It's not official yet because free agents can not sign with another team until July 12, but word on the street is that Ben Wallace will sign with the Chicago Bulls for a boat load of money.  There are several ways to look at this and I have seen many posts written, but no one is taking up for Ben.  I say leave the guy alone.  Ben must know something that we do not.  Could it be that Flip is not the great coach that many were proclaiming him to be half way through the season when the Pistons were on a tear winning at break neck speed?  Could it be that his offensive minded ways do not set well with the defensive minded Wallace? 

Many have said that Ben will not improve the Bulls.  I read one post that said he is just an older version of Tyson Chandler.  I have to disagree because I do not think Chandler evokes the fear in the middle that Big Ben has over the years nor has Chandler won any rebounding titles.   The Bulls have two young guards in Gordon and Hinrich and when they miss their shots it will be nice to have a rebounder who will put in some of those misses.  Most of Wallace's points are what I like to call "trash" points.  Those are easy baskets from offensive rebounds.   The Bulls can now afford to trade Tyson Chandler for even more help or just unload his contract to help pay for Big Ben's new fat contract.  I hear Isiah is looking for help.  Why not reunite Chandler and Curry!  That might prove to be as successful as say Francis and Marbury.

There is a reason Scottie Skiles is smiling.  I think Skiles is so happy he is peeing in his pants.  He is one of the best upcoming coaches in the NBA and now he just got the one guy from the East leading squad that may put his team over the hump. Also, Paxson somehow managed to get Tyrus Thomas from Portland. Thomas has the potential to be a better Big Ben than even the original version.  He is athletic, grabs rebounds like crazy, swats shots, and can even score.   They also have Schenscher from Georgia Tech and Duhon and Deng from Duke. Ben Gordon is a Rip Hamilton to be and along with the other talent, Da Bulls are looking up!  I look for them to go into the play offs again next year and maybe make it to the Eastern Conference finals.  I still think Miami is the team to beat, but the Bulls are right there.

As for Wallace, I have heard all kinds of reports on the money and every one has been different.  Suffice it to say that he will probably be making in the neighborhood of four to six million more over the next four years than he would have had he stayed in Detroit.  Some people are making statements like, "How could he leave for four million more?"  Don't make me laugh!  Wouldn't you leave your job for 5 thousand more and move to the firm across the street?  And isn't it nice to be wanted?  Could you imagine if businesses were lined up fighting for your services?  "Mr. Jones, would you please come be an architect for our firm, we will give you your own private desk with recessed lighting and a new laptop, or how about your own parking space in the garage?"  It is flattering when other GM's come and offer you more.  Let's face it, the age of any player staying and playing for the same team is over.  Last year it was Steve Nash leaving the Mavericks.  Before that it was Shaq leaving the Lakers.  Even Jordan came out of retirement and finished his career in Washington.  Magic and Bird were the last of a dying breed.  Ben Wallace started his career as a Wizard and then moved to the Magic before ending up as a Piston.  Didn't Dennis Rodman jump ship and move from the Pistons to the Bulls?  Wasn't that a good thing?  Let's all be happy for Big Ben.  He is leaving a town with a championship ring and at the moment he is not bad mouthing the organization or Flip.  My guess is he has read the handwriting on the wall and he is just the first departure of many from what could have been a dynasty.

Here I am reading blogs this morning when I see a post by FishWanda that I remembered was written months ago.  Then I see a post by Peter Schrager about the Super Bowl.  Now I don't really read Schrager, but I opened it up to check the date and sure enough, Feb. 3.  When I opened Wanda's, hers was also in Feb.  So what gives?  Well, apparently Schrager was left one comment by someone today and then it popped up onto the section with the most comments.  How can one recent comment qualify for the most comments?  My guess is less people are reading these Fox blogs than we think and even less are leaving comments.  Otherwise, I have no explanation for how these two posts made it to the front page when both are from Feb.

Fox really needs to work on making this thing a little more professional.

SoCalSportsFan

When I started blogging back in December of last year, I will admit that it was the NGS I contest that got me started.  I had always wanted to start a blog, but it took a contest to get me motivated to write.  Then a funny thing happened along the way.  As I began to write and people began to read, a community was formed.  The goal of winning was replaced with the satisfaction of providing something of value to others.  Then, as I was doing a google search for images, (Seagals) the other day, my blog popped up and my chest swelled with pride. 

So as I scour the sporting headlines each day, I think about topics which interest me.  I also look for different angles from which to post on a story.  To be certain, we all have opinions, but it is how we frame them that separate the good bloggers from the average.  Hopefully, I can illuminate some readers to a new point of view and along the way make some new friends.

One headline that caught my attention today was the loss of Lamar Odom's son.  He was only 6