Wednesday, February 28, 2007

The NBA! It's Fan...tas...tic?

Da Realist:

What do you think about this?

Gangsta D:

I don't pay attention to Celizic. The NBA doesn't have transcendent stars anymore, but that doesn't mean it sucks.

Da Realist:

I don't think he knows what he is talking about most of the time. but i wonder if he's onto something with the way the nba presents itself. the nba has always been star-driven, but there was an element of "team" there too. i think the stars benefited from the fact that they were attached to the "team" concept. so "team" was a stepping stone for the transcendant stars to springboard from. now stars are out there alone, not really tethered to the "team".

The lakers used to be a great franchise that just happen to have one of the top players in nba history (well, a few top players). we used to watch because they were the LAKERS. now, the lakers aren't really must-see tv because marketing isn't geared toward the "team" brand, just kobe. you don't watch the LAKERS. you watch KOBE, who just happens to play for the lakers.

College football has a lot wrong with it, which we argue about every year. but one thing it gets right is the "team" brand. you don't watch ted ginn, jr. you watch OHIO STATE who ted ginn happens to play for. you don't watch reggie bush, you watch the USC TROJANS, who reggie bush happens to play for.

As a by-product, rivalries have taken a back seat in recent years. lakers vs celtics are now kobe vs paul pierce. bulls vs pistons are now about ben wallace and his homecoming.

The nba needs to instill the "team" brand again and realize this HELPS the stars. gives them grounding, a stepping stone. i think the nba got so happy with the money and marketing of the michaell jordan era that it got lazy. now it's paying for it. Their marketing strategy is based on having a michael jordan, but he left june 14, 1998.


Waldini:

You know I had not been on MSNBC since I left XOM not b/c I didnt care for Celzic (or Ventre for that matter) just b/c I simply forgot about the site :-)

I think it's a combination of many things. Salary caps, early entries, highlights reels, etc have changed the game dramatically since '98. For example, whenever Jordan is mentioned, they dont dwell on anything pre 91 or post 98 in depth. They talk about the 6 titles he won in the 90s. They dont mention how long it took him just to get to the Finals and what he had to do to get there.

You also have to keep in mind that coaching at the high school level has changed for the worse. Some coaches are concerned with how they can milk a lil something extra out of their bonafide star while he is still under his realm. What's lost in it is the art of teaching fundamentals. Shoot my JV basketball coach refused to play me in high school b/c the starting PG's Dad owned the concession stand :-). All jokes aside, some players have yet to master the mid-range jumpshot on offense and the simple form of moving their feet on defense. They come into college and/or the NBA expecting to dominate like they did in high school and they get a rude awakening (see Darius Miles)

Early entries. I dont knock a man for wanting to put food on his family's table so this is a conflict of interest point for me. There are guys who are ready for the league when they leave (see Bron, Melo, Shaq) and some that could use a year or two of professional ball before they left early (see Kobe, T-Mac). Bottom line is, every early entry isnt guaranteed but someone in they camp is telling them they are going to take over the league.

Salary cap. This has created so much backstabbing it's hard for any team to really create a dynasty. Look at the Carlos Boozer/Cavs situation. Look at whats about to happen in Seattle when Rashard Lewis opts out this summer. More and more players are looking for the big payday. Yea they dont mind helping the team out as long as they can get duly compensated in the process. You think Andrew Bynum will stay in LA if he doesnt see a big payday next summer? Even if he barely avgs 9pts a game? They pay on potential now not on what have you done for me.

I know we talked about this back and forth yesterday too. The game has changed, that's for certain and overall the quality is down. But I continue to have hope every year b/c there are players I like to watch. I mean Agent Zero has definitely made me a fan of the Wiz even though I know they are mediocre.

Like I said back in 2004, David Stern shit his pants when Shaq and Kobe was dissolved b/c he knew that was the meal ticket, loved or hated by the public


Da Realist:

Good points. in your opinion, has it changed forever or is there something that can be done to increase the quality of the league? you're saying the problem goes all the way down to the grassroots level. if it's that embedded, we may never go back to the level of quality from the 80's/early 90's.

I mean, i have a hard time believing damon jones would get significant playing time 15 years ago. i STILL can't believe miami won the title last year. can't believe how bad the whole eastern conference sucks. and somehow, soft teams like dallas and phoenix are running away from the field.


Gangsta D:

I just think people are chasing ghosts. The athletes are better but the game isn't necessarily better. But I think that's OK. The game is still pretty good. There is no Magic, Jordan, or Bird but there are a lot of very good players that play exciting basketball. I think everyone feels the NBA is still in tthe late 90's when you had a bunch of 87-79 scores every night. It's not that bad. Teams play very good but not great ball. The 80's-early 90's was a zeitgest that no sports league will probably ever see again. I think that's OK. We should relish the players we have now and stop comparing them to players from a romanticized time. Cause honestly, I only watched the Lakers, hawks, and knicks growing up. We had WGN, so I would occasionally catch a Bulls game. But unless you were playing one of my teams, I didn't really care. So my approach hasn't really changed that much in the last 20 years.

Da Realist:

Zeitgest? you know it's bad when i have to look it up... :-)

but, unlike you, i've completely changed my approach. no more running home from church frantically trying to catch as much of the game as possible. first game in early november used to be what most people feel about opening day in baseball. now i'm only interested starting in late april. the worst thing that could have happened to me was that i grew up in the nba's 'zeitgest'. if i had started watching in the 70's, it would probably be a different story.
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A Week Later And We're Still Whitlocking

Da Realist:

discuss...

Gangsta D:

I'm so burned out on Whitlock. I'm creative. I hope to someday have a major movie made or a show on tv. I believe in freedom of creative expression. I don't care if Whitlock hates what hip hop has become or if he thinks it's too tied to prison culture. Artists have a right to express their creativity, or what they think is creativity, to whoever wants to listen or watch. Hip hop is a red herring. It's the boogey-man. Keyser Soze. "Look at all the ni**as going crazy because Snoop smokes weed and lets his pants sag." It's a fallacy. There are problems in the black community because our families are crumbling. Our support structure is failing in some instances. I listened to the most gangsta of gangsta rap growing up. Yet I have no desire to hold a gun or prove to someone how tough I am. I generally treat women with respect. There are legitimate instances where respect is not deserved:) And I think I'm a valuable member of society. Why? Because my mother wouldn't have it any other way. I was raised right. Home trained to NOT be a thug or a knucklehead. I could recieve all the negative stimuli the world has to offer, yet I would not change.

I firmly believe that if a child is raised right, it doesn't matter what they see or hear from the outside world. They will behave. The problem is, we're not all raising our kids to respect women. To respect the law. To give general respect. If you took the prison culture out of hip hop, is that gonna keep moms from dropping their kids off to Big Ma's while they hit the club AGAIN? Is that going to magically cause some to value education. Persecuting a scapegoat never solved a problem.


Da Realist:

I can see both of your points. i miss those creative discussion classes in high school. we would rip this apart.

And let me not underestimate those impromptu, 11:30 pm, middle of the week, gather-in-someone's-room-talking-about-nothing-and-then-all-of-a sudden discussions at morehouse about the state of the world, school, culture, race, sports, life, sports as it relates to life, relationships, plans, etc. i miss this aspect of school more than anything.


Gangsta D:

That was the best thing about school, hands down. I honestly feel I've become dumber because i don't have that interaction any more. Just don't have the opportunity for those conversations anymore.

But back to Jay Dub. My thing is, you can lament what effect hip hop has on kids. That's fine. But if that's the focus of your program, i have a problem. I want to know what you have DONE or are DOING. What are your actions? Are you a mentor, a big brother, a tutor? Have you donated time, money, and effort to make a difference in someone's life. Have you taken a kid under your wing to groom him as your protege? If there hasn't been any action behind the words, then you're just posturing for publicity's sake. That, i have a problem with.


Waldini:

Post college I had interaction with one person (you remember Jonathan from the wedding D?) about topics like these and we would randomly meet somewhere like Black Eyed Pea or Chick Fil A and just talk. I agree with both of you on that. My wife and I have dialogue like this from time to time but that's just two people. Most other people around me want to talk about sports and music only. I like those topics but what about progressing as a people, or working together to be financially stable in 20 yrs. Or what about the state of US and where social security is headed. Morehouse definitely was a hodge pod for this. I still remember being amazed by AY at Spelman when we went over there for a relationship discussion :-)

Back to hip hop. D I saw your note to Whitlock and I think he's just in denial. The issue with hip hop is that companies are concerned with making money. PERIOD. There are artists out there like The Roots, J Live, MadLib, Little Brother, Murs, late J Dilla, Dilated Peoples, Jean Grae, etc making good music but they are not making money making music. I dont think hip hop has corrupted the community as J Whit is making it seem. It's more of people playing what the public wants to hear. And if that's what you are basing your rap opinion on, of course it's going to either suck or have negative connotations next to it.

You remember what I said on the infamous 2PD album...I hate people that talk a whole lot about what black people need to do and aint doing nothing. Add Whitlock's name to that :-)
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Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Bron Bron, The '89 Finals, and Bitch Made Wade

Da Realist:

funny article about lebron james. i guess d-wade is a star because he is already getting hate.

Waldini:

I find this "hate" on Lebron amusing. If you recall before the 2005-06 season, the Cavs acquired Larry Hughes, Donyell Marshall, Damon Jones, and resigned Z-train. The initial comments were he's got a great sidekick in Hughes, two good shooters in Marshall and Jones, and a steady presence in the middle with Ilgauskas. A year and a half later, all of these are so called bad moves and Bron bron isnt helping the cause....

Amazing how one team can be built up so quick just to be picked apart just as quick


Gangsta D:

That happens all the time. The media builds players up to be things they aren't. Like when the Knicks signed jared jeffries, people were all "this guys is a defensive stopped." Really? based on what? If you say something enough, people will start to believe it. Damon Jones is John Starks without the lisp. He can hit shots, but he's streaky as hell. Larry had ONE good season in the pros. That doesn't mean he's gonna be Robin. But no matter what, it falls on Bron. He's got to elevate his game. The longer he goes without a championship, the louder the critics will get.

Da Realist:

i wrote out this elaborate rant about how the nba sucks and the quality isn't where it should be. then i figured i'd let you guys watch in peace without my "old fogey-ism".

i would like to say this. i've been watching the 1989 playoffs (from the bulls perspective, of course). anyway, during some of the games, they would mention the lakers because the lakers were usually the second of the double-header. all i keep thinking about is how we as fans were robbed that year. magic and byron going down DESTROYED the finals. the lakers went 57-25 and were 11-0 in playoffs. the pistons went 63-19 that year and were 11-2 heading into that matchup. i've always considered the 1988 finals to be the best finals matchup i've ever seen. 1989 had the potential to top it.


Gangsta D:

The thing is, the series was still pretty good, as far as sweeps go. The Lakers led games 2-4 going into the fourth quarter, WITHOUT they're starting backcourt. I have no doubts it would've been a great series. F**king Riles worked them to death, even though they destroyed Portland, Seattle, and Phoenix. First Byron goes out, then Magic. As soon as magic's hamstring popped, Showtime was wrapped.

Da Realist:

i've always been torn by the pat riley charge. did he work them too hard or was it just an unfortunate turn of events?

the lakers wrapped up the phoenix series before the bulls/pistons played game 4. that game was on may 27, which means the lakers wrapped up phoenix on may 26. the finals didn't start until june 4 that year. that's a long time to run soft drills and expect to play an angry, physical detroit piston team bent on revenge. i don't know...


Waldini:

That's a good question. All I know is a team that goes 11-0 then "suddenly" loses 4 straight, something had to be wrong. People forget how good that '89 team was....Of course the '90 team goes out in shocking fashion to a Phx team that sees KJ goes bananas on Magic.

Da Realist:

i already know how you guys think, but at the time i didn't think anyone was going to beat that piston team -- especially y'all after the year before. now that may just be my (sometimes) pessimistic side talking because i was rooting heavily for the lakers that year. but the pistons went 25-1 before taking their foot off the gas late in the year and the only 2 games they lost were to michael jordan. i know the pistons barely won games 2-4 but that's how they played. they never ran over anyone. they wore teams down. they were the basketball version of andre agassi. you're in every set, but you lose 6-7 5-7 4-6. for what it's worth, i've met more people that believe the pistons were closer to the 3-pete ('88, '89, '90) than the lakers ('87, '88, '89).

but i will concede that the lakers never got an honest chance to defend their championship or go for the 3-pete. and that's the tragedy of it all. we don't know either way.


Gangsta D:

There's running hard practices, then there's acting like Mussolini. Supposedly Riles was a slave driver during those practices because he didn't want the team to lose their edge. Instead, they lost their STARTING backcourt. I will admit it's a lot easier to take shots at Riles now after the heat fiasco of the past four years. this team sucks-I don't wanna coach, oh wait we're good-I wanna coach, etc. What's the over/under on the number of games it takes for his hip to flare up if Wade opts for surgery? And can I say, no way do you get in a wheelchair when you have a shoulder injury! What was that about?!?

Da Realist:

damn you're harsh! now had that been kobe...


Gangsta D:

That's cause Kobe wouldn't have gone off in a wheelchair! "D-Wade is so tough. He's so tough!" Pfft I say....

Waldini:

I'm not one to defend the Heat but it is a dislocated shoulder. You aint about to just step back onto the court immediately whether you have surgery or not.

Speaking of the Heat, do you find this decade starting to mirror the 70s somewhat. You have two teams that dominated the early half (Spurs and Lakers vs Knicks and Lakers in 70s) and then a bunch of one timers (Pistons, Heat vs Warriors, Sonics, Bullets, Blazers) that rounded out the rest of the decade. The way it looks now, the Mavs will win it all but I dont see them as a dynasty type team. You're right realist, the NBA is truly down. People can hate on the Shaq-Kobe lakers all they want but in their prime, they would have MOPPED the floor with these pretenders including everybody's favorites in dallas and phx...


Gangsta D:

Sure you don't go back on the court, but do you need a wheelchair to get to the locker room? That's all I'm saying.

What are you talking about? Phoenix is as good as Showtime:)


Waldini:

Ok, I see you on that point. I thought you were talking about him playing through pain.

Yea every team is good as Showtime....when I am playing as them on my PS2
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State Of The Union

Da Realist:

I'm trying not to get started.. but let me ask you? name the top 5 players in your mind. besides kobe, which one has IT? tim duncan? does he really make you stay up at night shaking in your boots like olujuwon did? kg? steve nash? vince carter? if he's dominique, then where is his 1988 game 7 versus boston?

name the top 5 coaches. which one, besides phil jackson, has the game locked up? gregg popovich? ehhh, ok...maybe. but he never had a super team. just one good enough to take over after the lakers imploded. who else? larry brown just got run out of new york. this version of pat riley has nothing on the 80's version, but ok, let's count him too since he just won. who else? rick carlise? george karl?

now take away your favorite team. who else do you have to watch? i remember in 87 or 88, the lakers were playing at boston in the regular season and my parents decided to take us all out ot dinner that night. i was MI-SER-A-BLE. couldn't wait to get home. we finally get home, i run to turn the tv on (one of those deals where the sound came on a full minute before the screen showed) and just managed to watch magic johnson hit a last second shot to win the game. i was elated and FURIOUS at the same time. who, in today's nba, would make you feel like that if you had to miss a game?

i'll leave it at that.


Waldini:

That's a good point. When the top two teams, Phx and Dal, play each other on national TV, I dont go out of my way to watch it (nor do i feel bad if I missed the game altogether). Or if it's a matchup of top talents, say Lebron vs Wade vs Melo, I dont feel as if I am missing something important. But then again, I didnt really care for watching the Hawks on TBS all the time when Nique was in his prime either.

Top 5 players in the league right now....Duncan, Garnett, Bryant...I am struggling to find another two b/c all 3 of these guys play defense too (although Tim and Kobe are having down yrs in this dept). I would put Nash for his offensive brilliance but he's a liability on D. Same for Bron and Wade. Then you have AI, T-Mac, Dirk, etc and countless others who are elite players.

Top 5 coaches - Phil, Pat, Pop, Avery, and shock Nate McMillan. the latter b/c he's honest with his players and if you dont like his ways, he shows you the door. For all the marveling they do at LB, he gets knocked down for quitting and blasting his teams.


Da Realist:

You didn't watch nique? i didn't like the hawks but they were ENTERTAINING. i remember all those guys...nique, spud, doc, jon koncak, john battle, tree rollins, antoine carr, cliff levingston. those were some sweet uniforms too. well, back then they were. :-)

Waldini:

Looking at those empty orange, red, and yellow seats in the Omni would drive my eyes batty :-). Wow talk about the first time I knew what overpaid meant in Jon Koncak. they hated on that guy for years in ATL (and rightfully so). You took it back bringing up Battle's name but he was underrated on both ends. I do miss glue guys like him, Trent Tucker, Dell Curry, Johnny Newman, Terry Cummings (although he was more upper echelon early in his career), Jeff Malone, Hot Rod Williams, etc

Gangsta D:

Growing up in Georgia, Nique was OUR Jordan. Even if you didn't like the Hawks, you loved Nique. We almost went apeshit, when we thought the Hawks were gonna beat the Celtics in '88. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. But nobody, and I mean nobody dunked the ball like the Human Highlight Reel. Read more!

Monday, February 26, 2007

It's Not A Toomer...It's A Wife

If you’re a black Giants player, don’t marry a white chick. She will break you off, and not in the way you want. Just ask Michael Strahan. If you marry an Asian chick, she won’t take your money she’ll just take your balls. Right Tiki? Anyhoo, word is Amani Toomer feels he’s been bamboozled by his wife. Apparently he wants children, and she wants to see how many abortions one can have while remaining fertile.

Amani says that she won’t cook, clean, or take her medicine. THAT’S the funniest shit ever. I’m sure he never thought he’d have to utter those words about a spouse, ever. Yet and still, Amani isn’t totally off the hook here. After the second abortion, I think the light bulb should’ve clicked on. If a chick makes a promise to have a family, but then has more than one abortion she was probably lying in order to marry you. Shocking I know. Women are way too trustworthy to suspect anything nefarious like that.

At any rate, I think Amani could’ve avoided this trouble from jump. No way should he have married her. Why? Her name is Yola Dabrowski. Yola Dabrowski. Never marry any woman named Yola Dabrowski. That’s the white equivalent of a black chick named LaShanitra Jenkins, La Shay Shay for short. Nothing good will ever come from marrying a Yola or a La Shay Shay, or a Joumana for that matter. I hope Amani has a good lawyer, and stays the fuck away from Strahan for advice.

Hopefully he’s learned his lesson. Once this divorce is final, maybe he’ll look to the chicas for a little Six Minutes Of Pleasure. Just make sure her name isn’t Lupe Guadalupe.
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Friday, February 23, 2007

Whitlocking Is The New Bojangling

Da Realist:

I wonder if detective tyson will unearth another discrepancy.

jason's latest aol article

Waldini:

Somewhere Mike Lupica and Scoop Jackson are smilin and toasting one another.


Gangsta D:

That dude's officially a joke now. Apparently when he had a radio show he would take a stance on the radio show then take the opposite stance in his KC column. I never thought I could dislike someone who hated Lupica:)

Da Realist:

That negro was on a short leash ever since he said something about 'the playmaker'. :-D he would've been found in the east river had he said something about kobe.

Waldini:

Nah, Kobe and Mike are easy targets so I usually ignore it. But dude dismissively brushed me off when I emailed him so he now gets the asshairs. Read more!

Screamin A Hawkins

Gangsta D:

Comments, questions, concerns?

http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2007/02/breaking-rumor-stephen-smith-to.html

Da Realist:

I don't even watch sportscenter anymore so it desn't affect me. now i just log onto espn.com to get all the sports info i need. if i need to see a highlight? espn.com. no need for me to sit through 30 minutes of news about WNBA and hockey to find out who won the bulls game anymore. :-)

It's the changing signs of the times but who would have thought that sportscenter would become such a dinosaur? the internet is completely changing the game. and oh yeah, TIVO (and other dvr's) better join on the internet train or it will be left behind too. i already have the capability to record live shows onto my hard drive (although it's cumbersome). once they integrate tv's with the internet directly (i know it's already started), my computer becomes a de facto TIVO without the extra costs.

This might be a reason they are hiring stephen a smith in the first place -- to drum up interest.


Gangsta D:

I just realized I rarely watch SC in the evening. But you know what's funny? i don't even watch SC in the morning anymore. That was required viewing once upon a time. Instead, I watch the Discovery Channel or I'm on the internet. Did the internet really have that big of an effect? It's like I've been neglecing my wife of 19 years. Couple that with my refusal to watch Sports Reporters. I never thought this day would come.

Da Realist:

It hit me suddenly too. one day sean was talking abut some highlight on SC and i thought, "i don't think i've watched SC in a least a year". then i realized i didn't really miss it cause i went to espn.com and saw the same highlight there. even the sunday night conversations are posted online. Read more!

Yeah You!!

Anyone that knows me knows that I hate Mike Lupica. I hate Lupica like chicks hate yeast infections, like Bush cultists hate reason, like Tom Cruise hates clams. So in (dis)honor of The Waterboy, I’ve decided to create a new award. The Mike Lupica Fuckhead of the Week Award. This won’t necessarily be a sports related person, just someone who typifies what a fuckhead is all about…you know someone like Lupica. The winner of the Inaguraul award is Adam "Pacman" Jones.

1. He took a trash bag filled with $81,000 in singles to a strip club. Nothing good can ever come from taking $81,000 to a strip club. People with a strong concept of sanity realize this is an unassailable point.
2. He makes it rain, but is for some reason perplexed when the dancers want to keep the money.
Imagine that. You drop $81,000 in a room full of women that are about making as much money as they can, and they wanna keep it. Stupid chicks!
3. He started fighting with the dancers! Huh?

4. Pacman was either mad high that night, is an idiot, or is bi-polar.
5. He and Chris Henry are the Butch Cassidy and Sundance of the NFL. Where did they both go to college? West Virginia. Yet Miami is still considered to be Thug U. Damn skippy I'm bitter.

For these transgressions, Mr. Jones, you are a fuckhead.

p.s. The winner was between Jason Whitlock and Pacman, but I have a feeling Whitlock is gonna make a fool of himself again in the near future. He’ll have plenty of opportunities to win. Pacman, if he has a brain in his head, will LAY LOW for a while.

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Thursday, February 22, 2007

Kharma Initiative

Gangsta D:

At some point in their respective seasons, all my teams have sucked...and sucked very hard. The U lost four in a row and had to play on the Smurf Turf. The 'Boys lost four out of their last five and gagged in Seattle. The Lakers have lost 6 in a row, while being swept by Charlotte and Cleveland. Is this God punishing me for all the sh*t I've talked for the past 15 years? At least Georgetown is playing well right now, but even they sucked in the beginning of the year. Is there even a faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel? Maybe we get Kwame, Luke, and Vlad healthy for a playoff run. But maybe we're out of the playoffs by the time that happens. Dallas has a new coaching staff. Will TR-808 regain the form he had in the middle of the season or will he revert? Will the defense STOP SOMEBODY PLEASE!?! Can Randy Shannon and Patrick Nix light a fire under Kyle Wright? Will we have receivers who can run AND seperate from defenders? These are uncertain times for me. I feel cold and alone...

Da Realist:

WHAT? the lakers lost to portland last night???

I may have to give up my sports fan card if i keep missing these moments. they were up 6 in the 3rd when i decided to hang it up and go to bed, thinking there is no way they lose to portland at home.


Gangsta D:

They were down 104-96 with 1:40 to go, so I assume they lost. Unless Kobe went wild with threes...

Waldini:

Naw they lost 112-108. I saw the score this morning and just threw my hands up. Injuries is one thing but they play NO defense. They get Boston at home on Friday. They lose that one, then I'm going into hiding....

Don't sweat it D, it just aint your yr...Remember I endured the Vols going 5-7 (including a home loss to Vandy), G'town going to the NIT, Titans going 4-12, and the Lakers not qualifying for the playoffs. Truss, I figured the only way my teams could go is up. Vols rebounded this yr (although choked against PSU), G'town has reeled off 11 straight (Big game at home against Pitt on Sat), Titans made a run but finished better than expected and the Lakers were doing good until 2007 came....

Never apologize for talking shit :-). It's a great release exercise and there's nothing better than irritating, annoying, and pissing off someone who's doing the same thing to you...
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Wednesday, February 21, 2007

All Star Games, God, and Regret

Da Realist:

"EAST STARS: KOBE WAS GUNNING FOR MVP
NBA stars walk a fine line when it comes to winning the All-Star MVP award. Try too hard, and a player runs the risk of looking selfish. At the same time, nobody wants to be clowned in front of a national TV audience and a crowd full of celebrities and rap stars.
Bryant, a player who has never cared what other players think about him when he steps between the lines, clearly has less ambivalence in that regard than most of his peers. After the Lakers star took home the MVP trophy Sunday, several East players said they could tell right away Kobe had the trophy on his mind.
"You could tell early on that he was being aggressive, and you can always tell what guys have that mentality that night to go for the MVP by how aggressive they are shooting the ball," Dwyane Wade said. "I told my guys on the bench I can't come after the ball four times in a row in an All-Star Game because then I feel I'm doing too much. But certain guys, it's their time."
"He changed his jersey number, and he's reinvented himself," Gilbert Arenas said. "It was like a real game [for him], like a playoff game, the way he was playing."
=================
Is it too much to ask ALL of them to compete out there? How much fun would THAT have been? I know, I know...it's an all-star game...exhibition...players could get hurt...blah, blah, blah...
You could also get hurt slipping on a patch of ice in Park City, Utah at the Sundance Festival. Why not see what you can do while the best of the best is on the floor? I wish I could get my hands on the practices for the 1992 Dream Team.

Gangsta D:

It's just comedy. Like I said, I'm done defending Kobe, but people are hilarious. You got Chauncey saying the NBA needs to do something to make the game more competitive. How about this? How about the players play like the care! Then you have "Mr. Achy Breaky Ankles" saying "certain people" want the MVP. Last year, Kobe was criticized for passing up obvious shooting situations to get other people involved. I just have to laugh.

Waldini:

I think these guys need to check out the all star games from the mid 80s and some of the 90s games. Those guys COMPETED. How about you compete b/c u never know when you will be invited to play in the game again.

Da Realist:

i didn't even watch the game this year and haven't watched it in years. i recorded it on tivo just in case something happened. then i could then go and see what the fuss was about. never saw what happened on saturday either.

i think they take this exhibition thing too far. i'm not asking for you to treat it like a finals game, but at least a practice. just show us what you got against the best.

and move all the festivities on saturday and the game back to daylight. it's not good enough to warrant being on in prime time. i don't think the slam dunk contest came on until after 10pm saturday night. c'mon. this will help the players too. get the game and all that stuff out of the way and THEN party, gamble, or whatever it is you do. (i know this primetime-thing is a bell that can't be un-rung. i just felt like complaining anyway)


Waldini:

I watch every yr, hopelessly thinking that entire wknd will be a great one. The rookie-soph game was a joke, the celebrity game's best moment is Puppy chow campaigning to be the game mvp, the dunk contest was not as bad as folks made it out to be (Jordan was harsh on D Howard), the skills challenge is boring, and the 3 point contest was mildly interesting b/c of Agent zero. Other highlights from Sat was the Bavetta-Barkley race and the dance off btw Shaq, D Howard, and Bron Bron (go to NBA.com to check out)

I agree, move the game back to 5pm EST time. Sans the Agent Zero participation in one of the acts, the game was BOOO-RING. But guess what, I'll be there next yr, watching it again, hoping for some All-Star magic...


Gangsta D:

I remember coming home from church and the all-star game would be in the middle of the 1st quarter:) I actually don't mind the exhibition part of the all-star game, just don't take it to the extreme. There aren't many charges taken in all-star games are there? The best games play loosey goosey in the first half then buckled down in the 4th quarter.

Da Realist:

the game used to come on at 2:30 central time, 3:30 in georgia. you must have been doing some serious worshiping to not come home until 4. lol... with that kind of praying, please explain why you're the heathen you are now... :-D

Gangsta D:

Oh church was over around 1:30, but the "stand around and talk" between my mom and aunts lasted another hour-hour and a half, plus our church is about 20 min away:)

Waldini:

Man did you not hate the "stand around and talk" routine. We went to early service (8am), out by 9, yet my mom had to talk to the entire congregation b4 we could go home. We barely get home in time for USA's power 3 hrs of WWF followed by Kung Fu Theater

Da Realist:

now it makes sense... perfect sense. i missed the first 3 quarters of arkansas/unlv back in 1991, had to watch game 5 of the 1989 chicago/cleveland series (yes THAT game) on vcr tape after already knowing the results, and i missed the first half of every super bowl until i graduated high school due to CHURCH OBLIGATIONS. either i had to visit other churches for special programs because i was in the choir or i had to attend an evening church service at 6pm.

it took me years to regularly attend church again. ;-) and even now -- to (mis)quote the fresh prince -- "I almost get whiplash, I leave church so fast..."


Gangsta D:

You've never seen a more frustrated person than me sitting in the car, watching my mom talk to people she's just gonna turn right around and call once she gets home. I too missed most of the Arkansas/UNLV game. My uncle and I spent half of service, arguing about who was going to win. Read more!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Adult Swim

Da Realist:

Do you want jason kidd? sounds like you could get him for pennies on the dollar. you add him to the starting lineup and scottie pippen (who wouldn't force you to have to sacrifice any players) to the bench, you guys are a TRUE darkhorse team.

don't laugh at pippen. you can't tell me he, even at age 40, couldn't slow down shawn marion or disrupt dirk nowitski for a few minutes a game while lamar odom gets a blow.


Gangsta D:

Dude why do you insist on forcing Pippen on us. you know you'll just be bitter and start complaining if he won a title in a Laker uniform. Oh yeah, it's entirely possible if we ever start playing like we give a damn.

As far as Kidd goes, i don't want to trade farmar, Luke, or Bynum. We'd have to part with at least two of those players. Could Kidd help us? Of course, but i don't know how much traction he has left on those knees. Plus he's due $59 million over the next 3 years. I don't think he makes or breaks us. We can do just as good or bad without him as with him. And a big N-EFFING-O to Pippen. The thermometer has popped out of his neck. It's a wrap...


Da Realist:

Bynum, yes. luke, farmer? please. you could trade them for a hill of beans. that offense is about the only offense luke walton is even remotely serviceable.

and you're right. no way do i want pip to be a laker, but i still think he'd be a good addition for your team.


Waldini:

especially now that space cadet did something even more stupid....http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/02/20/bc.nba.lakers/index.html

Gangsta D:

I still don't want Pippen. He's FORTY-ONE! It could only end tragically...

That's why you don't trade Luke. he flourishes in the offense and makes players better. I would much rather have Farmar than Smush at this point. i was in his corner early, but he just takes the WORST shots and goes outside of the triangle at the WORST time.


Da Realist:

Smush was alright last year. maybe the expectations is wearing him down this year. last year he was on 10-day contracts until the middle of the season. This year he's the starter.

Waldini:

Smush is miffed b/c he hasnt gotten a contract extension. He's making less than a mil and he wants more financial security. No excuse for him though to be playing like he is (well until recently that is).

I wouldnt give up Bynum, Farmar or Walton. Walton flourishes in the triangle whereas I dont see him making nearly the same impact in a more open, run up and down offense, say like Phx. I wouldnt give up on Bynum or Farmar especially since both are so young in their careers. I like Kidd but 3 yrs at 59 mil?? And on the wrong side of 33? And on a bum knee? He's done wonders this yr but damn you add him and the Lakers basically have voided their long term plans for the short term.
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That's Just My Baby Daddy

Da Realist:

Amen
to this

Gangsta D:

Don't forget about Urlacher. Not only does he have a baby momma, but she's black:) He's been hanging around Lance Briggs too much.

Waldini:

I didnt Busy B's ex was a sista either. Man these past few months have been horrible on athletes. Jordan gets a divorce, Strahan's wife takes him to the cleaners, Joumana is about to take J Kidd to the cleaners, the poster boys of the NFL having babies w/o being married, etc.

Da Realist:

I just looked up info on urlacher cause i didn't know she was black. she is already a pain in the a$$. if i ever get weak, i gotta remember stories like this and stay home...

for married millionaires like urlacher, here's a suggestion... escort service. You can afford it and it's less messy.


Gangsta D:

Nah, an escort can get just as pregnant as any other chick. and you DON'T want to get an escort pregnant. Not under any circumstances. I don't know why guys don't sign a prenup-type contract in regards to kids. If they have a kid during the relationship, the terms are ironed out before hand. If she doesn't like it, go hit her friend. SOMEONE will agree to his terms:)

Da Realist:

I heard on dateline nbc or one of those feature shows that no "pre-emptive" contract regarding future children is legal. it was said around the time of kobe's colorado issue when a lot of older professional athletes were saying they would always have their groupies sign contracts. i forgot why it's illegal, but i do remember hearing that.

Gangsta D:

That sucks. I'm just staying away from chicks altogether....OK, maybe not...

Da Realist:

It's sad that i'm here trying to come up with options for cheating married men, but...

How about... getting your tubes tied? only if you're satisfied with the number of kids in your family of course. and if you want to be really deceptive, don't tell your "girlfriend" and see if she accuses you of impregnating her.


Gangsta D:

That is sad, but a good idea all the same. Speaking of infidelity, no I'm not throwing stones, your boy was busy this weekend.

"MICHAEL Jordan is living large. The soon-to-be-divorced NBA great flew a gorgeous woman from Miami to Las Vegas for last week's Hoopology Celebrity Poker Tournament at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, sources said. While walking the red carpet, Jordan's lady friend kept 10 paces be hind him, "far enough so no one would suspect she was with him, but close enough to keep her in his sight," our source giggled. Meanwhile, Lisa Micelli, who claims she was Air Jordan's mistress for eight years, told Power 105.1 deejays Egypt and Ashy in an interview: "I think every woman has said this - he is the best sex I ever had." Jordan told her before splitting from his wife, Juanita, last year that if he did end his marriage, it would "never be just for one person." Jordan's rep didn't return calls or e-mails."

I WANNA SEE PICTURES OF THIS CHICK!
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Friday, February 16, 2007

Hell To The Naw

Gangsta D:

Scottie Pippen is seriously considering a comeback and hopes to play for a contending team in this season's playoffs. He didn't mention the Bulls as a possible destination. Pippen, who turned 41 on Sept. 25, says he's in better condition and health than at any time in the last five years. -- Chicago Tribune

Turn off your phone phil.

Da Realist:

Who knows the triangle better? who can command respect out of the gate with the whole team (including kobe)? who can tell kobe things that phil wouldn't dare? who can instill a defensive mentality and focus immediately?

I not only think it's probable the lakers look into this, but it would be foolish for them not to. the man said he'd take a 10-day contract. who else you got? brian cook???

But, of course, if scottie cared at all about my feelings...


Gangsta D:

Would you like me to explain each individual part of the word "no?"
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Stay Away From Models...Just Kidding...Sort Of

Gangsta D:

This explains the size of that kid's head. i knew there had to be a good reason...

http://deadspin.com/sports/nba/joumana-kidd-goes-nuclear-on-jason-237403.php

Da Realist:

Surprisingly, this is the most unflattering photo of joumana i've seen. that's a little too lean for me. i don't like em fat, but i want some meat on them there bones...

Gangsta D:

I think Jason would like those bones, and the meat that is wrapped around them, to disappear...preferably in a fiery heap:)

Da Realist:

I'm not trying to make excuses or anything, but i come from an antagonistic, manipulative family headed by the queen of manipulation (mom). it's never a good idea to hit your wife, but it sure seems like joumana....goads him into things...

Look, if things have gone the way i perceive them by the little information i have read, then he should have left her a long time ago. some people use their position (as wife, as a woman, as a superior, etc) to lure others into a compromising position and then play victim when (sh)it happens. don't know how to go any further with this without laying all political correctness aside and being REAL.


Gangsta D:

Essentially, you're saying that a chick can push a dude to hit her. I agree this happens. I wouldn't hit a chick unless I felt physically in danger, like seeing a butcher knife a couple inches below my waistline.

Da Realist:

A woman can push a dude to hit her if he doesn't understand the full picture. joumana seems very manipulative. i've seen her type many many times. she would (publicly) challenge him, embarrass him, question his manhood, laugh at him, put him down for years without incident. then one day she says something he thinks is completely out of line and snaps... he curses her, or yells at her or even hits her. she plays the victim. she acts like she doesn't understand what prompted her loving husband to hit her like that. she makes sure everyone understand what he did to her.

Now she's the victim and in one swoop, he just validated every negative thing she's ever said about him. now she can say whatever she wants about him and everyone will believe her because she's the sweet innocent honest abused (wife, girlfriend, sister, etc)

He should have recognized her a long time ago. the manipulative types can't thrive without attention. curse them and they are empowered. yell at them and they are validated. hit them and they are victimized. but IGNORE them and they are irrelevant.


Gangsta D:

But he's gotta see that before the marriage. All he saw was dope model who "loves" me. I guarantee he saw aspects of her personality before they got married. But hey, she looks good in a bikini. I just hope he doesn't have Strahan's lawyer.

Da Realist:

You couldn't be more right. he saw aspects of her personality long before marriage...

But i think he'll pay out the wazzou in terms of money AND reputation. she's been observing his transgressions for years just in case he chose to leave her. that's why she has such crystal clear memory of all these things you're hearing about now. think about it, if my wife heard about me and a flight attendant, that's the discussion right there. either it ends with her or athena leaves. joumana on the other hand just rattled off how many women jason has been with? probably in the teens. she's been allowing him to hang himself for years. and now he's gonna have to talk about stuff that he pushed from his memory years ago. he'll be fuzzy about the details. she'll be crystal clear -- with evidence.

Believe me, things will get ugly for him.
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