Lebron James seemingly got his season-long wish.
Cleveland Cavaliers GM Danny Ferry worked the phones and got King James the pieces so long sought: a point guard and a center to help out hobbling Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The Cavs Thursday completed a 3 team trade deadline day deal. In exchange for g Larry Hughes,f Drew Gooden, f Cedric Simmons and g Shannon Brown they received underperforming c Ben Wallace and consummate pro f Joe Smith from the disappointing Chicago Bulls. They then shipped forwards Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble to the Seattle Supersonics for f Wally Szczerbiak and g Delonte West. The Cavs also get the Bulls' 2nd round pick in 2009, while the Sonics also get f Adrian Griffin from Chicago.
The jury's still out on this one, so we'll see if this pans out for the King. The Bulls, by trading Wallace, finally admit that acquiring him was a mistake. When the Bulls acquired Wallace in 2006, that necessitate the trading of c Tyson Chandler to New Orleans, who are now one of the NBA's elite. This trade is a hopeful face saving move for GM John Paxson. Paxson hopes to end his recent losing streak extending back to Draft Day 2006, when he drafted talented forward LaMarcus Aldridge but sent him to Portland for project Tyrus Thomas.
As for LeBron and Co., well, it looks like Ferry got shooting help for the King in Szczerbiak and point guard help in West. This may propel the Cavs higher in the weak Eastern Conference, enabling them to compete with Boston and Detroit. Time will tell here.
Seattle needs expiring contracts. They got 'em. This will help this moving show of a team. Downtown Freddie Brown, where are you?!?
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The Slam Dunk Contest is Back!
People weren't expecting much at this year's Slam
Dunk contest. There were only four competitors: Orlando's Dwight Howard, a bonafide young star, but at 6'11" is considered too big to make dunks exciting;Toronto's Jamario Moon-who?Gerald Green, last year's *yawn* champion from Minnesota, and Memphis' Rudy Gay.
Wow. Hold me back.
When the contest started however, the four competitors took imagination, showmanship, and originality to a height never before seen, leading many to blurt out,"the slam dunk is back!" Led by the imaginative Howard, these four young men wowed the crowd withthe most entertaining dunk show ever.
Howard led off by tossing the ball off the back of the backboard, catching it in mid-air with his body behind the rim then reaching over and dunking it with his left hand!
A ringing 50 points! One of the greatest all- time dunks!
This is only part 1!
Howard and the others weren't finished, though. They took the fans in the palms of their hand and never let go, giving all of us a show we won't soon forget, keeping us in suspense and asking what will they do NEXT year?
This was part 2!
Note: do all of the guys have to bring a shorter teammate?
This was definitely the best show ever! Thanks to Rudy, Jamario, Gerald and Dwight for your creativity and showmanship!
Dunk contest. There were only four competitors: Orlando's Dwight Howard, a bonafide young star, but at 6'11" is considered too big to make dunks exciting;Toronto's Jamario Moon-who?Gerald Green, last year's *yawn* champion from Minnesota, and Memphis' Rudy Gay.
Wow. Hold me back.
When the contest started however, the four competitors took imagination, showmanship, and originality to a height never before seen, leading many to blurt out,"the slam dunk is back!" Led by the imaginative Howard, these four young men wowed the crowd withthe most entertaining dunk show ever.
Howard led off by tossing the ball off the back of the backboard, catching it in mid-air with his body behind the rim then reaching over and dunking it with his left hand!
A ringing 50 points! One of the greatest all- time dunks!
This is only part 1!
Howard and the others weren't finished, though. They took the fans in the palms of their hand and never let go, giving all of us a show we won't soon forget, keeping us in suspense and asking what will they do NEXT year?
This was part 2!
Note: do all of the guys have to bring a shorter teammate?
This was definitely the best show ever! Thanks to Rudy, Jamario, Gerald and Dwight for your creativity and showmanship!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Goodell,Selig are Co-Defendants in Steroid,Tapes Trials
If you ask me, Roger Goodell and Bud Selig ought to be in front
of Congress like Roger Clemens currently is. Their apparent culpability in their sport's controversies show that they had some knowledge of wrongdoing prior to the actual revelation to the public!
In the case of Selig, last week former pitcher John Rocker spoke about his taking performance enhancing drugs. Why, he was advised by MLB and union doctors that taking steroids in small doses weren't harmful! This is irresponsible. It's like being a 'little pregnant'! Performance enhancing drugs taken in any form and amount should never be condoned by those responsible for the health of players! This happened during Selig's watch, so he's responsible. Selig long ago should have spoken out vehemently against any and all performance enhancing drugs, implemented testing (with the players'union in agreement), and inflicted harsh penalties against offenders.
Maybe I'm speaking too soon. After all, baseball gave pitcher Steve Howe TOO many chances! I'm a compassionate person, but that was ridiculous! Howe received so many chances that he probably EXPECTED to be given a slap on the wrist.
Athletes are nothing but today's gladiators. The more talented a player, the more leeway he's given. That can also apply to successful teams and coaches.
Roger Goodell has to be one of the weakest leaders in the U.S.-morally speaking, that is. He knew that Pats' coach Bill Belichick has been illegally taping oponents since 2000, when he first became their coach! Now the Senate wants to know why Goodell destroyed those tapes and notes.
This is as weak as water,folks!
Belichick thought the tapings were legal. Goodell said he didn't 'concur'! How weak and morally decrepit. Goodell covered Belichick by destroying the tapes. Now a former Pats' employee is coming forward with evidence he taped a pre-Super Bowl walkthrough by the St. Louis Rams in 2002. The Pats won the game 20-17, even though they were 2 touchdown underdogs. In fact, the Pats won all 3 of their Super Bowls by just 3 points each. It seem like poetic justice that the Giants 'stomped them out' by 3 points. Taping may have swung the pendulum in their favor, given them an unfair advantage. Goodell has a responsibility to act decisively and swiftly in quelling such behavior. Only this season, after the Pats were caught taping the Jets, were Belichick and the Pats punished; Belichick being fined $500,000, and the Pats $250,000.
The apparent hypocrisy in handling controversies by Commissioners Selig and Goodell weaken the public's confidence in their sports. This must stop now, else folks will lose faith, then refuse to come to the stadium, buy beer and concessions, pressure sponsors,etc. If this happens then they have no one else to blame but themselves.
of Congress like Roger Clemens currently is. Their apparent culpability in their sport's controversies show that they had some knowledge of wrongdoing prior to the actual revelation to the public!
In the case of Selig, last week former pitcher John Rocker spoke about his taking performance enhancing drugs. Why, he was advised by MLB and union doctors that taking steroids in small doses weren't harmful! This is irresponsible. It's like being a 'little pregnant'! Performance enhancing drugs taken in any form and amount should never be condoned by those responsible for the health of players! This happened during Selig's watch, so he's responsible. Selig long ago should have spoken out vehemently against any and all performance enhancing drugs, implemented testing (with the players'union in agreement), and inflicted harsh penalties against offenders.
Maybe I'm speaking too soon. After all, baseball gave pitcher Steve Howe TOO many chances! I'm a compassionate person, but that was ridiculous! Howe received so many chances that he probably EXPECTED to be given a slap on the wrist.
Athletes are nothing but today's gladiators. The more talented a player, the more leeway he's given. That can also apply to successful teams and coaches.
Roger Goodell has to be one of the weakest leaders in the U.S.-morally speaking, that is. He knew that Pats' coach Bill Belichick has been illegally taping oponents since 2000, when he first became their coach! Now the Senate wants to know why Goodell destroyed those tapes and notes.
This is as weak as water,folks!
Belichick thought the tapings were legal. Goodell said he didn't 'concur'! How weak and morally decrepit. Goodell covered Belichick by destroying the tapes. Now a former Pats' employee is coming forward with evidence he taped a pre-Super Bowl walkthrough by the St. Louis Rams in 2002. The Pats won the game 20-17, even though they were 2 touchdown underdogs. In fact, the Pats won all 3 of their Super Bowls by just 3 points each. It seem like poetic justice that the Giants 'stomped them out' by 3 points. Taping may have swung the pendulum in their favor, given them an unfair advantage. Goodell has a responsibility to act decisively and swiftly in quelling such behavior. Only this season, after the Pats were caught taping the Jets, were Belichick and the Pats punished; Belichick being fined $500,000, and the Pats $250,000.
The apparent hypocrisy in handling controversies by Commissioners Selig and Goodell weaken the public's confidence in their sports. This must stop now, else folks will lose faith, then refuse to come to the stadium, buy beer and concessions, pressure sponsors,etc. If this happens then they have no one else to blame but themselves.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Shaq is a Sun, Son!
The Phoenix Suns have landed the Diesel!
By trading for Shaquille O'Neal, the Suns have countered the Lakers' recent acquisition of Pau Gasol from Memphis.
It was a deal that had to be done. Miami Heat President/Coach Pat Riley and Shaq weren't on the same page(losing tends to do that to people),so he did the best thing he could: send the big guy packing. The Heat have their future to tend to. They have to begin rebuilding around Dwyane Wade, who could leave via free agency in a couple years(to Chicago, perhaps?). The rebuilding is now underway, with the talented Shawn Marion being given an opportunity to show his stuff now that he's out of the desert.
The big question now lingers:are the Suns now ready to seriously challenge for the title? That all depends on how Shaq performs. He certainly isn't the Shaq of old, but he can be productive enough to give Phoenix quality minutes. Years ago, the Lakers had an aging Kareem and Showtime. The two meshed and produced 5 titles. The runnin' Suns are probably thinking the same thing. Kudos to Suns' GM Steve Kerr, who may come up smelling like a rose come June. Shaq says he will run. Uh hunh, sure, OK. See ya come playoff time!
By trading for Shaquille O'Neal, the Suns have countered the Lakers' recent acquisition of Pau Gasol from Memphis.
It was a deal that had to be done. Miami Heat President/Coach Pat Riley and Shaq weren't on the same page(losing tends to do that to people),so he did the best thing he could: send the big guy packing. The Heat have their future to tend to. They have to begin rebuilding around Dwyane Wade, who could leave via free agency in a couple years(to Chicago, perhaps?). The rebuilding is now underway, with the talented Shawn Marion being given an opportunity to show his stuff now that he's out of the desert.
The big question now lingers:are the Suns now ready to seriously challenge for the title? That all depends on how Shaq performs. He certainly isn't the Shaq of old, but he can be productive enough to give Phoenix quality minutes. Years ago, the Lakers had an aging Kareem and Showtime. The two meshed and produced 5 titles. The runnin' Suns are probably thinking the same thing. Kudos to Suns' GM Steve Kerr, who may come up smelling like a rose come June. Shaq says he will run. Uh hunh, sure, OK. See ya come playoff time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
