his doctor saying he did not admit to taking steroids.  Sounds a bit like the Bonds’ case if you ask me.  Leaked grand jury testimony, attorney-client privilege, and doctor-patient relationship are just a few of the so called sources of information, none of which can be verified.  Barry and Lance will never be proven to have taken steroids because of these types of sources of information, but in our hearts we will always know that both of these men took them.  Assuredly, just as Barry took steroids, Lance Armstrong did take EPO, and in my opinion that should not diminish his record seven Tour De France titles.  What Lance did on a bicycle is equal to or even greater than what Babe Ruth did with a bat.  His record  seven wins may stand forever in the cycling world.  And while taking EPO is risky, almost every cycler who is competitive has taken EPO or other designer steroids at sometime during their career.  Armstrong is no exception.  Did he take EPO from 1999-2005, no one knows for sure, but like Barry, Lance can say he has never tested positive for anything.  That should count for something.  Lance repeat after me, "I am the best cyclist to ever live.  I was paid lots of money for riding a bike, date beautiful women, and now get paid huge appearance and endorsement fees.   I will not stress out about steroid allegations that will never be proven.  I beat cancer and gosh darn it, I should be glad that I am alive!"

Larry Brown is out and Isiah Thomas is in as the coach of the New York Knicks.  Dolan is an ####.  Isiah has single-handedly destroyed the Knicks franchise.  He brought in two guards who are not compatible, over paid, and then fired a legend so that he could coach again.  Honestly, if you wanted to coach that badly, you should have just stepped up to the plate and hired yourself last season.   Why bring in Brown for 10 million a year only to fire the guy at the end of the season.  Brown will land on his feet somewhere, Sacramento, and the Knicks are going to pay through the nose for firing him.  Don’t think you will be able to avoid a huge buyout on his contract because of his roadside interviews because any judge or arbitrator will rule in Brown’s favor.    I for one think Brown is one of the top three coaches in the NBA and the Knicks organization fired the wrong guy.  The only positive for Thomas is that the Knicks only won 23 games so anything he does will look better next year which just might give Isiah one more year.   Larry repeat after me, "I have an NBA championship ring, a college championship ring, and one of the best records in all of basketball.  I am glad to be out of NY and I don't know what possessed me to go there in the first place, (10 Million reasons).  I will coach again and when I do it will not be with three of the biggest egos in the NBA, Marbury, Francis, and Thomas.   Gosh darnit, I married well and have enough money that I should enjoy life without all the hassles.  Watch out Hubie!"

SoCalSportsFan

(On a side note, I find it very difficult not to type Isiah as Isaiah, which is the traditional spelling for that name.)