Beantown is still trying to recover from the shock that was the NBA draft lottery, sponsored by the Pacific Northwest.  Each time the NBA's most historically significant team looks as if it cannot get any worse, the four-leaf clover finds yet another way to yield bad luck.  The death of Reggie Lewis, the injury plagued end of Larry, McHale, and the Chief, the selling of the proverbial soul for Pitino, trading Chauncey Billips, and the loss of the Oden/Durant sweepstakes are all events that any franchise would struggle to over come.  Adding them all up, the sum is utter NBA disaster and disarray.  Then 30+ year old NBA fans things back to his/her childhood and views the present state of the Celtics as "unfathomable".  How could the 16 time World Champs have possibly fallen this far?  How could the karma have changed so suddenly and so violently?  The end of every dynasty has a dramatic event, a turning point, a singular event that may seem innocent at the time, but proves to be the undoing of the seemingly immovable object.  Enter Len Bias.

Just eleven days prior to the untimely and tragic death of Maryland legend Len Bias, the Celtics had won their 16th NBA Championship, far and away the most in NBA history at that time.  The Celtics happend upon the #2 pick in the upcoming draft in a trade that sent Gerald Henderson to Seattle.  This was truly "the best of times" for a franchise that had seen better times than any team in league history.  Bird, McHale, and Parrish were in their respective primes, Jabbar was nearing the end in Los Angeles, and Celtics were primed to get a player who could work into the rotation slowly and take over for Bird when he decided to pass the torch. 

The draft featured two "sure-fire" NBA stars.  The first was the 7'0" center from North Carolina, Brad Daugherty, while the second was a tremendously gifted 6'8 swingman from Maryland, Len Bias (if this begins to sound eerily familiar. . .).  Cleveland, with the first pick, did what any team would do, taking the safer pick in the center.  This left Boston with the player that some publications at the time called the best forward prospect of all time.  The Celtics were set. . .so they thought.

The newly selected Bias celebrated his fame and fortune with his friends.  An evening of crack-cocaine later, Bias is no longer with us, and the wheels of age, injuries, and other unexplainable turns of misfortune lead the Celtics to, what Dickens' calls, the "worst of times". 

Outside of the drafting of Paul Pierce, and the historic comeback win in game 3 of the 2002 playoffs vs. the Nets, it's hard to find anything good that has happened for Red's bunch.  Nothing remains of the Celtic dynasty.  Red, the Garden, and Hall of Fame rosters seem closer to the Devil Rays future.  The Celtics have even watched the Miami Heat, who didn't exist at the time of their last title, and the Red Sox. . .THE RED SOX win world championships since.  Oh how the mighty have fallen.

As the last few days and weeks have rolled by in the world of sports, I have made two observations.  The first is that some of the most amazing things have been happening.  Things that a true sports fan lives to see.  We've had fantastic finishes, great team and player stories, as well as historically significant individual efforts.  There has also been things that have dominated headlines that are nowhere near "newsworthy".  The crime in this is that many fans' attentions are being diverted to this garbage, and missing these wonderful events in sports. 

As a teacher, I always assume that when people behave inappropriately it's because they don't know what the appropriate action is.  Therefore you, the fan, will no longer need to miss the unmissable.  I, XEA76, will help you navigate your way through the trash and find the treasure.

Worthy:  Derek Fisher

This guy flies 2/3 of the way across the U.S. to pray for his potentially dying child, support the mother of his child, and be there when a man needs to be there most.  When he knows all is safe, he flies back to Utah, suits up, and inspires his team to a huge OT win. 

Not Worthy:  Racially biased NBA officiating

You have to ask what the agenda is of any organization that would even support such a study.  Anyone who actually saw the raw numbers knows that the illedged discrepency of calls of officials to players of another race were not statiscally significant.  Translated, this is why all polls have a "margin of error".  The statistics were not so skewed that there appeared to be a problem, but there was a SLIGHT descrepency.  If you really want to help the racism problem, don't make it the issue everytime people that don't look the same are in the same room.

Worthy:  Barry Bonds

I started this blog over a year ago because of this man.  Barry is a jerk.  Barry MAY be a cheater (probably).  Having said that, Barry is the greatest baseball player I've ever seen, BAR NONE!  Baseball fans live their whole lives wanting to see records broken.  He's already broken the big one.  Now he's going for the #2 record in all of baseball, the all-time HR mark.  Don't miss this because of a stupid grudge.  This is what you want to tell your kids about.  If you ignore him, you make him a mystery to the next generation. Educate yourself about him.  Teach the kids why he's so good.  Explain why cheating is bad.  However, do not miss one of the most amazing feats by one of the five greatest baseball players of all time.

Not Worthy:  Curt Schilling

Speaking his name in public is difficult to do.  This is a guy who gives the media the quotes they want, so he gets a pass on being an idiot.  He is not a Hall of Fame player.  That's right, being an outspoken member of the 2004 Red Sox doesn't make you one.  Sorry Kevin Millar.  I'm not sure any person in sports is less socially significant while being oblivious to that fact at the same time.  He thinks he's important.  He speaks for political candidates.  He's a social commentator.  And frankly, all the Beanbrains want him to do is get people out.  That's right Curt.  If you make the country less dependent on oil and have an ERA over 5.00, then Boston will hate you.  I promise.

Worthy:  Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Jr. is leaving the company his father founded.  NASCAR's biggest star with it's biggest sponsor is officially a free agent (at the end of the year).  This event really has no other worthy comparison.  There is no other athlete more popular, in his prime, and about to be persued by about 15 Nextel Cup teams, the idea of starting his own team, or even other racing outfits like the IRL or Formula One.  Junior is the biggest free agent in the history of American sports. 

Not Worthy:  Car of Tomorrow

NASCAR made it.  NASCAR uses it now.  NASCAR wants it full time in 2008.  That settles it.  Shut up and drive it.

Worthy:  Tiger Woods

Tiger is on another dominating run.  He's winning almost every tournament he signs up for.  He's back to his dominating form with his 15th different swing.  He got to the point in 2000 when he decided to compare himself to himself, and not to the other players.  Now he's back to being so far ahead of the field it's almost laughable.

Not Worthy:  Mike Vick

He's the biggest bust since Ryan Leaf.  He's a punk who's popularity so far supercedes his accomplishments that it's obsurd.  He's a great athlete who can't play QB.  He's a spoiled brat who has robbed me of the 60 seconds of my life that it took to write this blurb.  I'm out!

It is being reported that former and now current Creighton basketball coach Dana Altman has taken his old job back.  This, of course, makes Altman to Arkansas what Belichick is to the Jets,  a former coach that never actually "coached" his former team.  There is certainly a major problem right now in the Arkansas athletic department.  They seem to be unable to keep big name coaches and players intrigued enough to stay with the program.  Despite many rumors and speculation as to why this seems to be the case, the real problem is a lack of reality by the athletic department.

The University believes that it should be a top 10 football and basketball program each and every year.  These are great goals, but when they become and expectation, they become a hinderance to a program that is farther away from Corey Beck and Corliss Williamson than it realizes.  Arkansas reportedly offered the basketball position to coaches like:  Bill Self, John Calipari, Billy Gillespie, Tim Floyd, and Tom Crean before agreeing with Altman (source: ESPN.com).  These are all relatively established coaches at programs that are currently as strong, if not significantly stronger than Arkansas right now.  Why should they take the Arkansas job?  Obviously, these men couldn't find a reason either, so Arkansas is still and again coachless. 

Arkansas needs to "get real".  They need a young, energetic coach that can take a team that is ready to win to the second weekend of the tournament.  Arkansas needs to take a chance of a "small-name".  The Hogs should look no further than their hated rivals in Austin.  The new Arkansas head coach should be Russ Springman, assistant coach of the Texas Longhorns.

Springman has been working with Rick Barnes for nine years as an assitant coach.  He also worked with Billy Donovan at Florida for two seasons as a strength coach.  Springman has been exposed to two extremely successful systems of both recruiting and on-court production.  Kevin Durant keeps raving about Springman, and the role Russ has played in his personal success.  Springman has the exposure to big-time games and players to lead a program in the right direction.  On the down side, Springman has never been a Division I head basketball coach, but Arkansas is ready to win now.  This is the time to take a chance, and build a program behind someone the players can believe in.  Arkansas is hungry to recapture past glory.  Springman is hungry to prove himself worthy to be considered among his mentors as a great head coach.  This is the move the could lead both man and program to where they want to go.

(source: TexasSports.com)

NFL G.M.'s have to be the slowest learners of anyone.  This back-up QB as the-answer-to-all-of-your-problems phenomenon is ridiculously stupid.  A team as bad as the Texans gives up two second round choices, which are usually end up as starters in thier first or second years in the league, to get a guy with two NFL starts.  The most amazing thing about this is that often times these "must have" back-ups usually back-up starters that aren't that good to begin with.

Case #1 - Jay Fiedler

After one start in 1999, he signs on with the Miami Dolphins to be the man.  In that 1999 season, he appeared in seven games with that one start.  He went 61-for-94 for 656 yards with two TDs and two INTs.  Wanna build your franchise around that?  Miami did!  Ask them how that worked out.  Before he left for South Beach, Fiedler was the back-up to Mark Brunell in Jacksonville.  Many are thinking this was Brunell's hayday.  He led Jacksonville to the AFC championship game in the 1999 season right?  Yes, however, a great defense and running game led the Jags that season.  Brunell himself had only a 58.7% completion rate with 14 TDs against nine INTs.  Not exactly Marino.  You would think if Fiedler was Marino, he could beat out a guy with those numbers.

Case #2 - Rob Johnson

Everyone's favorite rags to riches story.  The scene shifts back to 1997, Jacksonville, Florda.  Rob Johnson, again after only one start, posts a QB rating of 111.9, which over a career would make him the GREATEST QB OF ALL-TIME!!!  With opportunity for greatness knocking, and Jim Kelly running out the back door, Buffalo makes the power play to land Johnson.  The 1997 Buffalo Bills stumbled to a 6-10 record under Marv Levy and QB Todd Collins.  Desperation is understandable for the once great franchise.  So they jump on what seems to be the best available prospect.  Not so much!  Once again, Johnson was available because he couldn't crack the position held by Mark Brunell.  In Brunell's defense, his 1997 was much better than his 1999.  He had a QB rating of over 90, but still fewer than 20 TDs and 3281 yards.  Again, Brunell was a good player, but if Johnson was Jim Kelly, he would've been starting.  Both the Bills and Dolphins are still struggling to find signal-callers to this day.

Case #3 - Matt Schaub?

If Schaub were nearly as good as some would have you believe, couldn't he beat out Mike "the Hype" Vick?  Vick has never been a 3000 yard passer, never had a passer rating over 81.6, never had more than 20 TD throws.  Vick is the most overrated athlete in the HISTORY OF THE PLANET! 

I really hope Schaub works out.  I hope he's better than Vick, but again, if he were, wouldn't he be the starting QB in Atlanta?  If he's Vick or worse, then don't look for the Texans to win in the playoffs for at least the next six years.  It takes at least that long to overcome a mistake at the QB position.  Right Houston, Miami, Buffalo, and Cleveland?

Philosophers say that we live in the post-modern era.  Post-modernism is a belief that the only absolute truth that exists in the world is that there is no absolute truth.  Despite the glaring philosophical contradiction that Stevie Wonder could see, many people endorse this way of viewing the world.  "What you do is up to you, and what I do is none of your business" they say.  If this is your world-view, that's fine with me (hints of relativism are all over that statement), but its amazing at how relative we are with our morals in sports.

NASCAR found that Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, and Michael Waltrip all qualified with illegal cars on Sunday.   The punishment for the crimes of Kahne and Kenseth's teams were reported by the Charlotte Observer as suspensions for each team's crew chief.  It amazes me that NASCAR refuses to park cars and teams for races.  I'm not sure that these violations would warrant such a punishment, but the bottom line is that such a punishment isn't even an option.  Sure, they say it is, but Kasey Kahne would have to attack and kill Dale Earnhardt Jr. to ever be suspended from a race.  NASCAR has gotten neck-deep with these sponsors to the point that they run the show.  You will NEVER see a race without a Home Depot, Dupont, Lowe's, Budweiser, or Dodge sponsored car.  At least not because NASCAR made that decision.  That fact doesn't even consider the star power of the former champions and superstars that carry the corporate torch for the aforementioned companies.  It's amazing that so many fans turn the other cheek to rules violations in NASCAR.  The unspoken motto of most crew chiefs in the sport is, "If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'".  Everyone seems to be fine with that, even when the large portion of the fan base resides in the "morally conservative" South of the U.S. 

Then, of course, there is baseball.  A sport in which anyone who has ever touched a bottle, vitamin, beer, or even baby, is under tremendous scrutiny and suspicion.  Why?  Are they both cheating?  Yes.  It amazes me that steriod use is considered the ultimate form of cheating in sports.  The steriod rule reminds me of what Jerry Seinfeld says about the helmet law.  He finds it humorous that we would have a law that functions to protect a brain that is functioning so poorly that it doesn't protect itself.  I agree.  When race cars are too fast, they put lives in danger of more than just their drivers.  When athletes juice, who are they really harming?  Your post-modern mind should now kick in and say, "They aren't hurting me, so what they are doing is fine."  However, it doesn't say that at all.  You want to be noble.  You want to be the helmet law.  You want to protect that athlete that is so starved for money and fame, that he/she will literally kill himself/herself to get it. 

I don't feel cheated by Barry Bonds.  I don't feel cheated by Kasey Kahne.  If Kasey Kahne's team deems it necessary to bend the rules to make him more competitive, then install rules that discourage that.  NASCAR does that.  If Barry Bonds wants to use a substance that, until recently, wasn't even banned by MLB and hurt himself, so be it.  He can be the Homerun King, while suffering through health problems and a lower quality of life.  That's his choice.  My question to you is.  If Barry is only hurting himself, and Kasey, Matt, and Michael are putting others at risk as well as not risking nearly as much from a personal, physical standpoint, who has committed the greater crime?  Barry will be tarnished physically, emotionally, and publically for the rest of his life.  Kahne and Kenseth won't even miss a race.  What gives?