And Down Goes ... 1, 2 and 3!

This weekend produced a number of great games and equally interesting upsets. Number 1 Kansas lost to a game Oklahoma State team that is fighting for its tournament dreams. Despite being the number 1 team this upset failed in comparison to the Kentucky loss. The Wildcats fell on the road against a very good Tennessee team that earlier in the season beat number 1 Kansas in Thompson Bowling Arena. In this game UT got ahead big quickly before superstar John Wall pulled the Wildcats back to a tie with 2 minutes remaining in the game. Then in the Southeast CBS decided to switch to UNC Wake Forest. But from what I saw on Sportscenter later in the night Tennessee finished the game on a strong run to hold off the cats. Today number 3 Purdue fell at home to Michigan State. Of all the top 3 upsets this was the least shocking. The first reason being Michigan States is an extremely talented team. Secondly, Purdue lost their number 2 scorer Hummel to a torn ACL last week. The number 4 and 5 teams, however, took very good care of business. Syracuse handled Villanova in front of 34, 616 people (The largest on campus crowd ever). And the Duke Blue Devils destroyed a Landesburgless UVA squad in Charlottesville.

With the week recap over and the top 5 completely disheveled the new question becomes who are the new number 1 seeds. While you know I am going to give you my new number 1s it is clear that the conference tournaments are going to determine the winners of these seeds. Despite the losses I still believe that Kansas and Kentucky are the best teams in the country and thus believe they will continue to hold onto their seeds. Syracuse by beating Villanova has also placed its name in the running for the best team in the country and it is clear that at the moment they also deserve a number 1 seed. The final number one seed is where things get interesting. Right now Duke, Purdue and Kansas State all have a shot at it. Kansas State has really flown under the radar this season but are extremely talented. This week they head to Allen Field House to take on Kansas, a win here and they would have a very strong case for a number 1. While Purdue put up a fight without Hummel it is highly unlikely that they will be as competitive without him and will most likely have to settle for a 2 or 3 seed. Lastly, we have the Duke Blue Devils. People may call me biased or tell me that the Devils are overrated, BUT this Duke team has the most victories over Top 50 teams in the country and a undefeated finish in the ACC regular season and ACC tournament would most likely rap up the final number 1 seed.

Oh The Places Gerhart Could Go

A little part of me died in December when Stanford's Toby Gerhart lost the Hesiman trophy to Bama's Mark Ingram. This past fall he brought Stanford football from a program of shame and embarrassment to one that any alum would be proud of. Now, as the draft nears and athletes are putting their best foot forward in the Combine to become stronger, faster, more efficient players, my attention is on my own "hometown" hero, Toby Gerhart.

Gerhart is wildly underestimated as a RB despite his Heisman worthy performance this past season. During his training at the Combine he has received quiet a bit of criticism of being too slow, doesn't fit the prototypical RB mold, and most people don't have him projected to be a 1st or even 2nd round pick. To make matters worse, a questionable health report may hurt Toby's chances even more.

And as the coaches become mesmerized by how fast a guy can run a 40 let's remember why Toby was a Heisman contender to begin with- it's not just about how you move in a straight line, but more importantly how you move when their isn't one. Any person that has seen Toby play knows that he plays with something that can't be measured on a stop watch or in a weight room, he plays with a level of tenacity, courage and HEART that is truly a joy to watch. There are a couple of places in the NFL that could use and in some cases NEED a back like Toby.

Here is my sneak peek at the places that Gerhart could go (in no particular order)

Cleveland- Cleveland could benefit for a big body RB, his explosiveness is what is going to be the major factor here. If Toby clocks a good speed at the Combine then that increase his chances of being picked at the top of the 3rd. The only problem is that the Browns have several draft needs and their high pick decreases the chance of them grabbing Gerhart.

New York- Its debatable whether the Jets will pick a running back via the draft this year, but they are going to need some power in the backfield and if Toby goes later than expected it would be wise for NY to pick him up especially with recent rumors that Jones will be a free agent. In the era of the two back system Gerhart could really work well to compliment a speed back.

Washington- My personal biases generally don't have me looking out of the Redskins' best interest but their offense could really use a good solid back this year. Portis is still a question mark for next season and Betts with two torn leg ligaments makes for a not-surprising desperate Redskins team. Gerhart ending up in DC comes down to how well he does at the Combine. If he clocks a surprisingly fast 40 speed he might just be out of reach for the Skins. But a mediocre time will kill his draft stock and make him ripe for the Redskins picking at the top of the 4th round. Plus Gerhart is committed to be a RB and with other teams trying to force him into the fullback/halfback position a desperate Gerhart and a desperate Skins offense may just be a match. On the other hand I want Gerhart to go to a program that has a fighting chance so I actually take this possibility off of the drawing board.

Houston- This a good fit for Gerhart because they need a feature back who can take a lot of carries. Toby is extremely coachable, just look at his last season at Stanford; carrying the ball 20, 30 and sometimes even 40 times a game and even throwing a TD pass against Notre Dame. Gerhart is a work horse and for a program in need of RB to complete their offense this makes sense.

San Diego- The loss of LaDanian Tomlinson and putting Darren Sporles up for free agent have the Chargers looking a little lost. They are in need of a serious back who can be a game changer. And Toby's work ethic is somewhat ideal for a program that is willing to invest the time to mold him into the back that they need him to be. It would be no surprise if San Diego grabs Gerhart early.

Hopefully, his performance at the Combine does more to help Gerhart than to hurt him.

Hockey's Newest Biggest Fan...Kinda

So yesterday I turned on the Canada-Russia game not knowing what to expect since I have not watched a single hockey game in the past decade. But I figured this was touted as the biggest game on the biggest stage of the world as the two best teams clashed in the quarterfinals of the Olympics so I had to watch. I gotta say I really wasn't disappointed (well except in the sluggish way that Russia decided to show up). All the aspects of a great sports game were present: There was lots of scoring, the crowd was in a frenzy and chanting things like they were at a soccer game the entire time, there were hard hits and lots of animosity, the two best players in the NHL were present (in Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin) as were classic players like Sergei Federov that I remember playing with in NHL 96 on my Sega Genesis, and finally there was a great story as the host nation, Canada, proved to every other team in the competition that they were back on track and once again the team to beat. What more could one ask for in a game...

The crazy part is it wasn't even that good of a game in the sense that Canada basically had the game locked up by the end of the first period up 4-1. The Russian team came out looking much slower than the Canadians and played the majority of the game on their heels, reeling under the onslaught of the Canadian attack. The Russians allowed their goalie to be abused for 6 goals before they finally took the first one out the game then just when they seemed as if they might have the motivation to fight their way back into it, the Canadians put another one into the net on the new goalie making it 7-2 by the end of the second. The consolation goal the Russians were able to squeak out in the third made it 7-3 but the victory was already well in hand by then. Even more of a surprise, the two "best" players in the game barely factored into the result at all. Even if you have never watched hockey before you could see the winning strategy. They didn't allow the Russians to breathe or collect themselves. They jumped on every loose puck and challenged every Russian player trying to make his way up the ice. The Canadians came out firing on all cylinders and never backed off, they were ready to play and to prove a point to the world: This Is Our House.

This game has inspired me to even give the NHL a chance once in a while. Unfortunately I heard the NHL isn't really the same as Olympic Hockey though....

Apparently it's better: There's fighting and sometimes it's even encouraged. They have guys called enforcers specifically on the team to inspire the masses by taking on the other team's enforcer in battle. I dare you to tell me that the NBA or the NFL wouldn't be a little more exciting if they let their players throw down once in a while. Well in hockey it happens all the time. You want to know the penalty for it? 5 minutes. YEP 5 minutes. Not a suspension, not an ejection from the game but just five minutes in the penalty box. Pure genius. I might have found a new sport to fill the down times between football and basketball seasons. Then again perhaps the novelty will run its course and I'll be back to the apathy I normally hold towards it (unless the Flyers are doing well). All I know is that for at least one day, hockey was one of my favorite sports.

Training Tebow

I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that we won't be seeing the Florida golden boy QB that we have grown to love, Tim Tebow, QBing ever again. Ironically, that is also the good news. It is not that Tebow is no longer going to be playing football, but rather that the Tebow style of throwing has reached the end of its rope and the new era of Tebow 2.0 is upon us.

After being highly criticized for not being an NFL style quarter back, with a throw that is to drawn out and easily read, many people put to bed the idea of Tebow being succesful after is reign in Florida. But recently Tebow has announced that he has been working on a new style that is more suited for professional football. Although, he will not be playing for scouts in the Combine he will showcase his new perfected throw on Pro Day, March 17th.

Tebow being the talk of the Combine has gotten some mixed reviews. Niners General Manager Scot McCloughan pointed out that "a good football player is a good football player" and there is no denying that Tebow was good at the college game. However some continue to believe that there is just not enough time for Tebow to fix some of his fatal flaws in his fundamentals. Is his inherent skill enough to carry him into the NFL or is it too little to late for Tebow?

All this talk about what he needs to do in order to prepare for the NFL has got me thinking about College football and whether or not it prepares athletes for the next level of the game. Shouldn't some of these things that he is trying to master and perfect been address during his time in Florida?

Generally speaking, high school prepares you for college, and college prepares you for your professional life thereafter, but in the current style of college football that isn’t the case. Perhaps, it is the inherent physicality of the sport that makes it different than basketball and baseball, but to any person who does not follow football it is puzzling that one of the most worshipped celebrated QBs in recent years may go from college hero to NFL zero overnight. Does this suggest an inherent flaw in college football? Should there be some type of onus on the coaches to prepare these boys to be successful on the next level and not just be the cash cow of a major university?

The Greatest Story Never Told

And now for the greatest Vancouver story you will probably never hear, at least if you live in the United States: The Harry Potter-looking fellow you see above has accomplished an unprecedented feat by sweeping the Men’s Individual Ski Jump in Vancouver and bringing his Olympic Gold total to 4. Ammann (who hails from Switzerland for those who missed the flag on his jacket) now has twice as many golds as American golden boy Apolo Ohno, but ‘round these parts I fear his story will go all but untold.

1 and a Possible

There are only 7 days until March and that means March Madness is around the corner. Per usual all the talk is about who will be the number 1 seeds and whose bubble is about to burst.

Just when it looked like Villanova had recovered from that loss versus Georgetown and was solidifying itself as a firm number 1 seed, this week happened. The wildcats fell at home to a STRUGGLING UCONN team that has embarrassed it coach a number of times recently. They followed this performance up with a lost versus Pitt in the Pitt (One of the toughest places to play in all of the big east).

While Villanova was playing themselves out of a number 1 seed. Syracuse did just what they needed to do. After providing Louisville with a stellar resume building win on Valentine's Day, they held off a late double digit rally by Georgetown to sneak out of DC with a win.

So as it stands now the number 1 seeds in my book are Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and Purdue. If Duke were able to win out and another team were to stumble, I think they could be the next team in the running.

While those teams are solidly in the tournament other teams are going to need to play well if they hope to keep their hopes alive. As mentioned earlier Louisville received a hugh resume boost by beating Syracuse. They are going to need you to pick up 4 or 5 more wins down the stretch. While the Richmond Spiders are currently leading the A-10 even if they were not to win the A-10 tournament big wins in the non-conference season could help them find their way into the tournament. In the ACC Clemson finds itself in a familiar position square on the bubble and needing to finish the ACC season very strong. Finally, checking in from the bubble in the Big 12 is Oklahoma State. The Sooners cause was helped by a victory over Baylor, but they have a tough road ahead with games against Kansas, Texas and Texas A&M.

America F*** Yeah!

I have never really been a fan of the winter games in the Olympics. Maybe because I grew up in a town where Football is king and the Rodeo sponsors annual parades. But this year's Olympic games have definitely opened my eyes and woke up most of America.

The winter games used to be the one time that we gave all the other countries a fair chance. They're the only opportunity where countries like Norway can get a chance to taste victory and Olympic gold and not be found sulking in the shadows of American global dominance. But with Shaun White making this look more like the X games, Lindsey Vonn vying for the title of America's Sweetheart and Apolo Anto Ohno becoming Phelps on ice as he rakes in the medals, this years Olympics feel a lot different.

As a person who always roots for the underdog, part of me feels bad that we have spread our unapologetic hunger for gold to the inherently peaceful winter games, but then the other more patriotic side of me wants to stand up and scream "America F*** Yeah!" (insert "Team America" background music) every time Ohno adds to his hardware. So excuse as I continue to feel obnoxiously patriotic today and pop in the movie "Miracle" to celebrate 30 years of America beating people at their own game.

" I'm Asking You to Believe in Me"

After hearing those words from Tiger's highly publicized interview this past week my only thought/response was a **blank stare**

That line highlights to me everything wrong with this Tiger situation. No offense to you, Mr. Woods, but I believe in higher beings, not athletes. The only thing that I ever really believed in is the fact that you can hit a mean 5 iron across the green.

Do I take personality into account when I think of the players I like? Yes, I admit that. But appreciating the like-ability of a guy and viciously finding ways to exploit the darker parts of a person are two different things. Athletes are a humans first and foremost not demi-gods that we need to put our faith in.

As far as an apology goes, I don't know if Tiger owes us as much of an apology as we owe him. The amount of time that we have taken prying into the life of the Woods' family is discomforting. I couldn't imagine being Elin and the humiliation that she has had to endure. And I cannot fathom the playground conversation that surrounds their children. I don't know how many times that I have heard "when you are a famous athlete this is what you sign up for." Last I checked, Tiger signed up to play golf and win trophies and he does that, REALLY well. America is plagued by a sense of entitlement and we feel overly entitled to be emerged into his personal life, feel entitled to an apology, and then after the fact we feel entitled to have him go back to golf and make it exciting again sooner rather than later.

I really can't wait for Tiger to win his next tournament so this whole hoopla can blow over and we can go back to worrying about the integrity of our own families and not that of the celebrities and athletes we too often live vicariously through.

State of College Basketball Address

While a lot of college basketball is focused on the Big East, as well they should be, I want to talk about the Big 6: the top Power Conferences as well as the top 6 candidates for Player of the Year in NCAA Basketball today. Therefore I present to you as President of the United Words of this Article, The State of College Basketball Address: Midseason Version.

Conferences:

1. Big East:

The Big East certainly isn’t the Big Easy this year. From top to bottom every team looks to be a dangerous one that could make a run at any moment in time. Even teams at the bottom of the conference like Rutgers or Connecticut have the talent to take on one of the top ten teams in the country and deal them an upset. Louisville is another team to watch out, as they were once thought to be one of the top teams in the country in the preseason. Then you throw Notre Dame with Harangody, Marquette, Pitt, Gerogetown, and West Virginia in the mix with conference leaders Villanova and Syracuse and you can’t say that this isn’t the conference to beat.

2. Big 12:

Let’s first start off by mentioning that the conference has the number 1 RPI in the nation. Not only that but the conference also includes the number 1 team in the nation as well as the best record when facing out of conference teams. All that makes us wonder how they are not the number 1 conference on this list. But then we have to look at the fact that besides Kansas no other team has separated itself as cream of the crop. It seems that inner conference play may be the Big 12’s gift and curse. Texas has definitely felt the wrath of a tough in conference schedule as its fall from an undefeated number 1 team has been well documented. But in March Madness, I don’t think any team will want to see a Big 12 team facing them because you know they come to play.

3. Big 10:

What a year for the Big 10. They came into the season as the proverbial favorites with some experts saying that they could put as many as 9 teams into the NCAA tournament. They lost a little steam coming into the conference schedule and because of their competitiveness, every team that makes it into the Big Dance will be at the very least battle tested. No one gives more evidence to this than Perdue. They started the season as a possible number one seed in the tournament, fell behind early and now has been riding a hot streak on the way to number 4 in the nation. They along with Michigan State and Ohio State have all reached the 20 win milestone already this season tying the Big 12 as the only conferences with 3 teams to accomplish that feat.

4. ACC:

Doesn't it just feel like Duke and the rest of the boys at this point? I really feel like the fall of North Carolina started a trend where any given day anybody in the ACC could beat anybody else in conference but then out of conference a lot of people would beat up on the ACC. You definitely don’t see it in their non-conference record this season as they actually sport the 2nd best record in that regard but while other teams in the nation seem to be trending upward, many ACC teams are going in the opposite direction They lost the Big Ten-ACC challenge and just don’t seem like the powerhouse conference of yesteryear. It looks as if the conference will probably squeeze 5 maybe 6 or 7 teams into the tournament and while that looks good on paper you are probably looking at only 3 teams that you are confident about making some noise: Duke, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. Other than that you really can’t feel all that good about Maryland, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Florida State, Can you?

5. SEC:

The one thing that the SEC must be commended for is the fact that after a very weak season last year this conference has made a very admirable comeback. A big part of that is the surge of Kentucky as one of the top teams in the nation with their Fab freshmen: John Wall and Demarcus Cousins, but even some of the other teams in the conference are showing some feistiness. I think the conference suffers a similar story as the ACC with only a few stars and all of them coming out of the SEC East. This conference looks to have 3 teams surely into the tournament: Kentucky, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt with Mississippi, Mississippi State, or Florida perhaps providing a fourth off of the bubble.

6. Pac 10:

Wow, what a down year for the Pac-10. No team is looking really good and they will be lucky to get more than one team into the tournament this year with Cal (ugh) looking at an 11 seed. If Cal wins the NCAA tournament, they will be the only team representing the conference in the Big Dance and that’s just disturbing to me as a Stanford fan. It is important to note that the Pac-10 has had 21 players be drafted to the NBA, many of them being underclassmen thus taking some of the talent out of the conference. The Pac-10 is in need of a big influx of new talent to resurrect it back to its glory days.

Player of the Year Candidates:

1a. John Wall

Resume: 17.1 points per game, 6.5 assists per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, shooting 35% from three point land, 1.9 steals per game, leader of one of the nation’s top two teams, makes the big play when it matters most, and not that it matters but the sure number 1 pick in the upcoming draft.

1b. Evan Turner

Resume:19.5 points per game, 5.8 assists per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, shooting 55% from the field, 1.9 steals per game and probably one of the most important players to his team in the NCAA. Without him, Ohio State would probably be headed for a different tournament.

2. Wesley Johnson

Resume:16 points per game, 2.3 assists per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, 1.8 blocks per game, 1.6 steals per game, 40 % from 3 point land, 51 % from the field and an unselfish player that means a lot more to his team than his stats show.

3. Scottie Reynolds

Resume: 18.9 points per game, 3.4 assists per game, 40% from three point land, 48% from the field, 2.8 rebounds per game and one of the most reliable leaders of any NCAA team let alone one with national title aspirations.

4. Demarcus Cousins

Resume:16 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game, 1.7 blocks per game, truly challenging Wall as the most valuable player on that Kentucky team and the best and most physical big man in my opinion in the NCAA

5. Sherron Collins

Resume: 15.1 points per game, 4.2 assists per game, 36.5 from three point land, 2.1 rebounds per game, 42% from the field and the tough and unquestionable leader of the number 1 team in the nation.

Outside looking in: Cole Aldrich of Kansas, Luke Harangody of Notre Dame, Damion James of Texas

Trades Galore!

Now as we embark on the eve of what had to be the most exciting trade deadline I can remember, it’s time to reflect on the week’s transactions and try and get an understanding of what it means not only for the rest of the season but the offseason as well. Some teams traded hoping to find the final piece to their championship puzzle, others traded to give themselves potential for a better future, one that will certainly be full of stars (read: Summer of 2010) and one team, the Washington Wizards traded to take a huge crap on their fans. Whatever way you look at it, the NBA landscape has change as we know it.

Let’s break down the aftermath (I only included trades people should care about):

Dallas gets Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, DeShawn Stevenson and cash from Washington for Josh Howard, Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross and James Singleton.

Ok so even though, the Mavericks were able to get rid of the completely unserviceable, uncaring Josh Howard from their team, the parts that they got back still aren’t enough to make them a lock for the West’s number 2 team. Butler is a great player, most seasons that is. This season he was only good, which may have been due to the muck and mire that is the Washington Wizards but we shall see. Haywood is a great defensive presence in the middle and should do well to help Dirk in the trenches come playoff time. Unfortunately it feels like the other elite teams like the Jazz, the Nuggets, and of course the Lakers still will outlast these Mavs in a 7 game series. It just seems in the end, Mark Cuban spent a lot of money to get back average gains.

Blazers send Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and cash to Clippers for Marcus Camby.

I think this simply comes down to the Blazers needing a big man if they are going to have any chance at making a run in the playoffs and the Clippers having one to spare. This also puts the Clippers in better position for something that I will talk about later in the article. But just as a note: Has any trade this week not included one team that hopes to win the LeBron/Wade/Bosh sweepstakes?

Bulls send John Salmons to the Bucks for Joe Alexander and Hakim Warrick.

What Did I Just Say??? No but seriously if you don’t think that this trade was a clear signal to DWade that they are laying out the red carpet for him to come back to his adopted home I don’t know what else they need to do. Hakim Warrick will be a serviceable replacement for Tyrus Thomas and I have always liked his athleticism.

Washington trades Antawn Jamison to Cleveland and Drew Gooden to Clippers;

Cleveland trades Zydrunas Ilgauskas, rights to Emir Preldzic and 2010 first-round pick to Washington;

Clippers trade Al Thornton to Washington and Sebastian Telfair to Cleveland.

I’m sorry but if you are still a Wizards fan after this week, you are a fool or a glutton for punishment. They gutted their team to save money and really just seem headed for the dregs of the NBA for the next decade. Big Z (or random DVD pawner as he is depicted in the Lebron puppet commercial) isn't even staying there as he will probably be bought out. Maybe there’s some sort of master plan but I just doubt it. On the other hand, the other two teams involved in this trade Cleveland and L.A. seem to be after the same prize in the King. Cleveland made this trade to solidify King James’s chance at getting a title this year as well as entice him to stay in Cleveland come the summer. The Clippers made this trade to get some cap room in preparation for the Cavaliers worst nightmare if LeBron decides to leave. Not only does L.A. have the market, they also have a considerable amount of talent that any one of the top guys this summer would be lucky to go to. Unfortunately the Clippers are in fact the most unlucky and cursed franchise on the planet so this will probably go wrong in some way.

Milwaukee trades Jodie Meeks and Francisco Elson to Philadelphia for Royal Ivey, Primoz Brezec and a 2010 second-round pick.

Ok so this trade really doesn’t matter at all but I had to do something to include the Sixers because I was sure that they were going to do something, SOMETHING, to give the fans hope for the future. Like maybe don’t blow the team up Wizards style but at least act like you are trying. I don’t know. Maybe they have a plan or something but it just doesn’t usually work out that way and that’s why I’m breaking up with them as a team. It has been a long process and hopefully Lebron and either Wade or Bosh’s new team can help me forget. Ok enough rambling…

Jazz trade Ronnie Brewer to Memphis for a protected 2011 first-round pick.

Contrary to popular opinion, I like this trade. I think that Memphis has a great starting 5, almost championship level quality, but then their bench often goes missing in games. The acquisition of Brewer gives the guards some back-up as well as bringing a quality perimeter defender in for clutch possessions. Plus it serves as a little bit of insurance just in case they can’t or won’t resign Rudy Gay. For the Jazz, Brewer wasn’t getting that much burn anyway so why not try and get some value for him. This also opens up minutes for Kyle Korver and CJ Miles. So even though they end up giving up a good guard after looking to be legit challengers for the second seed in the West, this trade gives them cap relief as well as a chance to see how the rest of their bench will step up.

Bulls trade Tyrus Thomas to Bobcats for Flip Murray, Acie Law and a future first-round pick (dependant on other first rounders the Bobcats owe)

This trade was beneficial to both teams as they each sure up their benches. Tyrus Thomas is a good developing forward and will probably log some minutes in place of the Boris Diaw as he works out of whatever slump he’s in. He also has a lot of potential to grow. For the Bulls, Flip Murray provides a good fill for the spot that Salmons just vacated as a good scoring guard off the bench.

New York trades Larry Hughes to Sacramento, and Jared Jeffries, Jordan Hill, a top-5 protected 2012 first-round pick and the right to swap first-rounders in 2011 to Houston (top-1 protected);

Houston sends Tracy McGrady to New York, and Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey to Sacramento; Sacramento sends Kevin Martin and Hilton Armstrong to Houston, and Sergio Rodriguez to New York.

Yikes that’s a lot of names…Houston did everything right in this trade. They got under the luxury tax, they really didn’t give up too much at any position, and they got one of the most underrated players in the league in Kevin Martin. Even though they had to give up Carl Landry to do so, they may have found his eventual replacement in a developing Jordan Hill. They also ravaged New York for their draft picks as a bonus. For New York, this trade was a steep price to pay but they got what they ultimately wanted: the opportunity to sign two max contract players in the coming offseason. This is the ultimate feast or famine situation. If it works out, the Knicks will be geniuses, if not expect riots. For Sacramento, Landry is a good low post presence for the Kings to work with. More importantly this deal allows Sacramento to have enough room to offer a max contract as well this summer.

Boston sends Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker to the Knicks for KryptoNate Robinson and Marcus Landry.

While most people don’t like this trade that much, I really think that after being let out of Mike D’ Antoni’s cellar, Nate Robinson can really make a scoring impact on the floor or at least provide some energy to the sluggish Celtics. Even though House was a good bench guy for Boston, providing a perimeter scoring threat, he was struggling to find his rhythm lately. Hopefully KryptoNate can infuse a little more spirit into the Boston team as we get closer to the playoffs.

All in all, it looks like we are headed for an exciting rest of the season as well as offseason…

Which is fantastic seeing as how we might not have Basketball (or Football) after the 2011 season anyway…..(cliffhanger)..

Black screen….

LOST

"RIP, Dunk Contest. 1984-2010"

It is needless to say that the 2010 All-Star Weekend Slam Dunk Contest was nothing short of an Epic Fail for all those who sat through watching it. Because I am not satisfied with being so immensely disappointed in what is usually the highlight of All-Star Weekend for me, I decided to share a video of the dunk contest that we all WISH we were watching yesterday. If only the all-stars could throw-down the way these guys did.

And just in case anyone has forgotten what the dunk contest used to look like, here are some of my favorite competitions. Looking back on them I am still getting chills.

Sprite 2008- The year of Superman

2000 Vince-sanity

The Trade Deadline Edition of the Rumor Write Up

Sorry for delay in your fix of the Rumor Write Up, the great snow deluge on the Eastern part of the United States basically shut everything down for a week but now we are back! This special SUPER edition will focus on some of the trade rumors that may or may not go down before the NBA trade deadline next week.

1. Amare Stoudemire

Well Amare aka STAT (Standing Tall and Talented) is rumored as going to just about every team as Phoenix is looking for cap relief (with Amare able to opt in for 17 million next year) as well as a chance to rebuild their team. The problem with STAT is that while he is an excellent offensive talent, his defensive skills are really lacking (like to the point that he might as well be standing still). In spite of this fact, many teams on the cusp of a title run or looking to beg a star player with reasons to stay around *cough*Lebron and D. Wade*cough*.

Possible trade destinations:

Cavs - the Cavs seem to just need one more piece to be a lock for the Finals and for the King's first NBA championship. Though the Cavs are on a strong run right now, you can't help but think that the addition of an All-Star player like Stoudemire puts them over the top. Plus getting some help around James might help him stay in town. Unfortunately the Cavs are lacking in pieces to trade with the most likely offer being prospect J.J. Hickson (7th best player on the team) and Ilgauskas going to the Suns for Amare.

Heat - The Heat have offered up Jermaine O'Neal or Michael Beasley for the chance to essentially lure D. Wade into forgoing his increasing interest in going to his "adopted home": Chicago. This season's hopes are not that bright so this would be a move for a nucleus to build a future championship team around.

Warriors - This deal was rumored before the draft last year so it is not surprising to see these talks come back again. The Warriors are trying to rebuild their core by trading away some of their many prospects for a proven star in Amare. The most recent rumor has names like Raja Bell, Stephen Curry, Anthony Randolph and Morrow and even Speedy Claxton being thrown around as Golden State's offer.

Sixers - this offer involves one of the other most talked about names on the trading block in Andre Iguodala. Philadelphia is apparently in desperation mode to get rid of some of the horrible contracts on their books (Dalembert and Brand) and they also have young prospects to use as trade pieces. The goal for Philly in this deal would probably be for the cap relief and unfortunately with Amare and his player option that is not guaranteed

2. Ray Allen

Due to the recent struggles of the Boston Celtics there has been a good amount of talk about the Celtics' need to bring in some fresh blood if they want to have a realistic chance at bring home the title again or even making it out of the second round. The trade rumors have been centered around Ray Allen as his expiring contract and specialty skills make him an attractive option for teams looking for a short term fix that will lead to cap space for the upcoming offseason. The teams rumored to be involved in talks are the Bulls (offering Kirk Hinrich and John Salmons), the Heat, and the Knicks.

3. Tracy McGrady (and his expiring contract)

The Rockets have proven this year and last that they don't need the consistently fragile and injured Tracy McGrady to have success in the playoffs and are ready to part ways with the former superstar. The most popular rumor calls for a Iguodala-McGrady swap allowing the Rockets to add a superstar level piece to make a run in the West and the Sixers to get much needed cap relief from McGrady's 23 million dollar expiring contract.

There are other teams involved in talks to acquire the lucrative contract in order to gain some cap for the epic 2010 free agent class including the Knicks, Wizards, Heat and Bulls.

4. Andre Iguodala (with a handcuff of one of Philly's horrible contracts)

See Amare Stoudemire and Tracy McGrady above. The Celtics and the Cavaliers have also been rumored to make inquires as to the availability of Iguodala. The only problem with any deal for Iggy is that the Sixers will probably require the receiving team to take on one of the Sixers overpaid big men and many teams are wary in doing that.

5. Pretty much any Wizards player

The possible Mavericks deal in the works notwithstanding (Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and Deshawn Stevenson for Josh Howard and Drew Gooden), the Wizards are in fire sale mode and still probably want to move Antwan Jamison and if any team would be stupid enough to take him, Gilbert Arenas. Since the Agent Zero trade will never happen, Jamison is one of the hottest commodities on the market since he is only one of two elite big men with excellent shooting range on the market (Troy Murphy of the Pacers being the other).

The Cavs are the vehement suitors for Jamison as a power forward who could stretch the floor would really spread out the defense and allow for even more room for the King to roam. If the Cavs are able to acquire him from the Wizards look for the Cavs to be the team to beat for the NBA title.

Sean Payton's Relentless Pursuit

The week before the Superbowl, I experienced quite a bit of internal conflict. Which team do you root for? The one who represents a city torn apart by disaster and pieced together by the love of a team? Or do you go for the golden boy of football whose intensity has translated into an infamous look that has the power to bring grown men to tears. At the end of the day it didn’t just come down to the city or its prodigal son. This game was decided by what some may considered a lost art in an era over glamorized and glorified players-- this game came down to good solid coaching.

Two words come to mind when I think of Sean Payton’s performance yesterday- relentless pursuit. In essence it was a mix of tenacity, courage, and an unceasing drive that made theses underdogs Superbowl Champions.

The highlight reel of the game is full of several eyebrow raising plays that paint a picture of a coaching staff that has a thorough understanding of big risks leading to big rewards. At the start of many plays, I found myself thinking A) did they actually just do that and B) that is something that I would only attempt in the safety of a Madden video game. Not each of them turned out to be immediately fruitful (read going for it on 4th and goal) but others had the power to turn the tide, and change the momentum of the game. The confidence that Payton had in his players was captured fully with the surprise onside kick to start the 2nd half, something that has never been attempted in Superbowl history. And then there was the boldness of going for the two point conversion despite the power of the Colts defensive line and their success in stopping your running game just a few drives before. And more importantly was the faith in your team to go for the Challenge after the call. In the Superbowl every point counts and relentless pursuit is that unwavering ability to play that way for the full 60 minutes of the game.

Play of the game- Without a doubt, and no matter the team that you were rooting, you were overwhelmed with shock and disbelief when the pass intended for Reggie Wayne was intercepted by Tracy Porter for a Saints TD. Take a moment and think a few plays back when Manning drilled the ball to Dallas Clark despite the coverage of 5 defenders, it is no secret that Manning is known of his accuracy and getting the ball exactly where it needs to be. And in the play to Wade, Manning threw with the same precision. After reviewing the play, I can see no error in Wade or Manning, but rather, a foresight in the moves of Porter. He knew exactly where the ball was coming something that can be attributed to countless hours of pregame studying. It goes back to that relentless pursuit by Sean Payton, that unquenchable desire he has instilled in his players and their purposeful execution.

An evaluation of Payton’s performance in this game cannot be complete without speaking on what he has done for this city and its players. Brees said it best, to come in to New Orleans at the time that he did took a certain amount of character. Before Peyton brought Brees from San Diego, the guy we know as one of the greatest QB of this decade may have been on the Dolphins who believed that he only had a 25% chance of recovering from his shoulder injury. The Saints were a team full of essential college football nobodies barely somebodies and a headliner in Reggie Bush. The journey that he brought those players on is the difference between him and Caldwell.

Caldwell, will go down as the most successful first year coach with 14 wins this season. But in comparison to the journey Payton and the Saints, Caldwell had a rather easy job. Much of the cultivation of athletic character was already done at the hands of Tony Dungy, the leadership and command on the field was already established by Manning. For these two coaches it’s the difference between being a good coach and coaching a good team.

Payton showed no interest in playing it safe. To be honest if they had played it safe the result of the game may have been very different. In traditional, predictable football, Manning has you beat as seen in the 10-0 start to the game. But in a game where you put you play with both your heart and your head the Saints become the victor.

In the words of everyone's favorite commentator, Micheal Irvin

“Today the Saints are America’s Team”

More Satiation For Your Superbowl Craving

Well we are only one day away from the Superbowl and if these last two weeks have taught me anything you can never have too much coverage so with that I will commence the breakdown of every position for both the Saints and the Colts as well as give my prediction for the game.

Quarterbacks: Advantage Colts

Peyton Manning is the greatest quarterback in the game today period. There is no doubt in my mind. All the physical skills are there that make him the elite passer that he is. He is able to make throws that wide receivers salivate over. The amount of preparation that must go into his games is astounding and he just has moments where he is literally unstoppable. I used to call that the Kobe zone, where one player just zones in and become vicious to the opponent but I might have to change the name after this Superbowl. This is not saying that Drew Brees is not right behind Peyton as far as quarterbacks go and he is easily the second best player in the game but Peyton rules the field.

Running Back: Advantage Saints

There is no one on the Colts bench that will be garner as much attention when they are on the field as Reggie Bush will. Though not an elite running back in between the tackles; if you give Bush space to work, he is always a threat to take it to the house. Pierre Thomas provides an even more reliable runner as he has the versatility to run between the tackles as well as to the outside. None of the run games are elite but the Saints’ running backs will probably provide the most impact.

Wide Receivers: Push if not slight advantage to the Colts

Reggie Wayne is one of the top Wide Receivers in the game but even if teams try and only take him out of the game Peyton Manning has the ability to turn both Collie and Garcon into instant superstars at a moments notice. The Saints wide receivers are no slouches though as they provide Drew Brees with an abundant source of different targets to throw to. Marques Colston is Drew Brees’ security blanket as he has both the size and strength to go up and fight for every ball. Meachem has finally lived up to his first round pick billing as he provides mismatches with both his size and his speed for opposing defenders. Devery Henderson is also a huge threat to get lost behind the defense and take one to the house. Plus its really easy to just throw Reggie Bush in this group as well. These two groups are both fantastic.

Tight Ends: Advantage Colts

While Jeremy Shockey is always a threat to have an impact in the game, Dallas Clark is one of the best pass catching tight ends in the game today. He has developed such a good repertoire with Peyton Manning that he has become the first look for Peyton after Reggie Wayne and Manning’s outlet when the rush is on. You will also find him picking up and chipping on blitzers coming in as he is releasing for his route.

Offensive Line - Advantage Saints

The sheer size of the Saints line allows them to have success holding up against the rush and opening some holes for their runners. The interior linemen for the Saints should hold up fine but the big match up will once again occur on the left side of the line for the Saints offense if Freeney plays and how Jermon Bushrod is able to hold up against him.

Defensive Line - Advantage Colts

Speaking of Dwight Freeney, if and when he plays this weekend his and Robert Mathis’ responsibility will be to get to Drew Brees and make him truly feel the anxiety of the situation of playing on such a stage. The key to this game will be if they are able to slow Brees’ game down so that they can take the big play out of the Saints playbook.

Linebackers - Push if not slight advantage to the Colts

This is not a big strength for either team. Both teams have their core linebackers in both Jonathan Vilma and Gary Brackett. And it isn’t as if their supporting casts are liabilities or anything close, but it seems like this game may be won in the success of the men in the trenches.

Defensive Backs - Advantage: Saints

Jabari Greer and Darren Sharper will make an attempt to figure out the machine they call Peyton Manning or at least make his job a little bit more difficult. Both secondary players are ball hawking in their coverage, and while the Saints pass defense is not regarded very highly the one thing they do get is turnovers.

Special Teams: Advantage Saints

Reggie Bush once again is the X-Factor in this case as he is a threat to run one back at any point in time. Let’s just hope these kickers can do their jobs if it comes down to it..

Coaches: Push

The best coach on the field is definitely Peyton. Yes Peyton Manning, not Sean Payton. Peyton Manning is the key to the offense as he is the coach on the field and his ability to read the defense in real time is unparalleled by anyone else in the game. His relationship with the offensive coordinator Tom Moore is really what makes this offense and this team tick. On the other side of the field, Sean Payton is one of the best coaches at managing the game for his team and always has an ace up his sleeve. He studied at the elbow of one the greats in Bill Parcells and you can be sure that Payton will be bringing a few wrinkles to solve the Colts’ defensive speed and force Peyton Manning and the Colts offense into “breaking their serve” first.

My final prediction: Colts 35 - Saints 24

I Guess Congratulations is in Order - My 1st and Hopefully Last Kobe Article

Well at this point if you haven’t heard of the major Laker milestone that was reached last week you are probably either living under a rock or some shack out in the middle of Bumblef*** where there is no outside contact with media. In either case, you wouldn’t be reading this. So I would just like to give credit where credit is due. Even though I don't always see eye to eye with the guy, I have to give props since he has now solidified himself as one of the greatest if not the greatest Laker... COACH of all time. Yup not talking about Kobe, I'm talking about Phil Jackson. Phil Jackson just passed Pat Riley as the winningest coach in Laker history. Now he owns both win records for two for the most famed franchises in the game, the Lakers and the Bulls making him one of the greatest coaches in history. Kobe also hit a milestone as he passed Jerry West to become the leading scorer in Laker history. While this is a great milestone in its own right, this does not change where Kobe stands in even the Pantheon of Laker Greats .

There is no denying that Kobe is a hard-worker: He is at the gym before anybody and will probably be the last one to leave. He's got a killer instinct that is unrivaled. He has both the understanding of the game and the drive that has allowed him evolve into the most complete player in the game today. He's had the wisdom to recognize his age and alter his game in a way that has probably extended his career at least 2-3 years but there is just something inherently off-putting about the guy. I think it has gotten to the point that it would be hard for me to give props to Kobe for anything just because of who he is in his regular life. This is the same guy behind the handshake deal to get Shaq out of LA, the same guy that cheated on his wife, and the same guy that takes pot shots at teammates at a moment's notice. The one time Kobe decided to be a team player is the last time the Lakers were able to win the NBA title so really the team is at the whim of whichever way he decides to play the game. Will Kobe play the role of Bill Russell, an unselfish legend willing to do everything necessary in order to secure the win for the team. Or will he go the way of Wilt Chamberlain, a legend in his own right, but unwilling to sacrifice his own stats for the good of his team, thus causing him to only win 2 NBA titles to Russell's 11. If Pau Gasol's comments are any indicator then I'm leaning toward the latter. Maybe it's not fair to incorporate someone's personality into a judgement of one's career but if I am a GM starting a team and I could pick from any of the Laker greats, Kobe isn't even top 3...

1. Magic Johnson - One of the greatest offensive innovators in the game who had a knack for not only athletically confounding his opponents, but also made the teammates around him better. He redefined the point guard position with his unique combination of size, creativity, vision, and just overall "smoothness" on the court. He won 5 NBA titles and 3 MVP awards and probably would have had more if not for his early retirement. Most people agree that Magic was not just a nickname, it was truly the only way to describe what that man would do on the court.

2. Kareem Abdul Jabbar - With his athleticism and size he was almost unguardable by many of the outmatched centers in the league during his career. He really changed the nature of the position with his unique skill set. The NBA's all time leading scorer as well as 2nd in blocked shots and 4th in rebounding. He is a 6 time MVP and a 6 time NBA Champion (5 with Lakers)

3. Jerry West - 2nd all time for the Lakers in scoring, Averaged a 4th best in NBA history 27.0 points per game and a 2nd best (behind Jordan) 29.1 ppg in the playoffs. That's without the help of the three point line and had to share the majority of his points with another legend of the time, Elgin Baylor. He was an All Star for all 14 seasons he played, and though he won only 1 NBA title it might have had something to do with going up against Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics constantly...

4. Kobe Bryant (The only reason Wilt himself was not put here ahead of Kobe is because he wasn't with the team long enough.)

Honorable Mention: Elgin Baylor and Shaquille O'Neal

Could YOU be a Cameron Crazie?

As I sat in the comfort of my home watching the DUKE vs GTech game, I thought to myself, I wonder if people know what it takes to be a Cameron Crazie. All most people know about these crazy (brillant) kids is what they see on the top of their screen for most Duke basketball games.

The preparation to become a Crazie starts in the month of October. During that time, it is the task of graduate students to camp out for a weekend to earn tickets. This wekend is not all fun and games as a siren is blasted randomly throughout the day and night for check ins to make sure that no one has left the camp site (parking lot). If you miss more than 2 horns you can kiss your chance at season tickets goodbye. If you are lucky enough to survive the 4am wake up calls you are then privileged enough to enter the lottery to win the tickets. What is your prize for winning the lottery, paying face value for the student card. And this is just for grad students.

For undergrads the camping is MUCH more intense. Students in hopes of making it into the UNC game in early march begin camping out for tickets in Krzyewskiville immediately following christmas break and must do this until the game in March. Only when temperatures are below freezing are people relieved from their tents. Think I'm kidding just the other day I saw a tent that collapsed due to snow build up.

If you are not a camper like myself there is still another option. It's called the walk up line. And just like it sounds you walk up and you wait. To give you an idea of how long you wait, I passed a group of individuals posted up in line at 3:00 this afternoon for the 7:00pm tip off.

Once you have been blessed enough to gain entrance into Cameron, each student is given all of about 1 sq foot of space and must quickly become comfortable getting intimate with their neighbors. Once in the space you better know your cheers and you better do them well and with enthusiasm or else you will be given many a dirty looks. My favorite, the nice and simple Lets (Clap) Go (Clap) Duke! Last but not least you can not leave early. And you must give a standing ovation to the Crazy Towel Guy. And you must find a way to cheer, Go to Hell Carolina..., no matter what the school the opponent is from on the night.

Now you know what it takes to be a CAMERON CRAZY! Could you do it? While many people would quickly say no, that ish is crazy. I leave you with this, once you have experienced Cameron Indoor Stadium you are hooked for life (This coming from a former Duke hater).

Wednesday Rumor Write Up

There's alot of buzz in the NBA locker rooms regarding who's going to stay and who's going to go as the trade deadline approaches (more on that in the next week or two). But one of the biggest stories affecting a potential championship is coming from the Celtics camp. Seems as if there is trouble in ParadiseBoston...

Rajon Rondo has been making comments to reporters lately suggesting that all might not be right amongst the Celtics. The Boston Herald quotes Rondo as saying,

"In the locker room, you can feel it," Rondo told the paper. "You don't feel like it's the same continuity and camaraderie in the locker room as it was the first year. The first year, it was a crazy spirit in the locker room. But now it doesn't feel the same. It's not the same right now. We've got to find a way to get that back somehow, some way."

That doesn't sound like talk from our next NBA champions and if the Celtics want to move past what is shaping up to be a impending playoff war in the Eastern Conference between the top four teams (Cavs, Hawks, Magic included) then they might want to find a way to right the ship sooner rather than later.

From the Football (NFL) world, we have some whispers about some running backs that may be finding new locations next year:

There are reports that the Superbowl-bound New Orleans Saints will not be willing to keep the contract of USC star Reggie Bush in this coming season. Rumor has it that they will be looking for trade offers in the off-season when Bush's current contract goes from 2.5 to an estimated 8 million dollars.

Also on the chopping block is Charger's running back Ladainian Tomlinson as the starting running back has refused to settle for any sort of pay cut even though it is obvious that his skills have diminished to the point that he creates a liability to the thriving San Diego offense. In the off-season the Chargers may hope to part ways with their star rusher especially with his replacement, the speedy Darren Sproles (a much better fit for the offense at this point) waiting in the wing.

Oh and P.S. Dwyane Wade is opting out of his contract... We may be one step closer to a Wade-Bosh or a Wade-James connection. Why not all three?? (rumored secret pact)

Obligatory Super Bowl Post

My apologies, I very nearly committed a Cardinal Sin by allowing another sport to take precedence over football during Super Bowl week. In my defense, I'm used to enduring two full weeks of overanalysis and speculation completely devoid of football before the big game. Moving the Pro Bowl threw me completely off-kilter; thanks a lot, Goodell! In any event, the time has come to make some claims about what will and will not happen this Sunday after kickoff. As the hour is so late, I'll use the tried-and-true "matchups" method to highlight some of the more interesting storylines; hopefully there will be time to get into a more nuanced discussion later in the week. So, without further ado, John's take on Super Bowl XLIV.

Colts offense vs. Saints defense: Advantage Colts. Leading off with this one because it's a no-brainer. The rational part of me hates to write off defensive stars like Darren Sharper, Jonathan Vilma (both Pro Bowlers), and Will Smith, but the part of me writing this article knows that Peyton Manning will methodically dismantle New Orleans. The Saints do have the talent on defense to force one or two critical turnovers, though, which will figure dramatically into the outcome of the game.

Saints offense vs. Colts defense: Advantage Saints. Easily the biggest story this week has been whether or not Dwight Freeney would play in the Super Bowl, and the Colts insist that he will be able to play. Dwight currently has a "3rd degree ankle sprain" (a torn ligament, for the uninitiated), and his trademark spin move will likely be completely ineffective against the Saints' offensive line. With Pro Bowl RT Jon Stinchcomb holding Robert Mathis at bay, Brees will be able to dissect the Colts just as easily as Peyton can.

Special teams: Advantage Saints. As far as field goals go, the matchup is almost a push. Stover has the advantages of age and experience on the biggest stage, but Hartley has delivered consistent if not spectacular performance this postseason. In the return game, though, Reggie Bush and Courtney Roby have a marked advantage over their Indianapolis counterparts.

Who wins? The New Orleans Saints. Yes, the Colts have won at the highest level, and the Saints are new to the stage, but we're going to watch two high-powered offenses collide in a game where key stops and special teams will make the difference. And the Saints have a slight advantage over the Colts in both realms, especially given Freeney's injury.

PS: If you haven't heard enough talk about the most famous ankle in the world, DwightFreeney DwightFreeney DwightFreeney

Elegy for the Boston Celtics

After watching the Lakers-Celtics nailbiter this past Sunday, I started to write about the Lakers’ dominance and the near inevitability of a championship repeat this season. Unfortunately, I wrote too slowly, they lost to Memphis and I had to reevaluate the real quality of the Lakers’ latest wins. Of their last 10, the Lakers have won 7 games. Five of those wins have been against sub-0.500 teams, four against sub-0.400. All three losses have been to (probably) playoff-bound teams. Take away the Celtics game (because Boston gave it away), and the Lakers have only 1 win against a quality team in the last two weeks. All of that is to say that I can’t guarantee we’ll even see the Lakers in the Finals this year.

I am pretty sure, though, that Boston won’t get far in the postseason if it doesn’t make significant changes. For one, they need to acknowledge that Kevin Garnett with one good knee is not the same defensive stalwart we saw in the 07-08 season. They could even take a page out of Pop’s Playbook and sit him when the C’s have back-to-back games. Not only would this help him rest for big games, it would allow Perkins and Big Baby Uno Uno to mature and develop talent that will be central to the Celtics long after Garnett’s knee gives out for the last time. Second, Boston needs a way to get Ray Ray back on track; maybe he’s been shaving his head at 4:23 instead of 4:15 but he’s not the same clutch shooter we’ve seen for the last two years. Finally, the Celtics must establish a role for Rondo where he fits best. On Sunday, he led Boston in scoring and shot a respectable 9-16, but the Celtics will continue to post sub-90-point games as long as Rondo is the scoring leader. Instead, Rondo must become an undisputed leader on the floor, and in some respects he has. Averaging 1.5 assists per game more than last season, he is becoming a highly effective game manager. However, as long as Pierce, Allen and Garnett are the “Big Three,” Rondo will be playing fourth fiddle to them in many ways. All of these facts have driven me to one inescapable conclusion; the Celtics’ older leaders must basically be reduced to role-players in order for them to have a reasonable chance of success this season. I’m not sure what hurts more; saying that the All-Stars need to step back or knowing that there’s no way it will happen this season. If there is a silver lining to this, it’s only that Boston may come to this conclusion in the offseason (especially given Allen and Garnett’s expiring contracts). Until then, consider this my lament of what could have been for the Celtics.

The First Installment of the Rumor Write-Up

So with this first Rumor Write-Up post, I'm gonna give out a two-for-one deal on two rumors making their way across the sports world.

1st up: Apparently there may be very good reason for Gilbert Arenas's erratic behavior as of late... There are reports that Shaquille O' Neal may have been having an affair with Gilbert's fiancee, Laura Govan. That might have explained Shaq's "injury" the last time that Cleveland traveled to Washington back in November. It's hard to think of Shaq aka Superman 1 being afraid of Agent Zero..but maybe that's what those guns were for?

2nd: A much bigger story in the large scheme of things and probably the most significant sports story you won't hear about. John Terry, Chelsea footballer extraordinaire and England's national captain, cheated on his wife with the girlfriend of one of his national teammate, Wayne Bridge. The affair has not only put Terry's status as captain in jeopardy but with the World Cup not far away, the amount of stress it puts on England's team must be epic. After a recent away game in which Terry scored the winning goal, a newspaper ran the headline "Terry Scores Away from Home, Again."

Oh and he got her pregnant...

The More Veteran Teams are Beginning to Show Their Age

Maybe experience can help you win championships but in the regular season it seems like the bigger factor is how many miles are already on these players legs. Case in point: The Celtic, who seem to come out firing in each one of the games they played this week constantly came up as a result of not having enough left in the tank at the end. After seeing Garnett in both the end of the Magic and Lakers games, one might wonder if Doc Rivers needs to sit him down for a game or two to get his wind back. Oh and now a brief message from Kevin Garnett's knee:

"Please someone help me. This man is crazy. He gives 110% every time he goes out there and does not know how to dial back his game so that I can recover. I almost all but gave up on him after that failed alley-oop attempt in the Magic game...HOW OLD DOES HE THINK HE IS! This is not 1998! By the time Rashard Lewis blew past us, I felt like I was dipped in cement. Please, if you guys don't want a repeat of last year's mystery debacle in the playoffs, tell him to stop now.

And we're back. Moving on to the other aging team. It seems like one obvious problem with the Spurs is the fact that Tim Duncan is just getting older and Pops has had to monitor the minutes of his starters to such a degree that they have had to rely on their bench to keep them in games a little too much. The absence of Tony Parker probably also doesn't really help. But this is not necessarily a knock on the Spurs bench. I love Hill as a developing prospect in the Tony Parker mold and Dejuan Blair provides a real solid spark off the bench. But the majority of the load is placed on Duncan and Manu since Jefferson is still struggling to find his place on the team.

Now this is not necessarily panic time for any of these teams as there is still alot of regular season to play and the playoffs are what counts anyway, but some of these teams may want to be looking for that one extra piece to help them out as the trade deadline approaches. And they will probably want to gear it up as the leaders (Cavs and Lakers) in each conference distances themselves from the pack. That home-court advantage would certainly come in handy.

My weekly NBA's Top Ten for this week go as follows:
1. Cavs
2. Lakers
3. Nuggets
4. Magic
5. Hawks
6. Jazz
7. Mavs
8a. Celtics
8b. Spurs (I switched them too many times and finally gave up)
10. Thunder

Outside Looking In: Grizzlies (Let's see how they look this next week) & Blazers (Their season depends on Brandon Roy's hamstring & Andre Miller's ability to score 50 a night.... not a good sign.)