Tuesday marks the ten-year anniversary of a young, brash, and infinitely-healthier rookie hurler Kerry Wood punching out TWENTY Astros on the way to a one-hit complete-game victory at Wrigley. Now a permanent fixture in the 'pen, Kerry can have a beer and remember a time that wasn't too long ago, but yet seem so far, far away....
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
THE PURSUIT OF ELOQUENCE
Zaza Pachulia's motivational speaking seminar tour started last Friday following the conclusion of Altanta's Game 6 victory over Boston, and it will surely be a undeniable success for the 24-year-old Georgian.
There really was "nothing easy" in Game 7 for the Hawks on Sunday, who were trounced by 34 points.
There really was "nothing easy" in Game 7 for the Hawks on Sunday, who were trounced by 34 points.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
THERE CAN ONLY BE ZOHAN... AND BARON
Boom and Zohan Spoof
From aerodynamics
Further proof that Baron's one of the league's most entertaining personalities. Though I don't think he's cut his hair since the season ended.
Friday, May 2, 2008
COLT GUN AND RUN
Harrison in alleged shooting
Keep running, starvin marvin
Another Indiana professional athlete may be facing some legal action for taking gun practice outdoors. And this time, it’s not an Indiana Pacer. Colts pro bowl receiver Marvin Harrison, the state’s 2nd biggest athlete behind Peyton Manning, is alleged to have shot at a fleeing patron outside of his hometown Philadelphia bar, Playmakers, after an argument and fistfight broke out between Marvin and said patron. The patron was struck in the hand, and a young girl was struck by flying glass shattered from a nearby car window.
Tests showed that the gun fired did indeed belong to Marvin, one of a ridiculous 25 pieces registered under his name. Harrison claimed he owned a similar gun, but it had not left his Philly home. The gun was found in a bucket at a Harrison-owned car wash, and it was determined that gun had indeed fired seven shots. Whoops.
Known for being one of the best receivers in the game, his quiet demeanor on and off the field, and being a veteran leader in the Colts’ locker room, this shocking allegation comes after Harrison’s least productive, injury-filled season last year. Although, his numbers may pick up after being Michael Vick's main target next year in lockdown.
Keep running, starvin marvinTests showed that the gun fired did indeed belong to Marvin, one of a ridiculous 25 pieces registered under his name. Harrison claimed he owned a similar gun, but it had not left his Philly home. The gun was found in a bucket at a Harrison-owned car wash, and it was determined that gun had indeed fired seven shots. Whoops.
Known for being one of the best receivers in the game, his quiet demeanor on and off the field, and being a veteran leader in the Colts’ locker room, this shocking allegation comes after Harrison’s least productive, injury-filled season last year. Although, his numbers may pick up after being Michael Vick's main target next year in lockdown.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
MOTOWN SOUND
76ers eliminated; Magic await Pistons
While the Washington Wizards were putting on their best in-your-grill, 80's Bad Boys-era Pistons against MJ impression against Lebron James last week, the modern era Pistons were lacking the intestinal fortitude and dominance they displayed during regular season early in their set with the 76ers. The 76ers stormed out of the gates in the series, winning the initial game in Motown and then taking a 2-1 series lead with a convincing 95-75 victory last Friday in Philly. Perhaps nobody expected the 76ers to take the series, but the energy the Pistons showed, basically none, was unexpected for this veteran team. The 76ers played a balls-to-the-wall, frentic-paced style in their victories and ran circles around the Pistons. That is, until the Pistons decided to play for real and finally disposed of the 76ers on their home court in six.
The Pistons were led by 24 from Rip Hamilton, as well as 20 and 7 assists from Chauncy Billiups in the winning effort, which was never in doubt from the beginning. The Pistons ran the score up early just as they did in game 5, and cruised from there. No Iggy exerting his will whenever and wherever, no Thaddeus Young electrifying and lifting his teammates, no Andre Miller matching and even outplaying Chauncy as he did in the first few games.
This was a thorough whipping, one that was expected but came far later than it should have in the minds many. The young 76ers woke the Pistons up, played their pace and, with maybe a little bit of luck, won a couple games. The Pistons finally showed up to win the next 3 games in their style, upping the defensive pressure and forcing turnovers, but more so making the 76ers take contested shots that led to just 34% shooting in the final game.
The Pistons will need to maintain the recent intensity level as they now face the rested Magic, who will probably bring a lot of the same energy and attacking style the 76ers deployed. With as good an inside-outside game as any in the league, the Pistons have their work cut out for them. 20/20 man Dwight Howard is no Samuel Dalembert and can punish inside all day long, while Orlando also has a number of players who can hit from outside.
While the Washington Wizards were putting on their best in-your-grill, 80's Bad Boys-era Pistons against MJ impression against Lebron James last week, the modern era Pistons were lacking the intestinal fortitude and dominance they displayed during regular season early in their set with the 76ers. The 76ers stormed out of the gates in the series, winning the initial game in Motown and then taking a 2-1 series lead with a convincing 95-75 victory last Friday in Philly. Perhaps nobody expected the 76ers to take the series, but the energy the Pistons showed, basically none, was unexpected for this veteran team. The 76ers played a balls-to-the-wall, frentic-paced style in their victories and ran circles around the Pistons. That is, until the Pistons decided to play for real and finally disposed of the 76ers on their home court in six.
The Pistons were led by 24 from Rip Hamilton, as well as 20 and 7 assists from Chauncy Billiups in the winning effort, which was never in doubt from the beginning. The Pistons ran the score up early just as they did in game 5, and cruised from there. No Iggy exerting his will whenever and wherever, no Thaddeus Young electrifying and lifting his teammates, no Andre Miller matching and even outplaying Chauncy as he did in the first few games.This was a thorough whipping, one that was expected but came far later than it should have in the minds many. The young 76ers woke the Pistons up, played their pace and, with maybe a little bit of luck, won a couple games. The Pistons finally showed up to win the next 3 games in their style, upping the defensive pressure and forcing turnovers, but more so making the 76ers take contested shots that led to just 34% shooting in the final game.
The Pistons will need to maintain the recent intensity level as they now face the rested Magic, who will probably bring a lot of the same energy and attacking style the 76ers deployed. With as good an inside-outside game as any in the league, the Pistons have their work cut out for them. 20/20 man Dwight Howard is no Samuel Dalembert and can punish inside all day long, while Orlando also has a number of players who can hit from outside.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
THE PRODIGAL SUNS
After digging own grave, Phoenix
The fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Spurs/Suns playoff set was a virtual microcosm of the entire series, nay, the entire Suns season. After retooling, re-strategizing, re-thinking their own run-and-gun basketball methods, and giving themselves every opportunity to be in a position to come out on top, the suddenly aging Suns end another thriving season as losers, a predicament that has grown into a tiresome annual tradition.
"High Five!"
This was the series that Steve Kerr was brought in for. This was the series that the “Most Dominant Ever” was wooed in for, cape and all. This was the series that was on the minds of everyone involved in the organization since last July. After being ousted at the hands of perfectly-programmed robots known as the Spurs in three of the last five seasons, this was the year that everyone in
You can dispose of those Game 6 tickets, Suns fans. It’s time to sell them to a blind kid and sport your D-Backs jersey full-time.
Is Mike D’Antoni to blame? Possibly. Can the finger be pointed at Steve Kerr? It can and probably will. But neither of those two turned the ball over seven times in the final quarter, including a couple scarce Nash dishing gaffes and an air-mail package sent via Boris Diaw that flew across the floor and into the hands of Ian Mahinmi keeping his seat on the Spurs bench nice and toasty, quite possibly his first touch of the season. Neither of those two missed 17 foul shots in an elimination game (well, one could argue that Kerr missed those free throws vicariously throw O’Neal).
The Spurs, on the other hand, will strap on their golden chaps, saddle up, and head forward into very well-known territory: deeper and deeper into the West Playoffs. In fact, if history holds true, their closeout victory over the Suns bodes particularly well: each time they have beaten their rivals from the desert in the post-season since 2003, they have gone on to win an NBA Finals that absolutely no one watched or cared about.
It all seemed so familiar: squeaky-clean David the Admiral sitting courtside, flashing lights in the shape of a buckaroo and bronco lighting up the rafters at the AT&T Center, and Timmay Duncan putting the series away with a pair of last-second free throws amongst a bombardment of ridiculous “M.V.P.” chants. In the West Semis,
Monday, April 28, 2008
CELTIC SLIDE
Celtics get A-Town Stomped; Series tied 2-2
Back to Beantown
If there was one thing we learned from last year’s playoffs, its that there’s no such thing as a sure thing. Just ask Dirk Nowitzki. His Dallas Mavericks, with their incredible, league-best 67-15 record, top billing in the Western Conference and 6th best record of all time, met the lowly Golden State Warriors, an upstart team who hadn’t made the playoffs in over a decade. It was supposed to be an easy victory, a lock to advance for a team with championship aspirations, and nothing less. Of course, we know what happened after that.
This season, the Boston Celtics have been championship contenders all season, even back to early summer when the Big Three 2.0 left New Englanders itching for their first championship in 22 years. They were matched up with the Atlanta Hawks, a lowly 8th seed with the worst record of any playoff team, and first time playoff-participants in nearly a decade. Sound familiar? After easily winning the first two games in the Garden, and making the Hawks look like merely a JV squad unable to hang with the big boys, the series shifted to Hotlanta. And then things got interesting. Believe it or not, the young Hawks emerged to tie the series tonight and delivered a solid blow to Goliath’s green mug with a 97-92 victory. This may be history in the making… again.
Joe Johnson poured in 35 points, an amazing 20 coming in the final frame, while Josh Smith nearly matched his teammate with 28 as well. Johnson and the Hawks showed the veteran poise usually expected from the Celtics and seemed to want it more, outscoring
Boston 32-17 in the fourth. Things got heated in the second when Zaza Pachulia got in the face of Kevin Garnett after his errant loose elbow connected with with Pachulia. It was a testament that this series is far from over, and that Boston has it coming if they think the Hawks are going to keel over so easily.
The overconfident Celtics, who all season long have looked as poised and mature as any team not named the San Antonio Spurs, have all of a sudden looked frustrated and capable of being knocked down. The Celtics thought they were capable of beating the Hawks at their own style, a mistake that just tied this series. While the Celtics will more than likely come back and take this series, starting back in Boston on Wednesday, they look vulnerable, capable of being had. But there’s a chink in their armor, the Big Three don’t look as big, and a four game sweep as all of a sudden turned into a best of 3.
Back to BeantownThis season, the Boston Celtics have been championship contenders all season, even back to early summer when the Big Three 2.0 left New Englanders itching for their first championship in 22 years. They were matched up with the Atlanta Hawks, a lowly 8th seed with the worst record of any playoff team, and first time playoff-participants in nearly a decade. Sound familiar? After easily winning the first two games in the Garden, and making the Hawks look like merely a JV squad unable to hang with the big boys, the series shifted to Hotlanta. And then things got interesting. Believe it or not, the young Hawks emerged to tie the series tonight and delivered a solid blow to Goliath’s green mug with a 97-92 victory. This may be history in the making… again.
Joe Johnson poured in 35 points, an amazing 20 coming in the final frame, while Josh Smith nearly matched his teammate with 28 as well. Johnson and the Hawks showed the veteran poise usually expected from the Celtics and seemed to want it more, outscoring
Boston 32-17 in the fourth. Things got heated in the second when Zaza Pachulia got in the face of Kevin Garnett after his errant loose elbow connected with with Pachulia. It was a testament that this series is far from over, and that Boston has it coming if they think the Hawks are going to keel over so easily.The overconfident Celtics, who all season long have looked as poised and mature as any team not named the San Antonio Spurs, have all of a sudden looked frustrated and capable of being knocked down. The Celtics thought they were capable of beating the Hawks at their own style, a mistake that just tied this series. While the Celtics will more than likely come back and take this series, starting back in Boston on Wednesday, they look vulnerable, capable of being had. But there’s a chink in their armor, the Big Three don’t look as big, and a four game sweep as all of a sudden turned into a best of 3.
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